Nick The Kid gives us his top ten trance tracks this May.
Thanks to everybody for their continued support with these reviews and all the great music that keeps coming through from all the artists and labels. Exciting times for trance music worldwide.
With Ibiza 2012 just around the corner, I am extremely pleased to announce that I will be appearing main room at Judgement Sundays again this year not once but twice! I will be playing in both June and September for Full On Ferry meets Judgement alongside Judge Jules, Ferrry Corsten, Tristan D and guests at the awesome Eden Nightclub in San Antonio. I simply love Judgement Sundays: some of my fav Ibiza memories and Ibiza friendships have been formed here so can't wait to return next month.
More recently I made the decision to leave my job and residence in the South West of England to relocate to the capital where, as of this week I will be joining the team at digital download giant Trackitdown as house music content manager for the site, and yet again working full time within the music industry. Extremely excited by the new position and looking forward to getting on the case at Trackitdown HQ this week.
Gig wise this month: last weekend saw me play a house classics set with Brandon Block to a very intimate crowd of just 100 people for my 31st Birthday. I also played at a Silent Disco at Gigalum in Clapham that weekend which was a new and very different experience for me. Later that night I went onto Ministry of Sound where I appeared on the same bill as Eddie Halliwell, Mark Knight and Michael Woods and played to a packed loft for the legendary Toolroom Knights. Gigs coming up this month are Radio 1 afterparty in Torquay with Annie Mac and Ripsnorters' 15th Birthday at the end of the month in Bristol where I'll be hosting the terrace all night with man of the moment and Essential Mix Hero, Eats Everything.
A lot is going on at the minute and it's very exciting times for me. I hope you all have a fantastic month and I'll see you out there on a dancefloor very soon.
Here are my fav trance tracks doing the rounds at the moment:
Cobalt - Protoculture - Re Brand/Armada
This is an absolute monster… I may even go as far to say my fav track of the year so far! South Africa's Protoculture delivers one of the strongest and most euphoric riffs I've heard in a long time. This latest release from the Armada camp gives a massive nod to the past but uses very noticeable modern day production techniques. I am absolutely in awe of this trance masterpiece with its lush spacious mixdown and huge big room appeal. I am all over this tune. Ode To The Ocean on the same EP is also an incredible tune making this one hell of a release in total… more like this please. 10/10
Hyperfocus (Wezz Devall Remix) - Mark Otten - Armind
Very futuristic sounds and approach here, especially after the drop. It took me a while to decide whether I preferred the original or this version. That absolute killer riff is present on both and, although still an amazing cut, you can't help but feel that the original follows a very classic formula, especially when stood up next to Wezz's heavily sidechained, more groovy, almost funky and very fresh sounding edit! This record will destroy clubs. I can't wait to play this one out. 10/10
N.A.N.O (Extravagance SL Remix) - K.Blank & Moelamonde - Joyride
Having followed Dave Joy's Joyride label extensively from the beginning of the awesome days of hard trance, it's great to see them still going and turning out some amazing music like this. I was always a massive fan of Joyride, and I’ve been known to play the lighter side of the hard trance sound. They always seem to deliver very euphoric releases each and every time, and this 136 BPM remix of N.A.N.O is no exception.
Tight as hell percussion, a tear-jerking breakdown and a drop that will translate in both the smaller clubs and also the larger arenas and festivals with ease. Huge release and the perfect set opener for those that like their trance with balls. 8/10
Always Loved, Never forgotten - Tenishia - Armind
Ever since I heard Story of Life by Tenishia and Ruben De Ronde last year I have been hooked on the productions by Tenishia. Haunting melodies each and every time. Lush minor keys that faultlessly deliver pure emotion and work so well on the bigger dance floors. Always Loved, Never Forgotten really does pack a punch with its larger than life main lead, whipping bottom end, clean mixdown and killer bassline. Epic stuff. 10/10
Underwater (Marc Simz Remix) - Leon Bolier & Julie Thompson - Magik Muzik
Being one of the fussiest people when it comes to vocal trance, it's great to see another inspiring release feat Julie Thompson. Signum’s Never Be The Same, in which her gorgeous vocals were ever present, was one of my personal favourite vocal tunes of 2011. Yet again we have another big anthem in the making with this absolutely huge remix from Dutch maestro Marc Simz. Highly recommended. 8/10
Unfair EP - Brad Ashtar - Sorcery Records
As with previous months I like to include something a little bit different and this month this little gem caught my attention. Dark riffs, a real builder from start to finish and definitely one for the more twisted dance floors out there. There is even a groovy dubstep section over the breakdown and combined with some great noises and FX it really works and sits well together, creating a very different track for those that like things a little less generic. Quality stuff. 8/10
Under The wire - Oliver Smith - Anjuna Deep
Moving on to a more progressive sound, and even though I gave this track a mention in last month's reviews (under the Anjuna Deep 04 Compilation Highlights), it really does deserve a few extra words. There is always a track on one of these albums that stands out head and shoulders above the rest and having had the latest (and impressive) Anjuna Prog Bible on repeat in the car for the last month, Under The Wire I have to say is the cut that does it for me on this occasion. Grooving housey bassline: so funky but maintaining huge trance appeal at the same time. This one is already packed for the Ibiza season: expect to hear this poolside from myself and I'm sure many others this year. Pure blissful sounds to chill out and/or groove to. 10/10
Laceration - Maxis - Hindsight Blue
I was very pleasantly surprised when this landed in my inbox. Produced by Newcastle based and Hostile promoter Chris Metcalfe (not to be confused with the other trance DJ of the same name mind) who has gained a solid reputation over the years in hard dance circles and DJ's as one half of the Hostile Squad. Now producing trance/progressive under his Maxis guise, his first offering is certainly promising indeed. This middle of the night 136 trancer runs steady with great riff work, lush synths and a tasty unexpected W & W type lead that will hit the spot for many. I was so impressed with this tune that I snapped it up for my own new label Hindsight Blue and am very much looking forward to Chris's future productions under his new alias & sound!
Watch this space people. 8/10
Go - Markus Schulz & Dennis Shepherd - Coldharbour
Something a little tougher is on offer here and boy, what a tune! Techy percussion and rising stabs build to a ripping and infectious main lead that is set to cause some heavy speaker damage worldwide over the coming months. Markus Schulz & Debbis Shepherd really have created something special with this especially for those that like their trance a bit tougher but not quite so euphoric. Tune. 8/10
Forest Extinction - Galactic Stone - Nu Communicate
Classic trance vibes are running through this peak time banger that is sure to get a lot of plays. Fans of Alex M.O.R.P.H, J.O.C, Sean Tyas will be all over this one. Not the most groundbreaking track but it's that tried and tested formula that made so many fall in love with trance music in the very first place. I think tracks like this will always be well received by many, despite the current slower trends! Back to your roots trance executed with precision and delivered in style. I will be playing this one in my more driving sets for sure! Fantastic music. 8/10
Moon & Moon (Ollie Jaye's Global State Remix) - Aaron Olson feat Jamie D - Global State
Nineties hard dance/trance legend Ollie Jay makes a return to the scene with this awesome remix for Global State. With huge anthems alongside Jon The Dentist such as Imagination and Feels So Good from back in the day, it's great to see he's still at it after all these years and judging by this release is still firing on all cylinders. With an almost Psy kick and bass combo, and some great question and answer FX going down, the lush padded breakdown really comes as a total surprise. Ollie's made great use of Jamie D's vocals and when the riff kicks in, it really takes the track to another level. Top stuff. Available from the 5th June and in five separate mixes, including the cool original version which is well worth a listen also, I've heard that there will be more in the pipeline and I for one will be keeping my ear to the ground. Welcome back Sir Ollie Jaye! 8/10
REVIEW REWIND - FORGOTTEN CLASSIC OF THE MONTH.
I have decided that from now on each month I will raise one not so obvious classic or hidden gem from the archives and pay homage to its greatness. For the younger readers of Core I felt it may be good to look back on some of the amazing music of the 90's (especially) that they may not be familiar with and that also helped the scene develop to where it is now. For the older readers it may be that vital memory jog for a certain track that has long since evaded them or for others just a nostalgic view back to some great tunes and memories.
Star (Reds Jerry) - Utah Saints (FFRR)
Rewind to 1996 and DJ's like Paul Oakenfold, Misjah & Tim, Blu Peter, Billy Nasty, Mrs Woods, Jon The Dentist and the seminal reactivate albums were king. The legendary Perfecto Fluro album was just about to be released and change trance forever. This very rare Silver vinyl was so ahead of its time and was played by many of the leading trance pioneers of the mid 90's: a huge remix of one of the biggest commercial dance acts of all time. This really is one of my all time fav tunes and I will never forget the moment I first heard it. The repetitive vocals, banging underground edge and classic status of this almost Goa-sounding 12" cannot be denied. It may be hard to get on MP3, and vinyl often change hands for up to £50 (I've been offered this for my copy), but go check it out on YouTube if you haven't yet had the pleasure of hearing this timeless and much sought after early trancer. 10/10 (obviously!)
