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Trance Review: Solarstone - Dolphin out on Black Hole Recordings



Overall Mark
10
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uplifting Trance Review 
Armin van Buuren
🎧 uplifting Trance Review
⌨️ Solarstone - Dolphin out on Black Hole Recordings
Where, in the infinite void of cinematic ethers, late-night synthery and soon-to-be-timeless melodies do the influential draw their own inspirations from? Well, in the case of ‘Dolphin’ - Solarstone’s gravitational new single, its muse point couldn’t be more documented.
And it’s nothing to do with aquatic mammals either.
Inspiration, as they say, can strike in the oddest of places, and true to that, ‘Dolphin’ has had more than a dash of happenstance to its inception.     
Per Solarstone himself, the track’s “a loose cover” of JB Dunckel’s (one half of legendary downtempo French duo AIR) tune of the same name. It came via a stray sound fragment from a departure lounge TV, where, post-Luminosity, ‘Dolphin’s original had snagged Solarstone’s attention. “Sitting in Schiphol, I Shazam’d it; and discovered ’Dolphin’ and ‘Paranormal Musicality’ (Dunckel’s 2024 solo album from which it’s taken). Having not heard much of JB’s music since ‘Everybody Hertz’, a while back, it took all of five seconds to get sucked back into it.”
Initially for his own entertainment, Rich crafted a rework, which latterly found its way into his sets as an ID weapon. At which point the internet stepped in and it came to Dunckel himself’s attention. Contact established, JB’s thoughts on the cover were relatively straightforward: "I love it!", and from there its path to today’s release became just as simple.
Translating its piano and string passages into rich analogue synths, Solarstone’s built something more floor-forward than the elegiac original - though arguably no less sophisticated. The more he worked on the cover, the more he felt it was becoming a counterpoint to 2026’s mainstream trance scene. “That”, he says, “feels ever more flooded with cheesy bastardisations of 90s trance hits. Instead of cheap nostalgia, ‘Dolphin’ offers the opportunity for something less obvious and, I feel, more emotionally complex.”
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SHOP NOW:  Solarstone - Dolphin             
Official Release Portfolio • Stream / Download / Purchase Full Single
🎧 Review by: Dimitris Kechagias
SUMMARY REVIEW
Solarstone’s latest single, "Dolphin," is an absolute masterpiece, earning a perfect 10 across all evaluated categories. This track stands out as a sophisticated counterpoint to the current mainstream trance scene, offering emotional complexity rather than cheap nostalgia. The production quality and sonic engineering are flawless, with rich analogue synths translating the original piano and string passages into something truly floor-forward. The melodic hooks are instantly captivating, ensuring high catchiness and replay value. Its immaculate arrangement and build dynamics guarantee a massive crowd reaction, making it a powerful weapon for any club or festival set. What truly elevates "Dolphin" is its unique backstory and artistic integrity. Originating as a loose cover of JB Dunckel’s (AIR) track of the same name—discovered by chance in an airport departure lounge—the track bridges the gap between legendary downtempo electronica and modern pure trance. By choosing to adapt a relatively obscure piece rather than relying on overused 90s samples, Solarstone demonstrates a profound creativity and artistic identity that deeply resonates with the listener, offering a breath of fresh air to the genre. With perfect scores in streaming algorithmic fit, cross-platform playlist versatility, and Shazamability, "Dolphin" is destined for widespread acclaim.. #PureGold #LoveIt
🏆 OVERALL TRACK SCORE: 10 (PURE GOLD)
Melodic Hooks And Harmonics
10
Sonic Engineering And Production Quality
10
Mixdown And Mastering Balance
10
Use of Effects And Spatial Design
10
Arrangement And Build Dynamics
10
Creativity And Artistic Identity
10
Atmosphere And Immersion
10
Emotional Resonance And Impact
10
Vocal Performance And Lyrics
10
Dancefloor Utility (Club/Festival)
10
Intro/Outro Mixability
10
Cue Points And Loop Potential
10
Energy Flow And Set Momentum
10
Crowd Reaction Potential
10
Catchiness And Replay Value
10
TikTok And Reels Edit Potential
10
Streaming Algorithmic Fit
10
Shazamability And Hook Recognition
10
Cross-Platform Playlist Versatility
10
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