The Best of 2024 - What are your thoughts on this year?
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NameLessYet
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Julian Del Agranda
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You are correct! little mistake@Julian Del Agranda , there's no text in your qoute...
Hoplite
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Finally locked in my picks:
Rambal Cochet - Body-Buzz
Lund&Rønde - The Order Of Twelve
Sevda - Foxy
Oprofessionell - Become (Something Else Mix)
Esok - Lavender
Clint - Exosphere (Oceania Mix)
Tul Waitoonkiat - Nueng Kamtham (Sleep D Remix)
Thurlow Joyce - Laguna (Thurlow Joyce Deepcast Tool)
Narel - Cut My Dreams
Best Artist: Rambal Cochet - nice variety of tracks all year, even if some were not my cup of tea, the rest absolutely delivered.
Best Label: UTE (and all the sublabels) though honestly this feels like a vote for their collective in general more so than just the label. Lots of varied releases through the year. But the releses on their own labels were very strong and consistent this year, therefore my pick.
Best Album: Solar Alliance - HAMMARÖ-23 - nothing beat this one out for me this year in terms of a journey.
Best Comp: Year of the Wood Dragon by Mystic Research - as a fan of Psy and Psy-adjacent Trance, this comp hit all the marks for me. The Mystic Research label is a new project by Transki that I will be keeping a very close eye on next year.
Overall I'd say it's been a pretty good for Trance and music all around. Had to leave quite a lot of good tracks out of my top 10 as there was just no space for it all.
Rambal Cochet - Body-Buzz
Lund&Rønde - The Order Of Twelve
Sevda - Foxy
Oprofessionell - Become (Something Else Mix)
Esok - Lavender
Clint - Exosphere (Oceania Mix)
Tul Waitoonkiat - Nueng Kamtham (Sleep D Remix)
Thurlow Joyce - Laguna (Thurlow Joyce Deepcast Tool)
Narel - Cut My Dreams
Best Artist: Rambal Cochet - nice variety of tracks all year, even if some were not my cup of tea, the rest absolutely delivered.
Best Label: UTE (and all the sublabels) though honestly this feels like a vote for their collective in general more so than just the label. Lots of varied releases through the year. But the releses on their own labels were very strong and consistent this year, therefore my pick.
Best Album: Solar Alliance - HAMMARÖ-23 - nothing beat this one out for me this year in terms of a journey.
Best Comp: Year of the Wood Dragon by Mystic Research - as a fan of Psy and Psy-adjacent Trance, this comp hit all the marks for me. The Mystic Research label is a new project by Transki that I will be keeping a very close eye on next year.
Overall I'd say it's been a pretty good for Trance and music all around. Had to leave quite a lot of good tracks out of my top 10 as there was just no space for it all.
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sszecret
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@Hensmon ask and you shall receive...eventually in this case, lol. Juuust about submitted at the right time to still qualify as a post from calendar year 2024.
There’s a lot to go through, so I’ll try to keep this intro bit short (emphasis on try).
2024 was primarily about making a dent in my Bandcamp wishlist, so my purchases skewed more towards older tracks. A lot of the entries in the EOY top aren’t in my collection – yet. Still, I felt that they had to be highlighted.
Over the last 12 months, roughly 40 percent of what I listened to regularly would be classified as trance, with the rest being split between psybient, synthwave and a bunch of other genres. That’s reflected in my choices below.
The genre split I just talked about is why I went back a number of times to tweak the top 10 in particular, and why it took me about 3 business weeks to put the finishing touches on everything. I considered shuffling the top to include more trance, but that wouldn’t be an accurate reflection of this year. Not for me, at least.
Should also mention that I ran into a character limit. That's why there are two consecutive parts to this...whatever you choose to call it.
For the first time since YAMS' Asynja back in 2016 – and the several year pause that followed until 2022 -, my Track of the Year isn’t something you’d classify as trance. In fact, it’s none of the genres listed (and thus very illegal to include), but I’d argue it fits on the darker / hypnotic side of music.
As the #1 vote would be disregarded - which per the rules, it has every reason to be -, I voted for everything below in the exact order you see, except for #1 and #6, which wouldn’t qualify. Those are reflected as blank slots in my vote submission form.
With the explanation out of the way, this is what the end of year top 20 looks like for me:
TOTY: 01. John Dopping ft. Sonic Element - The Losing Struggle (Kelle Remix) [Ayra Recordings]
Both the original release of Words In Colour and that of John’s second album appealed to me quite a bit. WIC Rephrased had a couple of gems, so I was optimistic about the remix treatment for The Losing Struggle.
TLS Rephrased thankfully continues the tradition established by its WIC counterpart, as there's plenty to like about the included remixes - each for its own separate reason. That said, Kelle’s title track rework is unequivocally the one that had the biggest impact on me. The more I listened to it, the more this feeling of nostalgia came to the surface. Initially unsure of what the nostalgia was for, I replayed the remix again, and again. Then, I had a hunch.
This bluish-green tinted nighttime view of a city kept popping into my head, accompanied by the distant sound of screeching tires, at the edge of their grip. Not long after, cars trading paint mere inches away from a chasm opening up below, also came to mind. All this pointed to one thing: December 2006, more specifically, my first Need for Speed Carbon playthrough (of many) with Ekstrak’s Induction Kit and Belt blaring in my headphones.
Part of the answer to the question of nostalgia was now settled, but there was one more aspect of that initial hunch to clarify.
I hit play on the remix and fired up Carbon, picking my favorite event type: the downhill canyon drift. The first couple of corners were uneventful, but as the car picked up speed, so did this remix. Drifts began to chain together, with first the 240SX, then the R34, effortlessly gliding from one corner to the next. The slow-motion shots of these two cars flying through the air - mid 2000s 'speed' effects and all - were as cool as I had remembered them.
No mods to improve the aging graphics, no other fixes, just the game in its original released form. The Kelle remix clicked into place like it had been part of the soundtrack all along. My hunch was right.
You can argue about genre similarities until the sun comes up – and then some -, but even within say, trance itself (and inside some of its subgenres), the overall feel isn’t identical from track to track.
All this is to say that nearly 2 decades after the fact, this remix captured the vibe that made Induction Kit and Belt in Carbon, Rush Hour in Underground 2, or really, the entire Black Box era of Need for Speed games – and their soundtracks - so special to me.
My undisputed 2024 Track of the Year.
02. Odessi - Moments of Space (Framewerk Rewerk) [Self Release]
A track I found due to a @Sleepy Robot recommendation in the Currently listening thread. The incredible old school vibe immediately reminded me of stuff like ElectriCITY and Black Hole (not the label).
While I don’t like how Framewerk handles releases (with most of them being around for a very limited time to purchase, then poofing out of existence), the track itself is fantastic. I’ve replayed this damn thing a concerning number of times.
It would’ve even taken the top spot, had it not been for that pesky entry above.
03. Fletric - Lost Landscapes [Luminus Music]
Rounding off the podium is a track that’ll have some of you (most of you?) scratching your heads.
This is one of the more unique releases of the year, and I’ll admit that it can be a bit of an acquired taste. Very organic sound with plenty of varied influences (true for it and the album it opens). More about this after the EOY top 20.
04. S1gns Of L1fe - Cosmic Resonance [Synphaera Records]
Slot number 4 brings a (more traditional) psybient track to my EOY top.
I'll start by saying that not all S1gns Of L1fe releases are to my liking. Every now and then though, there’s a track - or collection of tracks - that I replay like my life depends on it. Cosmic Resonance falls into this category without question. You'll have to wait until after the top 20 for more details.
05. DJ Ali – Eternal Drift [Space Trax]
It was about 3 years ago when Spiral Trax released the absolute weapon that still is Photon. Ever since then, I've been paying attention to their output.
Eternal Drift is for 2024 what 10,000 Ohm was for 2023. Though not quite as aggressive as 10,000 Ohm, it nails the feel I’m looking for, something especially noticeable when listening at night.
06. Ascendant - Starfall [Synphaera Records]
You didn't think I'd only feature psybient, right? From the other side of the ambient coin, here's number six overall, the fantastic Starfall.
Nobody can really touch State Azure when it comes to this kind of sound, but it doesn't mean folks can't get close. I believe this track serves as the perfect example of the latter, and I’d even argue that it’s more enjoyable than some of the purely ambient albums from say, CBL. More about this later™.
07. Alpha Tracks - May (Aleksa Alaska's Heat Potential Mix) [Self Release]
Initially, the In Orbit Mix of January was in this spot (now at #12). However, when the vocal chops kicked in at 1:49, then 2:34 happened…fucking hell. Had no choice but to make the swap.
One of the most appropriately named remixes of the year. Hawt.
08. Siskin - Connected (Standard Form's Waiting for Stars Dub) [Pure Progressive]
At first a little higher in this top 10, it got bumped down by the others you now see above. Nevertheless, a great remix from Pure Trance Vol. 10. Both the vocal and dub variants got released in all their extended glory back at the beginning of 2024, so I assume this counts?
I said in the thread that the vocal mix did nothing to me, and that remains true. The vocal chops in the dub however, strike the right balance. Really fun track to listen to.
09. Ovnimoon - Feel on Me [Forescape Digital]
I’ve been a fan of Ovnimoon since the release of his remix for By Your Side – before its inclusion on Exhibition V the year after -, so over 11 years now. That’s without even mentioning the excellent 3 Access & You collabs.
Feel on Me is really reminiscent of that time, but it does stand out as an excellent track in its own right without the nostalgia factor. As I said in the original thread, a delicious track, even more so 5:17 onwards. An excellent way to start 2024 for Forescape Digital and great signing on @Enlusion 's part.
10. Midian - Requiem [TranceFix Recordings/TF Recordings/TF.R]
All the way back in June I said that of the entire Forum EP01 lineup, despite initially not vibing with it as much, this was the track I liked the most. That’s obviously still the case, and if anything, I like it even more now.
Reminds me a smidge of old ASOT (label, not show) and something else I can’t quite put my finger on right now. When I first saw the name, I thought of the AP remix for the track with the same name. I didn't however know whose alias this was.
The mystery was shattered after not that much Scooby-Dooing: it had been @LostLegend all along!
Silliness aside, big props for this. The rain sounds are a nice touch, as I mentioned in the original thread. Big fan of the uh…collab? cameo? Call it what you will.
11. Trance Wax - Distance (Coast 2 Coast Remix) [Armada Music]
No, the lyrics themselves won’t set the world on fire, but I appreciate that the remix as a whole has a pretty clean, old school vibe. Unlike some older tracks, this doesn’t go so far down the nostalgia route as to sound like it was recorded in an airport hangar. No such terrible affliction here.
I'd enjoy a dub mix more, but you can’t always have everything in life.
For folks interested, there’s also a neat little production walkthrough available, in case you haven’t seen it.
12. Alpha Tracks - January (Oprofessionell's In Orbit Mix) [Self Release]
Yes this was at #7 first. No, it's not there anymore. Yes, it's another great remix of an Alpha Tracks release.
Though it sounds a little quirky in the second half, the overall groove is bang on the money.
13. Dave Begic - For What It's Worth [Pure Trance]
We’ve already gone past the top 10, so the votes no longer count, but why stop now?
A track first seen on Pure Trance V10 (unless you're Rich, in which case you'd have seen it in your inbox). The full extended mix did come out this year, though, and I was pretty surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Lead melody is great.
14. Narel – Cut My Dreams [TranceFix Recordings/TF Recordings/TF.R]
Another one from Forum EP01. It’s honestly one of the tracks that makes me wish the voting form had 20 slots instead of 10. Has a very fun lead melody, and I’m genuinely happy to see this @Narel track released by TF.R. (not sure how it's supposed to be shortened, so I went with...all of the versions available).
15. Changer - Undiscovered Expeditions [Space Trax]
Space Trax shows up once more in the overall top 20, this time with a collab between co-label head Frank Heise and Filip Strovseen returning under their Changer alias. To me this is the strongest of the 4 tracks from SPT009.
16. Activa vs. Mac & Monday - A Light In The Dark (Stoneface & Terminal Remix) [Borderline]
The original was my 2022 TOTY, and while it remains my preferred version, the remix does give it a rather neat, harder, spin. Has to be said that the vinyl jacket of the physical release pops. Proper neon glow in the right lighting conditions.
S&T’s FSOE Clandestine release, Tantra is also worth mentioning. Love the ominous vibe of it.
17. Enigma State - S-Bahn [Borderline]
Back when pre-orders opened for this, I said over on Reddit that it was a hell of a track for Borderline to end the month of August with. Even if it didn't make it to my top 10, it's one of the highlights of the label’s release catalogue for 2024. Well done @EnigmaState .
18. Sunda - The Dragon [Landscapes Music]
Set opener for Merging Scenes, the @Sunda TF Radio takeover. While yes, I’m still in two minds about the sitar melody (at least that's what I keep thinking it is), the track itself has grown on me a lot since May. Nicely done for signing this @Horizons .
19. ACE – Aurora [Tunes of Light]
Higher BPM than everything else around it in this top 20, but such a great release. By far my favorite off of this VA from Tunes of Light.
20. Ashley Wallbridge & C-Systems - Limitless [In Trance We Trust]
Look, I still play Citadel and Infina a lot, so when this showed up, I was immediately interested. That 2011(ish) Garuda sound is still something I enjoy. As a consequence, Limitless got plenty of replays on my end.
I think there’s space for this sound in today’s scene. Just not to the point that it causes an influx of samey releases.
The second major section of this recap covers 'bonus' tracks - that didn’t make it into the top 20 for one reason or another - and tracks that had the potential to be great, yet fell short for me. That's why you'll find an A side and a B side below, kind of like those on a record.
I should clarify: side A is for tracks I feel need to be highlighted, despite their flaws. Side B is for tracks that could have made it to side A, were it not for some unfortunate production choices. Not bad tracks mind you, just ones with certain choices I couldn't get past.
II.A. Highlights
A1. Fluke - Insanely Beautiful [Self Release]
I was 9 when Fluke released Puppy. After it, there wouldn't be any new music from them, at least not under that alias. Now, over 20 years from that album's debut, surely, there'd be no point in hoping for more Fluke ever again, right? Not quite.
News of the reunion (without Mike Bryant for now) came via a random YT comment reply, and to say it was a surprise would be the understatement of the century.
My introduction to Fluke was through Underground 1 (Snapshot) and Underground 2 (Switch/Twitch). The second track in particular, stuck with me, as in its shortened form included in the game, you could sometimes get it to play at the start of a new Underground 2 campaign.
That memory of the green 350Z on the airport highway and Switch/Twitch playing in the background, is not something I'll forget anytime soon. Even better still, the opening lyrics of the track (‘It´s time to begin /start out over again/what you is, what you been/forget everything’) are in keeping with the game’s story (no doubt, on purpose).
Insanely Beautiful is an evolution of the old sound, and one that I think is well balanced. Jon Fugler on vocals sounds as good as ever, and Leah Cleaver is no slouch either. Just like Atom Bomb – and plenty of others – before it, the track comes in several mixes, all of which are awesome. I remain partial to the original mix, though.
Need to also mention the Justin Credible Mix (absolute S tier alias) of Real Magnificent, Fluke’s second single post-reunion. Another one that’s going to be a headscratcher for some but eh, what can you do?
By far and away one of the biggest surprises of this damn year. Can’t wait for the upcoming album.
A2. Of Norway - I Miss You (Sentre Remix) [Bedrock Records]
Didn’t think I’d have a Bedrock Records special mention, yet here we are. As a whole, this shares a similar retrofuturistic vibe with Orkidea’s take on JMJ’s Revolution Industrielle.
The Sentre remix is a bit more subdued in that regard, but the same feel is present.
A3. Lisene - Science Friction [On Rotation]
Having enjoyed Phazma’s Arrakeen (ONR003), my hopes were high that On Rotation would deliver again.
That unfortunately wasn’t fully the case here, but Lisene’s album title track is still noteworthy. As is the nifty little animated cover in the official sample video.
A4. Tasso – I Want You [Outburst Twilight]
I have some reservations about the vocal sample (and track namesake) as I don’t believe it fits at every point when it’s used. That said, those acid erm…growls? (can’t think of a better word right now) are awesome. Bit of a SUF vibe in places.
A5. Audrey Danza – Steps to the Moon [Proxima]
A tad repetitive, but if I’m in the right mood, it’s a great play, so I had to mention it. Probably the strongest track from the Quantum Liquidities EP.
A6. Dean – Laika [Proxima]
One of the standouts of TF Radio #018, and yet another mention for a Proxima release. Love everything about this.
A7a, A7b. Clint – Exosphere (Ambient Mix + Dance Mix) [Slowciety]
Even though the Main Mix of this track was used in TF Radio #018, I ended up being a much bigger fan of the Ambient and Dance alt mixes, so here they are.
A8. Depeche Mode – I Feel Loved (Framewerk Rewerk) [Self Release]
My criticism of Framewerk’s release hocus pocus remains, but I can’t deny that a lot of their rewerks absolutely slap. This is yet another example.
Really like this version which no, isn’t the same as their 4X4 Rewerk. This is superior, imo.
A9. Flint – Lovewave [Artlist]
Discovered it as part of a product showcase vid. Such a floaty, chill vibe, that’s right up my alley.
A10. Dance with the Dead ft. Brandon Saller – Neon Cross [Self Release]
I’m more into slower synthwave stuff like the track above this - or even HOME’s Resonance -, but that's not to say I'm allergic to the harder side. In many ways this is a bit like Turbo Killer in that it starts (and remains) loud as fuck.
Even if DWTD usually does synthwave-ey instrumentals, this one has a more pronounced metal influence (owing to DWTD's background). The cover of the EP also reminds me of animated shows like Tales from the Crypt Keeper.
Neon Cross is so damn good - surprisingly so, for me - that I’ve had this on repeat since its release in October.
II.B. Had potential
B1. Art of Trance – Mariana [Platipus]
The groove is there, and it no doubt has some good moments, but 2:26 completely killed it for me. I was hoping that maybe the included remix would fix things. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Maybe on the next one.
B2. Processor - The Inception [Dragonfly Records]
Wanted this to be great, I really did. It’s part of a Dragonfly comp, so it has to be, right? The first half reminded me of stuff like MWNN’s Silicon Trip but unlike Martin’s work, this just…falls apart in the second half. Such a shame.
B3. Palindrones - Anima (Activa Remix) [Borderline]
This suffers from the same problem as Stay: love the instrumental, but the vocal ruins any enjoyment I have for the track. All this in light of that lead melody being so damn good, too.
I doubt Rob’s going to read this (or perhaps agree with it), but if there was a purely instrumental version – there isn’t one that I’m aware of -, I’d buy it twice. Hell, I’d even buy it if it was $10 (or rather, £10).
I said I’d buy Velika if it were to pop up on Bandcamp, and that’s exactly what I did. I’d do the same for an instrumental of this. Immediately.
B4. Astral Projection – Utopia (Astro-D & Chris Oblivion Remix) [Spiral Trax]
I’m usually a big fan of the way Chris & Astro-D approach their remixes. In fact, I still replay their takes on Fixation and Into The Dawn to this very day. The rework of Utopia though, is disappointing.
At 1:18 my eyes lit up, and I thought there we go, that’s the sound I’m looking for. Then I got to 1:44 and my excitement went out the window. Fuck.
It nearly recovers at 2:12, maybe even 4:20, but like The Inception above, the momentum and great initial vibe just falls apart so quickly. At this rate, though it may take 20 business years, I might have to start producing stuff myself. God damn it.
(this recap continues in the next post)
There’s a lot to go through, so I’ll try to keep this intro bit short (emphasis on try).
2024 was primarily about making a dent in my Bandcamp wishlist, so my purchases skewed more towards older tracks. A lot of the entries in the EOY top aren’t in my collection – yet. Still, I felt that they had to be highlighted.
Over the last 12 months, roughly 40 percent of what I listened to regularly would be classified as trance, with the rest being split between psybient, synthwave and a bunch of other genres. That’s reflected in my choices below.
The genre split I just talked about is why I went back a number of times to tweak the top 10 in particular, and why it took me about 3 business weeks to put the finishing touches on everything. I considered shuffling the top to include more trance, but that wouldn’t be an accurate reflection of this year. Not for me, at least.
Should also mention that I ran into a character limit. That's why there are two consecutive parts to this...whatever you choose to call it.
I. 2024 END OF YEAR TOP 20
For the first time since YAMS' Asynja back in 2016 – and the several year pause that followed until 2022 -, my Track of the Year isn’t something you’d classify as trance. In fact, it’s none of the genres listed (and thus very illegal to include), but I’d argue it fits on the darker / hypnotic side of music.
As the #1 vote would be disregarded - which per the rules, it has every reason to be -, I voted for everything below in the exact order you see, except for #1 and #6, which wouldn’t qualify. Those are reflected as blank slots in my vote submission form.
With the explanation out of the way, this is what the end of year top 20 looks like for me:
TOTY: 01. John Dopping ft. Sonic Element - The Losing Struggle (Kelle Remix) [Ayra Recordings]
Both the original release of Words In Colour and that of John’s second album appealed to me quite a bit. WIC Rephrased had a couple of gems, so I was optimistic about the remix treatment for The Losing Struggle.
TLS Rephrased thankfully continues the tradition established by its WIC counterpart, as there's plenty to like about the included remixes - each for its own separate reason. That said, Kelle’s title track rework is unequivocally the one that had the biggest impact on me. The more I listened to it, the more this feeling of nostalgia came to the surface. Initially unsure of what the nostalgia was for, I replayed the remix again, and again. Then, I had a hunch.
This bluish-green tinted nighttime view of a city kept popping into my head, accompanied by the distant sound of screeching tires, at the edge of their grip. Not long after, cars trading paint mere inches away from a chasm opening up below, also came to mind. All this pointed to one thing: December 2006, more specifically, my first Need for Speed Carbon playthrough (of many) with Ekstrak’s Induction Kit and Belt blaring in my headphones.
Part of the answer to the question of nostalgia was now settled, but there was one more aspect of that initial hunch to clarify.
I hit play on the remix and fired up Carbon, picking my favorite event type: the downhill canyon drift. The first couple of corners were uneventful, but as the car picked up speed, so did this remix. Drifts began to chain together, with first the 240SX, then the R34, effortlessly gliding from one corner to the next. The slow-motion shots of these two cars flying through the air - mid 2000s 'speed' effects and all - were as cool as I had remembered them.
No mods to improve the aging graphics, no other fixes, just the game in its original released form. The Kelle remix clicked into place like it had been part of the soundtrack all along. My hunch was right.
You can argue about genre similarities until the sun comes up – and then some -, but even within say, trance itself (and inside some of its subgenres), the overall feel isn’t identical from track to track.
All this is to say that nearly 2 decades after the fact, this remix captured the vibe that made Induction Kit and Belt in Carbon, Rush Hour in Underground 2, or really, the entire Black Box era of Need for Speed games – and their soundtracks - so special to me.
My undisputed 2024 Track of the Year.
02. Odessi - Moments of Space (Framewerk Rewerk) [Self Release]
A track I found due to a @Sleepy Robot recommendation in the Currently listening thread. The incredible old school vibe immediately reminded me of stuff like ElectriCITY and Black Hole (not the label).
While I don’t like how Framewerk handles releases (with most of them being around for a very limited time to purchase, then poofing out of existence), the track itself is fantastic. I’ve replayed this damn thing a concerning number of times.
It would’ve even taken the top spot, had it not been for that pesky entry above.
03. Fletric - Lost Landscapes [Luminus Music]
Rounding off the podium is a track that’ll have some of you (most of you?) scratching your heads.
This is one of the more unique releases of the year, and I’ll admit that it can be a bit of an acquired taste. Very organic sound with plenty of varied influences (true for it and the album it opens). More about this after the EOY top 20.
04. S1gns Of L1fe - Cosmic Resonance [Synphaera Records]
Slot number 4 brings a (more traditional) psybient track to my EOY top.
I'll start by saying that not all S1gns Of L1fe releases are to my liking. Every now and then though, there’s a track - or collection of tracks - that I replay like my life depends on it. Cosmic Resonance falls into this category without question. You'll have to wait until after the top 20 for more details.
05. DJ Ali – Eternal Drift [Space Trax]
It was about 3 years ago when Spiral Trax released the absolute weapon that still is Photon. Ever since then, I've been paying attention to their output.
Eternal Drift is for 2024 what 10,000 Ohm was for 2023. Though not quite as aggressive as 10,000 Ohm, it nails the feel I’m looking for, something especially noticeable when listening at night.
06. Ascendant - Starfall [Synphaera Records]
You didn't think I'd only feature psybient, right? From the other side of the ambient coin, here's number six overall, the fantastic Starfall.
Nobody can really touch State Azure when it comes to this kind of sound, but it doesn't mean folks can't get close. I believe this track serves as the perfect example of the latter, and I’d even argue that it’s more enjoyable than some of the purely ambient albums from say, CBL. More about this later™.
07. Alpha Tracks - May (Aleksa Alaska's Heat Potential Mix) [Self Release]
Initially, the In Orbit Mix of January was in this spot (now at #12). However, when the vocal chops kicked in at 1:49, then 2:34 happened…fucking hell. Had no choice but to make the swap.
One of the most appropriately named remixes of the year. Hawt.
08. Siskin - Connected (Standard Form's Waiting for Stars Dub) [Pure Progressive]
At first a little higher in this top 10, it got bumped down by the others you now see above. Nevertheless, a great remix from Pure Trance Vol. 10. Both the vocal and dub variants got released in all their extended glory back at the beginning of 2024, so I assume this counts?
I said in the thread that the vocal mix did nothing to me, and that remains true. The vocal chops in the dub however, strike the right balance. Really fun track to listen to.
09. Ovnimoon - Feel on Me [Forescape Digital]
I’ve been a fan of Ovnimoon since the release of his remix for By Your Side – before its inclusion on Exhibition V the year after -, so over 11 years now. That’s without even mentioning the excellent 3 Access & You collabs.
Feel on Me is really reminiscent of that time, but it does stand out as an excellent track in its own right without the nostalgia factor. As I said in the original thread, a delicious track, even more so 5:17 onwards. An excellent way to start 2024 for Forescape Digital and great signing on @Enlusion 's part.
10. Midian - Requiem [TranceFix Recordings/TF Recordings/TF.R]
All the way back in June I said that of the entire Forum EP01 lineup, despite initially not vibing with it as much, this was the track I liked the most. That’s obviously still the case, and if anything, I like it even more now.
Reminds me a smidge of old ASOT (label, not show) and something else I can’t quite put my finger on right now. When I first saw the name, I thought of the AP remix for the track with the same name. I didn't however know whose alias this was.
The mystery was shattered after not that much Scooby-Dooing: it had been @LostLegend all along!
Silliness aside, big props for this. The rain sounds are a nice touch, as I mentioned in the original thread. Big fan of the uh…collab? cameo? Call it what you will.
11. Trance Wax - Distance (Coast 2 Coast Remix) [Armada Music]
No, the lyrics themselves won’t set the world on fire, but I appreciate that the remix as a whole has a pretty clean, old school vibe. Unlike some older tracks, this doesn’t go so far down the nostalgia route as to sound like it was recorded in an airport hangar. No such terrible affliction here.
I'd enjoy a dub mix more, but you can’t always have everything in life.
For folks interested, there’s also a neat little production walkthrough available, in case you haven’t seen it.
12. Alpha Tracks - January (Oprofessionell's In Orbit Mix) [Self Release]
Yes this was at #7 first. No, it's not there anymore. Yes, it's another great remix of an Alpha Tracks release.
Though it sounds a little quirky in the second half, the overall groove is bang on the money.
13. Dave Begic - For What It's Worth [Pure Trance]
We’ve already gone past the top 10, so the votes no longer count, but why stop now?
A track first seen on Pure Trance V10 (unless you're Rich, in which case you'd have seen it in your inbox). The full extended mix did come out this year, though, and I was pretty surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Lead melody is great.
14. Narel – Cut My Dreams [TranceFix Recordings/TF Recordings/TF.R]
Another one from Forum EP01. It’s honestly one of the tracks that makes me wish the voting form had 20 slots instead of 10. Has a very fun lead melody, and I’m genuinely happy to see this @Narel track released by TF.R. (not sure how it's supposed to be shortened, so I went with...all of the versions available
). 15. Changer - Undiscovered Expeditions [Space Trax]
Space Trax shows up once more in the overall top 20, this time with a collab between co-label head Frank Heise and Filip Strovseen returning under their Changer alias. To me this is the strongest of the 4 tracks from SPT009.
16. Activa vs. Mac & Monday - A Light In The Dark (Stoneface & Terminal Remix) [Borderline]
The original was my 2022 TOTY, and while it remains my preferred version, the remix does give it a rather neat, harder, spin. Has to be said that the vinyl jacket of the physical release pops. Proper neon glow in the right lighting conditions.
S&T’s FSOE Clandestine release, Tantra is also worth mentioning. Love the ominous vibe of it.
17. Enigma State - S-Bahn [Borderline]
Back when pre-orders opened for this, I said over on Reddit that it was a hell of a track for Borderline to end the month of August with. Even if it didn't make it to my top 10, it's one of the highlights of the label’s release catalogue for 2024. Well done @EnigmaState .
18. Sunda - The Dragon [Landscapes Music]
Set opener for Merging Scenes, the @Sunda TF Radio takeover. While yes, I’m still in two minds about the sitar melody (at least that's what I keep thinking it is), the track itself has grown on me a lot since May. Nicely done for signing this @Horizons .
19. ACE – Aurora [Tunes of Light]
Higher BPM than everything else around it in this top 20, but such a great release. By far my favorite off of this VA from Tunes of Light.
20. Ashley Wallbridge & C-Systems - Limitless [In Trance We Trust]
Look, I still play Citadel and Infina a lot, so when this showed up, I was immediately interested. That 2011(ish) Garuda sound is still something I enjoy. As a consequence, Limitless got plenty of replays on my end.
I think there’s space for this sound in today’s scene. Just not to the point that it causes an influx of samey releases.
II. 2024 SPECIAL MENTIONS
The second major section of this recap covers 'bonus' tracks - that didn’t make it into the top 20 for one reason or another - and tracks that had the potential to be great, yet fell short for me. That's why you'll find an A side and a B side below, kind of like those on a record.
I should clarify: side A is for tracks I feel need to be highlighted, despite their flaws. Side B is for tracks that could have made it to side A, were it not for some unfortunate production choices. Not bad tracks mind you, just ones with certain choices I couldn't get past.
II.A. Highlights
A1. Fluke - Insanely Beautiful [Self Release]
I was 9 when Fluke released Puppy. After it, there wouldn't be any new music from them, at least not under that alias. Now, over 20 years from that album's debut, surely, there'd be no point in hoping for more Fluke ever again, right? Not quite.
News of the reunion (without Mike Bryant for now) came via a random YT comment reply, and to say it was a surprise would be the understatement of the century.
My introduction to Fluke was through Underground 1 (Snapshot) and Underground 2 (Switch/Twitch). The second track in particular, stuck with me, as in its shortened form included in the game, you could sometimes get it to play at the start of a new Underground 2 campaign.
That memory of the green 350Z on the airport highway and Switch/Twitch playing in the background, is not something I'll forget anytime soon. Even better still, the opening lyrics of the track (‘It´s time to begin /start out over again/what you is, what you been/forget everything’) are in keeping with the game’s story (no doubt, on purpose).
Insanely Beautiful is an evolution of the old sound, and one that I think is well balanced. Jon Fugler on vocals sounds as good as ever, and Leah Cleaver is no slouch either. Just like Atom Bomb – and plenty of others – before it, the track comes in several mixes, all of which are awesome. I remain partial to the original mix, though.
Need to also mention the Justin Credible Mix (absolute S tier alias) of Real Magnificent, Fluke’s second single post-reunion. Another one that’s going to be a headscratcher for some but eh, what can you do?
By far and away one of the biggest surprises of this damn year. Can’t wait for the upcoming album.
A2. Of Norway - I Miss You (Sentre Remix) [Bedrock Records]
Didn’t think I’d have a Bedrock Records special mention, yet here we are. As a whole, this shares a similar retrofuturistic vibe with Orkidea’s take on JMJ’s Revolution Industrielle.
The Sentre remix is a bit more subdued in that regard, but the same feel is present.
A3. Lisene - Science Friction [On Rotation]
Having enjoyed Phazma’s Arrakeen (ONR003), my hopes were high that On Rotation would deliver again.
That unfortunately wasn’t fully the case here, but Lisene’s album title track is still noteworthy. As is the nifty little animated cover in the official sample video.
A4. Tasso – I Want You [Outburst Twilight]
I have some reservations about the vocal sample (and track namesake) as I don’t believe it fits at every point when it’s used. That said, those acid erm…growls? (can’t think of a better word right now) are awesome. Bit of a SUF vibe in places.
A5. Audrey Danza – Steps to the Moon [Proxima]
A tad repetitive, but if I’m in the right mood, it’s a great play, so I had to mention it. Probably the strongest track from the Quantum Liquidities EP.
A6. Dean – Laika [Proxima]
One of the standouts of TF Radio #018, and yet another mention for a Proxima release. Love everything about this.
A7a, A7b. Clint – Exosphere (Ambient Mix + Dance Mix) [Slowciety]
Even though the Main Mix of this track was used in TF Radio #018, I ended up being a much bigger fan of the Ambient and Dance alt mixes, so here they are.
A8. Depeche Mode – I Feel Loved (Framewerk Rewerk) [Self Release]
My criticism of Framewerk’s release hocus pocus remains, but I can’t deny that a lot of their rewerks absolutely slap. This is yet another example.
Really like this version which no, isn’t the same as their 4X4 Rewerk. This is superior, imo.
A9. Flint – Lovewave [Artlist]
Discovered it as part of a product showcase vid. Such a floaty, chill vibe, that’s right up my alley.
A10. Dance with the Dead ft. Brandon Saller – Neon Cross [Self Release]
I’m more into slower synthwave stuff like the track above this - or even HOME’s Resonance -, but that's not to say I'm allergic to the harder side. In many ways this is a bit like Turbo Killer in that it starts (and remains) loud as fuck.
Even if DWTD usually does synthwave-ey instrumentals, this one has a more pronounced metal influence (owing to DWTD's background). The cover of the EP also reminds me of animated shows like Tales from the Crypt Keeper.
Neon Cross is so damn good - surprisingly so, for me - that I’ve had this on repeat since its release in October.
II.B. Had potential
B1. Art of Trance – Mariana [Platipus]
The groove is there, and it no doubt has some good moments, but 2:26 completely killed it for me. I was hoping that maybe the included remix would fix things. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Maybe on the next one.
B2. Processor - The Inception [Dragonfly Records]
Wanted this to be great, I really did. It’s part of a Dragonfly comp, so it has to be, right? The first half reminded me of stuff like MWNN’s Silicon Trip but unlike Martin’s work, this just…falls apart in the second half. Such a shame.
B3. Palindrones - Anima (Activa Remix) [Borderline]
This suffers from the same problem as Stay: love the instrumental, but the vocal ruins any enjoyment I have for the track. All this in light of that lead melody being so damn good, too.
I doubt Rob’s going to read this (or perhaps agree with it), but if there was a purely instrumental version – there isn’t one that I’m aware of -, I’d buy it twice. Hell, I’d even buy it if it was $10 (or rather, £10).
I said I’d buy Velika if it were to pop up on Bandcamp, and that’s exactly what I did. I’d do the same for an instrumental of this. Immediately.
B4. Astral Projection – Utopia (Astro-D & Chris Oblivion Remix) [Spiral Trax]
I’m usually a big fan of the way Chris & Astro-D approach their remixes. In fact, I still replay their takes on Fixation and Into The Dawn to this very day. The rework of Utopia though, is disappointing.
At 1:18 my eyes lit up, and I thought there we go, that’s the sound I’m looking for. Then I got to 1:44 and my excitement went out the window. Fuck.
It nearly recovers at 2:12, maybe even 4:20, but like The Inception above, the momentum and great initial vibe just falls apart so quickly. At this rate, though it may take 20 business years, I might have to start producing stuff myself. God damn it.
(this recap continues in the next post)
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sszecret
Senior Member
- Jul 19, 2020
- 315 Posts
- 274 Thanked
@Hensmon due to the character limit (which I found out is 30k lol), here's the rest of the recap.
III.A. Artist of the year: Fletric
III.B. Album of the Year: Fletric – Roots of Creation
I've decided to smush together both the Artist and Album of the Year subsections. You would think I've done this to shorten the novel-like end of year recap, or that, perhaps the winners of both categories have something in common. You would be correct. They actually have so much in common, that they're the same person.
For me, the artist of 2024 is Serbian producer, DJ, and VFX artist Sinisa Culic, who you may know better, since his debut in 2010, as Fletric.
Specifically, he wins because of the frankly incredible Roots of Creation album, the second one released under Hedflux’s Luminus Music. This is a follow-up to his debut album from 2020, Everything That Lives – also out under Luminus.
I’m a little unsure how to categorize this genre-wise. Thanks to influences from psy, breaks, DnB, and even some parts that sound a bit like they’d fit in with Obelisk, it's certainly tricky. If anybody has any pointers, feel free to let me know.
Part of the official promo blurb, which does a better job at explaining things, reads like this:
The album opener, Lost Landscapes, caught my eye instantly. Reminiscent of some of the best oldie but goldie downtempo goa / psybient releases, it was guaranteed to make it to my top 10. And it very much did. At #3.
If you want another example of how great this album is, take Spirits of Earth, a curious blend of melody and juuust the right amount of glitchiness to make things interesting. Afterwards, have a listen to 2:09 in Waters Edge, or even the entirety of New Paradise, as mesmerizingly weird as that track is.
Roots of Creation highlights some incredible work on Fletric's part, ranging from production, to mastering, and yes, even the album cover. Well deserved Album of the Year for me.
Album of the Year runner up: S1gns Of L1fe - Portal to Transcendence and Ascendant – Starfall
I couldn’t help myself. Just had to add these two as special mentions, word count and character limit be damned. What is the character limit, by the way? (later edit from future me: 30k characters)
At this point, having scrolled for what’s probably been days, maybe even months, all the way from the beginning of (part 1 of) this forum post, you’d be forgiven for not remembering that I put Chris Bryant’s (S1gns Of L1fe) fantastic Cosmic Resonance track at number 4 in my EOY top 20.
It's one of the highlights of his latest album, Portal to Transcendence (linked above), along with the equally noteworthy Dimensions of Awakening – 5:54 for example, is great. All 7 of the album tracks are a treat to listen to for different reasons. Portal to Transcendence as a release was even my album of the year for a while, until I decided upon Roots of Creation.
Also linked above is another runner up album, Starfall. This is a team effort between Chris Bryant and Don Tyler, under their Ascendant alias.
Far be it from me to minimize the amazing rest of the album, but I can understand why they chose the title track they did. Over 9 minutes of ever-evolving soundscapes, and the time just flies by. The whole album has this expansive, cinematic vibe, so you won't go wrong no matter which track you pick.
Last but not least, no, the fact that these two covers use similar tones and layouts isn’t a simple coincidence. They’re both the work of that same Don Tyler mentioned above, who also did (and does) the mastering for Synphaera Records releases. Naturally, he’s the one who mastered these two albums.
Because of all of the above, there was no other correct choice but to feature these two albums together.
III.C. Label of the Year: No Label / CDR / Self Release
Yes, really. 2024 was by far and away the year during which the vast majority of my most surprising music discoveries came not by way of a particular label, but via stuff self-released on Bandcamp or in other places.
In other words, I guess in more appropriate terms, here’s to you, the producer. No matter who you may be.
No, there isn't a 'Compilation of the Year' entry from me. There just hasn't been one that I've enjoyed that much of (in its entirety) in 2024. Thus, no vote.
Will there ever be an end to this thick canopy of words, I hear you say? Why, yes there will be. But first, a couple more of these annoying paragraphs.
There's one thing I haven't mentioned yet, so here goes: I wish a number of the tracks showcased above had a longer runtime. Not all of them obviously, but a couple would make radio edits from not too long ago seem like LotR: The Two Towers. Feel free to bring out your pitchforks now.
Potentially unpopular opinions aside, I tried to put this recap together with only the occasional peek at the other submitted results, to (hopefully) avoid the lists having too many of the same tracks. Still, there's bound to be some overlap.
It'll take me a while to go through all the lists, but just like last year and the year before, I'm sure there's some hidden gems in there. Thanks in advance to everybody who submitted their thoughts / made those top lists.
Wouldn't be a post of mine if I didn't give props to @Hensmon for the visuals, especially for the key art / promos. The alternate color scheme TF logo looks sharp in all of its white and gold glory (or is it black and blue? Maybe I shouldn't bring that up again).
TranceFix itself imo deserves a nod as well, since it's a special place as far as both music discovery and discussion are concerned. Big thanks to @Katadunkass @Archon for their maintenance efforts of all sorts, and to every other member for their contributions towards making this site the awesome resource that it is.
As a sort of forward-looking statement thingamajig, I'm excited to see the @EnigmaState @Magnus and Fluke albums that'll hopefully drop in 2025. Also that Astral Projection album, but that's at least 20 more years away. Maybe 30.
Until then, see you next year.
III. 2024 ARTIST, ALBUM, AND LABEL OF THE YEAR
III.A. Artist of the year: Fletric
III.B. Album of the Year: Fletric – Roots of Creation
I've decided to smush together both the Artist and Album of the Year subsections. You would think I've done this to shorten the novel-like end of year recap, or that, perhaps the winners of both categories have something in common. You would be correct. They actually have so much in common, that they're the same person.
For me, the artist of 2024 is Serbian producer, DJ, and VFX artist Sinisa Culic, who you may know better, since his debut in 2010, as Fletric.
Specifically, he wins because of the frankly incredible Roots of Creation album, the second one released under Hedflux’s Luminus Music. This is a follow-up to his debut album from 2020, Everything That Lives – also out under Luminus.
I’m a little unsure how to categorize this genre-wise. Thanks to influences from psy, breaks, DnB, and even some parts that sound a bit like they’d fit in with Obelisk, it's certainly tricky. If anybody has any pointers, feel free to let me know.
Part of the official promo blurb, which does a better job at explaining things, reads like this:
The album opener, Lost Landscapes, caught my eye instantly. Reminiscent of some of the best oldie but goldie downtempo goa / psybient releases, it was guaranteed to make it to my top 10. And it very much did. At #3.
If you want another example of how great this album is, take Spirits of Earth, a curious blend of melody and juuust the right amount of glitchiness to make things interesting. Afterwards, have a listen to 2:09 in Waters Edge, or even the entirety of New Paradise, as mesmerizingly weird as that track is.
Roots of Creation highlights some incredible work on Fletric's part, ranging from production, to mastering, and yes, even the album cover. Well deserved Album of the Year for me.
Album of the Year runner up: S1gns Of L1fe - Portal to Transcendence and Ascendant – Starfall
I couldn’t help myself. Just had to add these two as special mentions, word count and character limit be damned. What is the character limit, by the way? (later edit from future me: 30k characters)
At this point, having scrolled for what’s probably been days, maybe even months, all the way from the beginning of (part 1 of) this forum post, you’d be forgiven for not remembering that I put Chris Bryant’s (S1gns Of L1fe) fantastic Cosmic Resonance track at number 4 in my EOY top 20.
It's one of the highlights of his latest album, Portal to Transcendence (linked above), along with the equally noteworthy Dimensions of Awakening – 5:54 for example, is great. All 7 of the album tracks are a treat to listen to for different reasons. Portal to Transcendence as a release was even my album of the year for a while, until I decided upon Roots of Creation.
Also linked above is another runner up album, Starfall. This is a team effort between Chris Bryant and Don Tyler, under their Ascendant alias.
Far be it from me to minimize the amazing rest of the album, but I can understand why they chose the title track they did. Over 9 minutes of ever-evolving soundscapes, and the time just flies by. The whole album has this expansive, cinematic vibe, so you won't go wrong no matter which track you pick.
Last but not least, no, the fact that these two covers use similar tones and layouts isn’t a simple coincidence. They’re both the work of that same Don Tyler mentioned above, who also did (and does) the mastering for Synphaera Records releases. Naturally, he’s the one who mastered these two albums.
Because of all of the above, there was no other correct choice but to feature these two albums together.
III.C. Label of the Year: No Label / CDR / Self Release
Yes, really. 2024 was by far and away the year during which the vast majority of my most surprising music discoveries came not by way of a particular label, but via stuff self-released on Bandcamp or in other places.
In other words, I guess in more appropriate terms, here’s to you, the producer. No matter who you may be.
No, there isn't a 'Compilation of the Year' entry from me. There just hasn't been one that I've enjoyed that much of (in its entirety) in 2024. Thus, no vote.
IV. 2024 FINAL THOUGHTS
Will there ever be an end to this thick canopy of words, I hear you say? Why, yes there will be. But first, a couple more of these annoying paragraphs.There's one thing I haven't mentioned yet, so here goes: I wish a number of the tracks showcased above had a longer runtime. Not all of them obviously, but a couple would make radio edits from not too long ago seem like LotR: The Two Towers. Feel free to bring out your pitchforks now.
Potentially unpopular opinions aside, I tried to put this recap together with only the occasional peek at the other submitted results, to (hopefully) avoid the lists having too many of the same tracks. Still, there's bound to be some overlap.
It'll take me a while to go through all the lists, but just like last year and the year before, I'm sure there's some hidden gems in there. Thanks in advance to everybody who submitted their thoughts / made those top lists.
Wouldn't be a post of mine if I didn't give props to @Hensmon for the visuals, especially for the key art / promos. The alternate color scheme TF logo looks sharp in all of its white and gold glory (or is it black and blue? Maybe I shouldn't bring that up again).
TranceFix itself imo deserves a nod as well, since it's a special place as far as both music discovery and discussion are concerned. Big thanks to @Katadunkass @Archon for their maintenance efforts of all sorts, and to every other member for their contributions towards making this site the awesome resource that it is.
As a sort of forward-looking statement thingamajig, I'm excited to see the @EnigmaState @Magnus and Fluke albums that'll hopefully drop in 2025. Also that Astral Projection album, but that's at least 20 more years away. Maybe 30.
Until then, see you next year.
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Jetflag
Legendary Member
- Jul 17, 2020
- 3,460 Posts
- 2,799 Thanked
sszecret
Senior Member
- Jul 19, 2020
- 315 Posts
- 274 Thanked
To be fair, my intention wasn't for the recap to take up the equivalent of a small country's surface area. It just sort of...happened.
I'll read this again in its entirety, then part of how it's phrased will annoy me, and I'll edit it again. Rather than the initial edits lasting well into 2026, it was best to just submit.
As for the the title you mentioned, it remains unclaimed if you ask me. Either way, no objections from my side re: sharing.
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BladeRunner_
Senior Member
1. Eletun Selona - Sunla (Eletun's Elevate Mix)
2. Alan Backdrop - Nezera
3. Introversion - Hopeless Dreaming
4. Mikkel Rev - Ocean X
5. martinou - Expanding
6. Cybernet - Key to Equilibrium
7. Alan Backdrop - Ubevi
8. Mikkel Rev - Whorl
9. Voiski - Romance Mentale
10. Hoopoe - Aracari
2. Alan Backdrop - Nezera
3. Introversion - Hopeless Dreaming
4. Mikkel Rev - Ocean X
5. martinou - Expanding
6. Cybernet - Key to Equilibrium
7. Alan Backdrop - Ubevi
8. Mikkel Rev - Whorl
9. Voiski - Romance Mentale
10. Hoopoe - Aracari
Narel
Senior Member
Loved it. And that Fletric album is really nice, didn’t know about it. Very Vibrasphere at times, but with an additional something that I can’t quite quantify. Exceptionally well produced, such things befuddle me.To be fair, my intention wasn't for the recap to take up the equivalent of a small country's surface area. It just sort of...happened.
I'll read this again in its entirety, then part of how it's phrased will annoy me, and I'll edit it again. Rather than the initial edits lasting well into 2026, it was best to just submit.
As for the the title you mentioned, it remains unclaimed if you ask me. Either way, no objections from my side re: sharing.
Sleepy Robot
Senior Member
Here we go, was harder than i'd expected and had to leave many tracks out. Kept on switching but in the end it doesn't really mather does it? It's just a list.
Tracks:
1. Ovnimoon - Feel on Me (Forescape Digital)
2. Odessi - Moments Of Space (Framewerk Rewerk) (Not on label)
3. Exotek - Antares (Forescape Digital)
4. Ovnimoon - Resiliencia (IONO Music)
5. Meridian - Requiem (TF.R.)
6. The Digital Blonde & Lauren Lyon - Iris (Ovnimoon Records)
7. Sade - Pearls (Framewerk Breaks Rewerk) (Not on label)
8. LostLegend - Sagittarius A (Landscapes Music)
9. Symbiotic - Advena Caelis (Ovnimoon Records)
10. Hoopoo - Aracari (Forescape Digital)
Short list of runners up / considerations (still many left out):
George Tsukanov - When You Hear (Forescape Digital)
Yaroslav Kulikov - Ekvator Street (Digital Medlody Records)
Esok - Lavender (Rune Recordings)
Narel - Cut My Dreams (TF.R.)
Julian Del Agranda - Trancefixed (TF.R.)
Tony Hang - Before The Dawn (Enlusion Remix) (Landscapes Music)
Pico Boulevard - Oblivion (Enlusion Remix) Forescape Digital)
Enlusion & Introspecto - Stormchaser (Forescape Digital)
QuietMan - Abre Tu Corazon (Not on label)
QuietMan - Dust2water (Not on label)
Sunda - Against The Tide (Borderline Music)
Sunba - Mono No aware (Landscapes Music)
Sunda - The Dragon (Landscapes Music)
The Digital Blonde & Idiosyncrasy - Telepathic Communication (Club Mix) (Pure Trance Neon)
Basil O'Glue - Remember 98 (BAGRUHM)
Coredata - Strangelove (JOOF Recordings)
Best Artist:
Ovnimoon
Off course i knew and owned tracks of him but this year i really dived into his earlier releases and it's been a hell of a discovery. Together with releases from this year (Feel On Me / Resiliencia / Life In The Universe / Crystals Reflections / Afterlife Dimension and under Hedustma Humanoid Presence / DarkoLonco) i couldn't choose him. Although QuietMan was a sure close 2nd.
Best Albun:
QuietMan - Found Horizon (Rediscovered & Unreleased) : as i've said in the thread: Not one bad track. Great album to play from start too finish.
Best Label:
Forescape Digital.
Even though this year the label saw less releases i still liked almost all of them and many tracks have made it in to the top ten or were considerd and had many plays this year.
Runners up were Landscapes Music and Ovnimoon Records.
Best Compilation:
VA / Hallucinations Of The Buddha (Global Sect)
I don't listen too many compilations like ISOS or the Pure series but this one has started to grow on me. 6 albums full of Goa, fast and slow(er). Still haven't heard all of them but so far so good.
After all a better year then i thought. Let's see what 2025 will bring. I hope to see the return of You Are My Salvation!
Tracks:
1. Ovnimoon - Feel on Me (Forescape Digital)
2. Odessi - Moments Of Space (Framewerk Rewerk) (Not on label)
3. Exotek - Antares (Forescape Digital)
4. Ovnimoon - Resiliencia (IONO Music)
5. Meridian - Requiem (TF.R.)
6. The Digital Blonde & Lauren Lyon - Iris (Ovnimoon Records)
7. Sade - Pearls (Framewerk Breaks Rewerk) (Not on label)
8. LostLegend - Sagittarius A (Landscapes Music)
9. Symbiotic - Advena Caelis (Ovnimoon Records)
10. Hoopoo - Aracari (Forescape Digital)
Short list of runners up / considerations (still many left out):
George Tsukanov - When You Hear (Forescape Digital)
Yaroslav Kulikov - Ekvator Street (Digital Medlody Records)
Esok - Lavender (Rune Recordings)
Narel - Cut My Dreams (TF.R.)
Julian Del Agranda - Trancefixed (TF.R.)
Tony Hang - Before The Dawn (Enlusion Remix) (Landscapes Music)
Pico Boulevard - Oblivion (Enlusion Remix) Forescape Digital)
Enlusion & Introspecto - Stormchaser (Forescape Digital)
QuietMan - Abre Tu Corazon (Not on label)
QuietMan - Dust2water (Not on label)
Sunda - Against The Tide (Borderline Music)
Sunba - Mono No aware (Landscapes Music)
Sunda - The Dragon (Landscapes Music)
The Digital Blonde & Idiosyncrasy - Telepathic Communication (Club Mix) (Pure Trance Neon)
Basil O'Glue - Remember 98 (BAGRUHM)
Coredata - Strangelove (JOOF Recordings)
Best Artist:
Ovnimoon
Off course i knew and owned tracks of him but this year i really dived into his earlier releases and it's been a hell of a discovery. Together with releases from this year (Feel On Me / Resiliencia / Life In The Universe / Crystals Reflections / Afterlife Dimension and under Hedustma Humanoid Presence / DarkoLonco) i couldn't choose him. Although QuietMan was a sure close 2nd.
Best Albun:
QuietMan - Found Horizon (Rediscovered & Unreleased) : as i've said in the thread: Not one bad track. Great album to play from start too finish.
Best Label:
Forescape Digital.
Even though this year the label saw less releases i still liked almost all of them and many tracks have made it in to the top ten or were considerd and had many plays this year.
Runners up were Landscapes Music and Ovnimoon Records.
Best Compilation:
VA / Hallucinations Of The Buddha (Global Sect)
I don't listen too many compilations like ISOS or the Pure series but this one has started to grow on me. 6 albums full of Goa, fast and slow(er). Still haven't heard all of them but so far so good.
After all a better year then i thought. Let's see what 2025 will bring. I hope to see the return of You Are My Salvation!
Awesome read @sszecret, love the passion. Cool that you have many unothordox tracks, look forward to having a listen through these.
Nice list @Sleepy Robot. Great to see the Midian track there at no.5
Great list too, loads of similar ones in my top 25, and Nezera is a new one for me.
@Hoplite - very similar taste, I have all of these in my tops from the year.
Props to you @erickUO , Lavender on three peoples top 10!
Nice list @Sleepy Robot. Great to see the Midian track there at no.5
Great list too, loads of similar ones in my top 25, and Nezera is a new one for me.
@Hoplite - very similar taste, I have all of these in my tops from the year.
Props to you @erickUO , Lavender on three peoples top 10!
skyriderz
Elite Member
- Jul 1, 2020
- 1,036 Posts
- 744 Thanked
1. Ridgewalkers - Find feat. El (Lostly Extended Remix)
2. Enigma State - S-Bahn
3. Solarstone & Orkidea - Zeitgeist (Gary Maguire Remix)
4. LostLegend - Running Man
5. Aerium & Julian Del Agranda - Flawless
6. Chris Johnson - The Fall
7. Alkemy - Cloud Detox (Reworked by GNMR)
8. Allan Morrow - Poppy
9. Hoyaa - New Earth
10. Jon Mangan - Zephyr
2. Enigma State - S-Bahn
3. Solarstone & Orkidea - Zeitgeist (Gary Maguire Remix)
4. LostLegend - Running Man
5. Aerium & Julian Del Agranda - Flawless
6. Chris Johnson - The Fall
7. Alkemy - Cloud Detox (Reworked by GNMR)
8. Allan Morrow - Poppy
9. Hoyaa - New Earth
10. Jon Mangan - Zephyr
TRANCEBLASTER
Elite Member
- Jul 21, 2020
- 1,389 Posts
- 1,849 Thanked
I was super busy with holidays... will try to send my vote soon as possible and maybe in a week I will also share my top list
big respect to the amazing labels like 'Sound Metaphors Records', 'Transmigration', (and their 'Sound Migration' collab label) and 'KMA60' ('Rezpektiva'/'Prozpektiva') for keeping the 'Trance' spirit and vinyl alive in 2024!
- Jun 27, 2020
- 4,147 Posts
- 3,014 Thanked
Contraband
Member
- Aug 29, 2023
- 105 Posts
- 74 Thanked
Ok hi I’m new here. Just submitted mine:
Nebula - Richard Durand/Aly & Fila
Another Dimension - 0gravity
Lost - Maria Healy/Chelsea Holland
Starshine - Aligash
Near Light - Cold Blue
Feuerland - Alex MORPH
Devotion - John O Callaghan/Alex Holmes
Destination Outer Space - Andrea Ribeca
Open Up - SWART
Jivan - Harshil Kamdar/First Effect
BEST ARTiST
Andrea Ribeca
BeST ALBUm
SPF: Genesis - TDJ
BEST LABEL
Future Sound of Egypt
BEST COMPILATIOn
Subculture 2024 Year Mix - Nikolauss
Nebula - Richard Durand/Aly & Fila
Another Dimension - 0gravity
Lost - Maria Healy/Chelsea Holland
Starshine - Aligash
Near Light - Cold Blue
Feuerland - Alex MORPH
Devotion - John O Callaghan/Alex Holmes
Destination Outer Space - Andrea Ribeca
Open Up - SWART
Jivan - Harshil Kamdar/First Effect
BEST ARTiST
Andrea Ribeca
BeST ALBUm
SPF: Genesis - TDJ
BEST LABEL
Future Sound of Egypt
BEST COMPILATIOn
Subculture 2024 Year Mix - Nikolauss
Jetflag
Legendary Member
- Jul 17, 2020
- 3,460 Posts
- 2,799 Thanked
