May 9, 2024By Gonz Alo
• Of course, a rework. And a follow-up of “Thank You” • Eminem’s hit transformed into a Festival mix • Gabry Ponte added a spark of vitality to the drop Here we go again: the trademark DV&LM mega collab, often accompanied by super famous names and perceived as lacking substance… Except, this time, it’s different.
March 10, 2024By Gonz Alo
• Clear distinctions between their respective styles • Two drops bursting with energy and aggression • Infectious melody and lively basslines The Rave Culture roster has started to feel somewhat predictable, with the same familiar names consistently delivering quality productions, but lacking that spark of innovation that new talent often brings. That’s precisely why I’m
March 6, 2024By Gonz Alo
• Y2K and retrofuturistic aesthetics • Polished and creative production • A nostalgic trip with modern finesse It isn’t every day to come across niche underground subgenres getting exposure on huge labels— especially Monstercat— within the EDM community, but here we are! The eminent label saw the potential in promoting nuphory and Luna Lenta‘s latest
February 26, 2024By Gonz Alo
• Retransforming the breakdown • Anti-climax in the drops • Modernistic original, futuristic remake Thinking about it now, “Giratina” was ahead of its time. Dimatik, Monik & Carroch unveiled the gem almost a decade back; a moment when Melbourne Bounce was slowly transitioning into the Vini-Vici style Psy-Trance, and was one of the first tracks
January 28, 2024By Gonz Alo
• Distinct styles amalgamated, evident in the various segments • Vigor and dynamism in abundance • Favorites of Hard Trance Europe, united What unfolds when three favorites from HTE join forces in the studio? “Champagne” is the response to this inquiry, a result of the collaborative endeavors of Yusef Kifah, Lab4, and SHOCK:FORCE—three maestros of
January 21, 2024By Gonz Alo
• The vocal loop is amped up • Hyperpop and 2000s Trance, with a nostalgic piano • Look at how the trend’s evolving! This remix from P.A.F.F. makes me so happy— not only have I rediscovered “leavemealone” from Fred Again (a certifiable masterpiece)— but it’s a suitable case of the potential held by the “Euro
December 4, 2023By Gonz Alo
• Trance and Big Room • Mighty brass stabs • Throwback to 2010s Let’s press rewind for a while. It’s 2013. The so-called EDM era is in full swing— big room, progressive house— you name it. Among several hits that came out the said year, it was Armin van Buuren’s “This Is What It Feels
November 10, 2023By Gonz Alo
• Hefty percussions • Hypnotic electro synths • Dark Disco at its finest Taking a decade-old track and giving it a new life is a job easier said than done, requiring special merit- as displayed by the French moniker Damon Jee for “Before The Sunlight,” originally composed by Echonomist featuring Black Soda in 2014. In
October 3, 2023By Gonz Alo
• Drop with a robust concept • Trance buildup for the finale • First-rate vocal placement As Hardwell & co remain busy preparing for Big Room Techno bangers (anyone interested in a “Shotgun” Review?), I decided to direct my attention to newer talents instead. With less hype— and high expectations comparatively— this is where I
September 21, 2023By Gonz Alo
• Great blend of Trance and Prog • Enchanting vocals and lead • Solid sound design Further setting their indelible imprint on Armin van Buuren’s endeared label, Hel:Slowed has become a favorite for many with their excellent releases in Armada Music. Consistency and quality seem to be their motto at the moment, as they introduced
September 18, 2023By Gonz Alo
• Blend of genres, nice Techno buildup • SCNDL‘s bounce is missing • Violent outcome It is quite surprising to see SCNDL and Vion Konger pair up, given that they always worked on different genres in different labels, but it is nice to have them united in “Mutate”, released a few weeks ago on Dharma.
September 1, 2023By Gonz Alo
• Signature retro vibes on the composition • Switching between Trance and Techno • A bit short in duration Starting 2023 the independent way, Declain has proved he can transverse genres boldly without sticking to please any cut-and-dry label stipulations. This has given him a greater opportunity than ever to experiment, something the German artist
August 31, 2023By Gonz Alo
• Finally something genuine! • Great synergy with the vocals • Surprising twist afterwards My expectations about R3HAB who most probably didn’t even open the project file for “Rock My Body” once, were low as always. For an artist thriving in fame lately, I was hoping for a more inventive take on the Trance classic
August 15, 2023By Gonz Alo
• Close to AvB’s roots • Space race themed • Unconventional kickdrum There’s a massive appeal for the underground sound more than ever: look no further from Calvin Harris, who scored two potential 2023 summer hits by devoting to the late 90s sound. There are many other similar instances, and as of latest, Armin van
July 9, 2023By Gonz Alo
• Close to Bicep’s sound • Deep House elements • Appealing vocals For a while, Tiesto’s eclectic catalog has become even more dedicated towards commercial dance-pop, as his recent album “Drive” signals this move further. Breaking this pattern is his most recent release “Drifting,” which takes a different turn from the usual routine. The song
July 2, 2023By Gonz Alo
• Trance Techno Experiment • Well done homage to the original • Slightly linear, but modernized Released a while earlier, I found this quite recently and couldn’t contain the excitement for reviewing it. “ResuRection” is one of those classics which I have listened to over the years, not having remembered its title or creators. The
June 5, 2023By Gonz Alo
• Shibui is gone, with same vocal style • Flute, violins, and Big Room leads in the mix • Hard-hitting Psy While I couldn’t admire “Hurricane”, a very predictable bouncy Psy-Big Room style that soon becomes exhausting, I feel that “Coconut” effectively attempted to take a step further. The protagonists on this stage remain the
June 1, 2023By Gonz Alo
• No experiments from Dimas • Repetitive melody with an energetic bass • The pair reunited after 12 years. My respect for Angger Dimas has always remained particularly because of his unconventional and particular style. Give a listen to “Phat Brahms” with DV&LM and Aoki (not the 2.0) to get an exact measure of what
May 29, 2023By Gonz Alo
• Bass House infused with captivating vocal modulations • Polished bassline accompanied by impactful kicks • Breakdown showcases Cuebrick‘s unique touch Isaac Palmer‘s music is heavily influenced by Bass House, as evident in his previous releases such as “Pressure” and “Inception” (his debut on Maxximize Recordings alongside Tony Junior). His more recent track, “Can’t Remember,”
May 24, 2023By Gonz Alo
• Turkish vocals working surprisingly well • Lots of experience behind the structure • Hard-hitting psy bassline It’s been a while since I heard from Faruk Sabanci, the Turkish producer with a great discography, especially the ones on his erstwhile label Metanoia Music. I distinctly remember “:)” and “Be The One” on the said imprint
March 17, 2023By Gonz Alo
• 90s Trance revisited • Accompanied by impressive vocals • Euphoric instrumental Fans were speculating quite a bit when Calvin Harris teased that his next collaborative project with Ellie Goulding would be at a staggering 143 BPM. After all, it had been ten years since they last teamed up, and the world of electronic music