Sash - "Greatest Hits" (Album) (Encore Une Fois - The Greatest Hits - Sash)

Member Name: mccannalex

Product:	Encore Une Fois - The Greatest Hits - Sash
Date:	17/02/01 (74 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some of the best commerical dance tunes released over the past 3 years

Disadvantages: 2nd Cd of remixs is pointless

Music, its like the weather in the sense that everyone can have an opinion about it (That is unless you're a Girl / Boy band where the typical response is "Well, its not my cup of tea but I can see why other people quite like it). So whether it was in the 60's with Mods Vs Rockers, the 70's with Punk Vs Disco, the 80's with Pop Vs Indie or more recently all important Guitar music Vs Dance music. With a copy of Sash' Greatest hits we finally thrash out the Big Dance Music Debate.

The Case For:
Dance music's just a bit of fun isn't it and when it gets to Friday Night there's nothing better than just letting your hair down after a week in the office. Take a track like the Dario G remix of "Colour The World" with its uplifting gospel vocals, it transports you to a mythical place - The Land Of The Free. The beat's your mantra and that's all that counts, there's no need for any serious message because its only meant as an accompaniment to your night out.

Thankfully Sash has tunes by the bucket load (even if its only one over the whole album) and is more at the pop end of the market. Its the type of dance music that if you stripped down the beats and bass it could simply be played on a guitar or keyboard, a fact that is clearly displayed on the ballad "Just Around The Hill".

The Case Against:
Its just insignificant drivel that will be forgotten in less than 6 months time. What happened to a time when music was about passion and honesty and songs actually meant something to someone. Can you ever imagine a time when people look back at Sash in the same way they did the Beatles, The Sex Pistols or the Manics and say those songs saved my life? I thought not. Lyrically it's just meaningless one liners like "We're all moving around, Dancing the rhythm of life", lines that a 5 year old would have no problems bettering

The problem with a signific
ant portion of this album, particularly the remixes, is that looking for a tune is like trying to find a needle in a haystack, "Its My Life" is a perfect example of style over substance.

Verdict:
While it has a number of classic singles "Stay", "Mysterious Singles", "Colour The World", "Just Around The Hill" and "With My Own Eyes" much of the album is exactly the type of trite that gives dance music a bad name. The second CD of remixes if beyond the realms of sanity and offers little extra to the original tunes with a couple of notable exceptions Dario G and Doug Laurent.

Saying that though its a significantly better purchase then the numerous Ibiza, Gatecrasher, Cream and Ministry of Sound Compilations on the market. Surprisingly it wipes the floor with Paul Oakenfold's latest mix album.

As many people, myself included, are saying the likes of Sash and trance music is on its last legs in its current carnation. With UK Garage being infinitely superior on a simple pop level and on the level of innovation I'd be surprised if you didn't see some cross-over acts somewhere between the two.

Alex McCann

Summary: