Trance Tuesday: Trance in 2011

Posted by on December 28, 2011


If the above video does not move you, then you need trance in your life. The video shows the healing power of Trance in Beirut, where war has torn apart the city and the country and trance helps them unite and forget the scars of the past. I could not imagine the goosebumps of dropping “Sun & Moon” for that guy, what a lucky man. Mat Zo just gave out a freebee for the holidays that was played on Above & Beyond’s Essential Mix earlier this year. It is a prototype for “Frequency Flyer” and sounds much like it, but also has a few differences. I solid production from the rising trance star.
DOWNLOAD: Mat Zo – Loop (The Essential Unreleased Mix)

Shogun delivers once again, with this remix of Dash Berlin’s single “Better Half Of Me”, which also got a fantastic remix from Alex M.O.R.P.H. This one has a harder synth, but keeps the great vocals and is a overall a fantastic remix from Shogun. Get it on BEATPORT.
DOWNLOAD: Dash Berlin – Better Half Of Me feat. Jonathan Mendelsohn (Shogun Remix)

Rafael Frost on Ferry Corsten’s Flashover Recordings delivers this smash hit that has received massive support from all the big names in the industry. It has a great synth laden build that continues into the build with some heavier bass and a guitar melody over it. If some of you are still hesitant about trance, this will be a good song for you because it is right on the line of trance and progressive house. Get it on BEATPORT.
DOWNLOAD: Rafael Frost – In The Air (Original Mix)

Above and Beyond recently released another single “Every Little Beat” off of their massive album “Group Therapy” and with it the Myon & Shane 54 remix that was on Anjunabeats Vol 9. Myon & Shane add a little extra to this outstanding song, making it a little heavier, but leaving much of the original in tact. Get it on BEATPORT.
DOWNLOAD: Above & Beyond – Every Little Beat feat. Richard Bedford (Myon & Shane 54 Summer Of Love Mix)

Radion 6 delivers this beautiful, pardon me, trance song with some slow synths, rising piano and a great smooth synth and bass laden drop for this very relaxed trance song. Get it on BEATPORT.
DOWNLOAD: Radion 6 – B U Tiful (Original Mix)

Recap of the year after the jump.

2011 has been a great year for trance. Regardless of whatever the trance purists will say about the evolution that is taking place right now away from the traditional trance of the 80s and 90s that Paul Oakenfold, Tiesto and PVD used to make, trance is as strong as ever, with rising talent coming from all over the world. Though many will say trance is dying using the example of the exodus of Tiesto and Sander van Doorn for house, the talent left behind is just as good. The trance family was finally unseated for the number one spot in the DJ mag poll, half of the top 15 are still trance artists. Above & Beyond won the essential mix of the year over guys like Kaskade, Max Vangeli & AN21, Eric Prydz and more. Trance is slowly evolving towards a more melodic, progressive “Trance 2.0” sound an even with a little dubstep in it, as with BT & Adam K’s ground-breaking production “Tomahawk”. This will be something to watch in the coming years to see how this line between trance and other genres blur and how trance is able to distinguish itself from other genres, while still evolving and growing within itself. It is a challenge for artists, label owners, and fans alike.

Best Albums of the Year:
1. Above & Beyond – Group Therapy
2. Cosmic Gate – Wake Your Mind
3. ATB – Distant Earth
4. Andrew Bayer – It’s Artificial
5. Tritonal – Piercing The Quiet

Best Songs of the Year:
1. Above & Beyond – Sun & Moon (Original Mix)
2. Aly & Fila feat. Jwaydan — We Control The Sunlight
3. Cosmic Gate & Emma Hewitt – Be Your Sound
4. Alex M.O.R.P.H. feat. Sylvia Tosun – An Angel’s Love
5. BT feat. Kirsty Hawkshaw – A Million Stars (Myon & Shane 54 Summer Of Love Mix)
6. Arty & Mat Zo – Rebound
7. ATB & Dash Berlin – Apollo Road
8. Emma Hewitt – Colours (Armin van Buuren Remix)
9. Andrew Bayer – From The Earth (Breakfast Remix)
10. Tritonal – Still With Me Feat. Cristina Soto (Club Mix)

Guys to look for in 2012:
1. Alex M.O.R.P.H – Has produced single after single this year with tremendous success this year especially with his single “An Angel’s Love”, number 4 on the top songs of the year, and his various remixes this year.
2. Shogun – Have you looked at the stuff he has put out in the past month? If you have you would understand this young American is going to be huge in 2012 and is only getting started.
3. W&W – They won the A State of Trance 550 anthem contest with their song, “Invasion” and have had a very successful year, but one of their remixes, Delerium feat. Sarah McLachland – Silence (W&W vs Jonas Stenberg Remix) to be released in 2012 has already received support from everyone under the sun for months now and is massive. Get ready for a big 2012 from these guys
4. Tritonal – The two young Americans fresh off of their first and very successful artists album “Piercing The Quiet” are ready for another great year in 2012 and have continued to work and have not riden the success of their album the rest of this year. Expect big things from these guys.
5. Orjan Nilsen – He has burst onto the scene with some very successful remixes and singles. He has been around a while, but only really broken through this year and was named the artist to look for by Armin in 2012.

Legend to Watch in 2012:
Paul van Dyk – You may be saying, I already follow him, but he has been touring this past year in anticipation of his upcoming album that was supposed to be released this year but was pushed back to next year. He does not do many single releases or remixes so he must do well on albums, so watch out when he drops “Evolution” on March 20th, barring any setbacks.

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