The word “classic” in electronic dance music means that a track is so strong, that it will never lose its effect on the audience.  There are certainly a handful of tracks that have come and gone and garnered the title, but none are as iconic as Cruising. Airscape, of course the moniker of world renowned DJ/producer Johan Gielen, scored a world wide hit single with it in 1993 and now the song still sounds as solid and fresh as it did seventeen years ago thanks to a few 2010 reworks. This seems to be a recurring theme for Black Hole in 2010, I wonder what remix is next?

For the new Cruising 2010 Johan Gielen went back to the studio and delivered a brand new rendition, which he created together with Cor Fijneman. New and tighter beats, crisp synth lines and percussion lift up the theme of the original version and turn it into a state of the art floor filler for every DJ in the industry.

Marco V gave the original a brand new trance make over and the guys from Alkatraz added a bit more drama to the arrangement. In fact, all three versions are worth listening to and prepare yourself to have this track take over the dancefloor again for the first time, 17 years after it was originally unleashed.

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This epic trance classic has been given new life by the hands of Sean Tyas, a bloke who knows how to churn out massive trance hits like no other.  This past weekend saw Armin kick off his ASOT 450 tour in Toronto, and Sean was there to give Canada just what it likes: Massive, Epic trance beats till sunrise!

This remix spices up an already classic Original Mix by mixing in new pads, a driving bassline (complete with massive kick) and an ASOT like sound that will surely please all those Arminheads (look at me, coining a new term) while keeping those elitist trancers at bay. This track’s main hook is as iconic as MJ’s Thriller to those who found the trance scene in early 2000. I still remember this melody like it was yesterday.

To hear a high quality sample simply head on over after the break!

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Well, as we all know very well, no classic trance tune is safe from the 2010 treatment, and it’s always a wonder how they manage to revive these and turn them into effective crowd pleasers….but time and time again, they do.  Don’t get me wrong, often times they don’t, and this latest package does!

Marco V teamed up with Benjamin Bates way back in 1998 to release Luvstruck under the Southside Spinners guise. It was their only track together under that moniker, and for the past few years it seemed the track had been finally laid to rest as a defining trance classic of the late 90s.  It turns out this wasn’t what the gents had in mind and in 2010 they’ve recruited a fresh batch of producers to rework the monster into a beast.

In this 6 remix pack are reworks from Marco V himself, Cliff Coenraad, Benny Royal, Filthy Rich, My Digital Enemy and Prok & Fitch.  Marco’s version is undoudtedly Marco V a la 2010.  Cliff’s version is MASSIVE beyond beliefe and steals the show. The other versions are utter garbage, wavering somewhere between confused tech house and confused electro.

Read on past the break for high quality samples of each mix!

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In their latest tribute, Vinyl Life remakes the Techno Classic “Energy Flash” by Brooklyn’s own Joey Beltram with new lyrics by Phaze Future. This was made from the ground-up with no samples. The band-made video, however, is all sampled clips that are jacked from youtube. Take a trip back in time with us to the warehouse days.

If you’d like to download the track, guess what, we’ve got a high quality mp3 completely FREE for you from the boys themselves! Hit us up after the jump and get yourself a copy!

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For many, the original release of this track, and its pack of remixes, is a sacred release and an enduring classic by many standards.  Last year (late 2008 actually) saw the vault cracked open to release a few new remixes of Andain’s very best work, which included two progressive house reworks by Dave Robertson and Gustav.  To be honest, as shocked as I was when I discovered that this classic had been redone for a 2009 release, I slowly came to my senses when I realized just how good both versions truly were.  And what floor monsters they proved to be!

And so it was that I approached this release with just as much trepidation, but after surveying the remixer crew tasked with these 2010 reworks, I felt relief, and who knows, maybe even a little hope. On remix duties this time is recent trance superstar Jorn van Deynhoven who delivers a version that is immensely true to the original, but infuses it with a renewed energy. Watch out for his massive breakdown! Pedro Del Mar & Ole van Bohm whip up a stormy, orchestral and uplifting version of the original that, to be honest, sounds nearly nothing like the original.

Rounding the remix package are two more mixes, one from Balearic king Roger Shah, and this Magic Island remix remains very true to the original but amps up the energy by means of tempo and orchestral qualities; the other from rather unknown (to me at least!) Spaio & Sleazy, and this version is dubbed out, tripped out and tech’ed out to the max.

Overall, I’m impressed, once again, with these remixes.  Each mix keeps enough of the original to make these memorable, and as for my favorite I have to give Jorn the nod, his version is massive while remaining a quiet sleeper for those who aren’t tuned to it.

Read on past the break for samples!

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Straight out of Russia by way of France, Hook Recordings are all smiles to be able to offer up their latest release “Lost Love” from two of their newest international artists, Tamerlan & Djons.

Russian native Tamerlan has had music in his veins since childhood and started playing the guitar at age 11. By the age of 17 he found his way to France where he soon started producing his own music and along the way he met Djon. Like Tamerlan, Djon has been involved in music since early childhood so it is no surprise that these two soon began producing together under the name Tamerlan & Djon. This Russian/French production team won a remix contest hosted by French Dj Muttonheads and have had their tracks supported by some of the dance scene’s biggest players including Matt Darey and our own resident guru Chris Cowie.

Their debut EP on the Hook imprint starts off dirty with the duos “Lost Love” (Dirty mix) and it doesn’t disappoint. If you like your trance with a little nasty grime then this one is for you. Dj’s this cut is guaranteed to get the crowd surging…..dancers grab your glow sticks!

Read on past the break for the lowdown on each version in this package and for some high quality sample!  This label is doing what so many labels fail to do nowadays: Keeping the retro trance flame alive while sprucing it up for 2009.

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Hook Recordings are delighted to present new remixes of X Cabs Neuro from BK, Tristan Ingram, and The Black Russian. The pair who
recently remixed the massively successful La Roux ‘in for the kill’ have turned their skills on to this classic slice of Trance crafting out a couple
of big room, rocket fired mixes for the masses. The Black Russian and Tristan Ingram mix has seen airplay from Judge Jules on his BBC
Radio1 dance show.

Originally released to great success in 1994 and subsequently remixed in 1999, again to great acclaim, Neuro has since gained a reputation as
a genuine Trance classic. Written in a freezing cold garage in December 1992 by Chris Cowie, it then sat on the shelf until 1994 due
to the refusal of the labels distribution manager to press the record. Neuro went on to sell 60,000 copies never once being out of repress
during the labels first ten years.

These new spins on an old classic manage to retain their original spice, that old school trance vibe that can only be remembered nowadays, while adding subtle elements that allow them to be enjoyed by all in 2009. BK adds a massive kick, growling filtered effects and a nostalgia inducing twist on the oh-so-memorable synth melody. Black Russian & Tristan Ingram take the energy levels down a few levels and churn out a dubbed out tech house beast that elevates the original to something smooth and sexy, worthy of a play while relaxing on the sandy Playa D’en Bossa.

Read on past the break for some high quality samples and for your chance to vote for your favorite!

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Addicted to Trance is a brand new German trance outfit running under Talla’s revived Tetsuo label, and for their first release they’ve selected label head Talla 2XLC and Robert Burian. Talla’s production career began well over 10 years ago on Tetsuo and since those humble beginnings he’s become a hot item, both in the dj and production worlds.  Robert however, is a relative newcomer, bursting onto the scene in 2006 with Freedom on Onethirty Digital.

These two hard hitting trance powerhouses combine to produce Déjà Vu, a track that is destined to tear up dance floors worldwide as crowds across continents lose their skulls to this trance inducing melody.  Along with the original Club Mix are two other versions, a remix by Italian trance god Giuseppe Ottaviani and a remix by Zorasta

Read on past the break for my take on each mix, some high quality samples and for your chance to vote for your fave!

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I covered the previous Infra Progressive release nary a month ago, and I suppose you could say I just couldn’t wait to get my hands on their newest offering by Arthur Schmidt (one half of Basic Perspective) and Mike Hovsepian. Arthur is a staple of the Smu[th] imprint, while Mike is one half of the quickly rising star duo, Grube & Hovsepian (with releases on Neuroscience, Coldharbour, S107, etc…).

This latest effort is a trip down memory lane, as the gents manage to keep the old progressive trance vibe alive, all the while giving it some new life by providing an uplifting and airy melody to hum along to.  Along with the original are three mixes from Benya, Niklas Grosswald & Trilucid.  Each mix remains trancey and borders on the progressive edge.

Read on past the break for my full take on each mix, some high quality samples and for your chance to vote on your fav!

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Hook is back with one of the biggest releases of the summer: Deniro’s “Mind of Man” remixes.

Originally released in 1996, Deniro’s Mind of Man became a pivotal release for Hook’s unique brand of no compromise trance. It was often quoted as the release that “Got Me in to the Hook Sound” and immediately became a firm favorite of many of the day’s major players. It gained a host of CD compilation licenses most notably appearing on one of the early Global Underground compilations, a brand which became synonymous for its taste and influence.

2009 sees this Hook classic getting the remix treatment from the tracks composer Chris Cowie using his X Cabs alias to put a new twist on the original. He’s joined by Nicholas Bennison, no stranger to the Hook label having recently released his first outing for Hook with his Deadweight Ep and also Jonathan Allyn, a newcomer to Hook but a name traveling fast up the Trance ranks.

Read on past the break for my take on each version, some high quality samples and for your chance to tell us which one is your fav!

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