I think this video speaks for itself...
Showing posts with label Uplifting Trance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Uplifting Trance. Show all posts
Monday, October 11, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
It has arrived!
The Enhanced Sessions Volume Two compilation that I ordered last week finally arrived in the mail today, and it's one of my favorite releases of the year already, even though I've only listened to Ferry Tayle's mix.
The compilation is still on sale for £7.99 ($12.81 US) at the Enhanced Recordings store [I'm not sure when the sale ends though].
If you like the songs below, you should check this release out.
7 Skies & Kiholm - Lost & Found (Dan Stone Remix)
Vascotia - Verano 2010 (Sean Tyas Remix)
ReOrder feat. Stine Grove - Biscay Bay (Ferry Tayle E-Motion Intro Edit)
The compilation is still on sale for £7.99 ($12.81 US) at the Enhanced Recordings store [I'm not sure when the sale ends though].
If you like the songs below, you should check this release out.
7 Skies & Kiholm - Lost & Found (Dan Stone Remix)
Vascotia - Verano 2010 (Sean Tyas Remix)
ReOrder feat. Stine Grove - Biscay Bay (Ferry Tayle E-Motion Intro Edit)
Monday, August 16, 2010
Enhanced Recordings albums, clothing on sale
It was a pleasant surprise when I opened up one of my email accounts this afternoon and found this in my inbox:
Enhanced Recordings has been one of the hottest trance and progressive labels this year so far, and they have a bunch of great two-disc compilations now on sale for $12.81 (US) each. There's also a few bundle deals there too, where you can get two compilations (four discs total) for $20.32 or a compilation/shirt for $28.14.
And the icing on the cake is free shipping no matter where you live and no tax for US customers.
Click here to visit their web store.
If you're looking for something new to listen to and can't decide, check out Enhanced Sessions Vol. 2 (Mixed by Tritonal and Ferry Tayle):
Over on TranceFix, Jorn Van Deynhoven called it the best compilation of the year so far and the previews sound awesome. After I'm done sifting through some of the stuff I haven't listened to yet, I can't wait to give this one a spin when it arrives in my mailbox.
[Image/video credit: Enhanced Recordings]
Enhanced Recordings has been one of the hottest trance and progressive labels this year so far, and they have a bunch of great two-disc compilations now on sale for $12.81 (US) each. There's also a few bundle deals there too, where you can get two compilations (four discs total) for $20.32 or a compilation/shirt for $28.14.
And the icing on the cake is free shipping no matter where you live and no tax for US customers.
Click here to visit their web store.
If you're looking for something new to listen to and can't decide, check out Enhanced Sessions Vol. 2 (Mixed by Tritonal and Ferry Tayle):
Over on TranceFix, Jorn Van Deynhoven called it the best compilation of the year so far and the previews sound awesome. After I'm done sifting through some of the stuff I haven't listened to yet, I can't wait to give this one a spin when it arrives in my mailbox.
[Image/video credit: Enhanced Recordings]
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
ReOrder releases free track in memory of Love Parade victims
Following the news of last month's tragedy at the Love Parade festival in Germany, ReOrder has teamed up with Silent Shore Records to release a free track in memory of those who died: "A World of Trance". Right click the link on their website and choose "save as" to download.
Now I'm not sure if he cranked out this track in two weeks after the event happened, or if this was something he recently finished and decided to label it "in memorandum".
But either way, this is a fantastic uplifting tune with a huge breakdown and an emotional melody. Highly recommended.
[Image credit: Silent Shore Records]
But either way, this is a fantastic uplifting tune with a huge breakdown and an emotional melody. Highly recommended.
[Image credit: Silent Shore Records]
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
DJ Mag Top 100 spoof + some irony?
Two things that I thought were pretty funny today...
This guy wants you to vote in DJ Mag's Top 100 poll for a few of his favorite names. But in the meantime, he explains why some guys always make it into the top 10 each year:
Also today during my commute home from NYC, I was listening to Andy Blueman and I turned and looked out the window and snapped this picture. A coincidence considering the kind of music Andy produces? Or not?
This guy wants you to vote in DJ Mag's Top 100 poll for a few of his favorite names. But in the meantime, he explains why some guys always make it into the top 10 each year:
Also today during my commute home from NYC, I was listening to Andy Blueman and I turned and looked out the window and snapped this picture. A coincidence considering the kind of music Andy produces? Or not?
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
DJNY #4: Wayde Rafnel
Every local DJ's career story is born from humble beginnings, turning into something that has the potential to become so much more.
Like many others in New York's emergent scene, Wayde Rafnel is among the wave of homegrown talent bringing fresh ideas and perspectives to electronic dance music.
Like many others in New York's emergent scene, Wayde Rafnel is among the wave of homegrown talent bringing fresh ideas and perspectives to electronic dance music.
Wayde has his sights set on an eventful second half of 2010: one which will include revamping the traditional mix podcast format, raising the bar for the quality of demo compilations, and most importantly playing great sets.
While this set of goals may appear lofty, it can be done. And here's Wayde plans to make it all come together...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From paradise to the country...and maybe back
Binarysound: You were born in Costa Mesa, California. What age did you move over to Pennsylvania and where are you in that state right now?
Wayde Rafnel: Right now I live in the Poconos which is in the middle of nowhere. I moved here when I was about 6 or 7-years-old, because my Mom lived here when she was my age and then moved out west before she met my Dad. We then decided to move back here to be closer to family.
BSound: So you were living in the Poconos before you got into DJing and producing?
WR: Oh yea, by far.
BSound: What age were you and where did you become exposed to electronic dance music?
WR: I started playing guitar when I was 15-years-old and I was really influenced by heavy metal and anything that sounded aggressive. I fell into that and did that for a while, but the first ever trance song I heard was on Grand Theft Auto 3 on one of the in-game radio stations. The song was called "Neo (The One)" by Slyder and I just fell in love with it. I thought to myself: "wow this is amazing...what is this?". I'd say I was about 17 or 18 at this point.
BSound: Costa Mesa is about an hour away from Los Angeles, one of the biggest clubbing cities in the United States. Although your current location is only two and a half hours away from New York City, how difficult was it to get started as a DJ in a rural area like where you live?
WR: It was really hard. When I first got into this and started producing, I figured that I needed to DJ while I was making tracks. So I thought I'd try to take my talents to a club around here, but I found out pretty fast that they don't play anything EDM-related.
I then started going to shows in New York and started talking to a couple of the locals who are bigger there, like Brad Miller and Marcello (DJ Eco), and they helped me out a lot. They kind of guided me on the right path and were very supportive of what I was doing.
BSound: So there's no local scene for you to play a show or a house party in Pennsylvania?
WR: When I first started DJing I tried to do house parties, but even before I went to New York to start playing shows I messaged a bunch of fraternities around here and told them "you should do a house night or a progressive night, and I'll DJ for you if you give me some free drinks or whatever". I just wanted to get my name out there, but all of them were like "we just wanna hear rap".
Reinventing the podcast, the demo compilation, and a DJ's fashion choices?
BSound: When you first set out to make your podcast, Uplift, how did you want to market it differently from the hundreds of other trance podcasts out there?
WR: I had a podcast before Uplift called At Sunset and it was good, but it failed because my hosting service just [shut down?] and I couldn't recover the old shows. At that time I thought to myself why I wasn't getting the listener base that I wanted and how I could make a podcast better.
So I decided to start a whole new podcast and give it a better title that would draw people in. That's the whole thing I found out about marketing: it's almost like you have to make a brand for yourself and give people a reason to come. What I'm planning to do more of on the show are updates on local events, artist interviews, and showcasing new talent. Whenever someone comes to me and says they just started DJing and need some help I'll ask them if they have a guest mix and try to incorporate that onto the show.
I'm also doing more quality versus quantity episodes. I used to do one episode a week every Wednesday, but now I do one every two weeks since I'm searching for the perfect track selection rather than just playing the top 20 at the moment.
BSound: How has the reaction been so far for Uplift?
WR: It's been way better than the other one and I think some of that has to do with the title, since you know what the show is about right away. I've gotten at least double the traffic on it and it's been received well. I'm pretty excited about it.
BSound: When talking about uplifting trance online, I often read how people think the genre is too generic and people are no longer innovating with their productions. What's your stance on this sentiment?
WR: I don't think it's generic. A lot of people say it is, but I think the problem is that a lot of people still want something that sounds similar to what it was five years ago. If you go to any musical genre, you'll find that people always say "oh it isn't the same anymore". It's almost like people are holding onto that memory but aren't willing to create something new.
But guys like Simon Patterson- to me that's a new sound, like that techy drive with some uplifting elements in the middle. When I first heard his style I was floored. Guys like DJ Eco, Jaytech, Breakfast, Oliver P, Marcus Schossow, and Jorn van Deynhoven are also making unique sounds where you know it's them when you hear it. It's a very wide range of sound in the genre, and I think the people who say it's generic are listening to more of the top 20 stuff and aren't diversifying themselves enough.
BSound: What upcoming tracks do you have coming out?
WR: I have a two song EP coming out on Couture, but I'm not sure of the exact release date yet. It's a more tech-trance label and the main track on the EP is called "Struggle", and it's really odd how that track came together. I've written so many tracks and sent them to different labels, but I usually get the response of "oh well it's really good, but whatever".
The idea behind "Struggle" originated when I watched The Pursuit of Happyness, and that movie was so inspiring to me because producing trance music is what I love to do. I wrote the song and gave it that name because the sound feels like you want something more. I was totally inspired by the fact that I feel like I struggle and I'm never going to get anywhere with a song, but it's weird because now it got signed to a label. It's a really dark track with three parts to it and people who have heard the track already have said that it's interesting.
The other song is called "Costa Mesa". I've always wanted to write a track with that title but they were never good enough. When I finished the first song on the EP, Couture asked me for another track and I was working on this one and decided to finish it up. It's more of an uplifting track, similar to Sean Tyas' "Melbourne": a song that has pads and piano.
BSound: How long have you been working on both of these songs?
WR: "Struggle" came out pretty quick because the ideas really flowed together and I had the basis of the song together within a couple weeks. "Costa Mesa" was a lot faster than that because I felt I was on a deadline and I wanted to have something good so I finished that one in about a week. The total process for "Struggle" took me about a solid month.
BSound: On your last episode of Uplift, you played a half hour mix of an upcoming demo compilation that you are putting out called "Costa Mesa". What's the story behind this release?
WR: A lot of people ask me when I'm playing a gig if I have a demo mix, and I feel like every artist in the scene will take a one hour mix and burn it to a CD, write on it on sharpie, and then hand it to people. But the problem is those people are getting a million other CD's like that with sharpie on them. So I felt that I really wanted to make a demo mix that is almost like my own version of A State of Trance or In Search of Sunrise, which contained tracks that I really identify with and something that really showcases what I want to sound like in my feelings.
But I wanted to do it professionally by getting nice CD labels and artwork. I'm not going to sell it because of course that's illegal, but I'm planning to give it away when I have a gig. It'll be a great demo and it's something people can enjoy and remember more since they have more of a package rather than just a blank-labeled CDR.
The compilation is called "Costa Mesa" because that is where I want to move back to and be, and every single track on there has something to do with that location. About half the tracks on both CD's (it's a two disc thing), are edited or original. On my latest podcast I did a 30 minute preview of the first disc and it's way laid back and definitely like a summer beach mix. Disc two is solid trance but it definitely has its summery sounds and uplifting elements.
WR: I had a podcast before Uplift called At Sunset and it was good, but it failed because my hosting service just [shut down?] and I couldn't recover the old shows. At that time I thought to myself why I wasn't getting the listener base that I wanted and how I could make a podcast better.
So I decided to start a whole new podcast and give it a better title that would draw people in. That's the whole thing I found out about marketing: it's almost like you have to make a brand for yourself and give people a reason to come. What I'm planning to do more of on the show are updates on local events, artist interviews, and showcasing new talent. Whenever someone comes to me and says they just started DJing and need some help I'll ask them if they have a guest mix and try to incorporate that onto the show.
I'm also doing more quality versus quantity episodes. I used to do one episode a week every Wednesday, but now I do one every two weeks since I'm searching for the perfect track selection rather than just playing the top 20 at the moment.
BSound: How has the reaction been so far for Uplift?
WR: It's been way better than the other one and I think some of that has to do with the title, since you know what the show is about right away. I've gotten at least double the traffic on it and it's been received well. I'm pretty excited about it.
BSound: When talking about uplifting trance online, I often read how people think the genre is too generic and people are no longer innovating with their productions. What's your stance on this sentiment?
WR: I don't think it's generic. A lot of people say it is, but I think the problem is that a lot of people still want something that sounds similar to what it was five years ago. If you go to any musical genre, you'll find that people always say "oh it isn't the same anymore". It's almost like people are holding onto that memory but aren't willing to create something new.
But guys like Simon Patterson- to me that's a new sound, like that techy drive with some uplifting elements in the middle. When I first heard his style I was floored. Guys like DJ Eco, Jaytech, Breakfast, Oliver P, Marcus Schossow, and Jorn van Deynhoven are also making unique sounds where you know it's them when you hear it. It's a very wide range of sound in the genre, and I think the people who say it's generic are listening to more of the top 20 stuff and aren't diversifying themselves enough.
BSound: What upcoming tracks do you have coming out?
WR: I have a two song EP coming out on Couture, but I'm not sure of the exact release date yet. It's a more tech-trance label and the main track on the EP is called "Struggle", and it's really odd how that track came together. I've written so many tracks and sent them to different labels, but I usually get the response of "oh well it's really good, but whatever".
The idea behind "Struggle" originated when I watched The Pursuit of Happyness, and that movie was so inspiring to me because producing trance music is what I love to do. I wrote the song and gave it that name because the sound feels like you want something more. I was totally inspired by the fact that I feel like I struggle and I'm never going to get anywhere with a song, but it's weird because now it got signed to a label. It's a really dark track with three parts to it and people who have heard the track already have said that it's interesting.
The other song is called "Costa Mesa". I've always wanted to write a track with that title but they were never good enough. When I finished the first song on the EP, Couture asked me for another track and I was working on this one and decided to finish it up. It's more of an uplifting track, similar to Sean Tyas' "Melbourne": a song that has pads and piano.
BSound: How long have you been working on both of these songs?
WR: "Struggle" came out pretty quick because the ideas really flowed together and I had the basis of the song together within a couple weeks. "Costa Mesa" was a lot faster than that because I felt I was on a deadline and I wanted to have something good so I finished that one in about a week. The total process for "Struggle" took me about a solid month.
BSound: On your last episode of Uplift, you played a half hour mix of an upcoming demo compilation that you are putting out called "Costa Mesa". What's the story behind this release?
WR: A lot of people ask me when I'm playing a gig if I have a demo mix, and I feel like every artist in the scene will take a one hour mix and burn it to a CD, write on it on sharpie, and then hand it to people. But the problem is those people are getting a million other CD's like that with sharpie on them. So I felt that I really wanted to make a demo mix that is almost like my own version of A State of Trance or In Search of Sunrise, which contained tracks that I really identify with and something that really showcases what I want to sound like in my feelings.
But I wanted to do it professionally by getting nice CD labels and artwork. I'm not going to sell it because of course that's illegal, but I'm planning to give it away when I have a gig. It'll be a great demo and it's something people can enjoy and remember more since they have more of a package rather than just a blank-labeled CDR.
The compilation is called "Costa Mesa" because that is where I want to move back to and be, and every single track on there has something to do with that location. About half the tracks on both CD's (it's a two disc thing), are edited or original. On my latest podcast I did a 30 minute preview of the first disc and it's way laid back and definitely like a summer beach mix. Disc two is solid trance but it definitely has its summery sounds and uplifting elements.
Some tracks off of the Costa Mesa compilation are:
Luigi Lusini - Who We Are (Wayde Rafnel Costa Mesa Intro Edit)
Answer 42 - Pink Houses (Wayde Rafnel Dub/Vocal Piano Edit)
Oceania Pres Corndonnier - Squares in Boxes (Suncatcher Remix)
Velvetine - Safe (Wherever You Are) (Rank 1 Remix)
Greg Downey - Global Code (Original Mix)
Oliver P - Philadelphia (Wayde Rafnel Southern California Edit)
BSound: In most of the photos I've seen of you DJing, you wear plain clothes like a solid black or white T-shirt. How would you describe your fashion choice? I though it looked a lot different than what everyone else wears when they're behind the decks…
WR: [Laughs] I have 20 white t-shirts and that's pretty much all I wear. It's just my style: jeans and a white t-shirt. I guess it's just how I like to look- something laid back because the button downs and flamboyant shirts are cool and stuff, but it's something that sets me apart and may make me look more approachable. When I think about it I don't like to put a front on or a fake image- if you wear a white t-shirt and jeans I feel people are more accepting of you way more than if you try to look like something you're not.
BSound: Can you tell us what people can expect from you this Friday with Brad Miller and Mike Saint-Jules at Santos Party House?
WR: I'm really excited for this show. I'm going to be playing more laid back stuff to give people another taste of what I can do. A lot of people right now know me for playing 140 bpm straight driving trance, but I'm on opening duties and I want to show people that I can play the progressive trance stuff without it sounding the same. I want to show people that you can play summer themed music in a club and people will love it.
BSound: In most of the photos I've seen of you DJing, you wear plain clothes like a solid black or white T-shirt. How would you describe your fashion choice? I though it looked a lot different than what everyone else wears when they're behind the decks…
WR: [Laughs] I have 20 white t-shirts and that's pretty much all I wear. It's just my style: jeans and a white t-shirt. I guess it's just how I like to look- something laid back because the button downs and flamboyant shirts are cool and stuff, but it's something that sets me apart and may make me look more approachable. When I think about it I don't like to put a front on or a fake image- if you wear a white t-shirt and jeans I feel people are more accepting of you way more than if you try to look like something you're not.
BSound: Can you tell us what people can expect from you this Friday with Brad Miller and Mike Saint-Jules at Santos Party House?
WR: I'm really excited for this show. I'm going to be playing more laid back stuff to give people another taste of what I can do. A lot of people right now know me for playing 140 bpm straight driving trance, but I'm on opening duties and I want to show people that I can play the progressive trance stuff without it sounding the same. I want to show people that you can play summer themed music in a club and people will love it.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Afterhours.fm's four year anniversary celebration begins tonight
And boy do they have a lineup put together for this- I don't think I've ever seen a better collection of trance DJ's in one place at the same time.
In addition to live broadcasts of Aly & Fila's Rising Sun album launch party and StreamLined, a show featuring guys like Estiva and Alex M.O.R.P.H., AH.fm has rounded up 72 other DJ's to partake in the celebration that lasts until June 1.
Highlights include:
Manuel Le Saux
Temple One
Kyau & Albert
Mat Zo
Jorn Van Deynhoven
Daniel Kandi
Rank 1
Super8 & Tab
Markus Schulz
Sean Tyas
Nitrous Oxide
Oh...and I'm forgetting a couple dozen other names too. Click the flyers below for the full lineup and head to AH.fm to see when someone is broadcasting over the air.
[Image credit: Afterhours.fm]
In addition to live broadcasts of Aly & Fila's Rising Sun album launch party and StreamLined, a show featuring guys like Estiva and Alex M.O.R.P.H., AH.fm has rounded up 72 other DJ's to partake in the celebration that lasts until June 1.
Highlights include:
Manuel Le Saux
Temple One
Kyau & Albert
Mat Zo
Jorn Van Deynhoven
Daniel Kandi
Rank 1
Super8 & Tab
Markus Schulz
Sean Tyas
Nitrous Oxide
Oh...and I'm forgetting a couple dozen other names too. Click the flyers below for the full lineup and head to AH.fm to see when someone is broadcasting over the air.
[Image credit: Afterhours.fm]
Friday, May 21, 2010
Aly & Fila's Rising Sun now available on iTunes
Aly & Fila's debut album, Rising Sun, is now available a week before it's official release date on iTunes for $7.99.
Armada has posted track previews of the album's 15 songs on their official YouTube page, and the release has also scored a positive review from the folks over at TranceFix.
On a side note, according to Billboard, iTunes now accounts for 26% of all US music sales. With this statistic and increasing sales on iTunes in the future, it'll be interesting to see if more electronic dance music artists market their music more on iTunes over places like Beatport and TrackItDown.
Armada has posted track previews of the album's 15 songs on their official YouTube page, and the release has also scored a positive review from the folks over at TranceFix.
On a side note, according to Billboard, iTunes now accounts for 26% of all US music sales. With this statistic and increasing sales on iTunes in the future, it'll be interesting to see if more electronic dance music artists market their music more on iTunes over places like Beatport and TrackItDown.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Four new DJ Eco tunes unveiled
DJ Eco has posted four new songs on his MySpace: two remixes, and two original productions:
DJ Eco pres. Pacheco - Dancing Under Streetlights
DJ Eco - People (Original Mix)
DJ Eco - People (Rafael Frost Remix)
Dereck Recay - Nebula (Eco Remix)
"People", which has been storming the Beatport Top 100 charts, carries Eco's signature sound: progressive trance with 8bit-sounding synth pitches.
My favorite of the four songs is his remix of Dereck Recay's "Nebula"- a catchy slab of melodic trance laced with subtle piano elements.
Check them out and support a local producer.
DJ Eco pres. Pacheco - Dancing Under Streetlights
DJ Eco - People (Original Mix)
DJ Eco - People (Rafael Frost Remix)
Dereck Recay - Nebula (Eco Remix)
"People", which has been storming the Beatport Top 100 charts, carries Eco's signature sound: progressive trance with 8bit-sounding synth pitches.
My favorite of the four songs is his remix of Dereck Recay's "Nebula"- a catchy slab of melodic trance laced with subtle piano elements.
Check them out and support a local producer.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Aly & Fila's album set for May 28 release
Armada Music has announced today that Aly & Fila's debut album, Rising Sun, will be out in stores at the end of this month.
Tracklisting:
1. Medellin (vs. Activa)
2. Crowe It Will Be Ok (feat. Katherine)
3. My Mind Is With You (feat. Denise Rivera)
4. Rosaires
5. Listening (feat. Josie)
6. Menes
7. Still (feat. Sue McLaren)
8. Perfect Red (vs. Bjorn Akesson)
9. I Can Hear You (feat. Sue McLaren)
10. Without You (The Never Knowing) (vs. Philippe El Sisi feat. Senadee)
11. Paradise (feat. Tiff Lacey)
12. Khepera
13. Sandgroper
14. Breeze (feat. Jass)
15. Rising Sun
Some users on Trancefix have already compiled a list of YouTube links for some of the tracks on the disc, and things are sounding good.
But I can't get over the ridiculous album art that they decided to go with for Rising Sun. Are they trying to pull off the gangsta rap tough guy look?
[Image credit: ArmadaMusic.com]
Tracklisting:
1. Medellin (vs. Activa)
2. Crowe It Will Be Ok (feat. Katherine)
3. My Mind Is With You (feat. Denise Rivera)
4. Rosaires
5. Listening (feat. Josie)
6. Menes
7. Still (feat. Sue McLaren)
8. Perfect Red (vs. Bjorn Akesson)
9. I Can Hear You (feat. Sue McLaren)
10. Without You (The Never Knowing) (vs. Philippe El Sisi feat. Senadee)
11. Paradise (feat. Tiff Lacey)
12. Khepera
13. Sandgroper
14. Breeze (feat. Jass)
15. Rising Sun
Some users on Trancefix have already compiled a list of YouTube links for some of the tracks on the disc, and things are sounding good.
But I can't get over the ridiculous album art that they decided to go with for Rising Sun. Are they trying to pull off the gangsta rap tough guy look?
[Image credit: ArmadaMusic.com]
Monday, April 26, 2010
More special events in store at Afterhours.fm
Afterhours.fm is hosting two special events this week, both of which highlight the talents of DJ's from two different labels.
Thursday - Enhanced Recordings Day
Starting at 2:00 with Estiva and ending with Daniel Kandi is a great block of artists that have had no shortage of excellent uplifting, melodic, and progressive releases on Enhanced, Anjunabeats, and other related labels.
Friday - Unearthed Recordings Day
I haven't heard of as many of the artists on this day, but definitely tune into Manuel Le Saux, one of my favorite uplifting DJ's, for a mix with ridiculously catchy tunes.
And for both of these days, if you miss a set, click on the links above for each day to download any show you missed. The sets are usually posted a couple days after an event.
[Flyer credit: Afterhours.fm]
Thursday - Enhanced Recordings Day
Starting at 2:00 with Estiva and ending with Daniel Kandi is a great block of artists that have had no shortage of excellent uplifting, melodic, and progressive releases on Enhanced, Anjunabeats, and other related labels.
Friday - Unearthed Recordings Day
I haven't heard of as many of the artists on this day, but definitely tune into Manuel Le Saux, one of my favorite uplifting DJ's, for a mix with ridiculously catchy tunes.
And for both of these days, if you miss a set, click on the links above for each day to download any show you missed. The sets are usually posted a couple days after an event.
[Flyer credit: Afterhours.fm]
Friday, March 26, 2010
The inaugural Internet Music Conference
Ok, so no such conference actually exists, but is it a coincidence that so many great internet radio broadcasts are scheduled the week after WMC?
Not only are a stacked lineup of artists of the A State of Trance 450 shows going to be hitting the airwaves, but Afterhours.fm also has four special events planned throughout the week.
Here's the rundown on what you can watch and listen, and who's set to look out for.
Monday: France in the Mix 3 on Afterhours.fm
Notables: Ferry Tayle, Stonevalley
To listen, click here.
Tuesday: Czech Republic in the mix 1 on Afterhours.fm
Notables: Ronny K, Android
To listen, click here.
Wednesday: Russia in the Mix 3 on Afterhours.fm
Lineup TBA
To listen, click here.
Thursday: A State of Trance 450 @ The Guvernment, Toronto on AStateofTrance.com
Lineup: Arnej, Blake Jarrell, Armin Van Buuren, Aly & Fila, Simon Patterson, Sean Tyas, Signum
Notables: Aly & Fila, Sean Tyas, Armin Van Buuren
To listen, click here.
Friday: A State of Trance 450 @ Roseland Ballroom, New York City on AStateofTrance.com
Notables: DJ Eco, Rank 1, Armin Van Buuren, Roger Shah
To listen/watch, click here.
Friday: Luminosity: Before The Energy @ Utrecht, Netherlands on Afterhours.fm
Notables: Manuel Le Saux, Estiva, Mat Zo
To listen, click here.
Saturday: A State of Trance 450 @ Roseland Ballroom, New York City on AStateofTrance.com
Notables: John O'Callaghan, Giuseppe Ottaviani, Armin Van Buuren, Breakfast
To listen/watch, click here.
[Image credit: Afterhours.fm, Made Event]
Not only are a stacked lineup of artists of the A State of Trance 450 shows going to be hitting the airwaves, but Afterhours.fm also has four special events planned throughout the week.
Here's the rundown on what you can watch and listen, and who's set to look out for.
Monday: France in the Mix 3 on Afterhours.fm
Notables: Ferry Tayle, Stonevalley
To listen, click here.
Tuesday: Czech Republic in the mix 1 on Afterhours.fm
Notables: Ronny K, Android
To listen, click here.
Wednesday: Russia in the Mix 3 on Afterhours.fm
Lineup TBA
To listen, click here.
Thursday: A State of Trance 450 @ The Guvernment, Toronto on AStateofTrance.com
Lineup: Arnej, Blake Jarrell, Armin Van Buuren, Aly & Fila, Simon Patterson, Sean Tyas, Signum
Notables: Aly & Fila, Sean Tyas, Armin Van Buuren
To listen, click here.
Friday: A State of Trance 450 @ Roseland Ballroom, New York City on AStateofTrance.com
Notables: DJ Eco, Rank 1, Armin Van Buuren, Roger Shah
To listen/watch, click here.
Friday: Luminosity: Before The Energy @ Utrecht, Netherlands on Afterhours.fm
Notables: Manuel Le Saux, Estiva, Mat Zo
To listen, click here.
Saturday: A State of Trance 450 @ Roseland Ballroom, New York City on AStateofTrance.com
To listen/watch, click here.
[Image credit: Afterhours.fm, Made Event]
Friday, March 12, 2010
Glistening waves on a sunset horizon
Uplifting trance is my favorite sub-genre of electronic dance music, but sometimes people poke fun of it online because of its connection to nature and the elements.
I don't see what music made on computers has to do with beaches, rolling waves, and aurora borealis, but I enjoy the whole nature aspect anyway.
So once again today I had some time to kill at a local mall, and I snapped this photo outside of a Gamestop. It's actually an ad for a Nintendo Wii game, but someone could use the title and artwork for an uplifting trance single and I bet few would know the difference:
I don't see what music made on computers has to do with beaches, rolling waves, and aurora borealis, but I enjoy the whole nature aspect anyway.
So once again today I had some time to kill at a local mall, and I snapped this photo outside of a Gamestop. It's actually an ad for a Nintendo Wii game, but someone could use the title and artwork for an uplifting trance single and I bet few would know the difference:
Monday, March 1, 2010
Track reviews: The best of February
Over the past month, these two tracks have stayed in my top 5 for a decent amount of time, and for a good reason. I haven't gotten around to reviewing them until now, but if you're a trance fan and haven't checked them out already, now is a good time to do so.
1. Running Man - Fading Memories (RedSound Remix) [Only One]
@Beatport // @YouTube // @JunoDownload
When I first heard this song on Afterhours.fm's excellent Spain Trance Connection radio show, one of my thoughts was how much this song sounds like a track built in the early 2000's, but re-outfitted for 2010.
The song opens with your standard intro fare, but things get started quickly with a series of reverberated high-pitched descending scales that sound like the musical equivalent of stars falling out of the sky.
After some chopped samples of female vocalizations and a driving bassline get thrown into the mix, a soft melody emerges going into the breakdown, but it's not what's about to be featured in the closing minutes of the song.
Right at the end of the breakdown comes the main melody- a catchy rhythm that's played out by a synth with an old-school tuning- something that's not commonly heard in trance today.
This song also has a decent lasting value- on each listen I discover another subtle element of the track that I didn't hear before.
Rating: 8 out of 10 [Great]
2. Hodel & JP Bates - Mirrors (Sunny Lax Remix) [Perceptive]
@Beatport // @YouTube // @JunoDownload
One of my soft spots in electronic music are songs have have melodies that are reminiscent of those old 8-bit sounds you would hear on a Game Boy, and "Mirrors" features one of these in a big way.
Everything in this song in neatly constructed- there isn't one effect or rhythm that sounds out of place, and there's also never a point where it sounds like too much is going on at once.
Throw in some powerful piano notes and a few interesting pad sounds- all with a progressive, yet uplifting tint- and you have one of the best songs of 2010 so far.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10 [Choon]
[Image credit: Junodownload]
1. Running Man - Fading Memories (RedSound Remix) [Only One]
@Beatport // @YouTube // @JunoDownload
When I first heard this song on Afterhours.fm's excellent Spain Trance Connection radio show, one of my thoughts was how much this song sounds like a track built in the early 2000's, but re-outfitted for 2010.
The song opens with your standard intro fare, but things get started quickly with a series of reverberated high-pitched descending scales that sound like the musical equivalent of stars falling out of the sky.
After some chopped samples of female vocalizations and a driving bassline get thrown into the mix, a soft melody emerges going into the breakdown, but it's not what's about to be featured in the closing minutes of the song.
Right at the end of the breakdown comes the main melody- a catchy rhythm that's played out by a synth with an old-school tuning- something that's not commonly heard in trance today.
This song also has a decent lasting value- on each listen I discover another subtle element of the track that I didn't hear before.
Rating: 8 out of 10 [Great]
2. Hodel & JP Bates - Mirrors (Sunny Lax Remix) [Perceptive]
@Beatport // @YouTube // @JunoDownload
One of my soft spots in electronic music are songs have have melodies that are reminiscent of those old 8-bit sounds you would hear on a Game Boy, and "Mirrors" features one of these in a big way.
Everything in this song in neatly constructed- there isn't one effect or rhythm that sounds out of place, and there's also never a point where it sounds like too much is going on at once.
Throw in some powerful piano notes and a few interesting pad sounds- all with a progressive, yet uplifting tint- and you have one of the best songs of 2010 so far.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10 [Choon]
[Image credit: Junodownload]
Monday, February 22, 2010
Nitrous Oxide to come out with full-length album
On March 29, Nitrous Oxide will be releasing his first full-length album- "Dreamcatcher", on Anjunabeats. You can pre-order it now on their web site for £8.99 ($13.92 US before tax).
Tracklisting
1. Alderaan (click for sample)
2. North Pole (Album Edit)
3. Mirror's Edge
4. Follow You Feat. Aneym
5. Muriwai
6. Blurry Motion
7. Downforce
8. Come Into My World Feat. Sean Ryan
9. Dreamcatcher
10. Far Away Feat. Aneym
11. Endorphine
12. Supra
13. Amnesia (Chill Out Mix)
Similar to what they did with Anjunadeep Vol.2, the label will be adding track previews for "Dreamcatcher" every Monday and Friday on that SoundCloud link posted above for "Alderaan" and their Facebook page.
Speaking of "Alderaan", how cool is it that the opening track for this album is named after one of the most memorable planets in Star Wars?
I'm also glad that this will be a full-length album of original productions by Nitrous Oxide (a guy that represents what Anjunabeats is all about) and not a mix CD. It's great to have new songs out each month for your favorite artists, but original albums are always rare- and a treat to listen to.
[Imagecredit: Anjunabeats.com]
Tracklisting
1. Alderaan (click for sample)
2. North Pole (Album Edit)
3. Mirror's Edge
4. Follow You Feat. Aneym
5. Muriwai
6. Blurry Motion
7. Downforce
8. Come Into My World Feat. Sean Ryan
9. Dreamcatcher
10. Far Away Feat. Aneym
11. Endorphine
12. Supra
13. Amnesia (Chill Out Mix)
Similar to what they did with Anjunadeep Vol.2, the label will be adding track previews for "Dreamcatcher" every Monday and Friday on that SoundCloud link posted above for "Alderaan" and their Facebook page.
Speaking of "Alderaan", how cool is it that the opening track for this album is named after one of the most memorable planets in Star Wars?
I'm also glad that this will be a full-length album of original productions by Nitrous Oxide (a guy that represents what Anjunabeats is all about) and not a mix CD. It's great to have new songs out each month for your favorite artists, but original albums are always rare- and a treat to listen to.
[Imagecredit: Anjunabeats.com]
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Track reviews: The spaced-out emo edition
Over the past week I've picked up a variety of songs- some vocal trance, a trance tune, and a prog-house tune which now shares the honor of being my highest rated track on this blog. And if you get emotional, grab a tissue for this one (or skip #2).
1. Talla 2XLC feat. Skysurfer - Terra Australis (Jorn Van Deynhoven Remix) [Addicted To Trance]
@Beatport // @YouTube // @Discogs
.jpg)
This song gets its name from a mythical European continent that supposedly enclosed the Indian Ocean, according to Aristotle (and Wikipedia). What it has to do with this song...I don't know.
Jorn Van Deynhoven builds his remix of "Terra Australis" around a melancholy-sounding pattern of scales descending in pitch, but it fails to lead anywhere. The ending of this song doesn't mix up the main melody enough, leaving you with a track that sounds like the same thing over and over for a good three minutes.
Jorn has a knack for making catchy trance remixes, but this song is his weakest one I've heard yet.
Rating: 6 out of 10 [Average]
2. Dash Berlin - Never Cry Again (Jorn Van Deynhoven Remix) [Aropa]
@Beatport // @YouTube // @Discogs
.jpg)
"When you come home, I'll stop this..."
[Stop what?]
"When you come home, I'll hide it good"
[Uh-oh. What are you hiding?]
"I'll never cry again, when you...come home...to me"
Ok. If you can get past the ridiculously emo and cheesy lyrics in "Never Cry Again", you'll find yet another decently remixed tune with an uplifting vibe by Jorn Van Deynhoven.
JVD's remix is better than the original for two reasons- it has less vocals, and the instrumentals-only part in the middle of the song is extended to two and a half minutes.
The synth melody in this track is an alternating pattern of middle and low pitches, accented with a few nicely-placed high notes.
Jorn loses a few marks though for recycling the same distortion lead-in effect heard in his remix of RAM's "Ramsterdam".
Rating: 6.5 out of 10 [Good]
3. Gabriel Lukosz - All The Usual Things (Niklas Grosswald Remix) [Infraprogressive]
@Beatport
.jpg)
No one has uploaded this track yet to YouTube, so if you decide to take the $1.99 plunge on Beatport and pick it up based on the sample alone, don't worry- it's worth every penny.
Niklas Grosswald's prog-house remix of this tune has one of my favorite melodies of the year so far. As the song progresses, Grosswald teases this spacey synth pattern with a reverb effect that sends its pitch all over the place.
Then later on in the song, an upbeat bassline joins the fray as the reverb pattern alternates between two octaves.
Grosswald's melody here varies it up enough to where it doesn't feel like you're hearing the same thing twice, something uncommon in EDM.
Rating: 9 out of 10 [Choon]
4. Vast Vision feat. Fisher - Everything (Aly & Fila Remix) [FSOE Recordings]
@Beatport // @YouTube // @Discogs
.jpg)
"I only want to be your everything,
If you let me,
Will you let me?
I want to be your every fantasy
Could you love me?
Like I love you?"
Yes, this song is just as bad lyrically in the cheese department as "Never Cry Again", but I'll give credit to Vast Vision for enlisting Fisher as his vocalist on this one. Out of all the female singers in dance music, Fisher has one of the only two voices (the other being Justine Suissa) that you can distinctly recognize when you're hearing a song with them. The rest just sound like generic female singer #568.
For this song, Fisher's low-key voice is a good fit for Aly & Fila's uplifting sounds, as it prevents the song from becoming too flowery.
This remix of "Everything" also contains a few piano touches and some orchestral elements in the breakdown. As a whole, it's a pretty decent vocal trance song, but nothing unforgettable.
Rating: 7 out of 10 [Good]
1. Talla 2XLC feat. Skysurfer - Terra Australis (Jorn Van Deynhoven Remix) [Addicted To Trance]
@Beatport // @YouTube // @Discogs
.jpg)
This song gets its name from a mythical European continent that supposedly enclosed the Indian Ocean, according to Aristotle (and Wikipedia). What it has to do with this song...I don't know.
Jorn Van Deynhoven builds his remix of "Terra Australis" around a melancholy-sounding pattern of scales descending in pitch, but it fails to lead anywhere. The ending of this song doesn't mix up the main melody enough, leaving you with a track that sounds like the same thing over and over for a good three minutes.
Jorn has a knack for making catchy trance remixes, but this song is his weakest one I've heard yet.
Rating: 6 out of 10 [Average]
2. Dash Berlin - Never Cry Again (Jorn Van Deynhoven Remix) [Aropa]
@Beatport // @YouTube // @Discogs
.jpg)
"When you come home, I'll stop this..."
[Stop what?]
"When you come home, I'll hide it good"
[Uh-oh. What are you hiding?]
"I'll never cry again, when you...come home...to me"
Ok. If you can get past the ridiculously emo and cheesy lyrics in "Never Cry Again", you'll find yet another decently remixed tune with an uplifting vibe by Jorn Van Deynhoven.
JVD's remix is better than the original for two reasons- it has less vocals, and the instrumentals-only part in the middle of the song is extended to two and a half minutes.
The synth melody in this track is an alternating pattern of middle and low pitches, accented with a few nicely-placed high notes.
Jorn loses a few marks though for recycling the same distortion lead-in effect heard in his remix of RAM's "Ramsterdam".
Rating: 6.5 out of 10 [Good]
3. Gabriel Lukosz - All The Usual Things (Niklas Grosswald Remix) [Infraprogressive]
@Beatport
.jpg)
No one has uploaded this track yet to YouTube, so if you decide to take the $1.99 plunge on Beatport and pick it up based on the sample alone, don't worry- it's worth every penny.
Niklas Grosswald's prog-house remix of this tune has one of my favorite melodies of the year so far. As the song progresses, Grosswald teases this spacey synth pattern with a reverb effect that sends its pitch all over the place.
Then later on in the song, an upbeat bassline joins the fray as the reverb pattern alternates between two octaves.
Grosswald's melody here varies it up enough to where it doesn't feel like you're hearing the same thing twice, something uncommon in EDM.
Rating: 9 out of 10 [Choon]
4. Vast Vision feat. Fisher - Everything (Aly & Fila Remix) [FSOE Recordings]
@Beatport // @YouTube // @Discogs
.jpg)
"I only want to be your everything,
If you let me,
Will you let me?
I want to be your every fantasy
Could you love me?
Like I love you?"
Yes, this song is just as bad lyrically in the cheese department as "Never Cry Again", but I'll give credit to Vast Vision for enlisting Fisher as his vocalist on this one. Out of all the female singers in dance music, Fisher has one of the only two voices (the other being Justine Suissa) that you can distinctly recognize when you're hearing a song with them. The rest just sound like generic female singer #568.
For this song, Fisher's low-key voice is a good fit for Aly & Fila's uplifting sounds, as it prevents the song from becoming too flowery.
This remix of "Everything" also contains a few piano touches and some orchestral elements in the breakdown. As a whole, it's a pretty decent vocal trance song, but nothing unforgettable.
Rating: 7 out of 10 [Good]
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Teaching an old dog new tricks
What do you do when a song that's 14 years old has been remixed to no end?
You remix it again, of course, but outfit it with a shiny new style for 2010.
This is the basis for Solarstone's "Remodeled" EP series, where he plans to let new-age producers remix his old-school tunes.
According to Solarstone's web site, Vol.1 of the series was released last week on Lost Language recordings, although I can't find it anywhere online for purchase. The EP includes RAM's remix of Solarstone's timeless "The Calling", and a new version of "Solarcoaster" by Haris C.
Haris C's version of "Solarcoaster" sounds like the original on steroids, moving at a blistering pace while maintaining a club mix-vibe. But the "You're so cool" and other vocal bits seem out of place, and as a whole, the song is the weaker track of the two on the EP.
But RAM's remix of "The Calling". Man...this is a CHOON! His version removes the drum/breaks elements from the original and is rebuilt with an lively uplifting vibe. Everything seems to fall in place perfectly, and the main melody is emphasized greater.
See for yourself...
The original mix (released in 1996):
14 years later...
You remix it again, of course, but outfit it with a shiny new style for 2010.
This is the basis for Solarstone's "Remodeled" EP series, where he plans to let new-age producers remix his old-school tunes.
According to Solarstone's web site, Vol.1 of the series was released last week on Lost Language recordings, although I can't find it anywhere online for purchase. The EP includes RAM's remix of Solarstone's timeless "The Calling", and a new version of "Solarcoaster" by Haris C.
Haris C's version of "Solarcoaster" sounds like the original on steroids, moving at a blistering pace while maintaining a club mix-vibe. But the "You're so cool" and other vocal bits seem out of place, and as a whole, the song is the weaker track of the two on the EP.
But RAM's remix of "The Calling". Man...this is a CHOON! His version removes the drum/breaks elements from the original and is rebuilt with an lively uplifting vibe. Everything seems to fall in place perfectly, and the main melody is emphasized greater.
See for yourself...
The original mix (released in 1996):
14 years later...
Monday, January 25, 2010
Track Reviews: Anjunabeats Grab Bag Edition
It took two days, a couple gigabytes of software updates, and installations of McAfee's security suite and some petty Windows anti-virus program for me to get back on the internet. My bane- a silly application wanting to scan my laptop to access to my campus internet (they think I might have a virus...right). Anyway, on to the good stuff:
1. Boom Jinx & Jaytech - Milano [Anjunadeep]
@Beatport // @YouTube // @Discogs
Boom Jinx & Jaytech's latest progressive house hit sounds like it fell through a time warp- it oozes this 70's disco vibe that makes you want to put on an afro wig and bob your head to the music.
Finger-snaps, bass distortion effects, and odd female vocalizations accompany the main melody, which is a tremendous amount of fun.
However, the song loses quite a bit of steam during a short breakdown where the duo can't seem to figure out what to do.
Rating: 8 out of 10 [Great]
2. Evbointh - One Wish (Daniel Kandi & Mark Andrez Remix) [Anjunabeats]
@Beatport // @YouTube // @Discogs
Polish 17-year-old Evbointh wrote "One Wish" in 2007, a pair of remixes in 2008, and another song in 2009 before vanishing off the radar. He isn't releasing material on another alias and I don't know why he's fallen out of the production game, but I wish he didn't.
Daniel Kandi and Mark Andrez's remake of his trance classic is nothing short of spectacular. The song gets off to a slow start (my pet peeve- boring, beatmatch-friendly intros), but once that epic melody comes out of the breakdown, Kandi and Andrez hold nothing back.
A warm-pitched, soft-edged synth blares through the back half of the song for an awesome few minutes of uplifting trance.
The end of the song is just as dull as the beginning, but the breakdown and minutes following it warrant the high score.
Rating: 9 out of 10 [Choon]
3. OceanLab - Sirens Of The Sea (Above & Beyond Club Mix) [Anjunabeats]
@Beatport // @YouTube // @Discogs
Everything you need to know about this song is in the title- it's a club mix of a song with lyrics containing imagery of the world's seas and oceans. Only in trance, folks:
"Out beyond the water's edge,
far out past the coral ledge,
underneath the diamond and sunlight.
Chase the world from far below,
silent, sleeping indigo,
drifting down into the endless light"
sings Justine Suissa, the vocalist of this Above & Beyond collaboration. Her voice floats effortlessly (no pun intended) over an atmospheric sound accented by subtle piano notes.
Outside of Solarstone's "Seven Cities", this is one of the better underwater-themed trance songs, and another OceanLab remix that sounds better than the original version.
Rating: 8 out of 10 [Great]
[Image credit: Junodownload.com]
1. Boom Jinx & Jaytech - Milano [Anjunadeep]
@Beatport // @YouTube // @Discogs
Boom Jinx & Jaytech's latest progressive house hit sounds like it fell through a time warp- it oozes this 70's disco vibe that makes you want to put on an afro wig and bob your head to the music.
Finger-snaps, bass distortion effects, and odd female vocalizations accompany the main melody, which is a tremendous amount of fun.
However, the song loses quite a bit of steam during a short breakdown where the duo can't seem to figure out what to do.
Rating: 8 out of 10 [Great]
2. Evbointh - One Wish (Daniel Kandi & Mark Andrez Remix) [Anjunabeats]
@Beatport // @YouTube // @Discogs
Polish 17-year-old Evbointh wrote "One Wish" in 2007, a pair of remixes in 2008, and another song in 2009 before vanishing off the radar. He isn't releasing material on another alias and I don't know why he's fallen out of the production game, but I wish he didn't.
Daniel Kandi and Mark Andrez's remake of his trance classic is nothing short of spectacular. The song gets off to a slow start (my pet peeve- boring, beatmatch-friendly intros), but once that epic melody comes out of the breakdown, Kandi and Andrez hold nothing back.
A warm-pitched, soft-edged synth blares through the back half of the song for an awesome few minutes of uplifting trance.
The end of the song is just as dull as the beginning, but the breakdown and minutes following it warrant the high score.
Rating: 9 out of 10 [Choon]
3. OceanLab - Sirens Of The Sea (Above & Beyond Club Mix) [Anjunabeats]
@Beatport // @YouTube // @Discogs
Everything you need to know about this song is in the title- it's a club mix of a song with lyrics containing imagery of the world's seas and oceans. Only in trance, folks:
"Out beyond the water's edge,
far out past the coral ledge,
underneath the diamond and sunlight.
Chase the world from far below,
silent, sleeping indigo,
drifting down into the endless light"
sings Justine Suissa, the vocalist of this Above & Beyond collaboration. Her voice floats effortlessly (no pun intended) over an atmospheric sound accented by subtle piano notes.
Outside of Solarstone's "Seven Cities", this is one of the better underwater-themed trance songs, and another OceanLab remix that sounds better than the original version.
Rating: 8 out of 10 [Great]
[Image credit: Junodownload.com]
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Track reviews: Arctic Moon's remixes of "Dream Way" and "Rock Guitar"
Over the weekend I picked up a pair of 2009 tracks from Arctic Moon, one of my favorite uplifting trance producers. Here are my thoughts on each:
1. Dereck Recay - Dream Way (Arctic Moon Remix) [Redux]
@Beatport // @YouTube // @Discogs
One of Arctic Moon's talents is taking something that sounds simple and making it effective, whether it's in a melody or breakdown.
The chord progression in the back half of his remix of "Dream Way" really shines- it's only four notes moving upward in a scale, but it's incredibly catchy and it makes the song.
His main melody- a soft and warm synth pattern originating from the breakdown, eventually finds its way in between these scales for a fun two minutes before the track closes.
[The song title and the artist name also rhyme- Dereck Recay...Dream Way]
Why not a higher score? The beginning of the track is pretty standard and includes a simplified version of the main melody that fails to go anywhere.
Rating: 8 out of 10 [Great]
2. Corderoy - Rock Guitar (Arctic Moon Remix) [Insight]
@Beatport // @YouTube // @Discogs
After hearing a sample of the breakdown on this song on Beatport, I decided to give this track a try.
I like when producers add instruments into their songs that aren't electronic (ex. piano, violin). Arctic Moon's remix of this song has an electric guitar solo going for it, plus a little bass and snare drum hits on a drum set.
But speaking of the guitar solo, which has that squealing 80's vibe, it's not complex or interesting enough to hold your attention for a long time. When I first heard it I thought it was pretty cool, but the more I listen to this track, the more I wish Arctic Moon took the original solo and spiced it up a bit.
Here's an example of a guitar solo in trance done right- "Liberate" by Robert Nickson and Daniel Kandi. If you took away everything from the song besides the solo, you would still have a solid melody. That's not the same story for "Rock Guitar", which is less rock and more trance.
However, the song as a whole is still pretty decent and is relaxing to the ears.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10 [Good]
[Image credit: junodownload.com]
1. Dereck Recay - Dream Way (Arctic Moon Remix) [Redux]
@Beatport // @YouTube // @Discogs
One of Arctic Moon's talents is taking something that sounds simple and making it effective, whether it's in a melody or breakdown.
The chord progression in the back half of his remix of "Dream Way" really shines- it's only four notes moving upward in a scale, but it's incredibly catchy and it makes the song.
His main melody- a soft and warm synth pattern originating from the breakdown, eventually finds its way in between these scales for a fun two minutes before the track closes.
[The song title and the artist name also rhyme- Dereck Recay...Dream Way]
Why not a higher score? The beginning of the track is pretty standard and includes a simplified version of the main melody that fails to go anywhere.
Rating: 8 out of 10 [Great]
2. Corderoy - Rock Guitar (Arctic Moon Remix) [Insight]
@Beatport // @YouTube // @Discogs
After hearing a sample of the breakdown on this song on Beatport, I decided to give this track a try.
I like when producers add instruments into their songs that aren't electronic (ex. piano, violin). Arctic Moon's remix of this song has an electric guitar solo going for it, plus a little bass and snare drum hits on a drum set.
But speaking of the guitar solo, which has that squealing 80's vibe, it's not complex or interesting enough to hold your attention for a long time. When I first heard it I thought it was pretty cool, but the more I listen to this track, the more I wish Arctic Moon took the original solo and spiced it up a bit.
Here's an example of a guitar solo in trance done right- "Liberate" by Robert Nickson and Daniel Kandi. If you took away everything from the song besides the solo, you would still have a solid melody. That's not the same story for "Rock Guitar", which is less rock and more trance.
However, the song as a whole is still pretty decent and is relaxing to the ears.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10 [Good]
[Image credit: junodownload.com]
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The best internet radio station for EDM
Since dance music in its conventional forms is rarely played on FM radio in the USA, you have to look online to get your fix. However, when you get online, where do you go? There are hundreds of streaming stations playing all forms of dance music, but is there one that is better than others?
Although I haven't listened to every stream available on the internet yet (and I probably never will), my favorite place to go to listen to EDM is Afterhours.fm, and for several reasons.
Unlike other sites where an endless playlist of tracks are running over the air, Afterhours schedules their programming in one-hour timeslots with shows from nearly 180 resident DJ's and special guests. The benefit for this format is that all the tracks are properly mixed by professionals during their sets, and if you like a particular DJ's style, you can enjoy it for a full hour rather than just a couple songs.
As for the talent, it's basically a list of who's who in trance and progressive, with names including Aly & Fila, Lange, Sean Tyas, Markus Schulz, Stoneface & Terminal, and my personal favorite- Manuel Le Saux. In addition to resident DJ's, the site also streams special day-long events, with an upcoming one showcasing only Egyptian DJ's and another highlighting Infrasonic's entire roster (DJ Eco, Jorn Van Deynhoven, etc.).
When listening to a set, you can click on the show name to open a forum topic for discussion with others where the DJ or a bot will post all the track ID's for easy downloading and purchasing later. Or you can re-visit the topic two days after the show and find a MegaUpload link to download the entire set.
Last but not least, Afterhours.fm doesn't screw us listeners by offering only low bitrate streams in the absence of a paid monthly subscription (*cough* di.fm *cough*). Streams come in 96k and 192k bitrates for WinAmp, iTunes, Quicktime, Realplayer, and Windows Media Player.
[Ok...I know...this post does sound like an ad, but the site is really that good- check it out]
Although I haven't listened to every stream available on the internet yet (and I probably never will), my favorite place to go to listen to EDM is Afterhours.fm, and for several reasons.
Unlike other sites where an endless playlist of tracks are running over the air, Afterhours schedules their programming in one-hour timeslots with shows from nearly 180 resident DJ's and special guests. The benefit for this format is that all the tracks are properly mixed by professionals during their sets, and if you like a particular DJ's style, you can enjoy it for a full hour rather than just a couple songs.
As for the talent, it's basically a list of who's who in trance and progressive, with names including Aly & Fila, Lange, Sean Tyas, Markus Schulz, Stoneface & Terminal, and my personal favorite- Manuel Le Saux. In addition to resident DJ's, the site also streams special day-long events, with an upcoming one showcasing only Egyptian DJ's and another highlighting Infrasonic's entire roster (DJ Eco, Jorn Van Deynhoven, etc.).
When listening to a set, you can click on the show name to open a forum topic for discussion with others where the DJ or a bot will post all the track ID's for easy downloading and purchasing later. Or you can re-visit the topic two days after the show and find a MegaUpload link to download the entire set.
Last but not least, Afterhours.fm doesn't screw us listeners by offering only low bitrate streams in the absence of a paid monthly subscription (*cough* di.fm *cough*). Streams come in 96k and 192k bitrates for WinAmp, iTunes, Quicktime, Realplayer, and Windows Media Player.
[Ok...I know...this post does sound like an ad, but the site is really that good- check it out]
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