u/seadcon

Recommending a tune is all good and well, but I believe a little context is crucial to cement a recommendation and make us all appreciate it a little more.

1999. A 3CD compilation was released called Essential Millennium. Pete Tong took CD1. Norman Cook took CD2. Paul Oakenfold took CD3.

Pete Tong and Fatboy Slim played their part, but boy did Oakey deliver the goods! He got CD3 for a reason.

Essential Millennium alongside Clubber's Guide to Trance from the Ministry of Sound, mixed by ATB, were the only two releases in the UK to feature the tune I'm recommending.

By comparison, ATB - 9PM featured on more than 25!

N-Fluence - Sweet Substance (The Generator Remix)

This was uploaded sixteen years ago. It has 13 likes. 1,900 views.

1999 was the peak of trance, so says many of us, so in that case, finding quality tunes from that year (or a couple either side) means we get something special you likely haven't heard before but likely will enjoy.

Time to go back...

https://youtu.be/zz0n46VEEno?is=OO2hqje5fYfThxej

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I've had a long hard look at my mate's stupidly large wall chart and at first glance Group H looks about as run-of-the-mill as you can get.

However, if we take a closer look, we find what is likely to be the most exciting Group of all!

It all boils down to three distinct reasons.

1. The third and final matches in this group are both extremely likely to be crucial deciding games for everyone.

2. Goal difference is all but certain to play a huge part in deciding final positions.

3. There is more at stake for these four teams than in any other group.

Lets explore these reasons a bit more.

1. Spain and Uruguay will expect to go into their clash both sat on 6 points. So we will have a decider for who wins the group. But you also have Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde going into their clash likely both sat on 0 points and needing a win for a chance to advance!

2. And this is where Goal Difference gets in on the action. Spain and Uruguay will not simply bowl Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde over with ease because Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde know that they need to keep their goal difference low to boost their chances and make their final game against each other a winner takes all rather than a winner has a chance.

3. Now we sprinkle a bit of spice on top of all this! More at stake. Will Cape Verde be harder for Spain to score against because they meet in the opening game? Cape Verde's first ever World cup game. Will Cape Verde actually get stage fright? Do Uruguay have an advantage playing Cape Verde second - knowing what the goal difference looks like after the opening games? And what about the ramifications?

Whoever comes second is all but certain to play Argentina in the Last 32!

Stop and think about that a moment.

Spain vs Argentina in the Last 32 is crazy!

Uruguay and Spain will be looking at that final group game and will want to go into the game with the superior goal difference so that a draw is enough to finish top.

That combined with Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia needing to keep their goal difference down to give themselves a chance, means you have an extremely exciting group!