Cosmic Gate Album: “Sign of the Times”

Gotta balance the previous review a little :) The changes are quite a bit as so far described, but it departs to vocal trance, so for all the love vocal trance "open your heart" is an amazing piece and "flatline" is not bad at all.

Cosmic Gate has always delivered some of the best hard trance songs out there. I have listened to this album back and forth and was uncertain at first how to take it. It was definitely something I wasn't expecting to hear from this group, but I come here to tell all of you that this album is truly one of the best trance albums of 2009 - hands down.

They have completely revamped their style adding in a progressive spin to it - and it comes out making an album that has totally changed my perspective on what trance could be. There are a few tracks worth mentioning, but all in all - this is definitely a great album for those of you who aren't afraid to listen to a few new tunes with a sound you might not be used to. Not only is this album good but some great remixes have come from this album - most notably "Under Your Spell (Myon and Shane54 Monster Mix)". If you have any interest in hearing what trance sounds like in 2009 and go in with an open mind - you will love the album. For those of you looking for the same sound as their earlier tracks, this album might not be for you.

Notable Tracks:

"Open Your Heart" ft Tiff Lacey - (Tiff Lacey, ftw)

"Not Enough Time" ft Emma Hewitt

"Under Your Spell" ft Aruna (Check the remixes as well as the original mix!)

"Arctic Sunset"

5 out of 5!

After three outstanding albums (especially "Rhythm & Drums"), Cosmic Gate releases a disappointing fourth album. I kind of saw this coming though. "Earth Mover" saw them moving away from their trademark sound (Hard Trance), and "Back2Back 3" saw them spinning a more Trance-Electro/Progressive than the harder Trance and Tech-Trance. What they did back then they did so good, but their new sound is just dull. No track really stood out at all for me. A few of the instrumental tracks were tolerable, but most all of this album is just plain bad. They have always been some of my favorite DJs and Producers. I still have hope for them.

If you are thinking of buying this album based off of Cosmic Gate's earlier material up through 2006...DO NOT BUY THIS!!! If you like their current sound you may enjoy this album. For me "Sign of the Times"....well...it's horrible and very disappointing!

Check out: George Acosta, Christopher Lawrence, Sean Tyas, John O'Callaghan, Markus Schulz