Fierce Angel: Beach Angel [Import]

This compilation is just about as good as it gets. 3 CDs packed full with great tunes, starting more laid back, loungy, then growing into a blasting display of funky house, and finally moving on to some great classics of yesteryear. After the very good "Tokyo Disco", Mark Doyle once again proves why he is the master, and this is up to par with the wonderful Beach House 04.04 and 04.03 (I didn't really like BH 04.05 which I thought was a bit of a filler, too loungy and without the typical Doyle edge).

It is rather funny, but I think CD1 is the weaker of the bunch. There are quite a few good tunes here, don't be mistaken. This is music to listen in a sunny morning, when you're starting to sip margaritas and when the sun is shining brightest. My favorites are "One True Love" and "Always by my side", mainly because I love the vocals on both tracks and also because Eric Kupper is the master at making it sound oh-so-groovy. "This Way", "Turning", "Bonafide" and "Don't Let Love Weigh you Down" are also top-notch tracks. The others are ok, not amazing. I'd say this is a 4-star CD. Someone here said "consistent". I agree as this is a very tight group of tracks...

CD 2 is the one. As Mark writes on the sleeve: "takes the tempo up a notch as the third cocktail works its way into the bloodstream". Dab Hands' track is really cool and reminds me a lot of the atmosphere on Fatboy Slim's famous Brighton Beach set, which I love. Deepsky's "Ghost" might be my favorite tune in the whole box, a mellow groover with beautiful vocals and feel. It is followed by Andy Caldwell's "Brand New Day" which is no less amazing, once again great vocals and nice grooving bassline. The presence of "Sean" here puts me off though - it is also on Beach House 04.05 (an year-old record!) and on Mark's Tokyo Project CD1...come on, it is a good track but how many times do I have to buy it? The outputs of The Cuban Brothers and Mr. Grooves & Vergas are rather average for my taste, and then Ian Pooley has a track with nice vocals, followed by a massive tune by Peyton together with Eric Kupper - Peyton hardly ever gets it wrong, especially with Kupper's pianos! The last three tracks on the CD are all really good, "Back to Me" a solid mellow groover, "Changes" and "Devotion" showing the full range of Seamus Haji's skills, with this mix of "Devotion" being way better than the one found on Stereo Sushi 8. All in all, a very good disc, with just a few glitches. This is the one to put on when things start to move in the afternoon and the ladies want to dance...

CD 3 is a very good mix of Mark's former achievements. Being a fan of the Beach House series, I own every one of these tracks, but it is a pleasure to listen to them one more time, in a very thoughtful sequence. The only one I'm not really keen on here is "Flower Power", but that's just me - I find it dull and repetitive. My favorites are the great "Ever After" (Bonnie Bailey is something else), "Never" by Ray Roc with the great bassline and gorgeous vocals, the very funky and soulful "Back Together" and the amazingly beautiful "Central Reservation" by Beth Orton. If there were 6 stars, i'd give this CD all of them. If you want to know what the summer feels like, this is the disc...

overall a very good output by the Fierce Angels, as my title says, this is a perfect companion for a hot summer. Mark seems to have found his rhythm and groove once again, let's hope he keeps going like this.

I've been well and truly converted to the more softer, chilled out side of house music with this album. After getting fierce angel and loving practically every track i thought i'd give this one a try and i'm glad i did as the mellow feel is enough to relax even the most uptight people. Normally i'm put of beach style albums as i feel they are slightly monotonous and not easy to distinguish but beach angel has a slightly funkier edge to make it perfect summer listening.

Faves- we've got love, u make me happy, dont let love weigh you down and falling

Fab collection again by Mr Doyle, I have yet to pick up Tokyo Disco but on it's way..was really disappointed by Fierce Disco ( fans of twisted disco may like it more ), although digital Angel is ace...This is more my scene as I loved Beach Kandi and Disco Kandi..out of the three discs I have to say disc 3 is my fave, even though old tunes but the order and the mixes chosen just flow beautifully from the beginning to end, you don't even have to close your eyes to be transported to the White Isle or sunny climes..Ever After by Bonnie Bailey for me is the stand out track.. why Ms Bailey hasn't had some major chart recognition is beyond me ..maybe she doesn't want to sell out...disc 1 for the beach, I agree is the weaker of the set, although not bad at all..disc 2 more upbeat, disc 3 starts the wind down, with some shake your booty tracks still present..fine work