Progressive House, Trance | Above & Beyond – Black Room Boy (Above & Beyond Club Mix)
Posted by Spice on February 25, 2013
After weeks of hype and airtime, Above & Beyond’s club mix for “Black Room Boy” has finally dropped on Anjunabeats. In all honesty, this isn’t my favorite thing the trio has put out by any stretch — while I do like the way they’ve refashioned the chord progression in the chorus, I think the overall sound is a little generic. Of course, it’s not objectively bad by any means; it successfully takes the dark, Pet Shop Boys-ish vibe of the original and gives it a harder edged spin, and that’s generally the aim of their club mixes. It’s also guaranteed to appeal to a broader audience (think a large festival event). But at the end of the day this will always be a third or fourth tier A&B track to me — that’s just what happens when you’ve set the bar as high as Tony, Jono and Paavo have. Don’t just take my word for it, however; give it a listen and let us know what you think.
Beatport: Above & Beyond – Black Room Boy (Above & Beyond Club Mix)
DJ-Set | Mat Zo Essential Mix 2/8/13
Posted by Middy on February 10, 2013
Following up Eric Prydz’s legendary essential mix last week, Mat Zo had the unfortunate job of trying to follow up that otherworldly two hour mix. Mat Zo manages to mix 75 songs into the 2 hours given to him, making for some very quick transitions and interesting drops. The mix takes you on a journey of genre and style moving through not just trance or house, but through tech, nu-disco and even some drum n bass, as be used to make it himself under his MRZO alias. The mix is nothing like you would hear from a Mat Zo club set, but rather the eclectic taste of the artist and displaying his care free attitude for barriers in music. The mix features new tracks from his upcoming album, including the funky “Pyramid Scheme”, which we have heard in his sets for the past few months and also has some exclusive cuts from The M MAchine and fellow Anjunabeats label mates Andrew Bayer and Norin & Rad. Tracklist after the jump.
Trance | Nitrous Oxide pres. N2O – K.O.
Posted by Middy on February 4, 2013
Anjunabeats has been a tear leading up to the release on Anjunabeats Volume 10 with one huge track after another each week. Following up tracks like Ost & Meyer’s “Here We Go“, ilan Bluestone’s “Sinai” and Audien’s “Wayfarer“, Anjunabeats regular, Nitrous Oxide returns with his single “K.O.”. Atmospheric synths, a grinding low end and quick key play pervade throughout while a minimal electro trance drop gives the track power for the live venue. This track shows the continued covergence of trance and house into what was once dubbed “trance 2.0” and as Armin van Buuren launches his “Are You Afraid of 138” campaign, it shows the widening difference in how trance is being perceived and produced in 2013.
Albums | Tracklist Announced for Anjunabeats Vol. 10
Posted by Middy on January 30, 2013
Above & Beyond’s much awaited compilation on their flagship label, Anjunabeats, has finally released the tracklist ahead of its March 4th release date. The compilation includes previously released tracks like “Wayfarer“, “Sinai“, “Isla Margarita“, “Vision“, “Here We Go” and “Small Moments”. There is a whole host of new tracks from Arty, Above & Beyond, Maor Levi, Norin & Rad, Andrew Bayer, Jaytech and many more. Some of these songs we have heard before as IDs, and many more we have not, so it will be a great treat to hear this in full on March 4th. Check out the full tracklist after the break. You can pre-order the compilation now here.
Trance | ilan Bluestone – Sinai
Posted by Middy on January 28, 2013
Israeli trance producer ilan Bluestone follows up his previous single on Anjunabeats “Capetown” with the highly anticipated “Sinai”, yet another single first premiered by Above & Beyond at Group Therapy episode 1 in Bangalore, India. Anjunabeats has been on fire lately in the lead up to the Anjunabeats Vol 10 release. “Sinai” much like his previous release is a uplifting trance track with atmospheric synths, a lush soundscape, gregorian style chants, and subtle trance styled electro stabs. A surefire name to watch in 2013, ilan Bluestone is showing us why he is quickly becoming one of the premier talents on the stacked Anjunabeats roster.
Trance | Ost & Meyer – Here We Go
Posted by Middy on January 22, 2013
Another selection from Anjunabeats vol 10 (hope to see you guys at the launch party), Ukranian duo Nikita Bogdanov and Vadym Porotkov, better known as Ost & Meyer make their return to Above & Beyond’s powerhouse Anjunabeats label. “Here We Go” combines entrancing piano melodies, atmospheric pads and an upbeat bass line that at 128 bpm helps bridge the gap between progressive & trance. Anjunabeats continues to deliver quality tracks and with “Wayfarer” hitting Beatport trance number one, look for that trend to only continue.
Events | Full Lineup Announced for Above & Beyond’s Anjunabeats Vol 10 Launch Party
Posted by Middy on January 15, 2013
Selling out in only 30 minutes (we hope you got tickets), Above & Beyond’s Anjunabeats Vol 10 Launch party at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City on February 16th now has the supporting cast to go along with headliner and label head Above & Beyond. A mixture of both Anjunadeep and Anjunabeats will be represented with a cast of American producers, Andrew Bayer, Norin & Rad & newcomer on Anjunadeep, Beckwith. Andrew Bayer is set to release his sophomore album this spring on Anjunadeep “If It Were You, We’d Never Leave”, so expect a new and fresh set from him. We saw both Andrew Bayer & Norin & Rad at Electric Zoo with Above & Beyond and they were outstanding and we are excited to see Beckwith for the first time. You can preorder Anjunabeats Vol 10 now here. Listen to selections from each of the supporting cast below.