Back in stock: Uplifting Trance

Review: OG trance pusher Marcel Hol aka. Hole In One laid down his most famous track, 'Life's Too Short', in early 1996. There is a strange irony behind the track's rise to fame; in its original form, a B-side version of the track known as the 'Live At Paleis Soestdijk Mix' existed - it was named after the residence of the Dutch royal family, and featured the riveting, nigh breathtaking sound of a crowd cheering in the buildup. It was perhaps the title, in combination with the crowd cheering sound effect, that spurred an unusually fervent throng of record labels to pursue a release with Hol. This was despite the fact that the track wasn't recorded live at all, and that Hol hadn't ever set foot in the Paleis Soestdijk, with the cheering worked into the track, as per usual, during the production stage. Whatever the truth of it, the legacy of Hol's star sonic piece is paid a modern homage in the form of two remixes by Jerome Robins here, who polishes the track for the contemporary ear whilst also including the 'live' palatial mix.

Review: The MoBlack label continues its Gold Series here with a tentth instalment that features four more house cuts in various styles. Jamek Ortega, Maxi Meraki and Samm kick things off with the deeply emotive chords and rolling beats of 'Don't Care Anymore' then Fahlberg's 'Wytal' kees the feel good grooves coming with more cultured deep house. CLARAA's 'Kukaya' (feat Ashimba - Fka Mash remix) is an Afro heavy sound with rousing and spiritual vocals and hefty kick drums then Re.You shuts down with 'Wabi Sabi', another Afro cut but this time with a little funk in the beats and playfulness in the big horns.