Vernon - Vernon's Wonderland

The original mix is one of my all time trance favourites. It used to be the fulfillment of the night when it start playing back in the day. So simple, yet effective trance from the times when trance music used to be great.

Considering how high I rate the original personally, it probably is obvious that none of the remixes can top that, but it's not a bad record at all. In fact I think this is the one to buy rather than the original pressings because of more variated mixes.

The Carl Cox mix is pretty dull, and it is probably meant to be more techno-ish as well but the Sven Väth mix is really good. It has some tribalistic influences to keep it fresh but still has enough elements from the original mix.

Still, this record beats most of the anno 98 era trance tracks written.

'Vernon's Wonderland' is quite possibly the all time trance classic.

This track is the perfect marriage between modern classical symphonic and trippy hard edged euro trance. Forget what type of music you're into, you absolutely must listen to this. The spirit raising melodies come and go, drop and build to a logical conclusion, all the while underpinned by (original) Goa inspired technoid production values. It really is amazing how a track that is no longer than 8 minutes can take the listener on such a journey that you will be left feeling properly revitalised when it's all over.

Also look out for the accompanying promo video for this track. In fact the video was produced a few years later in 1996 for it's re-release. It features the Eye Q crew touring around Asia, meeting locals, and has mirrors this tracks 'happening' and life affirming vibe.

When purchasing new records, always use 'Vernon's Wonderland' as a comparison for how good music should sound.

What can I say? We all know the power of the Hybrid remix, and this cut is no exception. Hybrid dish out their "echoplex" mix, which is the four on the floor mix of their original breakbeat mix. Full of building energy, this mix breaks down into a killer breakbeat and rises back into 4/4 for the mix out. Flip for the breakbeat "Matrix Dub" which mellows the track down abit, but still works for the Adam Freeland/Kevin Beber crowd.

This is an almost perfect record, and one which became an all time classic in the early years of The Orbit. It's broad appeal stems from it's techno, trance, acid and new classical influences, which combine to produce an uplifting experience which never gets too hard. This was soon playing at all types of club and venue, but mercifully never undermined itself with a chart entry.

The B side begins with a beatless orchestral melody (The Past), which is followed by a lengthy acid builder (The Future), both of which reference Vernon's Wonderland without ever seeming like remixes.