Darshan exploded on to the scene in 1997, signing with Flying Rhino Records to become one of the hottest new acts in Goa trance. Formed by Grant Collins and Mark Robinson, Darshan was seen by many as the spiritual successors to Green Nuns of the Revolution, a legendary act that had been slowing their output in the years…

Electric Universe was originally a collaboration between German producers Boris Blenn and Michael Dressler, who left the project around 1997. One Love, their debut offering, is a cosmic collection of unpretentious analog trance and breakbreat soundscapes. Nothing here is overly complex; the arrangements are simple and straight-forward, and the production style is smooth and hypnotic, but there’s no shortage…

Valves is the second full-length album from Ololiuqui, a project led by German producer Volker König, on the now-defunct Spirit Zone Recordings. Although he is commonly overlooked I will admit to being quite a fan of his distinctive style, which typically blends funky and pumping progressive beats with sunny atmospheres and often memorable melodies. There is a strong…

Total Eclipse (Loïc Van Poucke, Serge Souque, and Stephan Holweck) were among the earliest pioneers of psychedelic trance. Along with artists like Man With No Name, Hallucinogen, Astral Projection, and Juno Reactor, they helped to define the scope of the burgeoning mid-nineties Goa trance movement. This vinyl record is perhaps their most overlooked early record; neither track received nearly…

Authentik is a French act formed by Jocelyn Jaigirdar and Stéphane Hoareau, better known from their Three Point Turn project. Appearing on the scene in 1999, they were instrumental in defining the more techno-influenced aesthetic that was to become the main focus of psychedelic trance production in the divisive years of the millennium. Preamplified is designed to showcase the…

Concept In Dance was a short-lived division of XL Recordings responsible for releasing Man With No Name’s debut album and two compilations essential for any old school Goa trance fan. Featured here is an all-star line-up of some of the biggest names in trance then and now, with stellar contributions from Simon Posford, The Infinity Project,…

Digital Alchemy is the debut compilation from Concept In Dance, one of the very first UK imprints to specialize in the emerging sound of Goa trance. It was a major release at the time, particularly since it was promoted by Paul Oakenfold, who wrote the liner notes and featured four of these songs in his legendary Goa…

TIP Orange landed in the summer of 1995, following hot on the heels of the incredible Yellow Compilation. This sophomore collection contains another strong batch of sizzling Goa trance classics: Angelic Particles, Mars Needs Women, Let There Be Light, Alien Airport, and Intellect among them. While it is much more diverse than Yellow, it is also far less consistent,…

Koxbox released World of Illusions on an obscure British label by the name of WTP (short for “Where’s The Party”) in 1993. A year later they were successfully courted by Sven Väth’s famous Harthouse label, where the group (then consisting of Frank E, Peter Candy, and Ian Ion) began to establish their reputation as one of…

Blue Room Released was founded by Simon Ghahary in 1994 to provide a “futuristic soundtrack” for the trailblazing loudspeaker company of the same name. Outside the Reactor, their first full-length release, was compiled by Mike Maguire, who remains entirely faithful to this mission. His selections trend toward the more techno-oriented side of trance music, and the overall vibe…