After previous stop-offs in The Netherlands, Germany, the UK and Belgium, this month finds ‘Hypnotised’ - the country-by-country-hopping history of trance music - reaching American shores. There, it explores one of the genre’s lesser-told tales. The fifth album in the series is again compiled by Arjan Rietveld, author of its encyclopaedic companion book, Hypnotised: A Journey Through Trance Music 1990 – 2005.
Featuring productions from artists including Delirium, Markus Schulz, BT, Jes, Rabbit In The Moon, Sandra Collins, Deepsky, Neil Kolo & Chris Fortier’s Fade, Conjure One and many others, to a significant extent, the American trance scene evolved inside its own bubble.
Ocean-crossing breakout acts were rare, which gave the scene space to develop a distinct sound and identity – one that was driving yet linear, progressive, more tribal, and less focused on the melodic elements that dominated the European landscape. Over time, certain elements of the sound were adapted to suit the demands of the legendary U.S. desert raves in Arizona, Nevada, and California.
Through one album, nine labels and 27 tracks, the album tracks that journey, combining buried treasures with some of the genre’s most iconic works. Of possible interest to collectors, genre adherents and crate diggers alike, it’s out now through Black Hole Recordings.
© justaweemusicblog.com
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