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Originally posted by Lilith Great mix mate! Really enjoyed this one.

Yay! You popped in for my Magic Treasure mix too, glad to see you showing up for this one also

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Originally posted by MSZ Congrats on the wedding!

Thanks MSZ! What have you been up to lately bro?

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Set Archive | TA DJ Challenge

I took this out on my 8 mile run tonight. I was hoping for another Magic Treasure, which is my favourite of your mixes because it's very trancey - big on melody and spacey atmospherics and low on psy clichés. Unfortunately, I felt too many tracks on this mix went into those typical psy pitfalls - my number one complaint was the constant stop-start moments. On many occasions there would be a really slamming couple of minutes and I was expecting the mix to run riot, but then there would be a pause, a silly vocal sample, a build-up, a change of direction, a chuggy bit, and then finally back to the good stuff. Trying to run through those sections is just as annoying as trying to dance to them.

Anyway, I thought the mixing was fine - I didn't hear the two early transitions you claimed were dodgy. Tracks came into the mix quite suddenly but such is the nature of psy mixing. You matched the structures of tracks pretty well and picked good cue points. There were some really good tracks in here - the Ovnimoon remix of Chandra and the Magnus remix of Kepler stand out from memory. I just wish you'd chained some of these tracks together. I don't mind the occasion ker-azy psy change of direction, as it can keep things interesting in a set, but for my personal tastes this set had too much of it.

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Mixes:
> Maximum Elevation [Progressive House]
> DI.FM 26th Anniversary Guest Mix [Progressive House]
> Live @ Dance:Love:Hub London, 11.10.2025
> Higher Peaks [Progressive House]
> Dance:Love:Hub Afterparty (The Return) 23.11.24

Like these sets? Come see me play live at Kibosh in Manchester: https://www.instagram.com/kibosh.mcr/

What a shame, I thought you would like this one.

I really thought this mix had a solid curve, where I started off really melodic and then picked up the tempo with Cosmic Transition, kept increasing energy and kicked it into overdrive by Warsaw and Space Race. Perhaps I misplaced Faith, as that could be seen as a bit of a chuggy track played late.

Also it's really hard to avoid vocal samples and unnecessary breakdowns in psy tracks. In fact, I programmed this set to remove a lot of the early pointless bits in tracks where it builds up and stops and then re-builds. Unfortunately most psy producers create their tracks this way. You are welcome to search for other tracks that fit the bill you are referring to, but these were the best tracks of the year imo. Everything else is loaded with those weird swingy breakdowns and low-energy basslines/cookie-cutter melodies.

Personally I think this is one of my best mixes (maybe not technically but track-wise), and I'm sorry it wasn't your thing. I'll keep putting stuff out, maybe you'll like another one I make someday.

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Set Archive | TA DJ Challenge

quote:

Originally posted by ziptnf Unfortunately most psy producers create their tracks this way. You are welcome to search for other tracks that fit the bill you are referring to, but these were the best tracks of the year imo.

I feel bad because I listen to lots of your mixes and I usually have some negative things to say, but the problem is basically that I am extremely ambivalent about psy and I dislike a lot of the same genre tropes that a psy fan probably expects. My tastes have also changed in the last few years, and I'm less tolerant than I used to be to what I find irritating about the genre. So it's not that you're doing anything wrong as a psy DJ, it's just I'm not really the right listener for these sets. Still, I keep tuning in because you've delivered some gold in the past - I'm going to redownload Ecrypted Universe as we speak, because that was a great set and will get me through some tempo sessions.

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Mixes:
> Maximum Elevation [Progressive House]
> DI.FM 26th Anniversary Guest Mix [Progressive House]
> Live @ Dance:Love:Hub London, 11.10.2025
> Higher Peaks [Progressive House]
> Dance:Love:Hub Afterparty (The Return) 23.11.24

Like these sets? Come see me play live at Kibosh in Manchester: https://www.instagram.com/kibosh.mcr/

quote:

Originally posted by SYSTEM-J I feel bad because I listen to lots of your mixes and I usually have some negative things to say,

Yeah lol out of about 15 mixes you have heard, you have probably disliked 12 of them. I'm not sure if you realize this, but I put a lot of weight into your opinion, so when you dislike something it really hits me hard.

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but the problem is basically that I am extremely ambivalent about psy and I dislike a lot of the same genre tropes that a psy fan probably expects. My tastes have also changed in the last few years, and I'm less tolerant than I used to be to what I find irritating about the genre. So it's not that you're doing anything wrong as a psy DJ, it's just I'm not really the right listener for these sets. Still, I keep tuning in because you've delivered some gold in the past - I'm going to redownload Ecrypted Universe as we speak, because that was a great set and will get me through some tempo sessions.

I guess my whole thing is just that the stuff that bothers you doesn't really bother me as much. I mean, yes, I'd love it if tracks didn't build up just to breakdown and rebuild. However, I've always found that the time spent rebuilding is not that much in the long run, and that if every track was like Chandra then there may be no breaks at all during the entire set!

I was a bit surprised, honestly, because there is a lot of similarity between this and Magic Treasure. Every track has a melodic approach, yet this time with a bit more of the "psy" properties that I found to be more energetic and less "trancey". You clearly prefer the latter, which is fine, I just didn't expect the former to be something you actually disliked.

No worries though, I always appreciate you being honest and not just blowing smoke up my ass, but this mix turned out exactly the way I wanted it to and I'll roll the dice on you liking my next one

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Set Archive | TA DJ Challenge

Last edited by ziptnf on Jan-15-2016 at 00:31

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Originally posted by ziptnf Wow, what a year! I stopped DJing last year at this time to focus on my life and get some things done. Since then, I got engaged, bought a house, got married, and switched jobs. Much like a planetary alignment phenomenon, all my planets have aligned and I'm happier than ever with my new life. I doubt I will have the same volume of output from a music standpoint, but I am back, and I'll put out some more mixes as the mood strikes me. Vandeta - Machine with Emotion [Solar Tech] Flexus - Magnetic Field (Opposite8 Remix) [Iono] Alter Nature - Dawnbreak [Spin Twist] Egorythmia & Dual Resonance - Cosmic Transition [Iono] TOT - Dreams of Dreams (Pointfield Remix) [iNTrance] E-Clip - Chandra (Ovnimoon Remix) [Power House] Asya - Blind Colors [Goa Crops] Egorythmia & E-Clip - Time Travellers [Iono] Kid Vicio & Ultrajett - Space Station [Fresh Frequencies] Lyctum - Experience [Magnitud] Planet DIsconnect & Seven Ways - Kepler (Magnus Remix) [Pharmacy] Sixsense - Over Site [Power House] Attik - Travel [Expo] Side Winder - Faith (Electit Remix) [Power House] Kingpink - Destiny (Micky Noise Remix) [Phoenix Groove] Indecent Noise - Warsaw 2.0 [Mental Asylum] Chris Voro & Bl1tz - Space Race (Magnus Remix) [Blacked Out] (left-click to download) Ziptnf - Planetary Alignment (1:33:45) 226MB ~320kbps Image credit to daelly. Enjoy!

I thought this was a good mix mate. In some ways I preferred it to Magic Treasure, certainly in terms of the flow and journey I felt it was a lot more cohesive. Some stellar tunes, spaces out - a handful in the beginning, middle and end. The Magnus tunes do seem to stand out, and I also loved the Alter Nature track. There was one track I wasnt too keen on at the 70 minute mark but that was the only stinker. I do agree with Jack that there are some brilliant tunes ruined by psy cliches, the one after ovnimoon with the big Nicholas Bennison style riffs in particular could have been a classic! Mixing was decent most of the time, couple of volume dips though I thought

It will gets lots more plays, and as usual the favourites will end up in my play lists.

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Originally posted by JonDC I thought this was a good mix mate. In some ways I preferred it to Magic Treasure, certainly in terms of the flow and journey I felt it was a lot more cohesive. Some stellar tunes, spaces out - a handful in the beginning, middle and end. The Magnus tunes do seem to stand out, and I also loved the Alter Nature track. There was one track I wasnt too keen on at the 70 minute mark but that was the only stinker. I do agree with Jack that there are some brilliant tunes ruined by psy cliches, the one after ovnimoon with the big Nicholas Bennison style riffs in particular could have been a classic! Mixing was decent most of the time, couple of volume dips though I thought

Hey Jon, thanks for the listen! Yeah I thought the Magnus tracks were stormers, and he's always so great with melodies. Personally for me, the opening track Vandeta - Machine With Emotion is one of my favorites in the entire mix.

quote:

It will gets lots more plays, and as usual the favourites will end up in my play lists.

High praise, my friend. I love knowing that you can find bombs for your shows in my sets. It's one of the reasons I trawl through so much trash psytrance, so that I can find the best of the best. Seriously though, you guys talk about psy cliches, and yes they are everywhere, but some of those tracks out there are absolutely laughable with how much "effort" was put into it. The worst offense this mix has is that it includes the standard blue-balls effect when the track is about to explode but the producer instead opts to start at ground zero again with a basic kick/bass phase. It's stupid. But at this point after all the crap I've had to listen to, none of that even really bothers me anymore. I enjoy the "meat" of all of these tracks, and don't really pay attention to much of the phrasing and silly vocal samples.

Anyways, I love hearing that you enjoyed it, and I am in the process of working through yours and Dave's mixes.

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Set Archive | TA DJ Challenge

quote:

Originally posted by ziptnf Hey Jon, thanks for the listen! Yeah I thought the Magnus tracks were stormers, and he's always so great with melodies. Personally for me, the opening track Vandeta - Machine With Emotion is one of my favorites in the entire mix.

Actually yea I should have mentioned the opener - that's a really solid tune too.

quote:

Originally posted by ziptnf Seriously though, you guys talk about psy cliches, and yes they are everywhere, but some of those tracks out there are absolutely laughable with how much "effort" was put into it. The worst offense this mix has is that it includes the standard blue-balls effect when the track is about to explode but the producer instead opts to start at ground zero again with a basic kick/bass phase. It's stupid. But at this point after all the crap I've had to listen to, none of that even really bothers me anymore. I enjoy the "meat" of all of these tracks, and don't really pay attention to much of the phrasing and silly vocal samples.

To me it's problematic for two reasons. Firstly, to me psy trance is high energy ravey music, and when it's done well it definitely serves it's purpose. Having the constant breaks in energy kind of defeats the point of what the music is trying to do, for me. Furthermore, trance music is supposed to be entrancing and hypnotic which doesn't happen when the bass-line keeps changing or disappearing

The other thing for me is that I just can't take music seriously when it uses gimmicky noises and techniques to achieve an effect, especially when it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the song itself. I've been listening to this track a lot lately

https://soundcloud.com/solid-black-...-catalyst-elead

It's almost a really good tune, but that 'slow down, and trip the crowd out' bit in the breakdown just gets on my nerves so much. It would be good if that sort of thing happened once every 5 nights out, but it seems to be every other track with psy!

Yeah. So many producers misuse the phrasing periods. Rather than making them trancey and hypnotic to carry the rhythm (see Dickster - Dizzy Drops), they just use basic kick/bass patterns and the energy is totally reset.

That Chris Voro track is one that I would have listened to and considered for a mix but upon hearing the middle part, probably decide to not use it. Although sometimes I'll take a track and set cue points to skip parts entirely, or just edit the waveform in Audacity, so that the stupid pointless breakdown is removed.

Somehow, psytrance producers have been convinced that the broken, swingy breakdown is necessary (of which this set includes none) and I personally consider that a worse offense than the energy reset. I think it's the Mexican and Israeli producers that love gimmicky shit like this.

Anyway, this tracklist was probably the best I could do in terms of keeping a solid flow together. I like it better than Magic Treasure personally, but yours and Jack's points are definitely noted. Thanks again

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Set Archive | TA DJ Challenge

fantastic mix. cheers

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UnauthorizedTranceAddict Youtube Channel where I post older mixes from the TA DJ Promotion Forum

My mixes:

Still up:1:2

Down:3:4:5

Thank you, friend!

Any more thoughts? Dave? Chris?

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Set Archive | TA DJ Challenge

Silly me that missed this. Gonna have a listen!

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My new oldskool TRANCE mix!