The Best of Delerium (CD - 2004)

Personnel: Leigh Nash (vocals); Ashwin Sood (drums); Chris Peterson, Andreas Jenson, Jamie Muhoberac, Rhys Fulber, Richard Evans (programming).

Additional personnel: Jael, Kristy Thirsk, Leigh Nash, Rani, Sarah McLachlan, Aude, Zoe Johnston , Jacqui Hunt, Nirina Pallot.

Audio Mixers: Greg Reely; Mike Plotnikoff.

Audio Remixers: Tony McGuinness; Paavo Siljamaki; Wise Buddah; Jono Grant.

Editors: Geoff Goddard; George Maniatis.

The ten years since Delerium "found themselves" on the dreamy Semantic Spaces album have been filled with dancefloor hits, guest vocalists (mostly female), and two million units sold. Bet you forgot Delerium is/was a Front Line Assembly side project! Besides Rhys Fulber, Bill Leeb, and stacks of synths, Delerium and Front Line Assembly share a love of structure; it's just that Delerium favors pretty over gritty. There's plenty of glorious, grandiose orchestration on The Best of Delerium, and more widescreen, dreamy bliss than you can imagine. Sarah McLachlan set the standard for Delerium contributors with her work on "Silence," here in its original album mix, not the more remembered "Sanctuary" remix. The new remix of "Silence" tacked onto the end of the collection is close enough to the "Sanctuary" remix to be a suitable replacement, and all the other tracks that made it onto the dancefloor or radio are included. If you enjoy the precious lyrics over grand trance side of Delerium you couldn't ask for a better collection, but don't think you're getting the whole story. Delerium's albums do more wandering and get darker, while Best Of goes for the sweet fluff. That's not a putdown, since this sweet fluff is absolutely delicious and inspired, even the new Pachelbel-copping "Paris" with guest vocalist Aude. Leeb and Fulber have been mining the same darling territory for a decade now, but it keeps giving up gold. Focusing on Delerium's showy, pop side, Best Of gives you all the choice nuggets. ~ David Jeffries minimize