Ayumi Hamasaki - Far Away (Alex M.O.R.P.H. Extended Remix) [2011]
- Thread starter BS_BlackScout
- Start date
DazTC
Member
See, we now have a middle spot of tracks that aren't new nor old enough for some people to consider them as classics.Personally don't really feel that sort of modern era sound belongs in here (each to their own I guess), but the Rank 1 Remix from 2001 I'd certainly consider a classic
I take it as a classic considering early ASOTs (2001) played what then were classics from 1993.
In 2010 if you posted Free State - Release in here, you'd probably be right to call it a classic.
Now it's 2020, what can we call classic tracks? This Alex MORPH remix is already 9 years old...
So it's pretty fair in my opinion. Mostly because of how old it is, not because of the sound itself. Although I though the track sounds older than 2011.
80s classics, 90s classics, 00s classics, 10s classics are about to become a thing now.
Though I still have a feeling that this remix is actually older than the info I found on Discogs.
DazTC
Member
I know we've all different criteria when considering if something is a classic, but we'll certainly need to disagree here. Even the Trancefix description "discover and share music from the golden era" would suggest that it's not a good fit in this section.
The reason ASOT may well have still been playing tracks from 1993 in 2001 is that those were genuine 'genre defining' classics, completely timeless tracks that I'm probably still listening to today.
Tell me how many 2011 tracks are being played and remembered today?
I'd label this a modern day remix of a classic rather than it actually being a classic. It looks like it may well be an age thing here too seeing as you're half of mine, but this sort of sound I'll never consider 'classic' regardless of how many years may pass.
The reason ASOT may well have still been playing tracks from 1993 in 2001 is that those were genuine 'genre defining' classics, completely timeless tracks that I'm probably still listening to today.
Tell me how many 2011 tracks are being played and remembered today?
I'd label this a modern day remix of a classic rather than it actually being a classic. It looks like it may well be an age thing here too seeing as you're half of mine, but this sort of sound I'll never consider 'classic' regardless of how many years may pass.
I'm going to agree with DazTC on this one. I don't think this Alex M.O.R.P.H. remix fits the criteria to be considered a "classic," and in fact most tracks from 2011 aren't going to be classics.
For me, the nearly arbitrary cut-off is 2010, which is when the modern tech-trance sound started forming. I would definitely consider John O'Callaghan - Striker [2010] and Ummet Ozcan - Vimana [2010] as classics, but this Alex M.O.R.P.H. track is just a regular 2011 track. If anything, the other remixes of Far Away should be posted.
Now, you mentioned that in 2010 it would have been fine to post a track from 2001. The thing is, in the previous decade trance evolved a lot and went through several different styles. In 2010s trance largely stagnated, and apart from the progressive psytrance movement of the early 2010s and the commercial psytrance from Vini Vici & co. from around ~2015 there have been almost no changes to the genre. It's followed essentially the same formula since then.
IMO the 2011 track most qualified to be considered a classic is Eco - Under Paper Skies, due to how unique it is.
Of course, all of that is just my opinion. Not trying to be the trance police (after all, who can truly determine that a track is a "classic"?). Then again, when a track from then sounds just like what we can hear now, it's difficult to take it seriously as a genuine classic.
It's good that we are having this conversation so early on.
For me, the nearly arbitrary cut-off is 2010, which is when the modern tech-trance sound started forming. I would definitely consider John O'Callaghan - Striker [2010] and Ummet Ozcan - Vimana [2010] as classics, but this Alex M.O.R.P.H. track is just a regular 2011 track. If anything, the other remixes of Far Away should be posted.
Now, you mentioned that in 2010 it would have been fine to post a track from 2001. The thing is, in the previous decade trance evolved a lot and went through several different styles. In 2010s trance largely stagnated, and apart from the progressive psytrance movement of the early 2010s and the commercial psytrance from Vini Vici & co. from around ~2015 there have been almost no changes to the genre. It's followed essentially the same formula since then.
IMO the 2011 track most qualified to be considered a classic is Eco - Under Paper Skies, due to how unique it is.
Of course, all of that is just my opinion. Not trying to be the trance police (after all, who can truly determine that a track is a "classic"?). Then again, when a track from then sounds just like what we can hear now, it's difficult to take it seriously as a genuine classic.
It's good that we are having this conversation so early on.
Gijs
Senior Member
In my opinion it's a bit hard to decide what's a classic or not because the word 'classic' in itself is a bit too broad. Everyone has different experiences with the genre, so everyone has a different opinion on what could be considered one too. I started listening in 2015, so I could see that year as my personal 'golden era' and could consider tracks I discovered in that year as 'classics', even though no one else here would agree with me if that were the case. Having said that, posting tracks from 2011 or later in the Classic Section is fine by me, if it's a classic to you then I'd say that you shouldn't be afraid to share it there.
I can certainly see why people here think that only genre-defining tracks could be seen as classics, I'd be lying if I said that I completely disagreed with that. But then the meaning of 'classic' needs to be defined better here to avoid confusion in that case, maybe in the rules or description of the section.
As for the track itself: yup, I can hear multiple sounds from JvD - Superfly, which was also produced by Dennis. It's not bad, but it doesn't really have anything that makes it stand out from what's released nowadays to be honest.
I can certainly see why people here think that only genre-defining tracks could be seen as classics, I'd be lying if I said that I completely disagreed with that. But then the meaning of 'classic' needs to be defined better here to avoid confusion in that case, maybe in the rules or description of the section.
As for the track itself: yup, I can hear multiple sounds from JvD - Superfly, which was also produced by Dennis. It's not bad, but it doesn't really have anything that makes it stand out from what's released nowadays to be honest.
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To each their opinion, but if there was to be a middle ground section, what would it be called? This isn't an upcoming trance release for sure.
Omg I accidentally heard this and thought "when did John van Deynhoven learn to make something sound lit?"
We technically fixed that in the old forum with the thread "outstanding trance from the modern era." It was posted on the music discussion section and iirc had 15-16 pages. It was most active around 2014-2015.
Gijs
Senior Member
DazTC
Member
If this area is to be littered with sounds like these then I guess I’m out here guys.
It’s the reason I stay well away from upcoming releases section.
Seeing 2011 releases in a classics section is a joke.
It’s the reason I stay well away from upcoming releases section.
Seeing 2011 releases in a classics section is a joke.
^ that's unlikely to happen unless trancefix suddenly grows large and we get lots of new members. Most regular posters stick to pre-2007 tracks.
I will continue to post what I seem fit here and let the mods/TF crew do the cleanup if they seem fit.
Also, I must point out that most releases I post in this section are pre-2010.
This sort of elitism is pretty toxic to the Trance community...
I usually play jokes (used to be a bit more serious back then, now I realize it's dumb) about A&B's 128 sound but I can't just act like that because it just makes me look stupid.
Also, I must point out that most releases I post in this section are pre-2010.
This sort of elitism is pretty toxic to the Trance community...
I usually play jokes (used to be a bit more serious back then, now I realize it's dumb) about A&B's 128 sound but I can't just act like that because it just makes me look stupid.
Julian Del Agranda
Elite Member
- Jul 3, 2020
- 1,791 Posts
- 2,126 Thanked
If a track is considered ‘classic’ by the topic starter, then he or she is free to post it like that.
I think its pointless debating what the definition is of a ‘classic’, just like the subgenre-debate. Its personal, and thats exactly why we have this forum.
If everybody posts Svenson & Gielen - The Beauty Of Silence, my favorite, then this place would be incredibly boring.
So I suggest to focus on the track itself. Any track can be here if the topic starter feels that way.
“for me this is too new, i prefer this remix” could be a reply, in stead of debating somebody’s “right to post”.
I think its pointless debating what the definition is of a ‘classic’, just like the subgenre-debate. Its personal, and thats exactly why we have this forum.
If everybody posts Svenson & Gielen - The Beauty Of Silence, my favorite, then this place would be incredibly boring.
So I suggest to focus on the track itself. Any track can be here if the topic starter feels that way.
“for me this is too new, i prefer this remix” could be a reply, in stead of debating somebody’s “right to post”.
DazTC
Member
At the end of the day It's your site, and your own call of course, but at the same time I think you should possibly be a little more open when receiving feedback both positive and negative, especially from us early and returning members who want to see the forum do well.
You may well be happy to get rid of me anyway haha (all he does is moan lol), but if this section...(the only one open to classics without the discussion area) ends up full of generic modern era sounds I think I'll possibly be stepping away.
DazTC
Member
Julian Del Agranda
Elite Member
- Jul 3, 2020
- 1,791 Posts
- 2,126 Thanked
All right, time to analyze it as a classic:
The intro is fairly standard late 2000s/early 2010s, with largely empty beats and some minor percs/supporting sounds at the beginning. Minor special effects signal the introduction of the beats and the high hats. The first sign of melody happens during a short break around ~1 minute in, but then that goes away to make room for typical Sean Tyas / John O'callaghan-style of tech trance. A melodic background returns around ~1:38 seconds in but remains somewhat hidden. At ~2:06 Alex M.O.R.P.H. uses a different bassline pattern, and the focus of the track shifts to the melancholic melody.
Huh, this is sounding kinda empty...
Wait! I was listening to the instrumental version. After re-listening to this track with Ayumi's vocals I understood some of his design decisions (ex. the hidden melodic background at ~1:38, and why he even had a short break 1 minute in). I would definitely, definitely recommend hearing the version with vocals, as it seems like the genuine original "Alex M.O.R.P.H. remix", and the instrumental like a stripped-down version of that.
Ironically, despite discussing against this track being considered a classic I actually prefer it over the Rank 1 mix. The synths sound nicer than Rank 1's (which feels oddly '80s somehow). This version is also more uplifting and catchier than the Rank 1 mix.
Also, could we please talk about Ayumi Hamasaki herself?? I feel that in every thread about her remixes on the old forum she was just overlooked, even though she's the original artist and her voice is phenomenal.
The intro is fairly standard late 2000s/early 2010s, with largely empty beats and some minor percs/supporting sounds at the beginning. Minor special effects signal the introduction of the beats and the high hats. The first sign of melody happens during a short break around ~1 minute in, but then that goes away to make room for typical Sean Tyas / John O'callaghan-style of tech trance. A melodic background returns around ~1:38 seconds in but remains somewhat hidden. At ~2:06 Alex M.O.R.P.H. uses a different bassline pattern, and the focus of the track shifts to the melancholic melody.
Huh, this is sounding kinda empty...
Wait! I was listening to the instrumental version. After re-listening to this track with Ayumi's vocals I understood some of his design decisions (ex. the hidden melodic background at ~1:38, and why he even had a short break 1 minute in). I would definitely, definitely recommend hearing the version with vocals, as it seems like the genuine original "Alex M.O.R.P.H. remix", and the instrumental like a stripped-down version of that.
Ironically, despite discussing against this track being considered a classic I actually prefer it over the Rank 1 mix. The synths sound nicer than Rank 1's (which feels oddly '80s somehow). This version is also more uplifting and catchier than the Rank 1 mix.
Also, could we please talk about Ayumi Hamasaki herself?? I feel that in every thread about her remixes on the old forum she was just overlooked, even though she's the original artist and her voice is phenomenal.