Above & Beyond – Anjunabeats Volume Five

If I have to select my second most favorite after Volume 3, then Volume 5 is the masterpiece!
It was a perfect decision that the trio decided to use the 2CDs format. Opening to the more progressive and more housey things, only one disc it just couln't be a coherent and retrospective journey anymore. However, more didn't become less at Anjunabeats, which is quite exceptional.
Providing a seemingly hectic, but really exciting flow, CD1 is really-really remarkable. After some warmup sounding tunes from Michael Cassette, Jaytech and Joonas Hahmo (half of the legendary Alt+F4 duo with their one and only HIT), the mix becomes really aggressive with the formula-breaking Wippenberg remix of Super8 & Tab's "Needs To Feel". GOAT move. After that, Jaytech cranks the heat a little bit back with his elevator music (in not a bad meaning), but you'll be smashed in the face immedately with the playful electro grooves of "My Name Is Jacques" by Junk Science. Stephen J. Kroos' tech trance workout "Formalistick" still holds the bass strong and pumping, until the point where A&B's Tranquility Base reduces stress with their prog-trancer "Buzz". Rest of the mix open doors to the uplifting sound, leading to the heavy melancholy of the "Good For Me" club mix. Such an EPIC close!
CD2 doesn't hesitate for a single second and Maor Levi's "Shapes" instantly gets you amazed with its rich textures. Pushing up the heat by a sudden, the smashing "Megashira" by Marc Marberg and Kyau & Albert gets the listener hooked again with its hot tempred sound. A really exciting love-dance of beauty and beast. After a little bit laid back sound of DJ Shah, the dutch mastermind Bart Claessen serves the dinner with his strong tech trancer basslines. Not as good as the original "Razorfish", but quite a refreshing perspective. After a line of decent uplifting tracks, he's back again with his earthquake version of "Cold Front". The sound design here is superb once again and brings frightening energy!
Closing the mix with soulful and teary trance, Evbointh's "One Wish" is really out of the world - a stand-out masterpiece that still hasn't been topped by too many - for me, it's much more great than the Kandi and Andréz version. Arriving to the end, Super8 & Tab's "Suru" is probably one of their best uplifting anthems of all time. What beauties those two TUNES are!
I can only advice with warm heart to experience this. Honestly.

Another year, another superb Anjunabeats label mix. Anjunabeats Volume 5 is first and foremost, excellent and a reflection of the evolution of the label as well as evolving sound of the trance scene. Compared to the previous 4 editions, there are a lot of changes and precedents that this edition brings in and sets. The two-disc format is retained to this day by the A&B boys, and gives them a little more room to explore the deeper side of the label -- mainly because Anjunadeep is a steadily growing label that is defining its own prog house sound. On to the music:

Disc 1:

First disc starts with some of the early Anjunadeep hits, with chunky prog house offerings from early label mainstays. Anjunadeep starts as a progressive trance label but quickly defines it sound as chunky prog house, and the first 5 tracks exemplify the two sounds. Following onto a forward-thinking Wippenberg remix (who is now producing most of Cosmic Gate's melodic techno cuts) then the more "beach" side of anjunabeats is exhibited, with some top releases from the boys, Nitrous, Ollie and SJK. Overall a good vibe, very fresh and poolside-trance energy that paves the way for a full-on trance disc 2. 4.5/5

Disc 2:

Starting with probably the most uplifting track that Maor has ever made, disc 2 goes full anjuna uplifting from the start. Uplifting trance arguably was in its heyday in the late 00s, and Anjuna were at the forefront, both in of quality and vibe. If you like anjuna uplifting from the late 00s then this mix is a masterclass. Years later it has aged relatively well, especially the middle portion, although Marc marberg always annoyed me. Lovely ending with Endre and S8&T, what quality they used to put out. 4.5/5

Top tracks:

Above & Beyond Feat. Zoë Johnston – Good For Me (Above & Beyond Club Mix)
Maor Levi - Shapes
Super8 & Tab - Suru

this is one of the most emotional and energetic voyages that A&B bring to us in he´s amazing compilations ,the both cd´s are powerfull and have the characteristic sound of anjuna beats, the beautiful melodies and the electro powerfull basses are recognizable since beginning until end. this mix is highly recomended for driving, a time for relaxation and maybe for anything that you want to do!
the most remarkable melodies for me has to be Oliver Smith – Tomahawk & Remo-con – Cold Front (Bart Claessen Remix) .

This is yet again another chapter in the anjunabeats story. I am writing about Above and Beyonds track.... buzz more than anything. This track trances and houses at the same time and is a master peice in my mind . absloutley superb, but the whole album is still a masterclass in where trance is today. Don't buy other crap these blokes are the real deal. rave on trance on keep it going. ANJUNA beats is where it's at some may say not, i like Armada to

This double-CD compilation is indicative of two things; how far Anjunabeats has come as a label and the extent of the changing sounds and influences prevalent within the trance genre.

It is a testament to the emphasis on quality that has defined the label since its inception that Anjunabeats is able to showcase high-quality and diverse trance consistently across two CDs. The general sound of Disc One is indicative of the extent to which electro influences have infiltrated both the trance and the progressive genres to create a new and exciting hybrid sound. Highlights include Chunk & Twist’s groovy ‘Battery Life’, Tranquility Base’s uncharacteristically bass-driven ‘Buzz’ and the bleeps of Jaytech’s ‘Spacelift’. Disc Two, however, provides an effective reminder that so-called ‘orthodox’ trance is very much alive and well.

Maor Levi’s ‘Shapes’ is perhaps one of the strongest indicators here of the strength of contemporary trance, conveying en-vogue characteristics such as vocal cut-ups and heavy percussion and bass in abundance. Daniel Kandi’s ‘Make Me Believe’ and Adam Nickey’s ‘Never Gone’ demonstrate that emotional melodies are as abundant as ever, whilst Above & Beyond’s resurgence continues with the airy, sublime ‘Oceanic’ and ‘Home’, their best club-friendly reinterpretation of their own material since ‘Stealing Time’. Nevertheless, the real gem for me across both CDs is Purple Mood’s ‘One Night In Tokyo’ (with DJ Cosmo); Fans of Roger Shah’s previous productions will quickly be able to detect his influence on this track, but this is something very different to Balearic-inspired beauties such as ‘Aguas Blancas’ and ‘Paradise’. Built around a gentle guitar piece and classic, melancholic piano keys, this change of musical direction may well represent his finest work so far.

For both long-time and new trance listeners, this compilation serves as an excellent snapshot in of the contemporary trends and sounds within the genre, and the best of the artists that create these sounds. Highly recommended.