I was pleasantly surprised to receive a review from Sounds2Buy.com, which is a new resource for musicians of all genres. Thanks Ben Rivaux for the unbiased review of my material! It means a lot to me to be acknowledged for my music and not just my message.
Ambient, uplifting and dream-like: Digging the dance tunes of Digital Aura
I have to admit it’s not every day I wrap my ears around a mix described as “Christian trance and dance”, but I’m open-minded when it comes to music – especially anything by new, unsigned artists. And I should point out that Digital Aura – aka Ontario-based Greg Primmer – emphasises that his tunes are not at all intended for Christians only. Yeah, he aims for his music and biblical-based lyrics to be an extension of his praise to the god he believes in, but that’s not to say there’s nothing here for any who chooses to believe in other – or, indeed, no – entities!
Digital Aura’s tunes are all about the ethereal female vocals and catchy melodic hooks, a combination surely as universal in its appeal as your average chart-topping fare? The difference here is that you’re tempted away from the mainstream towards a particular brand of trance that has so far remained underground and generally away from secular ears.
If you fancy breaking yourself in gently to what may be a new sound, check out a couple of Digital Aura’s most listened-to tracks on Sounds2Buy so far: U2 vs. Pink (Mashup) and U2 vs. Digital Aura – MLK (‘Bad’ House Mix). Let your ears lilt to the earthy tones of Bono’s voice set against a meditative rhythm that would melt even the hardest of souls! Like Digital Aura I’m a big fan of U2, so I could be biased, but don’t let that stop you from delving deeper into the music of this artist, who weaves melody lines and harmonies together like the best dance veterans before him.
From the seminal Lift Your Head Up, through pensive classic Grace Like Rain, to the epic 2day 4ever, Digital Aura’s songs leave you in no doubt as to why global DJs have been spinning his ambient, uplifting and dream-like music from Scandinavia to Singapore.
By: ben rivaux
I’ve seen a lot of these so called “Top 50″ or “Top 100″ lists, but none have done a better job of capturing the ‘essence’ of 
Trance greatness like this list compiled by ‘dancetronic’. Scanning through his alphabetized list was like reliving all the best trance moments I’ve experienced since it all began just over 2 decades ago. Each and every track he’s chosen captures the very best elements of the genre. He even did a fantastic job of explaining what made each track so unique and pioneering at the time it was released. This list is especially good for casual listeners of the genre or beginners just discovering trance for the first time. Trance music like this has been captivating us for 20 years, and now we can truly identify these hits as ‘classics’ within the genre. Nice work!
I’m happy to receive this glowing review from one of the foremost Christian music resource sites on the web!
Digital Aura is Greg Primmer, a composer/producer from Petrolia, Ontario. With his debut release, Primmer has created beautiful art that deserves to be heard. Whether it be ambient, chill, or trance, Digital Aura takes listeners on a seamless electronic journey for more than an hour. Like a lot of Electronic Dance Music, “Digital Aura” is light on vocals, allowing the listener to interpret the music as spiritual theater. The disc closes with a remix of the Echoing Green tune “Suffer,” a great finish to the record. In all, this is an artist you should be checking out, especially if you are a fan of Andy Hunter, The Echoing Green or Integrity’s Chill Series.
Thanks Rob Tyson for this positive review!
I was more than delighted to receive this review and recommendation from a site so well respected among Christian musicians and music lovers alike. The Phantom Tollbooth is an E-zine covering music and popular culture from a Christian perspective.
As is the case with much of the EDM scene (electronic dance music), projects of this nature take on the persona of usually one composer. Digital Aura is Greg Primmer of Southern Ontario, Canada. His heart is poured out into creating Christian trance music. “Indeed, the art of producing this type of music is in making it sound so simple. Yet the truth is that it requires so much more than one might suppose — intricacies like creative use of space, sound effects, timing, weaving melody lines and harmonies together, creating tension and even choosing the right instrument to set the proper tone or mood.” (…from his thoughts page)
I am very impressed with this disc. There is an uplifting element to this trance music that can help you enter into God’s presence, if you can think outside the limits of what is accepted Christian “worship”.
Every song has a purpose; therefore there are no standouts. A cascade of nuances and textures makes for a very satisfying listen. I encourage you to give this a try.
thecannyshark
March 2008 (rated 4-1/2 out of 5)
Thank you for the great comments!
