#54 Top Releases in Trance (Raw / Deep / Hypnotic)

Holly Lesters Duality Trax imprint continues its mission to find balance within the music industry by bridging gender gaps and pushing the boundaries of contemporary club music. The next release sees the label's second VA come to fruition, focusing on six emerging and established artists that are all making their mark within their respective cities and beyond. Glasgow hero and resident of dance music institution Sub Club Stevie Cox opens things up on her first ever solo outing, easing us gently in with a hypnotizing mesh of ethereal synths and dynamic drum programming akin to the carefully constructed sets she has become known and loved for. Stones Taro, a pioneering force behind Kyoto's evolving electronic scene, brings his signature touch to Iron Door and smoothly bridges the gap between UKG, breaks and house before rising Aussie producer DAWS serves a nostalgic blend of dreamy chords, jacking percussion and bumping bass. Up next, Bsample king Gallegos turns in a raw and crunchy acid workout that is sure to raise the roof with adrenaline inducing risers aplenty. The VA takes a trippy left turn with Planet Euphorique and Craigie Knowes affiliate Emkay, in a perception altering display of warping synths, shimmering gated vocals and loose drum patterns before rising star Body Clinic rounds things off. Fusing DnB and prog in 159 Revolutions Per Minute against a futuristic backdrop, the young Northern Irish producer perfectly demonstrates the interwoven themes and concepts that the label seeks to platform. 100%% of compilation profits will be donated to Palestine Children's Relief Fund. Visions Vol. 2 will be available to buy digitally from December 8th, 2023.

Stevie Cox, Stones Taro, DAWS, Gallegos, Emkay, Body Clinic

#61 Top Releases in Trance (Raw / Deep / Hypnotic)

Holly Lesters Duality Trax imprint has quickly established itself as one of most exciting emerging labels from within the modern electronic circuit. Undoubtedly inspired by the golden era of house, techno, bleep and club, the label also has its crosshairs fixated firmly on the future and has become a one-stop-shop for the very best in early-hours euphoria and contemporary heads-down sonics. Despite its young age the label already boasts a stellar back catalogue, releasing tracks and records from Fio Fa, Violet, Cromie, rRoxymore, Roza Terenzi and more and the fourth in the series comes from Steffan Todorovic and Joonas Arro under their Abdul Raeva alias. Holly is no stranger to either artist, having set up the Terrazzo label with Gestalt Records and Coymix head Steffan. Its a sonic match-made-in-heaven, with both contributing artists and label head sharing an admiration for bouncy, fun and deep club music that dangles its legs on the border of emotionality without taking itself too seriously. The label head was first drawn to the lead track Atlas Corporation with its soaring resonant lead reminiscent of the classic Rez by Underworld. Ear-wriggling acid lines and psychedelic atmospherics balance a gritty and driving drum rhythm across a kaleidoscopic six minutes, before Death Race blends techy dub with Abdul Raevas signature proggy sauce, best played as the sun begins to rise again. Staying true to the concepts of gender and sonic duality, the remix comes from Australian DJ and Pure Space-founder Andy Garvey who turns in a breakbeat-laden, broken acid-techno rendition of the A2, before we come to a meditative close with the tropical, downtempo sounds of Guardian of the Vault.

Abdul Raeva