Trance Recommendations September 2011

Review: Above & Beyond's Anjunabeats label has always promoted a cultured take on trance that's as influenced by classic progressive house as the repetitive pulse and epic breakdowns that the genre is most famous for. The same could be said of Finland-based production duo Super8 and Tab, whose carefully constructed Empire full-length was one of the best trance albums of 2010. Here it gets the remix treatment, with a mix of well-known names (Lange, 4 Strings, Gareth Emery) and up-and-coming producers taking it in turns to deliver similarly melodic and blissful interpretations. While there's little evidence of out-of-the-box thinking or musical curveballs, each of the reworks provides a sympathetic, floor-friendly take that fits Anjunabeats' admirable ethos.