Monday Choon: Above & Beyond and Malou - Letting Go (Rinzen Remix)

Originally released in July, ‘Letting Go' was the first collaboration between Above & Beyond and German-Hawaiian singer-songwriter Malou, whose introspective, soulful vocals have helped define a new generation of emotive electronic music, having previously collaborated with Ben Böhmer and Nils Hoffmann on ‘Breathing. Rinzen, the cinematic techno innovator from Los Angeles, offers a moody, spacious remix that builds a slow-burning energy while preserving the track's emotional core. “It’s honestly a surreal feeling to remix Above & Beyond,” says Rinzen. “I’ve been listening to their music for 15 years. I absolutely love everything Malou does as well, so it’s a big honor to put my spin on ‘Letting Go.’

Monday Choon: Kyau & Albert - Are You Fine (John Grand & Kristina Sky Remix)

 

Celebrating 25 years of the Euphonic label, Kyau & Albert have released an album filled with reworked classics including todays track, Are You Fine in the John Grand and Kristina Sky Remix. It see's a great remix of their 2006 track which was quite a club pumper and revised to today's trance levels but still maintaining that iconic sound and feel. It's a great rework and pretty fitting to be on the album, its a song that has gotten great traction over the summer festivals in Europe and has been featured on many of the weekly podcasts from many artists, including Group Therapy from Above & Beyond. So if you are fine, turn up the volume and enjoy!

Monday Choon: Above & Beyond - Prelude [Above & Beyond Future Summer Mix]

 

Above and Beyond have just celebrated 10 years of Group Therapy and in celebration of this, launched an album with the same title. Today's featured track comes from this album and is a remix of the track launched last year, Prelude. With the trio getting back into the groove of touring again, this track has come at the most perfect time as it is the type of track that gets the crowd going. It starts off with a great intro and a catch bassline which extends with some tribal vocals and piano, the drop when the two mix together, its just pure euphoria. Its nothing less than what we expect from Above & Beyond, a brilliant track from a brilliant band, enjoy!

Monday Choon: Above & Beyond feat. Richard Bedford - Thing Called Love (Oliver Heldens​ Remix)

Most of us who streamed ABGT400 last year was sad that it was not the ABGT event we learned to love over the years but the effort made by Jono, Pavo, Tony and team to ensure the fans still got to party with them was excellent. One particular track during the Above & Beyond set got many peoples attention, it was a remix of their hit track "Thing Called Love" featuring Richard Bedford, what we didn't know at the time was the person responsible for this remix. The track was released on the 9th of this month and surprise, surprise, it was none other than House DJ and Producer, Oliver Heldens! Wait what? A house music DJ remixing a trance track? Doesn't make any sense and what is even more baffling is how perfect it is? Oliver, maybe you should dabble in some trance music because if this is anything to go by, we're missing out on some potential crackers!

Monday Choon: Levitate - Fuego

Mexican DJ Levitate is on the blog this week with his latest offering Fuego. Featured on Elliptical Sun Recordings, this DJ has a recognizable sound with his fusion of Trance and Tech, which is wonderfully displayed in Fuego. The track has a big bassline which will get you going along with massive pads, and a combination of elements of electronic to give the track more substance. His music is diverse and while relatively unheard of he has shared the stage with some big names in the past, such as Paul Van Dyk, Above & Beyond as well as Armin to name a few. With his experience in the EDM scene, and producing great tracks like this, I won't be surprised if we will be hearing more of his name in the future. 

Monday Choon: Jason Ross feat Fiora – When The Night Falls (Sunny Lax Remix)

For those who are regular listeners to the Group Therapy podcasts would have heard Sunny Lax's exceptional takeover last week on ABGT381. One of the stand out songs for me was his remix of Jason Ross's "When the Night Falls" featuring Fiora. Sunny Lax has done an exceptional job on this remix, as he's enhanced the feeling of the track.  The song has such a great monotone bass line which blends with Fiora's voice so perfectly. It has mellow build ups and drops, just the right trance energy you need and one of my favourite tracks to listen to while running or training. 

Monday Choon: Fatum, Jaytech , Genix & Juddah - We're All In This Together (Above & Beyond Respray)

Sticking with the theme at the moment, which is COVID19, I don't think we can escape it actually but the guys at Above & Beyond have taken probably my favorite song of 2019 and given it a "Respray" as they put it to commemorate all the Essential working staff during this pandemic, mainly the medical sector who have it the worst at the moment, to let them know we're all thinking of them. The song is quite appropriate seeing that everyone has their part to play in fighting this pandemic, whether you're on the frontline or just sitting at home. The British trio of Jono, Pavo and Tony have tweaked the song to give is a more uplifting and somber sound but still hits that message home quite powerfully. The music video features fans, mainly the essential medical staff sending supportive messages and from the general fans giving there's as well. It's quite beautiful and moving, so turn up the volume sit back and enjoy.

Monday Choon: Myon feat. Alissa Feudo - The Darkest Light (Myon Club Mix)

When 'Perfect Ghost' was released last year, I mentioned that this duo fo Myon and Alissa Feudo could be the greatest paring of DJ and vocalist in current EDM times, they proving me right with their latest release, The Darkest Light. The synergy between the two of them is nothing short of incredible, their music just flows where it be the electronic beats from Myon to the angelic voice of Alissa. The Darkest Light follows the same symphony we used to from the pair, elegantly put together with the right about of mellowness with the gradual build up followed by the drop, it ties up to make on beautiful track. The featured track today is Myon's Club Mix, so it does have a bit faster BPM with added oomf but all in all a splendid track from Myon and Alissa, looking forward to their next colab. 

Monday Choon: Oliver Smith - Warehouse

It's a new year and we kicking off the first blog post of it on the right note. It's been one of the tracks that many have been waiting in anticipation for ever since it's debut at ABGT350 last year. Oliver Smith is no stranger to the trance world as many are familiar with his melodic trance sounds on the popular Group Therapy shows. Signed with Anjuna Beats, the UK based DJ has enlightened many with his sounds and melodies, this particular track struck a few chords with me and I'm one of the many who are very happy to see it released this past week. It's a proper track to get you in the mood for anything, great build ups, great tempo and the perfect song to kick off the new year. 

Monday Choon: Grum - Altered State

Scottish DJ Graeme Shepherd or better known as Grum released his Deep State album a few weeks ago and it features quite a few familiar tracks having them played on the various podcasts and sets this year. My pick from the lot has to be today's featured track, Altered State, it's been a firm favourite of mine since the first time I heard it on one of his live sets and when I hear it on Group Therapy the volume automatically goes up. His music is very techno infused and that's what I love about it, he doesn't scare to keep the electronic sounds flowing in his music where some tend to add house or other music genres to their work. Deep State is out for downloads on all music streaming platforms including YouTube, so give it a listen.

Monday Choon: Vintage & Morelli - Ascension

Marko Cubric, better know to those in the music world as Vintage & Morelli is Serbia's leading trance and progressive house producers. He is one of the core contributors to Silk Music, an LA based record label and has been around for some time in the music scene. He's global break through when he was featured Armin van Buuren and Paul Oakenfold on their podcasts as well as getting rave reviews on DJ Mag where he also was featured in the Top 10 column. Most recently his work was featured on Above & Beyond's weekly show, "Group Therapy", his latest offering "Ascension" has been one of those tracks that just grabs your attention and makes you want to find out, who its from, and what else he has to offer. Definitely my find of the week, give it a go!

Nikhil Prakash - Are You

This week's featured track is from LA based music producer Nikhil Prakash. I think this is the first Guji producer I've featured on the blog and it's a great pleasure to do so. I first heard about Nikhil and his work from Above & Beyond's Group Therapy podcasts and they had this song featured on their push the button segment on podcast 329. It released officially last Monday and we have it for you, nice and fresh on the blog.

Monday Choon: No Mana feat. Jessica Ess - Panic (Genix Remix)

Relatively unheard DJ and producer No Mana who is signed under the Mau5trap label popped up on the scene recently with his track 'Panic' on the Anjunabeats label. It was a track that got my attention immediately as it was fresh, something new with a great style and melody. Obviously I wasn't the only one that liked it as it gained popularity very quickly and UK based DJ Genix decided to give it his own unique remix treatment and the result is something quite literally mind blowing. There;'s not enough I can say about this track apart from you might be hearing it quite often if you're a big trance junkie like myself.

Monday Choon: ALPHA 9 feat. Kameron Alexander - Before The Dawn

I listen to many podcasts and of recent have really been enjoying Group Therapy by Above & Beyond, not sure if its the type of music they play which appeals for the mature trance fans but either way they have been playing some great stuff of recent. Like today's featured track really caught me, it's by Alpha 9 who I haven't heard of before but there was something about the track that seemed familiar with the tone and flow, and when I did some digging I found out that the man behind Alpha 9 is none other that Russian DJ and producer Arty. This kid has been one of my favourite DJ's since I started listening to ASOT, he sort of went quiet for a few years but is slowly starting to resurface again and honestly loving the work he's doing with this Alpha 9 alias. His sound has definitely matured a lot since when I used to listen to him and it's only for the better. Here is 'Before The Dawn' featuring vocals from Kameron Alexander.

Monday Choon: Above & Beyond feat. Marty Longstaff - Flying by Candlelight

English DJ trio Above & Beyond are getting ready for a long overdue visit to our shores in March has they headline Ultra South Africa and while many of us are massive fans of their previous work, it's good to see Jono, Pavo and Tony releasing some new music ahead of their tour. Today's featured track is "Flying by Candlelight" and features the vocals of Marty Longstaff. Tipped as a future club classic, this track will be featured on their upcoming album Common Ground Companion. It's a track that resonates well with their style of music, trance and uplifting beats, it's what they're good at and why we keep coming back for more. Catch Above & Beyond live at Ultra South Africa, on the 1st of March in Cape Town at the Ostrich Farm and on the 2nd of March in Johannesburg, at the Nasrec Expo Centre. 

Monday Choon: Above & Beyond feat Zoë Johnston - We're All We Need (ilan Bluestone Remix)

In celebrationn of ABGT200 which was held in the Ziggo Dome last weekend in the Netherlands, todays featured track is a remix of their single "We're all we need" which was released last year on their Anjunabeats label. Done by Ilan Bluestone, who  has done quite number of remixes of their tracks for ABGT200 but not many have been releaased yet. I actually wanted to feature another remix of his but its not out yet so we're going to have to wait for that one but this one is equally good even though it's over a year old. 

Monday Choon: Above & Beyond feat. Gemma Hayes - Counting Down The Days

Its a moody start to the week and generally everyone is on a low after the weekend so today's featured track is the new one Above & Beyond which comes off their latest album "We all we need". Featuring the soothing vocals of Gemma Hayes, the song remains uplifting and has the mellow beats we're used to from the trance legends. The official music video was just released 2 days ago as well. 

                    

Monday Choon: Talemono vs. Above & Beyond - Overload vs. We're All We Need (Armin van Buuren Mashup)

We're being spoilt in South Africa of recent when it comes to the calibre of EDM artists that are visiting our shores, shortly after Ultra South Africa, Showtek graced us just last week and this week saw Above & Beyond play out to sell out shows in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. There's no doubting that A&B are one of the biggest names in Trance Music for the past 5 years, whether its classics like Sun and Moon or their live, unplugged concert in Porchester Hall, the Swedish Group have gathered a world wide following. Their weekly podcast, Above & Beyond Group Therapy (ABGT) has also grown in leaps as their 100th episode was celebrated at a sell out show in Madisson Square Gardens. This weeks choon is a mash up of their hit song "We're all we need" with Talemono's Overload, done by none other than himself, Armin van Buuren, the video is taken from his ASOT700 in Utrecht.