Fat Boy Slim & Paul Oakenfold - Essential Selection, Vol. 1

Fatboy Slim and Paul Oakenfold, two of the most famous DJs in the world and kings of big beat and house, respectively, are supremely showcased in this double-CD collection. The Essential Selection, Vol. 1 glorifies each mixmaster's equal, yet mutually exclusive talents in roof raising. The back-to-back discs are an enlightening example of the yin and yang of club music; Fatboy Slim's grounded, drier, giddier expressions of overlapping funk and disco juxtapose Oakenfold's spatial, entrancing continuum supplemented with buzzing, flatulent bass lines, and celestial synths. Both DJs are experts in flow, building beats seamlessly into climactic moments of frenzied, adrenaline-fueled euphoria, then swinging the vibe down again with the subtlety and patience of a free-falling feather. No doubt Fatboy Slim is known for his deliberate lack of subtlety stylistically, but when placed in this context, immediately compared to Oakenfold's ethereal grooves, it's evident that Stormin' Norman possesses copious finesse. Because of their stylistic polarity, like platinum and gold, these DJs shine with matched but multihued brilliance, and like soil and sun, are indispensable components of a diverse dance music ecology. --Beth Massa Amazon.com

Overall pretty good

Obviously, no one is going to like all the songs on a CD, but after a while some of the songs I originally didn't like grew on me. I preferred Oakenfold's CD over Fatboy Slim's. December 17, 2007

Oakenfold's finest trance

The Oakenfold disc of this set is the epitome of trance.

Certainly Oakenfold's finest trance CD, with Tranceport in second place. The track transitions are seemless [like in Tranceport], so you can just put the CD in and go into, for lack of a better word, a trance. Soothing but with a lot of energy.

You can't call yourself a fan of trance and not hear this. April 24, 2006

Only half good...

Fatboy just makes a lot of rhythmic noise! Very bad for your heart if you'd ask me. Oakenfield way more melodic. So definitely don't go for the new, but choose the cheaper used April 14, 2006

I'm sure you've heard it all....

Yes yes you've heard it all about Oakenfold being a sell out and everything from A to Z.. and how most techno is all dated and there is always something wrong with mixes, and true to this also, but it's still good music, Fatboy's mix is really housey ( kindof in a Fast paced 1-2 min song Housy kinda way, not like a digweed house way ) Fatboy does tear it up though, his cd is really up beat and great for driving to, although it does leave the listener wanting more,, maybe something deeper.... oh yea there is an Oakenfold cd to.... I really didn't think to much of oakie's mix for a couple of years.. Now it's almost 2005 and i've heard tons of different mixes, and when i went back and heard his cd it really amazed me. the song selection stuck in my head and i couldn't forget the tune of the songs. it's progressive and has a different vibe than any of his other cds. Of course there are a few boring and too long songs on here, but when you listen all through, it really is worth owning. the last 4 songs on the cd are truly incredible 5/5 stars with nothing wrong there, and the first like 6 songs are probly 3-4/5 . sure you can call him what you want but this cd is good. December 2, 2004

This is Comical!!!

Boy, do I love this. Fatboy Slim tears it up on his CD, Oakenfold continues to put me to sleep!!! All I have to say is, if you have the extra money to drop on these CDs, buy it for Fatboy Slim's Disc. Truely one of his better... October 25, 2002

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