New releases today: Trance

Review: Swedien's Adam Beyer returns with eight new tracks, his first full-length collection in over two decades. The sequencing folds in recent collaborators while staying rooted in the clean, functional techno that's long defined his output. 'Taking Back Control' opens with a tightly programmed groove, minimal in arrangement but tuned for high-impact play. 'Alto', co-produced with Layton Giordani, pushes into more melodic territory with airy synth leads offset by a hard-edged rhythm section. 'Explorer' and 'Desolate Lands' - the latter with Chris Avantgarde - maintain a linear structure, with subtle modulations and atmospheric textures. On side C, 'Loca' (with Julian Jeweil) drives the tempo higher but keeps effects restrained, followed by the solo cut 'Boundless', which leans slightly darker in tone. 'Hypnotic', a collaboration with HNTR featuring vocals from Kyozo, edges toward big-room styling without slipping into excess. Closer 'The Distance Between Us' finishes on a more expansive note, with a wide stereo field and loosely arranged elements. It's a measured update rather than a reinvention - consistent, clean, and executed with intent.