Blink and you'll miss it. Wait too long and they're gone. Close your eyes for one second, and it's easy to forget just how much awe-inspiring music has come out recently. It's time once again for the absolute crème de la crème, and for Armada to do they do best. This is two mixes of pure trance as it was meant to be, focusing on just how amazing the genre has been and will be in 2014.
One of the things Armada has been able to do so well as a label is to keep the perfect continuum flowing between legendary founding artists and young, new talent. Understanding that a healthy scene relies on the right balance of both has been a strong point of Armada, and one of the reasons they've consistently been at the top of the game.
A quick glance at the tracklist will reveal masters like BT, Paul van Dyk, Cosmic Gate, Armin van Buuren, Paul Oakenfold, and Dash Berlin. Looking at the vocalists, we see JES, Christian Burns, Audrey Gallagher — all expert performers at the top of their game. These veterans serve as a constant reminder on this record of the importance key people can have on the shaping of a genre and even an entire scene. They remind the world of what quality means.
Picking up those cues, there is an exciting new breed of up-and-coming producers capable of formulating original and truly inspiring ideas to breathe life into dance music. Fractal, Antillas, and Dart Rayne are just a small sampling of the next generation of super-producers who seem too talented to be human.
Armada Trance 2014 is a veritable "who's who" of the thriving culture of trance, and will remind fans now and forever of the power of one of the greatest trance labels in the world. Dig in to the two mix set, get comfortable, and lose yourself in the capable hands of multiple generations of the best of the best trance producers around.
Dimitri Kechagias review: One of the most eagerly awaited compilation is definitely Armada Trance. The first part of this great compilation for 2014 is just released on all formats and includes fantastic tracks from the finest artists and of course the best trance anthems for the year so far! This compilation always includes many exclusives and 3 of them we got in our hands. First of all is the uplifting trance remix on Bogdan Vix & Renee Stahl anthem Forever by the uplifting trance wizard Suncatcher and Bogdan Vix. The result of their collaboration is a powerful uplifting trance remake that elevates the original to the next level. Tougher drums, energetic driving basslines, warm strings, addictive chord progression that gives you goosebumps and of course euphoric synths to charge your batteries and give you the intense rush you are waiting for to get from a high quality vocal trance classic like this one. Excellent arrangement that builds the tension nicely, allows enough space for the heartfelt performance by Renee Stahl to shine and brings the most appropriate climax with euphoric feel good positive synths and emotional melodies that touch you deep while you jump and dance so high until to catch the sky! This is #PureGold uplifting vocal trance beauty at its very best. Next exceptional exclusive is the fantastic collaboration between Allen & Envy & James Williams for the fantastic straight to the point uplifting trancer Ark (Original Mix). The hot trio of producers worked hard to deliver quality arrangement with tech trance elements combined nicely with uplifting trance. The breakdown is cinematic with great Renaissance style piano melody followed by massive classical orchestral music theme that can blow speakers and drive the crowds insane for sure. Its the moment you close your eyes and thousands of mental images passing in front of you. When the massive euphoric synthy riff appears you are ready to let yourself ago and fly away. The climax is real turbo booster that will give you the explosive energy you asked for. Just imagine yourself as the proud captain of a huge Concorde aircraft while you dance the night away with Ark. Last but not least is the trance classic Let The Light Shine In by the legend Darren Tate and remixed perfectly by the Malta superstars Tenishia who smash the house with their trademark progressive trance sound. Chunky groove, punchy energetic electrified basslines, warm strings, dark moody synthy stabs and fantastic application of the classic vocal that give you shivers and goosebumps whenever and wherever you hear it! It the right moment to raise those hands in the air, watch the sky and let your spirit fly high. The brilliant rave style distorted synthy melody comes in to increase intensity and wake up your senses. The climax is euphoric, uplifting and jumping as we expect from this outstanding duo. Tenishia never fail to impress and definitely were the best choice to revamp this eternal vocal trance classic. #PureGold Love iT
Disc 1:
1. Armin van Buuren - Save My Night (MaRLo Radio Edit) (03:29)
2. Dart Rayne & Yura Moonlight - Battleship (Radio Edit) (03:12)
3. Cosmic Gate - So Get Up (Heatbeat Radio Edit) (03:00)
4. David Gravell - Melbourne (Radio Edit) (03:34)
5. BT, JES & Fractal (USA) - Letting Go (Antillas & Dankann Radio Edit) (03:42)
6. Andy Moor - Fade To Light (Radio Edit) (03:36)
7. Christian Burns & Paul van Dyk - We Are Tonight (Radio Edit) (03:39)
8. Heatbeat & Rodrigo Deem - Felina (Radio Edit) (03:20)
9. Antillas - Adagio In G Minor (Antillas & Dankann Rework) (03:46)
10. Mark Sixma & Jerome Isma-Ae - Refused (David Gravell Radio Edit) (03:13)
11. Oxygen feat. Andrea Britton - Am I On Your Mind (Flashtech Radio Edit) (03:41)
12. Markus Schulz - Mardi Gras (03:52)
13. Orjan Nilsen - Between The Rays (Ali Wilson TEKELEC Radio Edit) (02:59)
14. Chakra - Home (Alexander Popov Radio Edit) (03:06)
15. Simon O'Shine & Ahmed Romel - L'Absente (Radio Edit) (03:44)
16. Allen & Envy and James Williams - Ark (Radio Edit) (03:55)
17. Arisen Flame - Dimension Of Space (Radio Edit) (03:33)
18. Photographer - Night Lights (Radio Edit) (04:38)
19. John O'Callaghan feat. Audrey Gallagher - Big Sky (Adam Ellis Radio Edit) (03:20)
20. Armin van Buuren - Ping Pong (Simon Patterson Radio Edit) (03:36)
21. Various Artists - Armada Trance 2014-001 (Full Continuous Mix, Pt. 1) (77:03.9999)
Disc 2:
1. Armin van Buuren & Andrew Rayel - EIFORYA (Radio Edit) (02:41)
2. Hazem Beltagui - The Fall Of Surus (Radio Edit) (04:00)
3. Solid Stone - For The Moment (Radio Edit) (03:16)
4. Darren Tate vs Jono Grant - Let The Light Shine In (Tenishia Radio Edit) (03:38)
5. Chris Schweizer - Phoenix (Radio Edit) (02:34)
6. MaRLo - Poseidon (Radio Edit) (03:30)
7. Dash Berlin feat. Chris Madin - Silence In Your Heart (Antillas Instrumental Radio Edit) (03:39)
8. Shogun - Erhu (Radio Edit) (03:16)
9. Denis Kenzo & Alexandra Badoi - Lifetime Change (Club Radio Edit) (03:48)
10. Alexandre Bergheau & AYDA - Wonderland (Radio Edit) (03:12)
11. Re:Locate vs Robert Nickson - Recognition (Radio Edit) (03:23)
12. Antony Waldhorn - Battleship (Radio Edit) (03:14)
13. Gaia - Empire Of Hearts (Radio Edit) (03:16)
14. Max Graham - The Evil ID (Mark Sherry Radio Edit) (04:53)
15. Matt Davey - Hadouken (Radio Edit) (03:24)
16. John Askew - Shine (Radio Edit) (04:15)
17. Paul Oakenfold - Cafe Del Mar (Activa Radio Edit) (03:52)
18. Amir Hussain & Allen Watts - Step Into My World (Radio Edit) (03:17)
19. Aly & Fila vs John O'Callaghan feat. Eli - Your Heart Is Mine (Fady & Mina Radio Edit) (03:32)
20. Bogdan Vix & Renee Stahl - Forever (Suncatcher & Bogdan Vix Radio Edit) (04:08)
21. Various Artists - Armada Trance 2014-001 (Full Continuous Mix, Pt. 2) (77:28)
Additional info: