Alex Sonata - Kansai

Artist: Alex Sonata
Track: Kansai
Label: Moda Top

Ah, our good friend Alex Sonata, how we have missed you. It's been a little over a year since I've posted about Sonata, when he dropped his epic bomb of a track "Silex" on us the 5 AM hour would never be the same. And he's back. Less piano, more progressive, but the same phenomenal chord progression and energy. Less of a 4 AM feel and more of a bouncy, good time; the track still hits the spot.

David Amo & Julio Navas - Sinus (Original Mix)

Artist: David Amo & Julio Navas - Sinus (Original Mix)
Track: Sinus (Original Mix)
Label: Spinnin

This Monday may be as tough for you as it is for me, so I wanted to provide something to zone out to while you get that toe tap that you don't even know is happening thing going on. Spanish producers Arno and Navas drop this little tweaker on Spinnin and give the label a techno edge that it needs. Umek has been playing this in all his sets and Koen Groeneveld is on the remix package, so the whole release is legit for the techno heads.

Eric Prydz - Call On Me

Artist: Eric Prydz
Track: Call On Me
Label: Ministry of Sound

Throwback Saturday. With almost 37,000,000 youtube views and in honor of Mr. Prydz playing Identity Festival in Philly tomorrow (which I will be in attendance) I present the song that started it all, "Call On Me". No explanation needed. Now go get yourself a drink.

Fedde Le Grand & Nicky Romero - Sparks (Turn Off Your Mind) (Original Vocal Mix)

Artist: Fedde Le Grand & Nicky Romero
Track: Sparks (Turn Off Your Mind) (Original Vocal Mix)
Label: Flamingo

Trouse? Electro? Progressive? Who knows? Who cares!? This is what music is supposed to be like, actual song structure. Give me this shit any day of the week, great vocal, catchy as hell hook, that little escalating wobble sample, huge big room riffs. Two heavyweights going toe to toe. God damn I'm excited. Welcome to the weekend.

Dash Berlin ft. Chris Madin - Silence In Your Heart

Artist: Dash Berlin ft. Chris Madin
Track: Silence In Your Heart
Label: Armada

I've seen Dash Berlin a couple of times and his live sets translate exactly as his original productions do. They just feel good. If you're a trance fan you can't really hate on his vocal work, it has that old school quality that holds true to what you used to listen to in the early 2000's. In the aspect of harmonies, he is top notch. He always seems to find that right combination of chords, melodies and progressions grouped with the right BPM and bass line to make a track that you girlfriend will know the works to and you won't mind getting sweaty to with your hands in the air at a show.

Salt N Peppa - Push It (Yves Larock Bootleg 2012)

Artist: Salt N Peppa
Track: Push It (Yves Larock Bootleg 2012)
Label: Bootleg

My good god, I literally can't believe I found this. I heard this on Club Life months ago and I thought it was great and hilarious at the same. Tell me that if you heard someone drop this in the middle of their set at festival somewhere you wouldn't go nutso. And don't like, because you would, at the 1:55 mark it turns into a pretty legit track. Kudos to Yves Larock for making such a fun song.

Hot Chip - Flutes (Cryptonites Edit) + Hot Chip - Flutes (Tong & Rogers Remix) + Original

Artist: Hot Chip
Track: Flutes (Cryptonites Edit)
Label: Domino

For today's post I wanted to veer away from the straight up, face melting, 4 on the floor beats that are usual broadcast here and instead give you something else. A smooth ride if you will. These Hot Chip remixes are still definite toe tappers and major shoulder groovers, but on a different, maybe even sexier level. You're not going to rage with hands in the air to this track, but you would definitely hear it at the beginning of the night while you're still trying to get drunk and manage an intelligent conversation.

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Artist: Hot Chip
Track: Flutes (Cryptonites Edit)
Label: Domino


Artist: Hot Chip
Track: Flutes
Label: Domino

Markus Schulz ft. Adina Butar - Caught (Club Mix)

Artist: Markus Schulz ft. Adina Butar
Track: Caught (Club Mix)
Label: Coldharbour

I've been a huge fan of Markus' production work for quite some time and, for me, he is a can't miss act any every festival. I was at EDC NY and remember him dropping this track and I was absolutely blown away, as I think mostly everyone else in the crowd was as well. In the day of crossover genres and mish mosh beats, Schulz really does stay true to form and put out consistently good work. His Coldharbour imprint has created quite a place in trance fan's hearts with their releases and this one is shaping up to b a peak time, tear in the eye, emotional trance release.

Green Velvet - La La Land

Artist: Green Velvet
Track: La La Land
Label: Relief Records

Throwback Saturday. This may have been one of the first records that made me look outside of trance into other realms of 4/4/ electronic music and really enjoy and explore. The song is amazingly fun in a sing along way. Green Velvet is a legend and this really is one of those all time classics I will always remember. Now get get yourself a drink

Marcel Woods and W&W - Trigger

Artist: Marcel Woods and W&W
Track: Trigger
Label: Revealed

I love this song because it takes two (three actually) Dutch production masters, pairs them together on a label outside their usual realm of music (Revealed being Hardwell's label) and lets them release a record that I'm not even sure what to call. Is this trouse, crossover, progressive? I have no idea. But it gets your god damn heart pumping pretty well. Put this sucker on at 100 at 5 PM and get yourself going. Welcome to the weekend.

The Temper Trap - Trembling Hands (Benny Benassi Remix)

Artist: The Temper Trap
Track: Trembling Hands (Benny Benassi Remix)
Label: Liberation Music

When you talk about this song you have to put it in the cinematic epic category. It has that quality of an end of movie, heightened sense of resolution, montage showing all the great moments of the past thing about it. You know it's true. How many video recaps of this summer's festivals are going to have this track as the backer. Probably a lot. Benny took a beautiful song, made it even more so and added that shake your ass with tears in your eyes quality. Gorgeous.

Sebastien Drums, Whelan & Di Scala ft. Mitch Crown - Here I Come

Artist: Sebastien Drums, Whelan & Di Scala ft. Mitch Crown
Track: Here I Come
Label: Stealth

You want to talk about ridiculous bangers? Put this one on the list. Pair Sebastien Drums with Whelan & Di Scala thennnnnn on top of that sprinkle the smooth vocals of Mitch Crown, and my oh my, you have yourself a big room....no make that main stage banger. The build up is perfectly emotional, the vocals drop the right kind of needy feeling and the break sounds like it was made for gigantic strobes. If this song was a flavor of ice cream it would be mint chocolate chip rocky road shut up and dance with fudge pieces.

Judge Jules & Corderoy - Give Me A Reason ( Vocal Mix)

Artist: Judge Jules & Corderoy
Track: Give Me A Reason ( Vocal Mix )
Label: Vandit

Ohhh weee, Listen to Jules get back into the old swing of things. Newly off of Radio 1 and back into the production world full fledged it looks like his previous promise of retiring was a fluke. This my friends is straight up, old school work ethic, banging vocal trance in the style only Jules can bring. It used to be that if you were going to a Jules party you knew you weren't doing shit the next day, because he would melt your face and make your head explode at the same time. A combo not the greatest if you want to go to church the next day. I've said it before, I love that dubstep is the new choice in trance as a vocal break background where breakbeat used to be the filler of choice. Progression my friends.

Tommy Trash Vs Digitalism - Falling (Tommy Trash Remix)

Artist: Tommy Trash Vs Digitalism
Track: Falling (Tommy Trash Remix)
Label: Spinnin

I'd have to say at this point Tommy Trash is securely in my top 10 favorites not only for his amazing DJ performances but his top notch production work. There's very few people where the talent translates both ways. I can think of Tiesto, Laidback Luke, Pretty Lights are a few that come to mind that how prowess in both arenas and Tommy Trash is definitely showing his stuff with his recent remix work.

Rui Da Silva - Touch Me

Artist: Rui Da Silva
Track: Touch Me
Label: Kismet Records

Throwback Saturday. Here's the one that started it all for a a lot of people "Touch Me". It's been remixed and sampled a million time. I feel like everyone who is a fan of dance music knows the lyrics to this song, and in case you don't here you go to sing along. Now go get yourself a drink.

You'll always be my baby
I'm always thinkin of you baby
yeaahh

Touch me in the mornin
and last thing at night
keep my body warm baby, u know it feels right
take it a little higher
i'm takin it too
tell me what your feelin
i'll feel it with you

We cant always understand what we are shown
how was i supposed to know our love would grow

Move a little closer
make sure i'm lookin up
heal me with your loving
i need you so much, i need you so much , i need your so muchhh
yeahhhh
Ohh ohhhh

We cant always understand what we are shown
how was i supposed to know our love would grow

We cant always understand what we are shown
how was i supposed to know our love would grow

You touch my mind in special places
my heart races with you
i'll take your love and i'll take my chances
I'll take them with you

Touch me in the mornin
and last thing at night
keep my body warm baby, u know it feels right
take it a little higher
i'm takin it too
tell me what your feelin
i'll feel it with you

heeyyy

We cant always understand what we are shown
how was i supposed to know our love would grow

You touch my mind in special places
my heart races with you
i'll take your love and i'll take my chances
I'll take them with you

i need you so much

Will Atkinson presents Darkboy - Darker Shades Of Black (Liquid Soul Remix)

Artist: Will Atkinson presents Darkboy
Track: Darker Shades Of Black (Liquid Soul Remix)
Label: Perfecto Fluoro

This is something compleeeeeteelly different than I'm used to posting but it's a track that I initially heard on Sean Tyas' radio show that I thought was interesting. I originally heard the Liquid Soul remix which is straight balls to the wall 140BPM psy trance. I explored a little bit more and found the original (below) and thought it was so interesting how the same track can literally be a different track being put in someone else's hands. Not your standard blog post unless your a trance head, but music is music, try to open up your horizons a bit and enjoy this one. Welcome to the weekend.


Artist: Will Atkinson presents Darkboy
Track: Darker Shades Of Black
Label: Perfecto Fluoro

Arty - Together We Are

Artist: Arty
Track: Together We Are
Label: unreleased

This track has been floating around for 6 months now, with everyone just calling it "the piano tune he dropped on New Years". It's phenomenal. The emotion that Arty puts into his music is completely compelling. You know he's not just sitting in a studio pounding out big room chords looking for the deepest bass and the catchiest phrase to throw into the break. Much like "Kate" which named after his girlfriend, Arty is a bit of a romantic on this song. He is a true musician and his productions reflect that. The kid has a bright future.

Nervo - You're Gonna Love Again (Marco V Vocal Remix) + Original

Artist: NERVO
Track: You're Gonna Love Again (Marco V Vocal Remix)
Label: Astralwerks

Marco V ya son of a bitch, ya did it again! I'm definitely a huge fan of Marco V and his new production style. Not to say I didn't like the old, brooding, tech trance style which he still brings out in some sets. The song is catchy as hell to begin with, and most people discredit Nervo for just being pretty girls who can sing, and I disagree. Sure they're "guided" a bit by Avicii but who can say that they haven't thrown their hands in the air to an Avicii song in their life. Marco V takes an ass shaker, puts his stamp on it and makes it even better. Boom.


Artist: NERVO
Track: You're Gonna Love Again
Label: Astralwerks

John de Sohn ft. Andreas Moe - Long Time (Benny Benassi Remix) + Original + John de Sohn & Nick Wall ft. Christina Skaar - Unleash My Love

Artist: John de Sohn ft. Andreas Moe
Track: Long Time (Benny Benassi Remix)
Label: Top DJ

There is literally no other reason I am posting this track except for the fact that it is a god damn top notch feel good song. Everyone loves this shit, from the musclebound, shirtless aviator wearing tan men, right down to the 18 year old at the beach bar that looks far too young to be drinking or out without her parents for that matter. Now you take Swedish DJ/producer John de Sohn who made a pretty good track in it's own accord (below), give it to Benny Bennasi and let him have it it. You get yourself one of the feel good songs of the summer. Officially in the running for (feel good) summer anthem status.

PS- You may not remember Mr. De Sohn from his track "Unleash My Love" a couple years ago, flashback below, the guy was one of the first to start off with that big room progressive chord sound epic sound.


Artist: John de Sohn ft. Andreas Moe
Track: Long Time
Label: Top DJ


Artist: John de Sohn & Nick Wall ft. Christina Skaar
Track: Unleash My Love
Label: Top DJ

Paul Oakenfold ft. J Hart - Surrender (Maison & Dragen Remix) + Protoculture Remix

Artist: Paul Oakenfold ft. J Hart
Track: Surrender (Maison & Dragen Remix)
Label: Perfecto

I've been waiting for this one to come out for a while and it was finally released, couldn't find a full version online anywhere. I keep saying Maison & Dragen are the next production duo to really hit it big, like Gabriel and Dresden big. I've included the Protoculture Remix below as well so you could see the difference in tracks, depending on what kind of mood you're in. While all credit is due to Paul Oakenfold for really coming back to what he does best and making amazing dance music again, M+D really are the ones who take this over the top. To begin with, the vocal is top notch, but we've got two different gears here by two very different production teams. If you want to rage, get at the M+G remix, if you want a real smooth trance ride, Protoculture is the choice for you.


Artist: Paul Oakenfold ft. J Hart
Track: Surrender (Protoculture Remix)
Label: Perfecto

Tiesto - Love Comes Again + Tiesto - Traffic

Artist: Tiesto
Track: Love Comes Again
Label: Black Hole

Throwback Saturday. Bringing it back to even when I was a teenager, the two Tiesto tracks that really made him the #1 in the world, the showstopper and the arena filler. Now go get yourself a drink from 2001 and shake your ass.


Artist: Tiesto
Track: Traffic
Label: Black Hole

Moguai - Lyme (Moguai's Crushed Lyme Mix)

Artist: Mogui
Track: Lyme (Moguai's Crushed Lyme Mix)
Label: Mau5trap

Mogui takes their usual sound just a bit further with chainsaw synths and edgy bass lines on this Mau5trap release. Incorporation of womps, video game samples and a steady beat make this one a guaranteed energy booster. If you're in the US it's a holiday weekend. Get your ass to a beach somewhere. Welcome to the weekend.

Morning Parade - Under The Stars (Thomas Sagstad Remix)

Arist: Morning Parade
Track: Under The Stars (Thomas Sagstad Remix)
Label: Agape Music

Coming from the same Swedish label family as Carl Louis & Martin Danielle, you can tell by the break that this track has big room summer sound written all over it. How or why this remix happened I dont know, but it really is top notch, and it has been getting knocked around on the decks by all the big Swede DJs. The song structure isn't consistant enough to be a full blown4 minute set filler, but I gaurentee you if you drop the vocal and the break somewhwere in your set all hands will be in the air.

AN21 & Max Vangeli vs. Tiësto - People Of The Night

Artist: AN21 & Max Vangeli
Track: People Of The Night
Label: Size Records

Happy 4th of July people. In the US it's Independence Day, but for everyone else it is now "make up day". I missed the boat on posting this track, and it really is amazing. I've literally had the vocals stuck in my head all year and it's about damn time to get it on this blog. Sorry for the delay, but better late than never.

Savage Skulls & Douster - Nicole

Artist: Savage Skulls & Douster
Track: Nicole
Label: Dim Mak

I'm off from work the rest of the week so I'm getting my weekend started with this murdering banger off of Dim Mak by Savage Skulls & Douster. Dim Mak has been on a massive lift of recently making itself and international powerhouse. The main sample in this track really isn't like anything else I've ever heard, and I effing love it. Summer time bang out house music. God damn life is good.

EITRO - True Story + EITRO - Best Friend

Artist: EITRO
Track: True Story
Label: Doorn Records

Newly signed to Sander Van Doorn's label, Russian native EITRO is making a name for themselves extremely quickly. Dropping a handful of massive remixes then releasing original material like "True Story" and "Best Friend", every big name in the game has been banging out these two tracks over the past month or so. Two very different vibes, "True Story" is most definately the summer time smash of the two, whi'e "Best Friend" takes up the energy livel a notch and adds that Doorn style of  bit more ominious and bit more edgy/emotional. Both tracks incoroprate huge sounds and pour chords, relying on two different moods to get their points across.


Artist: EITRO
Track: Best Friend
Label: Doorn Records