TRANCE REVIEWS
the starting gate. Eco
Desert Storm EP ASOT
7.0
‘Desert Song’, the lead track on ASOT’s 199th release, is a robust, well-produced number that fields atmospheric vocals and a decent enough leadline. More melodic in its initial stages, ‘Prism’ works nicely, right up until the mid- section, where the riff gets a bit disconnected from everything else. Best by leagues, though, is ‘The Storm’, which has a great unconventionally FX’d vocal and story-telling lyrics.
Arty Gentle Touch
(Juventa Remix) Enhanced Progressive
8.5
There’s not much gentle in Juventa’s vision for Arty’s ‘Gentle Touch’ — undoubtedly the banner headline (in both name and achievement) on Enhanced Prog’s 100th release EPs. From its first breezeblock beat to the menacing, building distorted growl through to the break’s hard-struck piano and ‘all-in’ ethos at the top of the drop, this has a climax that’ll test the hardiest of soundsystems.
Alex O’Rion
Satellites/Blueprint Black Hole Recordings 9.0
The pretty decent ‘Satellites’ might be the one with the remix love lavished on it (from Thomas Coastline and Jenya Solid), but ‘Blueprint’ is the hard worker. Groove-fuelled bass, an abiding tough, trance-progressive tone and quick-flip FX thrills invade the synapses. In the drop it allows a shaft of melodic light in, achieving immediate equilibrium, before rocketing back off. Surefooted and confident, this will deliver unto most floors.
Basil O’Glue & Styller
Saturated Saturate Audio 7.5
New label originating from Slovakia, with a debut release from current kings of ‘prog astronomy’, O’Glue & Styller. Eyes inevitably swing skyward as the pair impart another fine collection of epic horns, celestial FX and winding, engagingly complex riffs, set against a deep-yet-throbbing backing track. As long as its
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Paul van Dyk feat Adam Young
Eternity 3 Beat 8.0
name doesn’t become its mission statement, this is a label showing promise.
Tilt feat Sam Mollison
Your Love Lost Language 9.0
Arrangement, melody, FX, chords, vocals, lyrics, production polish, remixes, pedigree, style, class, the list goes on. ‘Your Love’ has the absolute flawless lot! Cliché that it is, had this prog-trance wonder been produced in 2001 it would have been a thrice-released classic long ago. Best bit? Only by a process of elimination, it’s Mollison’s extraordinary soulful vocal burn you’d miss the most from this. What. A. Tune.
DJ Feel feat Aelyn
Your Love FSOE 5.0
Much like FSOE, Feel’s productions can wander all over the quality scale. From the thrilling (‘24.01.2011’) to the ho-hum, of which ‘Your Love’ is a prime example. The usually spirited vocals of Aelyn are notably AWOL, leaving a gulf where the verses are just OK, but the vital chorus is tepid (annoying even). Add to that a synth-thrashing climax that doesn’t have the heart and you’ve got a track that’s stuck in
Adam Young adds the commercial edge to this, the latest single breakout from van Dyk’s sixth studio album. Possibly the most boundlessly cheerful track you’ll hear this year, his vocals are totally irrepressible and (over repeated plays) thoroughly irresistible. Over at the rework counter Alex M.O.R.P.H., Austin Leeds, Gary Proud, Johan Malmgren, Riley & Durrant, Giuseppe Ottaviani and Qulinez (phew!) all have their remix way with ‘Eternity’.
Philip Aelis & Tiff Lacey
Hearts In Blazing Light Musical Madness 7.0
Jump-in point for this track is Tiff Lacey’s vocal, which has to rank among her best in years. Hooky, heartfelt and crystal- clear in delivery (providing rapid sing-a-long charm), it opens up the nuances of Aelis’ production on his excellent ‘Progressive Mix’. Good notes on the remixes too, with Harry & Fly’s tough, grinding no-prisoners-taken electro-lined variation doing the quickest damage.
Pizz@Dox
Scarlet Perceptive Pure 7.5
As you hit play on this tune (doubtless rubbing your chin, wondering what a Pizz@Dox is), thoughts will quickly turn to ‘Scarlet’ and its strong points. A persuasive, uplifting mainline, cleverly ratcheted tension and a blistering payoff (which, tellingly, will have you cranking the volume right up there) all contribute. The Snow Flakes & Rishabh Joshi remix isn’t a patch on the ‘Original’, but is still very much worth checking.
www.djmag.ca
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Norin & Rad Five Finger Death Punch
Anjunabeats 7.0
Packing quite the proverbial, ‘Five Finger Death Punch’ is tough, grungy and menacing at the front end, before melodically lightening the tone at the mid- section.
Raneem & Aaron Camz
Generator Interstate 6.0
Sharp, strident tough trance with substantial side orders of angular analogue-ish sub melody and cranked sirens (on which a moratorium may soon need to be called).
Redstar
The World Monster Tunes 7.5
Redstar’s first for Monster since the ‘All That I Am/
Whatever’ double-header from two years ago. The feisty feel, elevated tempo and aerated synths haven’t changed a bit, though.
Stuart Millar
Kyros Solaris Recordings 7.0
Follow up to the excellent ‘Perfect Dawn’ on Crashing Waves. The ‘Original’ is pretty fair, in the melodic trance vein, but it’s Majera’s odd, interesting subversion of the formula that’s the real winner.
Super8 & Tab Fiesta
Anjunabeats 7.5
Early Moog-ish notes and (natch) female Spanish vocals induce the atmosphere, before a big, hammer-the-point-home riff delivers the climax.
TRITONAL AIR UP THERE
01. TRITONAL ‘Still With Me (Seven Lions Remix)’ Air Up There “One of our favourites from ‘Piercing The Quiet’ remixed. Huge!
02. GENIX ‘Destinations’ Anjunabeats “What a melody! Smiles everytime.”
03. COSMIC GATE ‘Wake Your Mind (Tritonal Remix)’ Black Hole Recordings “Our remix of Cosmic Gate, been in our sets for six months solid.”
04. W&W ‘Moscow’ Mainstage “Wicked melody. Intoxicating.”
05. TRITONAL ‘Everafter feat Cristina Soto (Tritonal Club Mix)’ Air Up There
“One of our biggest festival tracks this year, so cool to see the response globally.”
06. VELVETINE ‘The Great Divide’ Anjunabeats “Vocal is to die for. One of those timeless tracks.”
07. TRITONAL & KAENO ‘Azuca’ Anjunabeats “Total party tune. Hands up!”
08. ZEDD ‘Spectrum’ Interscope “Track of the year. Zedd has quickly become one of our favourite producers.”
09. TRITONAL ‘Piercing Quiet (Super8 & Tab Remix)’ Air Up There “Huge bassline, monstrous chord stack — Super8 & Tab deliver.”
10. TRITONAL ‘Something New feat Jenry R (Rafael Frost Remix)’ Air Up There “One of the biggest remixes from our album. The build puts people into a frenzy.”
MONEYSHOT!
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