T4L - Moonwalk

I have always loved Moonwalk. It was one of the first trance tracks that got me hooked on euphoric breakdowns. Despite my love of it, however, not everyone is so enamoured. The common claim is that Moonwalk simply tries too hard to impress and so doing actually makes itself look like mutton dressed as lamb. Personally, I think that's poppycock. Although it must be said that the In Trance We Trust label has always avoided publishing blatantly euphoric tracks that could have been made a long time ago, and have aimed to inspire its artists to be different; the same but different, if you were. I believe Ralph Barendse is a prime example of an In Trance We Trust artist - always seeking new ways to entertain the ears.

The thing I love most about Moonwalk is the orchestral part, which begins at 3.14. It has such an eerie atmosphere to it, which is perfectly complimented by the track title and vinyl artwork. The build-up at 4.06 relinquishes the eerie atmosphere and yearns to give an emotional feel to the track, and it succeeds mightily.

Perfect Blend in many ways is an epic track, yet it is not epic for quite the same reasons as Moonwalk. Whereas Moonwalk built up to its own epic conclusion in the trance-by-numbers fashion patented by Ferry Corsten 200 years ago, Perfect Blend aims to be slower, and have an eerie sound all the way through.

If Moonwalk was all about the joys of leaving the space shuttle and experiencing some once-in-a-lifetime gravitational 'airtime', then Perfect Blend is the comedown; the realisation that you have just landed on a desolate alien planet. Industrial, post-apocalyptic, dead.

Perfect Blend is certainly more a typical ITWT track, even at 4.54 its breakdown is strikingly minimal and slightly distubring on the ears if I may say so. Yet all the while it manages to entice the listener and make him or her appreciate its melodramatic mastery.

You can create your own journey when listening to Perfect Blend, whereas Moonwalk is more the 'in-yer-face this-is-happening-now' kind of track, which is possibly why the mini backlash occured.