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 It's time for the monthly update from Matt Darey - this time it also includes an exclusive interview with Above & Beyond and the review section includes 20 tracks this time. Check it out!
Well, 2005 is coming to a close and I'm taking 4 weeks out to make some tunes for my artist album then it's off to the states and south America for some more dates before NYE in Vegas. It's gonna be an interesting year as many producers I know are deep into similar album projects which is gonna be a good thing for dance music as I feel many artists will be able to journey out into uncharted waters and from it we'll be seeing some fresh and original sounds. I'm gonna be posting all my new tunes exclusively on my website as they happen in the studio at http://www.mattdarey.com. For me the big news this month is all in the music. There’s so many of them I’ve doubled the review section for this once only Xmas special :-)
In other trance news, label Maelstrom have signed tech-trance superstar Marco V's new album project. His recently released artist album 200V, on the Be Yourself label, and the accompanying tours have received solidly respectful reviews. The new Armin van Buuren single 'Who Is Watching' features vocals from Nadia Ali of Iio - 'Rapture' fame, with mixes from Oliver Moldan and Mischa Daniels amongst others. Allure - 'The Loves We Lost', a Tiësto side-project, also lands in late January with a remix from Tilt. One half of white room Adam White does his first solo remix for sometime on the new Headstrong tune.
Electro-trance pioneer Ferry Corsten's track 'Fire' is his first new production in 18 months. Ferry has taken Simon Le Bon's vocal, and the melody / riff from Duran Duran's 'Serious', first released in 1990. Following the success of his Loud Electronic Ferocious concept, he has UK January dates at Foundation vs Goodgrief in Newcastle, London's Turnmills, and Lush in Ireland.
Exclusive interview with Above & Beyond
Paavo Sijamäki, Tony McGuinness and Jono Grant, aka Above & Beyond, Oceanlab and Tranquility Base have enjoyed the kind of success in the last eighteen months that would make a struggling producer weep into their keyboard. Their tracks romp to the top of trance charts, their DJ performances drive crowds into sublime frenzies, and their label Anjunabeats quietly and consistently turns out quality prog and euphoric trance. They might be big fans of the moody, unsmiling press shot, but they're actually three lovely lads, all too happy to have a chat with the Notion reader.
MD: What's your big news?
A&B: The first Above & Beyond album! It's been a really long process. We started work on it about a year and a half ago, and we were supposed to finish it for June but these things take forever! This autumn we decided that we really had to get our asses in gear and finish it, but at the same time the DJing schedules were getting more and more hectic, so we've been writing tracks in hotel lobbies. It'll be finished by the beginning of January, and we're going to release it in March. It's called Tri-State.
MD: Anything new from my favorite alter-ego, Tranquility Base?
A&B: Actually no, but the album is going to surprise a few people. There's very 'filmic' stuff in there and Tranquility Base has always been at the 'filmic' end of what we do.
MD: How about Volume IV in the Anjunabeats series?
A&B: We'll be doing Volume IV at the end of the summer. Obviously when the Above & Beyond album comes out we'll be touring, so once we land from circling the planet I dont know how many times we'll get on it.
MD: What's been your track of 2005?
A&B: Hmm what have we been absolutely caning this year... Super8 vs DJ Tab - 'Helsinki Scorchin'.
MD: How was the summer of 2005 for Above & Beyond?
A&B: Great, but it's been hectic. Good parties everywhere, but we now cherish the moments we spend at home watching telly!
MD: Any superstar DJ behavior?
A&B: We've had a lot of fun, but I'm probably not allowed to disclose any further information!
MD: Any new producers you've got your eye on?
A&B: There's this guy called Dan Stone who sent us a demo. He's done a track called 'Made in Bahrain', and it's really good. He's really a brand new talent who's going to be producing a lot of cool stuff.
MD: Who is there left that you'd still like to work with?
A&B: Our dream collaborations would always be with someone outside the genre. We'd like to work with Depeche Mode, for example, and their producer really likes our stuff!
MD: Above & Beyond are on Jim'll Fix It... what would he fix?
A&B: 56 hours in the day please Jim! That would be the best thing that he could give us!
The first single from the Above & Beyond album is called 'Alone Tonight' and will be released in February. The boys will be holding a glam launch party for the album in London in early March. Dan Stone's single 'Made in Bahrain' will be released on Anjunabeats in January.
Matt Darey Reviews
Here's my top pick of tunes for this month with rather a lot coming from Markus schulz's label!!. If you wanna check them out in the mix, tune in to my Nocturnal Radio show. For more info visit http:// www.mattdarey.com/.
Micro De Govia - Vital Spark (Euphonic)
Chunky progressive drums and spaced out stabs kick this off to a great start. The track grooves along into a nice breakdown with some great melodic atmosphere of the Cold Harbour Ilk. Kicks in beautifully to get things rockin again. I road tested this one a few times, highly recommended!! 4/5
StoneFace & Terminal - Merkur (Electronic Dept)
A bit of quality tek trance from the boys. Rocket fueled harder edged trance with an incredible build up from the break to set the floor on fire. 4/5
Deep Voices - Alone (Adjusted)
Two cracking mixes of this from both Deep Voices and Thomas Datt. Both driving pure trance mixes and the main hook throbs with harmonic distortion and a very Moody but uplifting melody. 4/5
Blank & Jones - Revieled (Kontor)
Soeren has remixed this one into a blinding purist workout. Its kinda like classic trance with a mysterious edge and one of those old skool trance riffs that everyone loves underpinned by big spacey chords in the breakdown. Adrenalin fuelled trance. Also a cracking mix from none other than Martin Roth. 5/5
Steve May - Sublimate (Cold Harbor)
I'm loving the breaks on this mix. Not far from that Way out West sound with a touch of the classic Cold Harbour sound. Really nice breakdown and build that climaxes into lush melodies as the beat kicks back. 5/5
Markus Shultz - Without you Near (Cold Harbor)
Two excellent mixes of this with the original and every ones fav producers Gabriel & Dresden. Great male vocal and some vocoder electro fx. This is a must!! 5/5
Hydroid - What If (Cold Harbor)
This is about as driving as progressive gets. Fat kick, chunky drums and some driving Andy Moor style Blines topped with blippy riffs and amazing breakdown that has your spine tingling. Top notch stuff for ya!! 4/5
Funabashi - Daylight (Cold Harbor)
Classic cold Harbour side chaining blines and proggy grooves with a bell sounding riff over the top. Not a million miles away from Probspot etc. The riff is really hooky and reminds me of U2 New years day. 4/5
Ava Mea - In the End (Electronic Elements)
What can I say, these guys at Cold Harbour are churning them out!! another classic Cold Harbour sounding track. If you like Ozgar Khan you'll love this!! 5/5
Mike Koglin - 1 to 1 (Noys)
Back on top form Koglin delivers another driving piece of quality trance. Definitely on the up & up with his recent colab Jonno Grant v Koglin Sequential making waves. Also a wicked DJ, check him out next time he's in town!! 4/5
Ecraig v's Ratty - Sunrise (W/L)
Cheeky bootleg style tune that really works wonders on the trance floor. Kind of like Ecraigs mix of Blank and Jones “Silence” cutting into that amazing vocal lifted from Ratty's sunrise. Two mixes, one that gets harder from the break onwards for the 4am nutters!! 4/5
Ronski Speed v's Stone Face & Terminal - Incognition (Euphonic)
The Titons of trance meet with Ronski speed with another driving trancer. A bit of a tecky feel and some of those chopped up vocal riffs as the main hook for a bit of the mystery factor. Watch it rock!! 4/5
Kirsty Hawkshaw - Reach (Netwerk)
Kind of on a proggy housey tip this tune brings out a bit of sunshine to the dance floor with a cracking mix from Solasso. One for the chicks and yet another amazing vocal from Kirsty. Watch out for more from this girl!! 4/5
Duende - Ilimitado (AfterGlow)
Driving and fairly melodic track with a remix from the stone Face & Terminal boys who are obviously pretty busy right now!! 3/5
Octagon & Midor - Flyback (Galactive)
Chunk drums with a nice groove and hard floor sounds make this a pretty versatile track that you could drop most places in a set. The main hook drives rocks the house with some old skool flava. 4/5
Roland Klinkenberg - Twighlight (CDR)
Great atmosphere and some amazing original production. Chunky progressive skippy beats, throbing sub bass and some lush toplines make this one well worth checking out for all those prog lovers. 5/5
Vast Vision - Aurora (Flux Delux / Recoverworld)
The original mix of this rocked which I reviewed some time ago but today I just received a blinding new mix from DJ Kristoff with some more driving and very well produced purist trance. Canadian Kristoff has been pushing his way to the top after just a few releases now supported by many major international players. If you wanna hear more from this guy check out his show just before mine on Digitally imported (www.di.fm) every 2nd and 4th sat of the month or go to www.djkristoff.com . 5/5
Darey Top 10 Nov 2005
1.Markus Shultz - Without you Near (Cold Harbor)
2.StoneFace & Terminal - Merkur (Electronic Dept)
3.Micro De Govia - Vital Spark (Euphonic)
4.Deep Voices - Alone (Adjusted)
5.Steve May - Sublimate (Cold Harbor)
6.Blank & Jones - Revieled (Kontor)
7.Matt Darey – Eternity (Dave West v Inkfish / Alex Morph) Darey Products
8.Ronski Speed v's Stone Face & Terminal - Incognition (Euphonic)
9.Ava Mea - In the End (Electronic Elements)
10.Roland Klinkenberg - Twighlight (CDR)
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