Commander Tom – Volume One

For anyone wondering about the vocal sample (there are a lot of speculations out there what it may say). Tom himself confirmed it many years ago in a Facebook Group when he was asked about it. The correct answer is "make a funky beat". It's not "make some tea" and it's also not "6 gramm Speed", as funny it may be! :)

Are Am Eye is one of the greatest Electronic songs ever made, it is up there with The First Rebirth as the quintessential Hard Trance track. It was the highlight of many parties in the 1990s, bringing joy, happiness and true Ecstasy to many party people and ravers around the world. In June 2022, Commander Tom passed away, may he Rest In Peace.

I know this is probably the most well-known Hard Trance classic (and I know I am firmly in the minority here) but in an era where there was so many epic Hard Trance classics and releases about, this track does nothing for me for some reason. Never has. Never did at the time and listening back now I'm still the same. No idea why. Still a popular track though and any every Hard Trance collector should have it in their collection.

No long reviews, just plain epic Hard Trance here. 5/5.

how have I not pitched in yet about this old chunk of horrible gold?

this is a twisted, insane, driving track that is a supernova of energy. peaktime only -- break glass!

Mid morning smasher in Trade and Londons harder and more discerning dance floors back in the day.
Powerful. Uplifting. Full on. Tune.

one of THE defining moments in the hardtrance scene...played by everybody from cox to the producer an absolutely beautiful piece of hardtrance from the mid 90's...any raver will know of this onewith its ''make much beat'' sample and THAT piano when the tune stops dead......the dentist mix is also banging in a completely different way...underground sounds for those that KNOW!!!

The lead track, 'Are Am Eye' is a veritable monster that bangs away like there's no tomorrow.

When DJs first started spinning this tune, it caused a sensation, and to the uninitiated, it would still do so.

Compared to previous Noom releases, Tom De Luxe and Ray Boye take this track in a more rave oriented direction, but it still manages to be very trancey.
The distinctive euro melody plays like a riff from a classical composition and the beats pound away furiously. This track also saw the re-emergence of hoovers, which proved to be a big influence on the Hard House scene - but don't let that put you off!

Indeed, this track crossed over respected techno Dj's record boxes as well.

"Are Am Eye?" is one of the rare good old Hardtrance track which is still played at our time in parties or in clubs. It's the kind of classics (such as "Jones & Stephenson - The First Rebirth") which seem to have always (and only...) positive reactions from the crowd. For the people who know it, it's a return to the old days, back in 1995. For the people who don't know it, I reckon they just wonder "Hell, what's this dancefloor killer!?! It's much much better than current Trance or Progressive Trance..."

So far, I had the tune only on the double 12" "Five Phases Of The Noom" and recently, I found the original Noom 013...on white vinyl!!