2009 Toronto [Compilation]

Perfect, this is a very simple word that sums up by itself the double mix done by the great Markus Schulz!
I was really excited about the release of this compilation to see if the US-German dj would repeat the impressive performance done on his last Amsterdam 08.
I must confess that even before listening, I was intimately convinced, but not to this degree!
This mix is simply perfect, without any false note, without any flaw!
There is no single moment you say something is missing in both sets, not a single moment because there is absolutely nothing to say about the tracklist and sequences!
All this is great and the energy released by the dj is magnificent, it really brings us this unique feeling that only trance can deliver!

The first set is a model of its kind in terms of prog-house and trance because at the same time very deep and melancholic but also powerful and energetic.
Just look at the tracklist of the first set to realize which jewels compose it.
There is particularly one of the pearls of the album, the new track of clAud9, "Rain" which already imposes itself as one of the trance bombs of 2009.
Then follow "Labor" vs. Dymos of Karnac in a prog-house limit deep, the superb remix signed Moonbeam "Crash Into Reason of Tritonal feat Cristina Soto" (a track I love!!!), "Scorpion" by Rex Mundi and the very deep "Tomorrow Never Comes" signed Arnej!
It is just half the first set and we already move in another world. And it is not with what follows that the overwhelming feeling of ecstasy is back!
Markus Schulz continues with "Everything" by Tenishia, "The Cube" by Mr. Pit also found on the second set with a non-standard track, the magnificent "Nothing At All" by Rex Mundi with the voice of Susan, the very air "Remember The Silence" by Max Guell and "Stick In Monday" by Omnia closing this first mix in a grand apotheosis!
In a little over an hour and a quarter, we just attend a real recital issued by this dj that inspires me more and more respect. (I understand you now Marlene!)
We find in him this personal touch that few djs possess such as Tiësto and that causes this long sought feeling to listen to this music.
The compilation could have stopped there as it would have already been a phenomenal success but Markus puts in another layer with a second set also unusual for a final result which is today a reference for the year 2009!

Let's talk rightly about this second set, it bursts in with "Koolhaus" by Dakota, "Is It" by Umek & Beltek remixed by Wippenberg and "Sin City", another track signed Dakota for a steep focussed prog-house and extremely catchy beginning!
In the wake, Markus sends watts with a track very tech-trance that sounds absolutely amazing to me, "Hold Control" by Rowala Steyn.
We can feel that the DJ wants to move up a gear and leave something great, able to score an entire year!
The remainder is only perfection, "Bittersweet Nightshade" of Mike Foyle remixed by Markus himself takes us to dream and what to say about the emotional effect signed Mr. Pit, "Besides Words", a little gem to listen to in the country of Brocéliande, under a tree in the middle of the green like my friends Christèle and Fabrice say!
After these two tracks heavily loaded with emotions, Markus continues with "Harbor" by Danilo Hercole used here as a transition to a quite amazing remix, it must be said, of "Power Of American Natives" by Dance 2 Trance. This "Markus Schulz Return to Coldharbour Remix" is able to send anyone waltzing in the stratosphere, the rhythm is so devastating and the melody especially exhilarating!
The next track "Bromley Ave" by Project MC is a model of prog-trance as "Sound Of Flight" by Michael Calderone & Christopher Reddick. We can feel that the end of this set is more nervous than the first and Markus Schulz gives without counting to finish his work in a beauty of art!
"Eliana" of Khaz & Boris ® is also completely magical in an energetic and deep register at the same time rocked by stunning male vocal and "South Haven" by Element One just equals with the melodic sense that it emits!
The end of the set is memorable with "Pyjamaparty" by Barnes & Heatcliff and "Dust In The Wild" by Arnej that helps us to come down again after more than two and a half hours full of happiness!

At the end, after listening to this compilation again and again, I think that there is nothing to add and after reading these few lines, you know what to do!
I just want to point out that Markus Schulz is a great, great dj, and that even if he is in the top 10 of the best djs of the planet, I think that if he had been more recognized in the past, he would be now without any doubt in the top 3!

Sick, wow, Toronto's sound does breathe a nice breath my way. I have loved Toronto sound since Deep Dish proved it right, and many others like Luke Fair and Desyn made it right. Now Markus is getting this one accomplished and this is why 2009 exists in music so far. Great job here, not a bad song, but the second song first disc is just the jam, nice vocal there, and reminded me of sasha in his prime type of jam. Few more miracles in the 1st album to keep it jamming. The second album is just zone out album, nothing to bring you back, but a nice piece just not as euphoric as 1st. My top listen of the year so far. Love this one.

Toronto '09, the fifth album in Markus' city series. This album follows the same basic trend of the previous installments of laid back and melodic progressive trance. However, the album does fall lower on the list than the other installments because it just seems to be lacking a streamlined solid theme. It seems to jump all over the place and has some very odd sounding tracks in there. I'm a fan of Markus and have all the other installments in the series (except the new NV '10), but this one unfortunately just doesn't measure up.

Disc 1 is definitely the weaker of the two. I remember the first time that I listened to it, and I absolutely fell in love with "Rain" and I was so psyched to hear the rest of the album, but I was sorely disappointed. Don't get me wrong, it's still a decent album, it just isn't quite on the same level as the rest of the series. Disc 2 picks up a bit of the slack and keeps a strong steady stream going for most of the disc.

There are some major highlights on the disc such as "Rain", "Harbour" & "Sound of Flight", but they just don't seem to be in sync with the rest of the album. Again, it's a decent album, but if you're looking to preview his work, I would recommend going with Amsterdam '08 or Miami '05. Those are both masterpieces in my opinion. This is just my opinion though and many people seem to disagree with me on this one. :)

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