Showing posts with label Trance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trance. Show all posts

Stuck In My Skull 563 -- "Adagio for Strings"

Written By Christopher Audiophile on Monday, November 17, 2014 | 11/17/2014 06:01:00 AM

Song: "Adagio for Strings" || Artist: Tiesto || http://youtu.be/8tIgN7eICn4 ||
Comments: Hello, everyone! To all of you who, like me, had trouble getting out of bed this morning, this track is for you. It's a fast-paced, pulse-pounding, day-starting nine seven-and-a-half minutes of awesome. This song is on of my favourites from what I think of as 'old' Tiesto, the tracks that I listened to when I was first getting into electronic music, and the songs that really made me fall in love with trance in general and Tiesto and particular. It also was one of the first songs I heard that showed me how much fun you can have remixing classical music -- Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings" in this case. All these years later, I still think it holds up. Apparently I'm not the only one -- in early 2013, readers of Mixmag voted this track the second-best dance song of all time. Give this song a listen, and you'll know why.

Stuck In My Skull 533 -- "Buzz"

Written By Christopher Audiophile on Friday, August 1, 2014 | 8/01/2014 09:59:00 AM

Song: "Buzz" || Artist: Above & Beyond Presents Tranquility Base || http://youtu.be/eprS9GmNzMg ||
Comments: Hello and happy Friday, everyone! To get the weekend off right, I've got a truly excellent trance track for you. "Buzz" is an up-tempo number with pulsing bass and a catchy synth line that really makes you want to get up and dance, and I could listen to this all day. The artist here -- as best I can tell from the Wikipedia article -- is a side project of the well-known electronic group Above & Beyond, famous for producing a long list of singles and a particularly excellent remix of Motorcycle's "As the Rush Comes." There are numerous versions and mixes of this track, including the 'Buzztalk Mix' released a year after the original. Listen to a few and see what your favourite is. Be sure to like us on Facebook, and have a great weekend!

Stuck In My Skull 522 -- "IPOS" [Free Music Week!]

Written By Christopher Audiophile on Monday, June 23, 2014 | 6/23/2014 08:04:00 AM

Free Music Week, Part 1 || Song: "IPOS" || Artist: Inpetto || https://soundcloud.com/inpetto/ipos || Download Link: via Facebook ||


Comments: Good morning, everyone! You probably noticed an unexplained lack of posts last week. I apologize for that -- the entry that I had written to explain I'd be missing in action for a week didn't post, and so my little vacation went unexplained. To make up for it, I'm kicking off Stuck In My Skull's first ever Free Music Week! That's right, this week is going to be chock-full of amazing music that you don't have to pay for.
Once I realized that my last entry didn't post and decided to do Free Music Week, I headed to Soundcloud and started searching. For those of you who don't know, Soundcloud is an excellent place to find new music of any genre, from both famous and up-and-coming artists. For example, I clicked on Explore, selected 'Dance' as the genre I wanted to explore, and had my pick of nearly-infinite tracks. As of this morning, there's everything from an hour long set by R3HAB (a free download), an hour of Tiesto's Club Life podcast (also a free download), a stack of remixes by various artists, and eventually this gem. One of the things I've really come to appreciate about the Internet is how easy it is for new artists to spread their music, and this is no exception. Prior to writing this entry, I had never heard of Inpetto. According to their website, however, artists like Sander van Doorn, David Guetta, and Axwell have, and are fans. After hearing this song, I can see why.
I have no idea if "IPOS" is supposed to stand for anything, but it does make me stand up and applaud. This track is amazing. Soundcloud shows this as being labelled progressive house, but I am loving the very chill instrumentation and trance influences all over this track. Perhaps chill house would be a better label? Naming conventions aside, the instrumentation is masterful. This track is seven and a half minutes of awesome. The best part is, you can download this song for free by liking the artist on Facebook. Check this song out, and keep an eye on this blog all week for more free music!

Stuck In My Skull 445 -- "Feel the Beat"

Written By Christopher Audiophile on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 | 8/06/2013 06:36:00 AM

Song: "Feel the Beat" || Artist: Darude || http://youtu.be/mN84To5ndw0 ||
Comments: Good morning everyone! I've had this song stuck in my head a few times lately, thanks to a radio station that uses a tiny sample of it in their station ID. I had honestly thought I had written an entry on this song a long time ago, or I would have used it much sooner. But better late than never, so here it is! By the same DJ that made that beautifully campy track "Sandstorm" comes Darude's second single from the same album, "Feel the Beat." I love this track -- it's just as campy as it's video, and both scream "Hello, 2000!" I can't tell who provides the vocals on this track, and for once Wikipedia has failed me. If you know who the vocalist is, drop me a line! That aside, this track is campy awesomeness, and still excellent over a decade after its initial release. As far as I can tell, Darude's career seems to have stagnated some time ago, so this classic appears to be the highpoint of Darude's career, and what a highpoint it is. This song is so cheesy, and so catchy. Give it a listen if you haven't heard it before, and even if you have. Enjoy!

Stuck In My Skull 401: Songs Revisited, Part 2 -- " Motorcycle - As the Rush Comes (Tiesto Remix)"

Written By Christopher Audiophile on Monday, April 15, 2013 | 4/15/2013 05:00:00 AM

Songs Revisited, Part 2 || Song: "Motorcycle - As the Rush Comes (Tiesto Remix)" || Artist: Motorcycle || http://youtu.be/rv3EY4k3yrY ||
Comments: Hello everyone, and welcome back! Please forgive my conspicuous absence last week -- I was incredibly and wretchedly sick. But, I have at long last begun to fight off the cold and clammy embrace of my feverish captor, so let the music continue! This track is suitably warm and a cool blue sound, and I can't get enough of it. Featured all the way back in Entry 1, it's been a long time since I played this track. And I have learned a few things since I wrote that sparse description back in the day. For one, I just learned that Motorcycle is actually the illustrious electronic duo Gabriel and Dresden joined by vocalist Jes Brieden. Thank you, Wikipedia! I've joked for ages that electronic music has simultaneously the best and worst naming practices ever. Electronic music loves to actually tell you exactly what mix of whose song you're listening to, but sometimes it gets out of hand. While not as bad as some songs I've seen, the title of this track is the name of a little known group, then the track name, then the remix artist and remix name. Oh dear.
While the nomenclature might be confusing, there's nothing confusing about this track. It's the calmest, most relaxing trace track I know -- vintage Tiesto at his finest. Jes Brieden's vocals are beautifully layered over a classic kickdrum beat in the 130-140 BPM neighborhood, with some of the most relaxing synths I've ever heard. This song is seriously like warm cuddles to my ears, with a familiarity and warmth that flirts with the border of sensuality. There is precisely nothing wrong with this track. I love it. It does, in fact, 'embrace me' and 'surround me as the rush comes.' Check it out!

[Secret Sounds] Hollidayrain - Tainted Memories feat. Brenton Mattheus and Laura Brehm

Written By Relinquish on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 | 2/20/2013 09:03:00 PM

Track: Tainted Memories feat. Brenton Mattheus and Laura Brehm
Artist: Hollidayrain
Download: FREE (soundcloud)
Today's song features a loaded trifecta. Hollidayrain is a young producer from Colorado who has been making music since a young age; he works with many EDM genres and does all of them quite well. Brenton Mattheus is a UK vocalist who has been collaborating with many EDM artists and hopes to expand his career even more. Laura Brehm is a vocalist and producer, also from Colorado, who is currently running the "Give a Voice" music fundraiser to support a surgery for a friend with dysprosody.

This track, Tainted Memories, is actually a mashup of two of Hollidayrain's songs, To The Start featuring Mattheus and Tainted Memories featuring Brehm. What really shines on this track is the everflowing melody as it glides over the trance loops. The juxtaposition of the two vocal lines--two solos made into a duet--makes the lyrics even more poignant and relatable. The motion of these keeps consistent without ever getting boring, moving in small steps but loaded with emotion.

[Secret Sounds] ~ Mr FijiWiji - Farewell

Written By Relinquish on Monday, February 4, 2013 | 2/04/2013 08:16:00 PM

Track: Farewell
Artist: Mr FijiWiji
Download: iTunes Mr FijiWiji, called "The Fij" by his adoring fans, is another young artist on the Monstercat label. Not only is he an accomplished producer at such a young age, but he also volunteers and raises money for charity. He is known for making emotional music that is all his own style, without bending to what is popular. He also loves to title songs after his friends (see Gina and Jason the Breadman's Quest for Redemption) and to give away free music.

His first independent release, Farewell, is no exception. This piece has a beautifully executed ABA form. The first part begins with a great kick that gives way to a plaintive melody, which later stacks on top of a syncopated countermelody. When this fades, a solo piano part rises up from the silence. The Fij's gentle but compelling vocals enter, and though the lyrics may be simple, they capture the perfect sentiment for a departure. The reverb on the vocals (and throughout the piece) adds charge to the emotion. The countermelody from the first section returns, and later the melody comes back after the vocals fade. The two intertwine in a beautiful dance until the return of only the original kick. The outstanding composition of this piece and its emotionally resonant sounds make it a great first independent release for The Fij.

Stuck In My Skull 356: 90s Week, Part 2 — “Little Fluffy Clouds”

Written By Christopher Audiophile on Tuesday, January 1, 2013 | 1/01/2013 12:00:00 AM

90's Week, Part 2 || Song: "Little Fluffy Clouds" || Artist: The Orb || http://youtu.be/FHixChYgGRI ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/FHixChYgGRI]

Comments: For those of you who are in timezones where it is 2013, Happy New Years! Thank you to Amanda, who gave me this lovely little song. I keep running into The Orb, and this just cements in my mind that I really need to look more of their stuff up. Also, I had no idea that The Orb was this old! Cool! I love groups with staying power. Enjoy, and happy new year!

Entry 280-- "Resurrection"

Written By Christopher Audiophile on Friday, August 31, 2012 | 8/31/2012 05:00:00 AM

Song: "Resurrection" || Artist: PPK || http://youtu.be/ipE9QFiWhzQ ||

Comments: Happy Friday! I'll skip right to the meat of this entry. When I was first getting into techno, Pandora showed me this song, and I fell in love with it. I've never seen another song by this group, but I have seen a slew of remixes, which is unusual in the techno world-- one-hit wonders aren't that common... Oh well. If any of you happen to see another song by this group in your travels, let me know! Enjoy!

Entry 249-- "Under Your Spell"

Written By Anonymous on Thursday, July 19, 2012 | 7/19/2012 05:00:00 AM

Song: "Under Your Spell"
Artist: Cosmic Gate Ft. Aruna
http://youtu.be/KQYzF84xocw
Comments: Hey it's Miriah again.  I'm bringing some Cosmic Gate to Thursday.  I have heard of this band previously, but I haven't listened to a lot of their music.  I did catch this song recently, and it certainly is 'trance'.  I've only heard it a few times and it's already stuck in my head and I have a feeling that it won't be leaving any time soon.  Aruna doesn't have quite the power behind her voice than some others I have been listening to recently, but I love the tone in her voice.  There was another song that I really wanted to share that had a much higher tempo, and an equally good song, but I'll save the surprise for next week. :)  Enjoy!

Entry 227: Heart Week 2, Part 2-- "You Are My Diamond"

Written By Christopher Audiophile on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 | 6/19/2012 05:00:00 AM

Heart Week 2, Part 2
Song: "You Are My Diamond"
Artist: Tiesto feat Kianna

http://youtu.be/b0_DM-rPka4
Comments: When I decided I was going to do Heart Week 2, I went looking for songs I didn't already know to describe my feelings. I don't know why I ended up digging around in a pile of old Tiesto, but I'm glad I did. With the exceptions of a few pronouns that are reversed, this song says everything I want to say. "All my life I've been looking for love / I never thought I'd find it / All my life I've been looking for you / I just didn't know it." Among all the rocks and fake people, you are my shining diamond.

Entry 215-- Tour Of Techno Week, Part 5: "No Memory From Yesterday" and Update!

Written By Christopher Audiophile on Friday, June 1, 2012 | 6/01/2012 05:00:00 AM

Tour of Techno Week, Part 5
Song: "No Memory From Yesterday"
Artist: Tiesto
Comments: Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Trance. Trance is a subgenre of techno, "...characterized by a tempo of between 125 and 150 beats per minute, repeating melodic phrases, and a musical form that builds up and down throughout a track..." according to Wikipedia, and it is one of my two pet genres, the other being symphonic metal. Tiesto has long been one of the leading trance producers, and has won the DJ Mag top 100 several times, and is generally amazing. Despite his recent trend towards electro and house, Tiesto's trance tracks are still exceptional pieces of music. The first song ever featured on this blog was a trance remix by Tiesto, in fact. Check this song out, and if you like it, please, go looking for more. Hopefully you enjoyed this week, and with a little luck, you found some new music. Keep an open mind, enjoy the song, and enjoy the weekend!

Update: The update is two-fold. First, I finally caught the fact that only registered users of blogger could comment on this blog. That has now been rectified-- anyone with internet can leave a comment. Secondly, the song featured in Entry 184 ("Burn it Down" by Linkin Park) has gotten an official music video released, seen here: http://youtu.be/dxytyRy-O1k

Entry 200-- "Elements of Life"

Written By Christopher Audiophile on Friday, May 11, 2012 | 5/11/2012 06:56:00 AM

Song: "Elements of Life"
Artist: Tiesto
http://youtu.be/j2fNloJAge0
Comments: Sorry for the lack of posts recently, folks-- life has been kind of crazy. The update schedule might be a bit off for awhile-- I'm now in a different time zone, and once I get over the jetlag, the regular content will be at a slightly different time of day. Anyway, the song. This song has precisely nothing to do with Hydrogen and Oxygen and Carbon and such, and everything to do with an awesome piece of music. It's been a favourite of mine for a long time, and it sounded like a good idea to celebrate Entry 200. Enjoy!

Entry 5-- "Lethal Industry"

Written By Christopher Audiophile on Monday, July 18, 2011 | 7/18/2011 07:03:00 PM

Song: "Lethal Industry"
Artist: Tiesto
http://youtu.be/pYU0TVe4LWY (album)
http://youtu.be/_Nnh0LuhLag (Live, starting about 4:00)
Comments: I love this song. If you get bored on YouTube, you can track down a version featuring a guitarist playing live in mid-set, which is just as epic. The two versions here are both worth a listen, and carry themselves well on their own merits. The first one is significantly shorter, being the album version, but is guaranteed to have you dancing. Or at least, it's guaranteed to have me dancing. The second version is from a concert Tiesto gave for Queensday in his native country, to the thrill of all, I am sure. "Lethal Industry" starts about four minutes in, after the tail end of "Moonlight Party," if I am hearing it correctly.

Unrelated Comment: I've tentatively settled on a twice-daily pattern of updates. At some point, I'll slow down, either when I get bored or the blog picks up a stable following. (Yes, I am that vain.) Vanity aside, having a greater base of content means the blog is more robust and more likely to be noticed.

Entry 5-- "Lethal Industry"

Song: "Lethal Industry"
Artist: Tiesto
http://youtu.be/pYU0TVe4LWY (album)
http://youtu.be/_Nnh0LuhLag (Live, starting about 4:00)
Comments: I love this song. If you get bored on YouTube, you can track down a version featuring a guitarist playing live in mid-set, which is just as epic. The two versions here are both worth a listen, and carry themselves well on their own merits. The first one is significantly shorter, being the album version, but is guaranteed to have you dancing. Or at least, it's guaranteed to have me dancing. The second version is from a concert Tiesto gave for Queensday in his native country, to the thrill of all, I am sure. "Lethal Industry" starts about four minutes in, after the tail end of "Moonlight Party," if I am hearing it correctly.

Unrelated Comment: I've tentatively settled on a twice-daily pattern of updates. At some point, I'll slow down, either when I get bored or the blog picks up a stable following. (Yes, I am that vain.) Vanity aside, having a greater base of content means the blog is more robust and more likely to be noticed.

Entry 1-- Motorcylce- As the Rush Comes (Tiesto Remix)

Written By Christopher Audiophile on Saturday, July 16, 2011 | 7/16/2011 10:36:00 PM

Entry 1
Song: "Motorcylce- As the Rush Comes" (Tiesto Remix)
Artist: Tiesto
http://youtu.be/rv3EY4k3yrY
Comments: A longtime favourite of mine. There are tons of mixes, but I prefer the Tiesto version, which is the most trance-like of the bunch. The original is very good, as is the Gabriel & Dresden mix.

Entry 1-- Motorcylce- As the Rush Comes (Tiesto Remix)

Entry 1
Song: "Motorcylce- As the Rush Comes" (Tiesto Remix)
Artist: Tiesto
http://youtu.be/rv3EY4k3yrY
Comments: A longtime favourite of mine. There are tons of mixes, but I prefer the Tiesto version, which is the most trance-like of the bunch. The original is very good, as is the Gabriel & Dresden mix.