Sunday 30 December 2012

The Phil-Harmonic Podcast Episode 46 - THAT WAS 2012 - Part 2




Hello all – welcome back for part 2. Let me tell you from the off, a fantastic episode in store here. My personal top 3 tunes of 2012 are in this mix, as well as 2 very big favourites for our clubbing group, an inescapable, commercially successful club record and a final hour of relentless, full on bosh.

The door to 2013 is swinging wide open; Before we walk on through to a new year in trance, let’s first close the door on 2012. Here we have the second part of the annual review, where we start with my usual personal awards for the year. The best of the rest that 2012 had to offer. Hold onto your hats.

THE BEST OF 2012

Best House Tunes Of 2012
3. Tonite Only – Haters Gonna Hate (Nicky Romero Remix)
2. Jochen Miller – Flashback (Gregori Klosman Remix)
1. Anzo - Corridors

Best Deep/Ibizan House Tunes Of 2012
3. Sacha Robotti - The Major
2. Zeitgeist - I Dance For No Reason (Giom Remix) 
1. Adriatique - By Your Side

Best Trance Album Of 2012
Unfortunately, I can’t really do a top 3 for this award this year. I really slipped out of the loop of sorting and tagging my new albums and I’ve not really listened to any new trance artists albums this year. The one artist album I did listen to a lot though was Infected Mushroom – Army Of Mushrooms. More than deserves a mention and, if we’re stretching our trance boundaries, it deserves this award.

Best Trance/Progressive Producer of 2012
3. Markus Schulz
2. Heatbeat
1. Suncatcher

Best Trance/Progressive Label Of 2012
3. Infrasonic Recordings
2. Coldharbour Recordings
1. Enhanced Recordings

Best DJ of 2012
3. Signum
2. Armin Van Buuren
1. Sander Van Doorn

Best Podcast/Radio Show Of 2012
3. Mainstage with W&W
2. Tytanium Sessions with Sean Tyas
1. Global DJ Broadcast with Markus Schulz

Best Set Of 2012
3. Signum @ Trance Sanctuary, The Egg (November)
2. Armin Van Buuren @ The Warehouse Project, Manchester (October)
1. Sander Van Doorn @ Space, Ibiza (August)

Clubbing Highlights Of 2012
3. Above & Beyond playing the Club Mix of On My Way To Heaven @ Amnesia, Ibiza (August)
2. Signum playing Coming On Strong @ Trance Sanctuary, The Egg, London (November)
1. Sander Van Doorn playing Kangaroo @ Space, Ibiza (August)

Personal Highlight Of 2012
Visiting Bora Bora beach in Ibiza, rocking it up to house music at 7pm in the evening, the sun still shining. (Doesn’t quite top meeting Tony McGuiness last year...)

“One To Watch” In 2013
This is such a difficult one to do this year and, because there are so many worthy candidates, it deserves a few extra words. Emerging names that really deserve a mention this year are James Dymond, Philip Mayer and, of course, Photographer. But in the end, my “one to watch” goes to...

KhoMha

Right, back to the music. Another 2 and half hours of the best this year had to offer. Strap yourselves in - this one’s a bit of a belter!

THE PHIL-HARMONIC PODCAST 046 – THAT WAS 2012 – PART 2

1. Porter Robinson – Language
[April / Big Beat]
Chosen By: Steve McDonald, Sam Hind & Chris Newell

I've got to be honest and say that when this first emerged it didn't really do much for me. But by the second half of the year it was being played in so many sets that it was difficult to escape it and, more importantly, not love it. I ended up playing a mashup of it with Zedd and Andain in the podcast and the original has been chosen by no fewer than 3 people for this end of year review. Indisputably one of the biggest tunes of 2012 - quintessential even.

2. KhoMha – Vapor
[December / Coldharbour Recordings]
Chosen By: Steve McDonald

Every year there is a favourite tune that takes so long to come out it doesn't make the Year Mix. Last year it was Arty & Mat Zo – Mozart which had to wait until 2012 to make its TPHP appearance. This year it looked like it was going to be KhoMha’s savage Coldharbour romp, Vapor. But with the London move and the late mixing of this year’s review podcasts, this enormous record has slipped in at the eleventh hour. It combines brilliantly two things that are very relevant in club music at the moment – pumping Coldharbourage and one of those anthemic melodies that feature in just about every noisy, big room house record these days. The difference is, this anthemic melody is a little bit special.

3. Armin Van Buuren - We Are Here to Make Some Noise
[May / Armind]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 39
Chosen By: Sam Hind

Yet again, it was another record that I wasn’t sure about at first. Being so different from Armin’s usual style and actually pretty commercial sounding, I did my best to avoid it. But despite the commercial overtones, you can’t really deny the underlying quality of this record. Catchy, quirky, noisy, powerful and memorable. By the time I’d heard it a few times in Ibiza, I was sold. Great tune.

4. Markus Schulz & Elevation - Finish Line
[August / Armada]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 40
Position in Top 40: #10
Chosen By: Ben Williams

Another one from my Top 10 and yet more from that main man, Mr. Schulz. Obviously, very reminiscent of last year’s Rotunda with Jochen Miller, which was one of my biggest tunes of 2011. A very effective melody that Markus says people have left his gig’s humming. Not hard to see (or hear) why.

5. Bluestone – Capetown
[October / Anjunabeats]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 43 (Tune Of The Episode)
Position in Top 40: #25

A tune that is essentially built all around one cleverly manipulated ‘Lion King’-esque vocal sample. (A crude description, maybe.) Around that sample, Bluestone has constructed a truly spell-binding melody. Absolutely, one of the year’s biggest spine-tingling, tear-jerking breakdowns. Fell in love with this instantly.

6. Mike Koglin feat. LCK – Varana
[May / Captivating Sounds]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 33
Position in Top 40: #13

I remember posting this one as a favourite on the Ibiza-Spotlight forum and it got compliments even from people who don’t normally listen to trance. What sets it apart is its superb rhythmic touches. Similar to Dyno but actually a lot better.

7. Tomas Heredia - The Journey
[October / Captivating Sounds]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 44
Position in Top 40: #24

More from Captivating Sounds and captivating it is too. Fantastic bassline on this one and the riff stands out as well.

8. Cosmic Gate & Jes – Flying Blind
[April / Black Hole Recordings]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 29 (Tune Of The Episode)
Position in Top 40: #3

A real sing-along favourite that conjures vivid memories of driving home from what is now my old job. Earlier this year I would belt this vocal out as loud as I could, foot firmly to the floor. It’s just an amazing vocal and snatches 3rd place on that strength alone. Norin & Rad’s remix also featured in Requests Of The Villa Guests.

9. Craig Connelly – Robot Wars (Andrew Rayel Stadium Remix)
[March / Garuda]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 28 (Tune Of The Episode)
Position in Top 40: #2

From 3rd straight to 2nd place, here we have an utterly colossal tune. In this instance, I found it so so difficult to choose between this and the Craig Connelly original. Both are first class. In both versions it’s absolutely made by that riff which is just off-the-scale amazing. For me, the Andrew Rayel remix just gives it that extra pace and I love that added operatic vocal in the breakdown. All round just a bit more rousing. Regardless of version, this was my 2nd favourite of the entire year.

10. Heatbeat – Rocker Monster 
[January / Captivating Sounds]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 24
Position in Top 40: #34

Ask The Cat was a huge one for me in 2011 and this was an obvious follow up that I latched onto very quickly. It actually feels even more aggressive than Ask The Cat. Just typical Heatbeat. For me, also holds nice memories of one of my blurry London weekends back in January.

11. Above & Beyond feat. Richard Bedford - On My Way To Heaven (Club Mix)
[June / Anjunabeats]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 37
Position in Top 40: #22

I must admit, I’m becoming less and less excited about Above & Beyond’s club mixes, just as I am about their sets these days. I really do miss the delicate feel of the club mixes of Good For Me and Home. But as an exception to that, I love this Club Mix of On My Way To Heaven, particularly the way it drops. Was a highlight of both their sets at Brixton Academy and later at Amnesia Ibiza. I also quite specifically saved this one for Requests Of The Villa Guests in August.

12. Mr. Pit – It Is What It Is
[June / Coldharbour Recordings]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 39
Position in Top 40: #8

Many will remember Mr. Pit’s track River Of Hearts from this year. Personally I much preferred It Is What It Is on the flipside of the EP. Again, so typical of what Markus Schulz is playing these days. Great breakdown and great, original riff. Sort of an Arabian vibe going on here.

13. Arnej – Pariah
[September / Coldharbour Recordings Red]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 42
Position in Top 40: #37

Yet more Coldharbour Recordings, I’m afraid. Well, yet more bassline savagery. When I first heard this on Global DJ Broadcast I couldn't hide the smile and I couldn't help but turn it up.

14.  Fisherman & Hawkins – Nightshift
[August / Coldharbour Recordings]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 38
Position in Top 40: #27

Errr... yeah, I’ve been listening to quite a lot of Global DJ Broadcast this year. More ammunition for those big Markus Schulz sets. A duo I will be keeping an eye out for next year.

15. W&W – Moscow
[July / Mainstage Music]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 40
Chosen By: Ben Williams

A few people in our group absolutely loved this and it was obviously a big record in terms of building the excitement leading up towards seeing W&W at Warehouse Project in October. A tune that will inevitably remind me of good times in 2012. Pleasantly surprised to see this in the final ASOT Top 20 as well. I honestly didn't realise how popular it was.

16. Armin Van Buuren feat. Ana Criado - I'll Listen
 [September / Armind]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 40
Chosen By: Nish R & Steve McDonald

Another big favourite of our group. Having seen Armin twice this year this is obviously one that has soundtracked some memorable nights out. The vocal is brilliant – really well written and actually very poignant. Like last year’s Broken Down by Tritonal, something we can all relate to lyrically. Great basslines on this one too, and one that works superbly coming out of Moscow. Probably my best transition on the podcast in 2012.

17. Daniel Kandi & Ferry Tayle - Flying Blue
[July / Enhanced Recordings]
***PHIL’S TUNE OF 2012***
Featured In TPHP: Episode 38
Chosen By: Ally Auld

Despite the likes of Robot Wars, Flying Blind and Kill Of The Year, there was a very clear winner for ‘Tune Of The Year’ this year. The notion of perfection is really overused in reviewing music generally. It’s an easy hyperbole to slip into when you’re enthused by something. But genuinely, I think you would struggle to find a more perfect non-vocal trance record, from any era, than this Daniel Kandi-Ferry Tayle collaboration. Suncatcher, Daniel Kandi and Ferry Tayle are becoming a bit of a Holy Trinity in trance music production. They’re masters of keeping the music true to its roots but at the same time exceptional beautiful (– like the old Anjuna days). There is no better advert for trance music than the emotion-drenched melody in Flying Blue.

18. Adam Kancerski - Still Alive
[October / Infrasonic Recordings]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 44 (Tune Of The Episode)
Position in Top 40: #21

I enjoyed many records releases on Infrasonic and its sub-labels in 2012, hence me naming them my 3rd favourite label of this year. This was my favourite of their uptempo releases; a trancer that is me all over.

19. Gradian - Valkyrie (Philip Mayer Remix)
[July / Unearthed Records]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 38
Position in Top 40: #35

Philip Mayer was a new name for me in 2012, another burgeoning talent from Poland. Not only was this my favourite Mayer production but also my favourite (other than Flying Blue) of a raft of great trance tracks in Episode 38.

20. Fast Distance – Alpine
[June / Digital Society Recordings]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 38
Chosen By: Ally Auld

Fast Distance has dabbled in a lot of slower, progressive material recently but this trancer was in a more traditional Fast Distance style. Very powerful, sweeping breakdown in this one. I also enjoyed the Karanda version which was a welcome late addition to Episode 34.

21. Riialto - Trip To Tivoli
[January / Crystal Source Recordings]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 24
Position in Top 40: #39

Appearances from Crystal Source Recordings are getting less and less rare these days. One from the very start of the year and one that stood out in a big way when I listened back to Episode 24. A very rare key change in this one too, which some may see as cheesey, but it was refreshing to hear because it’s not been done in a while.

22. Solarstone & Aly & Fila – Fireisland (Aly & Fila Uplifting Mix)
[July / Black Hole Recordings]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 42
Chosen By: Ally Auld & Ben Dursley

Another neat meshing of two artists styles here. A very Balearic Solarstone-esque riff with the more uptempo approach of Egyptians, Aly & Fila.

23. Photographer – Airport
[October / Monster Digital]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 44
Position in Top 40: #23
Chosen By: Ally Auld

Another appearance from newcomer, Photographer. This track for me best signalled the rising from the ashes of the more uptempo end of the trance spectrum in the year 2012. It was a key feature of Armin Van Buuren’s sets later in the year which in itself showed that Armin was pushing the tempo of his sets up to accommodate 140s of this standard. I think at one point it was as high as #7 in the Beatport trance chart, which for a track of this style is very rare. A very powerful tune and it was great to see it making a massive impact on the trancefamily. Also, a nice bit of track title poetry for me in that airlines and airports are now a key feature of my new job.

24. Danyella & Cygnus X-1 – Snow Leopard (Photographer Remix)
[March / Crystal Source Recordings]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 31 (Tune Of The Episode)
Position in Top 40: #6

More Photographer here and, as good as Airport is, in my humble opinion, this was the man’s best work in 2012. I’ve charted this at position 6 and it absolutely deserves this level of recognition. Snow Leopard was, in fact, an overall great release with a number of top remixes – I played the Matt Bukovski remix in the podcast as well. But Photographer’s version just took that shining main riff and gave it a bassline from the very top shelf of pumping basslines.

25. Dart Rayne – Investigation (Trance Arts Remix)
[March / Trance All-Stars Records]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 26
Position in Top 40: #30

I’ve been a big fan of Trance Arts for some years now as he’s a producer that has had a knack for keeping his productions really euphoric in the build and drop. Generally speaking, I wasn't as impressed with him this year but this remix of Dart Rayne early on in the year was beautifully euphoric. The build up is absolutely textbook trance. Another great example of the 138+ revival.

26. Tonny Nesse & Misja Helsloot – Rise
[August / Black Hole Recordings]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 40 (Tune Of The Episode)
Position in Top 40: #9

I had a lot of tunes in last year’s That Was 2011 that were in this hyper-euphoric yet deep and melancholic style. There were fewer of them about this year, but f*ck me, this collab between Tonny Nesse and veteran Dutchman, Helsloot is a mind-blowing exponent of the form. First heard on Tytanium Sessions, this track really struck me with some emotional force. The piano in the break as the main riff builds behind it is a real ‘close your eyes and soak it up’ moment. Hugely underrated.

27. Tritonal feat Cristina Soto - Still With Me (Suncatcher’s Digitally Enhanced Outro Remix)
[October / Air Up There Recordings]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 42
Chosen By: Ally Auld & Ben Collier

Another example of Suncatcher’s ample talents; this had Mr. Collier of Room 1ne fame absolutely waxing lyrical, on his knees getting aurally f*cked. Originally a chillout track on Tritonal’s Piercing The Quiet album, the revamped version was lusciously and blissfully melodic. I thought this Outro version that was released was the ideal way to end this year’s review. Well, not just the ideal way – the only way.



And that’s it for 2012. Another podcasting year is, after a minor delay, brought to an end. As I keep saying, 2012 has just been brilliant in so many respects. There have been lows as well as highs, but I can look back on a lot of progress this year.

Nothing has epitomised that sense of progress this year better than the creative journey that my podcast has taken me on. Everything from tiny tweaks to the intro and the artwork overhaul, through to the uncovering of random acts of DJing plagiarism. This year, the creative process that leads up to the mixing of an episode became an essential part of my waking life and something I enjoyed every second of. That fact that my own standards have gone up in the process is almost a moot point in comparison. The challenge in 2013 will be to continue that amidst, what you’d hope would be, a hectic London lifestyle.

Finally, a few thank yous are due here. A huge thank you, as always, to everyone who has tuned in to TPHP this year, particularly Ben Collier, Ally Auld, Chris Newell, Sam Hind and Steve McDonald for their constant interaction via Twitter. And a special thank you to Monika Sopyte who has tried so hard to find me that elusive ‘first gig’. A couple of times in 2012 it looked like we may have found something but on both occasions it was an insistence by the promoter/DJ on obsessing about ticket sales over actual music policy that led to me reluctantly backing out. We will get there in the end, Monika, and when we do, hopefully, it’s the right gig at the right time. I’m truly grateful for the faith shown.

Last January I had a month's break from the podcast to recharge the batteries. There will be no such break this year. We had our break in December this time around, so I’ll see you back here in 2 weeks! Here’s to 2013!

Sunday 23 December 2012

The Phil-Harmonic Podcast Episode 45 - THAT WAS 2012 - Part 1




THAT WAS 2012 – PART 1

Here we are again. At the end of another year. Inevitably, the conclusion of that year signals the opportunity to review the mayhem that has ensued in trance music in the preceding 12 months.

The podcast unfortunately and, dare I say it, unusually missed a few weeks recently. Some pretty colossal changes in my life have meant that my decks haven’t been at hand in the last 5-6 weeks. But putting the podcast on ice for a while hasn't stopped me planning my usual review of the year’s trance music. And I've done my best to mirror last year’s format as much as possible. One or two tweaks here and there.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is That Was 2012. 5 hours, 2 mixes, 1 podcast! Every ‘Tune Of The Episode’ from each of this year’s 16 regular episodes, plus many favourites from friends and listeners of the show. Hopefully, this review of the year is as truly outstanding as my 2012 has been.

THAT WAS 2012

So what has 2012 been like?

On a personal level, 2012 for me has been ...well, all over the place. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster, mentally testing but full of change, growth, important life lessons and special memories. I look at this year’s That Was tracklists and see an emotionally charged year of change and contrast.

It all started with that mental month in January when I visited London 4 out of 5 weekends; a few of those weekends being among the finest I've ever had. The incredible high of all that was turned on its head immediately afterwards with the death of my grandfather at the start of February. That hit me a lot harder than I expected it would and, in all honesty, I was bit of a mess for a good few months after that. Doing the podcast was the only way I could constructively distract myself.

Later on came Ibiza 2012. In a way, the fact that Ibiza was sandwiched between some incredible and surreal goings on at either end of 2012 means that Ibiza doesn't dominate my memories of the year in the same way our trip in 2011 did. That’s not to say it wasn't memorable. It most definitely was. Sander Van Doorn at Space, Cream and Pacha will live long in the memory and my crazed antics earlier in the holiday were both fine anecdote material and striking life lessons at an important juncture in my life.

However, whereas Ibiza 2011 was a mind-blowing experience exploding at the centre of 12 months of working mundanity, Ibiza 2012 was a surreal week at the centre of 12 months of memorable goings on and seesawing emotions.

Post-Ibiza was a period of frustration and reflection. Noticing that I’d done absolutely nothing to make my New Year’s Resolution of moving out of the family home become a reality, I handed in my notice at work, packed my bags and, like a young Dick Whittington, headed for London. On reflection, it was absolutely the boldest thing I’ve ever done. If you break it down, it might have appeared downright absurd. Maybe it only seems remarkable because of the number of times I told myself moving to London would be really hard, or maybe even impossible. For once in my life I actually chased a dream and didn't care about failure.

A combination of fortunate circumstance, the incredible support of friends and positive thinking found me employed in London in just over 3 weeks; a crazy turn of events that has now handed me the opportunity to live, work and DJ in one of the most exciting cities in the world. For a lot of people around the world the Olympics will be a striking memory from 2012. Whereas for me, the phrase ‘London 2012’ now carries a much greater personal significance.

The new company I work for, Ink Global, produce a yearly in-house publication called ‘Happiness’ which gives employees the opportunity to talk about what happiness means for them and what has brought them joy in the year just passed. Sadly, only being there 4 weeks, I missed the boat in terms of getting involved in that project this year, but reading it does make you think about what it is you really want out of life. To borrow a very relevant recent phrase from trance music, there is an element of corporate “Group Therapy” that is good for the soul.

The more I live the more I appreciate that happiness is about your connection to other people. The vast majority of any unhappiness I have experienced in life can be attributed to not fostering enough of those connections, being too solitary. While the best times, particularly my days in Bristol, have been those where I've been constantly meeting new people. With that in mind, swapping an isolated market town home to 15,000 people for a sprawling metropolis of over 8 million inhabitants has me moving in a positive direction.

I don’t want to jump the gun too much because there’s still plenty of hard work and settling in to be done. But the speed of this change in my life has been remarkable and bodes well for 2013. In a weird way, my 2012 more or less ended when I left my job in Chester on the 9th of November. There was a New Year style rebirth right there and then. But a calendar year is a calendar year.

Oh, and there I haven’t even mentioned the incredible weekend that was Armin Van Buuren at Warehouse Project in Manchester, my first Trance Sanctuary party at The Egg and my cousin getting married, all in the space of a month or so around leaving my old job. Mental!

Normally, I wouldn't talk so explicitly about my personal life in a review like this. But the year’s personal triumphs and disasters have been enhanced, magnified and given meaning by a flourishing trance scene and the love that continues to flow through and from it. Feeling particularly inspired by Ink’s ‘Happiness’ book, it seems only right to talk about the back drop. I've had an amazing year; so far removed from the boredom, frustration and sense of aimlessness of late 2008 to 2010.

Life is just a series of peaks and troughs, and you don't whether you're in a trough until you're climbing out, or on a peak until you're coming down. And that's it, you know, you never know what's round the corner. But it's all good. "If you want the rainbow you've got to put up with the rain". Do you know which "philosopher" said that? Dolly Parton. And people say she's just a big pair of tits.” 
David Brent, The Office

Trance music itself has continued where it left off in 2011 in terms of being a huge part of what is a globally thriving ‘EDM scene’. EDM is a term that a lot of people are starting to associate with corporate divas and a ‘new generation’ of producers that enjoy bitching more than they do playing for crowds. EDM to me was always just an acronym that meant ‘Electronic Dance Music’; a catch all term for dance music less painful than the previous incarnation, ‘electronica’.

In 2012, it has come to refer to something wholly more unpleasant or, at the very least, anti-clubbing. Girls in high heels, champagne glasses, VIP areas, laptops, endlessly promoted festivals and artists who like their music even less than they like you.

I've continued to frequent the Ibiza-Spotlight forums this year and some interesting discussions on there have pointed out that significant sections of this EDM phenomenon have lost touch, and in some cases deliberately so, with the fundamental roots of early house music. This new breed does have an obvious relevance and is often very effective club music, but it is noticeably starting to distance itself from the values which made club culture a phenomenon in the first place. Deadmau5, who has always been a tech geek and never a loyal clubber, is the obvious example. There is a divide opening up; a separation of production wizards from the DJing old guard.

Sadly, the scene at large has suffered from an undercurrent of negativity recently. Within trance music it hasn’t been as bad, but certain things stand out to me as hopeless purists trying in vain to wrestle back the genre from the younger, more sycophantically loved up generation of trance clubbers.

A good example for me was a little moment that occurred in the middle of Armin Van Buuren’s set at Warehouse Project. I had my hands in the air and some guy came over and pointed at a badge on his t-shirt which was someone making a heart shape with their hands with a red line through it. I just causally said, "Not from me mate". Which is true - I'm not a major culprit for it. But in my head I thought, "F*ck you, you dancefloor fascist". Really can't be doing with this negativity in the genre. Telling people what they can and cannot do on a dancefloor is the antithesis of traditional clubbing/trance values.

Interestingly, from what I remember, it was Armin himself who started the trend of making heart shapes with the hands and Armin was the one this member of the dancefloor police had come to see. Good one, dumb nuts!

Armin flying back into top spot in the DJ Mag poll certainly gave the crowd a big lift that night. It was his first gig after the announcement was made. As much as I love seeing trance artists get big plaudits and recognition, I couldn't help but think looking down the list that Armin being top was a slight embarrassment. He was a bizarre shining anomaly at the top of a mess of populist, ‘here today gone tomorrow’ nonsense. This year I didn't even bother to vote because the whole thing has lost its meaning.

But those last 7 or so paragraphs are as far as my negativity for 2012 will stretch. I feel slightly privileged that I’ve lived through a number of phases of the dance scene’s evolution and many listeners of EDM and its variants don’t realise how good we’ve got it at the moment.

2012 has been another fantastic year for trance music; in particular, one for the epic peaking in Markus Schulz’s dark, aggressive Coldharbour sound (the likes of Mr. Pit, Arnej and KhoMha have made huge waves) and the noticeable resurgence of ‘proper’ 138+ uplifting trance music. There is a fresh enthusiasm in the air for darker and/or faster sounds it seems. The grip of trouse is being loosened to an extent.

The podcast itself has continued to grow and many a quieter weekend has been spent honing what is now quite a polished effort. I feel like I've got a good formula now and one I can really build on in 2013. The next step, of course, is to get some gigs here in the South of the country.

For now we shall leave it there...On with the music.

THE PHIL-HARMONIC PODCAST 045 – THAT WAS 2012 – PART 1

1. Pryda – Allein
[May / Virgin UK]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 34
Chosen By: Sam Hind

Eric Prydz has really started to carve out a niche as one of the most consistent, innovative and universally appreciated producers in electronic music and his double Pryda album and new podcast really hammered that home in 2012. Allein holds big memories for me from Sander Van Doorn’s set at Space.

2. Chris Goy – Metamorphic
[October / Lange Recordings]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 42 (Tune Of The Episode)
Position in Top 40: #18

A cracking tune from a completely unknown producer that I found whilst trawling Beatport one evening, I was really surprising I didn’t hear this in more podcasts. A belter!

3. Sander Van Doorn & Julian Jordan – Kangaroo
[August / Doorn Records]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 38
Chosen By: Ben Williams

Obvious shades of Koko in this one but a smooth progressive build and a slamming electro drop set this apart as something new and fresh. A big Ibiza record for our 2012 crew.

4. Sean Tyas – Leveled
[May / Burn The Fire]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 33

OMG! Sean Tyas doing 128s? F*ck it, Sean Tyas proves that it doesn’t matter what tempo he’s working at he has an ear for a first class melody and a rousing breakdown.

5. Solis & Sean Truby – Marina (Aaron Camz Remix)
[January / Interstate Recordings]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 27 (Tune Of The Episode)
Position in Top 40: #19

Aaron Camz was one to watch in 2012, forging a sound that was a staple of Markus Schulz’s dark, pulsating sets. This was his best work.

6. Gotye feat. Kimbra - Somebody That I Used to Know (TiĆ«sto Remix)
[April / Musical Madness]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 37 (Tune Of The Episode)
Chosen By: Cara M, Ben W & The Ibiza Group

Anyone who went to Ibiza this summer will know that the voices of Gotye and Kimbra were all over the island in various remixes, to the point of it being practically inescapable. This TiĆ«sto remix of it was absolutely indisputably our group’s ‘Tune Of Ibiza 2012’, following on from where Koko had done the collective damage the year before. I can see myself playing this one for years to come.

7. Mike Koglin vs. Genix – Dyno
[January / Anjunabeats]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 24 (Tune Of The Episode)
Position in Top 40: #26

Mike Koglin really did the business this year and this neat little collaboration with Genix exemplified his new found knack for a slamming funky drop. ‘Tune Of The Episode’ from one of my most complimented podcasts to date.

8. W&W – Invasion (ASOT 550 Anthem)
[February / A State Of Trance]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 27
Position in Top 40: #20                
Chosen By: Chris Newell

A big favourite of many trance fans this year. Chosen by two people for Request Of The Villa Guests, only narrowly pipped for ‘Tune Of The Episode’ in Episode 27 and very much A State Of Trance’s main anthem for 2012. W&W have made huge strides in the popularity stakes in 2012.

9. Markus Schulz & Dennis Sheperd - Go!
[April / Coldharbour Recordings]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 29

In my blog for Episode 29 I described this as “as clear a meshing of two artists’ styles as I’ve EVER heard”.  That assessment I absolutely stand by – you can really hear both artists in this track. Even had a few people ask me about this one when I dropped it at our ‘Pool Comp Party’ in November.

10. Quake & Rob Tissera - The Day Will Come (Heatbeat Remix)
[October / Maelstrom Records]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 40
Position in Top 40: #28

Argentina’s finest did the damage in a big way with this unexpected remix of an old 1998 classic. Quite a sparing use of that memorable vocal but, my word, that final drop is huge. Was always going to be a big one for me this, as the hard dance versions were staples for me back in 2005.

11. Super8 & Tab – Awakenings (Tritonal Remix)
[February / Anjunabeats]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 26 (Tune Of The Episode)
Position in Top 40: #33

Probably a surprising choice for Episode 26’s ‘Tune Of The Episode’ but, in the end, I was completely sold by that fresh take on Awakenings’ main riff. Very fat electro drop as well, as you would expect from the Tritonal boys. Original of this was also massive.

12. Ferry Corsten feat. Aruna - Live Forever (Shogun Remix)
[May / Flashover Recordings]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 34 (Tune Of The Episode)
Position in Top 40: #32

Despite not being so keen on the recent work of Ferry Corsten, this track alongside Aruna had one of the best vocals of 2012. Shogun providing the sick drop on the remix. Unfortunately, the mixes in and out of this one aren’t the best, putting it mildly. Slightly annoying.

13. Super8 & Tab feat. Jan Burton - Black Is Back (Classic Vocal Mix)
[May / Anjunabeats]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 37
Position in Top 40: #15

Super8 & Tab took themselves back to their more traditional sound with this ‘Classic’ mix; a fantastically smooth, spine-tingling (and slightly operatic) trancer that makes a very simple melody shine. Jan Burton’s short but soulful vocal take this onto another level.

14. Erick Strong vs. Dart Rayne – Shamballa
[July / Armada]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 33 (Tune Of The Episode)
Position in Top 40: #7

We all waited ages for this to come out but it was well worth the wait. Probably the best breakdown of 2012. Futuristic shit!

15. Wiegel Meirmans Snitker - Nova Zembla (Armin Van Buuren Remix)
[January / Armada Digital]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 28
Position in Top 40: #29

Technically speaking this came out at the very end of 2011, but it didn’t come to my attention until well into 2012 and didn’t feature in the podcast until April. This was the usual Armin magic on a haunting, operatic vocal from the theme of a Belgian-made, Dutch language film.

16. Richard Durand – Chopstick
[January / Magik Muzik]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 25
Position in Top 40: #11

This tune was downright scary; a demonic tech trancer of mammoth proportions straight from the Durand old skool. First heard listening to Schossow’s Tone Diary on my way down for one of those huge London weekends back in January.

17. Wezz Devall - Kill Of The Year (Dave Schiemann MILF Revenge Remix)
[April / Captivating Sounds]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 29
Position in Top 40: #4

Not quite Kill Of The Year, but really not far off. This absurdly titled remix from Poland’s Dawid Schiemann was a rhythmic, nasty, vengeful little number. Main riff is devastating.

18. Ashley Wallbridge feat. Elleah - Keep The Fire (Sean Tyas Remix)
[August / AVA Recordings]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 39
Position in Top 40: #14

In my humble opinion, the best vocal of 2012 (yes, better than Concrete Angel) and Sean Tyas worked some magic on this remix. A great pulsing mid-tempo trancer with a fantastic breakdown.

19. C-Systems & Bushi - Ari (Suncatcher Remix)
[July / Enhanced Recordings]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 39
Position in Top 40: #38

So many great Suncatcher releases this year; he was a man on fire. In the final shakedown for this review it was a straight choice between his remixes of At The End Of The Day and Ari. I’ve gone for the slightly more ‘traditional’, subtle feel of the operatic Ari.

20. Stonevalley – Hybrid
[January / Enhanced Recordings]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 25 (Tune Of The Episode)
Position in Top 40: #5

A very big year for 138+ trancers this year and, coming out on my 25th birthday, there were few in the uplifting bracket better than this one from Stonevalley. Enhanced shining once again. Deserves it’s Top 5 placing.

21. RAM – RAMplify
[April / Digital Society Recordings]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 30
Position in Top 40: #12

Formerly one half of Dutch hard trance outfit Bas & Ram, Ram Boon is a man whose had a hand in making some pretty impressive trancers in the last 3 or 4 years, most notably RAMsterdam in 2009. Continuing with the clever puns, RAMplify took his productions onto another level. Top draw uplifting and one of the best this year.

22. Jimmy Chou - Echoes (Johan Ekman Remix)
[April / Diverted Music]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 33
Position in Top 40: #31

With a bassline bordering on hard trance, this was absolutely one of the ballsiest 140s of 2012. Definitely my bag.

23. Abstract Vision & Elite Electronic vs. Photographer – Legion
[April / Music En Route]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 30 (Tune Of The Episode)
Position in Top 40: #17

A new name has emerged in uplifting trance in 2012, Ukrainian producer Photographer, and this was the first we heard of him; a collaboration with Abstract Vision and Electronic Elite and another great release from the month of April. A devastating bassline and a great melody.

24. Wellenrausch - Shape of Berlin (Enoh Remix) 
[April / Afterglow Records]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 30
Position in Top 40: #40

Quite a dark, moody release here and one that was a big favourite of Markus Schulz. This was my pick of the remixes mainly because of the cracking bassline and enormous final drop.

25. Gareth Emery feat. Christina Novelli – Concrete Angel (John O’Callaghan Remix)
[March / Garuda]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 28
Position in Top 40: #16

It’s been a very long time since there’s been a record in trance music that has created as much of a buzz as this one. If anything, probably a bit overplayed but, no doubt, one of the most popular trance anthems of recent years. A new ‘Big Sky’ in the making. Gareth Emery’s original was voted Tune Of The Year by A State Of Trance listeners.

26. Touchstone – Senza Fine
[February / Digitized Recordings]
Featured In TPHP: Episode 27
Position in Top 40: #36

Few producers were as prolific as Touchstone this year and this was the best of his work. Really as euphoric as trance comes.

Well, that’s it for Part 1. Plenty of tuneage to stuff down with your Turkey. Enjoy your Christmases. I will see you very shortly for Part 2.