tranceREVIEWS
arrangement though, there probably isn’t enough spacing between the two to qualify the purchase of both mixes.
Morvan
Charisma Unearthed 8.0
When you uncover a corker on Unearthed, it makes the requisite hunt that much more satisfying. ‘Charisma’ is such a find. The opening section has tension ratchet-ing sub-riffs and beautifully FX-ed, Gaelic-leaning female harmonies programmed into a prog-trance mainframe. As the lead riff approaches, the breath is appreciatively bated; the power of it, though, will clean steal it. Seek this out.
Solarstone Seven Cities (Solarstone Pure
Mix) Captivating Sounds 8.5
Astuni & Shamano
Where We Belong Nu-Depth 7.5
Helping keep euphoric levels up this month is this offering from Astuni & Shamano. Pads shimmer and pianos tinkle, while heavenly choirs attend and filters release. It’s not original, but it is unforced and authentic, with riff patterns that follow instinctive movements up the key range. Good notes too for the Manuel Le Saux & Fluctor and Touchstone remixes, which are every bit as good as the original.
Eddie Bitar
Rollercoaster Mental Asylum 7.5
Every month needs a bit of the ‘hell- bent’ about it, and ‘Rollercoaster’ provides April’s. Bitar’s got a recipe which consists of warp-speed tempos, acid (sulphuric, hydrochloric & whatever you’ve got in the cupboard) and a sporadic sprinkling of ‘80s 16-bit arcade FX. Leave to rest at the break, mellow with melodica and then crank the synths up to 300 degrees for the last four minutes. Enormous fun.
Ethillas
Euphorica Unearthed 6.0
‘Euphorica’ almost falls wholesale at the first hurdle. Mistaking a squally, whiny lead sound for the advertised titular, its supporting parts struggle
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Chicane & Ferry Corsten feat Christian Burns
One Thousands Suns Modena
8.5
On its original release, there was always a hint of untapped commercial potential to ‘One Thousand Suns’. By the time you read this, likely the track will be everywhere again. Adding to its all-star artist line-up, Christian Burns succeeds in tipping ‘Suns’ over into supernova. Adding hook- you-in lyrics and an irresistible sing-it-back chorus, it’s every bit the sum of the artists’ parts.
to hit the ‘ok’ mark even. Remix wingmen Suncatcher and Mihai M (under their Starshifters guise) do an almost indecently good job of pulling this back from the brink. From kick drum to lead line, there simply isn’t an element whose game they don’t significantly raise.
Las Salinas
Chipsy Kings VANDIT 7.0
The ‘Original Mix’ of emerging Israeli trio Las Salinas’ latest Med-heading trip builds with a distortion-heavy sub-riff and lower end tempo to a suitably beatific drop. Palpably more dynamic in terms of production zing, Genix’s remix is strong. In terms of construction, elements and
Guaranteed to mist up the monocle of any class-of-’99 clubber, Solarstone revisits ‘Seven Cities’ in pure trance form. Embodying that ethic to a tee, and being less peaks-and-drops driven, it works the floor in tougher fashion than the original. Radiating evocation from every pore and packed into nine minutes, the supporting production refreshingly spends as much time looking forward as it does back.
Super8 & Tab
Teardrops Enhanced Recordings 7.0
The current fuel choice for trance forums everywhere, one of Anjunabeats’ mainstay acts ups sticks to label pastures new. Relentlessly chipper and upbeat, with a big, fat keyboard stabbing mainline, ‘Teardrops’, douses its quick-flip snare-less drops in plenty of gooey, goose-bumping piano. It’s a decent track, no doubt about that. In the S8& T canon, though, it’s no ‘My Enemy’.
York & JPL
Nightmare Planet Love 7.5
Given the melodic disposition of the producers (both veteran and relative greenhorn), ‘Nightmare’s a disquieting title. Fear not harmony- lovers, Torsten ‘York’ Stenzel and Joni ‘JPL’ Lungqvist aren’t about to upset any apple carts. With its funky drums/ bass/hats/claps set-up rolling out assuredly, the break sees it segue into bliss-filled shoreline ambiance. It’s more rocking and punchy in payoff than expected, but you won’t see the floor complaining.
DSCO
Are You Ready Techibeats 7.5
Pumping US-born trance produced without the need to arrest development at the end of every bar with ‘sounds from the workshop’. Could catch on, this.
Eximinds
Mainbeat Garuda 7.0
When an artist known for one style of trance stratospherically changes their sound to one more ‘of- the-moment’, questions will be asked about motivation. The riff does have something of the ‘Lay All Your Love On Me’ about it.
John O’Callaghan & Full Tilt feat Karen Kelly
Breathe Captivating Sounds 8.0
Collectively O’Callaghan &
TIM STARKPO Box 272, Oxford, OX3 8FJ QUICKIES
Full Tilt’s production punch would have been convincing enough. The longing-but- uplifting vocal after-touch from Karen Kelly, though, puts it up amongst this month’s best.
Karanda feat Erick Strong
Rebuffer Interstate 8.0
Perfectly splitting the elec-trance atom, ‘Rebuffer’ gets its elemental balance cock on. Dropping choral harmonies and high impact synth rises left and right, post-break it floors the floor with an ace electro-grinding mainline.
Mike Shiver & Samuel Jason
Trouse Captivating 5.5
Is this the last track of the manufactured sub (sub) genre or a first attempt at its ‘revival’? Either way it’s not terribly good.
ANDREW RAYELARMIND 01. ARMIN VAN BUUREN & MARKUS SCHULZ ‘The Expedition
(Andrew Rayel Remix)’ Armind “My latest remix for the massive ASOT 600 anthem!”
02. ANDREW RAYEL ‘Musa’ ASOT “My new emotional single on ASOT.”
03. FISHERMAN & HAWKINS ‘Apache’ Coldharbour Recordings “A true club banger which really rocks the crowd!”
04. MARLO ‘BOOM’ Armada Music “Dancefloor burner, with a strong lead and powerful melody!”
05. ALEXANDER POPOV ‘Lost Language’ Armada “Epic melody and opera voices by the talented Mr. Popov.”
06. ANDREW RAYEL FEAT JANO ‘How Do I Know?’ Armind “One of my last vocal tracks with the briliant voice of Jano.”
07. ALEX WACKII ‘Ode To Felix’ Pulsar “This guy is a great discovery for me, with promising tracks.”
08. DASH BERLIN FEAT CHRIS MADIN ‘Fool For Life (Dash Berlin 4AM
Remix)’ Aropa “The power of Dash’s 4AM mixes always surprises me.”
09. ANDY MOOR & BETSIE LARKIN ‘Love Again (Andrew Rayel
Remix)’ AVA Recordings “My remix of a collaboration between two legends.”
10. AYDA ‘Ceasar’ Armada “Brilliant track by a rising star.”
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