Review: Paul Oakenfold ‘We Are Planet Perfecto’ at Pacha NYC – 7/14/12

Paul Oakenfold Pacha NYC 7/14/12 FLYER

We came to hear trance, real trance. Back peddling to the late 90s, early 2000s when symphony and melody superfluously intertwined among soft, alluring melodies that grasp your limbs and drive your emotions to feel the MUSIC. That is just what we got when Paul Oakenfold brought his ‘We Are Planet Perfecto’ tour to Pacha NYC this past Saturday, July 14th, 2012. He set the standard for Trance and EDM music with a legendary 25+ industry years on his belt and this past weekend New Yorkers were blown away, back in time. Off to a mellifluous surrounding of synchronous sound bars containing enrapturing 125 BPM trance melodies fit for the most tasteful of listeners.

I was legitimately left in ’A State of Trance’ in witnessing a mind-blowing 3+ hours of resonant trance from a pioneer and a true legend in dance music, Paul Oakenfold. Paul Oakenfold opened up the evening of July 14th, 2012 at Pacha NYC around 1 a.m., taking our souls back to a time when trance captivated our bodies and sent listeners on a journey of uncontrollable euphoria. Opening tracks included “Southern Sun”, Julie Thompson’s, “Never Be the Same”, and “The Fall” by Way Out West”, which trace back to before most of these new era ‘PLUR RAVERS’ knew what electronic music was. What really blew my mind was an ID remix of “Elements of Life” within the first hour of Oakenfold’s set, prancingly bringing my jaw to the floor of the mezzanine in surprise. Our hearts and ears were opened up with pulsating trance melodies intertwined with deep, dark, progressive tracks to keep the adrenaline flowing. Paul Oakenfold captivated us with unparalleled crescendos of symphony and then crept his way into our nervous systems with powerhouse tunes like Axwell’s “Teenage Crime” and a down-tempo progressive remix to Afrojack fan favorite “Can’t Stop Me Now”.

The crowd at Pacha NYC was indebted into the sounds of Paul Oakenfold as he kept our spirits high with a powerful performance throughout, not once losing our attentions, springing in one of my all time favorite tracks from John O’Callaghan and Audrey Gallagher “Big Sky”, transitioned into the number one track from Armin van Buuren and Sophie Ellis Bextor, “Not Giving Up On Love”. I bet you’re WOW’ing at your computer screen, because I was in the most rejoiced sense of “awe” this past Saturday at Pacha NYC. The excitement did not stop there as Paul Oakenfold pulled the classic card and played Motorcycle “As the Rush Comes (Markus Schulz Remix)”, followed by Red Hot Chilli Peppers “Other Side”. As if the crowd wasn’t already on their toes, Oakenfold belted us with one of the most memorable and sophisticated of classics, “Resurrection” which sent an uproar of entranced ‘delirium’ through the walls of Pacha NYC.

I knew Saturday night was going to be record breaking but I was soulfully and trance-tactically satisfied, getting much more than what I had expected. Paul Oakenfold is a hard act to catch in the states but he is worth every second of the wait. After Saturday, July 14th, we are left with a satisfying taste of trance and progressive music and we have been reminded once again, why artists like Paul Oakenfold are lifetime icons in the EDM community. Until next time, ‘We Are Planet Perfecto’.

www.PaulOakenfold.com

www.PachaNYC.com

Paul Oakenfold ‘Resurrection’ at Pacha NYC

Article by: Ilenia Cangelosi

Photo credit: Michael Elezovic

About the Author

Ilenia Cangelosi Ilenia Cangelosi is a native New Yorker with a passionate "MBA" in Electronic Dance Music. A long time connoisseur of dance music having been exposed to New York City nightlife at a young age, Ilenia loves everything EDM from Trance, Minimal, Techno, House, Drum&Bass and all things world festivals. Follow Ilenia (@miSziLenia) on Twitter & Instagram to stay up to date on the latest & greatest in all things EDM!