(Gang Go Music/Shock)

Blank & Jones (Piet Blank and Jaspa Jones) are unarguably the most successful DJ partnership to emerge from Germany. With popular singles such as Cream and Nightfly and albums like Dj Culture, Nightclubbing, Substance and The Mix Volume 1, Blank & Jones are no newcomers to making quality music. Far from being shrinking violets, they have taken time out from their hectic touring schedule and laid down a blissful mix of euphoric trancey treats in The Mix Volume 2.

Though often labelled too commercial by jaded Europeans, their sound is refreshing to audiences in other parts of the world. Far from being a poor man’s Paul van Dyk, Blank & Jones are just as versatile and often more surprising than their German counterpart. The Mix Volume 1 was a huge seller for the duo, and a real coup in demonstrating their mixing abilities. The Mix Volume 2 has a lot to live up to. Luckily for Blank & Jones it does, with a few surprises to boot. A bit more on the dancey side than Volume 1, this release is a definite foot tapper. I could get upset and hope that they’d come and grace the shores of Australia, but they did only a week or so ago!

Before I start, I must mention that I think Protools had some involvement in this mix. Whether that worries you or not is up to you, in this case I think it has helped to produce an almost seamless mix of energetic trance. Whatever your stance is, The Mix Volume 2 stands out for many reasons. It’s a very well crafted mix that is focussed on providing constant energy and high quality trance music. After a lush and beautifully orchestrated soaring and orchestral intro, the pumping beat kicks in you’d better strap in for a wild ride through energetic but smoothly sequenced trance. Occasionally the mix fading seems a little fast, but it’s a slight niggle and is hardly noticeable unless you look for it.

Personal highlights for me include Blank & Jones’ own remix of Evolution’s energetic Walking on Fire (A tune that was huge at the Mayday Festival,) Astral’s storming remix of Cloudwalking by Pulser, the intense Timeless by Ron van den Beuken, the moody Being Single by Liquid Love meets Ernesto vs. Bastian and the ultra uplifting surprise track, Blank and Jones’ Reconstruction Mix of Flaming June by themselves which features the vocals of Elles de Graaf (The voice behind Perpetuous Dreamer.) Many of Blank & Jones’ own releases and remixes feature throughout the mix, but this is not a bad thing. By reworking and getting intimate with many of tracks they have been able to produce a rich and layered soundscape. Listeners will really appreciate the attention to detail.

There’s some happy bright moments and some evil and twisted darkness, which is just the way I like it. Soaring epic melodies are the flavour of the day, as are kickin beats. Definitely not one for a chillout lounge, but it would suit pretty much any other situation. I’d rate this as one of the best mix discs of the summer. Forget the Cream’s and Ministry of Sound releases claiming to be trance mixes, this is a real upfront summer trance mix. It really helps that Blank & Jones have many producers as friends, as they have been able to source some exclusive high quality tunes. By the time Nu NRG’s Connective comes on, your speakers will be jumping around the room. I love this song, and if you have yet to hear it, you will too! Paul van Dyk signed Nu NRG to his label and gives them a lot of support and for good reason! Chicane stars in here as well with Love on the Run, reworked by Blank & Jones into a powerful and melodic masterpiece.

I’m very impressed with this release. You can see the progression that Blank & Jones have undergone since Volume 1 and you can be sure that due to the fact that many of these songs are relatively unheard of in Australia that this will be a mix that dates quite well. It even features a 30 second teaser of a collaboartion of B&J with Robert Smith from The Cure! If you love your trance, you’ll surely love this!