Raytheon - Blade Run [2012]

[dmgtz96]

Used to judge this track back then because it wasn't catchy. Blade Run was also the poster-child of Pulsar Recordings, which at the time did not have the greatest reputation.
After revisiting this track, I noticed that it's extremely well-produced. It draws you in with a haunting, melodic intro and quickly evolves into psytrance-inspired beats and bass at 1:35. Make no mistake, this is not psytrance. It's very much unlike the trance of its time and feels like a distant cousin of The Digital Blonde's work.
02:41 introduces the characteristic high hats and percs, which add some serious intensity to the track.

Instead of skipping around, I recommend hearing it from start to finish. There are lots of little details, which you will notice if you pay attention. Blade Run is hugely dynamic, and I would argue that it's one of the better trance tracks from the previous decade. It truly feels "modern" instead of a throwback to 2000 or 2004, unlike several of the top trance tracks from the 2010s.

 

[Archon]

Holy shit, this is just supremely good. Love the energy in the beats and the little details. Could be one of the best from modern trance. Loved Caldera as well, but I think I might've skipped/overlooked this one.

Pulsar Recordings, which at the time did not have the greatest reputation

What are you talking about exactly here?

 

[dmgtz96]

Holy shit, this is just supremely good. Love the energy in the beats and the little details. Could be one of the best from modern trance. Loved Caldera as well, but I think I might've skipped/overlooked this one.

What are you talking about exactly here?

At the time that Blade Run was released, Pulsar Recordings went into trance forums asking for donations. Tranceaddict made fun of them because Pulsar was basically another generic trance label (much like how we view Trance All-Stars).
If you go to their official Youtube channel and scroll way back, you will notice that their earliest productions are nothing to write about. It wasn't until they got genuinely good producers like @Magdelayna , Raytheon, Robert Vadney and started their Pulsar Dark sublabel that they became "reputable," at least in my opinion.

 

[Magdelayna]

At the time that Blade Run was released, Pulsar Recordings went into trance forums asking for donations. Tranceaddict made fun of them because Pulsar was basically another generic trance label (much like how we view Trance All-Stars).
If you go to their official Youtube channel and scroll way back, you will notice that their earliest productions are nothing to write about. It wasn't until they got genuinely good producers like @Magdelayna , Raytheon, Robert Vadney and started their Pulsar Dark sublabel that they became "reputable," at least in my opinion.

I just noticed on Discogs that my release 'La Graciosa' was the one exactly before 'Caldera'. They were a decent label back then,i loved the cover designs. Ive not heard any of their releases of the last few years though - then again,im not really in touch in modern Trance anymore.

 

[dmgtz96]

I just noticed on Discogs that my release 'La Graciosa' was the one exactly before 'Caldera'. They were a decent label back then,i loved the cover designs. Ive not heard any of their releases of the last few years though - then again,im not really in touch in modern Trance anymore.

They haven't released anything or updated their social media since May 2020. I'm guessing the owner thought keeping Pulsar alive during the pandemic was not worth it.

 

[Archon]

Didn't they shut down the label a couple of years ago? If I remember correctly, they may have talked about reviving it but solely for the owner's releases or something.

 

[Daysleeper]

The only thing i have a problem with is how this sounds sonically/technically. The music is very good.

 

[Uplifted]

Pulsar has been one of my favourite labels from 2011 to 2014.

I've caught the growth of this label almost from the very birth of it - since Infite - Euphoria (tranzLift Remix), which was their 4th release, and since then didn't miss a single release.

It wasn't until they got genuinely good producers like @Magdelayna , Raytheon, Robert Vadney

I would add Sound Apparel (the first name along with Raytheon which comes up to my mind when I think of this label), Aeden, Ikerya Project, French Skies and Ascania.

This label was always providing some of the best trance to my ears which didn't get played at popular radioshows. Also their trance music videos with the timelapses were also my favourite on the whole youtube.

I've stopped following Pulsar near 2014/2015 as the releases started to be a bit boring for me - but maybe I just switched to another labels + to tech trance from uplifting trance and skipped something good, who knows.

 

[dmgtz96]

The only thing i have a problem with is how this sounds sonically/technically. The music is very good.

Yeah, I had that problem for the longest time. I think Raytheon went so high-end heavy to the point that the high hats feel overbearing.
Caldera also suffers from the same issue. Raytheon eventually remastered that one, which sounds slightly better, but nothing was ever done to Blade Run.

 

[Rok]

I remember being blown away when I first found this one. Still holds up. Fantastic track.

 

[leon92]

I liked Pulsar Recordings a lot when they were releasing mixes and tracks in 2012 - 2015. Some great tracks like Max Solar and Next Beat - Future Fusion, Sound Apparel's Sadness, Dominik von Francois - Peace (and his album tears of infinity) were all solid releases from this label.

Now I am inspired to listen to their The best of 2012 and 2014 mixes ;p.