Album Review: In Search of Sunrise 12: Dubai

Summer is upon us and Richard Durand is proud to bring us some beats to bring to the beach in this year’s “In Search Of Sunrise” compilation. The 12th edition brings us to the middle eastern world of Dubai, the rapidly growing and ever expanding city. The three-disc CD features compilation done by Durand as well as a guest compilation mix by Lange. So what does this compilation bring to the table? Come with me and let’s check it out.

Durand delivered smoothness in disc 1 right from his opening track, “Dubai Desert Fish.” The subtle beats mixed with melodic rhythms is a nice start to this compilation. Even the vocals tracks have subtle smoothness to them especially in “The Space Between”, “Chasing Stars,” “Lost Soul” and my favorite track “Come With Me.” But don’t let this smoothness fool you though, tracks such as “Sambuca”, “Epic” and “Sphinx” bring in some rockin beats to make things a little bit interesting.

If disc 1 was all about smoothness, disc 2 is like a roller coaster ride. A lot of progressive sounds on this second mix with Durand switching things constantly. He dropped melodic tracks such as Gai Barone’s “Eve”, “Atlantis” and David Broaders take on “Forever In Our Hearts” mixed in between bangers such as “Better in Time,” “Ten Thousand Suns,” “Karma” and Cold Rush’s take on “Imagination.” He then close out this mix with a barrage of uplifting tracks from Driftmoon’s “The Inquisitor” to Ferrin & Morris’ “Amatoria.”

Durand then hand over the reigns to Lange for the third mix of the album. And he didn’t disappoint - churning out progressive tracks such as “Hussar,” “Verano” and Kris O’Neil’s take on the classic “Just Be” as well as some underground bass line courtesy of “Quantum” in the Future Disciple remix, “Out of Coverage” and “Hey! While The Sun Shines.” The transition between tracks were superb especially between the two vocal tracks - “History” and “Never Far.” He closed his mix with two banging tracks in “Zeal” and “Melbourne.”

“In Search of Sunrise 12” is an amazing album with seamless transition and good selection of tracks. The album is definitely a great album to listen to this summer and beyond. The album is out now so go and grab your copy.

Release Date: June 6, 2014
Catalog Number: SBCD212

Tracklist

Mix 1. (Richard Durand)

01. Richard Durand - Dubai Desert Fish (Intro Mix)
02. Azotti ft. Bagga Bownz - Day And Night
03. Jeremy Vancaulart, Assaf ft. Laura Aqui - The Space Between
04. Talamanca - Ocean Drive (Savid Remix)
05. Somna & Yang ft. Michele C. - Chasing Stars
06. Kam Delight - Whatever You Like
07. Richard Durand & Cynthia Hall - Shield Of Faith
08. NoMosk & Roman Messer ft. Christina Novelli - Lost Soul
09. Sean Tyas - Take A Moment
10. Rafael Frost & Jennifer Rene - Higher (Hazem Beltagui Remix)
11. Driftmoon - Luminance
12. RAM - Epic
13. Ronny K. vs. Ren - Come With Me
14. Richard Durand - Sambuca
15. Faruk Sabanci & James Dymond - Sphinx

Mix 2. (Richard Durand)

01. Richard Durand - Atlantis (Intro Mix)
02. Gai Barone - Eve
03. IRA & Paulina Dubaj - Better In Time
04. Ruben de Ronde - Forever In Our Hearts (David Broaders Remix)
05. Moonbeam ft. Polina Griffith - I Go On
06. Alex O'Rion - Cocoa (Trance Mix)
07. High 5 ft. Nanje Nowack - Ten Thousand Suns
08. Adam Kancerski ft. Aneym - Into The Light
09. Sunny Lax - Karma
10. Roman Messer ft. Ange - Imagination (Cold Rush Remix)
11. Driftmoon - The Inquisitor
12. ReOrder - Beyond Horizons
13. Elfsong - Seldarine
14. Amir Hussain & Allen Watts - Step Into My World
15. Dimension - On Her Behalf
16. Ferrin & Morris - Amatoria

Mix 3. (Lange)

01. Danilo Ercole - Contact
02. Max Freegrant & Matrey - Hussar
03. Tiësto ft. Kirsty Hawkshaw - Just Be (Kris O'Neil Remix)
04. Dimension - Verano
05. Johnny Yono - The Recluse
06. Andy Moor - Fade To Light
07. Bissen - Quantum (Future Disciple Remix I)
08. Michael Badal - Carnivale
09. Tangle - Firebird
10. Lange pres. LNG - Hey! While The Sun Shines
11. Andy Duguid ft. Jaren - History
12. Ari Kyle & Audioscape ft. Simon Latham - Never Far
13. Anske - Vilnius
14. Bobina - Out Of Coverage
15. Anske - Dreamcatcher
16. Lange - A Different Shade Of Crazy (Lange vs Refracture Breaks Mashup)
17. Mateusz - Zeal (In Search Of Sunrise Mix)
18. David Gravell - Melbourne

This review can also be found at http://trancehub.com/v3/reviews/search-sunrise-12-dubai/

Album Review: Moonbeam - Space Odyssey: Mars

“Space Odyssey: Mars” is an epic journey through the different realms of the Electronic Music universe...

Star date 2014, it’s been four years since the last Space Odyssey went on a mission. Cosmonauts Pavel and Vitaly Khavleev are prepping the Moonbeam spacecraft for the second leg of the journey. The mission - travel to no man has gone before - “Space Odyssey: Mars.”

The journey begins with Special Mars 2014 remix of “See The Difference Inside” featuring the lovely vocals of Julie B. Reaching space altitude, the brothers guaranteed smoothness towards the red planet with techy beats of their track “Mirrors” before groovy trance beats courtesy of Cosmic Gate’s “Wake Your Mind” and “Twilight Is Coming.”

The duo brought in the percussion and analogue distorts in Hells Kitchen’s “Close Your Eyes,” their celestial take on Andain’s “You Once Told Me” and the Tvardovsky remix of Progreg’s “Sing For You” featuring the sultry vocals of Cary Less. The journey progresses with deep beats and guitars riffs of “Long Journey Home” by Kiholm & Josh Money before bringing us back to techy vibes courtesy of “Born To Scream.”

We are on final approach...

Moonbeam gradually slow things down but kept it melodic with Andy Duguid’s “In This Moment” mixing celestial beats with piano riffs and the angelic voice of Audrey Gallagher. They followed with electro beats of Allesandro’s “Awake” before engulfing us with their acid take of “Lovethief” by Mars Needs Lovers & Mmadcatz filling the spacecraft with deep bass lines and great percussion - a signal for the us to wake up from their deep hibernation. As we descend to the red planet, Moonbeam ends the first part of the journey with tron-like indie beats of Fromance’s “Back To Earth.”

Second part of the journey begins with some smooth grooves of 2Fashion’s “Such a Shame” preceded by percussion and deep basslines of Indifferent Guy’s “Danger” which features the hypnotizing voice of Eva Pavlova and Joshi’s “Raging Blue.” Before switching to a mellower house beats of Myon & Shane 54’s “Outshine” and Da Fresh’s “Angel.”

The duo switched to hyper-drive with techy riffs and deep basslines courtesy of Orbik’s “If It’s Love” and Jaytech’s melodic remix of “Your Secret’s Safe” by Julie Thompson and Super8 & Tab. They brought in the percussion-filled techy track “Twisted Mind” by Mier before progressing to some trance chops and distortions in “Morevenin” by Matt Fax. Moonbeam slowed things down with qoob’s “Apollo 17” and Vian Pelez's "The Fountain." The sooner track is my favorite of the album - melodic beats filled with piano riffs throughout - its almost like a signal that the journey is about to end.

We are now entering Earth’s atmosphere with a banger in Kris O’Neil’s take on “Do It Over” by Tom Cloud and Antonia Lucas. The journey ends with some smooth melodic beats of “Fancy” by Marsbeing.

With seamless transition, brilliant track progression and the ever so gorgeous Moonbeam melody, "Space Odyssey: Mars" will be a great addition your Electronic Music collection.

Tracklist:

Disc 1.
01. Moonbeam ft. Julia B - See The Difference Inside (Special Mars 2014 Remix)
02. Moonbeam - Mirrors
03. Cosmic Gate & Cary Brothers - Wake Your Mind (Extended Mix)
04. Moonbeam ft. Avis Vox - Twilight Is Coming
05. Hells Kitchen - Close Your Eyes (Original Mix)
06. Andain - You Once Told Me (Moonbeam Remix)
07. Progreg ft. Cary Less - Sing For You (Tvardovsky Remix)
08. Kiholm ft. Josh Money - Long Journey Home (Original Mix)
09. Moonbeam & Jan Zyabovski - Born To Scream
10. Andy Duguid & Audrey Gallagher - In This Moment (Original Mix)
11. Allesandro - Awake (Original Mix)
12. Mars Needs Lovers & Mmadcatz - Lovethief (Moonbeam Remix)
13. Fromance - Back To Earth

Disc 2.
01. 2Fashion - Such a Shame (Moonbeam Remix)
02. Indifferent Guy ft. Eva Pavlova - Danger (Original Mix)
03. Joshi - Raging Blue (Original Mix)
04. Myon & Shane 54 with Natalie Peris - Outshine (Nigel Good Remix)
05. Da Fresh ft. Blackfeel Wite - Angel (Moonbeam Remix)
06. Orbik - If It's Love (Original Mix)
07. Julie Thompson with Super8 & Tab - Your Secret's Safe (Jaytech Remix)
08. Mier - Twisted Mind (Original Mix)
09. Matt Fax - Morevenin (Remode Mix)
10. qoob - Apollo-17
11. Vian Pelez - The Fountain (Extended Mix)
12. Tom Cloud & Antonia Lucas - Do It Over (Kris O'Neil Remix)
13. Marsbeing - Fancy

Release Date: March 17, 2014
Label: Black Hole Recordings
Catalog Number: BLHCD112

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/nl/album/space-odyssey-mars/id820249935
FineNight - http://www.finenight.com/space-odyssey-mars.html
Beatport - http://www.beatport.com/release/space-odyssey-mars/1248644

This review can also be found at http://trancehub.com/v3/reviews/moonbeam-space-odyssey-mars/

Album Review: Ad Brown - Something For The Pain

This review can also be found at Trance Hub
http://trancehub.com/v3/reviews/ad-brown-something-for-the-pain/

It’s been a couple of years since Ad Brown burst into the EDM scene and finally he has released his debut album entitled “Something For The Pain.” The album took Brown close to 30 months dwindling 100 demos down to 14 tracks that would surely be liked by EDM lovers out there.

The album begins with some chill vocal tracks in Ready and Waiting with Hannah Ray and More with Tess. These tracks gets you into the mood with some amazing harmony before a bigger, deeper progressive sound comes into play in Thrive, a track he collaborated with Stan Kolev and another vocal track - Run To You, featuring the strong vocals of Antonia Lucas. Melodic xylophone keys are predominant in Tears while piano notes resonate throughout Sorry and that whispered lyrics is quite calming.

Brown change the tempo of the album with Pulse, a collaboration with Shawn Mitiska that started out with increasing bass line before settling down with lush melodic beats. Renee Six exudes dramatic emotions in the title track Something For The Pain which was released last year in the compilation ISOS 10. Some uplifting moments can be felt in the next two tracks - Up All Night with Steve Kaetzel & Kerry Leva and All I Need before Been A While brings contrast with some strong male vocals and that "housey" beats.

Tempo increases in Like The Sunrise, second track he collaborated with Kaetzel but this time features Arielle Maren’s voice and Lie Awake which features Ray’s voice before ending the album by bringing down the tempo with a classic track in Tonight with Mango & Leva

Ad Brown’s debut album is an interesting though not a stellar production. The album cannot be peg to one type of EDM genre since it got a mix of house and trance tracks. Some of Ad Brown’s known hits weren't include but EDM lovers will still enjoy the smoothness and chill factor of this album. And who knows, maybe one of the tracks is truly Something For the Pain.

Label: Black Hole Recordings
Release Date: December 2, 2013


Tracklist:
01. Ready And Waiting (with Hannah Ray)
02. More (with Tess)
03. Thrive (with Stan Kolev)
04. Run To You (ft. Antonia Lucas)
05. Tears
06. Sorry
07. Pulse (with Shawn Mitiska)
08. Something For The Pain (ft. Renee Six)
09. Up All Night (with Steve Kaetzel & Kerry Leva)
10. All I Need
11. Been A While
12. Like The Sunrise (with Steve Kaetzel ft. Arielle Maren)
13. Lie Awake (with Hannah Ray)
14. Tonight (with Mango & Kerry Leva)
Bonus Track:
15. When Stars Collide (with Frida Hernask)

Where to Buy:
iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/something-for-the-pain/id750907023
Fine Night - http://www.finenight.com/black-hole-recordings/something-for-the-pain.html
Beatport - http://www.beatport.com/release/something-for-the-pain-bonus-track-version/1198672

This review can also be found at Trance Hub 
http://trancehub.com/v3/reviews/ad-brown-something-for-the-pain/

Album Review: Solarstone Presents Pure Trance Volume 2

This review can also be found at TranceHub.com 

Pure Trance Vol. 1 brought back what Trance is about. Pure Trance Vol. 2 made sure that Trance stays by delivering a more purer sound of trance.

Solarstone has released the second volume of Pure Trance. His way of reminding us what trance is all about. This time he brought in another pure trance producer - Italy’s own Giuseppe Ottaviani.

The journey to pure trance begins with Winkee’s take of Perfect Destiny by Adam Nickey, a blend of soft melody, rolling kick drums and haunting vocals that would be the theme of the disc one. Solarstone truly made an amazing mix - balancing the tempo while keeping pure trance all throughout. I was intrigued by Lovers, a track on his Pure album, this one was more robust with Lemon’s deeper voice than of Solarstone.

Halfway through the disc, Solarstone drops his Pure Mix of the Love Theme from Blade Runner. Though I truly adore this track, it was not my favorite. That distinction goes to the next track - Future Disciple’s Kwiwakurra. This track was truly melodic and makes you wanna just close your eyes and drift away. Solarstone then takes us through truly inspiring and quite beautiful mashups of Ferry Corsten & Betsie Larkin’s Made of Love with John O’Callaghan’s I’ll Follow and Ben Lost’s Jump The Next Train with Franz’s Emerge. The latter closing his part of Pure Trance album.

Giuseppe begins his part of the album with Prophecy by Alex Matteo, a soulful track filled with melodic piano chords. He then takes us to a journey of uplifting sounds and vocal trance beauties which include the classic Big Sky by John O’Callaghan & Audrey Gallagher as well as tracks for his Magenta album - Brilliant People and Waiting On Sunday. He delivers a beautiful ending to this chapter with Will Atkinson’s Hermosa. What a sweet finish! The track is filled with haunting chant and lush melodic keys that surely put a smile on your face and put you into a feel-good mood.

The energy of both disc is quite different - Solarstone was quite subtle - softer melodies that provide calmness. Giuseppe was more upbeat - feeling the room with uptempo keyboard chords and that lush big room sound. Yet both kept it within the realms of Trance, which is what Pure Trance is all about. The transition on both disc is seamless while the selection of tracks as well as the progression from track to track was fantastic.

This surely is a must-have for trance lovers out there. And for those who think trance is gone - take a listen to Pure Trance and it will change your mind.

Take a Listen on Spotify here

Track List

Disc 1.
01. Adam Nickey - Perfect Destiny (Winkee Remix Reconstruction)
02. Aerium - Horizons (Solarstone Retouch)
03. Solarstone ft. Lemon - Lovers (Pure Mix Reconstruction)
04. Elfsong - Seldarine
05. Alex M.O.R.P.H - Eternal Flame (Solarstone Pure Mix)
06. Walsh & McAuley - Ashgrove Throne
07. M.I.K.E - Respire (Solarstone Retouch)
08. Zoo Brazil ft. Philip - Heart's A Legend (Solarstone Pure Mix Retouch)
09. Solarstone - Love Theme from Blade Runner (Pure Mix)
10. Future Disciple - Kwiwakurra
11. Driftmoon - Howl At The Moon (Solarstone Retouch)
12. John O'Callaghan ft. Ria - I’ll Follow (Solarstone Pure Dub Retouch)
13. Ferry Corsten ft. Betsie Larkin - Made Of Love (Acapella)
14. Suncatcher - Are We There Yet? (Original Mix)
15. Franz - Emerge (Dreamy Remix)
16. Ben Lost - Jump The Next Train (Acapella)

Disc 2
01. Alex Matteo - Prophecy (Original Mix)
02. Darren Tate - All I Am (Original Mix)
03. Sied van Riel - 8 Decades (Original Mix)
04. Colonial One - Atlas (Original Mix)
05. Andrea Mazza ft. Hysteria! - This Perfect Night (Original Mix)
06. John Mash - Metamorphosi (Original Mix)
07. Alexandre Bergheau & Alex Wackii - French Kiss (Original Mix)
08. Marynus Revert - Scent Of My Dreams (Original Mix)
09. Andain - You Once Told Me (Agnelli & Nelson Remix)
10. Stuart Millar - Always A Moment
11. John O'Callaghan ft. Audrey Gallagher - Big Sky (Original Mix)
12. John O'Callaghan ft. Erica Curran - I Believe (Giuseppe Ottaviani Remix)
13. Giuseppe Ottaviani with Aly & Fila - Brilliant People (Sneijder Remix)
14. Giuseppe Ottaviani ft. Vitamin B - Waiting On Someday (OnAir Mix)
15. James Dymond - Carbon (Original Mix)
16. Joey Chilson - Lost & Found (Original Mix)
17. AERO 21 - Performance (Original Mix)
18. Will Atkinson - Hermosa (Original Mix)

This review can also be found at TranceHub.com

Album Review: Solarstone pres. Pure Trance - The Album

Pure Trance will bring you back to what Trance is all about

Trance has evolved into various type of sub-genres and that many of speculated the genre has lost its aura. This is the reason why the album Pure Trance came about. And who better to bring us back than the trance legend himself Solarstone along with Orkidea. These 2 disc album is the 100th album released by Black Hole Recordings.

Solarstone begins our journey with the Pure Intro mix of "The Spell." The melodic track taken for his Pure album features the sultry vocals of Clare Stagg and the melodic beats and rhythms of the trance legend. This was followed by Almar's "Evening Star", an uplifting track filled with beats that would surely ease your soul. Then comes in the typical Solarstone melodic riff and acoustic guitar courtesy of his mix of "We Can't Fly" by Lemon. He slowed things down with "Split Source" by Ehren Stowers before bringing the beats up with "Euphonia" by Kyau & Albert and Ronski Speed in the Ronski Speed Mix and Giuseppe Ottaviani's "Earthbeat" Just close your eyes and let these tracks take you to a journey filled with operatic melodies and beats.

Solarstone continues with the vocal track "Days Turn Into Nights" by Delerium adding his pure signature to an already classic trance track before bringing in one of the best tracks of 2012 in "Falcons," a track he collaborated with Ottaviani filled with melodic beats and haunting female chant. He transitions to the goosebump inducing melodic track "Hopeful" by A.R.D.I. before bringing in Omnia's "Infina", track that is surely going to get you pump on the dance floor. He brings us back down a notch the melodic "Ari" by C-Systems & Bushi in the Suncatcher remix. This haunting vocal is surrounded by melodic beats and piano keys that would surely ease your mind and soul.

The pulsating melodies of the Thomas Datt remix of his track "Voyager" follows before he mixed in the melodic piano-filled track "In Her Eyes" by Temple One. This track symbolizes what trance is about - pure and emotional. He continues this with Rex Mundi's "Streaming Waterfalls" and  Mark Pledger's "A New World" before bringing in the pure mix of the vocal track "Sail On the Waves" by Walsh & McAuley, a track filled with melodic beats the compliments well with the great voice of David Berkeley. Solarstone closes disc one with his classic track "Seven Cities" in the pure mix. This track surely symbolized trance and would be played in many years to come.

Orkidea start disc two with the pure mix of his track "Unity", a melodic filled tuned with lovely synths and haunting chopped vocals. Increasing the beats but keeping the melody, he brings in "Sun Down" in the Michael Cassette remix before bringing in the melodic synth-filled tracks in Kay-D's "Avalanche" and Lowland's acoustic-filled "Cheap Shrink".

Orkidea follows this with the Simon Templar remix of "Whisper" by Winkee, a track filled with psy-trance melodies and beats. Next up is the lovely and haunting Allende remix of "Secret" by Way Out West then followed by the lovely beats and rhythms in "Valssi" by Slusnik Luna, "Sulfur" by Nicholas Bennison and the Datt remix of "Vueltas" by Steve Brian.

Orkidea change things a bit with Protoculture's "Perpetual Motion," increasing the beats and adding more bass and melodies. Then he brings in his amazing remix of the classic "Southern Sun" by Paul Oakenfold. He continues with Future Disciple's "No Man's Land" which got a little balearic sound surrounded by lovely percussion beats and a massive drop that would surely satisfy one's senses. He then continues with the melodramatic rhythms of Mindwave remix of "Autumn Lights" by Vibrasphere before ending the compilation with the melodic remix of his "Unity" track by Solarstone.

With seamless transitions and superb tracks, Pure Trance - The Album would surely satisfy trance lovers out there.

10/10

"Pure Trance is a feeling, a passion which exists outside of contemporary musical fads and fashions. It is the bringing together of millions of fans for whom this music is a way of life" - Solarstone

You can also find this review at http://trancehub.com/reviews/albums/solarstone-presents-pure-trance-the-album/

Tracklist
Disc 1 - Mixed By Solarstone
01. Solarstone & Clare Stagg - The Spell (Pure Intro Mix)
02. Almar - Evening Star
03. Lemon - We Can't Fly (Solarstone Pure Mix)
04. Ehren Stowers - Split Source
05. Kyau & Albert with Ronski Speed - Euphonia (Ronski Speed Mix)
06. Giuseppe Ottaviani - Earthbeat
07. Delerium featuring Michael Logen - Days Turn Into Nights (Solarstone Pure Mix)
08. Solarstone with Giuseppe Ottaviani - Falcons (Solarstone Extended Mix)
09. A.R.D.I. – Hopeful
10. Omnia - Infina
11. C-Systems & Bushi - Ari (Suncatcher Exclusive Remix)
12. Solarstone - Voyager (Thomas Datt Remix)
13. Temple One - In Her Eyes
14. Rex Mundi - Steaming Waterfalls (Original Mix)
15. Mark Pledger - A New World
16. Walsh & McAuley featuring David Berkeley - Sail On The Waves (Solarstone Pure Mix)
17.  Solarstone - Seven Cities (Solarstone Pure Mix)

Disc 2 - Mixed By Orkidea
01. Orkidea - Unity (Pure Intro Mix)
02. Orkidea - Sun Down (Michael Cassette Remix)
03. Kay-D - Avalanche
04. Lowland - Cheap Shrink
05. Winkee - Whisper (Simon Templar Refresh)
06. Way Out West - Secret (Allende Remix)
07. Slusnik Luna - Valssi (Orkidea Mix)
08. Nicholas Bennison - Sulfur (Light Mix)
09. Steve Brian - Vueltas (Thomas Datt Instrumental Mix)
10. Protoculture - Perpetual Motion (Original Mix)
11. Paul Oakenfold - Southern Sun (Orkidea's Tribute Mix)12. Future Disciple - No Man's Land
13. Vibrasphere - Autumn Lights (Mindwave Remix)
14. Orkidea - Unity (Solarstone's Metabreaks Remix)

Released Date: November 19, 2012 through Black Hole Recordings

Where to Buy: Pure Trance | SolarShop | Beatport | iTunes | FineNight | Amazon

Solarstone - website | Beatport | Facebook | iTunes | MixCloud | @RichSolarstone
Orkidea - website | Beatport | Facebook | iTunes | SoundCloud | Spotify | @DJOrkidea