The Vitals:

Label: Anjunabeats
Genre: Electro-Trance/Trance
Number of Tracks: 26 (2 discs)
How to Obtain: www.cdjshop.com, www.amazon.com, www.beatport.com, iTunes

Factor Scores:

Production Quality: 8.9
Programming and Arrangement: 8.9
Entertainment Quality: 9
Total: 8.9 - Great

Drew's Take:

Anjunabeats have been at the forefront of the world of trance for a good few years now and head up the work in the UK and Europe especially. The Anjunabeats series has often been seen as the way marker of trance. Now that they're up to volume 5 and stepping up the quantity to 2 discs, I was wary of a drop in quality. Volume 3 showed more of the traditional trance side (with a hint of progressive trance at the start); volume 4 was more progressive trance than traditional trance. Volume 5 is completely different.

Disc One

Disc one features a distinct electro flavour that permeates the essences of the more progressive sounds of volume 4 throughout. The opening tracks wouldn't look out of place in a carpenter's shop with the amount of saws in them! Thumping beats and the pounding bass line punctuate the electro-influenced melodies. Progressive sounds reminiscent of volume 4 arise in the following offerings from Jaytech and Boom Jinx (who appear on volume 4) as the mix progresses into the recognisable "Anjunabeats sound". The best track of disc one is definitely "Together – Joonas Hahmo", which highlights the more elctro-housy-trance that is becoming increasingly prevalent in today's trance scene, with housy piano stabs, a jumpy electro-like bass line, and a progressive sounding lead. Disc one closes out with more traditional trance flavours from Oliver Smith, Nitrous Oxide, and Above & Beyond's own "Good for Me" (of which a great chillout track could be made!).

Disc Two

Disc two is certainly more trance than anything else. The progressive trance influences of volume 4 are still present early on, yet things progress into the more traditional anjuna sound that we would have heard on volume 3. Electro flavours resurface from disc one in "Megashira – Marc Merberg" and "Cold Front (Bart Claessen Remix) – Remo Con" interrupting the epic anjuna sound that first had me hooked on this label's releases after volume 3. Out-right trance stormers feature heavily on disc two, highlights of which being "Razorfish (Bart Claessen 2007 Rework) – Tranquillity Base" featuring Tiesto-like percussion and bass with a searing lead and "Home – Above & Beyond" with soaring vocals and a darker feel than the previous track, "Make Me Believe – Daniel Kandi", which has the anjuna sound: clean, driving, positive–and I hate to say it–uplifting!

Summary

If you're a trance lover, this is a must buy! Anjunabeats is certainly the trance label around at the moment, completely dedicated to its sound and not compromising it one bit. The "Anjunabeats" compilation series has pioneered many a career, and each instalment brings a raft of newcomers. Volume 5 is no different, so look out for future Anjuna releases from Oliver Smith, Joonas Hahmo, and Chunk & Twist and certainly more original tracks from Bart Cleassen.