Rob Evanoff
Electronica

Ten 2 EnTrance
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By Rob Evanoff

10 Euros 2 Turn 2: In honor of those enthusiasts who were easily able to counterfeit the Euro dollar, this month we travel across the Atlantic for fresh spins from the following labels: Poker Flat Recordings from Hamburg, Germany, Superstition (the original stationed in Hamburg, with two further imprints being Superstition U.K. and Superstition Benelux, an amalgam of Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg), COCOON Recordings from Frankfurt, Germany, Platipus and Music For Freaks (mff) from London, Black Hole Recordings from Holland and Global Underground from Newcastle.

1.		DJ Dazzle (Black Hole Recordings) Soundbox At the age of 15, young DJ Dazzle (who was not even a DJ yet) heard DJ Tiesto for the first time and was hooked, becoming a resident at the same club four years later. From there, it was a mere two years and Black Hole Recordings contacted Dazzle for a new mix compilation series entitled Freedom which investigated energetic, uplifting progressive trance. Three more volumes followed and now Dazzle unleashes his 5th live turntable mix entitled "Soundbox" which keeps the beat beating at a pulse-enhancing rate. Disc 1 is full of carnal pleasure, from the saucy vibe of Madagascar "Requiem" to the pumping climax of Dark Driver "Re-Vision 2 (Mara's Empire of Filth Remix)". Disc two launches with the dark progressive intrigue of Scene Crashing "Daydreamer" which parlays from a swirling nonchalance into a galloping celestial flight. This exuberant journey continues throughout and one that will keep you reaching for your Soundbox over and over again.
2.		DJ Montana (Black Hole Recordings) Space Age 5.0 DJ Montana adds a new volume to the Space Age series, which originated as a DJ Tiesto project (Tiesto introduced the series and then collaborated on 2.0). Montana's style won't be confused with Tiesto's as he aims to amplify the beats with a healthy dose of techno and a smattering of hard house. If you're a fan of Carl Cox or Sven Vath, you'll revel in the party mix energy of tracks Tim J. "Privacy Policy" & Aftersun "Lovers". It's not all racing BPMs as Montana acknowledges the trancers on the pumping Oliver Klein "Rheinkraft" and Katana "Fancy Fair. All is all there's nothing quite like a pulsating trip to within a Black Hole and the Space Age contained therein.
3.		DJ Tiesto & Armin Van Buuren present Major League (Radikal Records/Black Hole Recordings) Wonder? / Wonder Where You Are? New York based Radikal Records licensed this single from Black Hole Recordings and released it last year. Major League is the collaborative effort of Dutch DJs Tiesto and Armin van Buuren. Why would you want a 36-minute five mix single of the same track, "Wonder?"? Do you wonder what existence would be like without the grand sweeping majesty of trance? Wonder no more as Tiesto and van Buuren crank the endorphins up on the nearly 10-minute "Wonder?" mix before being remixed themselves by Cor Fijneman and Transa. Also included is female vocal enhanced safety dance mix a.k.a. the radio edit.
4.		Art of Trance (Platipus Records) Platipus: Beginner's Guide Say hello to an entirely different creature devoid of fur and a fleshy bill but one that does has a dense coat of grooves sure to move your webbed feet and shake your tail. Beginner's Guide contains a whopping 25 tracks and is expertly mixed by label head Simon Berry a.k.a. Art of Trance (of Madagascar fame). The first disc ventures into the hallowed vaults and unearths gems from the Platipus Volume Series of Compilations while also interspersing a few new shiny diamonds. Be prepared to submit yourself to pure trancing pleasure of Ferry Corsten's classic Albion remixed by break heroes Hybrid, the Bedrock remix of Humate "3.1.98" and the explosive cut Moogwai "Keo". The second disc shifts the mood downtempo, with a 70-minute mix of Platipus' more mellow memories including Art of Trance "Requiem", Union Jack "Water Drums" and a second take on Humate "3.1.98" from Bedrock, though this time an ambient mix which, when paired with the earlier take, makes swimming against the current before floating back down the river a joy to anticipate. For this and other aquatic glories, be sure to head upstream with this double-sided Platipus.
5.		Sven Vath (Cocoon Recordings) In The Mix: The Sound Of The Second Season (Noche Y Dia) Often cited as one of the most famous DJs in the world, Sven Vath has been a DJ for over twenty years, a producer for fifteen and nearly interchangeable as the iconic definition of German techno. To accommodate his many varied activities, Vath established COCOON, which consists of a booking agency, a brand, a record label and a "clubbing" concept. After refusing scores of offers to release a mix CD, Vath finally released In The Mix, his first DJ mix which lit up dance floors and airwaves everywhere. So, armed with tracks from Aphex Twin, DJ Shufflemaster, Speedy J and Secret Cinema, here comes volume two ala The Sound of the Second Season that can best be described as COCOON'S summer residency at Amnesia in Ibiza. Vath is a master of building up suspense throughout his sets, which often last for up to twelve hours, and he transforms that experience onto this delicious double dip. So, take a deep breath and be prepared to scurry, as the energy of this massive mix will take you to the brink, hoping you'll leap into aural ecstasy.
6.		Thomas Schumacher (Superstition Recordings) Sci-Fi Level 4.4 Cool as cool can be, prepare to be ultra fly with a lesson in Sci-Fi. Installment four of Superstition's Sci-Fi series gets a booster shot form Germany's techno star Thomas Schumacher who, in his inimitable way, has gathered a bevy of slick sounding, yet otherworldly, tracks. The spaceship leaves the station soaring mercurially through hotspots such as D. Diggler "Cherrypoppers", Steve Bug "A Night Like This (Octave One Remix)" and Gabriel Ananda "Wild Cherry" before jettisoning to the edges of funk-popping groove on A. Mugge "Bipolar" which, all by itself, is a bold bowl of meaty beaties. One supple spoonful and you're full!
7.		Mijk van Dijk (Superstition Recordings) Everyground Berlin based Mijk van Dijk, who's been producing since 1990, hits the pavement with his 4th album and hit he does by delivering a high energy mix full of spacey club grooves and techno beats. Van Dijk hits quick with the pounding bass of "En Vivo" and "Bass On Canvas" before revving up the driving dub beats of "Drop Da Gun!". This CD also contains the special PC software TRAKTOR DJ Player from Native Instruments. With this software you can enjoy a special DJ mix of this album by Mijk van Dijk himself. Check out his site at Mijk_van_Dijk-fan.de.
8.		Sander Kleinenberg (Global Underground) nubreed Global Underground continues to showcase some of the finest new talent on the planet with their Nubreed series which has now released five volumes. This latest volume will continue to ratchet up the heat emissions from one of the hottest new DJ's, that being a Mr. Sander Kleinenberg. Sander shot onto the scene in '99 when he delivered "My Lexicon" and it's crisp liquid groove. Since then, Sasha, Digweed & Nick Warren, among others, have been spreading praise about him and with good reason as evidenced by his Nubreed mix which is a delectable blend of deep trance, techno and funky house. Engage the first CD and lather your senses with the progressive overflow of the tracks Satoshi Tomiie "Atari", Purple "Karma" and Mike Vandenberg "Spooky" and then get ready to do it all over again on opus two to East West Connection "Once I've Been There", Marc O'Tool "Stauffenberg" and Gateway "Modified". Sander's first ever mix pushes the progressive boundaries to a dimension that Sasha & Digweed entered on their Northern Exposure series. Do yourself 2 favors. Listen to this CD all the way through on headphones and check out one of the hippest label sites around; Global Underground.
9.		Martin Landsky (Poker Flat Recordings) Poker Flat Volume Two Founded in 1998 by Steve Bug, Poker Flat Recordings may be as well known for their sexy 60's style album covers as their tightly produced minimal tech house. As evidenced by the name, this turntable mix by Berlin-based Martin Landsky accumulates a second dose from this successful label. Landsky hand picks from a wealth of exclusive tracks by A.D.N.Y., Jackmate, Benjamin Wild, Swayzak, Steve Bug and Cle and mixes them with tunes from Michael Mayer, Richie Hawtin, Jeff Bennet and Hakan Lidbo. Highlights include the funky down tempo ooze of Swayzak vs. Roger 23 on the track "Toir" Jeff Bennet "Recognition" and Steve Bug's remix of Robotman "Hypno Freak". Volume two is a healthy introduction to a heady space you'll want to explore even more.
10.		Freaks (Music For Freaks) Meanwhile, Back At the Disco... In early 1999, Music For Freaks was set up by Justin Harris and Luke Solomon (a.k.a. Freaks) who wanted a home for their unorthodox sound which meshes house with electronics. Imagine the deep house of Derrick Carter on a beats safari with the bouncy robotic electro-pop of Soft Cell & Human League and you'll get an idea of what music produced by Freaks is about. This combination is immediately apparent on tracks such as "Happy Jus' To See You Again" and "Fly With Me (Part One)" but upon further investigation, one notices thick layers of swirling rhythms and sounds that make subsequent listens even more of an explorative journey into the minds and music of Freaks.