MOST TALENTED TRANCE PRODUCER - JUDGES COMMENTS:
Kinetic Energy - Lost
http://soundcloud.com/kinetic-energy-1/kinetic-energy
This is a good little track but we can’t help feeling it’s slightly distorted. The vocal needs to be louder (you should always try to make your lyrics slightly louder than you think, otherwise they don’t translate well in the clubs!). 7/10
X- Tec and The Other Guy - First Edit Trance Track
http://soundcloud.com/x-tec/live-love-laugh-dance#share
This is an old sounding hard trance track with some good musicality that may have worked back in the day, but by modern production standards the kick is too pushed back and it also conflicts with the sub of the bass on the fourth beat of each bar. There needs to be more space in between the sounds too, as it gets confusing at points. 6/10
Kinetic Energy - Stargazing
http://soundcloud.com/kinetic-energy-1/kinetic-energy-stargazing
This is better than Kinetic Energy’s last track above – there’s more of an idea here and things are working well together. The main issue is the 10khz plus top end of the acidic sound that enters after the first break – if you knocked it back, the track would gel even better. 8/10
WINNER!
Adastra - When The Stars Fall
http://soundcloud.com/adastrasc/adastra-when-the-stars-fall
This one feels right from start to finish. And surprise surprise it’s already been released! There’s nothing to fault here at all, the production is tight, clever and modern. The break down is simply amazing! Superb trance music! 10/10
Excel presents Dizstruxshon - The End Of Days Anthem
http://soundcloud.com/dj_excel/excel-presents-dizstruxshon
This one fits into the old school hard trance category, but there’s a fresh modern sounding take on things too. It’s tough to criticize but perhaps the one thing may be to address the super hi-frequency on the tambourine stab sound at the 2nd beat of every bar – it’s a bit sharp! 8/10
The Uprising Anthem 2012 (eXcel's Rising Mix)
http://soundcloud.com/dj_excel/excel-presents-the-uprising
Excel’s second entry and it’s a cracker! Again, he does things his own way using plenty of old hard trance tricks and melodies that all work perfectly together. And we like that about his music. This is more release-ready than his other entry. 9/10
DJ Michael Angello - Original Algebra Version
http://soundcloud.com/john-20-2/41-machine-original-algeibra
There’s a psychedelic edge to Michael’s production and we love it! Many different melodies and ideas - all bouncing off each in a superb way! It’s very hard to make a track work so well when there’s so many ideas, but he does this with aplomb. 9/10
DJ Michael Angello - Orgasmic Wave Mix
http://soundcloud.com/john-20-2/do-ya-orgasmic-wave-mix
Pure trance music with that dreamy edge that remind us of the early Bonzai Trance Progressive or Green Martian stuff. As a track it works perfectly, going through so many different levels that keep you hooked and interested. 9/10
DJ Michael Angello - Lost
http://soundcloud.com/john-20-2/lost
It really is no surprise that Micheal Angello has so many tracks in the Top 10 here. There’s something special about this guy and were it not for the incredible track from Adastra he would have won. The idea in this track is stunning, perhaps the best idea in his four. We listened to it over and over and over! The bass line changes are mesmerizing. If anything, occasionally some of the sounds are pushing the headroom - which leads to a compression style effect that becomes more obvious as the track moves on. Even so, a brilliant track! 9/10
DJ Michael Angello - Chameleon
http://soundcloud.com/john-20-2/chameleon
Another great piece of work from Michael (although we felt the other three were better in terms of ‘ideas’)! 7/10
MOST TALENTED TRANCE DJ - JUDGES COMMENTS:
CeazAmaze
http://soundcloud.com/ceazamaze/ceaz-amaze-pres-transation-10
A good mix from Ceaz Amaze, with a sterling selection of tracks however some of the tracks could gel together a little better in pitch. We weren’t to keen on the Ceaz Amaze vocal at first, but after a while it does give things character, which is what you need to set you apart. Nice work. 8/10
K-Bass – Subsonic Dance
http://soundcloud.com/k-bass-1/k-bass-subsonic-dance-26-05-12
Some good mixing here but we wouldn’t call this ‘trance’ in the true sense of the word. There’s a few different styles and although that’s a good thing, sometimes this mix can lack a bit of progression, flicking from one thing to the next to often. It’s good though! 8/10
WINNER!
T-Mension - Epic Energizing - Final Edition 6
http://soundcloud.com/epic-energizer/epic-energizing-final-6
The first thing you notice about this is how uplifting it is! T-Mension definitely knows the style he likes and here he plays quality tracks within that older uplifting trance bracket. Volume levels are great throughout - not a perfect ten for track transitions - but it’s pretty darn good. We would love to hear him mix some newer stuff too! 9/10
Inspiros - Get Ya Rig Out
http://soundcloud.com/inspiros/inspiros-get-ya-rig-out-female
The thing that lets this one down is the constant difference in levels between tracks. We’d advise looking at the recording chain too, as there recording quality is not up to par. We think Inspiros needs to be a bit more clinical with her mixes too. Just our humble opinions – hope it helps! 5/10
Adastra - Emersion: March 2012 Promo Mix
http://soundcloud.com/adastrasc/adastra-emersion-march-2012
MIX NOT AVAILABLE ON SOUNDCLOUD ANYMORE SO COULDN’T COMMENT
Juliet Star - The Search For Sound 07
http://soundcloud.com/julietstar/juliet-star-the-search-for-sound-ep07
Juliet has a brilliant taste in music! The quality is evident from the very off. Sometimes the mix cuts out a bit quick in places which leads to a loss in momentum (ie 11 mins) but there are also moments of brilliance. 8/10
Jack Van Challis - Transitions (May 2012)
http://soundcloud.com/jack-van-challis/jack-van-challis-transitions
Jack’s strong point seems to be the solid line of progression throughout (minus the drum n bass track!). Our advice would be to watch the power of the sub in each track he’s bringing in. Sometimes it drops too dramatically. 7/10
HolyGhost UK – Ying Mix
http://soundcloud.com/djholyghost/ying-mix-2011-by-holyghost-uk
The tracks in this one are very good indeed! Beautiful chill-out trance music that really works on a Sunday afternoon. Would like to hear some of the mixes work better ie the mix at 10.30 doesn’t really pull off. 7/10
Nemesis – Reflektions
http://soundcloud.com/nemesis8/reflektions
Loads of amazing old school stuff in this! Things get a bit messy in places (eg 35.20) and even though tracks like Twixt are standout tracks here, we would have thought harder about placing some of the older stuff after music with more modern dynamics, as levels sometimes drop too much. 7/10
Nemesis – Evolution
Nemesis obviously has an eclectic and very knowledgeable taste in music and we applaud him for that. Again, the problems here are the dynamics changes – you WILL notice this in a club! eg If you listen to 47 minutes the sound is warm and colourful. Flick onto 48 minutes and it’s noticeable different – for a long time! You’re going to lose momentum in the crowd… Hope this helps Nemesis! 7/10
http://soundcloud.com/nemesis8/evolution
FINAL WINNERS:
MOST TALENTED TRANCE PRODUCER: ADASTRA
MOST TALENTED TRANCE DJ: T-MENSION
