Trance News

Continuing the hunt for tracks that envelop dancefloors, the Coqueto boys present a new VA with the same feel that distinguishes them.
Wide textures, fat basslines, and dark presence are protagonists in this CQTR002.

A true Cherrymoon classic from Twister with Metamorphosis Of Narcotics, but with a twitch. The release comes with a brand new bonus remix by Danny Corten and the B-side is blessed with Dave Angel’s rework of the follow-up single Sequence 23. Original released in the UK but became a techno bomb in the mid 90s on the Belgian Nitric label. A true underground tune that made waves in the Belgian techno clubs and is still a hot tune at events.

CAIVA and Julian Muller deliver their first collaborative release on Live From Earth Klub. „Without You“ is an expressive work of art that transports CAIVA‘s vocals on driven and club ready dynamics. With the eponymous single the duo sets a high standard for post isolation dance energy. We are eager to present the project as well as interrelated performances in the future.

blue marbled vinyl

Lost Palms regular Astro returns with another killer 4 tracker of spacey, dubby techno goodness. TIP!

Nicholas Bracegirdle, a.k.a. Chicane, is the British electronic musician, composer, and producer. He is often seen as one of the seminal Trance originators. After booking some successes with his debut album in 1997, he sealed his worldwide success with his sophomore album Behind The Sun, which was originally released in March 2000. The album spawned four singles, “Saltwater”, “Don't Give Up”, “No Ordinary Morning” / “Halcyon”, and “Autumn Tactics”. Both “Saltwater” (feat. Máire Brennan) and “Don't Give Up” were released to commercial success, charting #1 on the UK Dance Singles Chart. The latter was a collaboration with best-selling artist Bryan Adams and became a top ten hit on singles charts across Europe and North America.

The second Mikkel Rev EP on Ute.Rec follows up in the same universe. Extremely well crafted fast paced trance cuts, filled with euphoria, nostalgia and melancholia. All four tracks guide you to deep emotional states in their own unique way.

A Strangely Isolated Place welcomes Norwegian Mikkel Rev for an album that might be his best yet. He is part of the Ute Records label collective and often hosts raves in uninhabited Scandi forests. This gorgeous new album comes with slow-burning downtempo grooves and nostalgic chill-out sounds that sink you in deep and take you on a roller coaster of emotions from euphoric trance-states to inward reflection. The Art Of Levitation is a vivid album both in concept and execution and a healthy retro-future style and mix of nostalgia and invention. It is a perfect accompaniment to quiet listening experiences and rewards your close attention.

Following last years Closer EP and Another Place / Under Water the debut album of THIRD WIFE is set to be released on his eponymous label May 2019.

The release is sonically rooted in techno, but spans everything from ambient-trance over fast Copenhagen techno to slow-warped dance music.

Everybody Makes Mistakes contains seven tracks that break new ground for the young Copenhagen based artist. The album kicks off with the ambient-trance track Sleep leading to the title track and centerpiece of the release Everybody Makes Mistakes - a rumbling piece of techno in line with the contemporary fast paced Copenhagen sound. The A-side finishes of with Friends, a bass heavy acid tune with a vocal performance by the artist himself.

The B-side hits the ground running with Water the Planet, a peak time banger with plenty of face melting synths, after which the tempo is dropped significantly with the slow-cooked groover Ste. The ambient piece Sea of Garbage rounds of the vinyl version of the release, while the digital album closes with a blissful vocal hook in the form of Easy.

Up next on Bonzai Records we have a trio of legends with their collaboration on Jen’s (as Prayers) 1992 classic ‘Imagination’. None of these guys need any introduction; their list of exploits would make War and Peace look like an essay. Jens Lissat aka ‘The Godfather Of Techno’ had a new vision for this retro gem and so, after casually chatting with Fly (Bonzai’s head honcho) the deal was done. He is joined by fellow veterans Christian Pieters and Dany Van Der Rieten aka Bonzai All Stars, who have over 6 decades of experience in the music scene between them. So we’ll let the music do the talking here.

The Original Mix opens the release and right from the off we’re locked into a surging, dancey groove thanks to chunky beats and an infectious rolling bassline. The original melody fades through before that distinctively enchanting vocal shines. A proper, full-on dancefloor weapon, not to be missed. Up next, the Rave Mix does exactly what it says on the tin, delivering a high energy slice of rave goodness. Powerful, puncy kicks and crispy hats provide the backdrop of a saturated 303 groove with an underlying bass rumble. The vocal dominates on the break as big synths stack up for that definitive arena experience that will not disappoint. Concluding the release, Jens, Fly and Dany get to work on their Crunchy 303 Mix which is a stomping 303 laden gem. Heavy acid lines contrast against murky pads while on the break, the sublime vocal is joined by soft melodies before a chaotic build up delivers the drop where we’re treated to some hair-raising old skool piano moments.

To round the release off, the original mix by Prayers is added for the vinyl collectors.

At the frontier of Electro, Trance, Psytrance and Hardtek... Acid survive to any styles !!

Big up for this new label !!!

3rd EP of the legendary "Screen" series.

This is without a doubt the most personal of the whole series and the most sentimental too. We had been thinking together about the evolution of the series and since we had already made big hits with the previous editions, we wanted to push things a little further without "worrying" about any club success.

So we chose to focus entirely on the musicality and the emotions transmitted to the detriment of the purely club side of the tracks. At least that's what we thought because in the end the two tracks were a huge success and came back very often as the favorites of clubbers and DJs, especially in after parties.

It was a big surprise to see that some famous techno DJs still play it at the end of their sets, which proves that it doesn't matter when a track is released, as long as the emotion is there, it will stay there forever.

This EP demonstrated the versality that Mr. Sam & Fred Baker had in the studio when they composed and collaborated together. The magic worked every time like a miracle that repeated itself.

Repress Incoming!

Love Potion EP is the first release from Slump Recordings. Coming in from label founder Baby Rollén. Spanning through energetic acid-house to balearic breaks and 2-step rhythms. Bringing a fusion of nostalgic club sounds with a forward lean.

4th and last EP of the legendary "Screen" series.

Green Screen is the culmination of this wonderful series. We wanted once again to produce something really special, far from the standards of the time. We already had the hindsight to appreciate our music at that time.

This last chapter is a kind of testament and a summary of what we wanted to do in this series. The result is that we have, once again, managed to combine both the punchy club side and the dark and melancholic side.

Who knows that maybe one day a new chapter, a new color will join this OPUS... The future will tell!

(7" light blue colored vinyl) Next up in our 7” vinyl series, Honey C aka the late great Philippe Van Mullem and Bonzai stalwart Philippe Toutlemonde, delight with two seminal vocal trance tracks – Stop (The Disease) and Desire.

Next up in our 7” vinyl series, Honey C aka the late great Philippe Van Mullem and Bonzai stalwart Philippe Toutlemonde, delight with two seminal vocal trance tracks – Stop (The Disease) and Desire. Housed on light blue colour 7” vinyl, both tracks were first released in 1993 on the Houze Factory imprint before Stop (The Disease) was snapped up on the legendary Bonzai Trance Progressive in 1997 with a raft of remixes in tow. Desire would make an appearance on Bonzai Classics Digital in 2007, cementing its status as a retro gem. The 2 Philippe's were pioneers of that vocal trance sound and their project Quadran gave rise to the vocal melodic trance scene which still resonates to this day. Between them they notched up quite a few cuts with aliases and groups such as Innertales, Extreme Trax, Oudja and The Gaps among their repertoire.

The A side features the original mix of Stop (The Disease) which intros with a classic build up and explosion before an eerie, almost cinematic sequence takes over. The melodies soon become prevalent as a tight drum section keeps the rhythm flowing. A pulsing bassline holds the track together beautifully as that infectious vocal takes over the groove. On the flip side the Club Mix of Desire resides, taking us into an energy driven experience that sends the nostalgia juices flowing. Classic gated synths stand out as a powerful bassline drives the groove. The vocal is catchy and inviting, striking a perfect balance in the groove. 2 solid cuts for the collectors of fine beats.

Wer kennt ihn nicht - Mark ‚Oh – der mit seinem Nr. 1 Hit
„Tears Don’t Lie“ Techno-Geschichte geschrieben hat und seit
1989 zu den bekanntesten deutschen DJs zählt.

Mit Songs wie Randy, Never Stop This Feeling , Love Song,
United, etc, landete er weitere Hits, die nicht mehr von den
Tanzflächen wegzudenken waren. Auf dieser Sammlung
finden sich seine besten Songs und ist nicht nur für Fans ein
absolutes Muss.

Fader Cap provides 3 rhythmic, sense-heightening, club-jams on his Craigie Knowes debut. The "Club Telepathy" EP is built for elevating dancefloors and features a euphoric Shedbug remix to boot. One for the DJs.

With his third solo EP on Ute.Rec, their very own Oprofessionell continuous his path of exploring nostalgia, psychedelia and hyper-emotions, while blending futuristic sounds with old school inspirations.

Aiden Francis issues the next hot ticket to ride the Magic Carpet! A year in the making, this record is an intoxicating synthesis of raw creative flair and an obsessive attention to detail – as much science as art.

Three unadulterated club weapons tested on some of Europe’s finest soundsystems, topped off with an acid-flavoured expedition into the furthest reaches of the liminal. Enjoy the ride!

Dark night creatures creep through the tunnels and chambers in the abandoned sites of the former dwarven industry. Greenish-black energy flows through the empty halls as skeletons of the dead rise to dance, accompanied by the shaking of skulls, and the rattling of bones. Be warned, this spectacle is not for the faint of heart. Necromancy is an impressive school of magic, but also a dangerous one – it is better not to mess with necromancers.

K.O.P. 32, a studied alchemist of sound prepared this mythical and enchanting debut 12-inch filled with fast-paced tribal rhythm sorcery, psyish texture spells and mushroom spore acid.

Mana Abundance assumes no responsibility for zombifications, mummifications, or paralyzations. All claims for due compensation in silver are entirely excluded, including (but not limited to) shapeshifting processes such as converting into a werewolf or changeling. Under no circumstances should students of magic under the age of 18 attend the ceremony! Additionally, house elves and other magical creatures are to be kept away from this record.

FIRST TIME OFFICIAL REISSUE 30 YEARS AFTER THE ORIGINAL 1992 RELEASE

Jan Vervloet and DJ Ghost head up our next vinyl release with the sexy, Techno fuelled Damn Hot, which is joined by the previously released and first time on vinyl, Super Dry. Jan is a well-known name on the Belgian music scene and really needs no introduction. As a producer he has released more than 150 tracks worldwide including a gold record with Fiocco in Belgium and a number 1 hit in Holland with Scoop. Jan has been a part of so many groups and with lots of his own productions he has appeared on countless compilation albums and has featured on most of Bonzai's own compiled series. He recently delivered a blistering remake of Here’s Johnny alongside DJ Liberty, championing the nu rave era in style. DJ Ghost aka Bjorn Wendelen is another extremely popular Belgian artist with a career spanning decades. He has been the driving force behind several very successful projects such as Armani & Ghost and many others and he’s a longstanding associate of the mighty Bonzai parties and studios, having produced many tracks under the Bonzai imprint alongside the crème-de-la-crème of Europe’s artists.

Damn Hot comes in two flavours, on the A side we have a rip-roaring dancefloor destroyer, filled with pounding beats, industrialised synths and razor-sharp percussions. The track builds and builds to the break, where a wall of sound rises to a frenzied climax with a mighty drop. The Old Skool Mix takes us right back to the good old days of hard edged, pumping rave. Monstrous kicks get things moving as rhythmic percussions are let loose. Classic rave-style stabs and hoover synths form the backbone of the track and are joined by cool vocal shots. The break descends to almost subtle tones before that raucous synth line returns, leading us to another massive drop. Two outstanding cuts that will destroy any floor. Concluding the release, we have Super Dry, which gets a cut to wax after a successful digital release. Getting the pulses racing right from the get go, feisty kick drums and spritely percussions set the tempo. The famous Ironside siren hook grabs attention as huge rave stabs greets us on the main groove. A proper stomping, high-tempo techno pumper that will not disappoint.

Doctor’s Cat – Greatest Hits & Remixes jetzt auch auf Vinyl erhältlich
Mit ihren Songs „Watch Out“ und „Feel The Drive” landeten Doctor’s Cat in den Jahren 1983 und 1984 europaweite Charterfolge.
Die Produzenten Aldo Martinelli und Fabrizio Gatto sind die Produzenten und genialen Köpfe hinter dieser Band.
Diese LP enthält die besten Titel als Maxi Versionen.

With the verve of the early onset of a love affair, Julian Muller’s and MRD’s first release on NALI isn’t shy of evoking deep feelings on the backdrop scattered bass lines. The four-track EP draws from transcendental soundscapes and blends them with well-crafted solid techno. Hopeful, revolutionary and yet club driven, the vocals are pop-leaning with a hint of the aesthetics of popularized club culture that came up in the late 90ies. A promising kick-start for the freshly conceived label and its musical agenda.

The long awaited follow up to the sought-after first Be Told Lies VA, featuring the heavy atmospherics, luscious pads, haunting melodies that makes the label's sound unique.

Following up on a standout inaugural EP by Alpha Tracks, KI/KI's slash imprint now presents a mighty 8-track compilation of propulsive trance, split over two equally potent parts. The compilation contains a selection of dancefloor favourites curated by KI/KI herself that have been intensively road tested during her gigs in the past year.

slash003 turns more introspective, recalling darkened, brooding club basements. Launching off, DJ Hyperdrive more than lives up to his namesake. 'Starburst' rockets at light speed, its space-age momentum conjuring a retrofuturist fantasy. Amour Noir's 'Sunday Morning' is a love letter to dance floors, its choral-style vocal and gliding synth alluding to the reverence of liturgical music. Tbilisi's Bassiani resident Newa transposes a wiggy acid bassline onto a steely techno pulse, then for 'Astral Recall' (one of KI/KI's most played songs of 2022) Arman John partners a driving beat with a lucid melody, crafting a hybrid flex that melds genres and moods seamlessly. Plunging into darkness before emerging into sunlit euphoria, slash003 channels a vital feature of every masterful DJ set - the emotional journey of contrasting styles and atmospheres, set in motion by adrenaline-fuelled beats.

Repress!

The first trip on Hardline's forest living, free party going, gary loving cousin Body High.

Transcendent sound system music from Melbourne's Sedgwick.

5 spacey wafters that'll make you wish you were in a forest, in a field, on a beach or on a dance floor with your eyes closed swaying about.

Back in 2021, when Volodymyr Gnatenko agreed to work on his debut album, none of us could have predicted it would be released, post-pandemic, against the backdrop of war. At the time, the 23-year-old producer from Lutsk was riding high on a string of well-received 12s for labels such as Where We Met and Animals On Psychedelics, besides local Ukraine labels such as LSS557 and Rhythm Buro. He was, between covid closures, playing live at Kyiv clubs such as Closer and Kureni, looking to tour in Europe, and spending every spare second making music.

How things change. When missiles began to rain on Kyiv, Gnatenko, alongside a few friends from Closer, hid in his studio. For a while, the bombings did not stop. But for the producer, neither did the music-making. Choosing to stay in the city, he continues to make beats, managing only to mix down between bombing raids. He changed his first name to match that of his president, ditching the previous spelling of his name because it was the same as the aggressor, “the same as my worst enemy, I am ashamed and disgusted that I started my career with it”.

The album speaks of softer, easier times. A combination of rich ambience, and laidback breaks alongside loose progressive and trance-fused dancefloor tracks, this debut brings together all the strands that Gnatenko plays with. The process, he says, was exhausting and long. Yet the results are lighter, fresher. Maybe because, he says, “it is dedicated to my future wife. All the tracks are my words of love for her". Deeply hypnotic and freely moving between ideas, it feels like it was made a lifetime ago, not a matter of months. Now, it resonates with a new defiance. It is a debut with an extra layer of meaning.

Our first vinyl release of 2023 sees two classic tracks from Groove Park take centre stage. Hit The Bang and Carrousel first came to the fore in 1995 as separate releases and, after a few solid remixes, our Bonzai Classics imprint resurrected both tracks along with top-notch remixes in 2002. 21 years later we bring to you the original versions of both tracks on glorious 12” vinyl. André Strässer and Sharam Jey aka Sharam Nickjey Khososi make up the dynamic duo that is Groove Park. They were also the brains behind massive projects such as 16C+, Three n One and Johnny Shaker to name just a few. The tracks found a unique place in clubland, having a diverse structure that spanned genres flawlessly. The A side features Hit The Bang with its hybrid progressive/techno flow. The relentless bass groove, distinct voices and stabbing synths gave rise to a powerful, energetic and mesmerizing moment that lives on. On the flip, Carrousel takes up the B1 slot opening with that infectious woodblock sequence alongside pumping kick drums. A groovy bassline joins the party as old skool pianos come through. The track reels us in with many twists and turns, from wide, epic progressive parts to energetic trance, all wrapped up in a warm, nostalgic glow. A proper piece of dance music history and a must for the serious collector.

LTD Repress !

The Rota Bene crew is proud to present their second release. For this EP we dug out a selection of rare early Italian extravaganza. In a few more weeks we can spin these sought-after obscurities once again. We gathered four quality cuts, each with a unique vibe made for the dancefloor or your ritual of choice.

Fiocco and Scoop are both productions from DJ/producer Jan Vervloet. These 2 massive hits were originally released on A&S Productions and now available for the first time in their radio edits on black wax.

On behalf of re:discovery records, it is with great excitement that we announce the 1st of a 3EP set highlighting the music on 1990's Norwegian electronic act Neural Network. In 1993-1995 they released 2 full albums or Origo Sound that featured label mates Biosphere. In 1993 they opened up for Prodigy and shared the bill with other seminal acts like AFX, Autechre, Orbital and H.I.A among other heavyweights. However, their 2 full albums 'Brain-State-In-A-Box' & 'Modernité' did not get picked up by any other label or distributer and their popularity stayed regional. In fact a 3rd album was never released (Until part 3 comes from this series!) and sadly they went their separate ways to form other electronic acts in 1997. We hope to shine a bright light on their early music. Side A features the wonderful aquatic adventure in 'Aqueous' followed by a shift into the sci-fi realm with the mysterious 'Mechanical Heart'. Two great examples that show off the group's deep post rave sound for the future. A real melding of styles. All 3 EP's have inserts where the band shares their memories of the early days.

All these tracks in the series are placed on vinyl for the first time with fantastic artwork by UK's Grid Pattern. Dare to Dream! Its not only our credo at re:discovery records but it's also our goal in hearing music that was made for the stars.

Reissue of this club classic from 1991, remastered for 2021!

Another early 90s breaky rave missile, this EP features three original versions from 1992 of “Futurama” on the A side: the “Space Mix”, “Dream Mix” and the slow building “Hold It Held It Lost It Mix”. And two newly made remixes by Berlin's finest Juan Ramos and Trent. Making you fully equipped to make the right choice behind a DJ booth. Powerful breakbeat rhythms, driving bass lines, tripped out vocal samples, all the boxes are checked for maximum club impact, another highly effective dance floor recipe by Morgan King and Nick Hook, the two virtuosos responsible for previously re-issued on Sound Metaphors “Older Brother From the Rock” by Om. Profusely remastered at Berlin's manmade mastering.

Pals FM: Floor Materials Vol.2 is the second dance music compilation from WALLS AND PALS. The aim is to share various ideas of dance floors instead of lingering on a certain genre or style, and while being DJ Friendly, it also serves as an exchange ground where production techniques of artists co-exist. All four tracks in Vol.2 correspond with the common purpose of bringing out ‘Floor Materials’, keeping distinct identity from each musician. In ‘Cofrica’, rapper and producer Simo of Y2K92 injects his long-time affection of Detroit flavor into a minimalistic form. Conversely, DOTT from the Thai label More Rice brings intricate and complex rhythms centered around the step sequencer in ‘Antibody Movement’, walking a fine line between House and Techno while the essence of Tech House is preserved . And in ‘Pump It Up’, ACIDWORK demonstrates what the outcome would be when Electro runs through digital instruments and samplers. Last but not least, Seo John, who put out his first EP DIVE last year from the label GODDEZZ, follows up with ‘miQro’, creating a different side of Trance that is more adequate for clubs or concrete spaces rather than outdoor raves or festivals. In the same manner with the preceding release Pals FM: Floor Materials Vol.1, Vol.2 is a compilation executed by fellow Asian musicians across the region. Beyond the reopened borders, and just like the excitement and stimulus at unusual events, this compilation serves to contribute to the dancefloor as an interesting ‘Material’ than simply as a ‘Tool’.

Blue Hour and Norwegian Trance collective UTE, team up for the succeeding collaborative release since last year’s record with Fast Forward Productions. Omformer, Marilao, Mikkel Rev and Oprofesionell rework original music from Alpha Tracks, Dold and Tracing Xircles creating an immersive and kaleidoscopic experience.

François X presents Digital Fever

More than 2 years after his last solo project, François X returns with an EP on his new platform, XX LAB.

Faithfully following the label aesthetic, the tracks precisely reveal key themes of loneliness and self-identity quest, translated into a sheer combination of ecstatic and murky feelings accompanied by body bumping grooves. Recorded prolifically during covid this record unveils an innovative approach to techno from François, by incorporating modern pop and rap productions techniques he has developed over the period such as arrangements and Vocal FX (all the vocals loops and FXs are his.)

There is a profound sense of creative freedom in how François X’s music has evolved recently. Shifting from academic techno structures in his previous work, to a more brutal and edgy aesthetic, François has definitely unleashed his productive spirit.

The opening track “Forever’ N' 'Fever' represents a prime example of this imaginative boiling mind, setting off the EP’s murky tone with its evocative trappish vibe. This driving effervescence brings out a remarkable plurality in the tonalities of the compositions, swinging between the prompt and fiery club-ready atmosphere of "Lone Wolf Cabin'' to the ecstatic and emotive chemistry of "Shame Stare". This paradoxical structure can also inform us about its creator, as a retranscription of the emotions that run through him.

The musical output will be accompanied by a limited edition, where François X takes us through his mind and emotions to explore the inner feelings behind each track of Digital Fever. Discover an oriented listening session narrated by the XX LAB representatives, with an edited soundtrack of the EP, released on an impressive 7’ square clear vinyl specially designed for the project. Limited to 50 copies.

Challenging his role as an artist, the selfishness that comes with it and the limit of his dedication, François X is acting as a contemporary cow-boy, deeply entwined with his utopian dreams.