Markus Schulz - Coldharbour Sessions 2004 FLAC

I know there are plenty of reviews but I just wanted to say that I feel this is one of the best progressive comps of that era. I love the deep melodic style of the mix and think it's as good as anything from that time. I wish Markus would have stayed more with his early prog roots then gone full on trance like he did.

In hindsight, this mix might very well have changed the face of trance and progressive. Up to the point of this release, trance and progressive house were highly segregated: on one hand, you had melodic, uplifting, vocal based tunes, and on the other, dark, deep, extended play percussive thrillers. Markus had been developing a blend of the two on his own, first during his club residencies in the USA, then in London, for a few years prior to creating this compilation. The sound throughout the two CD mix wasn't without it's detractors either then or now (some hated what they perceived to be catering to a pop crowd, others complained it's generic trance-house called "trouse" ahead of the genre being called "progressive"), but taken as a whole, this mix set Markus Schulz up for riding years of popularity among EDM fans.

Yes, there are what may now be considered cliches (NASA sound bites, overuse of the bleeps/bloops melodies familiar to so many progressive tracks of the mid-late 2000s, etc), but at the time this mix stood on its own. At once both dark and suspenseful, both introspective and elating, there's no denying the mood Markus tries to carry the listener through the two discs. Disc one starts out brooding, mysterious, and deep, then reaches a cruise phase midway though before closing with a one-two punch of some of the darkest vocal tracks the genre has ever created. Disc two picks up where disc one left off, but with a more elevated energy that would become Schulz's signature sound: looping bass lines, sharp and loud, with understated melodic explosions that, at first, might underwhelm, but with repeated listens becomes addicting. The second disc closes with a warm, uplifting mood that leaves one wondering how soon, not if, they can take the journey again.

Markus might not have been the most popular producer or DJ in 2004 when this was released, but he did prove his worth of being on the cutting edge and a champion of a sound that would permeate EDM for years. This is a mix set that deserves a place, if not central, at least on the top shelf, of any classic trance and progressive collection.

PhilipK gets it right - this is awesome.

If you want early 00's plodding deep progressive trance then get this. I love both of the discs, with 1 being my favorite with a slightly moodier, slower feel than disc 2.

The top tracks are definitely all of the markus schulz remixes, as well as perry o'neill's remix of motorcycle. This is a must buy for anyone who likes progressive trance

An awesome double CD album.
Both CDs are very well mixed and the tracklisting almost top notch.

Just a few tunes that I don't think quite lives up to the quality of the rest would be Schulz remixes on Whirlpool's "Under The Sun" and Andain's "Beautiful Things". There are also some outstanding tunes in there such as Taxi - Glistening, Perry O'Neil's remix on As The Rush Comes, Airwave - Lady Blue and Anthanasia - Perfect Wave.

A truely great addition in the collection when you're in the mood for some deep and beautiful stuff.