Following on from debut offering ‘Open Up The Night’ and the heavily supported ‘Adeya’, Trance Wax’s ‘Aslan’ explores a new direction that will resonate with fans new and old. Drawing from both trance and drum ‘n’ bass whilst setting course for the sun with a luminous vocal presence, this track effortlessly flaunts its creator’s versatility.
Dimitri Kechagias review: [review top="1"] [item value="10"]Beat and Rhythm[/item] [item value="10"]Basslines and Groove[/item] [item value="10"] Melody [/item] [item value="10"] Synths [/item] [item value="10"]Breakdown[/item] [item value="10"]Climax / Drop / Crescendo / Pay off moment[/item] [item value="10"]Intensity, Drive and Energy[/item] [item value="10"]Sound-design and Arrangement[/item] [item value="10"]Overall Atmosphere[/item] [item value="10"]Goosebumps / Shivers moments[/item] [item value="10"]Emotional affinity and heartfelt moments[/item] [item value="10"]Originality and Inventiveness[/item] [item value="10"]Radio Friendly[/item] [item value="10"]Vocals & lyrics[/item] [item value="10"]You can’t get this memorable track out of your head[/item] [item value="10"]It has potential to become an anthem or a classic[/item] [item value="10"]Trance Wax - Aslan [/item]
[content title="Summary" label="Overall Score"]Trance Wax is one of these very charismatic artists with ability to absorb like sponge influences from the previous decades of electronic music and come up with something totally new and exciting. For instance the awesome Aslan is a magnificent travelling atmospheric moody tripping out cinematic drum n' bass beauty with old school rave style breaks influences while on top he sprinkles it with euphoric synths and pizzicato synthy plucks while the female vocal works perfectly to add the warm human element that you simply want to singalong. It's one of those tracks that dancefloors and Netflix creators will like as well as it sounds perfect as film or TV series soundtrack! #PureAudioDelight Love IT[/content]
Anjunadeep Explorations returns for its 22nd instalment, out June 2. The compilation series, a showcase of fresh talent from the global electronic music scene, has previously paved the way for many much-loved Anjunadeep mainstays over the years including Marsh, Simon Doty, and Luttrell and CRi.
The first track ‘Gemini’s’ is provided by South African artists Karyendasoul & Da Capo. Both are well-established producers in their own right; Kayrendasoul has collaborated with Black Coffee, and Da Capo earned double-platinum status in South Africa for his first album ‘Indigo Child’. The elegant and steady tension of ‘Gemini’s’ has seen the track already championed by label boss James Grant in sets and mixes, making it an impactful way to start this new compilation EP.
Artche is a DJ and producer hailing from Newcastle, whose debut collaboration with Christoph was released on Eric Prydz’s label Pryda Presents, and who recently featured on Anjunadeep star Simon Doty’s album ‘Universal Language’. His offering to Anjunadeep Explorations 22, ‘Bleed’, is a moody breakbeat track showcasing the kinds of atmospheric production prowess that’s seen him earn support from the likes of Pete Tong, Annie Mac and John Digweed.
Jats (ofc) and Kaive, a French duo formally known as ‘The Dualz’, have previously delighted on Anjunadeep with tracks including ‘Your Eyes’ and ‘Inside Me’. Under their fresh alias, the pair deliver a driving and emotive melodic house anthem ‘Hypnotize’.
‘Need You’, the penultimate track on the compilation is provided by Scottish producer and alumnus of Stress Records, James iD. His new offering is a masterclass in breakbeat production and showcases why he has been supported by the likes of Eelke Kleijn and Jody Wisternoff.
Finally, Chinese producer IPeiqi rounds off the release with ‘Redemption’; an emotive deep house cut with a rich chord progression, and a smooth final note on which to close out this Explorations EP.
Dimitri Kechagias review: [review top="1"] [item value="10"]Beat and Rhythm[/item] [item value="10"]Basslines and Groove[/item] [item value="10"] Melody [/item] [item value="10"] Synths [/item] [item value="10"]Breakdown[/item] [item value="10"]Climax / Drop / Crescendo / Pay off moment[/item] [item value="10"]Intensity, Drive and Energy[/item] [item value="10"]Sound-design and Arrangement[/item] [item value="10"]Overall Atmosphere[/item] [item value="10"]Goosebumps / Shivers moments[/item] [item value="10"]Emotional affinity and heartfelt moments[/item] [item value="10"]Originality and Inventiveness[/item] [item value="10"]Radio Friendly[/item] [item value="10"]Vocals & lyrics[/item] [item value="10"]You can’t get this memorable track out of your head[/item] [item value="10"]It has potential to become an anthem or a classic[/item] [item value="10"]Anjunadeep Explorations 22 [/item]
[content title="Summary" label="Overall Score"]Anjunadeep Explorations always showcases high class releases that stand out from the crowd and introduce us to artists that we should have an ear on as their output is definitely worth having in your digital collection. South African artists Karyendasoul & Da Capo present ‘Gemini’ that is a beautiful tribalesque deep melodic delicate house track with melancholic moody melodies and old school electronica synths along with cool percussion that add the organic crunchy flavor. Artche goes all the way breakbeat with superb esoteric male vocal, hypnotic melodies and tripping out atmosphere that sounds like exploring and swaying around empty roads and neon lights. Hair raising sounds perfect for Netflix series. Jats (ofc), Kaive provide the powerful energetic Hypnotize with excellent female vocals upon the pulsating basslines and floating synths while on top the melancholic delicate strings build the tension and keep our ears focused until the last beat. James iD with Need You delivers exceptional breaks with old school Ibiza trance euphoria touch to it with strong divaesque female vocal top line. Finally IPeiqi offer us the final chance for our Redemption with his upbeat atmosphere, optimistic flavor, strong organic percussion and touch of Chinese music as well. Excellent combination of tracks with substance and eternal appeal with the signature of Anjunadeep. [/content]
Anjunabeats is pleased to release the self-titled debut album from JODA, aka Jono Grant and Darren Tate.
JODA are a fresh musical pairing with shared DNA. Both together and apart, Jono Grant and Darren Tate have been there, done that, and bought the vintage synth gear to celebrate.
Grant is one-third of Above & Beyond who, over the course of a two-decade career, have established themselves as one of the biggest electronic groups in the world. Eight studio albums (including one as vocal trance group OceanLab and two acoustic reworks), 17 compilation albums, a film score, and nearing 100 singles speak to output as varied as it is prodigious. Their label Anjunabeats is home to a bustling community of artists with over twenty years of catalog.
As a classically trained musician, songwriter, producer, and hitmaker, Tate is an OG Top of the Pops-botherer. In the early noughties, at the outset of his career, he appeared on the show three times, once with Angelic, his collaboration with Judge Jules and the latter’s wife, performing classic trance banger It’s My Turn, then twice under the name Jurgen Vries. The following years saw more musical adventures, more Top 40 UK hits (12 in total), and more pseudonyms, including the trance-facing DT8 Project.
In 2003, the pair managed to sync their schedules to work on a couple of tracks, 'Let The Light Shine In' and 'Nocturnal Creatures'. Clearly, there was chemistry here. But as the pair’s respective careers subsequently took them off around the world in opposite directions, reconnecting other than fleetingly was never easy. Then in 2019 Tate returned to his trance roots and signed to Anjunabeats for his DT8 Project releases. Around the same time, Above & Beyond received an offer to score an environmental documentary, 'The Last Glaciers'.
“I'm musical, but I've never done a score before, which would be quite an undertaking. And I knew Darren was massively experienced at doing that, and I've always admired what he does in his film work. So my first thought was: why don't we do it with Darren?”
Jono and Darren got stuck into composing together, and it became a dream project all around – not least because it sparked further ideas. So, JODA was born. Working in Tate’s studio in suburban north London, and A&B’s south London HQ, the pair were in a creative bubble during the early days of the pandemic. And the partnership proved fruitful.
For now, Jono Grant and Darren Tate are simply happy that a project that began almost when neither of them was looking, in the midst of lockdowns, has turned out exactly and as fully as they imagined. Unforced, unhurried, and only done for love: this is a passion project of the best kind.
“It's one of the great things about doing this job: that we get to do this job!” concludes Darren Tate, beaming. “Jono and I love making music, we get on really well together, so we have fun doing it. We naturally have perfectionist instincts, but the vibe is the most important thing. So this is also rough around the edges in all the right ways."
“It absolutely is a passion project,” affirms Jono Grant. “The other thing was, of course, we've done this over the pandemic. So it was cathartic. We were lucky enough to be able to work. And this was therapy of the best kind.”
JODA’s self-titled debut album is out now on Anjunabeats. Vinyl copies of ‘JODA’, plus logo tee bundles are available to pre-order via the Anjuna Music Store.
Tracklist:
(0:00) Fall Away
(5:28) We Find Ourselves
(11:12) Try (Interlude)
(12:06) Try
(15:47) Closer
(20:46) Breaking Down Walls
(26:20) Air
(30:14) Shape Of Your Heart
(35:12) Spark
(40:58) Dark Strings
(45:41) Smile
(51:29) Coming Alive
(56:17) No One Walks Away
Dimitri Kechagias review: [review top="1"] [item value="10"]Beat and Rhythm[/item] [item value="10"]Basslines and Groove[/item] [item value="10"] Melody [/item] [item value="10"] Synths [/item] [item value="10"]Breakdown[/item] [item value="10"]Climax / Drop / Crescendo / Pay off moment[/item] [item value="10"]Intensity, Drive and Energy[/item] [item value="10"]Sound-design and Arrangement[/item] [item value="10"]Overall Atmosphere[/item] [item value="10"]Goosebumps / Shivers moments[/item] [item value="10"]Emotional affinity and heartfelt moments[/item] [item value="10"]Originality and Inventiveness[/item] [item value="10"]Radio Friendly[/item] [item value="10"]You can’t get this memorable track out of your head[/item] [item value="10"]It has potential to become an anthem or a classic[/item] [item value="10"]Joda - Joda [/item]
[content title="Summary" label="Overall Score"] The music fans of trance we are truly blessed to have in our community talented producers like Jono Grant and Darren Tate. Both of them they adore their art and their common project is an example of high quality electro pop with progressive trance and house infusions too. Great electro pop style melodies and warm welcoming atmosphere that makes you feel at home surrounded by cinematic strings, organic melodies and indie rock style vocals with lyrics that they have something nice to communicate and definitely go under the surface. Optimistic and colorful sounds demand for attention and endorsement away from music genre categories. Electronic music was always about transgressing the boundaries and escaping the ordinary so definitely this album will captivate you and quickly absorb you in its beautiful world. A new chapter started and we will be excited to see Joda live too. Pure Gold [/content]
“Powerful… beautiful… memorable… admirable” - L.A. Times
After initial forays beyond the realms of dance music production with his 2017 concept album ‘Blueprint’, Ferry Corsten now delves into the world of movies with his debut soundtrack providing the composition for David Gleeson’s 2018 thriller ‘Don’t Go’. After working with House of Cards screenwriter D. Harrington Miller on a storyboard upon which the ‘Blueprint’ album was written, Ferry Corsten’s interest in storytelling and conveying the emotion on-screen aurally were piqued, and with over 20 years of production under his belt there are arguably few dance producers better placed to explore the world of cinema than him.
The film is an intense rollercoaster of emotions, centred around the death of a young girl and the anguish and increasingly surreal experience the parents, played by Stephen Dorff and Melissa George, endure as they are pulled into a mystery surrounding the girl’s death, which causes the lines between dreams and reality to become blurred. The oscillating suspense and wonder are expertly soundtracked by Ferry Corsten, who pairs his extensive knowledge in electronic music with orchestral and traditional film music instrumentation to create a soundtrack that mirrors the events on-screen perfectly, ranging from the almost exclusively acoustic ‘Ben’s Nightmare’ to the heavily electronic ‘Hospital’, as all facets of Ferry’s illustrious production experience are put to use to portray the unfolding drama.
On working on his first film score, Ferry said “I have always been interested in soundscapes and using music to evoke emotional responses, so working with film is an area I have wanted to explore. I am grateful to have been able to work with David on my first soundtrack, and it is something I would like to expand on in the future.”
‘Don’t Go’ is out now in cinemas, and the soundtrack is available now.
