For Solarstone, ‘Slowmotion’ was supposed to be just-so-simple ... Hop over to Helsinki. Do a track with Orkidea. Fly home ... and release it.
Here we all are though, running up on twenty years later, and somehow one ‘single’ single has turned into the longest running release chain in electronic music history.
While Binary Finary brought ‘1998’ to a close at ‘2000’, Mauro was done ‘Lizard’-ing by the time ‘Komodo’ came around and Dave Clarke rested his ‘Red’ series at ‘3’, ‘Slowmotion’s numbers have just kept climbing. Key to that, is the relationship between Solarstone and Orkidea, and key to that is the connexion in their sonic ethics, life, the universe and (pretty much) everything.
More conventionally ‘Slowmotion’ releases do tend to be hung off numbers in an album series though. ‘Electronic Architecture 4’, ‘Pure Progressive 1’, Rich’s numerically morse coded ‘One’, ‘Two’ & ‘Three’ artist LP series .. and, it almost goes without saying ... ‘Pure Trance’ers too. Now surpassing even Jean Michelle-Jarre’s fabled ‘Oxygene’ singles (six if we’re counting), ‘Slowmotion VII’ enters, not incidentally, just as the pair gear up for ‘XI’ – ‘Pure Trance’s monumental eleventh instalment.
The relationship between ‘Slowmotion’s title and its music has always been onomatopoeic. Rich at his most progressive, Tapio at his houseiest, and the pair together in their most ‘Northern Exposure’-esque of modes. ‘VII’s music is as deeply embedded in the nocturnal as ever. Glacially flowing, narcotic-hypnotics, all with a salt-sea-air cinematic to their harmonies. Every liquid transition over its runtime coming less ‘mixed’ and more dissolved - its chords languidly pooling, ready to feed ‘Slowmotion’s next chug of momentum.
Starting to become numeric enough to warrant an album of its own (!), ‘Slowmotion’ locks in its seventh this month. Find it through all good sales and streaming platforms here: blackhole.lnk.to/SlowmotionVII
Tracklist:
01. Solarstone & Orkidea – Slowmotion VII (Extended Mix)
02. Solarstone & Orkidea – Slowmotion VII (Original Mix)
[review top="1"]
[item value="10"]Solarstone & Orkidea - Slowmotion VII [/item]
[content title="Summary" label="Overall Score"]Solarstone & Orkidea’s “Slowmotion VII” represents a pinnacle of progressive trance craftsmanship, seamlessly combining technical precision with profound emotional resonance. From the opening bars, the track immerses listeners in a glacially flowing soundscape, where each rhythmic pulse and melodic phrase is meticulously engineered. The rhythm, groove, and drive are perfectly calibrated at 128 BPM, enabling smooth synchronization in professional DJ sets while maintaining the hypnotic, chugging progression essential to its narrative flow. Each transition is executed with sonic finesse; the drops and build-ups emerge organically, feeling more like natural dissolutions than abrupt cuts, creating a deep sense of cohesion and storytelling that carries the listener through its extended runtime. The melodic hooks and harmonic layers are lush yet restrained, evoking the classic Northern Exposure aesthetic while embedding cinematic, salt-sea-air textures that enhance atmosphere and immersion. The harmonic structures are rich in emotional resonance, with carefully balanced chord progressions that elicit a meditative, almost narcotic effect. This immersive quality is supported by advanced sound design and production techniques: every element occupies a well-defined spatial location, with reverb and delay effects deployed to simulate vast sonic environments. Dynamic range and loudness are expertly managed, ensuring that the track feels expansive and detailed at both low and high playback levels, a crucial factor for both club and wellness applications. The originality of arrangement and structure is unmistakable, as “Slowmotion VII” avoids formulaic patterns in favor of a flowing, cinematic progression. Its deep, progressive nature lends itself to fitness and wellness classes, with research indicating that music with stable rhythmic patterns and high emotional engagement can improve focus, stamina, and mood regulation during physical activity (Karageorghis & Priest, 2012; Thaut et al., 2015). Moreover, the track’s meditative sonic qualities may promote positive effects on mental health by inducing alpha brainwave activity, which has been linked to stress reduction and enhanced relaxation (Jäncke, 2012). The track’s emotional resonance, combined with its catchiness and replay value, makes it an enduring choice not only for clubs and festivals but also for mental wellness practices such as yoga or guided meditation sessions. From a technical perspective, “Slowmotion VII” excels in cue point and loop potential, offering seamless integration into live sets. Its intro and outro structures are thoughtfully designed for mixing, providing DJs ample flexibility without compromising artistic identity. The energy flow is consistent and dynamic, building momentum gradually and maintaining a sense of forward movement that can elevate both dancefloor and therapeutic sessions. Crowd reaction potential is high due to the track’s cinematic tension and epic melodic swells, while its creative and artistic identity remain distinctive within the trance and progressive genres. #PureGold Loveit [/content][item value="10"]Rhythm, Groove & Drive[/item]
[item value="10"]Melodic Hooks & Harmonic Layers[/item][item value="10"]Transitions, Drops & Build-Ups [/item]
[item value="10"]Energy Flow & Momentum [/item]
[item value="10"]Sound Design & Production Quality[/item]
[item value="10"]Originality of Arrangement & Structure[/item]
[item value="10"]Use of Effects & Spatial Design[/item]
[item value="10"]Dynamic Range & Loudness Balance[/item]
[item value="10"]Atmosphere & Immersion[/item]
[item value="10"]Emotional Resonance[/item]
[item value="10"]Creativity & Artistic Identity[/item]
[item value="10"]Cohesion & Storytelling[/item]
[item value="10"]Vocal Performance & Lyrical Impact[/item]
[item value="10"]Catchiness & Replay Value[/item]
[item value="10"]Club / Festival Suitability[/item]
[item value="10"]Track Intro/Outro Structure[/item]
[item value="10"]BPM Consistency & Sync Ease[/item]
[item value="10"]Cue Points & Loop Potential[/item]
[item value="10"]Dynamic Energy for Set Flow[/item]
[item value="10"]Crowd Reaction Potential[/item]
[/review]
Suggested Bibliography:
Karageorghis, C. I., & Priest, D. L. (2012). Music in the exercise domain: A review and synthesis (Part I). International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 5(1), 44–66.
Thaut, M. H., McIntosh, G. C., & Hoemberg, V. (2015). Neurobiological foundations of neurologic music therapy: Rhythmic entrainment and the motor system. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 1185.
Jäncke, L. (2012). Music, memory and emotion. Journal of Biology, 7(6), 21.
Koelsch, S. (2014). Brain correlates of music-evoked emotions. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 15(3), 170–180.
Additional info: