Signalling a new era for Trance Wax, ‘Open Up The Night’, the highly anticipated second studio album of the Belfast-born DJ and producer, dropped today via Armada Music.
Serving as a love letter to clubs, the sixteen-track journey through nostalgia-infused, genre-crossing modern trance marks Trance Wax’s evolution from his early days of adapting trance classics for today's dance floor. He now homes in on new, club-minded interpretations of the sound, showcasing an expansive sonic palette.
Artwork designed by acclaimed visual artist Dan Tombs, who is most notably responsible for creating and performing visuals for John Hopkins’ 'Singularity' tour, Fred Again.. and, most recently, Nia Archives.
Created first and foremost with a club setting in mind, the album builds track by track, mirroring Trance Wax's approach to a DJ set.
"I didn't set out to write an album, it just happened, really," said Garry McCartney (Trance Wax) on the origins of 'Open Up The Night'. "DJing in clubs was something I really missed when we couldn't do it a couple of years ago, and I suppose I channelled that yearning for being back behind the decks and in front of a crowd into making these tracks."
Setting the tone is the album's title track, spearheaded by dark sound effects, heavy drops and a nostalgic vocal sampled from Terrence Parker’s ‘Open Up Your Spirit’. By the album's fourth track, 'Aslan', listeners are introduced to themes of drum and bass, married with the hallmarks of a Trance Wax record. The euphoria continues to build in tracks such as 'So Alone', 'Adeya' and 'Artificial Intelligence', with a sonic foray into techno and elsewhere breakbeat-infused iterations of trance.
“This album really is a club record, so listeners will notice a switch-up in BPM compared with the last album,” Trance Wax goes on to explain. “It's a reflection of what I love listening to, be it trance or other genres, but it's mostly the product of a good few years of experimentation and thinking outside of the box. Besides a handful of samples, everything has been made from scratch, which I'm really proud of.”
The album is rounded off with 'Rhythm Of The Night', a bootleg of Corona’s 1993 hit that was released digitally for the first time back in August. Previously available only on a limited 646-copy vinyl run, the track has been highly requested by fans and DJs alike following support from tastemakers such as Romy of The xx, Job Jobse, Keinemusik, Âme, Michael Bibi and more.
‘Open Up The Night’ is now available via Armada Music as a high-quality double pack vinyl and via streaming platforms. Find it
HERE
Track List
1. Trance Wax - Open Up The Night
2. Trance Wax - Dark Space
3. Trance Wax - Antiga
4. Trance Wax - Aslan
5. Trance Wax - So Alone
6. Trance Wax - Adeya
7. Trance Wax - Artificial Intelligence
8. Trance Wax - Ascend
9. Trance Wax - Your Journey
10. Trance Wax - Distance
11. Trance Wax - Innerpeace
12. Trance Wax - Love Me Higher
13. Trance Wax - Larus
14. Trance Wax - Only You
15. Trance Wax - The Story
16. Trance Wax - Rhythm Of The Night
Dimitri Kechagias review:
[review top="1"]
[item value="10"]Trance Wax - Open Up The Night [/item]
[content title="Summary" label="Overall Score"]It's huge pleasure for any trance digger to listen the brand new and highly anticipated album by Trance Wax. The well known and trusted artist delivers the finest modern trance album that sounds futuristic but still so nostalgic and 90's infused that will make the hearts of older to beat faster and the younger listener will explore how the 90's sound can be redesigned and remodeled in current soundscapes. Open Up The Night is energetic pumping journey with big euphoric synths and diva style vocals that recall sweaty warehouse raves. Dark Space moves within the realm of deep melodic techno with mesmerizing female vocals with nice dark synthy chords. Antiga is the perfect tribal tech trancer with balearic touches perfect to build anticipation. Aslan is an exciting drum n bass journey with that spacey floating feeling that washes away the pain and let u travel without moving. So Alone is full headbanging anthem with spanky beats, anthemic synths, balearic voices and constant progression to keep you great company and not feeling alone. Bumping energetic and mainstage friendly is Artificial Intelligence. Ascend is feel good euphoric full on uplifting banger that Armin will adore for sure. Your Journey is nostalgic hypnotic mesmerizing beauty that unfolds nicely. Distance is dynamic cinematic breaks that film soundtracks and tv series makers will find hard to resist and not included in their productions. Innerpeace is fantastic trancer that has the dark spoken vocal and the big anthemic synths to do the magic. Love Me Higher utilizes great early eurodance/trance diva style vocals with big electric rave style synths in the climax to drive the crowds mad with the word peaktime written all over it. Larus is an excellent monster with pounding techy kicks, energetic basslines and really simple but sweat synthy riffs. Only You is powerful mainstage trance funtastic track that will bring dynamism and intensity straight away. The Story is rough and edgy rave fast track with pitched vocals to do the trick and finally the top Rhythm Of The Night breaks style version that closes the proceedings in the finest way. #PureGold LoveIT [/content]
[item value="10"]Beat and Rhythm[/item]
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[item value="10"] Melody [/item]
[item value="10"] Synths [/item]
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[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]
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Trance Wax will embark on a tour from October:
13.10 - Coroners Court - Bristol
14.10 - Mash House - Edinburgh
20.10 - Index - Dublin
24.10 - Digital - Newcastle
27.10 - Jaeger - Oslo
28.10 - Stealth- Nottingham
10.11 - Joshua Brooks - Manchester
11.11 - Hangar 34 - Liverpool
16.11 - Sub Club - Glasgow
01.12 - Limelight - Belfast
02.12 - Unit 8 Warehouse, Derry
08.12 - Geisha - Perth
09.12 - Bloom - Geelong
10.12 - Revolver - Melbourne
Trance Wax is a true master of his craft.
It was almost inevitable that growing up with a love for trance would eventually result in Garry McCartney releasing his own interpretations of the sound. From Trance Wax’s origins in 2016 as an outlet for the Belfast-based artist’s remixes of the genre, the alias of Ejeca is firmly cemented as a key player in the contemporary trance landscape.
He now shifts into a fresh artistic chapter, having shared the previous self-titled album via Anjunabeats amidst a period where dancefloors were merely a figment of the imagination. Sophomore album ‘Open Up The Night’ via independent dance label Armada Music is a club-oriented 16-track heater, championed by frontrunners including The xx’s Romy, Keinemusik and KI/KI. Trance might be the genre becoming cool again - seminal international names including Bicep, Solomum, Tiësto and Calvin Harris are playing, or producing, the sound - but Trance Wax remains firmly rooted to his ethos. He is unafraid to be pioneering within the scene to distinguish himself, exemplified through his live setup, although the pride he feels witnessing the success and acclamation of music he has shared for years is immense.
This artistic drive of Trance Wax - unapologetically sharing the genre he loves in innovative ways - directly correlates to the recognition garnered since the birth of the project some years ago. A Radio 1 Essential Mix in the alias’ early days set precedent for the forthcoming success for the already-respected artist, landing during a period where the genre was almost taboo to audibly enjoy. Add a front-running Boiler Room in Montreal, a helping of self-titled US-based radio shows with Insomniac and a string of sold out white label vinyl to the mix - plus collaborations with icons of the trance genre including Ferry Corsten and Moya Brennan, plus remixes for key players including Solomun and Agents Of Time - and you can understand the scale of appreciation for Trance Wax.
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