An incredible year. The underground scene absolutely nailed it. Not only was it incredible in perfectly replicating the styles of old - it did so with phenomenal musical content - but new ideas were forming as well. I would say that my Top 10 is very much colourful - all tracks are almost non-standard, and not fully trance either. I felt like, especially in the underground scene, we’re seeing less and less borders between sub-genres and genres; it’s all becoming just electronic music again.
It's not "there" yet, but the overall trend is looking phenomenal. I think I might've enjoyed this year's discoveries more than in the previous few years.
So, on to what 2023 brought us.
Top Tracks
The order of these is how I voted. Votes which carry the same amount of points are unordered. I'm pretty sure I left some tracks out - this list consisted of stuff I favourited on Deezer and Bandcamp. There is bound to be stuff I forgot. I might go over your submissions and see if there is, but I think the top 10 is solid.
1. Sleep D - Punch Drunk (ft. YL Hooi)
I have to give it to Sleep D. I have not heard this style of music since Banco de Gaia, an artist I appreciate very much. Very easy on the ears. It’s atmospheric, but in a way we’re not at all used to. For me, this is quality electronic music, one I feel will stand the test of time. It certainly stood up to me listening to the album for a million times already.
2. Caldera - Dolphin Skii
The most unique track of the year for me. Has a huge “underwater” feel to it. It’s completely faultless, dare I say perfect. If you let it develop, it absolutely rewards you.
3. Utopian Streams - Now is the Time
This track is incredible in every way. I’m a sucker for dreamy prog trance, and this one absolutely delivers. Just like they used to make them. It’s like a warm hug and a cup of tea under a blanket on cold days. It honestly deserves a #1 spot, but the two tracks above also do. The difference being, the top two are slightly more unique.
4. Satoshi Fumi - E1
Dreamy progressive trance done right. Very simple, yet cohesive. Progresses wonderfully. Lovely sounds. And finally some warm chords!!
5. Adam Pits - Take a Moment
One of the more unique tracks of this year. Breaks - I know - but incredibly well done. The layering of synths (and the synths themselves) is worthy of praise alone. Fantastic piece of work by Adam.
6. Reflex Blue - Paradigm Shift
Another one seemingly inspired by Banco de Gaia, and his first albums. Trippy synths, repetitive patterns, ethnic samples. Fantastic stuff, definitely something I want to hear more of in the next year.
7. Reflex Blue - Utopia Hz
Early 90s non-4x4 vocal house is my first association upon hearing this. Fantastic stuff.
8. Reflex Blue - Way of the Compass
Great 90s ambient. Love the way it develops. Reflex Blue is certainly one of the more prolific artists this year. Did someone here say Banco de Gaia again??
9. Omformer - 10.000 Ohm
This track starts off as a mid-90s ambient tune, but turns into a dreamy, fast-paced trance beauty - also from the same period. What more would you want? It’s tracks like these which give the word trance its meaning.
10. Mikkel Rev - Sub Sea (Peace Mix)
Another very dreamy entry. Fantastic track from a fantastic album.
Tracks that didn’t make the cut
- Fantastic Man - The Beach
Late discovery, but a fantastic breaks track. Beautiful sounds and melodies. It’s truly heartwarming stuff.
Very slow and smooth, progresses wonderfully.
- Sleep D - From Village to Empire / Hockey / Planet Waves
From Village to Empire is a fantastic ethnic track - you already know what it reminds me of. Great, captivating stuff.
Hockey is weird on the first listen - a bit wonky, even - but if you let it develop it does have that something.
Planet Waves is a vibe! One of the most joyous tracks of this year for me.
- Reflex Blue - Overview Effect
Reflex Blue unsurprisingly delivers again, with a great breaks track.
- Mikkel Rev - Nothing So Hidden / Insula / Regrets
Mikkel Rev knows a thing or two about creating a specific vibe, a specific atmosphere. All four tracks I included are a perfect example of that. They even share (some, most or all) these atmospheres/moods, even though they are in completely different styles!
- Eivind Vullum & Telephones - Tustna (Telephones Suenotechno Rush Mix)
A mixture between different styles of the 90s. Fantastic track.
- SY - In Your Mind (Sunrise Mix) / Evolution (Afterhours Mix)
Fantastic, lush house. It sounds like it was just ripped from 2trancentral’s YouTube channel and released. Great stuff.
- Basically anything from ASC - The Depths of Space
One of the biggest surprises of this year was this album. I discovered it this month, and loved every second of it. Because it’s 100% not trance, I won’t include it in any of the other fields, but it is a quality album nonetheless. Worth listening to.
Best Artist
For me, based on the number of tracks in the top 10 alone, it’s
Reflex Blue. Made a proper, high-quality, gem-filled album.
Other very worthy mentions are
Mikkel Rev and
Sleep D - a discovery of the year to whom I would've given the best artist title, but since they are already included in almost every other category, I decided to include others.
Best Album
It’s clearly
Sleep D - Electronic Arts. This one just drew me in at first listen. The album I listened to most this year, and it still never fails to put a smile on my face. The quality is insane, it has many different styles, and at the same time you can feel the producers had fun putting it together. It’s not just a collection of tracks either. Free-spirited electronic music, I would say.
This year was fantastic for albums. Lots of high-quality ones in circulation.
Mikkel Rev,
Reflex Blue are again worthy of praise for their works.
Best Label
This is the puzzling one for me. I haven’t followed any labels, nor have I paid any attention to where the good stuff was released. My vote is one of support for our own label (TF.R) and what we’re trying to do. Hoping for a prolific 2024!
Best Compilation
Vote goes to
Activa’s Movement: One. Basically the only one I listened to, and I loved it! Good compilation of well-made modern trance. Not much competition here either.