Here are top tunes at the mo... (with my comments on the tracks!)

01 Ronski Speed & Stoneface & Terminal - Incognition / Drowning Sunlight (Euphonic)
In case you didn't know, Stoneface & Terminal are the co-producers of Alex M.O.R.P.H. stuff… so when they team up with another of the big names in trance at the moment, you should expect something special! 'Incognition' is an uplifting bit of driving trance while 'Drowning Sunlight' is a more melodic affair, both absolutely blinding!

02 Anne Savage, Vinylgroover & The Red Hed - Pay Attention [Big Bass Mix] (Traffic)
Ok so all of the artist here are well known for their hard house but this definitely doesn't fall into that bracket. The tech trance influences are evident and believe me, it's called the 'Big Bass Mix' for a reason…

03 Marco G - Spiritual Enlightenment (Terminal M)
Possibly one of the hottest techno producers on the scene at present, Marco G turns out a 3 track funky EP which easily lives up to the standard of his other recent work, with the title track 'Spiritual Enlightenment' and 'True Calling' standing out with their big memorable basslines and wicked grooves.

04 Drax & Scott Mac - Must Have Been A Dream [Mac Zimms Remix] (Surface)
Unfortunately, the original version of this track was spoiled by a slightly cheesy female vocal, but just when hope seems to be lost, Mac Zimms comes to the rescue with a really cool driving dub version! The DJ Choose mix isn't too bad either!

05 PJ Doherty - Tribute (Harlem Trax)
From the tougher subdivision of Steve Lawler's prog house label Harlem Records', Tribute is the B-side to 'The Voice', however I think it's upbeat chunky groove and screaming acid sounds make it the stronger of the two.

06 Kuffdam & Plant - Skyline [Ian Betts Remix] (Six-Thirty)
Heat's Ian Betts has made quite an impression in the last year or so and this remix of the Scottish-Cypriot partnership Kuffdam & Plant's latest release matches that. With the classic trance sound throughout, it's the lead melody which will get stuck in your head for, in my case, about 3 days solid!

07 DP 6 - City Lights (Elephanthaus)
Fuelled with an awesome remix from Spain's own Cristian Varela, this chunky slice of funky techno could well be a contender for the best on the Elephanthaus imprint to date.

08 Alf Bamford - Overdrive (Addiction Digital)
For the man who's name is all over the hard trance scene at the moment, this track as one half of the 'Technikal EP' on the digital label very recently launched by the London club night really defines the sound of Addiction with it's huge lead and energetic flow.

09 Jamie P vs Aurelius - Sorrow [Gate 42 Non-Vocal Mix] (Intrenze)
Despite John O'Callaghan stealing the show with his remix of the debut release 'Flow', Gate 42 (real name Patrik Björkman) is definitely starting to show his own talent. This remix is the kind of cut-up trance which not only sounds awesome but must have been loads of fun to make with little effects, breaks and production quirks galore… a wicked just melody tops it all off perfectly.

10 Charlie G - Sleepless (Monster Hard)
The P.H.A.T.T. remix has received a lot of attention, but my loyalties lie with the original here – tough driving trance with a barrage of stabs and a simple but effective melody which gives the whole thing a relentless groove to it.

11 Peetu-S - The Battle (SA:UK)
Tough and pumping dark tribal techno is about the best thing I can think of to describe this! Fashioned with a big dirty bassline stuff and drums all over the place – I'm sure there's a sample or two from Cave's 'Street Carnival' in there somewhere…

12 Icone - The Clearing (CD-R)
Aka Wim Van Gelder, this Belgian trance producer has done very well for himself in the couple of years, getting tracks onto labels such as Flux Delux, Somatic Sense and Afterglow. Let's hope this beautiful piece of trance does equally well, with sweeping melodies and the musical depth you'd expect from the classic Icone sound.

13 Marco V - More Than A Life Away [Preach Mix] (InCharge)
I've got to admit, the original didn't really grab me when I first heard it although it did grow on me with time…however then I set my ears upon the Preach version and was hooked straight away! It's big bassy techno with elements of Marco V's own sound definitely still present. The stutters in the breakdown make me grin every time!

14 Summer Sessions feat. Michelle Smith - Blossom [Haylon remix] (E-TCR)
Now had this come out a couple of months earlier, it would have been perfectly timed for all of those Ibizan chilled summer trance albums… or maybe it's better that it hasn't been thrown in our faces? With a soft guitar in the breakdown and a very summery feel to it (as the artist and title suggest), Haylon have done an awesome job with this remix.

15 Brian Cross - 4U [O.R.G.A.N. Remix] (ASOT)
Who da fuck is Brian Cross? his promotional material has asked us. His first release was simply the address of his website, so you can see his marketing team have been busy! This track, with a big remix from O.R.G.A.N., is a bit tougher than the kind of thing you'd usually expect from ASOT, with a vocal which somehow manages to work really well. Top marks Mr Cross, whoever da fuck you are…

16 Carl Falk - Audacious (GFR)
Part of a 4-track EP, along with tracks from The Advent, Allan Banford and Elton D, this release (known as Formula Premiere – Race Seven) continues GFR's recent run of quality funky techno.

17 Marcel Woods - Advanced (High Contrast)
Oh, THAT tune! Probably one of the biggest tech trance tunes of the year, Marcel Woods has really hit the spot with this track. Still gets an incredible response every time it's played!

18 Marksun & Brian - Neno Itome [Stoneface & Terminal Remix] (Euphonic)
Continuing Stoneface & Terminal's raw hard and techy sound, this remix carries all of the identifiable traits of their previous tracks before breaking out into a catchy lead, shortly before slamming back in with all of the energy it started with. Nice!

19 Tristan vs Graham Gold - Silver & Gold (Relative)
It's not often the big man of Kiss FM (and now also a Slinky resident) gets into the studio so when he does it's always interesting to see what Graham comes up with. 'Silver & Gold' is quite a dark, driving piece of trance with enough different sounds strategically placed to keep you interested throughout – definitely one that sounds awesome on a big system!

20 Mike Harris & Olly Perris - Transgression (Addiction Digital)
Co-promoter of London night Addiction, Mike Harris has joined forces with resident Olly Perris to make what feels like a breath of fresh air for hard trance. Breakbeats galore and a dark and twisted feel throughout, although not quite what you'd usually expect from Olly, it definitely carries elements of his trademark sound.


Forthcoming Dates:
19th Nov - Dancing For Children In Need @ Turnmills, London (UK)
18th Dec - Kinetic @ Manhattan Bar, Bristol (UK)


New mixes coming soon...

http://www.stucox.co.uk

___________________
Stu Cox |

Last edited by Stu Cox on Nov-11-2005 at 09:16