Beautifully Wrapped, Tritonal Delivered The Future Of Trance Music Today

Note: This post was written late on Sunday, January 8, U.S. Pacific Time

Earlier today ( 8 Jan 2012) a truly memorable event in our trance world occurred. Anjunabeats Worldwide, already massively popular on internet radio, took a ride to universal levels as Tritonal took command of the two hour set. And what happened in those two hours can only be described as a uniquely epic, even historic experience. From the beginning beat to the very final melodic note, Chad and Dave defined the genre of trance music in today’s terms. Even more so, the set mix of melodic and vocal trance, progressive trance, trance vs. house mashups and just plain drive-it-to-the-core house/dance tracks painted a picture of where trance music is headed. With the foresight and immense talent they displayed in today’s set, it’s hard to believe they are only #83 on the DJ top 100 list. Clearly, they “get it” and understand the very soul of the future of trance itself.  Here’s how I know this to be true - With amazing ease, Tritonal delivered a solid two hour set of music that crossed sub-genres and touched the outer boundaries of trance. The brilliant mix of lyrical emotion, musical exhilaration and pure energy came together, flowing out of the speakers and wrapped around me like a welcomed summer breeze. This was clearly in evidence right from the opening track as the debut of the emotionally melodic “Promise You” by Fast Distance and Dimension stacked up seamlessly against Shaun Gregory’s heart-pounding remix of Craig Connelly’s “Manchester AM.” The set also included five amazing mash-ups, not the least of which was an amazing Coldplay vs. Gareth Emery vs. Fedde le Grand triple mashup of “Paradise in Tokyo”. Track after track just worked next to one another and there were even a few other surprises tossed in (which you’ll have to listen out for yourself).  It was the kind of set that I wanted to just keep going on and on, not unlike the massive, totally fulfilling hours-long live sets delivered by the likes of Armin van Buuren and Paul van Dyk in their time as visionary re-definers of trance. In today’s realm, my sense is that very few DJ/producers, such as Dash Berlin, DJ Shogun, tiDy and Cosmic Gate, have so far proven that they have the evolutionary vision to push limits and re-define the future of the trance music genre. Today, Tritonal showed the global audience that they have that same vision, insight and courage.  As I sat astonished and totally exhausted at the end of the two hours, I realized how abundantly clear today’s performance on Anjunabeats Worldwide was not just a beautiful two-hour set of great music, but a memorable and historic marker for the genre of trance itself.  The wonderful reality is this: Today, Tritonal blew open the doors on the future of trance and gave us all the opportunity to see, feel and hear it for ourselves.

The entire two hour set is available for download as a podcast on iTunes. Just search for Air Up There with Tritonal in the Podcast section of the iTunes Store.

 
F.Y.I: I’ll be witness to the future of trance in person when I see Tritonal live at Ruby Skye in San Francisco this coming Thursday night. Look back here next weekend for my review of what is sure to be an epic show.

One Amazing, Blow-The-Roof-Off Night – Dash Berlin at Ruby Skye

OK, I’ll admit it, I love Dash Berlin. When I first saw him live in March of this year, I tweeted out that Dash Berlin “was the future of trance.” I saw him play live again in October at the Lovevolution Afterparty in Oakland where he whipped a crowd of over 20,000 into full frenzy. I voted Dash Berlin as #1 in the world in the DJMag Top 100 poll (where he rose to #8 overall!) and then proclaimed him “amazing and hands-down the most energetic DJ in the genre.” When I prepared to see him live at Ruby Skye in San Francisco on December 21, I thought how could this guy top his previous performances? The answer came that night. As I stood in the mezzanine of the packed-to-the-doors club, the lights went down and the signature intro started, I realized this was going to be an amazing night. I have seen the “greats” of trance live before – Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, Above and Beyond – but only one DJ has ever been able to hold a club crowd in his grasp and literally control them from start to finish. That DJ is Dash Berlin. Seeing Dash Berlin live this time went far beyond his previous awesome performances. On this night, Dash Berlin took us on a ride - a ride like no other. The closest analogy I can give is that it was like riding the one, great thrill ride at the amusement park that you just never want to get off of. His mixes, including the chart-topping “Disarm Yourself”, the emotional “Better Half Of Me”, the beautiful “This Night” and the mesmerizing “Sanctuary” blew the roof and walls off of the club. Adding in such new “classics” like DJ Shogun’s “Lotus” and Cosmic Gate’s “Be Your Sound” brought a new, fresh future-forward vibe to the dance floor. By turning down the vocals at points and allowing the crowd to sing-in is not only brilliant, but connects each of us to him and the music itself. For two solid hours, I and everyone else within the walls of Ruby Skye were in synch with every move, every note, every word of what Dash Berlin played – not just “to” us, but “with” us. It is a connection with a DJ that is not only rare, but unique in the realm of trance music today. So, I’ll say it again…Dash Berlin IS the future of trance. If you want to experience more than just hot music in a club, more than a fun night on the dance floor, make seeing Dash Berlin a priority. It is not just an event, it is a mind-blowing, beautiful and memorable journey that you will feel and relate back to for the rest of your life.

Links are to videos by Larry Eiring on my YouTube Channel.

Shogun Delivers an Explosive Remix of Better Half of Me

It goes without saying that the previously released mixes of Dash Berlin’s Better Half of Me are amazing - they are still topping the charts across the globe. But waiting has it's rewards. DJ/producer Shogun has now delivered a remix that can only be termed as explosive, heart-thumping and full of raw energy. Dash Berlin feat. Jonathan Mendelsohn - Better Half of Me (Shogun Remix), off of the new Dash Berlin feat. Jonathan Mendelsohn Better Half of Me, The Remixes, Part 2, drives the sound straight to the dance floor with pounding bass beats that unabashedly mix into and play off of Jonathan Mendelsohn’s beautiful vocals from end to end. The level of energy Shogun gives the track is so totally powerful – you can feel the club floor pulsating even sitting in your chair at home – there is enough electric here to light up all of L.A.! In mid-track, swirling strings rise above melodic waves, beautifully dancing around the vocals ending with an incredible return of bass-beat that grabs you with the signature power-sound Shogun has made his own. If you were waiting for a knock-the-walls-down remix of Better Half of Me to dance to, then this one is it. There is no doubt Dash Berlin will be spinning this remix in the clubs and blowing the walls down across the western U.S. this week. I’m hoping the energy of this remix will be unleased tomorrow and Thursday nights when I see Dash Berlin LIVE in San Francisco and Costa Mesa. – I'll be sure to let you know what it felt like on Friday – right here on my Future Of Trance blog!

Dash Berlin feat. Jonathan Mendelsohn - Better Half of Me (Shogun Remix) - Aropa (Armada)

This one will be out exclusively on Beatport December 26th and on other portals on January 9th!

Shogun Keeps Up the Momentum with Space Odyssey (Original Mix) and Lotus (Original Mix)

Futuristic-focused trance/progressive producer Shogun spins off a pair of real melodic trance gems with Space Odyssey (Original Mix) and Lotus (Original Mix).
SpaceOdyssey (Original Mix) is one of those trace tracks that not only you can’t ignore, but you want to hear more of. From the slow melodic entry complete with voice-over and countdown, through a paced build up and increasing bass, to what can only be called the “take-off point”, Shogun keeps you captivated from the very start. Then the real ride begins. Wavering melodies play back and forth with pounding bass that can only be described as a real interstellar journey! This is one track that really comes forth as its title describes!

First revealed as part of Armin Van Buuren’s Universal Religion Chapter 5,  Lotus (Original Mix) is one beautiful track.  I have always enjoyed the warm, future-forward sounds produced by Shogun and have marveled in seeing his sound grow more and more unique with every new release.  With Lotus, Shogun’s redefining of melodic trance in his own style has reached a new milestone. Starting with a pounding bass-line and building into the signature Shogun melodic style, a perfect vibe rides us on an easy-to-feel wave that slowly builds with energy. It is almost as if you can see the lotus bloom rising out of the water with a determined air about what it is going to accomplish. Then, just as you expect a major explosion, Shogun gives us the opposite. A gentle rising melody with soft vocals tell us to “breathe…” and watch the lotus "rise and revive."  That's exactly just what happens. The melody rises up and the lotus rises with you into a powerful and thrilling bloom of bass and melodies. This is one amazingly beautiful track with all of the rich feel and sensations that Shogun has become known for.

If you want to know what it means to “dream the trance dream” then Space Odyssey (Original Mix) and Lotus (Original Mix) will let you know exactly what it is! This is what I mean when I say "this is the future of trance!"  I know I’ll be listening and dreaming to this pair of tracks a lot over the coming weeks!

Shogun - Space Odyssey (Original Mix) and Lotus (Original Mix)- Armind (Armada)

Shogun Remix Brings John O'Callaghan's Perfection Home

Irish superstar DJ John O’Callaghan’s latest album “Unfold” contains a myriad of sensational tracks, including “Perfection”, but now producer Shogun has pulled together what I think will be the definitive remix of the track. The underlying warmth of Perfection (Shogun Remix) is highlighted with just the right amount of upbeat in the bassline. Swirling melodic up-tones wrap around the vocals of Cathy Burton like a velvet glove on a beautiful hand. All the while, you are being transported – in classic O’Callaghan style- gently upward to a nicely floating break-point, momentum building, energy rising until BAMMMM!, the gates open and it’s off to high-drive on the dance floor. Yes, John O’Callaghan and Shogun have given us a little bit of perfection for us to dance to over this coming winter in the clubs. Thank you!!

Perfection (Shogun Remix) lands at #18 on the Beatport Trance Top 100 this week.

John O'Callaghan feat. Cathy Burton - Perfection (ShogunRemix) – Armada / Subculture Records