Top 400 trance tracks of all time
Submitted by darktremor on Wed, 10/20/2004 - 04:29
Tags:
- _These are the rules for posting recommendations. If you break one, I will ignore you. Read them before making a suggestion:
- 1.If you suggest even one track that is already on the list, I will ignore all other tracks in your suggested list. Use edit/find (on this page), or hit control-f to search out tracks before recommending them. Don't just whip your playlist off into the comments, I want you to make sure it's a)better than some of the tracks on this list, and b)NOT ALREADY ON IT, before you suggest I add it. This list is massive, and the base of tracks it was selected out of is even bigger. I don't mean to be a jerk about it, but I don't have the time to sift through records that are already on the list. Plus, that tells me you didn't think about your suggestion.
- 2.If you've been listening to trance for less than 9 months, you have a DJ Mystik track on your computer anywhere, or you still (seriously) find tracks by typing "trance" or "techno" into a file sharing program, then please don't suggest anything. Your recommendation is going to be stupid. No, trust me. It is.
- 3. Don't post "I can't believe [insert probably stupid and derivative track here] isn't on the list! What gives?!?!?" or anything even remotely close to that comment. What gives? If it's really such a masterpiece and it's not on the list, then I probably haven't heard it, dumbass (Or I've heard it, it sucks, and you just have no taste). If you make that comment, I will ignore you. In fact, if you even think about making that comment, don't bother posting, your suggestion is going to be stupid. There are literally millions of trance tracks, and there is no possible way anyone could listen to them all (I've only heard tens of thousands). Although the best tracks tend to bubble up into underground recognition (and no further), there are likely dozens of masterpieces that have gone unnoticed - this is what I'm looking for. However, there are hundreds of thousands of piles of derivative crap that directly steal from classics and never go anywhere. These appeal to newbies who haven't been around long enough to hear the originals (and to E-tards who have no memory of any tracks they've heard at any events), which is why no one who hasn't listened to trance for over 9 months should post here. If you don't know enough about trance to know that more records are released than could ever possibly be listened to, you don't know enough about trance to make an intelligent suggestion, and you're wasting your time.
- 4. If you have ever, EVER in your life shouted "TIIIIEEEESSSSTTTOOOOO!!!!" or said anything along the lines of "OMG OMG OMG Tiesto is such a God OMG!" don't post here, because you're an idiot. He can play records. Calloo, calay, he belongs on Mount Olympus.
- 5. Do not write a post stating something like "that's just your opinion! [boring derivative crap] is a masterpiece, you just won't open your ears!" [Stupid derivative crap] is not a masterpiece. You just haven't heard enough trance to know that [stupid derivative crap] doesn't have a shred of originality in it.
- 6. If you don't like at least five trance tracks produced before 1995, don't bother posting a suggestion, as you know absolutely nothing about trance. Come back when you're older, sonny.
- 7. If you don't like acid, or don't know what acid is (and weren't knocked out by rule number 2), you're an idiot, don't post.
- 8. If you don't listen to at least 3 other kinds of electronic music that are not mainstream hip-hop genres or played on the radio, you have no perspective, don't post a suggestion.
- _Here's a torrent of the first 50 songs:
- here
- Many thanks to AsColdAsIce for making this. I'm not sure if it works, but it's worth a shot.
- Final note: there are going to be songs on here that aren't perfectly 100% trance. If you see this tag beside a track:
- {arguable},
- then the track is disputable (or disputed) in some way.
- The genres essentially represented are ibiza trance, epic trance, psytrance/goa trance, anthem trance, classic trance, acid trance, ambient trance, tech-trance, and progressive trance. I am liberal with these categories, and what has also ended up on here is some trancier ambient house, acid techno, progressive house, tech-house, "minimal," and breaks. There is a limit, but it's blurry. For example, you won't find funky house, breakbeat hardcore, or aggrotech on here.
- Humate - Love Simulation (Paul van Dyk's Love mix) [1993] [Ibiza trance]
- It's amazing how little this track loses its loveliness with repeat listens. I've had it for 6 years now, and I still love it just as much as I did when it floored me on the first listen. Even the other top 10 tracks (while still amazing) have diminished in some ways with compulsive listening, but this one remains the shining gem at the top of the trance genre. This perfectly captures the beauty of a tropical sunset on a peaceful deserted island, and to this day never fails to evoke such a scene.
- The Age of Love - Age of Love (Jam & Spoon's Watch out for Stella mix) [1992] [classic trance]
- This is often erroneously called the first trance tune of all time, including by me for a very long time. Well, it wasn't. There was no "first trance tune." It seems to have slowly coalesced out of the Belgian new beat, acid house, techno, and euro-house miasma around at the time. You can look for related tracks in each of these early scenes, but none of them are "trance" per se, they clearly fall into their respective styles. And the first artists who actually set out to make "trance" were mimicking a genre that was already defined. So where do you draw the line? You don't. There was no big bang.
- Also, the so-called "original mix" available pretty much everywhere is almost universally actually the (admittedly superior) Jam & Spoon remix. I finally found the real original mixes, and they're not trance at all - they're inarguably new beat. You can almost hear some trance in there, but it's a seed, at best.
- That said, this version is a fantastic track, and still one of trance's first. It's beautiful, ethereal, and above all, entrancing.
- Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar (Three N' One mix) [1998] [anthem trance/ibiza trance]
- The track that defines everything that an ibiza anthem is, full of all of the excess and bombast of the island: pure dancable joy. The track's central hook is a long, arpeggiated melody looping such that the beginning and end melt together into an endless sphere. It sounds like sped-up 70's minimalism run through a 90's dark trance synth with a sub-tribal feel (it's the beats that do this). I'll admit, the build-up is a little bit cliche by now, but it wasn't really at the time, and for second-wave trance, it's as creative as it's going to get, and more than compensated by the spot-on anthem. In a not so surprising twist, this was initially written by one of the fathers of modern trance (Cosmic Baby), back in 1993 (they were always better at trance than the bedroom nerds and the corporate pop machine). It has gotten another remix every single year since 93, most of which are picked up by trance jocks and many of which go back on the club charts (the best is undoubtedly 1997's chart-topping Three N' One remix (although some prefer the 1998 Nalin & Kane version, and classic trance addicts will love the original)).
- Future Sound of London - Papua New Guinea [1991] [ambient trance/classic trance]
- Released in 1991, this song wasn't even intended to be trance - no one even used the word yet (although there was a fledgling sound growing in the underground house, rave, and techno scenes). It was meant to be ambient breaks, but "Papua New Guinea's" atmosphere was like little other electronic dance released at the time - ethereal, spacy, almost angelic, but still dancefloor-worthy, catchy, and even relaxing. The song instantly became a trance classic once the genre was brought into official existence in 1993, and deservingly so. Like it's predecessor "Age of Love," even today it can be played without sounding the slightest bit dated.
- {arguable - ambient breaks}
- Underworld - Born Slippy (NUXX). [1995] [classic trance/hard trance]
- A melodic trance tune with stream-of-consciousness lyrics that become stranger with each listen, mainly beacuse they never really had any actual internal logic to begin with. The melody is unforgettably catchy, and contains a nice twist in the middle, in which it goes from being a wistful and pretty little ambient trancer, to a hard and abrasive swedish techno stormer, and pulls both off better than just about anything in either genre. Surprisingly, especially with this being, you know, actually good, this was a huge hit in Europe (it went to number 2 on the world chart in 1996-97), and gets at least two new remixes every year, at least one of which always goes back on the club charts (hopefully 2006 will be an exception? Honestly, they're never going to top the original). So, not only is it one of the best, it's also the most popular to still retain credibility.
- {arguable - melodic techo(?)}
- Sasha - Xpander [1999] [progressive trance]
- Perfect progressive trance. A melody that, like the last 2 tracks, is atmospheric, loops on itself, and endlessly contagious, without seeming repetitive. This song is absorbing - the feeling throughout is impossible to describe, since like I said before...dancing about architecture. Just download the track. It's incredible. (Was another mega-European hit. I don't know the details specifically, but it doesn't matter).
- Nalin & Kane - Beachball [1996] [ibiza trance]
- Gorgeous, elegant, and never tiring. It's quite possible that I've listened to this track more times than any other, probably my personal favorite. Built out of tribal, yet melodic beats (the "Nalin and Kane sound"), relaxing and inobtrusive vocals, and a slow, subtle build that takes its time to breakdown. When it does breakdown, air strings and seagulls wash and flow around each other as if musically taking flight to a Mediterannean sky over a sunset-golden beach. When the breakdown ends, "Becahball" slowly floats back to earth, before spending the remainder of the track rippling back and forth between the sky and the sand.
- {arguable - ibiza house}
- Paragliders - Paraglide [1993] [classic trance]
- DnTel - (This is) The Dream of Evan and Chan (Superpitcher Kompakt remix) [2002] [minimal trance]
- This is probably the only trance track ever created with vocals worth listening to. But it doesn't rest on them, just allowing them to sparsely resonant in a minimal nothing, it raises them, gently bringing them to soaring heights with gorgeous melodies that slowly drown out the surreal beauty of the evocative lyrics. Eventually the glistening bells overtake the words entirely, taking the already flying track into the stratosphere. It's the perfect representative of minimal trance.
- {arguble: tech-house/progressive house/microhouse}
- Hardfloor - Acperience 1 [1992] [acid trance/classic trance]
- {arguable - acid}
- Hybrid - Symphony [1997] [orchestral trance]
- Wow. Forget Adagio for Strings, forget Protect Your Mind, forget ****ing Airwave, symphonic trance was created and destroyed with this track. Everything trance is supposed to make you feel, and almost everything classical is supposed to do can be found here in this amazing song. Easy to dance to, creative beats (breaktrance, so they actually put some thought into them), more melodies than you can possibly count, and all this without sounding crowded or overstuffed; all of it original. They even did it without overusing the breakdown. Fantastic, it completly lives up to its title.
- Aphex Twin - Didgeridoo [1992] [acid trance]
- This track is simultaneously hard, twisted and beautiful, which is something I would have considered a nearly impossible feat until I heard this, and despite being over 15 years old, it still sounds innovative and fresh today. Built on a foundation of Basic Channel-esque foggy acid lines, Didgeridoo manages to build and break like trance, while meandering and wandering like ambient and relentlessly pounding and squiggling like acid techno without sounding forced or mashed together. A didgeridoo sets the bassline resulting in a simultaneously relaxing, funky and dark atmosphere. It can sound like a trance anthem, a techno monster, or an ambient chilldown depending on how you listen, and it's all of those together and more, and it grows greater with each listen. Didgeridoo is undoubtedly one of the greatest trance tracks of all time. Whether or not it's in the genre of "trance" per se is questionable (though a connecting thread is certainly there), but in the most elastic sense of entrancing dance music, it comes out pretty close to the top.
- {arguable - ambient acid techno(?)}
- Orbital - Halcyon On & On [1993] [ambient trance]
- {arguable - ambient techno}
- Chicane - Offshore [1996] [ibiza trance]
- {arguable - ambient house/ibiza house}
- Banco De Gaia - Heliopolis [1993] [classic trance/acid trance]
- Choice - Acid Eiffel [acid trance]
- {arguable - acid techno}
- Ame - Rej [2005] [minimal trance/neo-trance]
- {arguable - "minimal"}
- L.S.G. - Netherworld [1997] [progressive trance]
- Balil - Parasight [1993] [classic trance/acid trance]
- Salt Tank - Eugina [1996] [ibiza trance]
- The PQM - You Are Sleeping (Luke Chable Vocal mix) [2004] [progressive trance/deep trance]
- {arguable - progressive house}
- LSG - Hearts [1994] [classic trance/acid trance]
- Dance 2 Trance - We Came in Peace [1990] [classic trance]
- Another contender for first trance song ever created. Whether this track came first, or Age of Love is questionable, but the quality of this little masterpiece is indisputable. Almost like minimal goa, mixed with James Holden-esque progressive (but of course, it predates all of that). It's reminiscent of being on the moon, or on the surface of an alien world: exactly the way trance should sound.
- Underworld - Dark Train [1994] [classic trance]
- Infected Mushroom - Mush Mushi [goa trance/psytrance]
- Gabriel Ananda - Ihre Persönliche Glücksmelodie [2005] [minimal trance/neo-trance]
- Paul Van Dyk - For an Angel [1994] [epic trance]
- Metal Master - Spectrum [1992] [classic trance]
- Push - Strange World [2001] [anthem trance]
- Humate & Rabbit In The Moon - East (Opium Den Mix) [1995] [classic trance/acid trance]
- The MFA - The Difference it Makes [2004] [minimal trance/neo-trance]
- {arguable - progressive house}
- Cybernaut - Hydroponix [1997] [goa trance/psytrance]
- Datura - Yerba Del Diablo [1992] [classic trance/acid trance]
- {I find it's a lot like psytrance/goa trance, but this isn't a bad thing.}
- Three Drives - Greece 2000 [1997] [progressive trance/anthem trance]
- PHD - Summer Storm (Leisure Lounge Edit) [1994] [classic trance/acid trance]
- Jam and Spoon - Stella [1992] [ibiza trance]
- Hallucinogen - LSD [1994] [psytrance/goa trance]
- Commander Tom - Are Am Eye? [1995] [classic trance/dark trance(?)]
- {arguable - rave}
- Phobia - Phobia (DJ Hell mix) [1991/2007] [classic trance/acid trance]
- What actually makes the DJ Hell 2007 mix different from the 1991 original is pretty minimal (ha. ha. no.), but it seems to do the trick, elevating what was already a trance classic into the neo-trance masterpiece it was always meant to be. Really though, everything that made the track so incredible to begin with is there, and everything added on could have been created back in 1991. But it rounds it out perfectly.
- It's rather dark trance. The anchoring melody is simply a two note depth charge interspersed with a transmission-like voice ("let me have silence") and a strangely affecting diva wail, held down by a circular acid line that eventually dissolves into quasi-anthemic territory (a la Acid Eiffel, which it actually transcends). Everything here is simple and effective, and reminiscent of floating in space past a rocky wasteland moon, no power in the ship, unable to navigate, fleeing alien depth charges. Or perhaps it's like being under the ocean on an alien planet in almost complete blackness and silence but for the occasional bursts of extraterrestrial explosives seeking to destroy your submarine, hidden in the deep, the power.
- This is also a flagpost of what seems to be a classic trance revival of sorts brought about by an adoring minimal community (some of whom floated out of classic trance-land in the first place, fleeing the epic anthem boom of the late 90s. You know who I mean. Sven Vath. Stephan Bodzin.)
- Etnica - Moon Influence [1996] [goa trance/psytrance]
- Yahel - Voyage [2000] [psytrance/epic trance]
- Binary Finary - 1998 [1998] [anthem trance]
- Note: 1999 and 2000 are the same track, re-released for more guiltless radioplay and club spinning. Although why this odd norm exists at all is beyond me. If you still like the track, just keep playing it. Don't buy it again with a different date stamped on the cover, just so you can label yourself "upfront."
- Union Jack - Red Herring [1995] [acid trance]
- Beanfield - Tides (Carl Craig mix) [2004] [minimal trance/neo-trance]
- Cybordelics - Adventures of Dama [1993] [classic trance]
- The Thrillseekers - Synaesthesia [1999] [epic trance]
- Leftfield - Phat Planet [1999] [deep trance]
- {arguable - progressive house}
- Atlantic Ocean - Waterfalls [1993] [anthem trance]
- {arguable - anthem house}
- DJ Tiesto - Suburban Train [2001] [epic trance]
- James Holden - Nothing (93 Returning mix) [2003] [progressive trance]
- Roland Appel - Dark Soldier [2007] [minimal trance/neo-trance]
- Efdemin - Lohn & Brot [2007] [minimal trance/neo-trance]
- "Minimal" has gotten so trancy this year that almost all of the best new tracks warrant (high) places on this list.
- This is the only trance track on the entire list that I fell in love with during the opening bar (Those first three notes are actually truly beautiful, and even if the track didn't go anywhere from there it would still warrant a place somewhere on this list as the best filler of all time). I don't even cut this track up in my iPod playlist.
- {arguable - minimal. But argue with me that it's really minimal and not trance at all and I'll actually beat you down. I will find out where you live, and I will beat you down. It's got breakdowns, dammit, BREAKDOWNS. Yeah, minimal. Right.}
- Orbital - Belfast [1992] [ambient trance]
- Art of Trance - Madagascar (Cygnus X mix) [1998] [epic trance/anthem trance]
- Gus Gus - Purple (Sasha vs. The Light mix) [1998] [progressive trance]
- James Holden - Horizons [1999] [progressive trance]
- Cygnus X - Superstring [1994] [classic trance]
- Patrick Chardronnet - Eve By Day (Ripperton mix) [2006] [minimal trance/neo-trance]
- The Field - Over the Ice [2006] [minimal trance/neo-trance]
- {arugable - minimal techno(?)}
- Banco De Gaia - Last Train to Lhasa [1995] [classic trance/ambient trance]
- {arguable - ambient house/progressive house}
- Astral Projection - Aurora Borealis [2000] [psytrance/goa trance]
- PPK - Resurrection [2001] [progressive trance/anthem trance]
- Shakta - Lepton Head III [1996] [goa trance/psytrance]
- Way Out West - Mindcircus (Gabriel and Dresden mix) [2001] [progressive trance]
- {arguable - progressive house}
- Astral Projection - Mahadeva [1996] [psytrance]
- Like an ancient tribal ceremony, plus aliens.
- {arugable - psy. But really, think about it. Psy...trance. PsyTRANCE.}
- Petter - These Days [2004] [deep trance/neo-trance]
- {arguable - progressive breaks}
- Zyon - No fate (No Fate edit) [1992] [classic trance]
- Paul Van Dyk - Words [1997] [progressive trance]
- Stefan Goldmann - Sleepy Hollow [2006] [minimal trance/neo-trance]
- {arguable: minimal techno/deep house. Supposedly.)
- William Orbit - Water from a Wine Leaf (Xylem Flow mix) [1992] [classic trance/ambient trance]
- {arguable - progressive house/ambient house}
- Nathan Fake - The Sky was Pink (James Holden mix) [2005] [progressive trance/minimal trance/neo-trance]
- {arguable - progressive house/"Border Community techno" [which is generally called neo-trance, any dispute here is silly]}
- 4Voice - Eternal Spirit [1992] [classic trance]
- Lost Tribe - Gamemaster [1997] [progressive trance/anthem trance]
- Rabbit In The Moon - Out Of Body Experience (Phase One - First Contact) [1994] [classic trance]
- Heartthrob - Baby Kate [2006] [minimal trance/neo-trance]
- {arguable: minimal techno, although I think it's really too melodic for that}
- Cydonia - Haunted World [1999] [goa trance/psytrance]
- Paragliders - Oasis [1995] [classic trance]
- Ascension - Someone (Slacker's Rolling mix) [1998] [progressive trance/anthem trance]
- Pob - Boiler (Humate mix) [1998] [progressive trance]
- Shakta - Silicon Trip [1997] [goa trance/psytrance]
- Underworld - Two Months Off [2002] [progressive trance/deep trance]
- {arguable - Progressive house}
- Armin Van Buuren - Blue Fear [1996] [progressive trance]
- Jurgen Paape - Mit Dir [2002] [minimal trance/neo-trance]
- {arguable - melodic minimal house/microhouse}
- Claude Vonstroke - Who's Afraid of Detroit? [2006] [minimal trance/neo-trance]
- Astral Projection - Dancing Galaxy [1997] [psytrance/goa trance]
- Art of Trance - Octopus [1994]
- Moby - Go [1992] [classic trance]
- Ronald Klinkenberg - Inner Laugh (James Holden mix) [2004] [deep trance/progressive trance]
- {arguable: progressive house}
- Clanger - Seadog [1994] [classic trance/acid trance]
- Solar Stone - Seven Cities [1999] [ibiza trance]
- Technique - Sun is Shining (Mash Up Matt mix) [1999] [anthem trance/epic trance]
- Circuit - Transport Of Love [1994] [classic trance]
- Gouryella - Gouryella [1998] [anthem trance/epic trance]
- Etnica - Spheric Concept [1996] [goa trance/psytrance]
- Pulser - Cloudwalking [1999] [anthem trance/epic trance]
- Moogwai - Viola (Armin Van Buuren mix) [2001] [anthem trance/epic trance]
- Tilt Vs. Paul Van Dyk - Rendezvous [1997] [anthem trance]
- Way Out West - The Gift [1995] [ambient trance/breaktrance]
- {arguable - ambient breaks}
- Goldenscan - Sunrise (DJ Tiesto mix) [1999] [anthem trance/epic trance]
- DJ Misjah & DJ Tim - Access [1995] [hard acid trance/classic trance]
- Union Jack - Two Full Moons and a Trout (Caspar Pound mix) [1993]
- Genlog - Airwalk [1995] [classic trance/hard trance]
- Pantha Du Prince - Walden [2006] [minimal trance/neo-trance]
- {arguable - "minimal"}
- Push - Universal Nation [1999] [anthem trance]
- Art of Trance - The Colours (Indigo mix) [1993] [classic trance]
- Schiller - Das Glockenspiel (Humate mix) [1998] [progressive trance]
- Bedrock - Heaven Scent [1999] [progressive trance]
- {arguable: progressive house}
- Leama - Requiem For a Dream [2003] [ambient trance]
- Motorcycle - As The Rush Comes [2003] [deep trance]
- {arguable - progressive house}
- Nathan Fake - Outhouse [2004] [deep trance/progressive trance/neo-trance]
- {arguable - progressive house}
- Airwave - Alone in the Dark [2000] [progressive trance/anthem trance]
- X-Tracks - Plan 94 (The Voyage) [1994] [classic trance]
- I love this song: it's like the musical equivalent of piloting a flying saucer. That melody at the end makes me feel like I'm falling to earth through an atmosphere of endless clouds.
- Barbarella - My Name is Barbarella [1992] [classic trance/ambient trance]
- {arguable - Ambient techno}
- Alibi - Eternity [2000] [anthem trance/tribal trance]
- York - The Reachers of Civilization [1999] [epic trance/anthem trance]
- Caucasuss - Our Dream [1994] [classic trance]
- Cydonia - Cactus [1999] [goa trance/psytrance]
- DJ Taucher - Atlantis [Phase 3] [1998] [anthem trance]
- The Visions of Shiva - How Much Can You Take? (Physical) [1993] [classic trance]
- Drum Club - Sound System (Underworld Mix) [1995] [classic trance/progressive trance]
- Man With No Name - Silicon Trip [1996] [psytrance/goa trance]
- Chicane - Salt Water [1999] [epic trance/ibiza trance]
- Ultraviolet - Kites (Fantasy Flite Part 1) [1995] [progressive trance/ambient trance/epic trance]
- {arguable - ambient breaks}
- Efdemin - Bergwein [2007] [minimal trance/neo-trance]
- Starecase - Faith (Loafer mix) [2002] [epic trance/progressive trance]
- Lost Tribe - Angel [1997] [progressive trance]
- {arguable - ambient breaks/progressive breaks}
- Signum - Solar Level [1999] [epic trance]
- Dove Beat - La Palorma [1998] [epic trance/ibiza trance]
- Art of Trance - Deeper Than Deep [1993] [classic trance]
- Booka Shade - Mandarine Girl [2005] [neo-trance/minimal trance]
- {arguable - electro-house}
- Above and Beyond - No One on Earth (Gabriel and Dresden mix) [2004] [progressive trance]
- Riva - Stringer [2001] [progressive trance]
- Claude Vonstroke - Who's Afraid of Detroit? [2006] [minimal trance/neo-trance]
- Hardfloor - Lost in the Silver Box [1993] [acid trance/classic trance]
- {arguable - acid}
- Johnny Shaker - Pearl River [1997] [anthem trance]
- Groovezone - I Love the Music [1998] [epic trance]
- Coincedentally, another lost treasure that no one has ever heard of.
- Dominic Plaza - Sounds Rushing (David West mix) [2005] [epic trance]
- James Holden - A Break in the Clouds [2002] [neo-trance/minimal trance]
- {arguable - progressive house}
- DJ Tiesto - Dallas 4 PM [2001] [anthem trance]
- Kamaya Painters - Wasteland (DJ Hitchhiker mix)[2000] [epic trance]
- Blue Planet Corporation - Alidate [1999] [psytrance/goa trance]
- Chicane - Lost You Somewhere [1998] [Ibiza trance]
- Kaito - Soul of Heart [2004] [neo-trance]
- {arguable - tech-house(?)}
- Aztec Mystic - Night of the Jaguar [1999] [tech-trance]
- {arguable - detroit techno}
- James Holden vs. Ben Pound - Kaern Turned [tech-trance]
- Arpeggiators - Discover Your Innerself [1993] [classic trance]
- Juno Reactor - Samurai [1994] [goa trance/psytrance]
- Libra Presents Taylor - Anomaly - Calling Your Name [AKA BT ft. Jan Johnson] [1995] [classic trance/progressive trance]
- Ramin - Brainticket [1993] [classic trance]
- Pole Folder - Apollo Vibes [2001] [deep trance]
- {arguable - progressive house}
- Free Radical - Surreal (En-Motion Remix) [2001] [anthem trance]
- M.I.K.E. - Sunrise at Palamos [2000] [anthem trance]
- Blue Planet Corporation - Crystal [1999] [psytrance/goa trance]
- Solid Globe - North Pole [epic trance/anthem trance]
- Chimera - Hypnotising [2002] [progressive trance/deep trance]
- {arguable - progressive house}
- Spicelab - Amorph [1992]
- L.S.G. - Train of Thought 1.2
- Joker Jam - Innocence [2001] (progressive trance/anthem trance)
- Cosmic Baby - Fantasia (Airplay) [1994] [classic trance]
- Rui Da Silva - Touch Me [2001] [deep trance]
- {arguable - progressive house}
- Guy Gerber & Shlomi Aber - Sea of Sand [2007] [neo-trance/minimal trance]
- {arguable - "minimal"}
- VDM - No Hesitation
- James Holden - One For You (Avus One For Heads mix) [2001]
- Petter - All Together [2004] [deep trance/neo-trance]
- {arguable - minimal techno/progressive house}
- Cherry Bomb - Eclipse [1994]
- Vernon - Wonderer [1993]
- Moonbeam - Sunshine [2007] [neo-trance/minimal trance]
- {arguable - "minimal"}
- Blank and Jones - Nightclubbing [2001]
- Filterheadz - Yimanya [2004]
- Faithless - Insomnia [1996] [anthem trance]
- {arguable: stadium house}
- Minilogue - Elephant's Parade [2007] [neo-trance/minimal trance]
- {arguable - "minimal"}
- Evolution - Phoenix
- Quench - Dreams [1993]
- AFX - VBS.Redlof.B
- Partial Arts - Trauermusik [2007] [minimal trance/neo-trance]
- {arguable - minimal}
- Gypsy - I Trance You [1998]
- Breeder - Tyrantanic (Slacker's Kingdom Come Mix)
- {arguable - progressive breaks}
- Man With No Name - Teleport
- The Light - Expand The Room [1997]
- {arguable - progressive house}
- Odyssee of Noises - Troya [1993]
- Bille Ray Martin - Honey (Chicane club mix) [1999]
- Dynamic Maniax - Calling Middle Earth
- {arguable - hardcore(???)}
- Agnelli & Nelson - El Nino [1998]
- Alex Smoke - Chica Wappa (Mejor edit) [2005]
- Juno Reactor - Samurai [1994]
- Marmion - Schoneburg (Man with No Name mix) [1994]
- Yahel - Going Up (trance mix) [1999]
- Chicane - Don't Give Up
- Albion - Air
- 030 - Midnight in Europe
- {arguable - progressive house}
- LSG - Into Deep
- LN Movement - Golden Desert [2000]
- The Visions of Shiva - Perfect Day [1992]
- Perpetuous Dreamer - Future Funland
- ATB - 9 PM (Till I Come) [1998] [ibiza trance]
- West & Storm - Porpoise
- {arguable - hardcore (apparently)}
- Solar Stone - Solarcoaster
- Juno Reactor - Feel the Universe (Kox Box mix) [1994]
- Airwave & Markus Schulz - Angelica [2006]
- Oliver Klein - Rheinkraft (Ian Wilkie remix) [2001]
- {arguable - techno}
- James Holden - I Have Put Out The Light [2002]
- {arguable - progressive house}
- Space Manoeuvres - Part 1
- {arguable - progressive breaks}
- Max Graham - Airtight [2001] [progressive trance]
- Transa - Supernova
- Aril Brikha - Winter [2007] [minimal trance/neo-trance]
- {arguable - "minimal"}
- Aura - Energy Transpose
- {arguable - acid}
- Atlantis - Fiji (Cequenza mix) [1998] [epic trance]
- Extrawelt - Soopertrack [2005] [minimal trance/neo-trance/psytrance]
- {arguable - progressive house/minimal}
- Kamaya Painters - Summerbreeze [2000]
- Blue Minds - Aquapunch (3 In One Mix)
- Paul Van Dyk - Columbia (PvD mix) [1999] [anthem trance/tech-trance]
- The Green Martian - Industry [2001] [anthem trance/tech-trance]
- Catcher - Destiny Sunrise [2003] [ambient trance]
- Paul Van Dyk - My World [1994]
- This is a really gorgeous track, that was completely overshadowed by Van Dyk's other 1994 masterpiece: For an Angel. Understandably overshadowed, but this one is pretty good too.
- Caunos - Herzsprung 1 [1993] [classic trance]
- Resistance D - Cosmic Love [1991] [classic trance]
- Veracocha - Carte Blanche [1998]
- Tiesto & Junkie XL - Obsession
- Lazy Fat People - Club Silencio [2007] [minimal trance/neo-trance]
- X-Cabs - Neuro [1995]
- Juno - A Force Beyond [1995] [classic trance]
- Cygnus X - The Orange Theme [1994] [anthem trance]
- Jam & Spoon - Find Me (Odyssey to Anooya) [1993] [ibiza trance]
- Listen to it beside Love Stimulation, and you'll notice...similarities. But I don't know which came first, and this track is pretty good anyway.
- Airwave - Escape From Nowhere
- Marc Vision - Time Gate (Original Mix) [1999]
- Ticon - We Are the Mammoth Hunters [2001] [psytrance/goa trance/minimal psy/psytekk]
- Blue Alphabet - Cybertrance
- Y Traxx - Mysteryland [1999] [ibiza trance]
- Blank and Jones - Watching the Waves [2002]
- Jon the Dentist - Global Phases
- {arguable - acid}
- Cortex Thrill - Deep Infinity
- Moby - Porcelain [1999]
- {arguable - ambient breaks}
- Sven Vath - Ritual of Life (The Spicelab mix)
- Quivver - She Does
- Berlin Inc - Berlin (Peace Mix)
- {arguable - hardcore???}
- William Orbit - Barber's Adagio for Strings [1999]
- Jones & Stephenson - Gummiringe [1998]
- Agnelli & Nelson - Everyday
- Morgan King - I'm Free
- {arguable - progressive breaks/ambient breaks}
- Sasha - Belfunk
- {arguable - progressive house}
- Mash Up - Liberation (Ferry Corsten Remix)
- Mekka - Diamondback
- Legend B - Lost in Love [1993]
- Minimalistix - Close Cover
- BT - Flaming June [1997]
- Lucid - I Can't Help Myself
- Dawnseekers - Gothic Dream (Jon Johnson Remix) [2001]
- Sasha - Cloud Cuckoo (Luke Chable mix) [2004]
- Paul van Dyk - Reflections [2003]
- Nalin & Kane - Open Your Eyes [2000]
- Lange - I believe (DJ Tandu mix) [1999] [epic trance]
- The Swimmer - Purple Cloud
- Mauro Picotto - Komodo
- Union Jack - Cactus
- Cygnus X - Positron [1993]
- The Quest - C Sharp [1999]
- Moonstruck - Lunar Outbreak [1998]
- Max Graham - Airtight [2001]
- The Ambush - Sun
- Ayla - Ayla [1996]
- Blaze - My Beat (Ambassador Remix) [2002]
- Andain - Summer Calling [2002]
- {arguable - progresive house}
- Sensient - File Not Found [psytrance/minimal psy] [2003]
- Push - The Legacy
- Oceanlab - Clear Blue Water [2001]
- Ferry Corsten - Punk [2002]
- Dance 2 Trance - Power of American Natives
- Andain - Beautiful Things [2003]
- {arguable - progressive house}
- Odysee of Noises - Circe [1991]
- Kernkraft 400 - Zombie Nation
- {arguable - electro-techno???}
- Da Hool - Meet Her at the Love Parade
- Deep Dish - Say Hello [2005]
- {arguable - progressive house}
- Alici - Silver Clouds In A Yellow Sky
- The Roc Project - Never (Tiësto vs. Filterheadz Remix)
- BT - Godspeed
- Synergy - Hello Strings
- Psychic TV - Infinite Beat
- BT - Dreaming (Lucid mix)
- Jan Johnson - Flesh (Tiesto mix)
- Airscape - L'Esperanza
- Ridgewalkers - Find (Andy Moor mix)
- {arguable - progressive house}
- Robert Gitelman - Things 2 Say (Push mix)
- Josh Wink - Higher State of Consciousness
- {arguable - acid breaks}
- Andy Ling - Fixation
- Cascade - Transcend
- Fragma - Toca's Miracle [2000] [[epic trance]]
- DJ Yanny - Initialize
- Demonic Emotions - Stuck on a Space Trip
- {arguable - acid}
- Gouryella - Walhalla
- Mauro Picotto - Proximus
- Der Dritte Raum - Hale Bopp
- Cass & Slide - Perception (Vocal Mix)
- Allure - When She Left [1998] [epic trance]
- This is a lost treasure - many of you will have never heard of this. An earlier Tiesto track, but it's epic, melodic, gorgeous, and everything Tiesto wishes he could now do. If a bit too fluffy.
- Jericho - Personal Reflexion
- Three Drives - Air Traffic [2003]
- Gabriel & Dresden - Arcadia
- Alphazone - Rockin [2003]
- Ballroom - 4AM (Marc O'Tool Remix)
- Tekara - Breathe in You [1997]
- L.S.G. - I'm Not Existing
- Flutlicht - Icarus (The Flight)
- Plummet - Damaged
- Darude - Sandstorm [1999] [anthem trance]
- This track is not a sellout, and it deserves much of the popular support it got. There is not one element to this track that panders to the masses any more than the rest of the anthem trance. I'll admit, there are better tunes that should also be imported to the mainstream, but this track is still pretty good.
- Apoptygma Berserk - Kathy's Song (Ferry Corsten mix)
- Digital Express - The Club
- Three Drives - Sunset on Ibiza
- Mono Culture - Free
- Fluke - Zion
- Underworld - Dinosaur Adventure 3D
- Spoiled and Zigo - More and More
- Paul Van Dyk - Connected
- Nikola Gala - Swing 2 Harmony
- {arguable - progressive house}
- 808 State - Colony [1992]
- Hi-Gate - Pitchin'
- Solid Sessions - Janeiro
- Fascinated - Totally Fascinated [which is another Push/M.I.K.E alias] [2004]
- Evolution - Phoenix
- Cloud 69 - Sixty-Nine Ways
- Tastexperience - Tantrix
- Marco V - Simulated
- Steve Morley - Reincarnations
- Push - Till We Meet Again
- White Room - White Room
- Utah Saints - Lost Vagueness (Oliver Lieb mix)
- Miro - Paradise
- Tiesto - Sparkles
- Micah - Grammer Lesson
- Coast 2 Coast ft Discovery - Home
- 4 Strings - Diving (Cosmic Gate mix)
- Sasha - Wavy Gravy [ambient trance]
- Juno Reactor - Pistolero (Man With no Name mix)
- Tin Tin Out - Strings for Yasmin (Matt Darey mix)
- Art of Trance - Easter Island (Cygnus X mix)
- Electrique Boutique - Revelation
- Gouryella - Ligaya
- Tranquility Base - Surrender [2004]
- Yahel - Waves of Sound
- Telepopmusik - Breathe
- Dirty Vegas - Days Go By
- Dirt Devils - The Drill
- Neum - Meet You At the Milk Bar
- Mike Koglin - The Silence
- Tomaz vs. Filterheadz - Sunshine [2002]
- {arguable - techno}
- Tilt - The World Doesn't Know
- {arguable - progressive}
- Gouryella - Tenshi
- Tastexperience - Summersault
- Solid Globe - Sahara
- Super8 - Alba
- Transa - Enervate
- Sash! - Encore Une Fois {I'm sorry to everyone I grilled on this - it is definitely, inarguably, trance, I've decided on another relisten. I have no idea how I could've possibly thought this to be eurodance.}
- Underworld - Cowgirl
- Jen - Loops and Tings
- Voodoo & Serano - Blood is Pumping
- Cosmic Baby - Space Track
- De Niro - Mind of Man
- BT - Mercury and Solace
- Oliver Lieb - Subraumstimulation
- Baracoa - Delirio (Venus Mix)
- Armin Van Buuren - Communicate
- Accessive Rhythm - Activate
- Fridge - Paradise
- Lightforce - Take Your Time
- Ambush - Ambush 2
- Mesh - Purple Haze
- Refekt ft. Deline Bass - Need to Feel loved [2004]
- Cosmic Gate - Exploration of Space
- Effective Force - Diamond Bullet [1992]
- Sunflower - Cold Turkey
- Drax Limited 2 - Amphetamine
- BBE - Seven Days and One Week
- Slacker - Looky Thing (Daisy)
- Space Manoevres - Quadrant 4
- Robert Miles - Children [1996] [dream trance]
- {arguable - dream house}
- Mainstream success or not, I still think it's a pretty good track.
- Amnesia - Ibiza (Not really trance, it's actually EBM - the direct predecessor, but this track was so influential that it at least gets this much mention)
- Blank and Jones - Electric Circus [2001]
- Cabala - Dark Blue [1999]
- Coca + Villa - La noche
- Brainbug - Rain
- World Clique - Don't Do It
- Vector 7 - Air of Love [2002]
- Underworld - Thing in a Book [1992]
- Astral Projection - Aqua Line Spirit
- Jonas Steur - Castamara [2005]
- Commander Tom - Attention! [2004]
- Rapid Eye - Circa Forever [2002]
- Tim Deluxe - Choose Something like a Star
- Quivver - Space Manoevres part 3
- Chiller Twist - Stringz Ultd. (Shelley Mix)
- Faithless - God is a DJ
- Lightforce - Join me
- Rank 1 - Beats at Rank 1 dot com
- Storm - Storm
- Society London - Spqr
- Lustral - Everytime
- DJ Tiesto - Theme From Norejfell
- Emmanuel Top - Acid Phase
- Blank and Jones - Cream
- Arrakis - The Spice
- Chicane - Sunstroke
- Kyau vs. Albert - Velvet Morning [2003]
- T-Scanner - Trip To Heaven
- Lio - Rapture
- Sander Kleinenberg - Sacred (Sunrise Mix)
- Paul Van Dyk - Nothing But You
- The Dream Traveller - Time
- Paragliders - Bagdad (Humate mix)
- ATB - Don't Stop
- Lord of Tranz - Sanctificum
- Kaycee - Escape
- Carlos - The Silmarillia
- Dance 2 Trance - Take a Freefall
- Warrior (ft. Imogen Bailey) - If You Want Me
- Fathers of Sound - Water
- Tiesto - Flight 643
- Kuffdam - Summerdream
- The Voyager - Back on Earth
- _Note: "Not trance at all, but excellent tracks" removals:
- The Orb - Little Fluffy Clouds [1991] [ambient trance]
- This is ambient house, and not even slightly definable as trance. I foolishly left it on the list for so long that I didn't want to remove it. I was quite foolish.).
- This is one of only 3 ambient anything tracks to ever reach the top 40 charts (correct me if I'm wrong on this one). It was a runaway hit when released in 1990 (although I don't know if it ever reached North America), Little Fluffy Clouds was another major influence on the formation of the trance genre. Catchy melodies, ambient synths, and an interesting vocal sample, combined with the trademark Orb atmosphere make this another incredible classic.
- 808 State - Pacific State [1989] (it's actually house)
- Orbital - Chime [1990] (rave)
- Layo & Bushwacka! - Love Story [2002] (progressive house)
- Ulrich Schnauss - Kneuddelmaus (very melodic IDM)
- Force Legato - System [1989] (EBM)
- DJ Hooligan - Hear You Now [2002] (Note: I had this track confused with Starecase - Faith (Loafer mix) for 4 years, and only discovered it today. I heard the actual track. I don't really like it. Besides, it's not even close to being trance. More like ambient pop, the sort of thing I always imagined when I heard the term [the actual genre sounds nothing like this, it's really just ambient/chillout with yet another flashy title] )
- Cass & Mangan - Green Eggs [2005] (progressive house/tech-house)
- Felix da Housecat - Watching Cars Go By (electro-house/electroclash)
- Orbital - One Perfect Sunrise
- Ian Van Dahl - Castles in the Sky
- P.O.S. - Remember [2003]
- Paul Van Dyk - Forbidden Fruit
- The Horrorist - One Night in New York City (it's seriously just techno)
- Sander Kleinenberg - The Fruit [2004] (Electro-house, inarguably)
- Dark Suite - Dark Sweet Piano (Wally Lopez mix) (not trance at all)
- Recent Removals: [derivative, cheesy, annoying, undanceable, and/or undeniable not trance/entrancing, it all goes in here]
- Pulp Victim - The World [1998]
- Rank 1 - Airwave
- Delerium ft Sarah Machlachlan - Silence (Tiesto mix) [2000]
- Benny Benassi - Satisfaction [2003]
- {arguable - electro-house}
- Alice Deejay - Better Off Alone [1998]
- Planet Perfecto - Bullet in the Gun
- Ferry Corsten - Rock Your Body Rock [2003]
- DJ Shog - Another World {Quite possibly one of the worst producer names of all time. Besides the fact that putting "DJ" before your alias is ****ing idiotic, "Shog" is probably the stupidest slang term ever invented. Totally inappropriate too, considering it's an ebonic word: this is about the equivalent of a trance artist named DJ Murda-Thug. Only "shog" has no street cred as a colloquialism (ie: only wiggers say it), so it's like calling yourself DJ Fuzzy Street Soldja, playing fluffy trance, and thinking you're pretty hardcore. The track is also terrible.)
- Delerium - After All (Svenson & Gielson mix) [2004]
- Aquagen - Summer is Calling
- Oakenfold - Southern Sun (Tiesto mix)
- 4 Strings - Sunrise
- Tenth Planet - Ghosts
- System F - Out of the Blue
- Kamaya Painters - Endless Wave [2000] [epic trance]
- Oceanlab - Satellite
- White Room - Someday
- Adam White - Ballerina
- System F - Indian Summer
- Johan Kivi - Clouds
- Orson W - Ilse
- Minimalistix - Struggle for Pleasure
- Note: the 447 original comments were erased due to bandwidth problems on listology. They can be downloaded here for anyone who really cares.
Author Comments:
For (another) particularly good trance list on listology, check out
Blind's list
For another alternate opinion on the best trance music, check out: TranceAddict's list. His ideas are very different from mine, I don't agree with quite a few of his top tracks, but if he thought exactly what I did, what would the point be of making a list? Worth checking out.
Yeah I actually just got into two a lot the other day when I left it on. I wouldn't rank it last anymore. Regardless, ranking them is tough because they are all awesome.
I still think 4 was the best however :P
thanks
CW
Removed spam - jw
Hey,
I have been listening to electronic music since 1994. I really believe it is one of the best genres out there. It is to bad that it had to be branched out in so many ways, making it confusing at times. It is also sad how in the recent years my favorite genre began taking a downfall when ammature DJs "create" their own branch, such as HardStyle - or SpeedBass and completely ruin what techno/trance stood for when first made its apperance.
Can you guys comment on the following songs please:
YBZ - Now that I found you (This song is considered as EuroTrance hit, but personally I put in EuroVocal. It has a very catchy chorus. [1998])
Sylver - Forgiven (sylver has a very powerful singing ability and her power in capturing a crowd is unbelievable. I really think this song deserves a spot.)
I would like to thank the author for making such a great list, me being a DJ really appreciates it, because now it makes my life a lot easier when I want to make a great trance hits mix. My personal favorites and the ones on this list cross over so much :D
Can you also comment on what you think of Brooklyn Bounce (German Band - House & Trance) they are one of my favorite bands.
Thank you ever so much,
dotMoe
hey great list... really gets me back into trance quickly. Seems like my girlfriend listens to the same beat even if its a different song but these are all great so far.
Another couple of songs you might look at though. A little vocal but great otherwise are
Odysee - Scarf
Satellites - September (very questionable about artist name... got from a friend :P)
La March de la lune - Outfly
What? Your comment about your girlfriend hurts my head.
I've never heard those songs...I'll wishlist them.
Eh. September's "Satellites" is a pop/house song, with near to nill trance elements.
As for Outfly's "La Marche De La Lune," it's trance, but very epic.
I noticed you mentioned Scarf, and I wanted you to be aware of the Plazmatek Radio remix of it!
what?
It appears as though my checking wasn't good enough.
"The Legacy"- Push
204
303
And you still gotta fix the Schoneburg mistake.
God I'm such a prick.
Thanks. Fixed.
I need to know the song in this video.
It's a hot chic dancing at some car show, but you're my only hope in knowing what song it is...
Don't pay too much attention to the girl.
Thanks!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uagp_-QIeYM&mode=related&search
wow. quite an undertaking this list must have been, a real inspiration. This list was one that really got me into trance, well done. I dunno if i'd rate Born Slippy but it's still a quality tune. Hey could you have a look at my top 75 trance songs and see what you think and maybe reccomend a few others, i'd be very grateful.
thanks
Glad you enjoy the list :)
You should post under your profile on listology: as in, make your own list here.
i have, try checking my profile
umm its on my profile isnt it?
Yes, you're right. I missed that. It's a good list. I don't have much to say about it though. I mean, I don't agree with everything you say on it, but it's really just personal opinion anyway.
Considering Groovezone: I Love The Music...i have heard it and have it. Superb and marvelous. There is hope ;)
Yeah, it's one of those tunes that make me wonder how it slipped through the cracks all the way to number 22something on my list. Hence the major update I have planned. It really is a brilliant song, but I don't quite see what makes it a lost classic. It came out in 1998, on Magik 2, so how lost can it be? Overlooked, perhaps. Lost, certainly not.
It's lost, because it's only been on 3 compilations, it was never a club hit, its all but forgotten (if ever seen to begin with) by trance DJs and most fans of trance to this day, and is never included in any other "top *** dance tracks" lists anywhere. You couldn't say that about just about any other track on my top 100.
Hey guys, this is an awesome list here, congrats to you darktremor for putting so much time into this list and as well as listening to what everyone else has to say.
I've been searching through the past comments and the ones here and I would just like to put in my 2 cents' worth of stuff too. Now, to be clear, i'm definately not very educated in trance, but I have been listening to it for a while so if you are still accepting songs for the list, or even if you are not I think you should check out a fairly new and unknown trance artist (I dont think anyone has said it yet): Guardians of the Earth.
From my 3-4 years of listening to trance, i dont believe I've ever heard anything quite like their style...it really shows the entrancing aspects of what trance is supposed to be. They dont have too many songs out, but my 2 personal favourites my him is "One Moon Circling" and "Starchildren".
Though if I were to choose between the 2, I think One Moon Circling is slightly better because it has a longer and more complicated melody. If you havent heard it already I would seriously recommend listening to it. Compared to your songs on the list, I think it would definately be at least in the top 20. (yes ive heard all the songs on the top 20).
Cheers and have an eventful new year!
-Bumbaclo
I've never heard it, and I can't find it anywhere. I've added it to my wishlist though, and I'll listen to it as soon as I have it.
Glad you enjoy the list.
Regarding your recent removals, bro: not every track on this list has to be trance. I have some of those tracks you removed on my list, and I have about four more house tunes besides those. Why are they on there? Because they're very good, and they're so close to trance it really doesn't matter. Of course, because you already have house lists and neo-trance lists, that could be your reasoning, I don't know. Hey, whatever the reason is, the damn thing is still brilliant. Keep it up.
EDIT: Just had a closer look at the rework. Can I ask what merits "Gamemaster" a place 55 spots above "Dreams"?
[To Lassic] I believe some of the removals make sense, i mean Force Legato- System to me is not even near trance. Whereas the removal of say, Layo & Bushwacka!- Love Story seems a bit more controversial, as that is very trancelike in its sound. There are straight progressive songs on here that are arguably further from trance so i don't understand the removal.
I reckon Gamemaster to be better than Dreams also, it is more complex in its composition. That's not to say i don't love Dreams as well though! Actually i agree with you about how far below Gamemaster it is though. I understand it being put below but not that far.
[To Darktremor] On another note is there any real need to comment on the commercial success of Robert Miles- Children? After all, it was the Dream version which received the airplay, a lot less people have heard the Original Version which is the mix you include in the list.
I disagree with you on the Gamemaster situation. I have Dreams a dozen spots ahead of Gamemaster on my lit. Yes, Gamemaster took the riff, stepped it up, composed it better, made it sound more powerful, but Dreams was still first. And that church bell melody in the beginning still gets me.
And I've actually never even heard System, but I'll agree that some of the progressive tunes (Yes, Water From A Wine Leaf, I am looking at you) really shouldn't be on the chart if some other tunes aren't.
And I have heard the original of Children. I hated it. The Dream version is fifty times better. All the original has is that stupid little fluttery piano sound and that guitar that wears out its welcome about .4 seconds after you first hear it. So I agree you shouyld probably tack "Dream Version" on the the end of that tune so as not to severely disappoint your fans.
Yeah, maybe Love Story should be on there. Re-listening to it, you're right.
Gamemaster, however, I like better for the reasons you outlined. Yes, Dreams came first, and it is a very good track, but I just find Matt Darey's changes really do bring it up a level. Besides, it's only a sample of Dreams. Just because one of the melodies is sampled, doesn't mean the whole track is stolen. For example: everyone has heard of Rapper's Delight, but very few actually remmeber what track the melody is taken from. I think Matt Darey's new melodies are really strong anyways. The "Dreams" parts, while very fitting and very complimentary to the rest of the track, are just as good as everything Darey added.
o_O I hope I don't imply the whole track is stolen. I just like Dreams better. (Or at least, I think it deserves a spot in the top 100. Putting it 55 spots below its semi-offspring seems a bit harsh.)
Nice list!
Here are some suggestions..
* AR52 - Piiska
* AR52 - Enigma
* Aquasource - Waking Up The Sun (Kuffdam & Plant Remix) [2004]
* John 00 Fleming - Tour De Trance [2003]
* John 00 Fleming - Main Voyage [2003]
* Astrix & John 00 Fleming - Third Time Lucky [2006]
* Sander Van Doorn - Dark Roast (2006 Re-Fill) [2006]
* E-Craig - Home [2006]
* Perry O'Neil - South-West Saga [2006] (progressive-house, but can be classified under trance)
* Beetseekers - Reflexion [2004]
* Infected Mushroom - Deeply Disturbed (Yahel Mix)
* Plastic Angel - Hardwired
* Plastic Angel - Distorted Reality
I'd add Mauro Picotto: Return To Cali (Push Remix)
isn't #11 'love stimulation' not simulation?
Hey, I'm a bit unsure of how to classify Ultraviolet- Kites (Fantasy Flite Part One) for a list I'm doing. I've got it down as Synth-Pop but it seems a bit too Trancey to put it down as that. Was wondering what you might classify it as?
I looked at your whole list and I swear I didn't find a single Jonas Steur song! You're darktremor, you have to have heard his music. If you haven't, the two songs you HAVE to start out with are "Silent Waves," and "Castamara."
Yeah, that's my two cents. I've just been humming the hypnotic melodies for about a week now (since I first heard them.)
Well... he's also known as Estuera.
Yeah I love estuera. Had no idea he was also Jonas Steur. Thats kinda weird though considering I Like:
Tales From The South (Jonas Steur Revision Flow) - Estuera
He remixes under seperate names?? lol
Yeah, a lot of artists do that.
As for Tales From the South, I found the lack of melodic change after the breakdown really annoying. The initial melody is somewhat catchy, but besides that, it doesn't realy go anywhere, besides in the usual epic trance direction (which, to me, makes the breakdown even more pointless). I hate when trance just leans on one melody with no variation. I mean, variation isn't even that hard, it just takes a little bit of basic music theory to do it. Without it, I always feel like a track is completely stagnant (an irritating effect for a "galloping" style of music - trance - it makes listening to the track feel like riding a fast-moving horse in a tiny circle). Besides this, it's a mediocre buildup-breakdown-anthem.
I've always thought Castamara's a decent track, but it suffers from the same problem that Tales From the South does. Although, the hook is so much better in this track that I think it deserves a lower spot on the list.
I just found a small mistake for LSD - Hallucinogen. Hallucinogen is the artist and LSD was in their album "Twisted," which was released in 1995.
Hey mate what do you classify songs like
Blood Is Pumpin- Voodoo & Serano
and
How U like Bass (Warp Brothers Club Mix)-Norman Bass
Hard acid trance. At least, the first one.
Well done, Darktremor! I'm amazed by your amount of knowledge and passion for Trance. It is very impressive, and I learned a lot from your list and from everybody's replies here.
And still there's something I wanted to ask. I really like tracks that use orchestras and classical-dramatic themes, like "Are You Out There" by Crecsendo. I saw that some other guy asked about this sort of genre, and it's great, but I would like to get even MORE of that. :D
So, any recommendations by anyone? I'll appreciate it.
If you haven't yet listened to Finished Symphony by Hybrid you're in for a treat.
Man lately some of this trance that comes out seems just so god damn forced. These are a couple new ones that I like lately favorite on top:
Another You, Another Me - Lange vs. Gareth Emery
This World is Watching Me - Armin Van Buuren vs. Rank 1
Y68 (Giuiseppe Ottaviani Remix) - Woody Van Eyden featuring Jimmy H
(The Remix info on this is probably wrong and I'm not even sure whether I've got the Alex M.O.R.P.H. Remix or not. I'm also not even sure whether the Alex M.O.R.P.H. Remix is out yet. Dammit, lol.)
Tell me what you think! :)
Wonderful, Darktremor! I think you have succeded in creating one of the best "top trance hits" lists on the web! You have done a great amount of work, respect to you!
But in my opinion some of the tracks don't deserve to be on the list, or deserve a much lower rating:
Alibi - Eternity
Gouryella - Gouryella
Dance 2 Trance - Power of American Natives
Orbital - Halcyon On and On (In my opinion it's not trance)
Some of the tracks, in my opinion, deserve a higher position:
Paul Van Dyk - Words (In my opinion, this is one of the best progressive trance tracks of all time. Should be in the top 15)
Chicane - Redskies
Jam and Spoon - Stella (A classic. Top 10)
BT - Godspeed
BT - Flaming June
I think you should consider adding the following tracks to your list:
1. Sasha - My Lexicon
2. PPK - Love Unlimited
3. PPK - Reload
4. BT - The Road to Lostwithiel
5. Paul van Dyk - Magical Moments
6. Paul van Dyk - Seven Ways
7. R.O.O.S - Instant Movements
8. Velvet Sonic - Perfect Day
9. Darude - Calm Before the Storm
10. Tiesto - Lethal Industry
11. Man With No Name - Sly-ed
12. Antiloop - Nowhere to Hide
13. ATB - Ecstasy
14. Leftfield - Snakeblood
15. Faithless - Woozy
16. Van Bellen feat. Greed - Citylights
If you have trouble finding any of these tracks, email me, and I'll send them to you. My email: special_1989@mail.ru
thats a pretty good list to add!
but i think you broke a rule or 2 about the not saying your opinion of where songs should be lol.
just been looking through your list again dt, noticed that you havn't included the fantastic
Man With No Name - Teleport
definately top 350 worthy, if not top 20 ;)
Nah, it's there. Check again.
It's at 130th place on the list.
what about cascada - every time we touch
it should be atleast top 5. club classic.
Ew. Go home.
I think (and hope) this is meant to be a joke comment?
This is a stupid comment for list maintenance, but around 174 theres an error that messes up the count. Not by much, but its there and I thought I'd mention it.
Eeeeeeeh... I mean the errors START at 174...
As i see it the errors start at 99 with James Holden- A Break In The Clouds.
you should check Airbase tracks like
Ozone - Ionize
Airbase - Genie
Airbase - Theme from the rock
Airbase - One Tear Away
Airbase - Escape
OK. For anyone who doesn't want to look through the whole list to see if your track suggestion is already on it, press ctrl+F and type in the name of the track and find.
Which is the same as using edit/find (on this page).
But that's a useful shortcut, which I actually didn't know about until now.
Thank you.
An amazing list.
How about Anarcrusan - In my mind (2003)?
Not as experienced to be sure about its specific genre, but I think it's great.
Deep trance. Definitely deep trance. Or maybe progressive house, but really, what's the difference between the two?
Either way, I like it, although it doesn't do much to distinguish itself from the rest of the deep trance pack. It's the same of dark synths, phat beats, and tribal drumming that characterizes all deep trance/progressive house. Although it does have a nice melody.
One I always thought may warrant inclusion is Uberzone- Botz. Certainly it is good enough to be included but the question is whether it could be included in a Trance list. But then considering you included Higher State Of Consciousness...
Higher State of Consciousness really pushes it (and I may remove it, in future), but Uberzone - Botz goes right over the edge.
Good track though.
what about dj rose- music is my life do you like it? ;) and tiesto- forbidden paradise :) i like those and many more i cant remember right now :)
I just like blank and jones ;) some tracks are very good for me and some are not that good .which tracks do you like?what about Desire?? its freakin' good for me:)
0558. Blank and Jones - [Club Rotation] Waiting for the light (Kyau vs
0559. Blank and Jones - [? #03] Beyound Time
0560. Blank and Jones - After Love (Ibiza Club Mix)
0561. Blank&Jones - [N/A] Mind Of The Wonderful Clubmix
0562. Blank and Jones - [Monument #08] Perfect Silence
0563. Blank and Jones - summer sun
0564. Blank And Jones - [Future Trance Vol 20] The Art Of Love
0565. Blank and Jones - Watching the waves
I don't like all that much Blank and Jones. Although I liked Nightclubbing, Cream, and Watching the Waves, and even Electric Circus to some extent, I find the rest of their catalogue is somewhat weak.
ow and one more!
svenson & gielen- we know what you did
i think its one of the best :0 it just blows my mind!!yeah;)
It's OK. I've never liked it enough to put it here - those strings are really pretentious. Plus I'm not very fond of Svenson and Gielen; They tend to be really cheesy - especially their truly awful "Beachbreeze." Those lyrics irritate me to no end. Sing it as prettily as you want, but "Made love to me...in the water" is an utterly stupid line. I mean...have they ever tried it? It really doesn't work, and the only ways that make it work kill any "spontaneous romance" that would be there at all (clearly what they were going for). Besides, I generally hate the concept of that sort of trance - it really makes me wonder how the alien spacescapes of the early 90's morphed into the musical equivalent of really bad Harlequin romances. That kind of track is just so sickeningly manipulative that it almost makes me vomit.
But back to "We Know What You Did", it's nothing special, and certainly doesn't redemm S & G for the abominations they've released into the world of trance.
could you write me back? what do you think about those tracks?
Armin's track should be Communication, not Communicate, also it should be labeled which version it is, if you are considering the entry as all version of Communication Armin released unmixed by himself the track should be a lot higher on the list
What? Why?
Don't confuse quantity with quality. Scooter has released hundreds of tracks, but that doesn't mean I'm about to put them on the list (nor will I ever, unless they turn around and make some credible, relevant, and blindingly original minimal trance - which will never happen, considering even Scooter's band leader knows they're making cheesy, stupid music. Which actually makes me not hate them, but they'll still never go on the list.).
If a track is unlabelled, I'm referring to the original mix, or the most obvious remix, depending (ie: "Humate - Love Stimulation" would obviously refer to Paul Van Dyk's Love mix. Although I did label that remix in there, and I tried to do this elsewhere too).
huh
Sorry, I accidentally posted before I finished writing it. It was supposed to read:
What? Why?
Don't confuse quantity with quality. For example, Scooter has released hundreds of tracks, but that doesn't mean I'm about to put them on the list (nor will I ever, unless they turn around and make some credible, relevant, and blindingly original minimal trance - which will never happen, considering even Scooter's band leader knows they're making cheesy, stupid music. Which actually makes me not hate them, but they'll still never go on the list.). In the same way, Communication having had all of those mixes doesn't enhance its quality in any way - I wouldn't post "all mixes of a track" in any position.
If a track is unlabelled, I'm referring to the original mix, or the most obvious remix, depending (ie: "Humate - Love Stimulation" would obviously refer to Paul Van Dyk's Love mix. Although I did label that remix in there, and I tried to do this elsewhere too).
I like Communication for sure, but I think the tracks above it are all higher quality, so considering all versions or not, its position stands.
Hey Darktremor
My name's Wesley & I am from South Africa.I'm not exactly sure how this chatting works and I don't realy know how you respond.But I would just like to comment on your Trance list.I have three questions, Namely:
#1.Why is "The Quest - C Sharp" so low?It's such a Masterpiece.
#2.Why isn't "Moon Project - Moments Are Forever" on the list.It's one of "M.I.K.E's" Prodoctions.
#3.Please check out:"Aquagen - Strings of Harmony",and tell me what you think of it.It's so underrated, as a result of not being released on Vinyl.However it is on two "Aquagen" albums.I love the song, and think it deserves more recognition.Please reply.
The Quest - C Sharp is good, but it runs on the cheesy side. Despite being a really catchy anthem, it's overall structure and sound is somewhat derivative: it doesn't really bring anything new to trance. I like it, but I like everything above it more.
I've never heard that Moon Project track, but I'll download it. Same goes for the Aquagen track (although I've heard a few other Aquagen tracks that were nothing particularly special).
Thanks, Darktremor for your response. I really appreciate it.Even though I completely respect
your opinion, I do disagree in a way.I don't think that "C Sharp" is at all Cheesy, especially
compared to tracks like:"Mauro Picatto - Komodo"; "PVD - Reflections" & "Minimalistix - Close Cover".
"C Sharp" deserves a higher spot than those tunes.It was released in 1999, which was a time when songs like this were original. "C Sharp" has appeared recently on the CD: "A State of Trance Classics", along with songs such as: "Silence (Tiesto Mix)"; "Yael - Voyage", "Three Drives - Greece 2000" and "Gouryella - Gouryella"."
To See "C Sharp" appear on an album alongside these Classics, one has to admit that it has earned enough recognition to be regarded as one of the better Trance songs released.
Thanx anyway, for your thoughts.
Does anyone know why the song:"Aquagen - Strings of Harmony", is so underrated.It is such a good song, and should be rated as highly as most Classics.It did'nt appear on vinyl, which makes me wonder if the particular Record Label turned it down.I also don't know why Darktremor doesn't feature the song:"Moon Project - Moments are Forever" on his list.It's a song which took M.I.K.E to a new level.
Im kinda new to the whole trance scene n all ws wondering if u cud help me out in finding this particular song i cnt seem to remember... All i cn remember is the music video tho... it ws in black n white n this little kid ws riding in the back of the car looking out of the window... the entire video is jst the car ride... it had a repetative piano riff... do u hav any idea abt the song im talking abt???
It must be "Children" by Robert Miles.
I was a big fan when it first came out (before becoming mainstream).
Actually, 2 of Robert Miles songs are named Children but are actually 2 different tracks. This has always puzzled me...
Both tracks are great.
Cheers,
Joff
Yeah it's two mixes of the song. The orginal version has no piano and is not that well known in comparision with the dream version which was the one that gained superstar status worldwide.
I am also liking the aphex twin song. I agree that it is arguable whether it is "trance" but it does actually do what trance was originally meant to do: entrance. And I can see it being a grower even though it sounds very good to begin with.
Hey thanks dude... i saw some tiesto n darude remixes to this track... didnt get the time to check em out
It actually sounds that Kelly Clarkson song, to tell you the truth. Might it have been a dance remix of "Breakaway"? It could just be a coincedence - a similar video.
Hi Darktremor! I am saying hello from UKRAINE with honour. Your job is good! It makes me to rewise my collection too (e.g. from your list I have ~ 90-100 tracks plus great amount of really Good tracks, arts of trance which are not presented in the list. Some of trance songs which deserve to be in list – because they are real trance music:
1.Da Hool – W.O.D (hand’s up wankers mix)
2.BT & Paul van Dyk – Namistai
3.Oakenfold – Motion
4.Oakenfold – Save the last trance for me (2006) my favourite
5.Cyberstorm – Skylight
7.Plastic Angel – Estelle
8.D-Mention – Daydream
9.Pascal Device – Azure
10.Mo’hawk – Previous years
11.Superglider - Stand Easy (hydraglide mix)
13.Pulser – Lightwave
14.Private Taste – First (my favourite)
15.Liquid Love – Sweet Harmony (pascal feos mix)
16.Dumonde – Tomorrow
17.Scanners – Prayer
18.Blue Amazon – And then the rain falls (ocean wave dub mix)
19.Tiesto – Heroes
20.Tiesto – Traffic
21.Gabriel&Dresden – Let go (2006)
22.GTR – Mistral (Original Mix)
23. Catcher - Destiny Sunrise
24. Mirco De Govia - Things That Matter
I will apreciate your attention, hope you would be able to listen to these tracks and they will take U Higher!!! Enjoy the Voyage into trance! Thank U!!!
You know....just glancing at some of your suggestions.....you probably just violated, like, half the rules at the top of the page.
Itnk icuoptuajfl...... learn to type....
Robert Miles - Children ?
Or you could, you know, use the delete key.
And next time check the list before posting.
hello ppl
its the 1st time ive being on here, ive looked on your list and uve got some good tunes, what do you think of
lange feat the morrighan - follow me
Sasha - Wavy Gravy
BT - Let there Be Light [BT Mix]
BT - Fibinocci Sequence
Some of my alltime favorite tracks.
Also, I have a song I need to find, it starts off with a woman speaking, in one of the lines she says something like, "I was thirteen years old, fourteen maybe, we were going to the roadhouse..." Then the song progresses and there is another voice that says what sounds like "I can't feel it" over and over getting louder until the peak when he says, "my mind is pumping" and then the beat kicks in, I thought it was a remix of PVD's I can't feel it, but I couldnt find any. Does anyone know?
Sasha - Wavy Gravy is an awesome track, but I'm not sure it really has anything at all that characterizes trance. Although it is airy and melodic, and it does loop on itself and arpeggiate, and it does contain acid (a little). I don't know, I've wrestled with adding that one before. At the same time, it's got a broken beat without a 4/4 anchor. But so does Digeridoo, the number 1 track. Then again, this list hasn't been about !!!TRANCE!!! for a long time, it's really more about (trance?) at this point. Those are the best (and most musically mature and intelligent) tracks anyway. Fuck it, it's going on.
BT - Fibonacci Sequence is really good, but it totally oversteps the boundaries of trance. It's full-on breaks/jungle with a progressive house feel.
I've actually never listened to Let There Be Light. I'll be sure to get it soon, especially considering the intelligence of your other 2 suggestions.
I've never heard the track you describe below (or at least, I don't remember hearing it). I'll post if I come across it.
Let There Be Light is an old Mike Oldfield track that BT mixed, but you would never guess that from the original.
Another add might be James Holden - 10101 from the Idiots Are Winning, I am still trying to understand some of the songs on that album, but his Balance Disc and At the Controls album are amazingt,not exactly all trance though.
Yeah, I really like this track. It's probably going to go on once I get more familiar with it.
HAHA I FOUND IT!!!!!! AFTER 6 Years of looking my friend gave me a copy of the cd I first heard it from. Today is an awesome day.
The track is called: Schudelfloss (High On Hedonisim Mix) by Dr. Atomic
Check it on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNyYZ2ybdN0
i hadnt listened to trance for about a year, and about a yr ago i came across this list and it made me remember why i love trance:) thank you for that darktremor... just want to know what u think of blake jarrell as a producer?
Hey, I'm really glad it did that for you. That's precisely what I made it for :)
I've never actually listened to him. What would you say his best tracks are?
hes up and coming at the moment and armin is a big fan, (hes had 2 songs on the last asot i think). his producing style is quite simple but very effective. :) take a listen...
Jose Amnesia ft Jennifer Rene - Louder (blake jarrell's 190db remix) (adds a bit extra to this song for me by splitting the vocal)
Anna Nalick - Breathe (blake jarrell remix) (cheers me up after a bad day lol)
chasing cars (blake jarrell and topher jones) (karl G wont be happy that this version rinses his :P)
Marching bands of manhatton (blake jarrell remix)
there my 4 fav tunes of his. tell me wat u think please:) thx again
tried to reply but for some reason it didnt work...
blake jarrell is a new upcoming dj and his songs wouldnt make the list atm as he is quite green... however, he has imo a unique sound in his songs with great range, he has a simple style but its very effective:)
his new stuff is also being played on ASOT (not that that means much lol)
fav songs:
jose amnesia ft jennifer rene - louder(blake jarrell's 190db remix) - u would of heard the original but he splits up the vocal and adds somerthing extra to make it beautiful.
anna nalick - breathe (blake jarrell remix) - (this one is for when ive had a bad day:))
marching bands of manhattan(blake jarrell remix)
comfortably numb(blake jarrell mix)
chasing cars (blake jarrell and topher jones) - rinsed on karl gs mix:)
the one i love (blake jarrell)
as i say he is new and upcoming but id much appreciate u telling me wat u think of his music!
i just got digereedoo, an awesome acid song no doubt, definitely worth its position!
Definitely. I can't even put my finger on what makes it so amazing, but it's really that indefinable genius that makes a classic track.
I just regret never listening to it until now.
Yeh, first listen i had i LOVED it, and thanks for the mention on the list! :)
Holy God in heaven....darktremor has a new #1?
Never thought it would happen. I must get my hands on this song!
Yep. You'll like it.
I'm really stretching to call it trance, though.
Hey "Darktremor", Wht do you think about these few recommindations for your List:
*"Cosmic Gate - Raging (Flutlicht Remix)"
I've always thout that this Mix is massively underrated.Some say that the structure of it is too similar to that of "Jan Johnson - Flesh (Tiesto Mix)". however I've always preferred "Raging (Flutlicht Mix)".
*"Tilman Urmacher - On the Run(Minimalistix Remix)"
I've always thought that this Mix was "Minimalistix's" best work.If "Close Cover" is on the list, then his Mix of "On the Run" deserves a spot.
*Why is: "Reflekt - Need to Feel Loved", so low.
Surely it can move a slight bit higher.
* "4 Strings - Into the Night"
This was a great tune, which you should consider for the List.Espially seeing that there is a lack of "4 Strings" tracks on this List.
* There is also a lack of "Above & Beyond" tunes, on the List.Why is that so?
P.S: Don't you think that "SCOOTER" is overrated.When I ask friends if they're into Trance, then they say: "YES, I'VE GOT ALL SCOOTER'S ALBUM'S".I've never considered "Scooter" as Trance producers.What do u think?
Please Reply?
I don't really think Cosmic Gate has much in them but bland distorted beats and fluffy "hard" trance melodies. These guys try so hard to be dark and edgy, but they really just come across looking like your kid sister borrowing your gothic friend's spike collar going "Look how scary I am!" Flutlicht isn't much better. Both of them had a couple of good songs, but that was it for them. Washed up before they were even out. This weak track is not massively underrated. It's overrated, as the mere fact that someone knows about it makes it overrated.
I've never heard the Minimalistix mix, but I don't expect much. Minimalistix had one trick (Close Cover), they've done it, now we're not interested. Maybe 2 tricks if Struggle for Pleasure is counted. I'll get it anyway.
Reflekt - Need to Feel Loved is so low, because everything above it is better.
There is a lack of 4 Strings tracks on the list, because 4 Strings are cheesy and overblown 95% of the time. Even the 2 I have on there are pushing it, I think.
There is a lack of Above & Beyond tunes, because Above & Beyond have produced some of the most formulaic, sappy, and overall lame trance tracks of the last 5 years. The title of Tri-State is a perfect description of the distance I wanted to scatter Jonathan Grant's brain after listening to that piece of trite garbage. Or at least his preset bank, seeing as it seems he's unable to compose even the most basic tracks without it. I agree with Ishkur when he called Paris Hilton's album less vapid than Above & Beyond. I will never fathom why "Alone Tonight" was such an anthem.
The Gabriel and Dresden mix of No One on Earth is good though (if only because they changed virtually everything about the track). And I actually did like Tranquility Base - Surrender.
I do not think Scooter is over-rated, as no one anywhere rates Scooter as anything but stupid, cheesy dance music.
DarkTremor, thanks for your in-deepth response.I appreciate it, despite the fact that you almost disagreed with everything I said.I still feel that "Flutlicht's" Mix of "Raging" was a cool club anthem.A few years ago I DJ'ed at a friend's Birthday.Towards the end of the Mix, I played "Raging (Flutlicht Mix)", and suddenly, everyone was on the Dance floor.Many friends of mine(Who know quite a bit about Trance), asked me the name of that song, as they thought it was "PUMPING".
I also think that "Close Cover" is overrated, and as I said in a previous message(which I'm still waiting for a reply on), that I think
"The Quest - C Sharp" is a much better song.But you should definately check out "Minimalistix's" Mix of "On The Run", before making any assumptions.
As for "Above & Beyond":They are rated very high on "The DJ List"; they own a Radio Show, and have gained much respect by many people.Johno Grant's stuff isn't great, but together with Paavlo Siljamaki, they do alright.
The reason I said that SCOOTER is overrated, is because everyone one I know, owns one or more of their Albums, and raves about them.
I honestly think that I don't like Commercial, or Cheesy Trance, but I do think that my kind of stuff would be liked by most people in the club.
People would react to it well, which you can't say the same about tunes like "Suburban Train", "Born Slippy", which are songs that take time to get used to, but still exellent.
But instead of arguing with you, I think that I should just accept, that you & I like different types of Trance anthems, as it is very rare that any two people agree completely.
Hahahaha. I adore your new rules.
Even more, I adore how you expressed them. Haha.
me too, no times for newbies. ;)
Haha, yeah, those people just really annoy me.
Newbies are OK, since we all used to be one, but I can't stand it when they act like they have informed opinions. If you're new, do what every respectable newbie did: listen, and learn.
Just a suggestion...change your Tiesto rule to read "in the past 6 months." All newcomers to trance are guilty of that sin, and I'm sure you've done it yourself ;)
Lol. I love your posting recommendations rules. Wow. OK but i need to humbly ask something of you. And please don't shoot me. What is acid? Ouch. This is gonna hurt.
Okay, dude, I'm gonna save ya here, cuz I really didn't figure it out myself until about year of trance listening.
Acid is made with the 303 bassline machine, and in acid trance, it acts as the lead synth. The best I can describe it is "out there" or "squelchy". I dunno how else to describe it to a newbie, but I'll give you some primary examples of songs featuring acid:
"Access"- DJ Misjah & DJ Tim
"Red Herring"- Union Jack
"Stuck On A Space Trip"- Demonic Emotions
Those are my personal definitions of acid.
to sLiC3: I'm wouldn't get annoyed about that: you're not posting, you're asking a question, which is fine. We were all new once.
That's a pretty good description of acid, Lassic. You can also look at Ishkur's guide - at the acid anything sections - and you'll know right away what acid sounds like.
It's a squishy, very electrical, modulating sound - it tends to make very squiggly textures and it constantly changes in subtle ways due to the "pitch-bending" that acid artists do with the 303. You instantly think of aliens and space battles and dome-covered wasteland planets when you hear it, especially in acid trance.
Here's a nice little pile of tracks that feature the 303 prominently (you should be able to find one):
Phuture - Acid Tracks [If you don't know what acid is after hearing this one, you lose the right to visit this list - the acid sound doesn't come in for more than a minute though]
Banco De Gaia - Heliopolis
The Jeyenne - X-masid
D-Mob - We Call it Acieeed (The Matey mix)
Aphex Twin - Didgeridoo
Dance 2 Trance - Hello San Francisco
4Voice - Eternal Spirit (Northern mix)
Hardfloor - Lost in the Silver Box
Art of Trance - The Colours (Indigo mix)
Drax Limited II - Amphetamine
Emmanuel Top - Turkish Bazaar
Energy 52 - Cafe Del mar (1993)
Ambush - Ambush 2
Art of Trance - Cambodia
DJ Tom and Norman - Be Slave of your Desire
Binary Finary - 1999
As acid slowly went more and more into the background in trance, trance slowly rose as a commercial genre (and became more and more offensively lame). However, it's still there in some form in most tracks (and still sometimes takes predominance), as evidenced by these acid-loving anthem favorites:
Binary Finary - 1999
The Quest - C Sharp
Tekara - Breathe in You
Three Drives - Greece 2000
Push - Strange World
Riva - Stringer
Art of Trance - Madagascar
The Thrillseekers - Synaesthesia
Minimal trance doesn't have as much acid (although it's still there is many tracks), but it makes up for it by using clicks and analog synths.
Acid is alot of what makes trance feel complex and detailed. Without it, trance sounds too clean and easily followed: acid basslines can't usually be predicted, and they therefore make the tracks feel like they're moving even if nothing is really happenening (hence why "trance" and why good trance sets feel like a journey).
This gives me an idea for a list...
Ya another very good example, though this is Acid House, is Phuture- Acid Tracks. Apart from the bass drum and the occasional whistle this is a 12 min song which is just the TB-303 doing its thing (acid) throughout. Although there were apparently other songs to use acid before it, this was the first song which spawned the first genre to have a dominant acid line as a feature. There is a possibility you won't like it at first but if you start to really get into acid then it'll be a definate favourite.
In terms of Acid Trance like Lassic said go for Red Herring to get a good definition but pretty much all Union Jack's stuff has Acid in. Another artist which is pretty much soley Acid is Hardfloor but a lot of their stuff is arguably Acid Techno rather than Acid Trance. Most known example would be Acperience 1 by them.
There are also many songs which use acid but it isn't the dominant feature eg Lost Tribe- Gamemaster.
Hope that, what Lassic said and whatever darktremor says helps :)
darktremor, would you be willing to have a listen to a mix? attempting to recognize the tracks (Digweed - WMC 1999)
Here are some tracks I think are worthy of some recognition:
1. The Cynic Project - Dream Formula [I prefer the calmer Original over the Raymond Wave. Both are good.]
[Dream Trance]
2. Miro - Emotions of Paradise [This is different than the "Miro - Paradise" track you have listed.]
[Ibiza]
3. Aril Brikha - Winter
[Neo-trance]
4. Laurent Garnier - Communications from the Lab [Very odd song.]
[Tech-trance?]
5. Minilogue - The Leopard (Extrawelt Remix)
[Minimal]
6. Robert Miles & Aphex Twin - Rare Duet
[Don't know genre; acid?]
7. D-Illision - With a Rhythm of Love
[Anthem]
8. Astral Projection - Still Dreaming (Anything Can Happen)
[Psytrance]
9. Phutureprimitive - Darkness
[Chill Psytrance]
10. Bluetech - Oleander (Phutureprimitive Symbiotic Mix)
[Ambient Psytrance]
--------------
Comments:
I think the Taucher remix of Ayla is better than the original. Same goes for Way Out West's mix of Holden's Horizons
darktremor, first and foremost let me congratulate you on this awesome asemblage of electronica you've compiled here; I cannot even fathom the countless hours it must've taken to not only ferret out some of these songs, but to also listen to them all and rank them just boggles the mind. I've long been a fan of trance music, but found it difficult to hunt down some of the more obscure, yet suberbly constructed songs (such as you've compiled here); so when I came upon your list, it more than made my day and I immediately began to add tracks to my library (some of which proved harder to obtain than others, and some still elude me to this day). I hesitated when making this account because I'm not the type to sign up for something unless I think the cause is worthwhile, and since I had some questions I figured, "why not". So, here they are:
1. You have the song "Rapture" on your list by Lio; in fact, this is a common mistake (as the track is often mislabeled on file-sharing programs). The actual band name is iiO (just as I've spelled it).
2. Slots 46, 80, and 149 are all occupied by the {arguable} tags and are not host to actual song titles.
3. You once had some song useful tidbits attached to certain songs (such as how Rendezvous and the remix of Invisible were the same thing); I think you should expand upon this if time allows, as this was extremely helpful. I also think it'd be a neat idea if in addition to certain songs, you also offered a suitable remix (if one exists); for example, Gamemaster (Signum Mix) or Damaged (Antilla's Edit) etcetera.
Finally, I won't dispute your placement of tracks, as I realize that everyone has different opinions on rank, so I'll just list my submissions, which are few:
Brainbug - Nightmare (Sinister Strings Mix)
Ralph Fridge - Angel
Members of Mayday - 10 in 01
Michael Woods versus Dogzilla - Solex (Close to the Edge)
Thank you for your time and keep up the great work! =)
Ahoy DarkTremor.
Just writing to you regarding the recently released CD: "A STATE OF TRANCE CLASSICS".I wanted to know what you think of the CD, in terms of what tracks deserve to be their, and which one's don't.I'm sure you will approve of certain tracks appearing on the compliation, such as:"Yael - Voyage";"Underworld - Born Slippy";"Age of Love - Age of Love" etc.However, I think that it's strange that a track such as "ROOS - Instant Moments", makes it's way onto the CD."Art of Trance - Madagascar(Ferry Corsten Mix)" also appears on the CD, 2 my amazement.It's not a bad song, I just feel that their are better versions."Ralphie B - Massive" is also on the CD, but one feels that it does'nt quite compare to the other songs, and "Hybrid - Finished Symphony" is'nt quite the best "Hybrid" production, which could have been selected for this "Classic" CD.
Looking forward to hear what you think.
(P.S: I'm still waiting for a response, in regards to what I thought of your comments on
"The Quest - C Sharp", a while back: 28/03/07).
Thanx Man
I never listen to those kinds of CDs, because they tend to be limited by licensing issues. You can't get every track you want from every label to make a compilation any time, you need to get them. So many of the tracks on it are going to be questionable, when the mixer runs out of real classics.
The sad thing is that the greatest trance song in history is not on the list and that TUNE is the The Digital Blonde - Legato tunnnneeeeeeee!!
Never say "tunnnnnneeeeee" again, or I will rewrite the code of this webpage to detect your DNA signature and prevent you from ever accessing this list from any computer anywhere.
Do you know even what a tune is? It's a hummable melody - a part of the song. There's no reason for you to call out TUUUUNNNNEEEE - every song has one. Honestly, can you imagine what a live music event would be like if everyone constantly called out the different parts of the tracks?
"BAAAAAASSSSS!!! TUUUUUNNNNEEE!!! BREEEEAAAAKKK!!!"
It'd be like...a Tiesto show.
Hey guys... there's n upstart website called tranceology... go check it out. no one's posted on it yet bt i thnk your comments will be invaluable. http:/tranceologist.wordpress.com
check it out
Howdy darktremor.
I've been into trance for a little while, but it wasn't until I stumbled upon your list that I became a full blown trance addict. I'm loving it.
So, as I have already downloaded your top 50 songs, I though I'd make a torrent of it. It is here:
http://www.torrentbox.com/torrent_details?id=100514&uploaded=1
I also have the next 50, but will see how the first 50 go before I commit.
Peace out.
Sorry guys, that one is faulty
This one is better:
http://www.torrentbox.com/torrent_details?id=100729&uploaded=1
Very nice. I appreciate that. Torrent won't work with my internet connection, but that's great. I'll link it to my list. Thanks a lot.
Hi Darktremor, first of all, congrats on this lovely website!
I'd like to ask your expert opinion on under which subgenre you would classify the 3 Chicane's CD's:
Far from the Maddening Crowds,
Behind the Sun,
Easy to Assemble?
Would you be able to recommend similar or even better tracks/artists/CD's within this subgenre?
Love to hear your answer. Thanks and all the best, RHL
I'd call them Ibiza trance.
Suggestions:
Humate - Love Stimulation (Paul van dyk's love mix)
Nalin & Kane - Beachball
Tastexperience - Summersault
William Orbit - The Story of Light
Solar Stone - Seven Cities
ATB - 9 PM (Till I Come)
Jam & Spoon - Find Me (Odyssey To Anyoona)
Salt Tank - Eugina
ATB - Don't Stop
Jose Padilla - Agua
Miro - Emotions of Paradise
Fathers of Sound - Water
York - The Reachers of Civilisation
Dove Beat La Paloma (Ocean Remix)
Jam & Spoon - Stella
Tastexperience - Tantrix
To start you off.
Glad you like the lists :)
Could you make a 'Best of' list for progressive as well?
I'm sorry but this was the best place to put in my request as I figured you might check this list more often than others.
I would, but progressive is so ill-defined, that the list would rapidly just turn into a "top 100 trance" list minus the epic and anthem tracks, which is pretty much what this list's top 100 looks like now anyway. I've got a lot of "progressive" on here already.
What I will do, eventually, is label the tracks with tags stating their style. Eventually. In other words, it'll probably be months.
been a while since i last visited this site there werent even a hundred lol brilliant list and some all time classics been added since darktremor hell of a list applaud u and everyone whos added to it
curious to know where you stand with more of the newer dance music i dont really hear alot of trance music outside of the underground stuff anymore, every now and again something pokes its head up to remind the masses trance is still alive and kicking
where do you stand on the stuff like
fedde le grand - put your hands up
alex gaudino - destination calabria
(i use these 2 as widely known songs which have hit the mainstream)
to me it seems more like progressive house but i hear alot of ppl throwing this type of music into many categories not least of which trance is one (i strongly disagree)
is it the new era of dance trying to break into the market to rival RnB and Rock or is it simply remnants of a time past really interested on your thoughts on this.
All good dance music now seems to fall under either the "electro-house" or "minimal" styles (which includes those tracks. Especially "Put Your Hands Up For Detroit", which is awesome). I love that stuff. I have a whole list dedicated to the "minimal" side of it: here
And now "neo-trance" is taking over (probably thanks to Ame's Rej, which I think is even better. So yeah, trance is alive and kicking, just in a mutated form (a better mutated form).
I'd say it's a new era of dance music. It's all new producers (mostly) and a totally new scene. The old superstars have evolved to reflect the new music (Sasha, Richie Hawtin), or become embarassing relics no longer taken seriously (your "remnants of a time past") - ie: Tiesto, Oakenfold, Paul Van Dyk. Oakenfold is dance music's Rolling Stones. I don't think it's trying to break into the mainstream or rival rock and RnB though, I think it's just doing its thing, and occasionally getting hits when people take notice. In Europe, this stuff rules the clubs and occasionally shows up on the charts, but most of the artists just care about experimenting and filling a dancefloor - the hits are accidental (ie: who would've though Ame - Rej would be the international club hit it was?).
Thanks for putting up the link, but it was faulty, so I deleted it. This one definitely does work:
http://www.torrentbox.com/torrent_details?returnto=%2Faccount-cp.php&id=...
Plus I have the next 50:
http://www.torrentbox.com/torrent_details?returnto=%2Faccount-cp.php&id=...
When I get the next 50, I'll do those too.
Peace out
link to next 50 doesnt work
i second that... shame
I just wanted to say thanks really. I used to own a record store back in Albuquerque, NM back in the late 80s and back then electronic was hard to find if not impossible. Only options out there in the American market were god awful New Age rhythms. But there were a few gems that still stand today like Kraftwerk. I left music almost for good, sold the shop and stopped really listening to music in the early 90s mostly cause i though most of it was garbage. But I'm glad im getting back into it and happy theres a genre I can actually enjoy now. Once again thats for the list, least i know im starting with the best.
Glad you like it.
hey dt, sorry i didn't know if you can pm people on listology so i thought i;d say on here i've updated my trance list, and put descriptions for a fair few of the top 15 or so :)
i'd greatly appreciate it if you had a look :)
thanks
also, a while back you said somewhere you were making a website, how's that going for ya?
Not bad, in that I don't have time to do it right now at all. In the fall I'll probably start on it, my business and school eat up too much time.
Hey darktremor, what do you link of the CD set Classic Euphoria? I am downloading it now, after seeing how good it looked on discogs.
Haven't listened to it. It looks to me like another one of Ministry of Sound's money-grab classics mixes with 47 songs everybody already, with the added bonus of being in a different order (gasp!).
That it is. shudders
Yo DarkTremor
Over the years, you have always seemed to be a bit disgruntled regarding the effect which "Rank 1 - Airwave" had on the Trance scene.I know that you think that, even though it was a good song, it effected Trance in a negative way.You've even went as far as to say that:"the track spawned a cult of terrible producers".I'm just wondering, which particular songs were inspired or were brought on by the production of "Airwave"? I can understand that a song such as: "The Mystery - Mystery", was almost definitely a Rip-off of Airwave.I'd really like to know which other tunes were motivated by "Airwave".
In response to one of your less recent comments, I have never thought of "Airwave" as being a song which was a play on classical music.
Please enlighten me?
P.s: What did you mean when you called Airwave "SUPERSAW TRANCE"?
The synthesized string in Airwave is called a supersaw.
As to songs Airwave inspired, look at ishkur's guide in the "not trance" section.
Airwave is a play on classical music only superficially. It wants to sound orchestral, large, and important, but in doing so, it forgets the point of both dance music and of classical. The songs it inspired are far worse in this regard. Anything by Enivo is particulary bad, as is the unbelievably terrible Ace's Delight - Mental Theme (the breakdown is about 70% of the track).
Here are some songs:
DJ Joop - The Future (Theme Trance Energy 2007)
Dave Joy - Second Chase (Alphazone Mix)
Dave Joy - Fourth Joyride
Kai Tracid - Trance and Acid
Megara vs. DJ Lee - Outside World (Club Mix)
Megara vs. DJ Lee - Full Intention (Club Mix)
Dumonde vs. Lange - Memory 2005 (Megara vs. DJ Lee Mix)
Warp Brothers - Phat Bass
A.S.Y.S - No More F*****g Rock'n'Roll...Pretty much only like the song when it's halfway. I don't like guitar in electronic music
Above and Beyond - Can't Sleep (Original Mix)
Airbase - Skyway (Airbase Mix)
Angel Beats - Emotions
Cosmo & Tom - Living on Video (Bush Mix)
Cosmic Culture - Northern Star
Dave202 - Generate The Wave
DJ Tiesto - He's A Pirate
Dumonde - Let Me Out (Alphazone vs. Ralph Novell English Mix)
Fire and Ice - Para Siempre
Pulsedriver - Vagabonds (Megara vs. DJ Lee Remix)
Ralphie B. vs. Airbase - Massive Rise (Bootleg Remix)
Ronski Speed - Incognition
Your inclusion of "He's a Pirate" automatically disqualifies every other item on your list, as well as anything you ever post on any list anywhere. Only the newest of new to trance would ever include that contract-obligation-screaming garbage heap. Actually, that's not really giving newbies credit. Only the most mentally deficient of the newest of new to trance would ever include it. Or did you mix up which list you were posting to? Are you sure you didn't mean to post here?
Hey darktremor,
its been quite a while since ive last been here, i recommended to you the song One Moon Circling by Guardians of the Earth. How did you find it(if you listened to it yet)?
As well, I noticed that you changed your list, especially the top ten which was a (pleasent) surprise to me, as I always thought Born Slippy, although a good song, lacked a proper melody. So I downloaded the new first song on your list (didgeridoo by aphex twin), and no matter how many versions I downloaded, it doesnt fit the description you wrote. For some reason most of the versions I downloaded are reminiscent of...i dont know how to put it, but native dance songs. Basically, very repetitive, no real melody, and theres like a metal drum being banged throughout the entire song. Is that consistent with your version of Didgeridoo? Is it a remix or anything? I really dont want to be listening to the wrong song and judging it unfairly.
Otherwise, if i am right, then i can understand the "techno monster" you said, but what about "trance anthem" or "ambient chilldown"?
There's no mistake with Didgeridoo. You just don't understand trance music.
One Moon Circling was OK.
Darktremor, I figured if anybody knew what this mystery song is it would be you.
I love this song, as does my girlfriend, but we cannot find it ANYWHERE! It's a massive epic tune, sound like it's from the '96-98 era, and has the lyrics "Sexuality is the key to ecstacy, practice your sexual desire/sxulity, carries your mind away". Another clue is that it seems to merge (not mix) into Age Of Love on a CD. If you could ID this mystery tune for me, I would much appreciate it.
It may be Legend B - Sexuality. That track also has those lyrics, I'm pretty sure.
Ha! That's it! You're awesome, dude. Much appreciated.
first of all i would like to say my best trance tracks wich are my fav trance...1st is dj shog ..and yes these songs are not on there. but they should be :D
dj shog-tribute
dj shog-super nova
dj shog again-stranger on this planet greatest songs and you no it tremour yes SHOG is a crap name but who gives hes musicz hektic and soon he will top the charts :)
more great trance is
perasma-swing to harmony
was gonna put say flaming june and godspeed but there already up there:D lol if knowone saw them in the list go and check them out there amazing.
if you wana get alot more then go to my youtube
http://www.youtube.com/nO1PlAyAr134
another song you dont have wich are great is
4 strings-until you love me wich...is on my youtube:P
thanks again for the list
You're wrong. Those songs are terrible.
Hey DarkTremor
I know that it's not very likely that you follow the ratings of DJ's on the "DJ LIST", as you probaly disagree with the positioning of certain DJ's. The fact that the List is based on the votes of anybody, often results in the most popular, and sometimes the most commercial DJ being high up. Despite acknowledging this, I still feel that M.I.K.E/Push should appear higher. The Last time I checked, M.I.K.E was positioned at #108, or something like that. You get many people who differ in opinion in regards to whether "Above & Beyond" & "Armin" are as good as they are made out to be, but most of those people rate M.I.K.E highly. I just feel that Trance would have lost out, if M.I.K.E never came about.(That was'nt meant to rhyme.) The fact still remains, that seeing that DJ Sammy appears on the list, just shows how Misrepresentive the site can be. But still, M.I.K.E is respected by every Trance fan, which should put him much higher on this List.Please humor me by giving me your thoughts.
Thanx bro
Wes
Yea i totally agree with you Wes, M.I.K.E. / push/solar factor + 80 different other aliases is considered in my opinion as one of the greatest producers out there. Indeed he has given the genre many original contributions and has "done" something for trance in a huge way. After all, he was one of the pioneers of the genre and has his own style of music that he plays. I am not quit sure what subgenre his productions fall under but i think his new stuff is more akin to neo-trance/micro-trance which should be sweeping the trance scene right off it's feet.
BTW, he has a new radioshow out called Club Elite which I'm really excited about.
What are you talking about? Push is at number 23.
And how was Push revolutionary? All he did was make a few really good dark(ish) anthems. Dark(ish) anthems have been around in trance like, forever. In fact, even the first trance track was a dark(ish) anthem (Age of Love). After Push's few masterpieces, all he did was retread his personal style into pointlessness. I mean, he's pretty good, but revolutionary? What exactly did he revolutionize?
A pioneer of the genre? His first release was 1994. Trance was pioneered around 1988-1992. Besides, he wasn't even noticed until Universal Nation came out, and that was 1998. Plus his 1994 track was nothing that special.
Hmmmm interesting argument. The reason I like M.I.K.E. so much is that his songs were the ones that got me listening to trance which was around 98/99. I didn't really think trance existed back in 88 did it, yet along 90, even though the first trance track may have come out in 92 it shouldnt automatically merit a spot in the top ten should it? I mean new does not mean better all the time. I mean honestly, would you really play "age of love" in a club scene, imagine trying to dance to it - you'd look like a freakin retard.
Back in around 2000 (give or take couple years), every major Dj played his tunes (along with his aliases) all the time so I think that has to account for something. Deeds speak louder than words and if every Dj agrees that his music is worth playing that much, it must really be good.
BTW, his first track was produced in 92 under the name Vision Act - A New Sign ; and he didn't produce one track in 94 but 19 tracks.