Top 30 Feature | November 6th - December 31st 2018 |
It's that time of the year again... Darkness comes
early, many lights enrich the city landscape, it's cold as f*ck and everyone is
beating you to death with their End-Of-The-Year Top lists and sets. If you
can't beat them, join them! So be prepared for my own massive ramblings to bore
you till you drop (as is tradition :D). 30 epic discoveries await, I have to
say 2018 was a MASSIVE music year for me. In particular my April, May, August
and September batches really hit that swell spot taking me back to some epic
years during my ASOT-loving days. What will make this Top 30 different from all
the previous ones is that some inclusions introduced me to a new dimension of
experiencing music: working out! Back in May I started working out at home and
though I could probably dedicate a whole post to purely the joy of the journey
that is working out, I want to underline the power of music in that experience.
Never before have I noticed how much thought-to-be-physical-limitations are
actually mental limitations. Entries such as Union Jack - Triclops, Simian Mobile Disco - Defender and Jochen Miller & Rebourne - Revenge
have proven to be powerful sources of "extra energy", energy capable
of pushing me past my limits. It's been quite the adventure discovering this
for myself. And the music was more vital than ever before. So, let's get down
to business. We commence with this year's tasty Honorable Mentions, after that
I will dish out the actual Top 30 main course. Enjoy the ride!
This year's Honorable
Mentions go to:
- Gaia - Saint Vitus
- Aly & Fila and Ferry Corsten - Camelia (Original
Mix)
- Daniel Wanrooy - Beautiful World (Original Mix)
- Purple Haze feat. James New - Fall In (Original Mix)
- Purple Haze - Out Here (Extended Mix)
- David Forbes presents Hal Stucker - Disillusioned
(Extended Mix)
- David Forbes presents Hal Stucker - Disillusioned
(Slam Duck Remix)
- Kraak & Smaak - Summer Runnin’ (Original Mix)
- DJ Sneak - Assault On You (Poundin’ Mix)
- Tom Clave & Julian Wess feat. Seven Note - Just
With You (Allende Remix)
- Marco V - Subway Monsters (Original Mix)
- Spiritchaser - Yesterday’s Gone (Original Mix)
- Empire St8 - Pray (Original Mix)
- Roberto Capuano - Vertigo (Original Mix)
- Kraak & Smaak - Pineapple Jam (Original Mix)
- Yoon - Boundaries (Gabriel Ananda’s Breaking
Boundaries Remix)
- Armin van Buuren feat. Conrad Sewel - Sex, Love And
Water (Original Mix)
- Lostly feat. Emma Gillespie - Roam (Dub Mix)
- Thomas Lang - Scared (Pete Herbert Remix)
Razormane Top 30 2018 [Ordered by playlist logic]
Blue
Gas - Shadows From Nowhere (Original Mix) [1983 -Classic #1 of 2018]
Found it through: Mikal
I’ve been at my current job for nearly three years now
and to my joy I’ve run into some colleagues again that appreciate certain
styles of (Dance) music. As time progresses they come to “understand” your
taste and as such their recommendations tend to get better and better. This was
one such recommendation. A laidback piece from the ‘80s. The part that caught
me the most at first were the sudden synthesizer “stabs” (though they are very
gentle, can’t really call ‘em stabs… Hmmmm…). When I went on to look for it on
Beatport and I actually found it, I was over the moon! I feel there is
something about this track, like it was destiny for me to discover it this year
of all years… If you live in Amsterdam (or elsewhere in the Netherlands), you
know all too well we had the most “unnatural” of summers this year. In between
April and August we had a shitload of sunny and warm days, it was quite crazy!
And for once, I actually took FULL advantage of this fact. I don’t think I’ve
ever been outside as much as I was this year. So many walks and chilling on the
roof terrace at work, or grabbing a beer with colleagues after sweating our
asses off… I start smiling just thinking back to it. Obviously, when one soaks
in sun, and one is a Mane, one listens to music whilst doing so. And it just so
happens that this track and sunny weather are a match made in heaven. The
gentle vocals, the groovy “oooooooh chasing shadows!” bits… The minimalistic
production, so sweet to the ears at every turn. It’s so peaceful and instantly
calls forth a relaxed state of mind. Damn I love this tune to bits. But that
was only the first way in which I got to endulge myself in its greatness.
About a month after discovering it I started working
out at home: having been driven to near madness over the first couple of months
of 2018 due to all sorts of private drama, April-May was probably the most
introspective period I’ve ever lived through. Change was necessary and working
out turned out to be a step into a brand new, exciting dimension. And you know
what’s incredible after a good burn of a work-out? A well-deserved shower
whilst you have music playing. And when you start showering as this tune plays
in the background, the levels of relaxation are off the charts… For real.
It might not be a 2018 release but Shadows From
Nowhere most definitely defined the better half of the year for me and I will
forever associate this track with the truest Summer I’ve ever lived through
(for now). As such, it may carry the Classic discovery tag with pride. As for
Mikal, the bright lad that recommended this beauty to me deserves a statue. I
bow to you, my friend!
Gabriel
Garzon-Montano - Keep On Running (Original Mix) [2014]
Found it through: nobody remembers?!
Having trouble recalling who introduced me to this
tune. It could have been the colleague that recommended Shadows From Nowhere,
or my brother but both of them deny recommending this to me though both know
and enjoy it. What struck me the most about this one? The lyrics. It wasn’t
until the 5th listen or so that I started paying attention to the
verses and was kind of shook by how much I could relate to them. They more or
less describe my past half decade! Other than that, it’s close to SFN on the
relaxation/chill spectrum which is another fat plus. The production has more of
a hip-hop ish feeling to it though but it’s catchy in its own way. This tune too,
proved to be an excellent post work-out shower anthem. When your body’s still a
bit pumped from the exercises and you look in the mirror, all clean and smug
with this playing in the background… It feels good. Especially the final bit of
the track “if you’re living for yesterday, don’t expect things to change”.
SNAP. So damn true, especially with what I was going through in those months…
Again, this is not a 2018 release but a very defining
track for me this year and as such it fully deserves a spot here.
Arjuna
Schiks - Mahesvari (Live Version) [2010 -Classic #4 of 2018]
Found it through: my brother
Somewhere in March my brother gave me a list of tracks
he was really into over the course of 2012-2013. As we didn’t get to hang out
regularly back then, he’d often bookmark Soundcloud/Youtube pages to share with
me at a more convenient time. So one day he sends me a text file with links and
names to releases he enjoyed: a great aid as it was nearly time to shop for new
tunes again! One of the discoveries on that list was this instrumental, melodic
trip to Heaven. Xylophones, bells, complementing melody variations, polished
and modest percussion… All these elements combine together in this harmonious,
peaceful work of art that ease the mind and soul. It builds with an easy
going-pace before the main motif is revealed and various instruments take turns
in presenting their melodies. I just love how melodic this tune is, but also
how happy it makes me feel. It has all the ingredients to be an extremely
nostalgic tune but instead it’s so cheerful, so humble, so grateful…
And much like the previous two entries, this tune was
another track I discovered in two different “dimensions”. Going for a walk in
the sun? Put this on. Going for a shower after pumping dem irons? Put this on.
You won’t regret it in either case. I also dub this one another Classic
discovery for 2018. Pure bliss…
Childish
Gambino - Feels Like Summer (Original Mix) [2018]
“What the hell Mane? Where’s the House? The
Progressive?? The Techno??? THE TRANCE????” Relax, child. They lie ahead,
waiting for your eyes to read my verbal praise for them. This might be the most
unusual of Top 30 entries yet. I don’t generally like contemporary mainstream
releases, let alone to the extent that I put them in my Top 30. But this song
man… I just got back from my vacation this year, was browsing the net for new
music as I was all pumped, excited and inspired to be busy with music again
when I happened to run into it on Youtube. The song itself had been out for a
few months already but now it actually had a videoclip. Which was animated. So
it peaked my curiosity.
As I hit play, I was struck by an incredibly nostalgic sounding production, holy shit! A subtle guitar backed by some flutes here and there with Gambino’s vocals slightly enhanced to add to that nostalgic mood… And the clip itself sent me straight back to the ‘90s, to Tupac - Do For Love. *Nostalgia amplifies* The videoclip shows Gambino walking down the street and “perpetually towards the viewer” so to speak. He seems slightly disinterested/in his own world with people around him doing stuff that people in the summer do. On closer inspection, and with aid of the YT comments you actually start recognizing these people as (dominantly) Black Music artists/legends. The comments speculate on the meaning of their appearances/acts which is interesting if you are a fan of those scenes but since I don’t follow those genres anymore, I can’t really make sense of most names or what they represent. Regardless, this song has something both relaxing yet sad to it. As is often the case with nostalgic music, you can’t help but turn your thoughts to those things that are gone/lost. But still, if there is one song I enjoyed so much during my walks in September-October, it was this one. It was almost like a symbolic “goodbye” to the summer-est Summer ever (which is ironic, considering the song is about the warmth feeling like summer on a day that it shouldn’t be so hot but, eh, whatevs).
As I hit play, I was struck by an incredibly nostalgic sounding production, holy shit! A subtle guitar backed by some flutes here and there with Gambino’s vocals slightly enhanced to add to that nostalgic mood… And the clip itself sent me straight back to the ‘90s, to Tupac - Do For Love. *Nostalgia amplifies* The videoclip shows Gambino walking down the street and “perpetually towards the viewer” so to speak. He seems slightly disinterested/in his own world with people around him doing stuff that people in the summer do. On closer inspection, and with aid of the YT comments you actually start recognizing these people as (dominantly) Black Music artists/legends. The comments speculate on the meaning of their appearances/acts which is interesting if you are a fan of those scenes but since I don’t follow those genres anymore, I can’t really make sense of most names or what they represent. Regardless, this song has something both relaxing yet sad to it. As is often the case with nostalgic music, you can’t help but turn your thoughts to those things that are gone/lost. But still, if there is one song I enjoyed so much during my walks in September-October, it was this one. It was almost like a symbolic “goodbye” to the summer-est Summer ever (which is ironic, considering the song is about the warmth feeling like summer on a day that it shouldn’t be so hot but, eh, whatevs).
And obviously, when your videoclip reminds me of one
of the favorite clips of my childhood, you bag huge bonus points quite easily.
Thank you Gambino.
Jean-Michel
Jarre - Coachella Opening (Original Mix) [2018]
You are on your vacation, just minding your own
business when The Master Himself tweets he has a new release out, made
especially for Coachella 2018. He drops a link, you check it out and you are
all smiles because following Pure Delight that was Oxygene 3, Coachella Opening sees JMJ deploy his composer-genius in
tandem with modern synths once again. He continues down the path he set with
that beautiful 2016 album of his though you do feel he made things a wee bit
more club-friendly with this one (despite it not having the phat type of
kick/beats synonymous to the contemporary Dance Music that Coachella supports).
The intro is typical atmospheric, melodic Jarre as you’re used to hearing. 48
seconds in there’s some cool glitch percussion and fx elements going on before
he drops a catchy high octave range melody line for that extra funkiness.
Nearly one and a half minute in he drops the track’s main lead. It sounds as
‘80s as it sounds modern. It’s short, memorable and it rocks. I might be wrong
on this but it almost sounds like it’s not in the typical 4x4 measure. JMJ
introduces a short break before reprising the main melody with some different
synth teases. In this final segment the main riff is complemented by additional
melodies rife with tension, creating a climatic final phase to the track. It’s
not that this is the best melody or composition he’s ever written but the
manner in which he executed all elements in such a short timespan makes a cool
anthem. It doesn’t even have a high tempo yet there is the hands-in-the-air
feeling due to the way he layers and complements his melodies. From the moment
I heard this track up until now, I’ve loved it. It even became the opener to my
second Work-Out list from September onward! Another masterpiece from Jarre,
what else is new?
Ps. I STRONGLY advise you to check out his album Equinoxe Infinity. I’ve sadly not
completed my album review for it yet, but if you enjoyed Coachella Opening,
there’s a little surprise on the album that should put a smile on your face as
well. If there is one thing I can guarantee since 2015, it’s that a JMJ album
is always worth the effort, especially if it is related to his first solo
albums (either in name, mood or both). Go ahead now, go check it out. Or eh,
finish reading this post before you do so. Either is fine, really. ;)
Envotion
- Latest News (Extended Mix) [2018]
Every now and then you decide it’s time for some
Beatport shopping. So you scroll through your favorite artists/labels through
that Latest Releases function that lumps them altogether. Every now and then
you see an artist pop-up that you initially only ever followed because, say
back in 2011 they made it to that Top 30 because of an intense Prog/Tech bomba
called Recoder… When this happens, you click on their name to find out they
have a whole album out. You read the description. Hmmm. Inspired by ‘80s
soundtracks and synthesizer mania you say?? You go on to press play on the
first track. FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARKMEWITHYOURMENDELSOHN!!! What is
this Godly, brilliant, dreamy, nostalgic piece of melody perfection?? Is this
real life?? How in the…?
Exaggerations aside, it had been a long time since I
heard a melody that hit me in the feels the way this one did. But it’s not just
that incredible melody. It’s the whole production. It’s so damn ‘80s and yet
it’s also Progressive. What a bloody brilliant combination!! Right from the off
you get this loaded beat/bassline combination. When those snares hit at 00:38…
Mama mia… But when THAT synth hits at 00:57… At 01:53 you have no idea that the
melody being present there is going to be the main lead and that its breakdown
is going to be heavenly. You have no idea it’s going to be a groovy, nostalgic
main part. You have no idea it’s going to reprise near the 4th
minute. And when it all happens and you can’t at very least acknowledge how
music like this lightens the soul… Then I fear for your humanity. This track
was my first potential TOTY-candidate and as I write this down on the 4th
of December I can confirm it has not lost one bit of its initial magic. To
think that the next track would be in the very same league as this one…
Envotion
- Old Booze (Extended Mix) [2018]
Yes indeed. Every now and then the Music Gods gaze
upon you and decide that perhaps one instant TOTY-candidate isn’t enough to
announce the arrival of a Music Year that will go down in Razormane History as
one of the finest alongside 2016, 2015, 2013, 2008-2003…Indeed, every now and
then, your lungs have barely exclaimed your first
“FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARKMEWITHYOURMENDELSOHN” or you need to prepare them for a
second one.
As if the preview of Latest News didn´t blow me away
enough already, the preview for this one revealed a melody so touching, so
dripping with nostalgia, so mixed with conflicting emotions, that it caused a
wave of goosebumps over my skin. When was the last time I heard TWO such
soul-enriching gems in a row? What year is this, 2007?? Incredible stuff from
Envotion. I mean the build-up is nice and everything but what follows after
03:20 is music doing what music was made to do. At first the breakdown is
nothing more than flanged atmospheres and pads but then that main lead sneaks
in at 03:38 and fark me… That melody has traversed time, my friends. I feel at
once sad, grateful and hopeful when hearing it. It’s the synth they used,
something about its tone is soothing yet painful. A truly powerful melody on a
truly beautiful production. This track was the second TOTY-candidate I heard.
The year was still young but for it to already present this type of quality was
promising.
Eelke
Kleijn - Moments Of Clarity (Extended Mix) [2018]
I’d say my year can roughly be divided in three
segments: there was the period I discovered Envotion’s album, there was the
Spring period in which I started working out and there was the post-vacation
period of September. Eelke’s beauty of a tune falls under the third segment. My
vacation was done, I was feeling zen and happy, I managed to pick up working
out again after a 12-day break and my music-loving heart was overflowing with
inspiration to write about music, to listen to new music and to create new music.
Both title and tune were apt in describing how I felt in those weeks after my
vacation: even usually stressful situations at work didn’t get to me. I was in
a stronger mental state than I had been all year and it felt amazing. Moments
Of Clarity is Eelke’s glorious return to my Top 30 lists. A very gentle,
beautiful tune with subtle percussion and a touching string arrangement that’s
complemented throughout by other melodic instruments and layers. I believe this
is a “pensive” tune, one that makes you ponder your life or aspects of it
during solemn walks through the city… Soundwise it takes me back to his Untold
Stories album from 2010, which I replayed a LOT back in those days. I can’t
really pinpoint any particular moment or instrument in this track that made it
stand out so much, it was all the elements combined with the moment in the year
I discovered it, I guess. When you’re outside walking, and you have strings
playing in your ears that sound almost-sad-but-not-quite, you simply take
notice. Music like this is perfect “thought-food”.
A couple of weeks ago I saw that this is the title
track to his newest album, so you can bet your ass on it that I’m putting that
badboy in the Beatport cart. It’s good to have you back, mr. Kleijn.
Tali
Muss feat. Esphyr - Rain (Jody Wisternoff Remix) [2017]
Tag says 2017, but BeatPort release says late December
2017 so if you take into account cut-off points for Top 30s, this is as good as
a 2018 release. Shut up. Anyway. Jody Wisternoff has been one of few artists in
this rather “troublesome” decade of Dance Music to keep his standards high and
stay true to his own sound. As such, you can basically find a Jody related
track or remix in nearly all of my Top 30s of the past 8 years. This remix
isn’t necessarily a mindblower, especially if you look at the previous Top 30
Wisternoff entries. I will agree he’s had remixes with more “oomph” to them.
But you see, timing is just as important as execution. I acquired this track in
the same September batch as Feels Like Summer and Moments Of Clarity, and it
was often the third track I played after those two. Which means that as I went
on my summernight walks from my bro’s place to my home, this tune would be
there after the ones I mentioned before. It complemented that mood perfectly.
This remix is characterized by its infectiously,
thumping bassline that subtly fills the background along the vocal
stutters/echoes and the sublime strings and pads. Following Eelke’s Moments Of
Clarity, which might harbor a hint of sadness, this one harbors that hopeful
feeling, that grateful feeling that feeling that you should cherish the moment.
At 01:52, the build-up melodies are complemented by a trippy pad that fills the
track in a way I can’t explain. Sensual “Touch me” and “tonight” vocal samples
are laced over this serene section. 03:28: time for strings! It’s kind of
ironic how a track titled “Rain” only creates images of the sun in my mind. The
rain can be peaceful and serene to at times, but this track gives me radiant
images, a warm feeling of being at peace. So simple yet so beautiful and so
defining of my post-summer peace of mind… Jody strikes again. With the
precision of a master surgeon, he targets your heartstrings through this
sublime piece of art. Is there no end to his genius??
Karmon
feat. Terry Shand - Take My Hand (Dub Version) [2012]
Found it through: my brother
Aaaah, another Work-Out gem. Taken from my brother’s
2011-2013 suggestions list, Take My Hand is a track that defined my first
months of working out and as a consequence it defined my summer at the same
time. What I truly love about this production is the pure joy it exhales
throughout its melodies. It kicks off with a good funky beat and some stretched
out pads. The first sign of happiness reveals itself at 01:05 when that catchy
bassline starts massaging your eardrums. Something good is brewing here. At
02:12 an incredibly addictive synth melody is added to the mix, flanked by some
vocal samples whispering “You’re so fine”. Imagine you’re busy getting into
your work-out session. You’re all smiles due to the opening few tracks and
because you’re really up for it today when this bloody joyful track starts
injecting you with huge shots of dopamine… My friend, if this does not stir you
in a positive way, I’m afraid you are lacking a Heart and a Soul. And I’m
afraid I should be less judgmental of your blissful ignorance. For real though…
3 minutes in the tune’s main lead reveals itself. That synth sound is similar
to the Bellsynth from FL Studio’s WASP plug-in. The melody is playful, happy,
care-free. And that melody is singing to you as you are making yourself a
stronger, calmer and happier person. As the breakdown start playing are happy
friend Main Lead is joined by some extra synth lines with a deeper ring to
them. A mini-climax is reached and the Main Lead takes centre stage without any
other melodies to guide it. Just that catchy bassline, that funky beat and that
happy melody. What more do you need?
Ps. Only after updating my Winamp library did I notice
I actually had already bought this tune once before, probably around 2013 *facepalm* I guess it wasn’t time for me to
own it back then, right? xD I’m getting old…
Teho -
Behind Me (Original Mix) [2015]
Found it through: my sister
Over the summer my inbox got spammed by Soundcloud
recommendations by my sister because… She takes after her brother. :P I can be
quite a Spammer myself from time to time. So. After my vacation I had the peace
of mind to check out all her recommendations. And among those recommendations
was this gem. Though not the most complex tune I’ve heard this year, it
excelled in the way it created this uplifting mood.
It kicks off with an enhanced guitar melody that keeps
swelling and “submerging” throughout the build-up. The beat has that crispy,
funky percussion that I love (take note, +137 BPM Trancers). It’s the beat that
gets you in this happy, captivating groove and once you’re in, it won’t let go.
Two minutes in (wait whoa, two minutes in already??) an extra guitar melody
decided to step in, and it’s even catchier than the one that opens the track.
They are soon backed up by subtle melody and pad variations that strengthen the
uplifting mood set. As we enter the third minute, the beat falls away as the
melodic elements get all reverby and trippy. Then at 03:37 the trippy sounds
are gone. It’s the beat, bass, first two guitars and a third one with the
catchiest melody yet! From this point onward the track gradually starts
“submerging” from the deep end again, with all present melodies growing
clearer, additional pads and melodies sneaking in at the background to increase
the intensity as the track just keeps going and going! Fark me, what a
fantastic vibe!! Shortly before heading into its 6th minute, the
track reaches its peak and from there it slowly starts winding down. Phew, what
a rush!
Though my sister has never been as religiously into
Dance Music as our brother and I, she’s always had an open mind toward it and
I’m proud of her recommending such a brilliant tune to me. Simple? Yes.
Incredible all the same? F*ck yes! Well done, sis. Muito obrigada. ^^
Mark
Knight - Eighty Six (Original Mix) [2018]
Some tracks start off with such a rich blend of
percussion, it makes them recognizable from the first second the record starts
playing. Eighty Six is one such track. You might not notice it on the first
play per se, but as you replay it over and over, there comes a point when you
suddenly notice. Often this point is reached after you’ve come to love the
track for its main part. I bought this track because the Beatport preview
revealed that its main melody contained those typical oldschool House/Techno
synth stabs that ALWAYS get me for some reason. There is something so
primordial about them, something so “the beginning of everything” that I can’t
deny them. Or well, rarely. It took only a few plays to love it. So this was
BEFORE I started working-out. But once I picked that up, I truly began to love
this record. Especially from the middle onward, when it heads for its breakdown
moment and climax: “CAN YOU FEEEEEEEL IIIIIIIIIT?!?!” BOOM. Those delicious
stabs. That delightful beat. This incredible groove. Push up and down and up
and down with a fresh dose of dopamine rushing through your vein, caused by the
track’s sweet drop. Yet another work-out anthem in my arsenal and as such
another track tied to all things positive this year. Add a reprise for yet
another boost and yup. Undeniably 2018. Thank
you, mr. Toolroom!
Duke
Dumont feat. A*M*E* - Need U (100%) (Extended Edit) [2013 -Classic #2 of 2018]
Five years ago it popped up out of nowhere and I LOVED
it like mad. However, I have no idea why the hell I never purchased this. It
was simply not in my collection. But maybe it just wasn’t the time yet. This
year, during one of my Beatport shopping sprees, I ran into this. A 10-minute
version. I had not once seen a version beyond the lengths of a radio edit and
yet there it was! I was shocked and delighted, all at the same time. Logically I
bought it and started listening to it. Had to get used to the build-up for a
bit. Whereas the radio version obviously gets to the point instantly, this
version takes a while to get “to the good stuff”, I suppose it teaches you to
be patient and appreciate its slamming kick and percussion. And as time
progressed, I came to adore that “naked”, long build-up. But as was the case
with Eighty Six, I had no idea what a work-out boost this track is capable of
giving… It’d always come in between 30-40 minutes of my work-outs, depending on
how much I skipped on the playlist during a given session and every time it
came on, I got my groove on and went past that “half-way-there” fatigue.
Working out and singing/whispering lyrics is not just a challenge, it’s plain
stupid because it messes up your breathing but when lifting weights for
instance I could not help but jam along to the vocals with that furious face
where the artery on your forehead is visible.
What I loved about the work-out experience with this
one is that when it would come by when I was on my way to work, mynmind would
get all pumped up due to my brain’s association with that particular
half-way-there moment. Quite a surreal feeling but it was epic being in this
state where working-out was something I was looking forward to pretty much
every day. And FINALLY, after five years I could make amends for the bizarre
omission of an incredible ‘90s House-inspired future Classic. This track
combines those sexy ‘90s sounding vocals with that deep dark, stabbing oldskool
House/Techno melody, even more so than Eighty Six did. It reprises a couple of
times, and has several minor and major climaxes backed by fx swooshes and an
alternative deep bass for those bits. When Duke Dumont dropped this 5 years
ago, it was one of those earliest “retro” styled House tracks, and very much a
part of the retro-movements that have swept several Dance Music genres since
then. The perfect remedy against the overflooding of festival noise that was
becoming the norm as we headed towards the midway point of this decade.
I salute you Duke Dumont, and I apologize for my late
proper appreciation of this club and work-out gem.
Matter
- Indica (Original Mix) [2017]
Found it through: Steve
Westwick - Progressive House Mix March 2018
Steve is one of my forum friends I met on the
now-defunct AvB/ASOT forums back in the day. Alongside Raigen Smash, Rothma,
Rok Hecl, Greek999, and a couple of others we used form a collective of
“bedroom DJs/artists”, each with a unique taste in Dance Music styles, yet
always with one or two overlapping genres. Though he belonged to the “uplifting
clan” of our crew, he also had a taste for good Progressive music, something he
proved once again when he sent me a Prog-inspired Spring mix earlier this year.
In said mix, I found this delicious track that took me
straight back to 2007 when my brother bought a bunch of Johan Vermeulen/Red
Shift tunes. It has a comparable vibe to Helix and Chemical Romance. As I
remember 2007’s discoveries quite fondly, this track was an instant favorite of
his mix for me. Especially that deep “Coldharbour bassline” and the gentle
synth stabs that guide it throughout the first half of the track. The liquid
and atmospheric fx make it quite the trippy affair. Definitely one of the most
outstanding tracks of his mix and a track that captured the spirit of this
year’s Spring which was made memorable by the surprisingly sunny weather we had
for Dutch standards. Thanks Uncle Stevo!
Luka
Sambe & Filterbear - Hebe XVI (Original Mix) [2017]
Found it through: Steve
Westwick - Progressive House Mix March 2018
Why be the genius behind one Mane Top 30 entry when
you can be a genius behind two?? Following the dreamy journey that was Indica,
Uncle Stevo blessed me with another Progressive gem. Some light drums and
catchy percussion kick this one off, with a hypnotic melody line swelling up in
the background. One minute in, and a deep bassline follows. There is cool vocal
sample reduced to background fx flying by every now and then. Past two minutes
is when this tune decides to reveal its melodic intentions. An almost-sad
violin layer is played followed by a “xylophone like” main lead, with a catchy
hook that’s a match made in heaven with its percussion elements. There is
something tender about the mood caused by this mix of violin, “xylophone” and
groove. A reprise follows at 04:14 with that catchy hook following on the back
of some alternate melody lines and violin additions. It’s pretty harmonic,
relaxing yet also a wee bit sad somehow. The xylophone remains in the
down-winding segment of the tune, mostly as a bit of a filler element. Another
beauty and another Spring-defining tune for me this year.
David
Forbes presents Hal Stucker - Disillusioned (Matter Remix) [2018]
Following the Progressive deliciousness of Indica, the
name “Matter” caught my attention when I was going through releases on the
Progressive Pure sublabel. I ended up buying the Matter Remix, the Slam Duck Remix as well as the
original. You know it’s a strong release when you end up buying several
different versions for it. All of them delivered in some way or other but the
Matter Remix got me the most, due to its journey-like nature AND the way the
strings vaguely remind me of Matthew
Dekay - Timeless (Digifruitella Dub). This Matter Remix uses a bassline
comparable to the one in Indica. Indica however, is a much deeper affair than
this remix, only revealing strings/pads in the latter half of the track. For
the Disillusioned Remix, Matter sprinkled those melodic elements throughout the
whole production, creating small moments of tension, counterbalanced by plenty
of groove that subtly reveal the original’s melody patterns. If the original is
all about the dancefloor and the Slam Duck Remix is all about the listening
experience, than the Matter Remix sits right in the middle of those two. There
were plenty of occasions I found myself drifting off to Day Dreamland while
this was one. Just like the two tracks preceding it in this list, Disillusioned
defined the Spring part of this year. It’s funny that the title actually
reflected my state of mind, at least for a little bit. Until we found salvation
in the sweaty embrace of working-out.
I had never heard of Matter before but I’m impressed he pulled off a brace in my Top 30. Well done, sir!
I had never heard of Matter before but I’m impressed he pulled off a brace in my Top 30. Well done, sir!
Ferry
Corsten - Eternity (Extended Mix) [2018]
Well hello, mr. Corsten! What an honor of you to join
us once again! If you had told me at the beginning of the year that this would
have made my final 30, I would have had my doubts. Don’t get me wrong! When I
bought it, I really liked it, but I didn’t necessarily feel it was a mindblower
of any kind. This is one of those slowburners whose beauty you don’t
acknowledge until you realize you’ve been enjoying them for like three months
straight.
For this masterpiece, Ferry takes the musical path
that’s best described as a cross between the Hans Zimmer - Inception / Interstellar pieces and the Prydz-style of the past few years:
repetition of an increasingly intensifying melodic hook that’s backed by clever
melodic additions that suck you into a delicious melody cocktail. What’s really
clever here, is how Ferry creates this beautiful atmosphere from the track’s
first breakdown that sounds like it’s going to climax… But instead it’s broken
off by single piano tones based on that beautiful main hook. The funny thing
is, that never bothered me once! It’s kind of unexpected but it works well.
It’s like the track resets, and builds up anew from 0, but this time with the
full(-on Ferry) intention of making you raise your hands. It’s with tracks like
this one, tracks like Lonely Inside, Trust and Anahera that the best of Ferry
comes to the fore. Sure, Eternity is “simple” but as has been the case for many
of this year’s entries, it’s fully effective. A perfect Spring / Summer tune,
and an even greater, relaxing post work-out piece of melodic beauty. It’s
interesting, it doesn’t sound like oldskool Ferry all that much. It sounds like
“nu skool” Ferry and luckily for us that Ferry is on Fire (pun intended :D). The
Man with the Midas Touch strikes once again, proving Trance doesn’t needs to
run on that cheesy “fearless 138” gimmick bullsh*t to sound incredible.
I didn’t really expected this one to end up in my Top 30. I guess I just didn’t realize how often I had played it over the course of the summer until I was assembling my final 30. As I skimmed through this one, I felt a sense of comfort and familiarity, as if being greeted by an old friend. Almost instantly, my summer night walks sprang to mind again. Now I can go on that typical Mane Tour where I dissect every flipping second but Time Is Money so I’m not gonna do that here. What makes this track rock is that Allende drops a bucketload of melodic eargasm on you. The Trance pads that define are so serene, they make me at peace and happy at the same time. The various alternative melody layers and additions just add to this incredible peaceful atmosphere. Quite simply, this is the perfect summernight track to listen, a track that makes you grateful to be alive and surrounded by those that make your life worth living and suffering through. It’s idiotic how I almost overlooked it. What a sniper of a tune, catching me off guard by hiding in my memory… But this one most definitely defined Summer ’18 in the Razorverse…
The
Digital Blonde - Through The Void (Original Mix) [2018]
Found it through: Rok Hecl
Well, well, well… If it isn’t The Digital Blonde…
Recommended by none other than Rok Hecl. Coming from his tasty ‘80s-inspired,
retro-flavored album Neon, is a track that blends the typical atmospheric,
fx-rich TDB style with ‘80s synthesizers. The echoing ‘80s drums as well as the
main melody pushed through an ‘80s synth makes this one a unique tune in the
TDB discography. Though it’s usually his epic Trancers that end up in my Top
30s, I’d still put this one in their league, if only for that amazing blend of
old with modern. The melody is just so good, lays nicely in the ears and is
complemented by typical TDB sounds so well, especially the ones through the
oldskool synthesizers. The title honors the track’s contents. What a gem.
Envotion
- Heroes (Extended Mix) [2018]
Envotion complete their hattrick with this badass
tune. Unlike Latest News and Old Booze that leaned heavily on
nostalgic emotion, this one grabbed me due to its riff and the climatic vocal
stutter/shout: it gives off such a powerful ‘80s action show vibe, truly a
victory theme for bad guys vanquishing evil! The build-up doesn’t hint at that at
all though, not at first anyway. It carries on the album’s
‘80s-meets-Progressive vibe with a gentle melody line fading away for a
breakdown with that epic lead. It might sound a bit off at first, as this could
very well have gone down the nostalgic path again. It doesn’t though: it plays
out once before being stretched out into a climax with a vocal repeating
“awaken” several time before the “stutter” turns into shouting at the peak of
the climax (but it’s not too loud and thus not annoying) and the lead gets to
carry the track from that point onward. It reprises pretty fast, but both the
climax and riff do what they are supposed to do. I think I was on my way to
work, walking past Amsterdam Central Station with the sun still coming up when
that first climax hit me. Ever since that moment, Heroes became a firm favorite
of mine this year, and one of the best tracks I heard in the first third of
this year. It might not have the magic of the other two Envotion entries but
it’s worthy of a spot by its own merit. And it perfectly fits after Through The
Void. Viva the ‘80s-inspiration! And viva Envotion. :)
Simian
Mobile Disco - Defender (Original Mix) [2018]
Opening with cheeky, teasing choir “stabs” and some
sneaky deep end toms and bassline, this track is at once ominous, mysterious
and… [INHEEMS]? Half a minute in, that intro choir is backed by a “real” choir
of sweet voices. They sing a first verse and then resort singing long-drawn out
notes to complement the intro choir-stabs. What caught me from the Beatport
preview was that subtle bend in pitch in these long notes: it contributes to
this ancient, mysterious vibe the track crafts from the very beginning. Tribal
like percussion layers are added alongside a more defined kick as we seem to
already have reached the third minute of the track! It’s so absorbing and
hypnotic, you can’t help but lose track of time (and sometimes space) as it
sucks you into its melodic, rhythmic web. From the first moment I heard it, I
fell in love with it and it instantly joined Latest News and Old Booze in the
ring as a potential Tune Of The Year. That’s three 2018 releases in the first
third of the year battling it out for Top 30 supremacy!! A testimony to the
quality of (Dance) Music this year.
Now it just so happens that me discovering this track
coincided with me discovering the joy of working out. And it was during one of
those work-outs that the second verse caught me. If you find yourself in the
process of suffering through pain to gain physical and mental durability and
the music you hear has a lyric that goes “Don’t stand so close to the edge, you
know I’m a warrior”, then odds are you get psyched (assuming you love the track
to begin with). Defender manages to be unusual, a fresh listening experience as
well as work-out fuel: I often resorted to it as the “midway work-out boost” as
I left the “suffering phase” to enter the “euphoric phase” where the dopamine
kicks in and you do your sets with a huge ass smile as your muscles become
accustomed to the initial strain of the session. To have this dual impact is a
testimony of Greatness… And the only reason this track ended up missing the
TOTY title is because I am a nostalgic m*therf*cker. “What the hell do you
mean, Mane?!” Hang tight, you’ll understand when we get there. ;)
Simian Mobile Disco made it to my Top 30 2012 with
Your Love Ain’t Fair (which served as the inspiration that led to Mane Festival
Theme I, ironically!). Their team-up with the Deep Throat Choir sees them do
one better by nearly clutching that TOTY badge. Big up folks, for you are an
incredible #2 in my books!
Stephen
J. Kroos - Prerogative (Original Mix) [2018]
Formalistick. Stax. And
now Prerogative (man how I hate that word. I always get it wrong when writing
it down or even pronouncing it xD). Mr. J. Kroos is back with some deep,
pulsing, goodness. The bassline alone is enough to put a grin on my face. Add
the bag of percussive tasty that is so expertly sprinkled throughout the
build-up, and the subtle head-bopping begins. Some pads here and there. A dark,
techy synth stab left and right, why not? A relentless, hypnotic synth line
modeled after the bassline’s melody pattern. Another type of pad to keep it
interesting. Chords. THOSE type of chords. Through low strings. Hell yes. This
is my type of Progressive jam, baby! Now we are four minutes in and the beat
fades. It’s just the chords surrounded by atmosphere and a sudden new melody
line with a bit of a Paul Martinez &
Fiddler - Direction (Matias Chilano Remix) feeling to it. That omnious
synth line from the beginning has finally started playing out the melody as the
kick seemed to have returned like an assassin in the night… We are somehow six
minutes in when various swooshes and other fx announce a climax is underway
when suddenly your ears are greeted by a statement:
“Don’t talk to me about a Land Of The Free, and a Home
Of The Brave, until everybody’s free!!”
BOOM! The drop hits about 10x harder than it would
have without this quote. I wasn’t expecting a raw, angry sample like that but
gets the adrenaline pumping instantly. I tried googling the statement, but
could not find where it’s from and I didn’t have the patience to devote more
time to it then I did but to have such an angry voice shout such a powerful
statement at the height of your tune’s climax is brilliant. Obviously you can
go for the (clichéd yet iconic) “Can You Feel It” shout but this works equally
well for me. It’s kind of comparable to what Leon Bolier did on Vengeance
Vengeance in 2011, using Samuel L. Jackson’s bible quote from Pulp Fiction as
the extra fuel to stoke the fire of the climax ever higher… If that doesn’t get
your blood-pumping… Mr. Kroos’ finishing touch makes this track complete.
Despite being a deep, dark Progressive gem, it also utilizes a more “festival
typical” move to give this track something extra over its peers. Brilliant.
The
Digital Blonde - Arcadia (Original Mix) [2018]
Found it through: Rok Hecl
Mister Hecl always dishes out dem goods. I have to add
I would have checked this one out regardless whether he recommended it or not
but wow. TDB outdid himself with this one. Long-ass build-ups are one of his
signature traits but this might very well stand as the track with the best
build-up he’s ever done. It’s rhythmically perfect, I can’t phrase it
otherwise. The thugging bassline, the powerful kick, the echoing drums that
accompany the beat…This unrelenting energy just keep going and going and its
repetitive yet captivating groove will not let you go once it reels you in. As
trippy fx surround us left and right, the bass carries us into a hypnotic
state, interrupted only by a few short and minor “kick climaxes”. The bassline
growls fiercely at times before toning it down a bit again, providing a degree
of tension that keeps this build-up interesting. It could honestly last 10
minutes and I wouldn’t be bored for a moment!
The pads in the intro are a mere teaser of the main
part that breaks through around the 5th minute. The pad melody that
plays is simple but so damn delightful… The nostalgia oozes from it, gently
reminding one of fine days gone by. More sweet than bitter but melancholic all
the same… As more subtle pad layers are added you are lifted into an entrancing
state. Sadly this dreamy bliss comes to an end. comes to an end much sooner
than you’d expect. The upside is that with the pads now gone, the focus returns
to percussion, beats and bassline, which are exceptional in this track. The
rhythm demands body movement, even the Stiffest Of The Stiff cannot deny its
groove. In terms of melody this might not be the best DB release ever but holy
shit, in terms of how much it makes you move this is right up there with his
very finest. Yet another Top 30, yet another TDB. What a genius.
Airbase
- Vermillion (Extended Mix) [2018]
Found it through: Arksun
This track was born to be a Top 30 entry. From the
very first second to the very last. Bloody hell I miss epic Larger-Than-Life
Trance tracks executed in this manner… With pride, dignity and grace. No cheesy
deggadegga beats or over-the-cheese-top happy melodies that make you feel you’re
watching a children’s tv show. Just pure, beautiful, epic Trance. The intro is
majestic with a magical melody. After setting a rather mystic mood, a deep-ass
beat carries on. I love it when tracks do this, it’s so Anthem worthy so to
speak. To have that deep beat surrounded by merely a bassline and some fx
build-up the tension from 0 again, after the intro melody caught you in its
web. Airbase uses an acid layer that goes a bit haywire in the background
whilst using teases of the main melody to keep you hooked. After three minutes,
hints of the main melody are revealed again due to the present elements
following more alternating patterns. Almost four minutes in and it’s breakdown
time. At 04:14… At 04:14… Hmmmm. You know what? Just look this up on youtube
right now and listen to it yourself. Why would I bother dissecting this whole
track with words when the whole point of beautiful Instrumental Trance like
this is to be FELT and not told? I’ll even make it easy for you, because I’m
such a good boy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDeMEot8VBI
Go listen and marvel at its majesty. And Arksun? Thank
you for pointing this one out to me. If you hadn’t tweeted how much this
grabbed you, I might very well have overlooked it. Obrigado :)
Ps. obviously the most Obrigado to you, Airbase!
Allende
- Tricky Waters (Retrospective Mix) [2010]
I didn’t really expected this one to end up in my Top 30. I guess I just didn’t realize how often I had played it over the course of the summer until I was assembling my final 30. As I skimmed through this one, I felt a sense of comfort and familiarity, as if being greeted by an old friend. Almost instantly, my summer night walks sprang to mind again. Now I can go on that typical Mane Tour where I dissect every flipping second but Time Is Money so I’m not gonna do that here. What makes this track rock is that Allende drops a bucketload of melodic eargasm on you. The Trance pads that define are so serene, they make me at peace and happy at the same time. The various alternative melody layers and additions just add to this incredible peaceful atmosphere. Quite simply, this is the perfect summernight track to listen, a track that makes you grateful to be alive and surrounded by those that make your life worth living and suffering through. It’s idiotic how I almost overlooked it. What a sniper of a tune, catching me off guard by hiding in my memory… But this one most definitely defined Summer ’18 in the Razorverse…
Solarstone
- Midsummer Nights (Original Mix) [2018]
Found it through: Rothma
A beautiful piano melody opens this Solar piece. A
gentle guitar-like sound is added, followed by a sad violin-like melody. We are
in for something emotional, hopefully not in the cheesy way! But fear not, for
if it was a recommendation by Master Roth, it means it must have avoided the
pitfalls of Mane Critique. About a minute and a half in a new piano melody
starts playing. It fades for a bit before a higher octave version starts
playing. So far there is a very nice vibe to this track, it’s ideal for
traveling+spacing out the window: flowing landscapes and fading faces, you know
what I’m talking about. As we enter the breakdown, we are greeted by the piano
from the intro. Gentle and atmospheric minor pads now make their entrance
alongside a beautiful main lead. The kick sneaks in as the pads grow fuller in
range and the track climaxes with grace: the higher piano melody takes over for
this first bit as tension slightly increases for a second climax. It’s a melody
that stays in your mind and soothes the heart. At 05:38 that main lead, that
archtypical Solarstone synth with the Seven Cities ring to it returns to
complete this emotional masterpiece. Simplicity is King once again in this Top
30. ;)
Now, beautiful as this track may be, I have to say
there were moments it was hard for me to listen to. The first half of the
summer in particular could be tough; that bit in the breakdown where the piano/guitar
goes for higher notes especially (around 04:41). In any given circumstance the
nostalgia in that bit could move me but with the heartbreak I was going through
at that moment… It made that part quite… Challenging to listen to with a
straight face. Thankfully this track survived the hurt. Solar killed it with
this one. Basic perhaps, and some might argue he’s done more epic or
captivating tracks but for me this was one of those simple tracks executed to
brilliance. This track is evidence that Trance doesn’t have to be a stinking
cheesefest to be emotional.
Union
Jack - Triclops [2009 -Classic #2 of 2018]
The second Classic discovery of the year… Yeah,
shut-up, I’m calling it a classic. This track takes the concept “infectious” to
new heights with its stabbing main lead and bass synths. It also seems to want
to reinvent the concept “tension”. It takes its time to get to the point where
you dance your ass off but the anticipation is there right from the get-go so
once it goes all out, the release is immensely gratifying. Once it drops, it
even has a different melody which is a very nice twist. After the first segment
plays out, it’s just beat and bass alongside some typical Union Jack wobbles.
Four and a half minutes gone now… A semi-sad synth melody defines the breakdown
when the main lead returns. Due to the massive anticipation and release of the
first segment, you can’t help but grin widely at this part because you KNOW it’s
gonna repeat that trick again. First it gets the kick and bass back whilst
building up even more momentum, aided by the breakdown’s sad synth. At 06:20
the final drop hits and man, yet another soul-tingling release… My only problem
here is that at 06:53 the track ends. Almost abruptly. :(
It could at the very least have allowed me to relish
in its tasty percussion fading away. Aw well. That’s my only minor point of
critique because honestly, this track? Masterpiece. And holy shit, when you use
this one to work-out… Beast Mode, activated. ;)
Gabriel
& Dresden - Jupiter (Extended Mix) [2018]
Found it through: can't remember... Rothma? Rok?
I’ve never really been the biggest G&D fan out
there… Throughout the years I’ve preferred some of Josh’ solo efforts though
even I would never the deny the beauty of Andain - Beautiful Things (Gabriel
& Dresden Remix). But that remix is nearing two decades of age… Jupiter is
the first G&D track in ages to really blow me away. It has everything to do
with that raw, captivating synth lead that clocks in at 00:43. Fark me, it’s so
raw and energetic. A minute and a half in and it demands centre stage, filling
your eardrums with its very growing ferocity… This is Progressive Trance at its
grooviest. A delight to the senses! Note the “intermezzo” two and a half
minutes in, when it’s just the hard kick and the deep bassline. This is where
the duo drop several delightful pads, tickling your groove-bone with their
funky percussion. The breakdown soon follows. At first it’s sadness.
Loneliness. But as more melodies reveal themselves the mood turns to hope. Four
and a half minutes in… Something raw swells from underneath the depths of the
track… BOOM! An incredible raw groove is unleashed. At five minutes, that raw
synth from the beginning is back… A warm reverbed effect later and the pads
slowly return alongside that mighty synth that goes back into its melodic
pattern. The sadness has turned to pure euphoria and energy as another
incredibly infectious synth line is thrown in the mix for that extra happy
polish… I’m sorry I’m going to bring this up YET again but… This was another
Before / After track… There was the joy I got from it BEFORE working-out… And
there is the joy I got from it AFTER I started using it as work-out fuel. An
already epic tune went next level because of it. I can only bow my head in
utmost humility to Gabriel & Dresden for they really killed it with this
one.
Johan Gielen
& Ryo Takahashi - Calima (Extended Mix) [2018]
Work-out anthem #749… xD Gielen had a very productive
year again but out of all the tunes he put out this was my favorite by far. If
you are a fan of anime/videogames like I am, and if by chance, you are familiar
with Nhato’s gems Dreamer’s Symphony and especially Far East Garden, you will
know that Japanese Dance(/Trance) producers tend to have a recognizable type of
euphoria in their tracks when they head down the uplifting path. Not all of
them, or all the time, but there is something distinct to the melody patterns
with very quick note progressions that make for very captivating, hummable and
recognizable melodies. What I love about Calima is how it combines that “Japanese
euphoria” in the melody with Johan’s stadium-sized Trance synths. It turns
Calima into a bomb of uplifting energy that will move even the most stoic of
raver. And yes, it was the very first track on my very first work-out playlist!
Jochen
Miller & Rebourne - Revenge (Jochen Miller's Festival Extended Mix) [Razormane
Tune Of The Year 2018]
Jochen Miller, back in the Razormane Top 30?? F*ck
yes, it’s true; one of my Top lists “favorite sons” finally hit that sweet spot
again, after a sour absence of seven years. Moreover, he did so because I
failed to pay proper attention to this release.
When I heard the first version, I thought it was the
original. A length of 4:16 for a Trance-based track is UTTER BULLOCKS. I will
remain convinced of this fact regardless of the many “open-minded” newbies
persistently telling folks like me to “get along with the times”. Trance-based music
(as in any subgenre of the main branch Trance) should only ever be below 7
minutes if it’s an album track. Or if it’s some crazy Techy Dancefloor monster
of 5 minutes that you drop to shock and shake up your crowds. But other than
that, this 2010s Short Length Doctrine has to end. Don’t give me the scientific
evidence of modern day Trance fans having the attention-span of a hamster due
to their social media addictions. If they were once capable of appreciating the
genre undiluted, they are capable of learning to appreciate proper-length music
again. You want 4-minute originals? Then switch to Pop or Hip Hop and GTFO
Trance. Period.
/rant. This “original” was already the best Miller I
had heard since Miller parted ways with Benno de Goeij. If anything, it
reminded me of some of his non-Benno productions from 2010 like his remix for
Schossow’s Kofola. Of the non-Benno efforts from that era, I still feel Kofola
stands as one of the better ones Jochen did. Revenge follows that style albeit
with a very strong and addictive melody which to me counts as the track’s
“Centre Of Gravity”, aka the reason to hit play on it over and over again. The
choice for synths in this one are combination of that Classic Miller Synth from
gems such as Lost Connection/Face Value/Red One and Bigroom-inspired saws,
albeit laying closer to Trance in that spectrum. It’s been done before and some
might claim it’s been done better than here but I was just delighted to hear a
Miller track sound like the Miller I had grown up with all those years ago.
Bloody hell, I was way too spoiled music-wise in those glorious 2005-2010 days
without knowing it at the time... I am digressing again though. As much as I
perceived this track as a Blast From The Techy Past, its timing was perfect.
Mane was working out you see, and the first time I heard this track, I knew and
FELT it was going to be THAT track you play when you’re running out of steam
before the work-out is over. At some point I started working out whilst
youtubing tracks to keep me going inbetween the sets.
So it’s during this “Youtube the playlist as we go”
work-out, that I notice that Revenge has a 7:30 minutes version. I blink and
look again. What? I thought it was just one track, and under 4 minutes at that?
So I click play. Obviously I expected a longer build-up so that was no surprise
but in the first breakdown there is an extra bit: the main lead is revealed
first WITHOUT backing elements. Very cool touch! It then continues as expected.
Alright, I’m still working-out and smiling somewhat. But what follows next hit
me really hard for some reason. Enter the second breakdown: in the 4-minute
version the track’s main synths dosn’t reappear inbetween the clap-your-hands
bit and the short piano play before the climax. In the +7 minutes version THEY
DO. :)) Imagine my face at this point, followed by a loud “what the fuuuuuuck”
and before I get to finish that sentence, Revenge’s main lead plays solo with
the piano. Increase the volume on a second “what the fuuuuuck!!” as I grin from
ear to ear with watery eyes. The climax bit then follows and the track goes
all-out, as do I.
You know that made this extended discovery so special?
It was just like the old days: you’d hear a radio edit or album cut of a track
you already like a lot and then one day you’d discover that there was a LONGER
version. Once you got your hands on the longer version, it was rarely a
disappointment. Most famous case in point: Rank
1 - Opus 17. On the Sensation White 2005 compilation it ran for like 6
minutes, so going by the logic of building up and breaking down you’d expect
the full version to be 8 minutes right? No. Opus 17’s original length is a
whooping 11:42 (obviously thanks to its extensive intro and outro but still).
Even though Revenge’s extended version is an average 07:29 by Trance music
standards, this surprise took me back to better times. And in a way this
track’s mood and title felt like it was all about me: working-out, steeling my
mind and body against all the negative emotions of the past 18 months, it was
indeed “Revenge” against pain, revenge against sorrow. And I was getting my
revenge in the most healthy way possible with a big-ass smile on my face.
I could finish my praise for this track by ending with
a pun along the lines of “Nothing tastes sweeter than Revenge” but that would
be corny, wouldn’t it? :^) Instead I’ll end by saying that even though the
other TOTY-candidates may have been aesthetically more pleasing, there is no
other track that could truly define 2018 as precise as this one did.
Jochen, thank you so much for this track and welcome
back. It’s good to have you here once more!
Jean-Michel
Jarre - Exquinoxe Infinity (Movement 10) [2018]
Hmmmm, as I am also in the process of writing a review
for JMJ’s latest album, I don’t really feel like going into this one really
deep here. Suffice it to say it’s in this spot for a reason so get of your lazy
ass and check out the album ASAP. You’ll be able to understand for yourself. ;)
To Conclude...
Music-wise 2018 was quite phenomenal so I hope that in
the future I can still look back with as much passion as I can now. Beating or
even coming near 2003-2008 is basically impossible but 2018 did a pretty good
job by its own merit. Whoop whoop!
On to production: As of November this year I've gotten
my hands on Massive by Native Instruments and I've been learning to master
Ableton Live. The long-term goal here is to be able to play my tracks live,
though that should be understood in the form of performance, not the location,
as for the time being I'll stick to my bedroom. I've also gotten my hands on Benno de Goeij's Essential Collection
he made for Native Instruments’ Massive five years ago. Both Massive's own
sounds and Benno's particular sound set have so many insane and awesome sounds...
Rest assured that there is yet another world opening to me right now that will
lead to some cool stuff in the future. The goal for 2019 is basically to carry
on with what I am doing now: writing more consistently (which means more
blogposts (hopefully)), producing more consistently and learning more about Ableton. It's a good place I am in
right now as far as creativity goes, I hope to maintain this for a looooooooong
time to come.
So… More Ableton tutorials. More keyboard practice.
Continuing that stalled Revival project of my old Tech tracks. And of course, Mane Festival Theme VII. I failed to
finish the seventh entry to the series in time but rest assured it’s
underway. It will be taking the MFT series down a techier road than previously
heard. And looking ahead to Mane
Festival Theme VIII, I feel like giving that one a cinematic soundtrack
twist… A sci-fi like mood… I think that would be a really cool combination: A
Tech Trance Anthem with cinematic bits.
Welp, that's it from me. Have a blast going into 2019
my friends. Happy New Year to all and be safe out there. L.E.D. There Be More Fantastic
Music next year! Take care now ;)
- Papa
Razor
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