Showing posts with label Hypnotised. Show all posts

05:15:00

 




FEATURING TIMELESS WHITE ISLAND CLASSICS FROM CHICANE, SOLARSTONE, TIËSTO, THREE DRIVES, ENERGY 52, FERRY CORSTEN, ARMIN, RANK 1, SVENSON, GABRIEL & DRESDEN + MANY MORE

Having docked at Trance ports near and far, in May 2026, ‘Hypnotised’ - the genre’s quintessential musical companion, embarks on its sister series. The brainchild of Arjan Rietveld, (also author of Hypnotised - A Journey Through Trance Music, the definitive written history on the subject), its focus shifts from a by-country standpoint to that of a sub-genre to sub-genre exploration.

‘Hypnotised – Balearic Trance’ joins the dots between the genre’s defining moments, linking together undisputed anthems like Three Drives’ immortal ‘Greece 2000’, York’s ‘Reachers of Civilization’, and Solarstone’s ‘The Calling’. It counterweights them with deeper cut crate-diggers like the Transformer Too-riffing ‘La Paloma’ from Dove Beat, Goldenscan’s chiming ‘Sunrise’, and the holiday yearn of ‘One More Day’ from Mr. Sam vs Tim Coltrane. Lost summers, seaside atmospheres, coastal essence and sunset culture all come together on the magnificent ‘Hypnotised – Balearic Trance’.

Where in the world were you in the late 90s!?

Well, if the two things you enjoyed most were clubbing and going on holiday, chances are you found yourself in the Balearics. That, along with the surging popularity of the genre, made Balearic Trance less a chance happening and far closer to a forgone conclusion.

Its origin point, however, was anything but. It was subconsciously conceived in the last place anyone might’ve imagined — that bastion of the beatless, Café del Mar. In its earliest form, it was essentially chillout with beats: an ostensibly incongruous idea that nonetheless proved instant floor alchemy.

Some contend that Balearic Trance was conclusively born the moment Chicane placed a kickdrum underneath his Del Mar classic ‘Offshore’. ‘Hypnotised - Balearic Trance’ however begins with ‘Offshore’s own resonant overture, ‘Already There’. Waypoint set, its compass points in the unambiguously, horizon-chasing direction. The trill of Three Drives’s immortal ‘Greece 2000’, the buoyant bob of Nalin & Kane’s ‘Beachball’ and York’s ‘Reachers Of Civilization’ (in its killer Rank 1 remix form) waste no time in leaving their nostalgic mark. The album then turns its attentions to the coastal ethers of Ferry ‘Albion’ Corsten’s ‘Air’ and the Summerbreeze Mix (courtesy of Tiësto) of Jaimy & Kenny D’s ‘Caught Me Running’ - tracks that are the quintessence of the sub-genre’s melodic and sun-suffused language.

Subtitled ‘Indoor’, its second part begins at what many consider the apex of both Balearic Trance and peak Ibiza - the year 2000. ‘Hypnotised’ briefly stills its waters with The Auranaut’s languid ‘People Want to Be Needed’. As quickly upticking its hypnotic pulse though comes Armin van Buuren/Justine Suissa collab ‘Burned With Desire’ and the Gabriel & Dresden remix of Andain’s ‘Beautiful Things’. Lightscape (Mark Otten) and Jonas Steur’s Estuera project supply it ‘Inner Warmth’ and the ISOS classic ‘Tales from the South’, while Solarstone’s remix of Whirlpool’s ‘Under the Sun’ further deepens its sense of nostalgic drift. Right on time, the chanting momentum of Filterheadz’s ‘Yimanya’ arrives, melodically and expressively stirring the album’s atmospheres.

While some might make the case for Chicane, for many it was Energy 52’s ‘93 classic, ‘Café Del Mar’ that was Balearic Trance’s first gleaming. Outdoors, its final disc, opens with Michael Woods fabled remix - an ambient roots-return, which itself became a Cafe classic. From there, ‘Hypnotised’ effectively closes its own circle, moving from an ‘ambient-trance’ state to one of ‘trance-ambience’. ‘Galaxia’ under Ferry Corsten’s Moonman guise, ‘The Calling’ from Solarstone and the Sunset Mix of Rank 1’s ‘Airwave’ all appear in their most chilled forms. Closing its journey out, Hemstock & Jennings’s ‘Mirage’, ‘Melodica’ from Leama, and Planisphere’s wider-than-widescreen ‘Moonshine’ each provide something as transportive and spiritually shining as the next. Over 27 tracks and nearly four hours of magical memories, ‘Hypnotised’s sister series launches in the finest way possible.


Hypnotised presents Balearic Trance



Disc 01. 1990s
01. Chicane - Already There
02. Dove Beat - La Paloma (Ocean Mix Remastered)
03. Three Drives On A Vinyl - Greece 2000 (Extended Mix)
04. Nalin & Kane - Beachball (Extended Vocal Mix)
05. Albion - Air (Extended Mix)
06. Jaimy & Kenny D. - Caught Me Running (DJ Tiësto’s Summerbreeze Mix)
07. York - Reachers Of Civilization (Rank 1 Remix)
08. Goldenscan - Sunrise (Pulser 6AM Remix)
09. Svenson - Clubbin' On Sunshine (Abnea Remix)




Disc 02. 2000s / Indoor
01. The Auranaut - People Want To Be Needed (Sunrise Mix)
02. Armin van Buuren featuring Justine Suissa - Burned With Desire
03. Veit - Sky (Magik Muzik Remix)
04. Andain - Beautiful Things (Gabriel & Dresden Unplugged Mix)
05. Lightscape - Inner Warmth
06. Estuera - Tales From The South
07. Whirlpool - Under The Sun (Solarstone Remix)
08. Mr. Sam vs Tim Coltrane present The Tribute - One More Day (Extended Mix)
09. Filterheadz - Yimanya




Disc 03. 2000s / Outdoor
01. Energy 52 - Café Del Mar (Michael Woods Remix)
02. Solarstone - The Calling (Ambient Mix)
03. Moonman - Galaxia (Eliot J Remix)
04. Rank 1 - Airwave (Sunset Mix)
05. Envio - Touched By The Sun (Rusch & Elusive’s Chill Out Mix)
06. Hemstock & Jennings - Mirage (Extended Chill Mix)
07. Leama - Melodica (Ambient Mix)
08. Planisphere - Moonshine (Ambient Mix)
09. Conil - Malibu Beach (Extended Mix)

Top 20 Reasons Why Balearic Trance Is So Popular

Atmospheric Melodies – Its dreamy, melodic layers create an instantly captivating atmosphere.
Island Vibes – The sound captures the essence of relaxing on a sunny Mediterranean beach.
Emotional Journeys – Tracks evoke deep emotional responses, often feeling like a musical journey.
Perfect for Sunsets – Its slower, hypnotic rhythms pair beautifully with sunsets and scenic views.
Smooth Transitions – DJs love its fluid structure, allowing seamless transitions between tracks.
Versatility in Settings – Works for both beach parties and late-night chill-out lounges.
Positive Energy – Uplifting without being overly intense, offering a blissful mood.
Cultural Heritage – Rooted in Ibiza’s Balearic music culture, giving it authenticity and history.
Timeless Classics – Many tracks from the 90s and 2000s still feel fresh and relevant.
Global Appeal – Recognized and loved by trance fans worldwide, not just in Europe.
Organic Inspiration – Often incorporates natural sounds like waves, birds, or wind.
DJ-Friendly BPM – Typically sits in a range that is easy to mix and layer for live sets.
Support from Iconic Labels – Releases from major trance labels keep the subgenre alive.
Influence on Modern Trance – Inspired progressive and deep trance variations.
Festival Favorite – Fits perfectly in daytime festival sets and beach club events.
Relaxation and Therapy – Its soothing soundscapes are often used for stress relief and meditation.
Innovative Production Techniques – Producers experiment with lush pads and creative layering.
Nostalgia Factor – For many, it recalls the golden age of Ibiza and early trance culture.
Community Connection – Balearic trance gatherings foster a warm, welcoming community vibe.
Evolving Yet Classic – Continues to adapt to modern sounds while preserving its core identity.

Balearic Trance thrives because it blends relaxation with euphoria, making it a soundtrack for both the dance floor and peaceful escapes.

Additional info:

03:10:00

 




FEATURING LEGENDARY PRODUCTIONS FROM LUMINARIES INCLUDING DELERIUM, MARKUS SCHULZ, BT, JES, RABBIT IN THE MOON, SANDRA COLLINS, DEEPSKY, NEIL KOLO & CHRIS FORTIER’S FADE, CONJURE ONE & MANY OTHERS

After previous stop-offs in The Netherlands, Germany, The UK and Belgium, May 2025 finds ‘Hypnotised’ - the country-by-country-hopping history of trance music - reaching American shores. There it explores one of the genre’s lesser told yet equally fascinating tales. The fifth album in the series is again compiled by Arjan Rietveld, author of its encyclopaedic companion book, Hypnotised: A Journey Through Trance Music 1990 – 2005.

To a significant extent, the American trance scene evolved inside its own bubble. Ocean-crossing breakout acts were rare, which gave the scene space to develop a distinct sound and identity – one that was driving yet linear, progressive, more tribal, and less focused on the melodic elements that dominated the European landscape. Over time, certain elements of the sound were adapted to suit the unique demands of the legendary U.S. desert raves in Arizona, Nevada, and California. In its formative years especially, American trance also leaned toward the experimental, which is where ‘Hypnotised: A Journey Through American Trance Music’ begins its story.

On his way to becoming a housemaster, Dennis ‘Aurasphere’ Ferrer’s trippy, near beatless ‘The Greenhouse Effect’ literally came by way of NYC’s EXperimental label. Around that same time, the IST label’s Orb-answering ‘Dark Black Ominous Clouds’ and ‘Carousel’ (from Disintegrator and Koenig Cylinders respectively) sonically carried the comet trail signatures of New York’s early nineties rave sound. Through the works of Rabbit In The Moon, Florida also made a big early impression on the scene. Released through their Tampa-based Hallucination label, ‘O.B.E (Out-Of-Body Experience)’ was a blissfully tripped out, sun-bleached stare-at-the-sky number, which was hammered afterhours by Sasha, in turn bringing R.I.T.M. to international attention.

1997’s ‘Heart Sequences’ by Aquarhythms marked the integration of other key stylistic elements into the American sound. Released on California’s Astralwerks, a label known for favouring ambient and electronica-tinged aspect, it introduced a transitory shift toward more textured productions. Perhaps the most internationally impactful force at the time, however, was the trio of Neil Kolo, Chris Fortier, and the Fade label. Their distinctively harmonic, progressive-trance approach found receptive audiences across Europe. By way of the ethnic chants of Kolo’s ‘Track One’ Steve Porter’s sleek ‘Adaptor’ and Fade’s racing, ‘The Love’, ‘Hypnotised: America’ showcases three of their finest pieces. From Florida’s Fade, the album moves on to Arizona’s Plastik Records, and the debut of Markus Schulz - with the halcyon, breakbeat-struck desert rave classic ‘You Won't See Me Cry’. It features alongside Vertigo Deluxe’s blissed out ‘In Dark Skies’ and Hyper-X’s significantly more stomping ‘Out There’.

There is some irony that the North American scene rolled deeper than some other countries yet produced (in Delerium’s ‘Silence’) arguably the entire global scene’s single most recognizable moment. As it reaches its third disc, ‘Hypnotised: America’ celebrates Nettwerk America, who alongside ‘Silence’ (featured here in its original 11+ minute Fade form), also fielded BT & Kirsty Hawkshaw‘s ‘Dreaming’ and Conjure One’s haunting collaboration with Sinéad O'Connor, ‘Tears From The Moon’. Resettling back on the West Coast, LA’s Fragrant label gifts the compilation not only the acid bubble of Sandra Collins’s ‘Red’, but also Deepsky’s propellant ‘Stargazer’. The release wraps up with the Dream Music stable, which hit big out of the gate with the revered ‘Time’ (that so memorably opened Paul Oakenfold’s revered ‘Tranceport’ mix-comp). It’s included along with Sylvane’s harmonically journeying ‘Voices’ and Mike Olson’s Guardians of the Earth debut, ‘Starchildren’.

Through one album, nine labels and twenty-seven tracks, ‘Hypnotised: America’ combines buried treasures with some of the genre’s most iconic works. A must for collectors, genre adherents and crate diggers alike. It’s released on May 16 through Black Hole Recordings. HERE

Tracklist: 

CD 01 - EXperimental / Hallucination / IST
01. Aurasphere - The Greenhouse Effect
02. Symphony Of Love - Quantum Leap
03. Bio-Dreams - Dream Sequence 1
04. Rabbit In The Moon - O.B.E (Out-Of-Body Experience)
05. Second Hand Satellites - Orbit
06. Hazed - Percussion
07. Lenny Dee featuring DJ Micalizzi - I Have No Love
08. Disintegrator - Dark Black Ominous Clouds 
09. Koenig Cylinders - Carousel

CD 02 - Astralwerks / Fade / Plastik
01. Lida Husik & Beaumont Hannant - Textured
02. Aquarhythms - Heart Sequences
03. Spacetime Continuum - Freelon
04. Kolo - Track One (Original Transmission Mix)
05. Steve Porter - Adaptor
06. Chris Fortier and Neil Kolo pres. Fade featuring Dauby - The Love (Sanctuary Dub)
07. Hyper-X - Out There
08. Markus Schulz - You Won't See Me Cry
09. Vertigo Deluxe featuring Margeaux Fernandez - In Dark Skies

CD 03 - Nettwerk America / Fragrant / Dream Music
01. Conjure One featuring Sinéad O'Connor - Tears From The Moon
02. Delerium featuring Sarah McLachlan - Silence (Sanctuary Mix)
03. BT featuring Kirsty Hawkshaw - Dreaming
04. Pure Nova - Pure Elements
05. Sandra Collins - Red
06. Deepsky - Stargazer
07. Sylvane - Voices
08. Dream Traveler - Time
09. Guardians of the Earth - Starchildren



Additional info:

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