OUT Peter Steele - Equilibrium [Borderline]
- Thread starter Z Dobrej Woli
- Start date
Out in November Interesting proglifter, we don't get this type of tracks that often anymore. The production screams Activa, especially all those little acid lines. Love the progression of the staccata lead, it builds the emotion rather nicely, especially when it's combined with those subtle eerie vocals.
Daysleeper
Lost in Trancelation
the break is a little too long, and the climax feels a bit anticlimatic, liking the overall sound-design though
- Jun 27, 2020
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I don't know how to phrase this without sounding too negative or overly critical (I've tried a couple of times), but all these Borderline tracks simply do not offer anything but "sounding nice" to me. Clean and good sounding yeah, but with very little character, energy or artistic value. I see there's definitely a crowd for it, which is good for Borderline. I guess I just want more from them, because their tracks usually do sound better than the rest, and I don't want them ending up having a catalogue of tracks which simply all sound alike.
Exodom
Senior Member
- Oct 17, 2020
- 604 Posts
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I cant say there is one Borderline release this year that I don't not like, but I agree with you Gagi that they all sound very similar, both in the sound design and even the ideas too. I am hoping they get a more creative as the label continues to grow because it should aim to move from solid release to toty material everytime, which they could easily do
Magdelayna
Elite Member
Im guessing that Activa reworks every track ala what PvD used to do...thats why they have the same sound.
So a few tracks every month sounds like Activa, so what? There are hundreds of generic steroid tracks (or whatever you prefer) released every month that you can choose from instead.
- Jun 27, 2020
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I like the clean sound design the Borderline label brings. Sound design wise this sounds like a classic trance track. The melody itself is in quite a generic orchestral style though, which i don't think suits the track. Musically a bit flat on the whole.
The Tristate EPs from Activa have still outdone anything from Borderline so far I think. They just seemed a little more creative. I really love what Borderline has been doing though. Nothing has been bad, and I appreciate the consistency. A few will make my top 10 too likely. Seems to be getting the best out of unknown or artists who usually produce more generically. I hope they continue to grow and be successful.
Redrot
Senior Member
100% agreed, but that's also pretty much the best "standard 140" trance that's been put out in probably nearly a decade.
On the other hand, while nothing has been "bad" on Borderline for me as well, I think we should be aspiring for slightly higher quality. A lot of this stuff is not memorable, doesn't contain any new or original ideas, and doesn't add much to a set. It's still leagues ahead of most modern trance but again, we shouldn't be comparing to "the rest," we should be comparing to what's possible (and given trance's rich 30-year history, we know what's possible).
I think the issue for me is that many of these tracks are showing a bit *too* much restraint. I did really like the Jackob Roeneld and Mike Moor track though, that one stood out for having a relatively unique soundset even if it was a bit repetitive.
Also think you got that spot on @HTY. I really liked their output this year but all the releases are so straight forward and not nuanced or inventive enough for me to really come back to them again and again. I do think they add good flow to set though personally. If they pushed the creativity side more it could be really delivering some of the best modern Trance we had in the decade.