Vortex Reviews

• A Must-Have for Collide Fans!

  
  By A3KGYTO6CF8MGF on 2005-07-08
  For those of you who were either disappointed or only mildly impressed with the results of Collide's last remix excursion, _Distort_, worry not because _Vortex_ gets it right! I'm always leery about remixes as they rarely ever breathe new life into the originals, but despite the fact that most of the DJs here are relatively unknown, these remixes are very well done! I honestly can't say there's one dud on this mind-blowing 2-disc set.
  
  The remixes include tracks that are taken from their _Chasing The Ghost_ and _Some Kind Of Strange_ releases. Collide, which is essentially kaRIN and Statik, have been creating neo-Goth for years now with their distinct blend of powerful, exotic rhythms and sensual, tantalizing vocals that are breathy yet dynamic. But with _Vortex_ they've brilliantly reinvented many of their pieces by incorporating a plethora of different styles so that one song never sounds identical to another. The Antistatic Mix by Remko Vander Spek of "Like You Want To Believe", for example, infuses heavy metal with crunching guitar layers while the Conjure One Mix by Rhys Fulber of "Tempted" has the opposoite effect and is melodic and trancy. "Predator", which is actually a Front Line Assembly song, mixes a hybrid of Delerium-like beats with dark electronica that's trademark FLA, only better because of her wonderful contribution. And the Orchestral Mix by Mark Walk of "Somewhere" showcases kaRIN's voice like never before with classical instruments such as strings and piano.
  
  Aside from the many remixes there's also some note-worthy cover songs that are simply incredible. My one gripe, though, is how I wish they would have done more of those and less remixes of the same song used over and over again. Maybe I'm just craving new material from them but I especially enjoyed the funky electro grooves of "The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum" (they performed this song live when I first saw them in concert last year and it was a real highlight for me), as well as "Haunted When The Minutes Drag" (which is originally done by Love & Rockets) and "Feed Me to the Lions" (this sounds like it could have belonged on their debut album, _Beneath The Skin_)!
  
  All in all this did not let me down. It merely provides the listener, with their own personal preference, more options.
  
  

• best remix album you'll find

  
  By A8TM0MI3D9T29 on 2004-10-15
  I got this cd because I'm a pretty big Collide fan, but I didn't realize this was a remix album when I bought it. I was surprised to say the least, but it's actually really good. It contains three new covers, Haunted When The Minutes Drag, Feed Me To The Lions, and The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum. All of which are amazing to say the least. kaRIN's vocals are great like always but it's the instrumentation that really catches your attention, the way statik arranges the music is just utterly and completely amazing. Another great thing about this disc is that it contains over 140 minutes of music, which you just don't get anymore. The reason this is only four stars though is because they redo the same songs about two times each, which can get old hearing the same lyrics, that's the only reason though. Other than that little problem, this cd is perfect, I loved every minute of it.
  A few of the best songs are Euphoria-Emirian Mix, Like You Want To Believe-Antistatic Mix, Haunted When The Minutes Drag, and The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum. I must admit that the first disc is better than the second, but they're both great. So in concluding, I recommend this cd to fans of bands such as Kidneythieves, The Gathering, and maybe even Lennon Murphy.
  
  

• A Really Great Remix Album

  
  By A1MYERXGKJI8PI on 2005-02-02
  As remix albums go, this one is actually pretty fantastic. Collide went all out with this ambitious 24 track double c.d. set, pulling in heavy hitter collaborators from the bands, Conjure One, Skinny Puppy, NIN, and Machines of Loving Grace. In fact, Rhys Fulber's Conjure One remix of Tempted is about the best remix I've ever heard. I do really love this album.
  
  So why didn't I give it 5 stars? Repetition, my friend, repetition. The same 3 songs are repeated over and over and over again. Couldn't they find artists who wanted to remix a larger variety of their songs? Check the track listing for yourself. "Crushed" is remixed 4 times, and both "Wings of Steel" and "Like You Want to Believe" are remixed 3 times.
  
  Luckily the 3 new covers on this album are indeed good, especially the catchy "The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum". And the additional remixes are also mostly top notch. But let's face it, if the remixes weren't as good as they are, the lack of song variety on this album would sink it. No one wants to listen to the same thing over and over again, do they? I personally feel that a better variety of remixes would have really made the album much more listenable.
  
  In the end, I do highly recommend this album. It's really great. If you like Collide's previous albums, you will definitely enjoy this one. But the lack of variety of songs covered prevents me from giving this album the 5 stars that I would like to rate it.
  
  

• Calling ALL COLLIDE fans as well as new recruits!!

  
  By A2WLG0DS341FP7 on 2004-07-23
  If you order 1 CD this summer...you MUST make it VORTEX! Better yet, go to www.collide.net and order DIRECTLY from the band.....your purchase supports the band directly, and the goods ship fast.
  
  
  
  

• Now a Collide fan

  
  By A2H1W2WVU0PXA7 on 2006-03-10
  I sampled some of the songs on this cd on amazon. They sounded good so i ordered the cd. I'm new to Collide's music but now I am a fan. This is a 2 disc cd. It has great remixes which range in sound from rock, techno, to remixes that put my in mind of Enya. The lead voice is beautiful. I'm very pleased with this cd and will be looking into other Collide albums.
  
  
• EXCEPTIONAL REMIXES OF THEIR OWN MATERIAL
  By A1SG1CGHH0HBN6 on 2006-06-16
  Ready for the Club and some chill out remixes of their great music? This is the double CD for you. I'd have to say that a lot of great guest appearances are on this album as well and I really appreciate their sound.
  
  This band is labeled like a loungy goth in terms of its sound. It misses the industrial vibe a bit and while Goth music tends to go hand-in-hand with the industrial sound these guys come with a more Euro flavor in lines with Conjure One, Balligomingo, Kate Ryan, and that kind of sound. I really enjoy this dual CD and found some of the sounds to really make the hair on the back of my neck stand up! It is awesome.
  
  If you're looking for something different check these guys out.
  
  
• remixed to perfection
  By AA03N0GM9QA8B on 2006-07-06
  before picking up this two-disc package, i was not familiar with the works of Collide. i bought this item on a whim, and am very glad i did. the variety of style approach is refreshing, you really don't hear the same song twice, though there are a few mixes of a few songs. these are good cds to put in on a trip or chill at the house, and i've had the album for a few weeks now and am not tired of it. enjoy the haunting effects of a great band rearranged by great artistic minds.
  
  
• Wow!
  By AO2LOF8DWIAJS on 2004-05-22
  Ok, i'm not a big fan of remixes. But this is different. There is something that I can not describe that hooks you on the first song. I started listining to Collide about a year ago, and got hooked. So naturally I picked up Vortex. I was skeptical, for I have listened to some other "remixes" that other bands do. Not good. Collide pulls it off flawlessly. Every song is just as enjoyable as the original. From "Euphoria" to the hypnotic cover of Love and Rockets "Haunted When the Minutes Drag" this 2cd set is stunning. kaRIN and stATIK seem to be open to many different styles of music, judging from the variety on Vortex. That same variety entwines you to keep listining, for hours. Very hypnotic, sensual, intense. Ok you can throw superlatives at Vortex all day. In closing this is a must for all music lovers, not just collide fans. And I can not wait to see what Collide does next.
  
  
• One song five times on a double disk...WTF!!
  By on 2004-06-25
  Ok dont get me wrong I love Collide I have all of thier cd's, I love remixes too. However when you can take and fill one cd with two songs for an avrage of five versions of one song on a two disc cd something isnt right. Crushed apears a total of 5 times (half a cd) Wing of steel a total of 4 ( One song half of a cd )Ok you could have maybe put two versions of these songs on the cd and remixed soem of the way older stuff.
  
  
• A vortex of new ears should fall in love with this sound
  By A2269U42XTH1KF on 2005-04-09
  Vortex is full of many wonderful remixes of previous Collide music. I'd recommend this for anyone who loves to dance it mixes the traditional abstract Collide sound with a easy to follow beat for the new Collide listening ear. Not to mention the 2 new original Collide songs hiding amongst the remakes I'd recommend hearing Lunatics first of all the songs on this CD set.
  
  
• Sensual Soundscapes
  By A713VBD7I8NLS on 2005-05-10
  I have been a fan of Collide since I first heard them. Their music must be heard in its entirety to understand its complex beauty. This CD is a collection of their hits remixed. Every song sounds great. I love the different mixes and I would recommend this CD to anyone who loves soundscape music. This definitely makes me feel beautiful and otherworldly even primitive at times...cool huh?
  
  
• What an awesome find!
  By A2MFQGF5G2QRPQ on 2006-08-20
  You will all think I'm crazy, but I was looking for new music one day at work, came across Collide because it was "similar" to other music I like, and bought it without even hearing it! I wasn't somewhere that I could listen to the samples, so I trusted other user reviews, and couldn't be more pleased. This CD has become a staple in my collection, and frankly, hasn't left my CD changer yet! My boyfriend even added it to his iPod. My personal favorite is "The Lunatics...", don't ask me why. I always play it on my way to the gym...and sometimes before work...perhaps it's something Freudian. :)
  
  I absolutely adore Collide, and plan to try out their other CDs. It's amazing the feeling the music gives you. It's very ethereal, and makes you feel like you're somewhere else. Definitely a great buy, even if you're not into this type of music.
  
  Others I would recommend in this genre are Claire Voyant (Time and the Maiden), Delerium (Karma), Hungry Lucy (To Kill a King), and Lamb (any of them, especially Lamb and Fear of Fours).
  
  
• Into The Vortex
  By A3AU58KA27DH8P on 2004-05-11
  Well, here we go with the installment of Remixes from Collide. Be prepared to be bombarded by some of the slickest and greatest remixes of any band's music that are done so well, you almost wonder...can a remix album get any better than this?

  There is one remix in particular that seems to be the embodiment of what Collide is and what they do. The remix of Tempted (the song is listed at Tempted, Conjure One Remix) takes my breath away. I have always found that Collide is one of those bands that doesn't fit in any category and are sort of in a class all their own. When the Siren kaRIN starts to sing you feel compelled and drawn into the Vortex by the voice of Collide. The voice of Collide soothes you, and wraps you up much like a lover would. And once inside, you find, that there is Statik...pushing you sonically and guiding the listener down into the world that is Collide's. The twist on this album is that you have all sorts of others that were drawn in by the music of Collide and have now put forth their talents to remix the songs when the band called for remixes...the result...a conglomerate of creativity that is truly an orgasmic experience for the heart and the soul...your ears will be begging for more...Thanks Collide and all the remixers for giving us fans an awesome album...

  Until next Time

  Later Skaters...TK Flag, AZ
  
  

• What was better than a Collide release? Two new releases!
  By A1D0A5QA5DLIES on 2004-07-15
  There are artists who grab you from the first moment you hear them, and never let go. For me, Collide was one of these artists. From first hearing Violet's Dance, I was capitvated by a blend of raw guitar power, dance rhythm, and etheral female vocals.

  And, while many of us already reviewing here are Collide fans, don't just take our word for it. Listen to the band, see if you don't hear yourself enjoying every single release they've put out. The fact that the songs have been remixed only adds to the dimensions of songs that us fans already know and love.

  The problem with most remixes, is they tend to sound redundant and don't bring anything new to the song; conversely, they also have a way of making the song lose all the reasons you came to love it. Not so here, trust me, a Collide CD is one that will always come into rotation time and again, remixes included. You will NOT go wrong with this or any CD by this band.
  
  

• Get lost in the Vortex
  By A3EDDWC7J49T4X on 2006-10-10
  I really liked this album, while some of the songs are remixed more than once they're still able to keep a semblance of uniqueness. Then there are the little gems added to the mix "The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum" and "Feed Me to the Lions" are really fun songs that quickly moved their way into my top 10 lists.
  
  These two disks hold a variety of moods from the frantic to the meditative, there is a remix for almost all occasions and then some. If you're just starting out with your Collide obsession this is a great album to showcase their diversity and complexity; and if you're deep into your Collide wall to wall shrine then this album is hard to beat and will surely earn a coveted spot on your shrine to Collide.
  
  
  

• Chasing the Ghost
• Some Kind of Strange
• Zerospace
• The Damage
• Beneath The Skin