January Trance Selection

Each and every month, we'll be reviewing the trance releases of our previous month and be selecting the best of the best. January was an average month. We had high hopes from Roger Shah, Orjan Nilsen, First State and Nuera but their tracks were mediocre to say the least. It's getting really hard to find trance tunes that are worth mentioning. Still, things are not as bad as you may thing. It's just that quantity does not equal to quality. Enough of this though, let's see which were the best trance tunes of our previous month.

James Allan & Jamie Drummond - Counterpoint (Original Mix): "Counterpoint" is simply amazing and full of energy. Its intro is so powerful that sends immediately chills down your spine. As with all tracks that begin so energetic, the breakdown is critical as it can destroy it. Thankfully, its breakdown is terific. It retains the powerful vibe with an amazing melody and some amazing sound effects. The outro that comes after the breakdown is even more energetic and enters the tech area. Allan and Drummond delivered, this is a mindblowing trance track. Well done guys!


Paul Miller Vs SaJ Presents MillerMachine - MillerMachine (Original Mix): Here is a tune that is literaly destroyed by its breakdown. The intro is full of energy and contrary to it, the breakdown goes the emotional way. We've made a breakless version that you can hear here and see how it retains the energy and the vibe of the tune. It seems that Miller and Saj decided to include a breakdown just so that they have one. They shouldn't. Still, "MillerMachine" is a nice track.

Sam Stroke & Isaac Fisherman - Back Forever (Original Mix): I didn't expect such an emotional tune from Stroke and Fisherman. "Back Forever" is by far the best emotional trance tune of January. It kicks off beautifully with a great bassline and a nice melody. And then comes the breakdown. The orgasmic breakdown. This is how you make great breakdowns. You really need to listen to it and especially its Chill Out version. Great work from the duo and we highly recommend it!

Oliver Prime - Water Rise (Original Mix): We are going to more proggy sounds with Oliver Prime's latest tune, "Water Rise". Its intro is nothing to write home about. It sets a nice dark vibe but seems to luck something. Something that is added later with the breakdown. As with "Back Forever", "Water Rise"'s breakdown is exceptional. It's mellow and suits ideally to the whole tune.

Vadim Dreamer - Amsterdam (After Meridian & Dave Costa Remix): This remix of "Amsterdam" from Meridian and Costa is a great prog trance tune, that will immediately remind you some other tunes from Markus Schulz, Andrew Bennett, Nic Chagall and Sonic Division. Nice melody with a great bassline that are enhanced with some cleverly echo effects. If you are a fan of progressive trance, this is a must-have tune.

Nash & Pepper - I Killed The Love (Arnej Dub Mix): Arnej is back to shake things up. His Dub Mix of "I Killed The Love" is bombastic. This is a tune that needs to be played in a club to fully appreciate it. The transition from the cute breakdown to its outro is unbelievable. We have nothing more to say, just listen to it.

Ronald De Foe - This Is My Way (Kaan Demirel V 1.0 Remix): Last but not least, an uplifting trance tune from Ronald De Foe. "This Is My Way" has some great ideas and both remixes from Demirel are great. His "V 1.0 Remix" has great intro and outro, whereas his "V 2.0 Remix" has a better breakdown. Still, "This Is My Way" is the best uplifting trance tune of January, especially if you mix together those two remixes to get the intro/outro of "V 1.0 Remix" with the breakdown of the "V 2.0 Remix"

And there you have it. Those were the best trance tunes of January. Stay tuned and see you in a month for February's best trance tunes. May the trance be with you!