Various - Transition Vol. 1

  • Deep cuts of early rave from scenes around the globe.
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  • Transition, a new series from the Dutch label Knekelhuis, has a specific yet open-ended focus: artists who made post-punk and EBM in the '80s turning to rave culture in the early '90s. It's loosely inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall and the fertile period of dance music that followed, which the label attributes to a new worldwide optimism. Transition Vol. 1 goes far beyond Germany, touching on acts from Canada (ADSR), Australia (Zen Paradox) and the UK (Cacophony 33), in addition to an early project from Berlin producer Burnt Friedman. It's a fascinating look at a musical era with so much more to offer than what made it into the canon. The key tune here is the A1 cut from Canadian trance duo ADSR, originally released on a 12-inch back in 1994. "Infinities Of Life" is not a cheap record, and it's easy to see why: if there's a Platonic ideal of early trance, this is it. With soaring vocals, a big acid lead and gold-leaf arpeggios, its appeal is timeless. "Say Goodbye To The Dark Place" from Zen Paradox also touches on swirling trance, while Cacophony 33 steers closer to post-punk—with its slap-bass and garbled vocals, it's the EP's bad trip moment. Drome, the duo of Burnt Friedman and Frank Hernandez, offer a trip-hop jam with a reassuring dub bassline that feels like a warm hug by comparison.
  • Tracklist
      A1 ADSR - Infinities Of Life A2 Cacophony '33' - Old Codger III B1 Drome - Hinterland, Kassler Kessel B2 Zen Paradox - Say Goodbye To The Dark Place
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