We’re told that some mix CDs attempt to recreate the unique atmosphere of subterranean dance club lifestyle. Most fail. Dave Ralph’s Naturalized reaches further from this trend seeking an almost nightclub storybook in and of itself. This trance double album seems to contain chapters on a fictional night in the life of the club. Your evening starts off in calm motion, building ever so slowly to allow for our day time pains and worries to fade off into the sunset. That quietness when night approaches seems to builds excitement in anticipation of the evening activities. The beginning tracks have an almost new age-like introduction with their peaceful ambiance. One could even substitute coffee for this as morning prayer. I do and am just zestfully clean while drugged office ants point a quizzical look to my throbbing car. For the nightclub fiction of Naturalized, this throbbing life paints the growing glimmer of the city night.

The main body of Naturalized of course is the wild evening of beats. And the essence of trance, according to Dave Ralph’s unique UK style, greets everyone at the door. By the time you hit “Topfshlagen” by Microwave Prince, the club is in your face. Its interesting in hindsight as you experience the progression of tracks: that introductory ambiance lingers throughout the entire album as if the rest of this mix is still a dream or fleeting memory the day after... Dave Ralph’s Trance style, subversive and seemingly delicate, is in on excellent display with Naturalized. (Damn I wish I were in DC the summer of 2002 as Dave is residential DJ at the Nation.)

Score 4/5

/author/ Alzn