Samurai isn't my favorite. I remember when I first purchased Beyond the Infinite back in '96. I thought the whole album was amazing except Samurai. Despite this, Samurai got the single because of its inclusion on the Virtousity soundtrack. Since I'm a huge JR fan I ended up buying this single, despite my dislike for the song.
I'm sitting here listening to it right now in order to give an honest review. After almost a decade I still don't like Samurai. I find it obnoxious with a lack of continuity. That said, it's the only weak song on an otherwise great single/EP.
The Total Eclipse Remix is a much nicer reimagining of the song and much easier on the palette. It still has a lot of the flaws of the original, but more refined.
Feel The Universe (KoxBox) was one of my favorite JR songs for a long time. It takes a certain ear to appreciate it, no doubt, much the same as those who find Samurai to be a good song. To me, though, it's a classic. I love the strange computerized sounds. I can't think of another song that sounds quite like it.
Magnetic (Robert Liener) is a rather minimalist take on Magnetic. It's nice sounding but I find it doesn't really go to many places during the song. It's got a good beat but it gets kind of stale during the 8 minute run.
Labyrinth is a very nice trance song. This song sounds very fitting for the JR of the time and could have easily gone on Beyond The Infinite without much issue. If you're a fan of BTI, and you probably are if you're reading this review for Samurai, you'll like this song.
Cheers!
Brilliant stuff This single is amazing. I don't care for track 4 (Magnetic [Robert Liener Remix] ) but the rest are simply brilliant. This is some of the most inventive, creative and tantalizing trance I've ever heard. Samurai is extremely unique, well done, and catchy...the vox are awesome. The remix is awesome, although it has only one sound in common with its original...to me, it's like a whole new song; instead of the usual clap/snare they use a kind of water-like bubble sound. It's stuff like this that makes them so unique. Feel The Universe (Kox Box Remix) is more like psychedelic trance; it has a racy, choppy feel, and a great pulse. There are lots of fx and a great, haunting, guitar like melody with a very low action. Labyrinth blows my mind every time I hear it. It's beautiful, enchanting and creative. Despite the dead track, this still deserves 5 stars!
It is worth buying just for its first track, Samurai!! I bought this CD just to hear its first track, Samurai, and so far I have not been disappointed. Samurai is one of the best tracks that I have ever heard! It has a great changing flow and culmination points, and it above all got great sound. I cannot say that I like all other sound clips too much, I think that they are a little annoying after you listen to them for a while. However, I do understand that we all have different taste and I can reassure every techno/trance fan that they will likely find what they are looking for here.
Great EP Just like to say that this is a great EP. But please, this is not techno. It's trance. Love trance, then buy this.
Koooooooooo! I just listened to these sound clips, and it's some damn good techno/electronic music if ya ask me! I think it's really great, 4 any techno fan.
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