The Trancefix Best of 2022 - Let's hear your thoughts

Juna

Senior Member
Dec 11, 2020
429 Posts
240 Thanked
Made the vote. Could do a top 50 I have so many tracks saved this year and I think some last minute changes will be required.

here are some, some in the top some just outside.

Repulsive Force - Over The Mountain (John Seo Remix)
Aerium - Wetterlocht
Chris Johnson - The Infinite
From The Sun (Enigma State Remix)
Mellow Sonic - Changes (Artifact 303 Remix)
Digital Blonde - Legato 22
Willem and Cybernet - Exit Phase
Standard form - Crimson Dust (Spirit Mix)
Coredata - Waking Bliss
Aerium - Lanieka
You Are My Salvation - Mercurial
Midian - Echoes of You (Summer Mix)
Dark Matter - Drangons Tear (Thomas Datt Remix)
Maara - Lezzies in Jacuzzi
 

Manofearth

Senior Member
Sep 24, 2020
436 Posts
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Got my vote in. Will be nice to see this years list. I hope @Redrot, @SaltAcidFatHeatAcid and @erickUO add and share there selections as I really liked following your submissions all year in the underground Trance thread. For the first time in a long time I feel very excited about following underground music. We are in for a good decade.
 

erickUO

Senior Member
Jul 13, 2020
916 Posts
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Got my vote in. Will be nice to see this years list. I hope @Redrot, @SaltAcidFatHeatAcid and @erickUO add and share there selections as I really liked following your submissions all year in the underground Trance thread. For the first time in a long time I feel very excited about following underground music. We are in for a good decade.

My votes are pretty predictable I think hehe

1. Bliss Inc. - Untitled 131
2. SEO John - Dreams Collide
3. Zara - Di Plastica (Maara Remix)
4. DJ MARIA. - Acid Sunrise (Alan Backdrop Remix)
5. Maruwa - Midnight Caller
6. Jon Jones - Gateway (Sunrise Mix)
7. Oprofessionell - Someone
8. L-3P - Axtron
9. Aiden Francis - Fusion
10. Harley Ferris - Return

Best producer: Repulsive Force/Oprofessionell (and his other aliases) <- the most versatile producer at the moment
Best label: UTE (and its sub labels) <- no competition imho
Best compilation: V/A - RE: DREAM [GODDEZZ]
Best album: Jetflag's Paracosm <- was very close between this or Repulsive Force's album

Overall 2022 was better from last year. Not many standouts, but there are more tracks I can enjoy and it's also nice to see the underground being more melodic this year.
 

Quethas

Member
Jul 15, 2020
170 Posts
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Finland
My process of picking the tracks is still ongoing. I have the obvious candidates, but picking whatever is somewhere around 4-10 and in which order seems to be harder than I imagined. Especially since I have found (for one reason or another) quite many tracks which most likely reaches top10 just at the end of this year.

But I have also found how incredibly hard it is to define what is trance. I have always enjoyed progressive side of trance more than uplifting, but now that no-one wants to use word trance anymore, there are quite a lot very trancey tracks lingering in techno & melodic/progressive house which perhaps once would have been labelled as trance. And it does not really help that JOOF (both label and DJ) for an example is more deep/progressive than actual trance these days. It was much easier to define JOOF Recordings as trance just few years ago.

There has always been a fine line between genres in "progressive", but the line seems to be more vague than in a long long time.

Then again I feel immense potential in the underground scene at the moment. There are of course all too familiar big guns still in the trance scene, but I feel there might be something interesting brewing hidden in the dark.
 
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Hensmon

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But I have also found how incredibly hard it is to define what is trance. I have always enjoyed progressive side of trance more than uplifting, but now that no-one wants to use word trance anymore, there are quite a lot very trancey tracks lingering in techno & melodic/progressive house which perhaps once would have been labelled as trance.

Not a huge issue if there is some crossover stuff in your submission. Although its nice having a list close to pure Trance as possible, it is also a 'TranceFix' best of, so somewhat reflecting the members taste on this site. I expect the final 50 will be a great representation of quality underground/midground releases that all fall somewhat within the trancey-progressive-hypnotic feeling that kind of ties the essence of the scene together anyway
 
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SaltAcidFatHeatAcid

Senior Member
Jul 19, 2022
278 Posts
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Got my vote in. Will be nice to see this years list. I hope @Redrot, @SaltAcidFatHeatAcid and @erickUO add and share there selections as I really liked following your submissions all year in the underground Trance thread. For the first time in a long time I feel very excited about following underground music. We are in for a good decade.
Down to 50 now. For labels I've been really keen on Goddezz, Gestalt, UTE, Translucid, HAWS, Radiant Love, Eclectic, Space Trax, R.A.N.D., Kalahari and Familiar Stragers. For comps RE: Dream and Club Unity were both fantastic. Top album is easily Paracosm for me. Producer is a tough one. Glen S has stood out in my mixes, as has Aiden Francis, Reflex Blue, Willem, Maara, Bliss Inc, but so many others too. For me, 2022 was an excellent year for trance, prob better than 2021. I do hope for more progression and build with melody in the Nutrance sound as this area matures. Something like an old Tilt track. Why has no one gone this way yet I wonder?

Abdul Raeva - Atlas Corporations
Acidova - Glow
Adam Pits, Space Cadets, Lisene - Warp Drive (Rudolf C's Psychedelic Envisionment)
Aerium pres. Avalon 62 - Himelfjoer
Aiden Francis - Fusion
Aiden Francis - Espeon
amuwa - Amalgamate
Bliss Inc - Untitled 131
Bruno Wølf - Shinto (Pro Athlete Remix)
DJ HEARTSTRING - SHE WILL BELIEVE
DJ Life & Reflex Blue - Shuttle Bug
Desire - Voyage Infini
Earth Trax - Dream Pop
Gabriola - One to Zen
Glen S - Gatewayed Rugs
Glen S - To Infinity, And Beyond
Harley Ferris - Atom Splitter (Sam Alfred Remix)
Hex Editor - Blush (Sakura Tsurata's Drama Queen Remix)
Hybrid Man - Virtual Language
L-3P - Xondel
Maara - Ultimate Revenge
Maara - Going All The Way Up
Match Box - Break a Take
Midian - Echoes of You (Autumn Mix)
MIJU x MKDSL - Metatron (Bliss Inc Remix)
Mikkel Rev - Age Of Plastic
Mikkel Rev - Revelation In A Chillout Room (Ekkel 'Manifest 2 B' mix)
Monophonik x Riva - Morsing
Narciss & Vixen - Feather Boa Constrictor
Omformer - Transmedium Travel
Oprofessionell - Evolution XL
Oprofessionell - Someone
Prizefight - Alnitak (Cybernet's 3am Mix)
Pyramid of Knowledge - Storm Passed
Reflex Blue - Ocean Bliss (Paradise Mix)
Remotif - Komorebi
Repulsive Force - Dreams of Unity (Ascensionist High Hopes Mix)
Rove Ranger - Horses On Acid
Roza Terenzi & D. Tiffany - Spiritual Delusion
SEO John - Dreams Collide
Solar Suite - Tasman Transmission
Squidge - Hammock
Tangerine Dream - Raum
Tangerine Dream - Continuum
Trancemaster - Perfect Fear
Vitess - No Latitude
Willem - Dream Turbine
Willem - Youtopia (Highway2Trance Mix)
Willem & Cybernet - Exit Phase
ΣNDYM - Voyageur
 
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Julian Del Agranda

Elite Member
Jul 3, 2020
1,582 Posts
1,823 Thanked
^ I know zero artist names from that list.

Oh wait I see LostLegends alias.

Oh wait Aerium is in there too. Sorry lol, didn't see it XD
 
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Dreamless

Member
Dec 7, 2022
64 Posts
39 Thanked
My votes are pretty predictable I think hehe

1. Bliss Inc. - Untitled 131
2. SEO John - Dreams Collide
3. Zara - Di Plastica (Maara Remix)
4. DJ MARIA. - Acid Sunrise (Alan Backdrop Remix)
5. Maruwa - Midnight Caller
6. Jon Jones - Gateway (Sunrise Mix)
7. Oprofessionell - Someone
8. L-3P - Axtron
9. Aiden Francis - Fusion
10. Harley Ferris - Return

Best producer: Repulsive Force/Oprofessionell (and his other aliases) <- the most versatile producer at the moment
Best label: UTE (and its sub labels) <- no competition imho
Best compilation: V/A - RE: DREAM [GODDEZZ]
Best album: Jetflag's Paracosm <- was very close between this or Repulsive Force's album

Wild to see so many of you repping this emerging scene. I don’t know a single soul who likes this music, it has absolutely no representation in South Africa.

I will vote, soon enough and share. You already mentioned some I will have on my list. RE:Dream is the best comp but I didn’t really consider it Trance when I listened to it, bar a few tracks.
 

SaltAcidFatHeatAcid

Senior Member
Jul 19, 2022
278 Posts
393 Thanked
I don’t know a single soul who likes this music

Is it because the music is not appealing? Or just that people have not been exposed to it?

I find it's usually the latter. I've been pretty bored with mainstream trance for 2-3 years and digging for classics isn't quite as thrilling as the excitement of new ideas from the underground. But, outside of Germany, the UK, Australia, or warehouse parties, you are unlikely to hear any of this live.
 
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Hoplite

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Jun 1, 2021
288 Posts
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Is it because the music is not appealing? Or just that people have not been exposed to it?

I find it's usually the latter. I've been pretty bored with mainstream trance for 2-3 years and digging for classics isn't quite as thrilling as the excitement of new ideas from the underground. But, outside of Germany, the UK, Australia, or warehouse parties, you are unlikely to hear any of this live.
I would expand that scope to Europe in general. Even in my tiny small country (Latvia) there are plenty of djs that are spinning this kind of stuff in local parties/raves. On the contrary, the mainstream trance is extinct here (and I think that's for the best, to be honest..)
 
May 4, 2022
130 Posts
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Good year for acidy digiridoo house music masquerading as the re-dawning of the 90s Trance and Prog scene, average year for actual Trance and Prog music. Big change still needed. Activa is trying hard but still not crossing the threshold into what we know can be done.
 

No Return

Member
Mar 9, 2022
126 Posts
79 Thanked
But, outside of Germany, the UK, Australia, or warehouse parties, you are unlikely to hear any of this live.

I can confirm this is true for Argentina. Only Buenos Aires has trance, but it’s just bigger names on their tours, not a true underground and not reactive to the latest happenings. JOOF does arrive sometimes. We have a trance and prog appetite but it does not feel organic in the sense it’s a culture emerging with its own identity or contribution
 

Vicmarran

Member
Aug 28, 2021
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USA
Will have to do some final sorting during the week, some tracks I really love are colliding in my mind right know.
 
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Hensmon

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Jun 27, 2020
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Alright my dudes, we got haul of votes so far but def can get a lot more in. We got about 1 more week till I start counting and preparing everything. Get em in!
 
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Vicmarran

Member
Aug 28, 2021
191 Posts
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31
USA
Vote submitted. Top 30 ended up like so:

1. Aerium - Something More (Solarstone Retouch) [Pure Trance]

2. EverLight, Sinful Biz - The Long Road Home (Sinful Biz Remix - Solarstone Edit) [Pure Trance]

3. Stoneface & Terminal, Robert Nickson - From the Sun (Enigma State Remix) [Pure Trance]

4. Benjani, Mac & Monday - Sanctum (Mac & Monday Story Continues Remix) [Borderline]

5. Lange, Firewall - Together [Create Music]

6. Luminary - My World (Slam Duck Remix) [Lost Language]
Luminary - My World (Slam Duck Remix) (LOST175)

7. Relaunch - In Your Eyes [Lost Language]
Relaunch - In Your Eyes (LOST177)

8. Cosmonaut - Plasma [JOOF]
Plasma

9. Luke Terry - Cryosphere [Borderline]
Cryosphere (Extended Mix)

10. Steve Birch - Mother Earth [JOOF]
Mother Earth

11. Coredata - Waking Bliss [JOOF]
Waking Bliss

12. Slam Duck - Who Are You [JOOF]
Who Are You

13. Slam Duck - Struggle For Life [JOOF]
Struggle For Life

14. Slam Duck - Regeneration [Forescape Digital]
Slam Duck - Regeneration (Extended Mix)

15. Dark Matter, Thomas Datt - Dragons Tear (Thomas Datt's Third Eye Activation Remix) [Landscapes Music]
Dragons Tear (Thomas Datt's Third Eye Activation Remix)

16. Super-Frog Saves Tokyo - Kyoto [Electronic Architecture]
Super-frog Saves Tokyo - Kyoto (Extended Mix)

17. The Conductor & The Cowboy, Aero Vaquera - Sirens (Beautiful Lies) (Enigma State Remix) [Premier League Recordings]
Sirens (Beautiful Lies) feat. Aero Vaquera (Enigma State Extended Remix)

18. Stoneface & Terminal, SinSonic - Spaceglide [Pure Trance]
Stoneface & Terminal with SinSonic - Spaceglide

19. Allende - Midnight Train [Pure Progressive]
Allende - Midnight Train

20. Simon Doty - Living Sound [Anjunadeep]
Living Sound (Extended Mix)

21. Eric Lune - Dreaming Home (Sebastian Sellares Remix) [Sound Avenue]
Dreaming Home (Sebastian Sellares Remix)

22. Simon Doty - Trance Tool [Anjunadeep]
Simon Doty - Trance Tool

23. Sonic Element - Forgotten [Research and Development Music]
Forgotten (Extended Mix)

24. Sonic Element - Lost Past [Research and Development Music]
Lost Past (Extended Mix)

25. Nordfold - A Different Life [Anjunadeep]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41c5p1lG6Pw

26. Ezequiel Arias, Sebastian Sellares - Sky Above [Replug]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khq1Dm6DkO4

27. Orbital - Belfast (Yotto Remix) [London Music Stream]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL1UXe5vioc

28. Narel - Assonance [JOOF]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMis4Qtsvv4

29. Narel - Icaro [JOOF]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q5aanIVmoY

30. Feel Fly - Cosmo Cosmo [Internasjonal]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zma4BO8ljdo
 

Recharge

Elite Member
Sep 26, 2020
1,004 Posts
544 Thanked
Age
38
Alright my dudes, we got haul of votes so far but def can get a lot more in. We got about 1 more week till I start counting and preparing everything. Get em in!
Hopefully from tomorrow I can start making my playlists and submit a top 10 of a sort before 31st. Although top3/5 is decided a long time ago I have a really hard time picking favourites when I am the easiest person to please, all I need is a good melody or groove and I am sold....

Edit: my beatport rewind just came, no surprises for my top 3 labels being progressive trance ones, I listened/played a lot of progressive trance this year.

And contrary to what ASOT would make you believe progressive trance was on the rise this year.

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Hensmon

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Jun 27, 2020
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I still have no idea , problaby just gonna put some tracks in i can remmember

Check the spreadsheet I linked in the original post. I have now updated it with 200 tracks for reference from the year, this might help you when putting stuff together.

Added a load of undeground stuff to it recently, that I took from some of the votes submitted so far.

edit - here it is track shortlist,