[numblock num=”6″ style=”3″]Ultra Dance 15 succeeds in creating another edition to Ultra Music’s impressive collection of hit-mix albums. Why the album of tracks is forced into a mix is another question. True, it is the small factor that keeps it from being another ‘HITS OF NOW’ style album. But, with awkward transitions and forced mixing, it takes away from the overall enjoyment of the collection.[/numblock]
The 15th annual Ultra Dance mix album is out and features tracks from Steve Aoki, Kaskade, and Benny Benassi. This edition in the series, from dance music label Ultra Music, is again a compilation of the previous year’s top pop and dance music hits. Quality remixes of these hits are also included. It is geared toward the growing population of fans who enjoy the integration of dance music into pop and the ‘Top 40’ music scenes.
The Ultra Dance series is usually formatted best for pop and ‘Top 40’ fans. There is more of a focus getting the right tracks in the mix, rather than the overall quality of the mix itself. Unfortunately, this muddies the theme and purpose of the album. The stated goal of Ultra Dance is to be ‘perfect for the electronic music enthusiast and Top 40 fan alike’. That fact seems lost when looking at the tracks selected and the order in which they’re mixed. For example, Blasterjaxx features on the album, but with their track Faith. It is by no means a bad track, but a top track of 2013? Why not Fifteen, Mystica, or their remix of Tsunami? This theme, rather than one of perfection for electronic and pop music fans, is found throughout the album.
As with past Ultra Dance albums, this album is more about the style of tracks included, rather than the creation of a cohesive mix. Unfortunately, this is very clear throughout. There are several instances of songs being awkwardly forced together, such as the transitions between the Jump Smokers remix of Best Song Ever by One Direction and Armin van Buuren’s This is What it Feels Like. This is to be somewhat expected when a random assortment of ‘Top 40’ and dance hits of varying styles are thrown together. But, it undoubtedly takes away from the overall quality of the mix.
The target audience likely won’t care, as the emphasis in Ultra Dance is much more on the individual tracks than the entire body of work. That said, there are some great tracks and quality sections of Ultra Dance that dance music and pop fans alike will enjoy. The section connecting A Light That Never Comes from Steve Aoki and Linkin Park, Cash Cash’s remix of Safe and Sound from Capital Cities, and Will Sparks bouncy remix of Blurred Lines from Robin Thicke stands out on the album.
[symple_divider style=”solid” margin_top=”20px” margin_bottom=”20px”]The Breakdown:
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