There Will Be No Armageddon

Union Jack's first full-length CD is a must-have for any electronica aficionado's music library. People who aren't familiar with the genre will find this album to be powerful yet still palatable. Full-on trance-heads may find fault with some of the tracks, but will probably still hold onto it just for nostalgia's sake; "Two Full Moons and a Trout" was one of the biggest hits of the mid-'90s dance scene. All in all, it's surprising how much longevity this album has enjoyed in spite of its precarious position in an ever-changing genre. Although the anonymity of the club music scene has prevented Union Jack from becoming a familiar name to the masses, anyone who is even slightly in-the-know about earlier trance music will recognize most of these tracks instantly. "Water Drums" is a slow, dreamy, melancholy tune that has found its way into countless dance compilations, soundtracks, and chill rooms. The first track, "Red Herring," uses two tried-and-true elements -- solid beats and an infectious female vocal loop -- to create a track that can appeal to just about everyone. But really, there's no point in trying to figure out where each song begins and ends on this head-trip of a CD. Just ride the highs and lows, the lulls and the builds, the beats and the dreamy vocals; there's plenty of all of it, because this is ambient trance, and it is very different from all the other subgenres in the trance category. Whereas most trance albums are beat-intensive and only suitable for a dance club or party environment, this CD is appropriate for play in just about any setting.