Greatest Hits & Remixes

Music for a New Year party from Paul Oakenfold

After the release of his second record of his own works A Lively Mind last year the world's greatest DJ Paul Oakenfold has collected and united what is in his opinion the best creations from both records – the latest one and 2002's Bunkka. Yet as one should have expected this from a master of collaborations his creations have turned out to be the minority on new collection Greatest Hits & Remixes and the greater part of the material is comprised of the famous old remixes Paul has made during the last few years and five new ones. Naturally it is exactly an album his fans have expected to be released on the threshold of the winter holidays. There are world stars gatherer together on Greatest Hits & Remixes such as Skunk Anansie, The Cure, Justin Timberlake, Mark Ronson, Massive Attack, Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, Madonna, U2 and many others, and one can be save from worrying about what music to turn at the hottest moments of a New Year party. Greatest Hits & Remixes is dance music in its best variant from Paul Oakenfold that is sure to be appreciated by everyone fond of partying and especially the super successful DJ's die hard fans.

Songs for each taste and the authors own works

The album's most interesting point is its cohesion: the whole collection presents a long mixed track, and only the change of the beat, tune and performer can tell that another song is playing. The remixes are all made either by Paul himself or his label Perfecto, as well as the production on the tracks of which here are over thirty on Greatest Hits & Remixes. Once again the progressive DJ has underlined his far-sightedness on the newest remixes by dating them with a new year. These include an even more hard Radiohead's song Everything In Its Right Place, well-known emotional composition Missing by Everything But The Girl, Mark Ronson featuring Daniel Merriweather's catchy creation Stop Me, outstanding for the power of its charge work Groove Zone Eisbaer and a new version of Oakenfold's work that is rather most successful, Southern Sun. Of the author's works here one can find splendid songs Starry Eyed Surprise, Sex N Money performed with Pharrell Williams and Faster Kill Pussycat refined with Brittany Murphy's sexy vocals. The rest of the collection does not need any presentation for all of these remixes have already been tested by the time, and the names of the performers behind speak for themselves. For example, The Cure's hit Close To Me was remixed three years ago and still has not lost its charm, while Madonna's more recent creation Sorry shines again due to Paul's flawless beat. Another hit – U2's Beautiful Day is naturally here, as well as Massive Attack's unforgettable song Unfinished Sympathy. In general, there are songs for each taste mixed to be danced and who if not Paul Oakenfold real knows how to do it well.

Dance music specialist outdoes himself

Even presenting a single sonic track Greatest Hits & Remixes is so varied and unusual that it is hard to restore in one's memory after the very first listening which songs Paul Oakenfold has used in this magnificent DJ's set. The point is that the songs that are anyhow connected are not placed together one by one on the record, and the whole picture results into one big mix of remixes that staggers the imagination. Beyond all doubt this time the talented dance music specialist has outdone himself, proving once again the ageless truth – there is always room for perfection. Although in fact here is practically no new material the form in which this collection of the best works is put really amazes. Thus sometimes even if you know what you are about to be presented and do not hope for being pleased in any way, an unexpectedly beautiful package and a small surprise attached can buy you all. That has probably been Paul Oakenfold's idea and it strikes right home. One of the best compilations lately and simply a great collection of danceable hits, Greatest Hits & Remixes certainly deserves superior merit.