TF Best of 2025 - VOTE OPEN + Your thoughts on the year?

[Hensmon]

Signum – Homage

Released in 2024 - TF Thread

 

[Parysatis]

Van der Wiese - Vestiges EP ... released on Violent Cases

 

[NameLessYet]

Released in 2024 - TF Thread

I think it can be counted as a 2025 release since Anjunabeats made it globally released on streaming platforms and stores.

 

[dh5]

Released in 2024 - TF Thread

Thats a good shout, i am removing out of principle.

Top 20 list now updated.

 

[Pokkryshkin]

1. Brandt Hoff - Aurora Pulse
2. Aerium & Summa - Mind Beaches
3. Rambal Cochet - Amnesia
4. Bönna - Sacred Soul (Pheonix Rebirth Mix)
5. Aerium - Aguile
6. Mahkina - Spectral Bonds
7. Brandt Hoff - Orange Horizon
8. DJ T.H. & Alaera - Sundowner in De Haan (Deestopia Remix)
9. Enlusion - Prague Afterglow
10. Jon Mangan - Aether

 

[Dreamless]

Temple Ov Ghosts (Mental Doors Mix)

Great track. Did I miss it, or just forget? Either or, thanks for the reminder as it will surely feature in my top 20. Speaking of, here is what I have so far, although a bit more digging through my wishlists and the trancefix suggested list above to perhaps swap a few out. I'd like to include at least one Hoopoe track because I did like what he put out, but I just naturally gravitate towards the more underground productions.

Alvar - Follow (ToTY)
Alvar - The MIst
Rambal Cochet - Amnesia
Tyler of Gaia - Temple Ov Ghosts (Mental Doors Mix)
Fantastic Man - Genesis (Anthem Mix)
Irini - Too Lost In Love
Irini - As We Go High
Irini - Convexed
Irini - Dream Universe
Bonna - Sacred Soul (Pheonix Rebirth Mix)
Repulsive Force - D.R.D
Tourman - Mana Potion
Tornado Walla - Bitter Suite
Coredata - Shimmer
Seo John - Dewpoint
Narel - Tried Mountain Syndrom
Mikkel Rev - Evolution Blue
Mikkel Rev - Journey Beyond
Sleep D - Green Thumbs

Even though I have a lot of Irini tracks it's Alvar's - The Mist that was my favorite album. Irini has the best techno and trance sounds in the scene but its more of a concept album compared to The Mist, which has two of my highly rated tracks from the year.

I'm disappointed not to have an UTE releases this year, but those guys seemed to move onto other projects this year. So for label I am at a loss of what to put. Peak experience probably.

 

[Exodom]

Completed list, and for the first time I have what people here might consider underground music featured, with the Foley and Super Frog track. I've come a long way . I was so happy this year I might even put together a top 100, it was that prolific.

1. Aerium - Undulatus Asparatus - TOTY
2. Brandt Hoff- Aurora Pulse
3. Enigma State - Wanting
4. Aeon Shift - Echoes In Eternity
5. Luke Terry & Chris Johnson - Fuyu
6. Activa - Outlander (Mac & Monday Remix)
7. Activa - Lakota
8. Tom Bro & Activa - Delta
9. Super Frog Saves Tokyo - Luminere
10. Adam Reece - Thoughts of Passion & Darkness
11. Stella Nova - Orbital
12. Jon Mangam - Uno
13. Aeon Shift - Nova
14. Enigma State - Elevate
15. Foley - Lost in Translation
16. Cold Blue - Into The Rain
17. Definitions & Chris Johnson - Lost in Tokyo
18. JIS - Solstice
19. Lostly - Forever (Aeon Shift Dub Remix)
20. Enigma State - Essence of Life

Artist
Best - Aeon Shift
Runner Up - Enigma State
Special mention - Luke Terry

Album
Best - Enigma State
Runner Up - Cold Blue

EP
Best - Collabs & Bits [Borderline]
Runner Up - Brandt Hoff - Orison EP [TF recordings]

Label
Best - Borderline
Runner Up - Pure Trance

 

[ARP]

Voted, but shall keep it a mystery. Fair bit of hoopoe, enigma state and aeon shift.

 

[EnigmaState]

Appreciate all the comments mentioning me in here!
It's been a highlight year for me.
I could have spent the year releasing individual singles but in my opinion releasing the album and have less releases was 100% the right thing to do.

Doing the album allowed me to do something that takes many people years to do, but also allowed me to do it in Digital, CD and Vinyl! I can't explain how difficult that was to do!

Not only that but being able to release In My Fantasy/Enigmatic on vinyl for a second time was awesome too!

Kearney's rework of State of Mind was another highlight giving the tune a second life with one of the biggest names on the scene.

I appreciate everyones votes and comments!

 

[Jetflag]

Appreciate all the comments mentioning me in here!
It's been a highlight year for me.
I could have spent the year releasing individual singles but in my opinion releasing the album and have less releases was 100% the right thing to do.

Doing the album allowed me to do something that takes many people years to do, but also allowed me to do it in Digital, CD and Vinyl! I can't explain how difficult that was to do!

Not only that but being able to release In My Fantasy/Enigmatic on vinyl for a second time was awesome too!

Kearney's rework of State of Mind was another highlight giving the tune a second life with one of the biggest names on the scene.

I appreciate everyones votes and comments!

Do be a doll and leave us a vote aswell Nath

 

[ChurRuy]

1. Enigma State - Wanting
2. Activa - Outlander (Mac & Monday Remix)
3. Enigma State - Legion
4. Brandt Hoff - Orange Horizon
5. Aeon Shift - Echoes of Eternity
6. JIS - Solstice
7. Aerium - Undulates Asparatus
8. Stella Nova - Orbital
9. Brandt Hoff - Aurora Pulse
10. Ke Jo - Golden Era
11. Enigma State - Emotions
12. Enigma State - Essence of Lift
13. Luke Terry & Chris Johnson - Fuyu
14….

That’s my progress so far. This was a 9/10 year for trance as far I am concerned.

 

[SaltAcidFatHeatAcid]

02. Close Proximity - Alive
03. Close Proximity - Pure Ascendance
04. Close Proximity - The Source
05. Close Proximity - Acid is My DNA
06. Close Proximity - Need Somebody

Love your list, appreciate the share. As I've been going through my 2025 tracks, I was revisiting Close Proximity's releases again especially after seeing the love in this thread. A few of them are in my top list as well, but I can't help but wish for better mastering/production on their tracks, which need a bit more whitespace if ya know what I mean. There is so much going on at one time it sometimes overwhelms the senses (for me anyway). We need @Narel to work with that guy lol though b/c there are great ideas in almost every track even if they don't always land for me. Whitespace in tracks for me help the ideas to build up with distinction. CP's tracks almost always have a ton going on outside of the breakdowns which is when they shine.

A good example is Pure Ascendance vs the Maruwa remix of the same track. The remix is so much more effective for me with separation between elements, a build with that dark bassline, and elements of the track coming in and out, drawing me in. I'm not a producer so I don't know exactly how to describe it, but it seems that many of the elements in CP's productions sonically overlap? White noise? Ehh, not sure exactly but you get my drift.


Close Proximity - Pure Ascendance



Close Proximity - Pure Ascendance (Maruwa Remix)

 

[NameLessYet]

Compilation:​

B From E - Saṃsāra Cycles (Trilogy Series) [Happiness Therapy]
——I don't know if this can be voted as compilation, as I see it as an artist album. B From E showcases multiple vibes in this tri series.

VA - Exhibition: Raw (Mixed by Ben Lost) [Lost Language]
——If not, I will vote for the new Lost Language Exhibition compilation. Raw trance in Lost Language these years is something I focus on, I think it is one of the future of trance.

Want to change my vote for the compilation now, can this one be a considered compilation? A mix compilation consists of 8 Quietman + 1 Friends, Lovers & Family track, 3 new tracks within. @Hensmon

However, it seems to be unfair to those compilation with multiple artists haha.

 

[Progrez]

Talla 2XLC, Das Licht two names I thought I would never put a name on here. 2025 technoish trance but I wish there was a strong melody. Top marks for using proper reverb on the vocals.


@Z Dobrej Woli @skyriderz Surprised you guys didn't post this or their other collaboration.

 

[Super-Frog Saves Tokyo]

Appreciate all the comments mentioning me in here!
It's been a highlight year for me.
I could have spent the year releasing individual singles but in my opinion releasing the album and have less releases was 100% the right thing to do.

Doing the album allowed me to do something that takes many people years to do, but also allowed me to do it in Digital, CD and Vinyl! I can't explain how difficult that was to do!

Not only that but being able to release In My Fantasy/Enigmatic on vinyl for a second time was awesome too!

Kearney's rework of State of Mind was another highlight giving the tune a second life with one of the biggest names on the scene.

I appreciate everyones votes and comments!

Fully deserved!

 

[NameLessYet]

Do be a doll and leave us a vote aswell Nath

Yeah, I am curios about what will be the best tracks for the some of the nominees of the 'Best Artist' this year, can you vote and share something about it? @EnigmaState @Super-Frog Saves Tokyo @Coredata @Narel @Sunda @hoopoe @Reverb1234

And I am also curios about your chose @Z Dobrej Woli, can you share your vote too?

 

[Super-Frog Saves Tokyo]

Yeah, I am curios about what will be the best tracks for the some of the nominees of the 'Best Artist' this year, can you vote and share something about it? @EnigmaState @Super-Frog Saves Tokyo @Coredata @Narel @Sunda @hoopoe @Reverb1234

And I am also curios about your chose @Z Dobrej Woli, can you share your vote too?

It'd be completely pointless for me to vote, as I honestly don't listen to trance music, aside from a couple of knowns or personal mates.

 

[Narel]

I'm the same as SFST, I mostly listen to older trance - which is a failing, but it got to the point where so few new tracks were any good IMO that I mostly stopped bothering. I do find a couple of new tracks each year but far from sufficient to prepare a vote. What I do like a lot and need to spend some time searching is the sort of stuff in sets by @SaltAcidFatHeatAcid - that stuff has the feel of 'trance' when I fisrt found it in the mid 90's before it had really become a separate genre. You kinda had techno, trance, hi energy house, nu-NRG and nascent hard house all smashed together, good times.

 

[SaltAcidFatHeatAcid]

I'm the same as SFST, I mostly listen to older trance - which is a failing, but it got to the point where so few new tracks were any good IMO that I mostly stopped bothering. I do find a couple of new tracks each year but far from sufficient to prepare a vote. What I do like a lot and need to spend some time searching is the sort of stuff in sets by @SaltAcidFatHeatAcid - that stuff has the feel of 'trance' when I fisrt found it in the mid 90's before it had really become a separate genre. You kinda had techno, trance, hi energy house, nu-NRG and nascent hard house all smashed together, good times.

Been short on mixes this year though I’m putting together a top100 again this year. Set a comin as well, thanks for the shout.

 

[Hensmon]

Think I gotta go with Enigma State for the album artist, although I loved Narels, SFST and Alvar's too.

Irini's album I think has the best sound design though. It's beautiful to the ears and with tons of different experimenting with really nice synths, percs and atmospheres. If it was a 12 track album and each track was actually developed with proper musical arrangements and storytelling then it could easily be a no1 for me. Alvar's basically sounds just as good, and when the musicality is strong it is amazing e.g The Mist, Follow. Whatever these guys do for mixing/mastering is a step above the rest.

If Narel and Superfrog albums were a bit longer/had more trance music it could maybe beat Enigma States, but there's really not a bad track on his album and the big melodies are the best in the scene.