Essential tunes this month August 2004
Author: Matt Darey
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
It all went a bit mad last month with too many tunes and not enough space to fit em all in. Well. No rest for the wicked cause everyone keeps churning out those trance monsters with no signs of letting up. Its very refreshing after the last couple of years when good tracks were a bit thin on the ground.
ATB - Marakesh (Kontor) Alex Morph vocal
This song actually started out as a song that was written for Hybrid a couple of years ago with vocals by Tiff lacey who sang Oakenfolds Hypnotized. At the last minute Hybrid axed it from the album so an amazing and haunting vocal performance by Tiff Lacey was left with out a home. The Accapella actually ended up on my door step unfortunately I never got round to it with one thing and another so ATB jumped at the chance and commissioned a few remixes. This mix has to be the favorite for me from German born Alex Morph who also brought us some of my harder trance favourites from this summer including Arq in the Sky's Vainquer and his remix of JLND under the same name. Alex enhances the mystique of the song with subtle riffs and chunky beats on a more progressive trance tip.
Havana - Havana (Trance Revolution) Orig
This has been massive for me all this summer and kicked off a fair few sets. There's always one track each summer that has the now infamous Balearic guitar riff and this was the one that stood out for me. The main theme is reminiscent of Toca's Miracle crossed with Solar Stone's sound of 99 with Seven cities and there remix of DSP's from Russia with Love.
Music Man - Air (Alphamagic) G&M project
Alpha magic are certainly on a bit of a roll, they just keep churning quality harder edged trance. Music Man brought us Eden last month which was a bit of a stomper for the lads. Air gets the remix treatment by the G&M boys who brought us one of this years anthems "Sunday Afternoon" on the Vandit label. It still has the harder edge to get those fists banin in the air but with a euphoric breakdown reminiscent of PVD's reworking of" Cream" by Blank and Jones. Spine tingling melodies emerge from the darkness and work there way up to a frenzy then belts in like a Euphoric Freight train.
Martin Roth & Frank Ellrich pres The Orange Theme (Spinnin Records)
Formally a trance classic from Cygnus X back in the days when Nu Nrg was the buzz word. Roth has reworked this classic into a gem which is very similar in vein to Tiesto's rework of Adagio for strings but a bit lighter on the ears. Pumpin distorted off beat riffs and driving basslines are the order of the day with a massive string symphony breakdown. There's life in the old dog yet!!
ADAM WHITE & ANDY MOOR pres WHITEROOM - THE WHITE ROOM (Liquid Asset Recordings)
Andy Moore is one half of the duo Leama & Moore who have blown up on the progressive scene over the last year with remixes of Li Kwan -Point Zero and more recently a remix of Brian Eno's "An Ending" coupled together with the hugely talented Adam White of Reverence and Euphoria Fame they have both created a really cool piece of trance which has won massive support from all the big name Dj's such as Tiesto and Armin. The production is amazing and the riff catchy but understated giving it an air of coolness to break into the box of even the proggy end of the DJ spectrum.
Rico Saerez - TV Dinner (EE) Orig
Last but not least is a quirky bit of funky trance from the Netherlands which is worth a mention as it takes the trance theme in a new direction with an uplifting and melodic lounge feel. Its one of those tunes that chugs along on a groove with some nice top line filtering over a funky beat. Pioneered by Armin Van Buren and probably due to be signed to his label Armarda in the near future.