Tunes worth a spin – II (Trance – in celebration of Pride Weekends everywhere)
It’s the music that slides in midway through a good all-nighter party.
The crowd has relaxed, the vibe is electric, and the DJ is in a sense-enticing groove, guiding the room through new highs until dawn. At least that’s what I picture when I listen to Trance and Progressive Trance – unlike a lot of dance music, the better artists captivate my ear and make my spine tingle.
So this review covers what I’ve found so far. All of these artists use a similar vocabulary; phase shifts, wave modulations, sweet vocals, white noise, club-standard rhythyms, and the inevitable ecstasy-rush build-up and explode. Even so, each of the artists below have their own voice, and I wanted to capture that.
Armin van Buuren – A State of Trance 2008: Tailored, Elegant, Alive
available at Amazon and your local CD store
Maybe it’s his Dutch sensibility, or his musical background…I don’t know enough about him yet to say. But the first image that comes to mind when I hear Armin van Buuren (www.arminvanbuuren.com) is an expensive, tailored couch (wait for it…). The fabric is the best, the colour is striking, the shape is opulent, it’s great to sit in, but it retains a clean line and a neat look. He creates a lush carpet of sound, and you can tell that he’s here to party, but he keeps his eye on the ball throughout. There’s no pointless repetition – there’s no formula transitions. It’s smart music , clean and lush, with the right amount of tingle and thrill.
Oceanlab: Sirens of the Sea – Plush, smiling beats
At Amazon, or your local retailer
I scanned this quickly one day in HMV, and a few seconds of each track was enough for me to know this was for me. It’s happy music. It makes me smile, it makes me tingle, it carries me. It’s more atmospheric than some of the other albums in this review – more trance than dance, more chill then thrill. Still, the harmonies are lush, the voicings are wide, the beats are there and are gently encouraging, and the vocals are sweet (nothing like vocals to connect a track to a feeling). I can’t help but like this album.
Kaskade: Strobelite Seduction – Power in a fur coat
available at your local retailer or Amazon
I really love this album. It has the cool factor of Armin van Buuren, plus something more. With van Buuren I get a sense of restraint, holding the trance on course. With Kaskade, it’s emotion – he wants you to know he’s there. It’s not just that he uses more vocals in this album then other artists (the usual suspects – sweet, light, female) – although as I said above, vocals bring an extra zing of personality to a track. His mixes are a little warmer, a little brighter, a little sweeter, maybe a little more straight ahead, and just a little deeper in the lush factor. But behind that, there’s just enough testosterone to kick the whole package up a notch. I can almost see the guy behind the turntable listening to this – stop-in-your-tracks handsome, and so matter-of-fact about it all. A hint of smile, the smarts to make you move, and the talent to carry you through the night.
deadmau5: Random Album Title - Canadian Coolness
Available at your local Amazon or disc dealer
This album is cool, and not just because it’s Canadian (we Canadians love our successes). This is a bit of a detour from the albums above, only in that drive and beat are primary. The atmosphere is still there, and it’s definitely trance material. The sounds are big, but more mechanical – more electronica – maybe a little more impersonal. But it’s not in a bad way- this album has flow and sweep and drama. And the beats are kicking – more mainstream club then chill lounge soft. It still gets my skin tingling, and it’s not kick-you-in-the-ass-it’s-time-to-dance. It’s just a very cool, very spacious, very strong sound. I love it.
Tiesto: In Search of Sunrise 6 “Ibiza” – Main Event Mastery
at your local Amazon or disc dealer
Ok, I am probably biased here, because I know he’s an established headliner. Still, this album shows why – it’s big, it’s strong, it’s beautiful. It has the long lines of van Buuren and the passion of Kaskade, plus a club-savvy vibe and power that only a DJ that can hold a stadium in his trance can bring. The textures – complex, beautiful layers of sounds and effects – so many colours to pick out of each track. And the rythyms pinning the sounds – that powerhouse bass beat that gives that the huge atmosphere of sound some serious muscle. This is class A, middle of the night super-buzz, driving you to bliss, let’s dance and fuck like animals music. This guy throws the party I want to be at.
Also not to be missed:
Thrillseekers: Night Music Vol.2
Amazon or a store near you
Armin van Buuren: Imagine: The Remixes
Amazon or your disc dealer
So, that’s a look at some of the tunes carrying me through the summer – check ‘em out at Amazon (you can preview tracks at Amazon.com). And hey – comment, would you? I’d like to know that at least one person reads all this.
Mahalo!
