DDr - Bandcloud Radio - Ibiza Special
Yamaneko - Hydrokinesis (Unreleased)
A beautiful track that reminds me of Morricone's Ecstasy of Gold, albeit through a modern, aquatic lens.
Juan Jose Calarco & Alma Laprida - Curva (Pakapi Records)
A musty crank of a track from a huge compilation of music from throughout the Americas.
Zwei Kreise - Inexorable (Quanta Records)
Blend Architect - Cloud 1.1 (Groovement)
A moment of light from a release that is built on the bones of frenetic, driving techno.
Em Som - You Said That (Jheri Tracks)
Floaty, airy electro-folk.
Lanark Artefax - Flickering Debris (Whities)
Glossy electronics that belong in the shiniest of sci-fi anime.
Delerium - Silence (Sanctuary Mix By Fade) (Nettwerk)
It's amazing what a remix can do. What started life as an overwrought trip-hop-meets-grunge meltdown becomes a dank and spiritual journey.
ATB - 9pm (Till I Come) (Kontor Records)
The simplest, most beautiful riff.
Three Drives On A Vinyl - Greece 2000 (Hooj Choons)
I will never forget hearing a DJ say "summer of 98 is what it reminds you of" about this tune. Perhaps it was his backwards way of speaking, who knows. This is a beautifully melancholic piece of work.
Nalin & Kane - Beachball (Urban)
This is wonderful because it marries a fun riff with a basic human desire (having fun at the beach!) with quite mournful chords.
Tilt - Invisible (Lost Tribe Vocal Mix) (Hooj Choons)
Swirling, cavernous synth sounds that jump and build and grow into a bizarre vocal that I've never understood. Still got radio play.
Humate - Love Stimulation (Paul Van Dyk's Love-Club-Mix) (Deviant)
This one has a haunting bass line, wailing vocals, shuffling percussion and piano riffs that are just the right side of cheesy. Perfection.
I remember hearing this on radio and just thinking WOW this will be a smash. Still bangs.
System F - Out Of The Blue (Essential Recordings)
This is the big one. Without this one I would never have gone down the rabbit hole. I still remember this one Friday night on the computer listening to a rare dance show on national radio and hearing the 12" version, it was on a tape I rinsed for months. I'd borrow compilations just to hear this mixed with other tunes and always be disappointed, the mixes in my head better than anything reality could offer. The main intro section is silly and goofy and it explodes into this gargantuan mess of trance heaven. Epic.
Gouryella - Gouryella (Tsunami)
Kind of like the weird cousin of Out of The Blue.
B.B.E. - Seven Days And One Week (Triangle)
This was on the radio and on MTV before I knew what trance was. It's weird and bleepy and then that breakdown gives you this gated sound that's just terrifying.
Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar (Original Three'N'One Mix) (Hooj Choons)
Stupendous. Someone tweeted me "truly, if there is a piece of music more viscerally thrilling than the arpeggios in 'cafe del mar' then i've yet to hear it." Hard to follow that.
Art Of Trance - Madagascar (Ferry Corsten Remix) (Platipus)
This is a bit simple but really plays of silence and tension. The rolling percussion with that building synth line is incredible.
Veracocha - Carte Blanche (Positiva)
One of Ferry's few minor key tracks, this also really works with contrast, from nothing to everything in a moment.
Paul Van Dyk - For An Angel (Pvd E-Werk Club Mix) (Deviant)
Another classic, a highlight among highlights. Dreamily euphoric, mournful and uplifting, the titular angel forever out of reach.
Chicane - Saltwater ft Maire Brennan (The Thrillseekers Remix) (Xtravaganza)
I played the original when I was on SubCity and wanted to close with this gorgeous retake. Out to Yamaneko, who's a big fan of the Brennans.
Calcium Club - Y Columba (Major Problems)
The label calls this "trance induction techno" and that's hard to top.
Beta Librae - Whisper Game (Allergy Season)
This whole release is a marvel, tough, smooth, whole. Earthy?
Kemback - Carduelis (DBA Dubs)
A delightfully flavourful track that continues the run of stellar grooves on this sublabel.
Bb Bitflower - Wood Run (Jheri Tracks)
Ursa's Reef - Love Cult (One Eyed Jacks)
Jam & Spoon-indebted chuggy trance techno. Tugs at the heartstrings.
Lumigraph - Smelly Rockers At The Gypsy Rose (Jheri Tracks)
Similar in spirit to last year's Spectacular Times, this one rattles and jerks with aplomb.
Run The Jewels - Angel Duster (Mass Appeal)
Going out to The Absolute Boy!