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Hammer & Funabashi - Moments - 27-Aug-06 10:34 AM
This release follows the blueprint for any release touched by Funabashi; progressive trance with a full-on bass line and Funabashi’s essential semi-whining leading melody. It all makes for great listening. This track is first intriguing when the strong bass line underlines Angela Heldmann’s vocals. After the percussion kick, the track moves along with a trance feel, and finally reaches its full beauty when that semi-whining melody rolls over the entire track. One more kick and it all comes back once more, to then be rounded out with another short vocal verse. The Thomas Penton remix is fully loaded with percussion, as per his style. It’s a good track, but I’d say the original is a great track. After this release by Funabashi, along with their Daylight track on Coldharbour Recordings, I now look forward to new ways the duo will implement their signature production elements.

Marcel Woods - Advanced - 27-Aug-06 10:34 AM
Despite being absolutely played to death by trance DJs across the globe, Advanced is still a hard-trance bomb. Early on, the ripping bass line is punctuated with fitting percussion and ghostly vocals. The listener is then is teased towards a powerful melody that eventually fades into the foreground. After one slighter fadeout and a quick drum kick, the whole track comes together and breaks down with that catchy melody. While the original mix has caught on well, to say the least, the b-side remix has not been as fortunate. While still a fair listen, the Ton T.B. remix seems to lose the edge and strength on which the original version is built. Nonetheless, this release is solid. It seems like the entire trance world has been playing this track since it found the hands of the big DJs and I’m sure it’ll continue on in remix form and on compilation albums for years to come.

Inertia (8) - The Chamber - 27-Aug-06 08:17 AM
The original mix of this release is filled with elements heard throughout John O’Callaghan’s list of productions. It is a very traditional trance track with a build-up complete with compounding synth-effects and rolling drums, but it works very well. The melody is quite simple once the breakdown kicks in, but the whistle-like background effect helps to carry it with strength. I’ve heard the track played live and the uplifting emotion is well delivered. While the original mix could be a launch pad into late night trance, the remix by Chris Hampshire pushes the listener neither higher nor lower. The remix is oriented towards the bass line and stays away from the uplifting approach of the original. It’s not as captivating as the original version and leaves you looking for more. Sticking to the original mix myself, this was definitely one of my favourite trance tracks of 2005.

Fictivision - Out Of Orbit - 10-Jan-06 02:12 AM
Though the Phynn remix does make a good attempt at giving an edge to the track, and is a good tune, the original mix is by far the highlight on this release. An emotional track, Out Of Orbit is a great example of trance moving beyond sweeping synth effects and into more inventive sounds while still maintaining that emotional appeal that grips the listener. Throw this record on and go straight to the break around the middle. The build-up of the harp-like sounds creates a pleasing melody that carries the track to great heights and solidifies this tune as one of my favourites of 2004.

Above & Beyond vs. Andy Moor - Air For Life - 13-Sep-05 11:20 PM
In hindsight, it makes perfect sense that the union of Above & Beyond and Andy Moor would yield such a great release. What has always made Above & Beyond’s music enjoyable has been their use of beautiful vocals, captivating trance bass, and quality hands-in-the-air production overall. With time, their tracks and remixes have become more refined and professional, and I have come to expect quality trance from them. Now think of Andy Moor’s work leading up to this release and the list of productions and remixes is quite long. Great work like Halcyon, and remixes of Luminary’s My World, Wasting, Ridgewalkers’ Find, and Sonorous’ Protonic are all marked with Andy Moor’s eerie vocal effects and signature tearing bass. Couple that with the aforementioned aspects of Above & Beyond’s work, and it would make perfect sense for all of these great tools to come together well. In other collaborations, the product is not what you’d expect; the producers don’t meld their strengths to make a great hybrid of their respective sounds. However, on this release, that hybrid effect does indeed come through. Air For Life is the result of hard work, and it’s a brilliant, uplifting, and pounding track. Flip it over for a beautiful, deep mix by Airwave and you’ve got a pair of tunes worthy of playing repeatedly. Played out by amateurs, up-and-coming DJs, and big players like Armin van Buuren, Markus Schulz, and Ferry Corsten; this one will be remembered.

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