Yeah, and that's been a complaint of mine concerning Ferry Corsten for instance. His releases have had alot of abbreviated tracks and the pace feels rushed when listening to it, with songs "strung" together as you said. However, Armin Van Buuren shouldn't be lumped into that category IMO. His State Of Trance releases have some impeccable song transitioning. It's obvious to me he selects tracks intelligently and mixes them well, giving them appropriate 'merge-time'.
And that's what really drew me into electronic trance; 'continuous mix recordings'. I'm largely a fan of progressive rock, which is best known for its penchant of having lengthy compositions or grandiouse concept albums. In fact, what I'd like to see more trance artists do is release an album containing tracks that don't deviate from a particular theme, either lyrically or in sonic atmosphere. I'd like to see more 'concept albums' in the trance genre.
For those who like the conceptual (and the "psychedelic"), I recommend Porcupine Tree's Voyage 34: The Complete Trip. It's a lovely fusion of prog rock and trance you can dance to or zone out with.
Let's talk Trance
"The God of the Qurʾan is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully." -- Vaelahr
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JaydeMoon
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I'm totally gonna give that a listen.
It's neat to hear you talk about concepts and the like. It's very close, if not identical, to my idea of a set of songs actually becoming a single story that progresses and builds along certain lines. It's what I consider, anytime I'm putting together a set for a CD compilation, and how I try to mix when I'm playing at events.
EDIT: BTW, Vaelahr, if you like music that's one continuous journey front to back, get Shpongle's "Nothing Lasts... But Nothing is Lost". Ridiculously good album... tells a complete story, as it were. There's a weird part at the beginning with some Tasmanian Devil Vocal's stuff for like, ten seconds, but otherwise a wonderful, psychedelic, intelligent, trance journey.
It's neat to hear you talk about concepts and the like. It's very close, if not identical, to my idea of a set of songs actually becoming a single story that progresses and builds along certain lines. It's what I consider, anytime I'm putting together a set for a CD compilation, and how I try to mix when I'm playing at events.
EDIT: BTW, Vaelahr, if you like music that's one continuous journey front to back, get Shpongle's "Nothing Lasts... But Nothing is Lost". Ridiculously good album... tells a complete story, as it were. There's a weird part at the beginning with some Tasmanian Devil Vocal's stuff for like, ten seconds, but otherwise a wonderful, psychedelic, intelligent, trance journey.
Fables: Myth.D2 - Mixed by Danny Yun review: Decent set with a strong finish. Not as much melody as I'd prefer but still an enjoyable listen. I don't recall ever hearing any of it before, save for the second to last track. I wasn't blown away or anything, but it did have its attention-arresting moments. The track around 40-46 minutes in was particularly strong as well as the tune around the 55 min mark.
I'll be checking that Schpongle album out soon. And I hope you get a copy of that Voyage 34 to enjoy. One of those albums that's best enjoyed listening all the way through, without distraction, allowing your imagination to fill in any blanks. The first 2 tracks have the more prog-rock influence present. Track 3 is very early-nineties trance and the fourth track is what I would describe as dark ambient. Good use of narrative throughout all four.
I'll be checking that Schpongle album out soon. And I hope you get a copy of that Voyage 34 to enjoy. One of those albums that's best enjoyed listening all the way through, without distraction, allowing your imagination to fill in any blanks. The first 2 tracks have the more prog-rock influence present. Track 3 is very early-nineties trance and the fourth track is what I would describe as dark ambient. Good use of narrative throughout all four.
"The God of the Qurʾan is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully." -- Vaelahr
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JaydeMoon
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I figured you'd like some of the later parts of it a bit more. The early part of it is, as you mention, not all to melodic, which is how I wanted it to be.
I'm a fan of progression, as that's how stories generally are. Instead of a big book full of joy and joy and happyness and joy and happyness... there's an opening, moments of darkness, frenetic points, rises and falls. In places it's harder and in others there's a sense of beauty and fulfillment.
Glad you liked it well enough, it's certainly not in the same genre, overall, as Tiesto-style mega trance, and I'd never want it to be.
I'm a fan of progression, as that's how stories generally are. Instead of a big book full of joy and joy and happyness and joy and happyness... there's an opening, moments of darkness, frenetic points, rises and falls. In places it's harder and in others there's a sense of beauty and fulfillment.
Glad you liked it well enough, it's certainly not in the same genre, overall, as Tiesto-style mega trance, and I'd never want it to be.
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FanaticusIncendi
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Now-now FI. 
It's not all as formulaic as you make it out to be. Sure, I've heard a few tracks over the years having absurdly over-the-top buildups but most of what I hear on CDs from "The Great 3" are just damn-fine track selections mixed well with all kinds of variety. And being blown away is what I desire from music in all genres. The music I like is liked because it moves me on some level. Not because it appeals to the masses, but because it appeals to me. I don't care if its released or played by Oakenfold or Danny Yun. So why trash PVD, Armin, & Tiesto when they consistently play great tracks? More importantly though, they've created their fair share of great tracks, Armin especially.
Oh and I haven't heard Digweed in awhile. Listening to his Transitions show right now. Good stuff. Say, any Deep Dish fans lurking?
Have you heard thier remix of Tiesto's own "In My Memory" from '02? What about Tiesto's own "Nyana" from '03 or "Sparkles" from '99? If you haven't, you definately should.
It's not all as formulaic as you make it out to be. Sure, I've heard a few tracks over the years having absurdly over-the-top buildups but most of what I hear on CDs from "The Great 3" are just damn-fine track selections mixed well with all kinds of variety. And being blown away is what I desire from music in all genres. The music I like is liked because it moves me on some level. Not because it appeals to the masses, but because it appeals to me. I don't care if its released or played by Oakenfold or Danny Yun. So why trash PVD, Armin, & Tiesto when they consistently play great tracks? More importantly though, they've created their fair share of great tracks, Armin especially.Oh and I haven't heard Digweed in awhile. Listening to his Transitions show right now. Good stuff. Say, any Deep Dish fans lurking?
Of course I've heard it. It's on Tiesto's ISOS4 album!The_Phoenyxx wrote:If you haven't heard it, Gabriel and Dresden's "Arcadia" was actually one of my top tracks for 2005, and you definitely should.
Have you heard thier remix of Tiesto's own "In My Memory" from '02? What about Tiesto's own "Nyana" from '03 or "Sparkles" from '99? If you haven't, you definately should."The God of the Qurʾan is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully." -- Vaelahr
