TRANCEREVIEWS QUICKIES Darren Tate
Tears Mondo Recordings 7.0
From its robust spit- polished build, Vangelis- tinted harmonics and Asiatic vocal lean, ‘Tears’ offers many highs. The break’s piano line is a bit so-so, but other than that this is another win for the Mondo boss.
Mike Sonar Estiva
Teddybeat Enhanced Recordings
9.5
Is ‘Teddybeat’ a disturbing new trend amongst Candy Ravers? Google’s no help. It only returns hits for Estiva’s latest (and even after last month’s incredible ‘Come Home’) greatest track. Combining a stuttered, auto- tuned vox loop, plonky piano and air-cutting analogue-ish synths isn’t a classic recipe for success. What happens at its conclusion, though, will have safety officers running for cover, festivals in ruins and you ecstatically concussed.
Alex M.O.R.P.H. & Jerome Isma-Ae
Bang! Armind 8.5
The drums, bass, percussion and hard chopped vocals all sound Jerome — tight and loaded, with the most accessible of techno edges. The production mix-down has M.O.R.P.H’s next-level sonic punch, which will make ‘Bang!’ pound on even the most put-upon club speakers. Its groove is brutal and while it might not appear feature- rich, floor-side it lacks nothing.
Anthony Mayer
Tyrantic Touchstone Recordings 8.0
For one reason or another, ‘Tyrantic’s been kicking around my mp3 folder for many a month. Now released from label limbo, if the title has some whiff of Sasha & Diggers about it, it’s for good reason. Enhanced production techniques aside, with its low-slung mean ‘n’ moody pumping- prog vibe, mid-range tempo and consciously ‘I Feel Love’ bassline, it wouldn’t have sounded out of place on a circa-2001 Bedrock release.
07
djmag.com4 Danny Stubbs feat Issa
Secrets Solaris Recordings 7.0
Production-wise, Danny’s original mix of ‘Secrets’ is missing a certain something. Erring on the trance- progressive side is no crime. The atmosphere level it creates, though, isn’t enough to support its linearity. Issa’s vocal, however, is a beaut. On his mix Matt Bukovski slides far more in terms of melody underneath it. The effect is transformational, turning it into a proper hair-raiser.
Hazem Beltagui
Stellar EP Vol. 1 Crashing Waves 8.0
Egyptian-born, Paris-based producer Hazem Beltagui first appeared on the radar through his Crashing Waves debut last year. If that pushed your buttons you won’t be disappointed here. ‘Stellar’ work indeed, this EP’s brace of tracks are pacey trance-prog heat-seekers. They’re as likely to be as emotively effective launched from the Amnesia pulpit as they are received in a horizontal sunlounging position.
JOOP
The Future 2013 High Contrast 8.0
A proving track for JOOP half a dozen years back, ‘The Future’ has undergone an overhaul. Just as chunky and bassy as before, it bristles with tech-trance purpose. Lofted by creative FX, great percussion and a lead line that accomplishes much without trying too hard, it fills out with some trance-step flourishes. In the future that will (somewhat ironically!) mark this out as a very 2013-anchored rewire.
M.I.K.E.
Natural Source High Contrast 7.5
The singles coming from M.I.K.E.’s ‘World Citizen’ album appear to be being released in order of ‘most M.I.K.E.-ness’. It’s good to hit your key features, though! ‘Natural Source’s engineered lifts and drops throw a new phase, filter or key change on the inexorable roll of its riff every 16 bars. Something you could happily listen to all day, it’s brilliant in its (deceptive) simplicity.
Ralphie B & Mesh
Seize the Day Captivating Sounds 9.0
Both Ralphie and Mesh have had patchy discographies since the likes of ‘Massive’ and ‘Persuasion’. As such, for-fans-of, this will be like all your birthdays coming at once. ‘Seize’ starts in blipping micro-prog territory and builds kick-by-kick into 10 minutes of progressive-trance bliss that wouldn’t shame a BT album. Swelling its sounds at the break, every new turn will induce another hard, appreciative gulp.
Super8 & Tab
L.A. (Remixes) Anjunabeats 8.5
S8&T’s original of ‘L.A.’ was clean-sweep perfection. A track so big and faultless and complete, it would almost appear to confound a remix treatment. Juventa’s mirrors the original but misses out the vertigo-inducing big-drop moment. Using only ‘L.A.’s echoing vocal as a basis, BT’s mix travels much farther. Opening with harmonizing synth streaks and glockenspiel notes, post- break it kicks in everything from trance-step to uprushing euphorica.
GIUSEPPE OTTAVIANI VANDIT/BLACK HOLE RECORDINGS
01. GIUSEPPE OTTAVIANI & FERRY CORSTEN ‘Magenta’ Black Hole
Recordings “Next single off my album, this summer’s colour is magenta.”
02. ARMIN VAN BUUREN ‘Last Stop Before Heaven’ Armada Music “It simply takes you straight to heaven, no stops needed.”
03. FRAN ANJUNA ‘Sofia’ INOV8 “Big fan of this one, it may lack in originality but the melody is just beautiful.”
04. LISA LASHES ‘Wanted To Feel’ Lashed Music “Simple-yet-addictive melody with a lush synth lead, which is stuck in my
head.”
05. ORJAN NILSEN ‘Violetta’ Armind “Orjan always rocks my world with his unique sound. ‘Violetta’ is one of my
favourites.”
06. SHATO & PAUL ROCKSEEK ‘Deer Friends’ VANDIT Recordings “New entry with the VANDIT family, delivering some cool fresh sounds.”
07. MATT DAVEY FEAT KATE DOWMAN ‘Sunrise Here I Am’ ASOT “Dancefloor killer with a beautiful vocal and some elements from the golden
age.”
08. TALLA 2XLC ‘Rush Hour’ Perfecto Flouro “One of the very few real uplifting tunes that I would never stop playing.”
09. ANDY DUGUID & JULIE THOMPSON ‘Skin & Bones’ Magik Muzik “The fabulous and unmistakable voice of Julie with a very emotional piano and
guitar breakdown.”
10. ASHAI ‘The Untold Story (Mobil Remix)’ Vendace Records “Incredible atmosphere and lovely melody, a tune to put on repeat.”
Hallotron Infinity 7.5
In the best possible way, ‘Hallotron’ has the type of instant-catch riff which will have you believing you must have heard it donkeys years ago.
Miroslav Vrlik
Don’t Panic Harmonic Breeze 6.5
Skippy, lifty new offering from the Spanish label, from whom we don’t hear enough. Not the most
original riff, but club-side it has no trouble getting a reaction.
Paul van Dyk & Arnej
We Are One VANDIT 8.0
With Van Dyk most likely behind its atmospheric and thoroughly convincing euphoric moments, it’s down to Arnej to intersperse with the agreeable and effective technoid bottom-end squelch. Hey presto, an event anthem is born!
York vs DJ Shog and Vintage & Morelli
A.F.R.I.C.A. Planet Love 6.0
If you’ve not yet had your fill of African vocal chanting trancers (see: Ali Wilson’s 2010 catalogue), then this should serve as a reasonable top-up.
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