Are Above & Beyond destroying their reputation?

Corsten

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Oct 26, 2020
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I was at the untold festival in romania and witnessed the set on the main stage of Above & Beyond, most of the people were not dancing, not vibrating, what's more, a lot of people left the main stage or just went to order a drink. Honestly, I can understand the change in their way of seeing music, but doing these kinds of dj sets in places like these is destroying them. On the other hand, I praise the courage to combine different styles as they are doing within the same set. Maybe in a few years we will see it differently, but now I have the feeling that they are ruining their reputation as DJs by doing this kind of thing. I was also lucky enough to be at the Fortune stage watching Suncatcher and Exolight and although there were few people at first, it filled up. His last song was On a good day (Daniel Kandi Remix), and people were vibrating and singing like never before. Do you think they are making a mistake in the direction they are taking?


 

LostLegend

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Dec 5, 2020
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Above & Beyond went off to do their own thing years ago.

As with most of the 'huge' trance DJ's, they know the market for trance has been dwindling for years and their sets will reflect a mish-mash of sounds that will keep the 'Coachella' crowd happy.

Look at Armin for example - he's Mr. Trance on his radio show, but put him in front of a big crowd and... well...


🤮
 
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Corsten

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Oct 26, 2020
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Yes, it's true what you say, but at least Armin has found something to make people dance and have fun, and they don't leave a set to drink. We may or may not like the music that Armin plays on the mainstage, it is his business after all, but you could go and have some fun. The Above & Beyond set is to be seated having a drink directly
 

Progrez

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Jun 17, 2022
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A&B stuff has been very flat and soulless for a while and even most dance music productions the groove has been gone. I only feel like jumping out of my chairs in their old tracks and this when it comes to new productions whether it be house or trance it just doesn't feel the same it sounds plastic. There was just something human about those old tracks. Now it seems like they are nothing more background noise boyband who are struggling and trying to stay relevant. I got banned by Jer and Arksun on their forum after I attacked Jono for asking him directly, what a crock of shit, how the fuck are you meant you to bring back trance by moving away from the genre. They are all a bunch of hypocrites, same thing with JOOF too.
 

dmgtz96

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Jul 13, 2020
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most of the people were not dancing, not vibrating,
That's every concert nowadays tbh

Look at Armin for example - he's Mr. Trance on his radio show, but put him in front of a big crowd and... well...


🤮
rofl, this is objectively one of the worst songs I've heard recently

Personally, I think A&B should have continued in the same musical direction as their Hollywood Bowl performance. That probably doesn't pay big/consistent bucks compared to the occasional festival gig, unfortunately.

Yes, it's true what you say, but at least Armin has found something to make people dance and have fun, and they don't leave a set to drink. We may or may not like the music that Armin plays on the mainstage, it is his business after all, but you could go and have some fun. The Above & Beyond set is to be seated having a drink directly
Above & Beyond's style of trance hasn't been that way in more than a decade imo.
 

trancedanne

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Aug 11, 2021
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Its neither better or worse than the rest of the cheese stuff they have put out since 2006
 

TJY001

Member
Jul 13, 2020
229 Posts
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The new POS is absolutely beautiful progressive trance.

Sadly, A&B's stuff moved away from their original sound a long time ago.
 

Julian Del Agranda

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Jul 3, 2020
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What about… the time table.

Above & Beyond are soft. Good for early time slots. But because they are a big name, they get prime time.

Not their fault.
 

proxi

Member
Jul 13, 2020
178 Posts
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I think their 15-year strong reputation is still looking really solid.
 
May 4, 2022
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They're still blowing up across the US, I know that for sure. It's like they are Electronic gods there. I think the more they lean into this pop stuff the more the US will respond positively, especially the younger generation. Wouldn't surprise me if they are more popular now than they have ever been before. Anjunadeep probably more popular than Anjunabeats too. Why does music always have to regress, it's like the unwritten rule.
 

Progrez

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Jun 17, 2022
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I don't know how they are ruining their reputation. They've stayed together for the last 20 years should be commended. Most groups would have disbanded due to creative differences but they've stuck together despite them changing their sounds.
 
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Hensmon

Admin
TranceFix Crew
Jun 27, 2020
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Yeah I think they are still smashing it. Both labels probably some of the best performing outside of the pure mainstream. They manage to remain in that sweet spot where commercial folks enjoy them but also enough for middle ground too. They are also very good at the brand, and all the videos and shows and the general marketing needed to keep that sustained buzz. US gotta be their biggest audience nowadays.

For me the reputation tanked 2012 anyway, when they went hard in on the trouse/2.0 stuff.
 

HTY

Member
Aug 5, 2021
231 Posts
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Maybe bad booking from the promoters? We’re the other artists billed as actual Trance or faster styles? If so then could just be a mismatch. Still, would love if A&B could adapt and do a set more uptempo and raw, but that’s not what you get with them now.
 

Juna

Senior Member
Dec 11, 2020
429 Posts
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Reputation still good, just not for the Trance lovers.

One day I hope they play a classics set in my city, just for old times sake and to give the original fans something to get excited for. I still listen to Anjuna vol 1 to 3 a lot.
 
Aug 5, 2022
46 Posts
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Chicago
Absolutely not. It's just the opposite. Above & Beyond have done something that no other Artists have accomplished. They have taken Anjunabeats from a Record Label, to a Anjuna Family, and now it has basically become It's own Sub-genre in both Trance & House. Their sound on all the Anjuna labels are unique, the artists are very similar, their approach is impressive and well when you hear a new Anjuna Track you know immediately that it's an Anjuna Artist. Anjunabeats, Anjunadeep are indeed their own Sub-genres. They created an empire thanks to Madonna! Lol.
 
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Recharge

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Sep 26, 2020
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Absolutely not. It's just the opposite. Above & Beyond have done something that no other Artists have accomplished. They have taken Anjunabeats from a Record Label, to a Anjuna Family, and now it has basically become It's own Sub-genre in both Trance & House. Their sound on all the Anjuna labels are unique, the artists are very similar, their approach is impressive and well when you hear a new Anjuna Track you know immediately that it's an Anjuna Artist. Anjunabeats, Anjunadeep are indeed their own Sub-genres. They created an empire thanks to Madonna! Lol.
Agreed. Not everyone may like Anjunadeep, but you can't deny it's the biggest melodic progressive label in world and basically only Colorize and Enchanced (Progressive) come close and they are mln years apart.
 
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Aug 5, 2022
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Chicago
Agreed. Not everyone may like Anjunadeep, but you can't deny it's the biggest melodic progressive label in world and basically only Colorize and Enchanced (Progressive) come close and they are mln years apart.
Wanna see some crazy shit...This is Paavo showing my girlfriend how to mix in No One On Earth at a Private after-hours with Steve Helstrip aka Thrillseekers at my friends loft in Chicago back in 2003 when we first booked them. What an amazing night and next day to experience with people that would eventually become the most popular Group in Electronic Music.
 
Aug 5, 2022
46 Posts
11 Thanked
Chicago
Wanna see some crazy shit...This is Paavo showing my girlfriend how to mix in No One On Earth at a Private after-hours with Steve Helstrip aka Thrillseekers at my friends loft in Chicago back in 2003 when we first booked them. What an amazing night and next day to experience with people that would eventually become the most popular Group in Electronic Music.
 
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