After being launched in 2003, RR Record went on to release tracks by Ron van den Beuken (under a few guises), Pascal Feliz, Nenes, Sam Sharp (aka Sander van Doorn), Tatana and many others! After being dropped off in 2005, the label made a triumphant return in 2009 with 10 releases, many of which featured the label head once again, but included a packed roster of producers, much like Maarten de Jong!
After a collab on this label in 2009 these two return with yet another 3 track pack that features a growling bassline, noteworthy hook and lead and some chilling breakdowns that are sure to cater to many of you! For some reason, there is a MdJ Dub Mix along with the MdJ and Trance mixes, but none of them feature any semblance of a vocal track. Regardless, each mix is banging with MdJ’s version packing a little more gusto than the Original, while the Trance mix makes it a little more peak time worthy.
Read on past the break for high quality samples of each version and be sure to add this one to your crate, especially the Trance mix if you’re a sucker for piano breakdowns.
It’s been a while, but Mark Norman are still going strong and they proudly present their fabulous new single entitled Fobiac. This is definitely a track that combines the best of both techno and trance.
Fobiac has a remarkable intro with an undeniable Depeche Mode sound, but once the track picks up speed you’re immediately dragged into the original Mark Norman style we all like so much. Nice, tight and ripping strings guide everyone on the dance floor to that superb first break with its hard hammering synth stabs, after which we move on to the second break that will most definitely rock every trance event. Trained DJs will even notice some genuine funk in this one.
For the trance specialists among the DJs, the San Remix has been tacked on to provide a fresh take on this sleeping beast. The all new arrangement and the additional synth and drum programming turn the original into a real ISOS cut. Fobiac by Mark Norman is a bass heavy must for all DJs of today! Read on for high quality samples!
Towards the end of 2009 Activa released his debut artist album “This World”. The producer who less than a year before had been described by Paul Van Dyk as the “Best Producer of 2008″ duly delivered one of the best dance albums of 2009 and cemented his place amongst dance music’s production elite.
One of the features of the album was a series of collaborations with some of Activa’s favourite producers and it is his collaboration with Vandit superstar Giuseppe Ottaviani that is the backbone of Discover’s latest release which includes the original album version and a fresh new remix from Giuseppe. If that wasn’t enough Discover have also included Activa’s brand new “club” version of the album track “Don’t Leave Me” which brings the release home in suitably uplifting style!
Read on past the break for some high quality samples of each track!
Here we’ve new record on Echelon White, which showcases more melodic, uplifting trance tracks. George Philips aka Type 41 has returned on the label for the follow up of his 2009 single – ‘Serenity’. I really liked the special progressive club mix from label head Tempo Giusto himself. This one goes beyond what serenity offered and gets more bangin’ after each listen…!! 4 track pack here containing original mixes of Mystik & Lifespark. + Mystik Remixed by POl & Innerstate.
Read more for my take on each track and some samples…
I’ve been a fan of Ali’s work since 2005, and when I noticed his projects with Matt Smallwood, my interest was instantly renewed. These two producers have been around the scene for much longer than I have, and it seems they always manage to stay ahead of the curve with their pounding, driving and fresh takes on tech trance.
This latest effort on powerhouse label Reset Records is a dark and dreamy tech beast that slowly awakens to shake your core. Geez, was that a powerful enough analogy? But I digress…
Muze is a funky little tribal number that tosses in heaps of groovy funk, a growling bassline and a downright infectious in the breakdown that is reminiscent of Marco V’s Automanual. This track slowly creeps up on you and by the end of the track you’re left jonesing for more, but it looks the gents have decided to leave it at this. Here’s hoping we see some remixes in the near future!
Oliver Picart aka Oliver P has come a long way since his colab project ‘Fast Distance’ with Franz Hlusek aka Arpegia created mayhem everywhere around the globe. Their furiously epic journey into trance came to a sad end when they decided to part their ways. Now, Oliver P presents his maiden solo record on Enhanced titled as ‘Lost Without You’, with a remix from another French duo – Karybde & Scylla. Before this he has also remixed Redstar’s latest banger – ‘Evolution’, in case you’ve heard it. Also included the original mix of ‘Philadelphia’. Time to check out some hot ch00ns ATM…!!
Read more for my take on each track and some samples…
Let’s see….this is review #5 today, and even though I told myself I’d be done after 4, I popped this gem into Winamp and well, I simply can’t let it sit idly on my computer without telling the world about it.
Bobby’s name hadn’t appeared on MusiCritics until today, and though that seems horribly wrong, I welcome his name to our pages with open arms. I’ve known Bobby personally for a number of years now, and it’s about damn time I start recognizing his talent on the site. This isn’t to say I haven’t loved his previous work, hell, one of his very own productions consistently gets played in my radio and live sets (especially in the summer!), and you can buy it on Beatport here!
This latest effort by Mr. Savage comes courtesy of Gabriel Batz’ label, Ora Recordings. Based out of Montreal, Ora has received support from some of the world’s top jocks including Roger Shah, Solarstone, Mark Pledger, and many others. Beautiful Brontosaur is a rather savage track that starts off with a wonderfully progressively summer vibe that quickly, with nary an indication, transforms into a growling beast after the lush breakdown and crash. What Bobby’s done here is craft a track that would be the perfect opener for say, Marco V (at Guv), or in a few months, Armin’s 450th episode bash at the Koolhaus. Someone get this track in his hands, it’s destined to melt hearts around the world. Along with the 4 to the floor proggy beast is a quiet sleeper in the form of a Mesozoic Sunset Mix. This truly showcases the man’s versatility!
Read on past the break for a high quality sample of each track and be sure to support the music you love!
“
Lexar is to Memory as Peanut Butter is to Mouth... ” - Andre
8/10
Fris! is one of my favorite progressive labels, and that’s due entirely to the presence of the venerable Ad Brown, and these two producers, Whelan & Di Scala. This time around Fris! drops an absolutely storm of a release with Whelan & Di Scala’s latest effort, Lexar.
If you’re a photog junkie like myself (here’s my flickr page) you’ll instantly recognize the name Lexar, and I’m guessing these blokes must know the name too, as it’s really the only reference to the name I can find. Regardless, this track is a storming beast that kicks things off with a very understated tech groove (as do most their productions), but by the midsection we’re floating in symphonic trance bliss.
Once you hear the melody in the breakdown, you’ll instantly fall in love with the track. On remix duties is Beat Service, a young Estonian producer who caught my attention last year with his remix of Nothing Less on Real Music Recordings. His version is a little more techy, a little more 4 to the floor and not quite as powerful as the original, but banging nonetheless.
Read on past the break for high quality samples of each version!
The dynamic dance duo from Deutschland are back at it again! With massive recent hits in 2009, these two have been busy touring the world and appearing in just about everyone’s live (and radio) sets. 2009 saw them release to much fanfare, a stellar artist album that included massive tracks like Flatline, Not Enough Time, Sign of the Times and Under Your Spell. I’m sure you’ll agree with me when I say that IT was the stand out trance album of the year.
This new single entitled Barra once again confirms their professionalism and continuous drive to deliver outstanding quality. Barra is one of those fantastic big room tracks that will certainly warrant many ch00n signs. The track kicks off with a growling bassline that’s slowly morphed into a euphoric soundscape that you simply cannot escape. Try as you might, you’re getting sucked into this one for the full 7 minutes. Attached to the original is an edit that clocks in at under 4 minutes, and makes me wonder if this is really a radio edit disguised as a plain edit…
Read on past the break for a high quality sample of the Original Mix, you don’t need to waste time on the edit.
Time to dive back into proggy and electric waters, with this very refreshing EP, by the mysterious UNKNOWN1234567890 (looks like we’ve got a few mysterious producers lately…).
We start with the summery vibe of the hybrid CAT4, which gives away a glimpse of its theme straight from the beginning. Progressive arrangement, though electric sounds and distortion are the key elements that come in to play with a gorgeous melodic arrangement.
As the track evolves through 4/4 and broken beats, we hear classic house stabs, as well as glitchy voices serving as a bed to the melodic plucks, driving the track into its massive climax with strings stabs.
The simple but effective TIME 000 is on the flip. Again, we can taste a little bit of that summery vibe from Cat4, but this time it’s all about butt-shaking groove. With a housey vibe, on a progressive tone, the track keeps building up over and over, through stabs and plucks. A very interesting EP, impossible to define due to its hybrid nature: progressive, techno, house, trance… there’s a little bit of everything on each second, of each track!
Read on past the break for some high quality samples and if anyone knows who the hell UNKNOWN1234567890 is, please, do let us know in the comments!
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After being launched in 2003, RR Record went on to release tracks by Ron van den Beuken (under a few guises), Pascal Feliz, Nenes, Sam Sharp (aka Sander van Doorn), Tatana and many others! After being dropped off in 2005, the label made a triumphant return in 2009 with 10 releases, many of which featured the label head once again, but included a packed roster of producers, much like Maarten de Jong!
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