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Cutting to the chase, these are what I consider the greatest trance songs of this decade, up until the end of 2008. Once 2009 starts to take form (and there are quite a few songs out now that are promising), I'll update the list. So anyone curious about what trance music is all about should definitely check out these songs. That is basically the gist of this tower of artist and song names. Of course, while this project was done very subjectively, I do find that most of the songs are those that have achieved stellar appeal inside the music world. Though in the spirit of personal opinion, several of my "favorite" songs may or may not be in this list, so believe me that coming up with this list was not done in a few snappy minutes. I compiled this list over the course of several days after playing old tracks, researching songs that I may not have heard before, all to gain perspective and to sift out the songs that didn't make the cut. Those not familiar with trance should realize that are literally several hundred tracks each year by hundreds of artists that have their debut, then either flourish or fall out in a couple weeks. This list hardly dents the surface with regard to the number of songs that are out there.

I could go on all day about why I love these songs, but I think for the sake of productivity, I'll just briefly describe each of the top 5. I may go back to describe a few others. But these songs are just a few of the reasons I love trance so much. Hell, it's not even a hobby, it's a passion.

Unless otherwise noted, the song names imply their original versions.

1. Solid Globe - North Pole [2003]

No clichés in this, the top rated song. Solid Globe produced this tour de force in 2003, landing at #1 in Dutch dance charts for a time (highly unsual for a trance track, due to the more underground nature of the music), and not to mention basically elevating the prestige of trance music to a remarkable level. I feel it's hard to really to put into words, and doing so would fail to do this song justice, what North Pole does as a whole. But I'll give it a go. North Pole plays around with the old, early 1990s trance feel with a much stranger, new style of synth sounds. The song opens up with sweep sound rich in flanger and resonance (I know, what does that mean in layman's?) Basically, it makes the song sound, well, kind of "spacey", a word I normally despise using to describe trance, because it's so overused and lazy. Nevertheless, it may be appropriate in this special case. Just understand that it opens this adventurous track on the right foot. The bassline strums along as any trance song would, only it's more plucky, and is underlined by a vast number of percussion sounds. A hollow drum instrument breaks through every 4th measure or so, providing the song with a rather exotic tone. As the song goes to break, these spooky synth sounds enter, quickly followed by the skeleton to the song's melody heard in airy pads. Though as the song progresses, this only morphs into a sort of twisted hybrid of melancholy chords, sweep sounds (filtered white noise) that are completely in sync with the rhythm of the melody, and fierce supersaw synths. After the first breakdown, the song splits momentarily, going back to how the song started. The bassline beats along and keeps the flow of energy at a smooth pace. Then, something happens. A second breakdown! The second breakdown in North Pole is like a shocking encore. When that bassline builds up and the kick drum rushes in the melody once more, the massive blows hit ever harder, leaving anyone still recovering from the last breakdown with little chance to lose interest, and the mayhem begins anew. It in fact only makes the song even more dramatic and addicting. As the song then slows down for the last time, the melody tapers off after the second breakdown in a simple, melancholy chord progression, alone with a kick drum, that lasts an eternal 10 seconds. The song winds down even more, ending the way it began: with a plucky bassline and myriad percussion instruments. Yes, so that is North Pole. Every second of the song has something worth listening to.

2. Fictivision vs. C-Quence - Symbols [2003]

Symbols may possibly be the epitome of epic, uplifting Dutch trance. It rendered international support after renowned DJs like Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, and Paul van Dyk promoted the song in their radio show mixes and concerts in the breakout year of 2003. This is one of those songs that can annihilate a dance floor. The melody, which hooks your memory in a short time, suddenly interrupts as the song's groove is in full force. During the breakdown, the brilliant melody echos to the left side of your speakers every other beat, building a tremendous atmosphere. Though both Bart van Wissen (Fictivision) and Joris van der Straten (C-Quence) collaborated on this, I feel as though Bart's influence is far more noticeable. The one bar delay between the reverse cymbal and a successive cymbal crash at each 16th measure, with a deep sub-bass filling the emptiness, is a common technique by Bart. The general bassline and synth sounds have that classic Fictivision feel as well (as evident in his other works such as Ringworld and Out of Orbit.)

3. Above & Beyond vs. Andy Moor - Air for Life [2005]

That electronic music and vocals should join forces shouldn't be totally unexpected. In fact, the first song credited with being categorized as "trance" was full of vocals and belongs to the duo "Age of Love" in their self-named 1990 hit "Age of Love." Yet vocals in trance music are almost a secret and the songs that did contain vocals were often less about chorus lines and more used to expand the atmosphere. Since the late 1990s, vocals and trance have had a somewhat awkward relationship. Vocals could (and often did) poison otherwise wonderful tracks if ever the lyrics and vocal styles were, not to mince words, too cheesy sounding. To have the audacity to put vocals in a track meant realizing what could happen if done wrong. The brilliance of Air For Life was to maximize the intrinsic humanity in hearing voices and then provide a symphony of sounds as the ongoing backdrop. The intense, driving bassline to Air For Life has that Andy Moor feel while Above & Beyond, I would assume, provided the heavy lifting as far as vocals and pads were concerned. The person responsible for the lovely vocals is Carrie Skipper. And for those not in the know, a "pad" is simply a type of synthesized instrument used to have very airy and melodic sounds, sometimes imitating strings instruments or wind. And at any rate, this track hit all the right chords, pun not intended. There's a constant driving bassline contrasted by the more melodic and spiritual aspects to uplifting trance, a project that brought the best of both worlds into one amazing tune.

4. Synergy - Hello Strings [2004]

Hearing this song even just once, it's not hard to see its appeal. In the context of 2004, when the quality of trance (depending on one's point of view) was either cresting or breathing new life, this song became somewhat of a timeless gem. Like several of the others on this top trance list, the cliches of trance are dashed away in Hello Strings. Every element provided in this song promises an impeccable mixture of creative beat arrangements, inspirational chords, and tasteful basslines that should leave any musician envious. The original of this song, which runs a rather short-lived 11 and a half minutes (and the song is such a tour de force that they really do go fast without ever allowing a single dull break), opens with a melancholy melody, manifested in the sort of ambience that was seen in the early trance songs of the early to mid-1990s. This ambience is broken apart a minute inward, and the song's structure gradually comes to life. The rich use of reverb and delay effects on basically every sound could fill even a closet with vast atmosphere. The beauty of the central melody is suffocating, even if fairly simple, using orchestral synths that appropriately adhere to the song's name. The breakdown is accompanied by this and a groovy electro-bassline. Indeed, it's also a floor uniter. I imagine this to be the kind of song that would send shivers throughout my body as I look outward towards the vast night sky of New York, Philadelphia, or some other major cities.

5. Orjan Nilsen - La Guitarra [2008]

There's a story behind this song. Norwegian producer Orjan Nilsen's brother, Ernst Ove Nilsen, passed away in December 2007. Perhaps Orjan could explain this best, "I made the melody as I closed my eyes and thought of the good times we had. So this melody has both a piece of me and him in it."

La Guitarra debuted in mixes early in 2008, no later than February of that year, and its consistent appearance throughout the year was highlighted by becoming one of top ranked songs of 2008, well used in starting up mixes with a light feel. La Guitarra works its magic in a few ways. By combining progressive and tech trance's capacity to produce sensible cacophonies and melodies to remember, La Guitarra has a flawless rhythm that is both energetic and relaxing.

To its detractors, La Guitarra represents everything that is wrong with the present trance scene, based on the accusation that it has been obscured with house music. Some of its harshest critics completely dissociate the song with trance at all. But for supporters of songs of the likes of La Guitarra, this one has become only another crucial shade of trance's underestimated and grand diversity, namely its consistent ability to stir emotions through melody and atmosphere through endless means. In the major break of La Guitarra, when Orjan Nilsen's melody in honor of his brother is strummed away on an acoustic guitar, it uses the unmistakeable component of trance music that is responsible for maximizing the unique timbres to instruments (such as guitars) by adding the surround sound effect.

#6 to #80
6. Andy Moor & Adam White present Whiteroom - The Whiteroom [2004]
7. Dréas Presents Havannah - Havannah [2004]
8. Octagen & Arizona - Starburst [2003]
9. Solarstone - Solarcoaster (Midway Mix) [2002]
10. Mike Foyle - Pandora (The Blizzard Remix) [2008]
11. Super8 - Alba [2004]
12. Fictivision vs. Phynn - Escape (Phynn mix) [2004]
13. Ralphie B - Massive [2001]
14. Akesson - Perfect Blue [2008]
15. Perry O'Neil - Kubik [2004]
16. Midway - Monkey Forest [2002]
17. Envio - For You (The Blizzard Remix) [2007]
18. Georgia - Ode To '99 [2008]
19. Lemon & Einar K - Anticipation [2007]
20. Arksun - Arisen [2006]
21. Cape Town - Cinema [2003]
22. Matti Laamanen - Flakes [2002]
23. Moogwai - Viola (Armin van Buuren remix) [2000]
24. Super8 & Tab - Helsinki Scorchin' [2006]
25. Phynn - Lucid [2005]
26. MK-S - Illuminate [2004]
27. Arizona vs. Passiva - Halo [2005]
28. Rank 1 - Awakening [2001]
29. Majai - Phoria (Jorn van Deynhoven Remix) [2008]
30. Jan Johnston - Flesh 2002 (Noel Sanger's 5AM repo mix) [2002]
31. Above & Beyond - Good For Me (Above & Beyond Club Mix) [2007]
32. Alt+F4 - ALT+F4 [2004]
33. Nitrous Oxide - Frozen Dreams [2006]
34. Orkidea - Metaverse (Gareth Emery Remix) [2008]
35. Jas van Houten - Heaven's Gate [2002]
36. Robert Nickson - Spiral [2004]
37. Agnelli & Nelson - Holding on to Nothing [2003]
38. Super8 & Tab - Elektra [2008]
39. Mike Foyle - Shipwrecked (John O'Callaghan vs. Mike Foyle Club Mix) [2006]
40. Orkidea - Beautiful (Alt+F4 Remix) [2005]
41. Kyau vs. Albert - Always A Fool [2007]
42. Jonas Steur - Castamara [2005]
43. Onova - Platitude [2007]
44. Octagen & M.I.D.O.R. - Metropolitan [2007]
45. Filo & Peri - Elevation [2004]
46. Enmass - CQ (Seek You) [2004]
47. Nu NRG - Dreamland (Whirloop Remix) [2004]
48. Elevation - Ocean Rain [2005]
49. Re:Locate - Waterfall [2003]
50. Mike Koglin vs. P.O.S. - Untitled Audio (Nitrous Oxide Remix) [2006]
51. Li Kwan - Point Zero 2004 (Matt Darey Remix) [2004]
52. Terry Bones vs. Fred Baker pres. Water Planet - Introspection (John Askew mix) [2004]
53. Aalto - 5 [2006]
54. Gouryella - Tenshi [2000]
55. Pulser - My Religion (Lange Remix) [2003]
56. Anjunabeats - Volume One (Anjuna Deep Mix) [2000]
57. Mike Foyle - Bittersweet Nightshade [2008]
58. Mesh - Purple Haze [2003]
59. Paul Oakenfold - Southern Sun (DJ Tiësto Remix) [2002]
60. Envio - Touched By The Sun (Envio's Sunrise remix) [2003]
61. Empirical Labs - Turtle Beach (Outback Remix) [2003]
62. Alex M.O.R.P.H. pres. Everest - Orée [2005]
63. Project Medusa vs. Exor - Moonshine (Exor Mix Part II) [2003]
64. Signum - Come Around Again [2004]
65. Jose Amnesia - Follow Me (Giuseppe Ottaviani Remix) [2008]
66. Above & Beyond pres. Tranquility Base - Oceanic (Super8 & Tab Remix) [2007]
67. Firewall - Sincere [2003]
68. Kamil Polner - Heart Of Sun [2006]
69. Simon Patterson - Smack [2008]
70. Darren Tate - Prayer For A God [2003]
71. Eon - Pocket Damage [2002]
72. Thomas Bronzwaer - Certitude [2008]
73. Witness of Wonder - Emotion in Motion [2004]
74. Alex M.O.R.P.H. - Sunshine (Nitrous Oxide Remix) [2008]
75. Motorcycle - As The Rush Comes (Gabriel & Dresden Sweeping Strings Mix) [2003]
76. Three Drives - Sunset On Ibiza [2001]
77. O'Callaghan & Kearney - Exactly [2006]
78. Alex M.O.R.P.H. - Walk the Edge (Alex M.O.R.P.H. B2b Woody Van Eyden Mix) [2008]
79. Thomas Bronzwaer - Resound [2007]
80. Orjan Nilsen - Prison Break [2006]

As this list was constructed, some of my expectations were met. The year 2004 was an especially standout year, as was 2003. Trance then just seemed to sound rather deep and melodic, leaving overly sugary-sweet songs at a greater distance than some other years. From 2000 through parts of 2003, trance was very focused on going an extra mile with sounds that were introduced in the end of the 1990s and expanding on vocal tracks. I would describe a mass proportion of trance from that little epoch to have been largely based on supersaw leads, arpeggiated chords to span a vast duration of the song, and 140 BPM type stuff. Just rather fast-paced and all about breakdowns with arm-raising melodies. It helps to mention that the "Gods of trance" (Tiesto, Ferry Corsten, Paul van Dyk, and Armin van Buuren) all had their heydays around this time. Yet, a lot of trance from 2000 to 2003 thrived on the more ambient aspects as well. Then the 2003/2004 period took the formulations behind 1998-early 2003 and breathed in a new life that was often deeper darker, more interesting, and naturally raised the expectations for trance.

What can I say about the time period past 2004? Well, progressive trance seemed to increasingly shift towards the influences of house music. So-called "uplifting trance" (which is a reference to a style which invokes arpeggiated chord progressions more than referring to a particular mood... trust me, lots of "uplifting" trance can sound rather anti-uplifting) was upward bound around 2006 after a bit of a lull in 2005. Trance in 2007 and 2008, as I said, really shifted towards a more house influenced style. So called "tech trance", which incorporates the overtly synthesized, monotonous sounds of techno into the basics of trance, skyrocketed. The tempo of an average song on one of Armin van Buuren's weekly "A State of Trance" episodes had slowed down considerably since 2003, just eyeballing the situation. Vocal trance was ubiquitous for a time and uplifting trance, save a few blockbusters that came around late 2007 and early 2008, had lost much of the originality and depth that it witnessed in the decade's earlier half. Needless to say, it alienated a vast number of people while still yet inviting another batch of people. It isn't unfair to say that trance was not nearly as interesting or original in recent history as it was between 2000 and 2004. As of February 2009, this trend continues, though my early thought is that trance has begun to shift once more towards more originality and depth.

OK, now go listen to those songs and come back telling me how much it blows pop dance music out of the water. :-)

Cutting to the chase, these are what I consider the greatest trance songs of this decade, up until the end of 2008. Once 2009 starts to take form (and there are quite a few songs out now that are promising), I'll update the list. So anyone curious about what trance music is all about should definitely check out these songs. That is basically the gist of this tower of artist and song names. Of course, while this project was done very subjectively, I do find that most of the songs are those that have achieved stellar appeal inside the music world. Though in the spirit of personal opinion, several of my "favorite" songs may or may not be in this list, so believe me that coming up with this list was not done in a few snappy minutes. I compiled this list over the course of several days after playing old tracks, researching songs that I may not have heard before, all to gain perspective and to sift out the songs that didn't make the cut. Those not familiar with trance should realize that are literally several hundred tracks each year by hundreds of artists that have their debut, then either flourish or fall out in a couple weeks. This list hardly dents the surface with regard to the number of songs that are out there.

I could go on all day about why I love these songs, but I think for the sake of productivity, I'll just briefly describe each of the top 5. I may go back to describe a few others. But these songs are just a few of the reasons I love trance so much. Hell, it's not even a hobby, it's a passion.

Unless otherwise noted, the song names imply their original versions.

1. Solid Globe - North Pole [2003]

No clichés in this, the top rated song. Solid Globe produced this tour de force in 2003, landing at #1 in Dutch dance charts for a time (highly unsual for a trance track, due to the more underground nature of the music), and not to mention basically elevating the prestige of trance music to a remarkable level. I feel it's hard to really to put into words, and doing so would fail to do this song justice, what North Pole does as a whole. But I'll give it a go. North Pole plays around with the old, early 1990s trance feel with a much stranger, new style of synth sounds. The song opens up with sweep sound rich in flanger and resonance (I know, what does that mean in layman's?) Basically, it makes the song sound, well, kind of "spacey", a word I normally despise using to describe trance, because it's so overused and lazy. Nevertheless, it may be appropriate in this special case. Just understand that it opens this adventurous track on the right foot. The bassline strums along as any trance song would, only it's more plucky, and is underlined by a vast number of percussion sounds. A hollow drum instrument breaks through every 4th measure or so, providing the song with a rather exotic tone. As the song goes to break, these spooky synth sounds enter, quickly followed by the skeleton to the song's melody heard in airy pads. Though as the song progresses, this only morphs into a sort of twisted hybrid of melancholy chords, sweep sounds (filtered white noise) that are completely in sync with the rhythm of the melody, and fierce supersaw synths. After the first breakdown, the song splits momentarily, going back to how the song started. The bassline beats along and keeps the flow of energy at a smooth pace. Then, something happens. A second breakdown! The second breakdown in North Pole is like a shocking encore. When that bassline builds up and the kick drum rushes in the melody once more, the massive blows hit ever harder, leaving anyone still recovering from the last breakdown with little chance to lose interest, and the mayhem begins anew. It in fact only makes the song even more dramatic and addicting. As the song then slows down for the last time, the melody tapers off after the second breakdown in a simple, melancholy chord progression, alone with a kick drum, that lasts an eternal 10 seconds. The song winds down even more, ending the way it began: with a plucky bassline and myriad percussion instruments. Yes, so that is North Pole. Every second of the song has something worth listening to.

2. Fictivision vs. C-Quence - Symbols [2003]

Symbols may possibly be the epitome of epic, uplifting Dutch trance. It rendered international support after renowned DJs like Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, and Paul van Dyk promoted the song in their radio show mixes and concerts in the breakout year of 2003. This is one of those songs that can annihilate a dance floor. The melody, which hooks your memory in a short time, suddenly interrupts as the song's groove is in full force. During the breakdown, the brilliant melody echos to the left side of your speakers every other beat, building a tremendous atmosphere. Though both Bart van Wissen (Fictivision) and Joris van der Straten (C-Quence) collaborated on this, I feel as though Bart's influence is far more noticeable. The one bar delay between the reverse cymbal and a successive cymbal crash at each 16th measure, with a deep sub-bass filling the emptiness, is a common technique by Bart. The general bassline and synth sounds have that classic Fictivision feel as well (as evident in his other works such as Ringworld and Out of Orbit.)

3. Above & Beyond vs. Andy Moor - Air for Life [2005]

That electronic music and vocals should join forces shouldn't be totally unexpected. In fact, the first song credited with being categorized as "trance" was full of vocals and belongs to the duo "Age of Love" in their self-named 1990 hit "Age of Love." Yet vocals in trance music are almost a secret and the songs that did contain vocals were often less about chorus lines and more used to expand the atmosphere. Since the late 1990s, vocals and trance have had a somewhat awkward relationship. Vocals could (and often did) poison otherwise wonderful tracks if ever the lyrics and vocal styles were, not to mince words, too cheesy sounding. To have the audacity to put vocals in a track meant realizing what could happen if done wrong. The brilliance of Air For Life was to maximize the intrinsic humanity in hearing voices and then provide a symphony of sounds as the ongoing backdrop. The intense, driving bassline to Air For Life has that Andy Moor feel while Above & Beyond, I would assume, provided the heavy lifting as far as vocals and pads were concerned. The person responsible for the lovely vocals is Carrie Skipper. And for those not in the know, a "pad" is simply a type of synthesized instrument used to have very airy and melodic sounds, sometimes imitating strings instruments or wind. And at any rate, this track hit all the right chords, pun not intended. There's a constant driving bassline contrasted by the more melodic and spiritual aspects to uplifting trance, a project that brought the best of both worlds into one amazing tune.

4. Synergy - Hello Strings [2004]

Hearing this song even just once, it's not hard to see its appeal. In the context of 2004, when the quality of trance (depending on one's point of view) was either cresting or breathing new life, this song became somewhat of a timeless gem. Like several of the others on this top trance list, the cliches of trance are dashed away in Hello Strings. Every element provided in this song promises an impeccable mixture of creative beat arrangements, inspirational chords, and tasteful basslines that should leave any musician envious. The original of this song, which runs a rather short-lived 11 and a half minutes (and the song is such a tour de force that they really do go fast without ever allowing a single dull break), opens with a melancholy melody, manifested in the sort of ambience that was seen in the early trance songs of the early to mid-1990s. This ambience is broken apart a minute inward, and the song's structure gradually comes to life. The rich use of reverb and delay effects on basically every sound could fill even a closet with vast atmosphere. The beauty of the central melody is suffocating, even if fairly simple, using orchestral synths that appropriately adhere to the song's name. The breakdown is accompanied by this and a groovy electro-bassline. Indeed, it's also a floor uniter. I imagine this to be the kind of song that would send shivers throughout my body as I look outward towards the vast night sky of New York, Philadelphia, or some other major cities.

5. Orjan Nilsen - La Guitarra [2008]

There's a story behind this song. Norwegian producer Orjan Nilsen's brother, Ernst Ove Nilsen, passed away in December 2007. Perhaps Orjan could explain this best, "I made the melody as I closed my eyes and thought of the good times we had. So this melody has both a piece of me and him in it."

La Guitarra debuted in mixes early in 2008, no later than February of that year, and its consistent appearance throughout the year was highlighted by becoming one of top ranked songs of 2008, well used in starting up mixes with a light feel. La Guitarra works its magic in a few ways. By combining progressive and tech trance's capacity to produce sensible cacophonies and melodies to remember, La Guitarra has a flawless rhythm that is both energetic and relaxing.

To its detractors, La Guitarra represents everything that is wrong with the present trance scene, based on the accusation that it has been obscured with house music. Some of its harshest critics completely dissociate the song with trance at all. But for supporters of songs of the likes of La Guitarra, this one has become only another crucial shade of trance's underestimated and grand diversity, namely its consistent ability to stir emotions through melody and atmosphere through endless means. In the major break of La Guitarra, when Orjan Nilsen's melody in honor of his brother is strummed away on an acoustic guitar, it uses the unmistakeable component of trance music that is responsible for maximizing the unique timbres to instruments (such as guitars) by adding the surround sound effect.

#6 to #80
6. Andy Moor & Adam White present Whiteroom - The Whiteroom [2004]
7. Dréas Presents Havannah - Havannah [2004]
8. Octagen & Arizona - Starburst [2003]
9. Solarstone - Solarcoaster (Midway Mix) [2002]
10. Mike Foyle - Pandora (The Blizzard Remix) [2008]
11. Super8 - Alba [2004]
12. Fictivision vs. Phynn - Escape (Phynn mix) [2004]
13. Ralphie B - Massive [2001]
14. Akesson - Perfect Blue [2008]
15. Perry O'Neil - Kubik [2004]
16. Midway - Monkey Forest [2002]
17. Envio - For You (The Blizzard Remix) [2007]
18. Georgia - Ode To '99 [2008]
19. Lemon & Einar K - Anticipation [2007]
20. Arksun - Arisen [2006]
21. Cape Town - Cinema [2003]
22. Matti Laamanen - Flakes [2002]
23. Moogwai - Viola (Armin van Buuren remix) [2000]
24. Super8 & Tab - Helsinki Scorchin' [2006]
25. Phynn - Lucid [2005]
26. MK-S - Illuminate [2004]
27. Arizona vs. Passiva - Halo [2005]
28. Rank 1 - Awakening [2001]
29. Majai - Phoria (Jorn van Deynhoven Remix) [2008]
30. Jan Johnston - Flesh 2002 (Noel Sanger's 5AM repo mix) [2002]
31. Above & Beyond - Good For Me (Above & Beyond Club Mix) [2007]
32. Alt+F4 - ALT+F4 [2004]
33. Nitrous Oxide - Frozen Dreams [2006]
34. Orkidea - Metaverse (Gareth Emery Remix) [2008]
35. Jas van Houten - Heaven's Gate [2002]
36. Robert Nickson - Spiral [2004]
37. Agnelli & Nelson - Holding on to Nothing [2003]
38. Super8 & Tab - Elektra [2008]
39. Mike Foyle - Shipwrecked (John O'Callaghan vs. Mike Foyle Club Mix) [2006]
40. Orkidea - Beautiful (Alt+F4 Remix) [2005]
41. Kyau vs. Albert - Always A Fool [2007]
42. Jonas Steur - Castamara [2005]
43. Onova - Platitude [2007]
44. Octagen & M.I.D.O.R. - Metropolitan [2007]
45. Filo & Peri - Elevation [2004]
46. Enmass - CQ (Seek You) [2004]
47. Nu NRG - Dreamland (Whirloop Remix) [2004]
48. Elevation - Ocean Rain [2005]
49. Re:Locate - Waterfall [2003]
50. Mike Koglin vs. P.O.S. - Untitled Audio (Nitrous Oxide Remix) [2006]
51. Li Kwan - Point Zero 2004 (Matt Darey Remix) [2004]
52. Terry Bones vs. Fred Baker pres. Water Planet - Introspection (John Askew mix) [2004]
53. Aalto - 5 [2006]
54. Gouryella - Tenshi [2000]
55. Pulser - My Religion (Lange Remix) [2003]
56. Anjunabeats - Volume One (Anjuna Deep Mix) [2000]
57. Mike Foyle - Bittersweet Nightshade [2008]
58. Mesh - Purple Haze [2003]
59. Paul Oakenfold - Southern Sun (DJ Tiësto Remix) [2002]
60. Envio - Touched By The Sun (Envio's Sunrise remix) [2003]
61. Empirical Labs - Turtle Beach (Outback Remix) [2003]
62. Alex M.O.R.P.H. pres. Everest - Orée [2005]
63. Project Medusa vs. Exor - Moonshine (Exor Mix Part II) [2003]
64. Signum - Come Around Again [2004]
65. Jose Amnesia - Follow Me (Giuseppe Ottaviani Remix) [2008]
66. Above & Beyond pres. Tranquility Base - Oceanic (Super8 & Tab Remix) [2007]
67. Firewall - Sincere [2003]
68. Kamil Polner - Heart Of Sun [2006]
69. Simon Patterson - Smack [2008]
70. Darren Tate - Prayer for a God [2003]
71. Eon - Pocket Damage [2002]
72. Thomas Bronzwaer - Certitude [2008]
73. Witness of Wonder - Emotion in Motion [2004]
74. Alex M.O.R.P.H. - Sunshine (Nitrous Oxide Remix) [2008]
75. Motorcycle - As The Rush Comes (Gabriel & Dresden Sweeping Strings Mix) [2003]
76. Three Drives - Sunset on Ibiza [2001]
77. O'Callaghan & Kearney - Exactly [2006]
78. Alex M.O.R.P.H. - Walk The Edge (Alex M.O.R.P.H. B2B Woody van Eyden Mix) [2008]
79. Thomas Bronzwaer - Resound [2007]
80. Orjan Nilsen - Prison Break [2006]

As this list was constructed, some of my expectations were met. The year 2004 was an especially standout year, as was 2003. Trance then just seemed to sound rather deep and melodic, leaving overly sugary-sweet songs at a greater distance than some other years. From 2000 through parts of 2003, trance was very focused on going an extra mile with sounds that were introduced in the end of the 1990s and expanding on vocal tracks. I would describe a mass proportion of trance from that little epoch to have been largely based on supersaw leads, arpeggiated chords to span a vast duration of the song, and 140 BPM type stuff. Just rather fast-paced and all about breakdowns with arm-raising melodies. It helps to mention that the "Gods of trance" (Tiesto, Ferry Corsten, Paul van Dyk, and Armin van Buuren) all had their heydays around this time. Yet, a lot of trance from 2000 to 2003 thrived on the more ambient aspects as well. Then the 2003/2004 period took the formulations behind 1998-early 2003 and breathed in a new life that was often deeper darker, more interesting, and naturally raised the expectations for trance.

What can I say about the time period past 2004? Well, progressive trance seemed to increasingly shift towards the influences of house music. So-called "uplifting trance" (which is a reference to a style which invokes arpeggiated chord progressions more than referring to a particular mood... trust me, lots of "uplifting" trance can sound rather anti-uplifting) was upward bound around 2006 after a bit of a lull in 2005. Trance in 2007 and 2008, as I said, really shifted towards a more house influenced style. So called "tech trance", which incorporates the overtly synthesized, monotonous sounds of techno into the basics of trance, skyrocketed. The tempo of an average song on one of Armin van Buuren's weekly "A State of Trance" episodes had slowed down considerably since 2003, just eyeballing the situation. Vocal trance was ubiquitous for a time and uplifting trance, save a few blockbusters that came around late 2007 and early 2008, had lost much of the originality and depth that it witnessed in the decade's earlier half. Needless to say, it alienated a vast number of people while still yet inviting another batch of people. It isn't unfair to say that trance was not nearly as interesting or original in recent history as it was between 2000 and 2004. As of February 2009, this trend continues, though my early thought is that trance has begun to shift once more towards more originality and depth.

OK, now go listen to those songs and come back telling me how much it blows pop dance music out of the water. :-)

THAT WAS 2008 – THE YEAR IN CHARTS

Well, here we are again. Another busy year in the ever-thriving world of electronic music has just about whizzed us by. And returning once again is my whistle-stop tour of what has been hot in those dizzy 12 months, this time of course with more bells, whistles, awards and “probing” commentary than I provided last year. 2008 has been an excellent year. The overall standard of artist albums has been exceptionally high this year, and, despite the market becoming further saturated in some sub-genres, we have still been treated to some absolutely killer tunes from all corners of the dance music galaxy. Note: these charts are of the best stuff I've heard this year, not just a mindless list of absolutely everything I have even vaguely enjoyed. As I say, there’s been a lot of stuff worth checking out this year, so naturally there are some good albums and tunes missing.

Ok, let's look back. Kicking us off, the best albums of the year...

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TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2008

20. Above & Beyond presents OceanLab - Sirens of the Sea
(July / Anjunabeats)



One of the summer's most anticipated “trance” albums turned out to be quite a smooth, downtempo affair, a mix of soft, "airy" progressive and stirring Ibizan chillout. Immaculate vocals and production as always from Justine and the boys.

Favourite Track: Sirens of the Sea

19. Insomnia - Rollercoaster
(March / Trancelucent Productions)



Pumping no frills full on, courtesy of Tom Shoval and Orel Shapira. Pure energy filled, electro driven psy-trance.

Favourite Track: Displacement

18. Quivver - Dirty Nails & Vapour Trails
(July / BozBoz)



A refreshingly varied approach from progressive trance's old head, John Graham, who mixed the drum & bassey feel of Chasing A Feeling with the moody electro breaks of What's Not Going On and the pure haunting minimalism of Dancing In Dark Rooms.

Favourite Track: Dancing In Dark Rooms

17. Josh Gabriel - Eight
(October / Different Pieces)



Josh Gabriel, formally one half of Gabriel & Dresden, served up a top notch progressive tech fest ruined only by the fact that the unmixed tracks are faded out at the ends. Infectiously danceable stuff though.

Favourite Track: Azora

16. Morphonix – Off the Grid
(March / Vaporvent Records)



This was my first real experience of the phenomena of psychedelic breaks. I got all excited, thinking this album was showcasing an entirely original genre of its own. Not the case, of course. But this was still a highly impressive effort from San Francisco's Lawrence Hoffman and definitely gets extra brownie points for completely blowing me away on first listen.

Favourite Track: Island Sanctuary

15. Trifonic - Emergence
(February / Trifonic Music LLC)



American newcomers, Trifonic, brothers Brian and Laurence Trifon, crash landed with this top quality downtempo/IDM debut. Brain apparently worked with fellow countryman BT on his incredible 2006 album, This Binary Universe. The influence of that is not hard to see at all.

Favourite Track: Sooner Or Later

14. Perfect Stranger - Free Cloud
(October / Iboga Records)



A stunningly hypnotic collection of progressive goodness from Israeli producer Yuli Fershtat. Part psychedelic progressive, part straight minimal progressive, this was another gem from the consistently amazing Iboga Records.

Favourite Track: Easy

13. Ott – Skylon
(January / Twisted Records)



Twisted Records' only new album release of the year was this "sunny" reggae flavoured psydub effort from Ott. Cool as a summer's breeze.

Favourite Track: Roflcopter

12. Simmonds & Jones - Interpretations
(June / Armada Music)



Better known to trance fans as Chakra, Lustral, Oxygen and Ascension, Simmonds & Jones set out to transform their discography of trance classics into a soothing collection of Balearic chillout tracks. Mission accomplished. This almost couldn't have been done better than it was.

Favourite Track: Home

11. Eat Static - Back to Earth...
(June / Interchill Records)



Merv Pepler, now working on his own, delivered the best psydub/psychill album of the year in Back To Earth, a mesmerizly diverse mixture of sounds which took us as far as the sands of Egypt and the carnival street of latin America. Magnificently glitchy and jazzy in places too.

Favourite Track: Epoch Calypso

10. Sander van Doorn - Supernaturalistic
(February / Doorn Records)



This could well be the "marmite" album of the year - most it seems either love it or hate it. It's also interesting to note that I've seen this album criticised as fervently by fans of minimal and tech house as I've seen it criticised by disappointed fans of melodic trance. I'll have to admit, I was once a bit of a Sander skeptic myself. Two or three years ago I had him down as quite a "hit and miss" producer and when it first emerged onto the scene I thought Grasshopper was a pretty, boring uninspiring track. But, having seen him DJ three times now, it seems I've come full circle. As simple as it is, I've fallen head over heels in love with Sander's style, a style that he is making his own within the trance scene with every release and every DJing gig. What I do specifically like about this album is that, despite always being fairly minimal in style, it does have a wonderful balance between chilled out moods and dancefloor energy. I'm no expert in minimal and tech house, that is for certain, but I thought a lot of the percussion on this album was absolutely perfect, particularly in Apple and Dozer. And, of course, this album has Riff on it, which is pure dancefloor gold. How could you possibly not want to dance your balls off to that tune? Watch out, Sander - if it were scientifically possible, I'd want your babies.

Favourite Track: Riff

9. Kino Oko - Alphabetically Divided Highway
(August / Tribal Vision)



If this chart was solely about innovation then this album would be sitting proudly at the top of the pile. This was nothing like anything I'd ever heard before - an unusual mesh of psydub and progressive with nuggets of IDM, electro, trance and even jazz sprinkled on for good measure, busting with delicate little basslines and sparklingly with bleeping synth-lines. To save the effort of trying to categorise it accurately, it might be tempting to just call it a progressive psychedelic trance album, but tracks like Made In Satisfaction or Body And Mind don't quite flow like trance; they swirl, they reverberate, they float. To me, this album almost sounds like Zombie Nation, Shpongle and Tegma making a wild head-on collision, sending funky psychedelic jazz debris flying all over the road. In terms of creating something new and different, this was definitely electronic music's main achievement of 2008.

Favourite Track: Mother Mature

8. Armin van Buuren - Imagine
(April / Armada Music)



Oh, no. Armin's gone pop? No, not quite. The trance purists will hate me for charting this so high, but fuck it. Now that Armin is sitting top of DJ Mag's DJ poll, like Tiesto was previously, he is there to be shot at. And after producing something here that isn't necessarily "pure" trance from start to finish and something that in many ways reflects the direction that his A State Of Trance radio shows have supposedly gone, the cries of "Armin's gone pop" were bound to follow. But I'm sorry, I have a fairly broad taste, I don't turn my nose up at the first sign of a vocal and therefore I really enjoyed this. It's hardly music to be totally ripping up dancefloors, but if you take it for what it is, a chilled out trance-house crossover for the Ibizan beaches and terraces, then you have to concede it's more than fit for purpose. I think most of the vocals are great on this album, particularly those on In And Out Of Love and Hold On To Me, and the "spirit" of Ibiza seems to sustain itself from the first to the very last minutes. Whether it's better than 76 or Shivers I'm not entirely sure yet, but at least it's something different. Armin may have remixed The Killers this year, but don't panic trance fans, those collaborations with Girls Aloud and Miss Spears are a little way off yet.

Favourite Track: In And Out Of Love

7. Ferry Corsten - Twice In A Blue Moon
(November / Flashover Recordings)



With Right Of Way and L.E.F., the mighty Ferry Corsten had already set the bar incredibly high. I think if you compare Ferry's artist albums to those of the rest of trance's "big 4" - Armin Van Buuren, Tiesto and Paul Van Dyk - Ferry generally seems to deliver that extra something else, at least in terms of delivering a holistic yet varied package of tracks that work as well at home as they do on the dancefloor. And, more so than any of the others, he has found his own sound and more or less stuck with it. But, at the same time, he's managed to cater for quite a broad range of tastes. With Twice In A Blue Moon we are treated to yet more of the same. Same old Ferry, slightly different mood. This album makes stylistic reference to almost all of Ferry's older material - the uplifting trance, the electro trance, the vocal trance, even the dark moody stuff - yet injects an extra element of funky progressiveness in places. Another thing that I thought was excellent about this album was its use of vocals. If there's one criticism you could level at Armin Van Buuren's Imagine it's that it maybe uses vocals to the point of overkill. Ferry uses them much more sparingly and to much greater effect. The vocals themselves in terms of quality are right up there with the best you'll hear on any trance album. In particular, the vocals in Made Of Love, Black Velvet and Feel You are awesome. I would be hard pushed to say that this is better than Right Of Way - Right Of Way is a special album - but it's honestly not a million miles away from it. I certainly think it generally has a more listenable "vibe" or atmosphere than L.E.F.

Favourite Track: Made of Love

6. Quadra - Voice Of Reason
(June / H2O Records)



Having already released 3 albums under his Quadra alias, Ido Liran, one half of Save the Robot, was already a very well-established name in full-on psy-trance. His fantastic bootleg of Gorillaz's Feel Good Inc., LSD Came Falling Down, was one of my favourite psy-trancers of 2007. This album picks up from that in a very obvious way, bootlegging a number of familiar melodies and vocal samples such Wildchild's Renegade Master, Niels Van Gogh's Pulverturm, Planet Funk's Chase The Sun and even Tiesto's In My Memory. And I think that sense of familiarity works really well. In terms of overall sound, Voice Of Reason is your typical up-to-the-minute full-on album, with its crisp, punchy basslines, melodic breakdowns and bouncing psychedelic effects. This was by far the best artist album from this specific brand of full-on psy-trance this year, albeit not quite as good as Time Lock’s amazing Prototype 0.1 from last year and not quite the best psy-trance album of the year overall... keep reading for that.

Favourite Track: Pulvertrum 3.0

5. Enigma - Seven Lives Many Faces
(September / Virgin Music Germany)



Now, this is a bit of a strange one. Not the album itself necessarily. The album itself is classic Engima and, as always, extremely relaxing stuff. It's where this album fits into Enigma's overall discography that slightly bemused me. Everything about this album, including its title, had a sort of "final chapter" feel to it. Rather than carry on from where the incredibly subtle and significantly less vocalised A Posteriori left off, Seven Lives Many Faces seemed to bring together Michael Cretu's entire discography, going in all sorts of different but familiar, old directions. You can even hear vocal samples cut from previous albums which are clearly not meant to be carefully hidden away. Now, if this was planned as Cretu's final album as Enigma then a sort of "stylistic review" would have been a fitting way to bring this landmark project to an end after 18 spectacular years. But apparently this isn't Enigma's last album and Cretu is already working on the next one. So... why take Enigma stylistically backwards? A lot of Enigma fans moan about A Posteriori, some say that it was by far Cretu's most disappointing work. I love it, personally, and would have appreciated seeing Enigma continue a little further down that ethereal path, seeing what more could have been made of A Posteriori's wonderfully emotional and delicate feel. But if you put questions of overall artistic direction to one side and judge this newest release on its own merits then there is still a lot to be positive about. Even this album's cheesiest moments are carried off will such aplomb that you have sit back and say to yourself, "fair play to you, Michael." Another high quality record from the king of mainstream meditation. The question is, what next?

Favourite Track: The Same Parents

4. Juno Reactor - Gods & Monsters
(February / Metropolis)



I noticed quite a few Juno fans were disappointed with this, one of the year's first big releases. The last two tracks, which are essentially ballads, did leave a lot of people scratching their heads. But considering how long it had been since Labyrinth was released and considering how much of a free-thinking innovator Ben Watkins is, this was never going to be anything other than surprising. Watkins has never been afraid of throwing together styles and sounds that you wouldn't expect could or even should work together. Labyrinth was proof of that; Gods & Monster is unequivocal proof of that. However, there is something distinctly "Juno Reactor" running through tracks like Inca Steppa, Tanta Pena and City Of The Sinful- that dark, pulsating bass, that epic "world fusion" tribal feel. Even in Las Vegas Future Past you can hear "left overs" from his work on the Matrix soundtracks. But obviously we get a distinctly new take on that familiar sound. In Inca Steppa, for example, "Mexican rasta" is exactly what you get as that familiar Juno Reactor tribal takes on a distinctly Central American feel and melts seamlessly into reggae flavour. Other parts of the album treat us to something entirely different however - Haunting dub, chillout, touches of jazz, metal and, of course, ending on those two ballads. Do the ballads spoil it? Well, the answer is yes and no. Perfect Crime is a well-written song that sometimes even has me passionately singing along, complete with "emo" facial expressions. Whereas, the less said about Pretty Girl the better really. But overall, a sublime effort from Juno which I think might even grow with time. Superbly innovative and, in Inca Steppa, Tanta Pena and City Of The Sinful, has 3 real gems in its hefty locker.

Favourite Track: Inca Steppa

3. Pendulum - In Silico
(May / Warner Music UK Ltd)



As I mused in one of my most recent journals, Pendulum's long-awaited 2nd album wasn't as good as their first. But I never expected it to be. Hold Your Colour was one of those magical albums, an album which contains levels of balance and quality that even the greatest artists around don't just repeat at the drop of a hat. What I hoped Pendulum would do is take some of the key ingredients of Hold Your Colour and build something new, fresh and exciting, to elaborate on the group's familiar formulas to create something different. And that is exactly what they did. For me, In Silico is the perfect balance between familiarity and freshness. Pendulum have evolved without ripping up root and branch. Certain people were always going to be slightly disappointed. By nailing their colours to the mast and deciding to take the project definitively down the root of half-drum & bass-electronic-rock crossover, this Slam plus rock approach, certain stylistic elements of Hold Your Colour were bound to be lost. Hold Your Colour was after all quite a varied affair, whereas In Silico is more single-minded and makes no conscious attempt to "cover all the bases" just in case old fans get disillusioned. I think Pendulum have to be commended for that, for sticking to their guns and doing what they want with their music. Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed with In Silico. Hey, so the days of Another Planet and The Terminal are clearly gone, but large parts of this new offering still had all the energy and power I've come to expect from them, without just being an attempt to copy Hold Your Colour tune for tune. Fuck the snobs; whatever genre you care to call it, whatever its popularity, this is good shit.

Favourite Track: Midnight Runner

2. Orkidea - Metaverse
(March / AVA Recordings)



Armin did very well, Ferry did even better - but unfortunately for them they were both royally owned this year by Finland's finest, Tapio Hakanen, better known to the world of trance as DJ Orkidea, albeit with the help of a few other big name producers such as Andy Moor, Solar Stone and David West. The opening few tracks of this album are so uplifting, particularly the last 2 minutes or so of Free Dreams. YearZero is just sheer quality and always has me turning up my stereo on the 4:26 mark. It combines that uplifting mood with a catchy, driving bassline to produce a near perfect example of what trance music is really all about at the moment. Other parts of the album have a slightly darker, moodier feel however, which provides an important element of balance and variety. Stretching Time, for example, even starts out sounding quite tough, almost psychedelic, while later developing into a lushly melodic affair. And the introductions of Masochrist and Requiem are totally epic, leading into yet more faintly psychedelic but melodic moodiness. And I'm sure many trance purists will delight in the fact this album contains almost no sung vocals, a la Ferry, Armin or DJ Shah. This album didn't require them at all, so you have to give Tapio credit for not being tempted to throw a few in arbitrarily. This is a distinctly different experience to Imagine or Twice In A Blue Moon and almost a million miles away from Sander's Supernaturalistic and, for my money, is the best of the lot.

Favourite Track: YearZero

1. Wizzy Noise - Renaissance
(September / Harmonia Records)



This came like a bolt out of the blue. Wizzy Noise are indeed a highly reputable psy-trance act with a solid and distinctive sound. But likely to produce an album that could comfortably clinch my top album spot for 2008? Certainly not. At least I didn't think so. I honestly never expected the Greek duo to come out sounding this good, especially considering how little they have altered their overall style to achieve it. Wizzy Noise just took that trademark sound that everyone in the psy-trance scene knows them for, gave it a bit more of a melodic edge and took it up a few notches. The interesting thing about this album is that almost every single track on the album starts out sounding like your run-of-the-mill psy-trancer, some of them even start out sounding quite dull. But then each one starts to move up the gears, gear by gear, kick back by kick back. Before you know it you're being bombarded by a wall of sound - a wall of soaring electro melodies and pumping psychedelic basslines. Trance is all about that progression towards a spine-tingling crescendo and this album has those crescendos in abundance. Sea Song turned out to be my psy-trance tune of the year. Anybody that has heard it will understand why. That kick back on the 6 min 30 second mark is a pure "hairs on your neck stand up" moment, every single time.

Favourite Track: Sea Song

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ALBUMS - THE HONOURABLE MENTIONS

10 albums that deserve a shout... in no particular order:

Nicholas Bennison - Tension of Opposites
(November / Propulsion) (Progressive Psychedelic / Progressive / Psychedelic Breaks)
Mirco de Govia - Iconic Path
(April / euphonic) (Chillout / Progressive Trance / Trance)
Tegma - Lo-Fi Adventures
(February / Tribal Vision) (Progressive Trance)
Kularis - Technical Progress
(February / Spintwist Records) (Progressive Psychedelic)
Liquid Soul - Love In Stereo
(August / Iboga Records) (Progressive Psychedelic)
Deadmau5 - Random Album Title
(September / Ultra Records) (Progressive Trance / Progressive House)
aladdin - Void Last Line
(November / Meira Records) (Full-on Psychedelic)
Jaytech - Everything Is OK
(June / Anjunabeats) (Progressive Trance / Chillout)
Ernesto vs. Bastian - Authenticity
(February / High Contrast Recordings) (Trance / Progressive Trance / Tech Trance)
Psysex - Healing
(May / HOM-Mega Productions) (Progressive Psychedelic / Full-on Psychedelic / Psychedelic Breaks)

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TOP 20 TRANCE, PROGRESSIVE AND TECH TRANCE TUNES OF 2008

1. Sander van Doorn – Apple (Marcus Schossow Remix)
(July / Doorn Records)
2. Simon Patterson - Smack
(April / Reset Recordings)
3. Georgia - Ode To '99
(March / Levare Recordings)
4. Mike Foyle - Pandora (The Blizzard Remix)
(May / Armind)
5. B.E.N. vs. Mr. Pit - Superstition
(May / Coldharbour Recordings)
6. Graeme Harrison – Xanthe
(February / Flux Delux)
7. Lee Haslam – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (OMD)
(May / Digital Remedy)
8. Armin van Buuren - In And Out Of Love (Richard Durand Remix)
(August / Armanda Music)
9. Talla 2XLC vs. Sean Tyas - Heart To Heart (Sean Tyas Remix)
(February / Tetsuo)
10. The Doppler Effect - Beauty Hides in The Deep (John O'Callaghan Remix)
(February / Armind)
11. Orjan Nilsen – La Guitarra
(May / Armind)
12. Rank 1 vs. Jochen Miller - And Then...
(February / High Contrast Recordings)
13. Jochen Miller – Lost Connection
(July / High Contrast Recordings)
14. Onova – Niveus
(April / Total Digital Recordings)
15. Akesson - Sunchaser
(April / Fraction Records)
16. El Cortez - Desert Rose
(April / Intuition Recordings)
17. Oceania – Never Forget (Arctic Moon Remix)
(August / Well Mixed Records)
18. Tom Colontonio - Headless Horseman
(November / Discover Digital)
19.Alex M.O.R.P.H. - Walk The Edge (Alex M.O.R.P.H. B2B Woody Van Eyden Remix)
(May / High Contrast Recordings)
20. Ryan Blair - Tek Drum
(July / Monster Tunes)

Producer Of The Year 2008:

3. Orkidea
2. Simon Patterson
1. Paul Miller

Superstar DJ Award 2008:

3. Paul van Dyk
2. Eddie Halliwell
1. Sander van Doorn

Label Of The Year 2008: High Contrast Recordings
"One To Watch" for 2009: Tom Colontonio

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TOP 20 UK HARD DANCE TUNES OF 2008

1. ng rezonance – Sinners
(September / High Drive Recordings)
2. Technikal presents Helen G – Don’t Stop (Rodi Style Remix)
(August / Technikal Recordings)
3. Kenemy - Sorry For Itself (Emilio Remix)
(August / Presence Hard Trance)
4. Technikal presents Kris Mclachlan - Return To Innocence
(November / Technikal Recordings)
5. Jason Cortez – Set U Free
(June / Tranzlation Whites)
6. Iridium - Give It To Me
(July / Carbon Recordings)
7. Aftershok – Extraordinary
(June / Outbreak Digital)
8. Technikal - Ssst...(Listen)
(October / Tidy)
9. Technikal vs. The Lost Boys - Mass Effect (Iridium Remix)
(May / Technikal Recordings)
10. Paul Glazby – Alien Animal
(August / Vicious Circle)
11. Amber D - Rush On Me
(October / Tidy)
12. Bryn Whiting - 3rd Movement (Iridium Remix)
(November / High Drive Recordings)
13. Paul Maddox meets Technikal - Captive
(September / Tidy)
14. Velos - The Joker
(November / Fireball Recordings)
15. SQ presents Ben Collie - End Of Dayz
(September / Outbreak Digital)
16. Rob Tissera & Quake – Holdin’ On (Rob Tissera & Technikal Remix)
(July / Tidy)
17. Kym Ayres - Guitar Hero
(December / Tidy)
18. Pero - Obsession
(September / Technikal Recordings)
19. Emilio – Sabotage (Iridium Remix)
(February / High Drive Recordings)
20. Scott Genetik – Can’t Stop The Signal
(April / Encoded)

Producer Of The Year Award 2008:

3. Paul Maddox
2. Iridium
1. Technikal

Superstar DJ Award 2008:

3. Paul Maddox
2. The Tidy Boys
1. Rodi Style

Label Of The Year 2008: Technikal Recordings
"One To Watch" for 2009: Emilio

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TOP 20 FULL-ON PSY TUNES OF 2008

1. Wizzy Noise - Sea Song
(September / Harmonia Records)
2. System Nipel & Electra – Game On (Ananda Shake Remix)
(June / Utopia Records)
3. Dynamic – Make Me (Space Cat vs. Dynamic Remix)
(July / H2O Records)
4. Wizzy Noise - Eyes Wide Open
(September / Harmonia Records)
5. Vibe Tribe & Gataka & Electro Sun & ziki- Tokyo Tel Aviv
(September / Noga Records)
6. Spade - Reaction
(June / Utopia Records)
7. Quadra – Pulverturm 3.0
(June / H2O Records)
8. Insomnia – Displacement
(March / Trancelucent Productions)
9. aladdin - U Know This
(November / Meira Records)
10. Freedom Fighters – Robotic
(June / Utopia Records)
11. Electro Sun vs. Stereomatic - Bubble Crash
(September / Noga Records)
12. Aquatica feat. Sapir – Angels
(July / Com.Pact Records)
13. Ultravoice vs. Rizo – Keep It Real (Azax Syndrom Remix)
(March / Com.Pact Records)
14. aladdin - Soul Of A Worm
(November / Meira Records)
15. Quadra – Back Again
(June / H2O Records)
16. Injection – In Su Lin
(August / Phonokol Records)
17. Ferbi Boys – Oggy Monster
(April / Com.Pact Records)
18. Ananda Shake & Phanatic - Phananda
(May / Utopia Records)
19. CPU – Wicked Plastic
(June / Nutek Records)
20. Tactic Mind vs. Unique - Problem
(February / Tactic Records)

Psy-Trance Compilation of 2008: Thank You For Flying Utopia



Producer Of The Year 2008: Wizzy Noise
"One To Watch" for 2009: Stereomatic

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TOP 20 ELECTRO-HOUSE TUNES OF 2008

1. Melleefresh & Deadmau5 - Attention Whore
(October / Play Record)
2. Dave Darell - Children
(June / DBX Records)
3. Sebastien Benett - Extremly Madness
(December / BITRATE RECORDS)
4. Felguk - WashEm & GiveEm Food
(November / plasma.digital)
5. Zoe Badwi - Release Me (TV Rock Edit)
(November / Time Records)
6. Vaca - Move Me 2008
(January / Ministry of Sound Germany)
7. Felguk - Whatever Clever
(September / plasma.digital)
8. Three Drives - Greece 2000 (Chris Reece Remix)
(July / S2 Records)
9. d.kingz - Rescue Me
(August / Clubtronics)
10. JS16 - Lights Go Wild
(Febuary / VIP Recordings)
11. Michael Woods - Natural High (Out Of Office Full Vocal Mix)
(November / Diffused Music)
12. Romain Curtis feat. Awa - I'm A Soldier (Filthy Rich's 'Full Metal Jacket' Remix)
(Febuary / Twist My DJ Records)
13. Toby Emerson - Inappropriate Electro
(November / Bugeyed Records)
14. STEVE FOREST - Freed From Desire (Ortega 2008 Remix)
(July / Jolly Roger (Sound Of Pirates)
15. D'argento - Come On Over (Chris Reece Remix)
(September / Pinkstar Records)
16. Lazy Rich - Don't Go Back
(November / plasma.digital)
17. Dave Darell - Freeloader (Spencer & Hill Remix)
(December / Tiger Records)
18. Feed Me - The Spell
(November / Mau5trap)
19. Jean Elan - Where's Your Head At? (Klaas Remix)
(July / Cinnamon Flava)
20. Guru Josh Project - Infinity 2008 (Klaas Remix)
(November / Maelstrom Records)

Producer Of The Year 2008: Felguk
"One To Watch" for 2009: Bass Weazal

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Well, there you have it ladies and gents. That was 2008. With the new Prodigy album on its way in March and my trip to the White Isle booked for July, I'm already psyched for the musical year of 2009. Bring it on, I say!

Merry Christmas one and all; Be excellent to each other.

2 be beat of Ambitions as a Ridah by 2pac!

Dana Cook a laymans crook
and he wrote the book
on how to get shook
Im freestyling this verse
off the top the dome
and Dana Cook
should just go home
Dana cook is the worst
chokes on my dick like bratwurst
Ill be driving a hurse
for him and his male nurse
Dana cooks a fag
oh yes he is gay
Im shove a pole up his ass
and hell like it
because he's gay
Ill be suckin his dick
Ill be makin him blow quick
lick x4

yo Dana Cooks a fag
this diss is legendary
theyll be playin this song instead of him
on comedy central TV

yo dane crook is gay
I saw him at the bay
san francisco
touchin little boys
gobblin coconuts
like in almond joys

Dane Crook stole a his jokes
from some of my favorite folks
queer as folk, hed like to get poked
by blokes and folks, joes and schmoes
he even stole this diss against himself
he diss himself, just to earn money
this is underground, underground rap
we rap for for the soul
dana crook works 4 dix
lick x4

I feel slightly accomplished. My artist page on Last.fm has reached over 100 listeners, which is kind of a strange feeling knowing as of right now 184 other people have listened to something I wrote and produced.

I've just released and uploaded on Last.fm my new single, See You Smile & Hear You Laugh. I definitely feel that the first track, See You Smile is my best work to date.

I hope anyone that happens across this journal at least listens to both tracks, and anyone who does listen, any comments you have are very welcome and appreciated.



Now for some name-dropping, people who enjoy these artists might enjoy my single.

ChicaneToby EmersonCosmic GateAbove & BeyondTiëstoDJ TiëstoBTTranquility BaseDJ DeanDJ ShogDJ SammyDJ TatanaArmin van BuurenRising StarAndré VisiorAngel BeatsDarudeATBPaul van DykDeleriumFerry CorstenSystem FGouryellaMirco de GoviaRobert MilesSmith & PledgerOliver SmithMark PledgerMaor LeviEnvioFirst StateJESDeadmau5Albert VorneMichael DowRonski SpeedMike FoyleSophie SugarChris LakeDJ ShahSunloungerKyau & AlbertArksunM.I.K.E.SignumJohn O'CallaghanBlank & JonesGabriel & DresdenAndy MoorMarkus Schulz4 StringsFragma

2007 has been a great year for Trance and electronic music! Although just like last year there were the usual complaints from the Trance "purists" saying that 2007 was a boring and dull year.
I couldn't disagree more. I originally started off with around 500 tracks that have been regularly played here on the PC and on my MP3 player. If I was to include all of my favorites this year I would have ended up with a list that was around 160 tracks. It was hard to leave some out, but I think the tracks that made it deserve it the most.
So here we are.

Top 100 Tracks of 2007

1. Deems - Tears of Hope (Aly & Fila Mix)
2. Ilse DeLange - The Great Escape (Armin van Buuren Remix)
3. DJ Shah feat. Adriana Thorpe - Who Will Find Me (Original Summer Sunrise Mix)
4. Above & Beyond pres. Tranquility Base - Oceanic (Original Mix)
5. Purple Mood - One Night In Tokyo (Above & Beyond Remix)
6. Orkidea Feat. Marc Mitchell - Eternal Love
7. The Blizzard - Kalopsia (Original Mix)
8. Talla 2XLC - No In Between (Duderstadt Progressive Dub Mix)
9. Markus Schulz feat. Andy Moor - Daydream
10. Marcus Schossow - Chase My Rabbit
11. 8 Wonders - Sex On The Beach (Depths Of My Thoughts Sunset Dub)
12. Lost Witness vs. Sassot - Whatever (Aly & Fila Remix)
13. Cliff Coenraad - Manjula
14. Maor Levi - Shapes (Oliver Smith Remix)
15. Michael Cassette - Zeppelin (original mix)
16. Breakfast - The Sunlight
17. Nic Chagall - What You Need (Hard Dub Reedit)
18. Menno De Jong pres. Myth - Sjamaan
19. Albert Vorne - Formentera What (Gareth Emery Remix)
20. John O'Callaghan feat. Audrey Gallagher - Big Sky (Agnelli & Nelson Remix)
21. Above & Beyond - Tri-State (Frase Remix)
22. Jonas Steur feat. Jennifer Rene - Fall To Pieces
23. Andy Duguid feat. Leah - Don't Belong
24. Above & Beyond - Stealing Time (Above & Beyond Deep Club Mix)
25. Daniel Kandi - Child (Original Mix)
26. FKN feat. Jahala - Why (Aly & Fila Remix)
27. Chris Lake - Carry Me Away (Original Club Mix)
28. David West - True Love (Original Mix)
29. Kimito Lopez - Sub Runner
30. Markus Schulz feat. Departure - Cause You Know
31. Tom Cloud - Mercury Room (Original Mix)
32. evbointh - One Wish (Daniel Kandi & Mark Andrez Remix)
33. System F - Insolation (Ferry Corsten's Flashover Mix)
34. Sunlounger - Another Day On The Terrace (Club Mix)
35. Dash Berlin - Till the Sky Falls Down (Vocal Mix)
36. Menno de Jong - Nolthando (Extended Mix)
37. Glenn Morrison - Contact
38. Ben Gold - Roll Cage (Aly & Fila Remix)
39. Lolo - Il Te Aime (Dub Mix)
40. Boom Jinx feat. Thomas J Bergersen - Remember September (Duderstadt Remix)
41. Nitrous Oxide - Morning Light
42. Duderstadt and Anita Kelsey - smile (duende vocal mix)
43. Cosmic Gate - Body Of Conflict (Extended Vocal Mix)
44. Signalrunners - Don't Look Back
45. The Veil Kings - Searching For Truth
46. Oliver Smith - Nimbus
47. Thomas Bronzwaer - Resound (Original Mix)
48. Airbase - One Tear Away
49. Nathan Fake - Outhouse (Valentino Kanzyani Remix)
50. Mark Eteson & Jon Prior - Dynamic Stability (Aly & Fila Remix)
51. Menno de Jong feat. Re:locate - Solid State
52. David West - Welsh Morphology (Original Mix)
53. First State - Evergreen
54. DJ Fire - Midnight In Beijing
55. Bedrock - Heaven Scent (Greg Downey Remix)
56. Solarsun - Overjoyed (Hydroid Remix)
57. Vast Vision pres. Mungo - Summer Blush
58. Above & Beyond - Home (Above & Beyond Club Mix)
59. Daniel Kandi - Make Me Believe (Original Rise Mix)
60. Lume - Do While (Original Mix)
61. Alex M.O.R.P.H. & Rank 1 - Life Less Ordinary (A Less Ordinary Rank 1 Mix)
62. Dennis Shepherd - A Tribute To Life (Martin Roth Remix)
63. Orjan Nilsen Pres O & R - Beat Design
64. Sunny Lax - Blue Bird (Daniel Kandi Remix)
65. Michael Cassette - Shadow's Movement (Original Mix)
66. Daniel Kandi - Nova (Daniel Kandi vs. Kris O'Neil Remix)
67. Paul van Dyk & Giuseppe Ottaviani - La Dolce Vita
68. Mark Norman - Niagara (Extended Version)
69. Sean Tyas pres. Logistic - One More Night Out (Original Mix)
70. Michael Cassette - David (Allende Remix)
71. Lolo - Trance Will Never Die
72. Thomas Bronzwaer - Close Horizon (Giuseppe Ottaviani Mix)
73. Lange - Angel Falls (Langes Firewall Mix)
74. JPL - Colder Than You (Funabashi Remix)
75. Airwave - Trilogique (Original Electrified Club Mix)
76. Hiroyuki Oda - Rise
77. Jonas Steur - Left In A Daze
78. Roland Klinkenberg & DJ Remy - Mexico Can Wait (Original Mix)
79. Remo-con - Cold Front (Bart Claessen Remix)
80. Armin Van Buuren Vs. Rank1 Feat. Kush - This World Is Watching Me (Cosmic Gate Remix)
81. Deadmau5 - Faxing Berlin (Chris Lake Edit)
82. Mark Pledger vs. Super8 & Tab - Worldwide (Original Mix)
83. Andy Duguid - Hypocrisy (Original Mix)
84. Shawn Mitiska Feat. Jaren - Silently (Chad Cisneros Remix)
85. Leon Bolier Pres. Precursor - Lyra (Joop Mix)
86. Jamaster A - Bells Of Tiananmen (Airbase Remix)
87. Marc Marberg with Kyau & Albert - Megashira (Original Mix)
88. Solarstone vs. Alucard - Late Summer Fields (Deeper Sunrise Dub Mix)
89. Mike Foyle - Firefly (Original Mix)
90. Tom Cloud feat. Tiff Lacey - Secretly (Dub Mix)
91. Marcel Woods - Lemon Tree
92. DJ Eco - Paradise Now (Original Mix Reworked)
93. Ronski Speed - Love All The Pain Away (Kyau & Albert Dub Mix)
94. Nitrous Oxide - Orient Express
95. The Thrillseekers - Waiting Here For You (Night Music Edit)
96. Paul Van Dyk & Alex M.O.R.P.H. - In Circles
97. Dubfire - Roadkill (EDX's Acapulco at Night Remix)
98. Airwave - Sunday Break (Beat Mix)
99. Miguel Sassot - Empty (Aly & Fila Remix)
100. Super8 & DJ Tab - Needs To Feel (Original Mix)

Best Producer:
1. Aly & Fila
Without a doubt Aly & Fila have to be the producers of the year. 6 of their remixes made it into my top 100, as well as a pile of notable tunes that just missed the cut. Ankh (Breath Of Life) (Original Mix), How Long (Original Mix), A Dream Of Peace (Original Mix),Summer Blush (Aly & Fila Remix)

2. Duderstadt
3. Michael Cassette
4. DJ Shah
5. Daniel Kandi

Top Albums / Compilations
1. Markus Schulz - Progression
2. Menno de Jong - Intuition Sessions Vol 1
3. First State - Time Frame
4. Tiësto - In Search of Sunrise 6
5. Stoneface & Terminal - Wide Range.

Looking forward to a great 2008!

melodic trance, progressive trance, psychedelic trance, trance, uplifting trance, Armin Only, A State Of Trance, Global DJ Broadcast, In Search Of Sunrise, Magik, Trance Around The World, TrancePort, Znaki, Above and Beyond, Airwave, Alex M.O.R.P.H., Aly and Fila, Armin van Buuren, Astral Projection, ATB, Aural Planet, Aurosonic, Blank And Jones, Bobina, BT, Chakra, Chicane, Cosmic Gate, Daniel Kandi, Darude, Delerium, DJ Feel, Dogzilla, DT8 Project, Energy 52, Faithless, Ferry Corsten, filo and peri, Gabriel and Dresden, Giuseppe Ottaviani, In Progress, Infected Mushroom, John O'Callaghan, Jonas Steur, Kansai, Kirsty Hawkshaw, Kyau vs. Albert, M.I.K.E., Marcel Woods, Marco V, Markus Schulz, Menno de Jong, Mike Foyle, Mr. Sam, Musical Religion, OceanLab, Paul Oakenfold, Paul van Dyk, Pete Tong, PPK, Push, Randy Katana, Rank 1, Rapid Eye, Re:Locate, Ronski Speed, Sasha, Scooter, Sean Tyas, Sensorica, Solarstone, System F, Tenthu, The Orange, Thomas Bronzwaer, Three Drives, Tiesto, Tranquility Base, Vadim Zhukov, Vincent de Moor, Way Out West, Yahel, Вадим Жуков, Володя Фонарь, ППК,

ambient, chillout, downtempo, easy listenning, lounge, new age, Abakus, Aes Dana, Angel Tears, Bluetech, Cafe Del Mar, Carbon Based Lifeforms, Enigma, Entheogenic, Fahrenheit Project, Gabriel La Mar, Hed Kandi, Nova Natura, Robert Miles, Shpongle, Shulman, Side Liner, Solar Fields, Solarsoul, Sync24, Ten Madison, Wombatmusic, Zero Cult,

Benassi Bros., Benny Benassi, Daft Punk, Dolphin, Limp Bizkit, M.SQUAD, Metallica, Moby, Nirvana, Pendulum, Placebo, Rammstein, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, Дельфин, Многоточие, Руставели, Смена Мнений, Третий Путь,

[19:15] Uninterpretative: it honestly does look like discogs for retarded people

It wasn't too long ago that I started seeing lots of folks on last.fm linking to pages on a site called "Rate Your Music," primarily for things like favorite album lists, but also in their profiles for no specific reason. Now, of course, for the longest time, I never followed or payed mind to these links at all. But as I started seeing more and more of them, I became embarrassingly intrigued as to why users on a music-oriented social networking site (of sorts) would be feverishly linking to another music-oriented social networking site. So, one day I pointed my Firefox to www.rateyourmusic.com and set up an account to see what it was all about.

After using many of the site's features, I can say with total conviction that I'm not at all sure what it is all about.

Rate Your Music ("RYM") appears to be a poorly conceived, unpleasant chimera of MySpace, last.fm and Discogs. It encourages the same sort of music discussion as last.fm, but with giant, ultra-generalized cluttered forums and no "shoutboxes" on artist pages, any real conversations are likely carried out through bullets back and forth from one user's page to another's. Otherwise, the conversation seems to consist primarily of someone writing a lousy, poorly worded 2/3 paragraph "review" of a record, and someone responding with another "review" a couple of months later to call them a fuckkin faggot dipshit dumbass.

Adding a new release to the database can be quite a chore. Indeed, to add a split release (like I wanted to do with the Merzbow / MSBR 7" "Destructible Foundation / Drain") you can't have the release link to each of the artists separately: I had to add a new artist entry for "Merzbow / MSBR." What the hell. I'm not sure how one goes about submitting a compilation featuring various artists; I never dared to do it myself. And yet despite many inane restrictions and hoops you need to jump through to enter releases, specifying things like label, catalog number, media, tracklistings and other integral information is not required.

what

Users are also permitted to submit releases that they don't own, and in some cases, releases that they have in all likelihood never seen in their entire lives.

Visually the site is an eyesore, and can be very difficult to navigate. Organizing your collection is much more trouble than it's worth, and isn't as easy to refer to or to export as it is on Discogs. When marking releases that you own, you are told to specify the format that you own it in. Which is uhhhh COMPLETELY assbackwards since if a release has more than one format, it should probably have multiple entries. (This option seems to exist primarily for the purpose of openly encouraging users to mark albums which they own illegally or digitally in their "collections.") Though the site is quick to link you to places where you can (might be able to) buy the albums it has entries for, their is no way to list items of your own.

I could go on and on, and indeed originally I intended to! But the long and short of it is that Rate Your Music tries to do too many things at once, while at the same time leaving out key features that are necessary to make what it's trying to accomplish relevant. And even the things it does do, it does poorly or in a very roundabout manner that's covered by and exceeded in quality by other sites. Please stop giving them advertising revenue.