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Features Introducing NEM3SI$’s new label Infinite Resistance! Mindbenderz talk ‘Lord of the Rings’ and fishing, as well as the creation of their new album ‘Celestial Gateway’! Iono-Music artists One Function, Eliyahu, Invisible Reality and Dual Vision talk Robert Miles, kids, dogs and vinyl, while we chat about their current releases! Luke&Flex talk influences, the Irish rave scene, why Flex wears a mask and Play Hard, their new EP out now on Onhcet Repbulik Xtreme! Lyktum expands on his new album ‘Home’ – talking about his love of storytelling, creating new harmonies and the concept behind his musical works. Pan talks getting caught short crossing the Sahara, acid eyeballs and tells us Trance is the Answer, plus shares his thoughts on his latest release 'Beyond the Horizon' - all from a beach in Spain! Miss C chats about living with the KLF, DJing in a huge cat’s mouth, training her brain and the upcoming super-duper Superfreq Grande party at LDN East this Saturday, 16th September! NEM3SI$ - I Live for the Night – talks superficiality, psychopaths, and bittersweet success, ahead of a plethora of evocative, emotional, and passionate upcoming melodic techno releases! Psy-Sisters Spring Blast Off! We talk to DJ competition winner ROEN along with other super talents on the lineup! Blasting towards summer festivals with Bahar Canca ahead of Psy-Sisters Spring Blast! Shyisma talks parties, UFO's, and Shotokan Karate ahead of his upcoming album 'Particles' on Iono-Music! SOME1 talks family, acid, stage fright and wolves - ahead of his upcoming album release ‘Voyager’ on Iono-Music in February 2023! The Transmission Crew tell all and talk about their first London event on 24th February 2023! NIXIRO talks body, mind and music production ahead of his release 'Planet Impulse' on Static Movement's label - Sol Music! Turning the world into a fairy tale with Ivy Orth ahead of Tribal Village’s 10th Birthday Anniversary Presents: The World Lounge Project The Psy-Sisters chat about music, achievements, aspirations and the 10-Year Anniversary Party - 18/12/22! A decade of dance music with Daniel Lesden Earth Needs a Rebirth! Discussions with Psy-Trance Artist Numayma Taking a Journey Through Time with Domino New Techno Rising Star DKLUB talks about his debut release White Rock on Onhcet Republik! PAN expands on many things including his new album 'Hyperbolic Oxymoron' due for release on the 14th April 2022 on PsyWorld Records! Psibindi talks all things music including her new collaborative EP 'Sentient Rays' on Aphid Records, her band Sentience Machine and 10 years of Psy-Sisters! N-Kore talks Jean-Michel Jarre, unfinished tracks and fatherhood! Celebrating International Women’s Day and Ten Years of Psy-Sisters with Amaluna A Catch Up with John Phantasm ahead of his upcoming set at the Tribal Village 4 Day Outdoor Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022!

A short guide to trance with Platipus Records’ Simon Berry Reported by Tom Cypher / Submitted 03-08-05 00:48 If trance music were to take on a human form, one of the first things you’d hear him (or indeed her) say would be: “Oh my, I remember when all this around here was fields…” You know why? Because it’s been on this planet for ages. Perhaps one of the oldest forms of dance music alongside house, techno and hardcore, trance’s routes run deeper than the final destination of Jules Vernes’ 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. Anyway, enough of the crap similies, following years of indeti-kit trance releases since the late 90s we decided to go straight to the source and find out from UK trance pioneer Simon Berry AKA Art Of Trance and head honco of seminal trance label Platipus Records to find out just what is up in the world of trance today... Simon Berry AKA Art Of Trance has been involved in trance from the very early days, having been inspired by legendary London clubs Troll & Chemistry when tracks such as Hardfloor’s mind bending ‘Acsperience’ were staple parts of the evening. Simon Berry, then a young rave magazine ad salesman produced the ‘Deeper Than Deep’ EP in his bedsit located next to a brothel in Soho which kick started the label by finding its way into the record bags of luminaries such as Carl Cox, Darren Emerson and Charlie Hall. When Carl Cox offered to remix the track it smashed into No. 34 in the national charts and kick started Platipus as one of the labels to watch. Since then Art Of Trance has released plenty more timeless singles including ‘Two Full Moons And A Trout’ (alongside Claudio Guisanni) as Union Jack, his debut album ‘Wildlife On One’ sold over 30,000 copies world wide and his 1999 release ‘Madagascar’ is one of the biggest trance records of all time. We caught up with him on route to the dentists… Platipus Records’ Head of A&R Simon Berry HF: In your opinion, what are the three best trance tracks of all time and what makes them so special? I’m afraid it’s going to be tricky to narrow it down to three, so it’s going to have to be a top 5 as leaving out any one of these out would simply be an injustice: First choice has to be ‘Hardtrance Acperience’ by Hardfloor. So many of its individual production elements were groundbreaking. The build up was like nothing I’d heard before in a trance production. In the right conditions, the effect on the floor was devestating. The 3 times 303 lines, the dark hi-hats... the snare rolls (it was the 1st trance track to use them). I could go on and on... Secondly, The Martian (aka Underground Resistance) ‘Stardancer’ — in my opinion Jeff Mills’ finest moment — awesome 303 Bassline, flange-soaked keys, just an uber cool track. Originally released in ’93 as a B side and it still sounds fresh 12 years on! Capricorn ‘20 Hz’ — sounds like nothing else! One of the most dynamically challenging trance records I’ve ever heard. Beautiful little bell line too. Those drum sounds could potentially destroy a sound system if played too loud, but at the same time it sounds fantastic played quiet on a beach. Vapourspace ‘Gravitational Arch Of 10’ — a completely unique sounding track. It has cinematic lead line, a big punchy sound and great production from Mark Gage. And lastly Joey Beltram's ‘Energy Flash’ — an obvious choice I know, but baring in mind it was released in 1990 you can’t knock it. Another cracking bass line. I also love the Oscar synth's ‘wow’s’ too. HF: What do you look for in a release before you sign it? The first few seconds of listening reveals the level of production which is largely dependent on the quality of the sounds used. Identity of the track is really important to me — I tend to go for things with strong hooky effects or characteristic sounds or melodically thematic that make it rememberable, which is essential in order to stand out from the rest. HF: It seems as if today’s market is swamped with commercial trance-by-numbers releases. What is your opinion of this and what tips would you offer aspiring producers?? I completely agree — it’s a real shame as it's effecting the scene and giving it a bad name. I couldn’t even use the word ‘trance’ in the title of the new Tales Of The Unexpected compilation we've just done as it's got such negative connotations. It's such a shame when people judge things like this on the surface without being aware of the quality stuff that’s hidden under the mass produced fodder. The obvious recommendation to producers would be just do something that sounds different, unique, make it stand out, then send it my way! HF: Platipus is one of the first trance imprints, what has been the key to your success? I suppose it’s down to minimal compromise on the music I’ve produced or signed. Simply, no fillers! I've never put a release out just because the artist had a great profile and their last release was a big success. It’s all down to the quality of the track itself. HF: What three releases from the back catalogue would you say are the ‘definitive’ Platipus releases? 1: Union Jack — ‘Two Full Moons’ — we're just planning remixes of it at the moment to come out at the end of the year. 2: Art Of Trance — ‘Madagascar’ 3: LSG — ‘Hidden Sun Of Venus’ HF: Who do you rate production-wise at present? James Holden is producing some great stuff. Ulrich Schnauss is in a league of his own too. The last Syntax album was a fantastic production — it should have got far more recognition than it did. I’ve always rated Royksopp, and their 2nd album was another great production. I love Luke Chable's production in his remix of Terry Grant's ‘I'll Kill You’. That’s why I asked him to Remix ‘Two Full Moons & A Trout’. My new mix album Tales Of The Unexpected is basically a round up all the best productions I've heard in the last few months and includes productions by Chable and Holden. HF: You’ve been at the forefront of trance since it’s inception in the early 90s, what is next for the label? I’ve spent the last few months absorbing Down tempo stuff — sourcing tracks for The Art Of Chill 2 compilation. It's been a really educational experience as there’s so much stuff out there. I’ve got chosen some great tracks though and it's going to sound very different to the 1st one — much better I think. Jon Hopkins is mixing it. He’s a name to watch out for. He's only 21 and he’s already co-produced a track on Brian eno's latest album. I’m not sure what’s next on the singles front for Platipus. We’re taking a bit of a breather on the singles release front — finding unsigned tracks/productions of a high quality isn’t easy so I'd rather put out nothing at all for 3 months than compromise things. HF: What can we expect now from Art Of Trance? When things are a bit less hectic, I’m definitely planning to write some new Art Of Trance material. possibly collaborating with some interesting people too. Well, thanks very much Simon for your time and good luck in the future with all Platipus related activities. Tales Of The Unexpected mixed by Art Of Trance is out now on Platipus Records for more info visit www.platipus.com Share this :: : : : Follow HarderFaster :: Other Features By Tom Cypher: Perfect Stranger Takes a Leap of Faith With His New Album Marco Scherer's Patchwork 17 Lee Mortimer goes Loopy. My Digital Enemy Studio Talk with Organ Donors The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable. Comments: From: Daf on 3rd Aug 2005 12:47.41 I WANT MORE UNION JACK ALBUMS! He he It's been one of my favourite albums for YEARS. A mp3 success story - downloaded un-licensed mp3's but loved it so much I bought the album. Gorgeous mix of chilled trance but uplifting enough too. Would love if there was more. From: ~deleted1390 on 3rd Aug 2005 18:17.28 Fantastic label. Look forward to hearing some new Art of Trance stuff as well. From: Stakker on 3rd Aug 2005 19:45.31 Dude. From: Darz on 5th Aug 2005 18:04.38 Madagascar - what a TUNE!!!!!!!!!! From: AlienPsyTing on 13th Aug 2005 23:21.59 Add your comments here ! originality? MCPS? From: Ian Edwards on 17th Aug 2005 10:36.33 born to synthasize... wicked. well done

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