The Phil-Harmonic Podcast Episode 40

Salutations Phil-Harmonic brethren.

Would you believe it, TPHP is back yet again. These busy weeks are swinging around with barely a moment to take breath.

In all honesty, there isn’t a lot to say this week, other than that we are continuing with the formula that made Episodes 38 and 39 my favourite back-to-back episodes of 2012 so far. Those who heard the last 2 episodes will know exactly what to expect.

We retain that ‘Coldharbour’ influence with our first forays into some of the better tracks on Markus Schulz’s new album, Scream – they are the dancefloor destroying Finish Line and the more melodic ‘minimal’ touch of Soul Seeking. There’s more Suncatcher, more Wezz Devall, more Heatbeat, more Philip Mayer, more Armin Van Buuren and another remix by Oleg Espo. All very familiar territory for my podcast at the moment.

Of those artists mentioned, the one that really jumps out is Heatbeat, who have done a very unlikely remix of a tune that was a pretty big vocal anthem for me during my hard dance years. It’s actually only through doing a little bit of research now that I realise that The Day Will Come was originally released in 1998 and is much older than the Steve Hill vs K Series version that I latched onto in 2005. Nevertheless, Heatbeat’s update brings it crashing into 2012. 

What’s new? Watch out for a new vocal single by Stoneface & Terminal, one half of Ilya Soloviev’s first release of this year and, not forgetting, Tune Of The Episode, Rise by Tonny Nesse & Misja Helsloot – an epic, melancholic trancer that I’ve been hotly anticipating for a good few months now.

Shock horror – our ‘closing oldie’ is a second helping this year from German ‘pioneers-come-misfits’, Scooter. Trance-Atlantic was a standout melodic trancer on the very confused 2005 album, Mind The Gap. How original it is is certainly up for debate – many have compared it to Active Sight’s classic Out Of Our Lives of the year before – but, as a standalone example of Scooter’s hidden potential for occasionally whipping up something really special, it’s first class.

THE PHIL-HARMONIC PODCAST EPISODE 40

1. Fast Distance - Meteor [Air Up There Recordings]

2. Stoneface & Terminal feat. Cathy Burton - Go The Distance [Adrian & Raz]

3. Markus Schulz & Elevation - Finish Line [Armada]

4. Tigran Oganezov & Burzhuy - Takeoff (Oleg Espo Remix) [Fraction Records]

5. Vincent Voort - Solitude (Hard Dub Edit) [High Contrast Nu Breed]

6. Markus Schulz - Soul Seeking [Armada]

7. Cosmic Gate - Perfect Stranger (Wezz Devall Remix) [Black Hole Recordings]

8. Quake & Rob Tissera - The Day Will Come (Heatbeat Remix) [Maelstrom Records]

9. W&W - Moscow [Mainstage Music]

10. Armin Van Buuren feat. Ana Criado - I'll Listen [Armind]

11. Andy Moor - K Ta [AVA Recordings]

12. AYDA - Legend [Alter Ego Records]

13. Leon 78 presents Northia feat. Hanna Finsen - Dare (Kaimo Kerge Remix) [Silent Shore Records]

14. Kago Pengchi - Silent Break [Unearthed Records]

15. Snatt & Vix feat. Neev Kennedy - At The End Of The Day (Suncatcher Remix) [Amsterdam Trance Records]

16. Ilya Soloviev - Downtown [Sorcery Records]

17. Sebastian Sachov - Bubbels (Philip Mayer Remix) [Music En Route]

18. Porter & Weston - The Tesla Effect [Aria Knights]

19. Matt Bowdidge & Phil Taylor - Power Cut [Mental Asylum Records]

20. Tonny Nesse & Misja Helsloot - Rise [Black Hole Recordings] <<<(Phil's Tune Of The Episode)>>>

21. Scooter - Trance-Atlantic [Sheffield Tunes]

Next up, all being well, is a final return to my Ibiza Specials. I will be reliving the magic of my Spotlight On Ibiza episode by mixing some more of the hottest records heard on the White Isle this year. Here’s hoping the suggestions of Spotlight forum members and my own DJing skills remain a winning combination.... All for now.

The Phil-Harmonic Podcast Episode 39

Greetings all,

What a two weeks it’s been.  My job has pushed me to the very brink of insanity, I’ve enjoyed a beautiful day out at the races in Chester which ended with losing expensive, uninsured personal possessions and, with very little sleep, I’ve continued drinking myself into oblivion. In fact, so tough has it been that I was close to postponing this week’s podcast altogether. But fear not – I’ve manned up and another 2 hours of epic trance has healed wounds and lifted spirits.

This week’s episode is brought to you in association with the wonders of Berocca which, after attending my cousin’s Stag Do yesterday, has hauled me over the line. I’m not good with hangovers at the best of times, but mixing with even half of one is something I find really difficult. For once, I’ve managed it with no major hiccups.

With Episode 39 we continue reviewing what has been big for me in the months of June to August. Episode 38 was more on the uptempo trance side; this one is a bit more on the tech, electro side. But there’s a little bit of everything for good measure.

The main feature of this episode has to be the influence of one Markus Schulz whose podcasts, DJ sets and label have had a big hold on me in the last 6-8 months. In fact, along with Gareth Emery and Above & Beyond, Markus is the main figure of controversy in trance at the moment, the man we are all debating about at the time of a strange and unsettling stream of negativity within the genre.  Not least his comments about how a certain level of commerciality is necessary on his brand new artist album to ensure promoters around the world keep booking him for DJ sets, have got people scratching their heads.

I’m strangely torn by Markus at the moment. As this episode of TPHP proves, I’m a big fan of most of the material his label and DJ sets are pushing at the moment. The big chunkiness of The Dark Knight, the haunting riff on Is What It Is reminiscent of Jochen Miller in his pomp and the slower yet textured euphoric sounds of a track like Release. There aren’t many DJs around pushing a better overall sound – and it’s a sound that isn’t necessarily commercial.

Yet the album Scream, while having about 5 belters on it, is a real mixed bag and one that has already been tainted by Markus’ overt admissions of deliberate commercialism. My experience of finding him in the Vista Room at Privilege train-wrecking records also didn’t go down too well.

But we’ll cut him some slack on this occasion because, as mentioned, his influence is the back bone of this fresh podcast. I’m also hoping to catch him at WHP in October to restore some more faith.

Other things to watch out for this week are nods to Ibiza 2012 in Armin Van Buuren’s We Are Here To Make Some Noise and a cheeky bit of Porter Robinson – Language in a Gabriel & Dresden mash up. Got to admit, I really didn’t understand the fuss about Language at first, but I’m starting to get it.

Our oldie to finish things up is a really special one this week and it’s one of the oldest records I’ve ever played on the show. First discovered by me at the tender age of 13 on a Ministry Of Sound Annual compilation, it’s one of those instantly recognisable trance tunes the like of which could not be equalled today even if it were attempted. Playing Veracocha’s version of Ayla in Requests Of The Villa Guests really wet my appetite for these kinds of timeless, (for me) childhood trance records.

THE PHIL-HARMONIC PODCAST EPISODE 39

1. Andain vs. Porter Robinson vs. Zedd - Language Of Promises (Gabriel & Dresden ASOT 550 Mashup) [CDR - Free Download]

2. Jaytech feat. Steve Smith - Stranger (Kyau & Albert Remix) [Anjunabeats]

3. Robbie Buri - Exodus [Tone Diary]

4. KhoMha - The Dark Knight [Coldharbour Red]

5. Tempo Giusto – Dive Into The Echo (Mike Koglin Remix) [Echelon]

6. Meridian - Release [Infrasonic Recordings]

7. Mr. Pit - Is What It Is [Coldharbour Recordings] <<<(Phil’s Tune Of The Episode)>>>

8. Abstract Vision & Elite Electronic - Kinetic [A State Of Trance]

9. Heatbeat – Chow Mein [Captivating Sounds]

10. Super8 & Tab - Fiesta [Anjunabeats]

11. AYDA - Galaxy (Oleg Espo Remix) [Unearthed Records]

12. Armin Van Buuren - We Are Here To Make Some Noise [Armind]

13. Sou Kanai - Oriental Wind (North State & Roby K Remix) [Infrasonic Recordings]

14. Skytech - What's Wrong? [Coldharbour Red]

15. Ashley Wallbridge feat. Elleah - Keep The Fire (Sean Tyas Remix) [AVA Recordings]

16. C-Systems & Bushi - Ari (Suncatcher Remix) [Enhanced Recordings]

17. Estigma - Deception (Mike Van Fabio & Araya Remix) [Diverted Music]

18. Ronny K. presents Advanced - Osiris (Touchstone Remix) [Defcon Recordings]

19. Terrafusion vs. Facade - Beyond (Philip Mayer Remix) [Unearthed Records]

20. Full Tilt feat. Katrina Noorbergen - Letting Go (Jorn van Deynhoven Remix) [Subculture]

21. Simon Patterson - Within [Night Vision]

22. Ralph Fridge - Angel (Club Mix) [Incentive]

All for now, kids. Not sure what I’m going to do for Episode 40 but, either way, I’ll be back in 2 weeks.