The 'Complete Nansenu' side is the real winner on this vinyl. It's catchy, mysterious hook is very Northern Exposure-esque as is worth buying for alone. It's particularly hard to cue and Start in a mix due to a long and winding synth solo at the beginning, but a real impact can be made if you start this song just after a solo of a previous tune.

All in all, well worth getting just for the above song!

Firstly, I'd just like to say well done to 'SamPope' for is excellent in depth review of this album which sums up nicely the what-what of everything.

However, I'd have to disagree with his view this is the strongest entry in the series. Whereas the first edition to the series sounded beautifully composed, and could actually give you cognitive visions of your own landscapes, NE2 just isn't as atmospheric because of the direction between quicker mixing, less progressive songs, and more funkiness. Though I would undoubtedly agree that the end of CD1 is complete euphoria.

I have always felt CD2 from NE1 has been under-rated so many times too. It's just a real grower; upon first listening it's understandable that it sounds completely different to the first disc, but in time you realise it's actually a quite stunning trance disc. Such tunes as 'Plan 94', 'Sound System', and 'Phoenix' are classics in their own right, and have all the connotations of an icy, twinkling landscape.

But thats just my thoughts; NE1 was compiled and mixed to be more atmospheric and dream-like, whereas NE2 flows alot quicker and isn't as clever in the mixing.

Just beautiful - one of the best trance tracks to have been released post 2000. I'll admit, and others may agree, that this has been a pretty forgettable decade when it comes to the likes of trance; mostly down to other more commercial genres such as house being popular, and a change in club culture. If only the quality of this track could be repeated time and time again, gone would be days of boring electro!

With 2000 creeping round the corner, it was up to 2 albums to prove worthy of having the night of your life before the clock turned 12:00... Cream Anthems 2000, and The Annual 5 (Millennium Edition)
The digi-book this time has a classy silver finish to it, worthy of everything that 1999 represented, and the booklet is probably the most interesting of the series.
However, while the track listing appears great, some of the mixes (and mixing) sound like rushed decisions. Or drunkenness before the big bash! And just as in The Annual Ibiza 99, it all comes down to Tall Paul.
While Judge Jules does a great job with disc one, providing all the biggest party tunes, Pall seems a little off the mark at times, and has chosen some poor mixes.
Whats more, they've crammed in as many tunes as possible... meaning some songs only come in at 2:30 seconds!
However, this is a party album, and this makes it different to all the other Annuals produced.. it was destined for the Millennium countdown!

When it comes to New Year, this album is a must!

Of it's time, this is the best dance album ever. The only fair way to organise how we rate such albums is not by quality, but the genre of it. Like wise, whereas Renaissance: The Mix Collection is no doubt the best of pre 1995, Gatecrasher Wet is easily the best dance album of the late 90's.
As the title suggests, it does have a 'wet' theme - whether it's the liquidy/electronic sounds of Desyfer, or the beautiful sounds of Synaesthesia, the 2 discs contrast the feeling of the summer. Disc 1 invites you to get out into the heat of the sun and have fun, while Disc 2 just makes you want to get up and throw your arms about!
Combined with beautiful, sunny, and bass-filled sounds, this is the ONLY album for the summer.