Three Drives - Melodies from The Universe

[Dreamboy]

Three Drives - Melodies From The Universe

One Of the best albums of 2003...

This is the second album from Dutch producer duo Ton TB and Erik de Koning after their first ‘2000’ album.
Last year they made a strong come back with two massive hits Carrera 2 and Air Traffic. Both of these tracks got some remixes and were played by major DJs around the globe. But let’s stop the bragging and take a look at the slick Melodies From The Universe album...

Disc 1 (Signs One) contains 12 (computer) mixed tracks. I hit the ‘play’ button on my CD player:
Remember Me The opening track is very much surrounded with a chill glow; brass, flutes and breaks make the start of this tune. It is around 2min35 that the beat kicks in and you have found yourself in the middle of a great danceable production. It has happiness and uplifting written all over.
Separate Rooms is a more solid piece of music with a running up and down bassline. During the break you can hear nice bell sounding strokes served with strings and fancy hi hats.
Under Planet is the first track that starts out with a more tribal and progressive feeling. Its percussions, bells and ‘tah’ voices make it a good track to be played for opening sets. Creative and fresh.
Air Traffic (Original mix) has that very distinctive melody you all know. This is an absolute floor filler and should be enjoyed the way it is, solid, pounding, well produced and catchy.
Freaky Runaway this track has some tockeling guitar sounds that will remind you of Greece 2000. The break is filled with high synth sounds that make it a true melodic prod.
Communications On Marss is a very outstanding track on the first disc. Very nice rhythm part with claps and small rolling drums. During the break you are somehow surprised by a low pitched electric guitar sound that changes the feeling you had about the track in the first place. That guitar will actually continue after the pick up and make the track a quite heavy one to be honest.
Carrera 2 (Original mix) is one of Three Drives true masterpieces. This trance baby has been canned around for the last year by the big boys to the delight of all. A very well produced production; but you knew that already!
Relevation has a funky pitch shifting sound that distinguishes it very much from the rest. In the break a saxophone will support this shifting sound and when the beat picks up you have it all together mixed up. Creative!
Cruise Ship is a nice progressive tune with a catchy beat but also long synths and ‘metal’ sounds. The break is very slow and then suddenly an inventive melody will define what the rest of the track will be based on. Very nice lead/brass like synths here. A cruise ship it is.
Sunset On Ibiza (Original mix) Maybe you were not expecting to find this one here but I think it has been a good choice to put this classic here. It absolutely fits within the Signs One disc.
Evolution has a more aggressive feeling then the other tracks with a very steady pounding bass and hard lead sounds. But ‘aggressive’ productions also have their breaks and that break here is just like the sun coming out behind the clouds. The synths and percussions create a warm aura to what you first thought would end up in being a dark track. Inventive piece of work.
Signs From The Universe You can hear this track coming in since nearly a minute in the previous tune. This is a monster track and the gets my highest note for this years Three Drives production. Very solid rhythm part, pitch shifting hi hats and that melody is just awesome! Armin van Buuren is playing this production among others and this track creates madness on the dancefloor. What is so fantastic about the break is that the main synth sounds get a longer release note making them sound continuously. All this with that characteristic clear bell and that great rhythm part make this the ultimate track of the whole album. I am definitely hoping for remixes of this one.

Disc 2 (Signs Two) contains remixes of existing Three Drives tracks that you have not been able to hear earlier. This CD is not mixed.
Greece 2000 (Moonwatchers Remix) This is a fantastic chill remix of the stunning beauty. Very relaxing, no beats at all. Play this one after coming home from a long night out or for you DJs as a closing track of an emotional solo set... Those Greece 2000 guitars are so clear and with very full synth sounds it is a very complete tune.
Greece 2000 (G&M Remix) welcome to a different world! This remix starts out very tough and remains throughout the whole a very tight trance, or even hard trance production. If you like it fast and still want to find elements back of your beloved Greece 2000 you will like this remix.
Sunset on Ibiza (Above & Beyond Remix) A&B sign this remix progressive style. Nice work on the percussive part and in the back you will notice a funky bassline.
Sunset on Ibiza (Yves De Ruyter Remix) this remix starts out very dry. Short bass blips and a beat is what you will hear in the beginning. Even later when the melody kicks in it sounds all very much ‘anthem’ like. More strong synths will eventually join and definitely flavor it with that YDR style.
Carrera 2 (DJ Shah Remix) Very hardstyle beginning with a hard kick and echo drum. Besides the original melody that will be heard during and after the break this remix leaves very little of the original production. It is fast and dark.
Carrera 2 (DJ Montana Remix) This remix starts out very tribal signed by DJ Montana himself. The beats are not hard, but low and solid. Practically no melody in this production gives it a strong progressive feeling.
Air Traffic (DJ Cor Fijneman Remix) Blackhole boy decides to add breaks and claps here and there and not to forget deep basses. In the break you hear that catchy melody again and Cor sometimes decides to through in a little break beat for the change, so this makes you think the beat picks up but actually it does not yet.
Air Traffic (DJ Erik de Koning Remix) Erik’s remix ads some new hi-pitched wood tic sounds and strong leads. After the break when the track picks up it’s almost ‘anthem like’ with synths and a dry beat pulsing. What is nice that he choose for a different synth layer giving the track more volume. Ideal for the big outdoor festivals!
Air Traffic (DJ Ton TB Dark Remix) the ‘Dark Mix’ is filled with short sounds, a fast pitched voice ‘tha’ and a stomping bassline. After 2,5 minutes square saws hit in and later synths take over and you hear that catchy main melody. But after the break it is back again with the square saws which give the whole track as the name says, a dark feeling. Late night mixing on this one.

Conclusion: This is a very nice album to have in your collection. And you don’t have to be die hard Three Drives fan to decide if to get it or not. The CD can be very well played on low volume in your room but you will also be able to find some really good dance tracks that will make you move. That’s guaranteed!
If you have been listening over the last years to Three Drives then you know this producer duo stands for great tracks and knows how to maintain their productions on a high level. Therefore I recommend this album strongly.

[samer]

great album indeed..
two thumbs up!!

[The Phoenician]

Carrera 2 and the YDR Remix of Sunset on Ibiza are by far the best tracks on the album if you ask me. But they're not really "new" tracks...

[DIONYSOS]

yea this is 1 sweet album... though its new, it already became 1 of my favorite trance albums ever (alongside Ayla's Nirwana, AvB's '76', Push's "From Beyond", and all the Blank & Jones ones)

[The Phoenician]

I should have the new Push album: "Electric Eclipse" and the new double CD album from Airwave: "I Want To Believe" in about a week.
So that means reviews will follow soon

[DIONYSOS]

i already got Airwave's album, its pretty neat i think ur gona enjoy it, and Push never disappoints, im lookin forward 2 that 1 2

[The Phoenician]

Maybe you have the older Airwave album version.
I already have most of the singles on that one.
But the double CD will include, besides the amazing Airwave must-haves, unreleased tracks and remixes.

[DIONYSOS]

ah no i dont have the 2nd cd...will try my best 2 get my hands on that 1...thx 4 the tip