New releases last four weeks: Trance

Review: The Hyperdrive label is back with a third outing which once again offers up some exciting and forward-thinking new artists. Anderson's 'Sweet Psylow' kicks off with some psychedelic synth loops over crisp tech house drums that hark back to the 90s prog heyday. HearThuG's 'Back To The Future' is a darker sound with whistles, snappy snares and eerie chords and Luis Malon & Seb G then combine for the bouncing techno rhythms and acid-laced pads of 'Extasis Nebular.' Last but not least, Jamie Leather's 'Strange Commodities' is a surging cosmic techno trip with dynamic drums and perc and majestic leads. This is another fine release from this young label.

Review: Dojo Zone's Smoke & Shadows, released on Cabaret U presents a compelling exploration of moody and futuristic techno. The EP opens with the title track, 'Smoke & Shadows,' a dark and gripping groove that pulls the listener into a shadowy world. The track's eerie atmosphere, punctuated by a deep, resonant bassline, recalls the brooding style of artists like Recondite, making it both addictive and powerful. Following up on Side 1, 'Lights Out' ventures into high-tech territory, offering a forward-thinking sound that feels both sleek and cutting-edge. It's a futuristic masterpiece that pushes the boundaries of techno with its intricate production. Side-2 begins with 'Slow Release,' where Dojo Zone delves into otherworldly sounds, crafting a track that feels like a journey through uncharted sonic landscapes. Finally, the 'Sobre Tierra' (Osaka mix) closes the EP with a groovy twist, incorporating subtle house elements that add a fresh layer of rhythm and movement.

Review: Before Time Was Now is a second instalment that showcases the legendary soundscapes of electronic music pioneers in the world of Goa and trance between 2001 and 2018. This release features four seminal albums: Labyrinth, Gods and Monsters, The Golden Sun of the Great East, and The Mutant Theatre, all of which have been newly remastered for this bumper five CD set. It also includes a newly curated compilation of rarities by Juno Reactor titled Astronautics which comes with tracks from iconic movies The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions.

Review: MRAK's The Pledge EP on Afterlife is a dynamic journey through modern trance with a nod to the past. The highlight track, 'The World Is Yours' (feat. Braev - extended mix), merges industrial grit with neo-trance influences, delivering a powerful and popular club sound. 'The Process' (extended mix) is pure mainfloor techno, designed to keep the energy high with its relentless drive. 'Portal' (extended mix) stands out with its polished techno and trance fusion, featuring a nostalgic piano break that evokes the golden era of trance. 'The Flame' (feat. Braev & Wasiu - extended mix) keeps the energy flowing, while 'Never Ends' (MRAK & Omnya remix) dives into a 90s trance feel with progressive house elements, offering a blend of nostalgia and modernity. This EP is a well-crafted homage to trance and techno's evolving landscape.

Review: The mighty Drumcode is back with another one of its beefy techno 12"s, this time with Sudo bringing the noise. The whole of the a-side is given over to 'Real World', a taught, twanging techno cut with scintillating snare rolls and pulsating pads driving it forward beneath raw vocals. On the flip, that knack for industrial sound design also reappears with more metal clangs but also some trance-inducing chords which will zone out dancers on 'Construction'. Last but not least is 'Mercury', a bright, upbeat trance-techno cut with euphoric feels washing over the jacked up beats.

Review: Cubic Space by SYT is a highly sought album from UK's mid-90s underground trance/rave scene, originally released on the Magick Eye Records, the label co-founded by Swordfish from Astralasia. With SYT short for "shave yer tongue" - don't ask us, we don't know - Cubic Space amounted to the only record outputted by the pseudonym, yet still went on to charm club-goers, owing to its unique trance sound-sources not available to the average high street shopper, and its many sprouting tangents through futuro-"tribal" sounds, dashing any concerns over tempo regulation or idiosyncrasy in the process; an ill a fellow artist might suffer from. Club numbers like 'Eclipse' and 'Global Drift' are torrential enough; it's the filterpassed breakbeats of the likes of 'Nu Dawn', and the punctiform, recherche sound design of 'Lost Cargo' that really get us moving.

Review: Riviera's early momentum continues here with a punchy four-tracker from six on-point artists. Lewis Taylor kicks off with 'Non Stop' which is a straight up and funky peak time then pumper with bright chords and plenty of fun in the atmosphere, Cult keeps the energy high with 'Total Kill' and X Coast & DJ RaDa then offer the acid-laced and turbocharged bass stomps of 'Come Together.' LIL NASSTY then flips the script with some sleazy trap beats with menacing bars and futuristic synth patterns on 'Get It Up So' and DJ Pacifier shuts down with some high-speed ghetto-tech in the form of the relentless 'Fried Again.'