Friday, August 23, 2013

Album Review: Trance Nation 2013 (Remixed by Lange)

Recognized as one of the most influential Trance artists of the past decade, Ministry of Sound welcomes scene-wide legend and genre-founding father Lange to the mix of the acclaimed Trance Nation series. 

Joining its esteemed compilation mixing DJ legion (which to-date has included luminaries such as Above & Beyond, Cosmic Gate, Andy Moor, and Rank 1), I say that Stuart Lange’s mixes have delivered a new high for Trance Nation. Drawing on more than a decade’s knowledge of ahead-of-the-curve sounds & styles, catalysed by exacting drops and epic lifts, Lange brings his inimitable and distinctive take on the genre to two sun-summoning Trance Nation mixes. Characterising the lifeblood of trance in 2013, it sees Lange innately compile and harmonically mix music from across its broad stylistic range.

On his Trance Nation compilation, Lange said: It’s an honour to have been invited to mix this album. For over a decade the Ministry of Sound Trance Nation series has become legendary, a snapshot of our ever-evolving scene, and I follow in the footsteps of some of it’s most respected artists

It features music from Ferry Corsten, Arty, Cosmic Gate, Andy Moor, Orjan Nilsen, Bobina, Shogun, and a lot of others. It also includes 5 massive exclusives, hot from the desk of Lange’s own studio and Lange Recordings label.   

Now as I am listening on hi-def earphones while typing on this space, here's my sort-of blow-by-blow take on this latest TN Mix from 'Langend'....

The first mix embarks on the vocal gleam and shimmer of Yahel & Liya’s I Dive, Passenger 75’s Contact, and Kyau & Albert with Stoneface & Terminal’s We Own The Night – all wowing the opening minutes. Conscripting filmic strings, vibrant drums, and dreamscape harmonics, they form the gateway to an uplifting atmospher. The tech-ish recoil of Arty’s Believe In Me, Rank 1’s electro-grinding Floorlifter, and the hyper-uplift of The Way You Want from flying Finns Super 8 & Tab creates lyrical captivation from Betsie Larkin. As Lange’s skilled hand master-crafts the tone, the pulse rate spikes again as Alchemist from Tomas Heredia and Rikkaz’s The Great Migration shape its climactic minutes.

Naturally, Lange’s TranceNation comes fully loaded with a wealth of his own exclusive, purpose built production and remix material. In and amongst the trance highways and progressive byways of the mixes are his 2013 rebuild of Follow Me, as well as the smash Destination Anywhere, and IMO, a future massive tune Unfamiliar Truth.

Nearly over sixty minutes had passed and the second half of the remix picks up on the tech-ier side of trance. It marks another launch point as The Man Who’ll Save The Earth’ from Alexx Rave, ilan Bluestone & Jerome Isma-Ae’s infectious collab Under My Skin, and Mark Eteson’s Aventus blaze the trail. The shattered stabs and riffs Heatbeat’s #BOOM live up to its title, while Ferry Corsten's F The Bull$h1t  is the shit and no definitely no B.S., and LNG's downright ballistic Harmony Will Kick You In The Ass spy the stratosphere. Rex Mundi’s Seek & Destroy intermixes a more minimalistic prog-trance sort-of to the flow, before hitting the final straight. Orjan Nilsen’s heat-seeking Violetta, Hold That Sucker Down, and the sublime mash-up of Supernova and Afterglow (merging Shogun and Ana Criado & Ronski Speed’s latest productions) see to it this second mix breaks into the upper atmosphere.

Personally, these mixes meet my hunger for a familiar and genuine yet a not-so commercial sound of my beloved sub-genre of dance music. The second disc mix, in particular, made me feel I was an astronaut embarking on my first trip to space. As I take off the ground and break into the atmosphere, it leaves me high and floating in space with the rest of the heavenly bodies so majestic yet seemingly tranquil - just like how trance makes me feel as always.


Track list:

Disc: 1
1. I Dive - Yahel & Liya
2. Contact - Passenger 75
3. We Own the Night - Kyau & Albert with Stoneface & Terminal
4. Our Brief Time in the Sun - Lange
5. All Around You (Feat. Myon & Shane 54 & Aruna) (Alexander Popov Remix) - Cosmic Gate
6. The Way You Want - Super8 & Tab
7. Floorlifter - Rank 1
8. Believe in Me - Arty
9. Crossroads (Feat. Stine Grove) (Estiva Remix) - Lange
10. Love Again (Andrew Rayel Radio Edit) - Andy Moor & Betsie Larkin
11. Unfamiliar Truth (TN Edit) - Lange
12. No Substitute for You (Andy Duguid Remix) - Bobina & Betsie Larkin
13. Alchemist - Tomas Heredia
14. Destination Anywhere - Lange
15. The Great Migration - Rikkaz
16. Absolute ResuRection (Lange Mashup) - Planet Perfecto Knights vs Craig Connelly
17. Follow Me (Feat. The Morrighan (2013 Rework) - Lange

Disc: 2
1. Man Who'll Save the Earth - Alexx Rave
2. Omega - Tangle & Matuesz
3. Sirio (Feat. Simona Barbieri) - Lele Troniq
4. Sirio - ilan Bluestone & Jerome Isma-Ae
5. Aventus - Mark Eteson
6. Mars One - Stephen Kirkwood
7. Leave Me Behind (Feat. Invi Tado) - Alex Larichev
8. #BOOM - Heatbeat
9. F the Bull$h1t - Ferry Corsten
10. Storm Chaser - Cosmic Gate
11. Seek & Destroy - Rex Mundi
12. Harmony Will Kick You in the Ass (Chris Schweizer Remix) - Lange presents LNG
13. Arigatou - Daniel Kandi & Jack Rowan
14. Supernova Afterglow (SaF Mashup - Lange Edit) - Shogun vs Ana Criado & Ronski Speed
15. Violetta - Orjan Nilsen
16. Downtime - Stuart Mclellan
17. Hold That Sucker Down - Lange


What do you think???


No comments: