Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of trance. We’re almost halfway done with the year, and boy has it been another excellent year so far for the trance scene. Some great releases so far, including Los Angeles ’12 and A State of Trance 2012 from my prior reviews. And we still have some releases to look forward to in the remaining half, including BT’s follow-up to “This Binary Universe” titled “If the Stars are Eternal so are You and I,” BT’s follow-up to “These Hopeful Machines,” currently untitled, Anjunabeats Volume 10, Eco’s new mix compilation, and of course A State of Trance Yearmix 2012. But it’s the summer, which means it is time for another installment of one of the better known and longer running trance compilations: In Search of Sunrise.

For some of our newer and/or younger listeners out there, I’ll provide a brief overview of the series. In Search of Sunrise first hit the shelves in late 1999 by the trance legend DJ Tiesto. For Tiesto, this was his chance to showcase a mix compilation that was studio recorded. At the time of this release, he had previously released 4 albums in his Magik series, which are all recorded-live compilations (it’s the same thing as the difference between ASOT and Universal Religion for Armin). The first release is still hailed as the best compilation from the In Search of Sunrise (ISOS) series, featuring hits such as “The Reachers of Civilization” by York, Gouryella’s “Walhalla,” and BT’s “Mercury and Solace.” Tiesto released a follow-up the following year, titled In Search of Sunrise 2. Since then, he released a further 5 compilations under this series. With ISOS 3 in 2002, he started the convention of naming a country/city as the inspiration for the mix (similar to Markus’ City Series), starting with Panama. ISOS 4: Latin America in 2005 was the first to featuring a Double CD Compilation which has been standard since. Los Angeles, Ibiza, and Asia came in quick succession every year since ISOS 4.

After no new compilation in 2009 (most likely due to his work on his Kaleidoscope artist album), it was announced that Tiesto would be leaving Black Hole Recordings and thus leaving the ISOS Compilation. While saddening to many trance fans, it wasn’t a huge shocker as Tiesto had started transitioning to his mainstream progressive house sounds that he continues to play to this day. As Black Hole Recordings still owned the rights to the compilations, they enlisted Richard Durand to take over. Richard’s first release in 2010 was ISOS 8: South Africa, following up with India the following year.

Before going further, I should explain the significance of this compilation series. Since its inception, Tiesto and Richard Durand have strived to combine not only the latest hits, but perhaps more unknown artists in albums that bring you back to summer nights, to sunrise parties, and to soothing atmospheres. Even the CDs within the double compilations had diverse feelings. For example, ISOS 7 CD1 had more of the mainstream vocal trance, while CD2 remained vocal free and was set at a higher BPM to match some of the lesser known, but spectacular, artists. Short to the point: In Search of Sunrise albums have always been spectacular for summer listens. I myself have taken many long road journeys with them on blast. And unlike ASOT or Anjunabeats compilations where every song is released on their label within 6 months, you don’t necessarily see these songs outside of the ISOS label. Which to me makes it even more special. So yes, In Search of Sunrise has a special place in my heart and is the compilation series that I’ve listened to the longest. In fact, ISOS 5: Los Angeles was my first trance purchase (on a whim) and was responsible for my introduction into the trance music scene. Don’t worry though, while I’ll admit bias in this review, I try my best to be objective.

Anyway, all of this brings us to 2012, where the 10th release of the In Search of Sunrise Compilation is being released, this time set in Australia. I’ve said in my previous reviews that ISOS is one of my “I’ll listen to this regardless if it’s good or bad” CDs as I’ve always had a personal connection with the compilations. While I started listening to these in 2006 with ISOS 5, I have bought and listened to all of the series many times over. Since then, it’s been pretty consistent high praise for this series. I will admit one has to look at ISOS 1-3 in the view of Epic Trance, ISOS 4-7 in the view of the transition to Dutch trance (with 7 including more mainstream hits by Tiesto), and Richard’s contributions in a different light than Tiesto (different DJs have different styles). Still, I’ve enjoyed each compilation for diverse reasons, but they’ve been splendid nonetheless. Last year’s ISOS 9 had some particularly good tunes, including Zoo Brazil’s “Hold Me Tight,” Richard Durand’s “Run To You,” and DNS Project’s “In The Air.”

The tracklist for this year included the standards. We have Mike Saint-Jules, Richard Durand, JPL, Sunny Lax, and Marc Simz providing tunes. We also see contributions from Super8 & Tab again alongside Orjan Nilsen. My first impression is that many of the songs (and even some of the artists) I had not heard yet, which is pleasing. However, some of the songs that have been released (Black is Back, Miss You Paradise, Zion, and Endymion) don’t really scream ISOS vibe to me. So while hopeful, I was expecting to be let down at some points during my journey.

One of the nice things that Black Hole Recordings did this year in celebration of the 10th release is hold a mix contest, where anyone could submit their mix of past ISOS songs to be featured on a third CD. Thomas Mengel from Aarhus, Denmark won with the best mix. Since these were past ISOS songs, I obviously knew every song on the list. I’ll still review the mix like the first 2 CDs, but with a twist. Further, I will provide ratings and commentary as usual for all 3 CDs. However, the third CD I will look at it as a stand-alone mix and then how true it is to a In Search of Sunrise Classics Compilation.

Anyway, I believe I’ve rambled on enough. If you ever have questions on ISOS History or any of the past 9 compilations, let me know. Otherwise, onwards to The Land Down Under!

CD1:

1. Richard Durand – Velvet (Intro) (6/10)

ISOS intros are suppose to be magical. The sounds of a beach, the sun rise, a light piano…something to start that drift into a 2 hour bliss. This intro comes close. It definitely has that lax feel. I’m not sure of the instrument used during this song: sounds like an aboriginal-type of flute. But it represents the downside to this intro. Credit where credit’s due: it is Australia. But it sounds similar to a foghorn (cheesy) and kills the peaceful trance I was entering with the background melody.

2. Richard Durand & Pedro Del Mar featuring Roberta Harrison – Paint The Sky (8.5/10)

Here’s a memorable tune, and we’re only two songs in! Pedro Del Mar did a few excellent songs on In Trance We Trust Recordings and Magic Island Recordings, including a remix of “Found” by Sunlounger. The singer is Roberta Harrison, who also did “Drive” with Kenneth Thomas on Anjunabeats Worldwide 03. Combine this with Mr. Durand and we get this lovely tune. The piano breakdown is beautiful. It took a few listens to get used to the vocals on this track, but I think they were nicely done. “I’ll paint the sky with memories” of this track cutting through the night air. While I’m not sure if I would have gone with a vocal off the bat, it’s not unheard of in ISOS compilations. The normal, backing melody is pleasing. Nothing standout about it, but it suits the summer mood and the vocals well. All in all, this is setting up to be a memorable track on ISOS 10. We get one of those classic, long ISOS transitions to

3. Eximinds – Sunrise 6AM (6.5/10)

Eximinds has been a roll lately. They did a nice remix of Aly & Fila’s “Coming Home” that just was released. “Summer Again” and one of my favorites, “Still Remember,” were also released within the past year. They also remixed “When The Sun” by Mr. Popov on ASOT 2012, although that track I rated 6.5/10 due to it’s averageness. Whether that was due to Alexander Popov or Eximinds, I’m not sure. Unfortunately, while some of their singles and productions have been well lately, there’s nothing stand-outish about this track. Don’t get me wrong. The breakdown is soothing. The strings majestic. It’s peaceful and relaxing. But it’s a bit too happy. It’s a bit too bland. It makes a great filler track, no doubt. But even after a few listens, I haven’t grown to like it any more. I think it will appeal to those who have a strong passion of soothing uplifters, but despite their appeal to me, this one just doesn’t cut it.

4. Danny Dove featuring Susie Ledge – Gone (7.5/10)

Our transition to this vocal was a bit rougher and a bit quicker. The vocal kicks in quick, but it needs to as this is a song under three minutes. Unfortunate as I like the longer trance songs. I’m enjoying Susie’s voice. She was the vocalist who contributed to Sean Truby’s “Supremacy” a couple winters ago. The beat has started to pick up here, and it’s quite catchy. I haven’t really heard of Danny boy here, but apparently he’s mixed in the progressive house and trance side of things. It shows, as I can catch glimps of trouse sounds mixed in with our trance music. But regardless, it’s a nice vocal. Not uplifting by any means and probably not ISOS-material (so a few points docked), but a good tune. Biggest complaint here is the length: it’s far too short and it leaves me wanting to hear the full unmixed (or even a longer mixed version).

5. Timur Shafiev presents S00perstar – Duality (6/10)

Another quick transition as we continue to increase our beats here to Timur’s latest. I vaguely remember this Russian producers work with Andrey Vedenyov on “Conqueror,” so I am glad to see this trend of lesser-known producers being highlighted on the ISOS compilations, something that Tiesto frequently did as he progressed into his double compilations. Parts of it (around 2:33) remind me of a tune that would fit well onto A&B’s TATW. Unfortunately for trance 1.5 lovers, that does mean it does fit better into TATW’s “trance 2.0” than say Armin’s second hour tunes. It is a bit housey at times. And while it’s danceable and somewhat catchy, it’s a bit too basic with no real breakdown. Again, we get another filler in the album, and we’re only 5 songs in.

6. Dimension featuring Arielle Maren- Letting Go (9/10)

It seems we’re doing a vocal/no vocal trade-off every two songs here. Which makes me happy to an extent, but definitely differs than, say, Markus Schulz’s style of one vocal a side on his city series. The opening transition and strings are excellent here. Arielle Maren is another smaller, but excellent vocalist, contributing onto Cardinal’s “Sink Into Me” on Enhanced. She also did a lesser known Orjan Nilsen track, “Redemption,” on his solo album in 2011. She continues her success here on this beautiful uplifter. I love the melody Dimension created here; the atmosphere is definitely one that could make it in a sunset club. It slows down a bit from S00perstar’s track that we last heard, but it’s definitely danceable. And it does make me reminisce about the older ISOS sounds from years ago, albeit with the 2012 trance sound. This is the type of track I’d love to see on hour 2 of ASOT. It’s wonderfully crafted with stunning vocals. “Surrender to all we’ve lost” and swim in all that we’ve gained with this track.

7. Mike Saint-Jules vs. Basil O’Glue – Nova Flare (6.5/10)

Ah yes, the big names after an excellent, quick transition. Mike Saint-Jules was featured on ISOS 9 while Basil O’Glue has been making a name for himself on Coldharbour, even being featured on Markus’ LA ’12. However, this track feels to be more influenced by Mr. Saint-Jules than Mr. O’Glue. I guess I’m expecting a darker sound here, and while the deep bass might pulsate, the pulsing synths are a bit annoying and a bit too cheerful. That in/out of the synths does get a bit repetitive as well as the melody, although perhaps a star’s flare would pulsate, would it not? But while the synths might be pulsing a rhythmic beat, unfortunately I am not. It’s moveable, it’s sticking with our higher beats, but there’s nothing special here. No ISOS magic.

8. Alex O’Rion – Satellites (7/10)

The only “Satellites” I like are from a group called OceanLab. That being said, I enjoyed his Jellyfish/Lush EP from a few years ago which was featured on ISOS 8. In fact, the intro does remind me a bit of “Jellyfish,” but the rest of the song is different. We’re continuing here with our more rhythmic upbeat trance music here. I guess this would qualify as an uplifter? The heavier synths and drum hits though seem to discourage this classification. It’s a catchy beat though. Unfortunately it’s continuing the trend of “nothing stand-outish about the track,” but it fits here in the mix. Whether it fits into the ISOS category is a different story.

9. Somna & Vijo Caselle featuring Sarah-Jane Neild – Without You (7.5/10)

Another unknown artist to me. But a nice vocal stunner. The piano breakdown sounds a bit Dash Berlin-ish. Sara-Jane Neild was the singer with Lost Witness on “Chasing Rainbows” and contributes some a decent set of vocals here, although at points she’s singing a bit too fast. So with the over-powering piano, it’s hard to understand what she’s actually saying. The melody itself has a end-of-night vibe to it; I could see using this song near or at the end of the set. Unfortunately, we aren’t even close to being done yet with this first side. So a nice vocal uplifter, but perhaps a bit out of place in the mix.

10. Easton – October Sun (7/10)

Again, new artists outside of my growing trance collection. Richard continues with the shorter transitions into the songs here, but I think they’re still long enough to maintain that summer vibe. Again we’re continuing with this upbeat beats here. Richard has been keeping us moving for a while now, with only short uplifting breaks to slow us down for a bit. Which I like: Richard isn’t waiting until the end or even CD2 to get us moving. The opening beats here are a bit secretive: the synths hide in the background of the drums. The breakdown is interesting. It wants to be that summer uplifter, but I think it needs tuned just a bit more to really hit the spot. Something is off with it compared to say Coast 2 Coast’s “Home” breakdown. That sweeping synth just isn’t perfect yet here. But still a nice track from Easton; works well in the middle of a mix before we start with the big name hits.

11. Super8 & Tab featuring Jan Burton – Black is Back (Classic Vocal Mix) (By itself: 9.5/10. In the mix: 7.5/10)

Speaking of….These two should need no introduction. Super8 & Tab have produced massive hits over the years, including “Helsinki Scorchin’” and remixes such as “Amsterdam” by Luminary. Cara Dillon told us that “Black is the colour of my true love’s hair.” 2Devine got us that message through Anjunabeats. Now that same label is telling us that Black is Back, and it’s better than ever. We’ve got that background piano, the strong synths. This song is classic Super8 & Tab. It’s classic Anjunabeats. The track is superb in every way. The melody, the snare, the bass. But it doesn’t capture that ISOS feeling like “Helsinki Scorchin’” did for me 6 years ago. It’s a superb song, but it doesn’t belong in an ISOS mix. It lacks that sunrise spark. But it’s a great 3AM club song. And it definitely feels a bit different from our prior uplifter from Easton. I guess I should listen to Jan, “Don’t pretend to remember.”

12. DJ San, DJ Ruby, & Marc U-Bahn – Epyx (8/10)

I won’t pretend to know any of these artists, because I don’t. I can’t tell you who contributed which sounds, and who did the heavy lifting on creation. Some of these artists have decent discog pages (DJ San was even on Black Hole Recordings), but I haven’t heard of them. So fresh artist and fresh tunes. And it’s definitely a club banger. Excellent transition from Super8 & Tab and we continue now with perhaps this dirtier and darker trance music. It’s 4AM. The club is still going. We’re still searching for sunrise, and we haven’t finished yet. I don’t want to say it’s tech-trance (it isn’t), but it has elements of it in there. The strings in the breakdown remind me for some reason of Hybrid’s “ Finished Symphony” for some reason, and I keep expecting the song to go that direction (which, by the way, if you haven’t listened to that 1997 beauty, stop reading this review and do so. I’ll wait. [….] Done? Good. Let’s continue). Coming out of the breakdown, we have the thundering bass. It’s a head-shaking, body-moving song worthy of some air time outside of ISOS, perhaps on GDJB?

13. Emma Hewitt – Miss You Paradise (Shogun Remix) (By itself: 9/10. In the mix: 7.5/10)

A familiar face and song. I was surprised to see this song on here as a) it’s been played a lot already and b) it’s not what I think of when I think of ISOS. We have a rougher transition here, as Shogun’s version of this song really doesn’t mesh well with our prior darker trance sounds from before. Let’s talk Emma first. She’s got a recognizable and excellent voice. She’s done vocals for everyone it seems, especially with Cosmic Gate and Dash Berlin. But she’s a bit overplayed I think now-a-days. And her vocals just don’t resonate with me as other trance vocalists that I enjoy. Carrie Skipper, JES, Kirsty Hawkshaw, and Jennifer Rene are just a few who I think make a bigger impact on the tracks. That being said, Emma does wonders here, and as this is her music, it’s definitely a great start from her solo artist album. Shogun on the remix definitely perfected this track here. He’s been on fire since last year. Seeing him at ASOT550:LA solidified the idea that he can definitely make it far if he keeps at it.

Anyway, the track. It’s a vocal uplifter. Cheesy but nice vocals. Great beats. Pleasing melody. Definitely something you can listen to multiple times. But not an ISOS tune. Not in this mix (already at a two strike there Mr. Durand).

14. Epos – Polarized (Roger Shah Anthem Mix) (9/10)

Don’t know who Epos is, and his Discog page isn’t much help. However, Roger Shah is a well known name here. Surprising as I’ve never seen his presence on ISOS (more ASOT and his own works), but come to think of it, why not? His summer melodies are fitting for ISOS CD1, and it’s shocking why he hasn’t been featured yet. Moving on, the intro string breakdown is quick into the song and goes on for a while. It’s a much, much needed long break from the night of dancing that we’ve had so far, and it has Roger’s touch all over it. It’s a gorgeous symphony of string and bow, fading out to a classic and somewhat familiar beat. And it quickly gets us back into our night search for the morning hours. I enjoyed this track. The ending strings sealed it, almost enough that you could have ended this CD there. I’m hoping to see more of Epos‘ work in the future, hoping this and Mr. Shah are an indicator of what is to come.

15. Craving & Howe – Heading Home (7/10)

We’ve had a lot of songs about homes recently for some reason. Aly & Fila, Skylar Grey….it’s definitely a recurring theme in music across all genres. Our transition was interesting with the fading out strings; not sure if I’m a fan of that style. Craving & Howe were the masterminds behind Yuri Kane’s “Right Back” remix. And while the title fits with its placement on the CD, the jump from the last song and it’s beautiful string symphony is out of place going into this song. It doesn’t feel like that this CD is going to end in 5 minutes as the song builds up. It feels better suited for the beginning of the mix. But it’s a decent uplifter nonetheless. It’s got the hints of a Balearic guitar in the breakdown, which I’ll admit I am biased to in my beach/summer mixes. Thankfully, we close the CD out on what is most definitely an ISOS-class tune. It’s perhaps difficult to really fully explain what makes a tune ISOS worthy, but when you hear it, you’ll know right away.

And that wraps up the first CD in our triple compilation.

CD 1 Average: 7.4/10

I think overall this was a decent first CD. There definitely were some great songs in here, and Richard knows how to keep the beats moving throughout the tracklist. But there were a few songs that were out of place. A few songs that just didn’t capture that ISOS magic. And a few songs that are best classified as fillers. So while it was a good mix, I think it does fall a bit short of last year’s CD1 or even ISOS8. On the plus side, lots of new artists for me, a staple of the ISOS series.

Corker:

These are the great moments in CD1. You’ll notice that Emma Hewitt & Super8 & Tab aren’t on this list despite their individual song ratings. Unfortunately, as I’m judging the highlights of the overall mix (and they fell short), they are omitted.

Richard Durand & Pedro Del Mar featuring Roberta Harrison – Paint The Sky (8.5/10) – This was a great tune after the intro to start us off on CD1. Definitely a hit single in the months to come.

Dimension featuring Arielle Maren- Letting Go (9/10) – Loved the vocals on this one

Epos – Polarized (Roger Shah Anthem Mix) (9/10) – The strings! They magic of Roger Shah! I hope to hear more of Epos in the coming years, because this duo was perfection.

Crikey:

Richard Durand – Velvet (Intro) (6/10) – Foghorns/Aboriginal Flutes don’t work in Skrillex remixes. They don’t work in Armin’s side Euro 2012 Noise Projects. They don’t work here.

Timur Shafiev presents S00perstar – Duality (6/10) – Great song for TATW. Which is Trance 2.0. Which is trouse. Which is why I buy Anjunabeats and Anjunadeep compilations. Which is not why I buy ISOS compilations.

On to CD2!

1. Richard Durand – Paradise (Intro) (8/10)

So the intro to CD2 should set the tone for the more upbeat section of the compilation. We have the classic synth plucks and soothing strings in the background, overlayed with an electric piano. It’s a happy intro. Like CD1, Richard doesn’t spend 3 minutes with strings building up alone; his intros develop into their main pitch quickly and transition within two minutes to the next song. Overall, I liked this intro. Basic, but a bit catchy. Richard also transitions nicely to the next song:

2. Zoo Brazil featuring Rasmus Kellerman – My Life (6.5/10)

I’ve always enjoyed a good Zoo Brazil song on the ISOS compilations, my favorite being “Crossroads” on ISOS7. But here they fall a bit short. It’s a nice vocal. Rasmus Kellerman sounds a bit at the beginning like he belongs with Empire of the Sun’s vocal team. The melody is a bit different from Zoo Brazil’s past. It’s ok, but doesn’t really stand out. “Why are we running away from this life?” Perhaps a better question for Zoo Brazil is “Why are we running away from our past sounds?”

3. JPL – Frolic (8.5/10)

Yes, this is what we need to get our second CD going. A beautiful beat from JPL is keeping us on our way. I love the sounds of the breakdown here. It’s definitely that summer vibe clashed with some old ISOS magic. It’s a bit shorter than I would like, but it’s a good uplifter, with the classic synth piano, drums, and beat. I could sit back and watch the waves crash in all day with this on my headphones.

4. Betsie Larkin with Bjorn Akesson – Let it Shine (Walsh & McAuley Remix) (6/10)

Betsie Larkin shouldn’t be a stranger to anyone, especially with hits such as “You Belong to Me.” Walsh & McAuley have also been around for a bit, including tunes on Magic Island Records and Touchstone Recordings. Vocals start early here. We have the classic sounds of Betsie protruding about the basic uplifting beats from Bjorn Akesson. Unfortunately, Betsie isn’t offering anything new here with her voice. It sounds and feels like any one of her other productions, just with new words. And the soft background electric piano can’t save the melody either: again, nothing remarkable about it. It’s soothing, but while there are trance songs that are enhanced by vocals, here the vocals are enhanced by the melody. Dub mix would be uneventful. Whether this is the doing of Bjorn Akesson or Walsh & McAuley, I’m not sure. But I’ve heard great productions from those two before, so I’m a bit disappointed here.

5. Sunny Lax – Maono (7.5/10)

I had high expectations from this song. Sunny Lax is responsible for some great tunes: “P.U.M.A”, the remix of “New Dawn,” and my favorite from Anjunabeats Volume 9: Contrast. This definitely has the classic Sunny touch on the record. The uplifting strings. The soothing drums. A female ‘oooo’ in the background to progress the beat along. I think it fits in ok in this ISOS compilation. I’m not sure how much Sunny Lax shares in common with other ISOS artists, but “Viva La Revolucion” wasn’t bad last year on ISOS9. My only complaint is it’s a bit repetitive at times. And from knowing some of Sunny Lax’s earlier works, I think it falls a bit short of the capabilities of this producer. For instance, “Contrast” was definitely superior to this work. So it’s a great uplifting filler as we move along, but nothing more.

6. Richard Durand – In Motion (6.5/10)

As expected, we have our Richard Durand main track on this side of the album. A good transition from Sunny Lax as our beats pick up a few notches. Richard is definitely taking us deeper into the night with this song. It’s good some good leads and synths mixed into it’s 4/4 beat, although the first part of the song seems to be building up to its climax for quite a while. And when it does reach its crescendo, it’s not jaw-dropping as you were led to believe. It’s not a complex beat, but it works for the atmosphere Durand created with this song. However, for a song titled “In Motion,” I would expect it to move me just a bit more than it did. So surprisingly, while one would expect the creator of this album to have the focus and highlight of the be side to be on his new single, the truth is: it isn’t. It’s unmemorable and forgettable as we transition to our next song.

7. Karanda – Titan (8/10)

Good, long transition here. The first few notes remind me of something that Boards of Canada would do, minus the backing drum beat. Karanda’s been around on a couple of known record labels, including AVA and Coldharbour, but to me is still relatively unknown. 1:28 we go from our buildup (which would make a great intro mix if fiddled with) to our main beat. I like the repeating melody that just hides a bit in the background. It’s mysterious, urging you to keep dancing to discover its secret. The breakdown reveals it’s treasure: a melody that washes you away into the night. The beat coming out feels a bit Arty-ish, but better. It’s seems a bit drawn out at the end, but it’s a great moving tune. Not too happy, not too dark. Somewhat uplifting, but progressive in nature.

8. Norin & Rad – Zion (6.5/10)

For any Anjuna listener, this duo should not be a stranger to your ears. “Bloom” on Anjunabeats Volume 9 and their remix of “In and Out of Phase” should be familiar. The sister track, “Pistol Whip,” is featured on Anjuna Worldwide 04. Unfortunately, this is where I have issues with this track. We’ve gone from ISOS to TATW, which should be completely separate. It’s a bit house-ier from our last track, but does manage to keep the beats flowing. It follows a classic Norin & Rad sound, which means if you aren’t a fan of their prior work, you won’t be a fan here. The breakdown incorporates their standard piano and background female vocal. Their beats have that progressive house/trance vibe to them. In short, it’s TATW cookie cutter formula for their Trance 2.0. Which while not bad, doesn’t fit in with an ISOS theme for me. Plus, there’s nothing about the track that really captures your attention or draws you in. The rising synths at 3:40 actually detract you from connecting with the song (it’s so over-done anyway). In short, if Zion is the last human mecca after the machines take over and place us in the Matrix, I don’t want this to be the theme song. Give me some Cass & Slide instead.

9. Venaccio – Aura (7/10)

Quick transition into our next song. The beats have slowed a bit. We’re going a bit softer here, which is odd for CD2 (I’ve always pictured it as the dancier side of the ISOS compilations). But they kick back up quickly. Interestingly, Venaccio made his mark remixing Tiesto’s “Louder Than Boom” and is more progressive house than trance. You just get hints of that here, though. The breakdown, though, is minimal, interrupting the high snares briefly. It’s a catchy simple tune. But I think it’s one of those filler songs that you’ll soon forget.

10. Alex O’Rion – Blueprint (8.5/10)

Our second O’Rion song in this compilation. The intro to this song definitely sets the mood up for the later night. It’s darker, the drum hits are coming at us faster now. It forces your body to move without control. Wasn’t a fan of the stutter that he’s employing early on around a minute in, as it detracts a bit from the otherwise deep melody. The heavy bass is interrupted by the high keys of the electric piano, but only for a brief moment. So if you’re expecting some breakdown to help catch your breath from the moving lights, look elsewhere. Richard has made us pick up our pace as we go towards

11. Dart Rayne – Four Steps to Eternity (8/10)

So Mr. Rayne has had a fair amount of releases and had collaborated on LA ’12 with one of the hits on CD1: Shamballa. So again, high expectations going into this track, as I was hoping to keep the beats up and the mood dark. We might be approaching sunrise, but the bottles are still flowing, the club still moving, the DJ still on fire. The first minute we build up with a basic beat, but definitely feeling a Coldharbour touch throughout. Which might be a great thing if you love that music, but if you want the ISOS touch, you’ll have to look elsewhere. The breakdown has backgrounds of kids playing, which for some reason reminds me of Eco’s “Kids of New York.” The beat drops off, and all we hear are kids and strings. Coming out, the dirty synth and deep drum hits. Excellent combination here by Dart, with the beats kickup up in the second half of the song here. I’m glad to see Dart is continuing his success from earlier this year with his contribution to Markus Schulz, and hopefully we’ll hear more from him as the year progresses.

12. David Broaders – Somewhere Special (Terry Da Libra Remix) (8/10)

We have a newer artist here, as David only has one release so far on Enhanced. The dark trance that we’ve been experiencing the past few songs is gone now, but we still have some higher beats playing in the background. We’re going back to our summer uplifter now. Pulsing strings and synths in the background overshadowed by a strong drum kit and main melody flow through the air. It’s 4AM in the morning, and the night is coming to an end. After the past few songs of the heavy beats, we get our much needed breakdown here. Soft-tuned piano pierces the silence. Arms stay up in the air, victorious in their quest throughout the night. But our moment of relaxation is short lived, as the background kicks things into focus. Due to it’s length here (almost 7 minutes), it becomes a bit repetitive at the end, but it’s a very nice uplifter as we start progressing to the end of CD2.

13. Orjan Nilsen – Endymion (By itself: 9/10. In the mix: 6.5/10)

We get a very nice transition to Orjan Nilsen, who, based on the amount of Armada love he gets, should be very familiar. I enjoy how this song starts out, but as we get past the minute mark, it goes into the deeper, more recognizable Orjan sound. Which for in the club is perfect. Sticking it on CD2 of ASOT would be brilliant. But it’s too techy/dark to be on an ISOS compilation. And all of this can be discerned even before the breakdown. When the music fades away, we get a nice synth-phony before the main Endymion beat. It’s definitely a catchy tune with its synth hits. It’s a kick in the rear to keep you moving as the night moves on, as your energy level slowly fades from the long night. But our search is not over yet. Ultimately, though, while this song is definitely excellent for kicking an Amp of energy into your system, unfortunately, this song falls into the category of ‘good by itself, poor in the mix’ as it is the complete opposite of what I would expect in a Sunrise compilation.

14. Mark Bester – Reflected (7/10)

We have a good transition into our next-to-last song. We’re continuing on this heavy hitting trance music; the last uplifter seems like ages ago. But when you are growing weary of the night at 5AM, it’s what you need to keep you going for that last hour. The backing melody here seems cut/paste; sounds familiar to many other songs in its sub-genre. The breakdown happens early in the track before we even hit two minutes. I actually am enjoying the pads penetrate through the background with the wavering leads/synths kicking us into the distorted part of the melody. We’ve dropped everything but the synths now. Mark starts putting in the drum kick and snares, finally pulling back in the entire 4/4 melody for you. The song doesn’t do anything new for me, but this producer is only 20 years old from Belarus, so hopefully we’ll see some great things from him as time goes on.

15. Marc Simz featuring Naomi Striemer – Out of Sight (Instrumental Mix) (6/10)

We’re entering the home stretch here. If you like In Trance We Trust, then Marc Simz should be very familiar with you here. I’m glad Richard Durand has picked an instrumental to end this compilation. The tune starts off big, continuing from Mark Bester’s track. The breakdown is short, but the synth that comes after it sounds very familiar. It actually sounds like something from Tiesto’s arsenal of sounds back in his trance days. Perhaps from “Forever Today?” Anyway, the tune sounds too familiar for Marc Simz to have created it all on his own. It’s also a bit heavy hitting for the final song here, and isn’t capturing the feel of a sunrise that we’ve been searching for well, but rather celebrating a sundown. It wasn’t the best choices for Richard to use to close the album, and this track would be better placed in the middle of the mix.

So, there you have it: CD2

CD2 Average: 6.8/10

So CD2 falls short of CD1 in part due to weaker songs overall. However, some of CD1 problems remain here. Some of the track choosing was poor, especially concerning order. We also have songs that have no place on an ISOS compilation. Some transitions were a bit finicky. And finally, our close to our journey was not a beautiful ISOS uplifter, but a darker, clubber tune.

Aces:

JPL – Frolic (8.5/10) – Fits well as one of the first few tracks on CD2 to get us into the ISOS summer mood. A song I could listen to at the beach all day.

Alex O’Rion – Blueprint (8.5/10) – We’d expect a body-mover like this to be near the middle during our tracklist, and indeed that is where Richard has put it. Alex did a great job getting a thumping tune to keep us going at 2AM.

Holy dooley:

Betsie Larkin with Bjorn Akesson – Let it Shine (Walsh & McAuley Remix) (6/10) – All three names here are stunning producers. But they fall short on this track. The beat is nothing spectacular. The remix falls short of Walsh & McAuley’s prior works. And Betsie doesn’t contribute anything new to your vocal choices or range.

Marc Simz featuring Naomi Striemer – Out of Sight (Instrumental Mix) (6/10) – While perhaps a good song on its own, it’s too much of a song to be used as the ending to our mix. I don’t want to be inundated with heavy and techy trance as the sun rises: I want a fitting uplifter to celebrate the end of the night. This is an area where Tiesto excelled, and where Richard still falls short.

Finally, our “ISOS Classics CD,” aka CD3.

I decided to go a bit different here. I’ll still have my ratings for each song. But I’ll also include a “mix rating.” This rating is dependent on how I feel about the song being used. That includes position in the mix, feel as we progress, and even if it should have been left out.

1. Pink Elephant – LAX (ISOS 5) (Track: 9/10. Mix: 6/10)

Regarding the track: This is an intro to a mix. Absolutely loved this when I heard it for the first time. One of the guys in the group, Javier Rodriguez, actually helped compose the intro for ISOS5 CD1 and ISOS6 CD1 as well. So as a track, I love the soft, waver in the back ground with the pulsing hits of the synth.

Regarding the mix: Seriously? Out of all the intros that ISOS has done, I don’t think this is the best. Further, I think instead of just picking a track that was done specifically as an intro, take another non-intro track and make it into one. BT’s Emergency comes to mind. I think Thomas had the opportunity to be creative here for a stunning intro, but fell back on a previously designed one.

2. Andy Duguid featuring Leah – Wasted (ISOS 7) (Track: 9.5/10. Mix: 4/10)

Regarding the track: Love Leah’s voice. This song was amazing in ISOS7, and still hits the spot here. Beautiful summer anthem. I love the repeating melody/plucks in this song. This is the song that you listen to as you watch the sunset into the ocean. Andy Duguid does have a knack for simple yet catchy tunes. Signals is also one of my favorites.

Regarding the mix: Ok transition from the intro to Duguid’s song. Not a fan of using a basic drum and then quickly having our synth hit almost 5 seconds later. Another 10 seconds and you get the buildup. Another 10 and we start hearing the main beat. This could have been definitely tailored better into the mix. All it feels like now is we went from an intro song to a separate start/beginning with the second song. That’s not how you design a 1/2 hit for the start of your mix. And again, Thomas had the opportunity to be more creative with his song selections. Yet he picks the second song in a mix following an intro as was found in ISOS7 CD1 (followed Banyan Tree’s intro). Can I say Tiesto had the better combo in ISOS5 (LAX followed by Something is Wrong) and in ISOS7 (Feel the Sun Rise followed by Wasted)? Because this falls short.

3. Jerry Ropero featuring Cozi – The Storm (Inpetto Remix) (ISOS 7) (Track: 7.5/10. Mix: 7/10)

Regarding the track: Cozi has a decent voice in this song, but it’s lyrically rare for the most part, so we don’t hear her much. Inpetto did a good job making this song a bit trancier than the more progressive house sounding tunes from Mr. Ropero. It’s a bit bland in areas and a bit repetitive. However, I still believe the song has some merits. It’s not really danceable, but we’re searching for sunrise, and the night just got started.

Regarding the mix: Definitely a better transition here than we initially had. Yes, another ISOS7 song, although this is definitely much earlier in the mix than Tiesto placed it. I actually don’t mind that. This is still a relaxing enough of a song that it isn’t completely opposite from “Wasted,” but it still starts to pick up our beats a little bit. Largest issue I have with this song: technically it violates Black Hole Recordings’ rules for entry into this competition. Yes, I believe that the winning mix should have never been allowed in the first place. Why? The version that Tiesto used in his compilation was not the Inpetto Remix in it’s full, but a custom mash of the Inpetto Remix and Dub Mix. Listen to the track in Thomas’ mix. Then listen to ISOS7, which you can find here. Notice the difference? The opening verse that Cozi sings, the “Living a dream?” Not there in Tiesto’s mix. It’s in Thomas’ mix. Technically, you were only suppose to use the mix that Tiesto used, to discourage custom mixes or alternative mixes of the same song that might be better suited to your style of mix. Anyway, pedantic, particular, nit-picky? Probably. But it did stand out to me.

4. George Acosta featuring Fisher – Beautiful (ISOS 8) (Track: 9.5/10. Mix: 6.5/10)

Regarding the track: This was one of the highlights for me in ISOS8. I love this song. Fisher’s voice on it is superb. George Acosta is making some excellent beats recently. I’m a sucker for good vocal trance, and this song hits all the right spots. Good beat, beautiful voice, and not terribly cheesy lyrics. Long drives towards the mountains as night falls are made easier with this song.

Regarding the mix: Excellent transition here. I also think this was another good choice in song selection for the album. However, two slight issues I’m seeing with its placement here. I think Beautiful is a good opener (song #2 on CD1 of ISOS8), but we’re already on song 4 here. I think the last song we started to pick up our rhythm, but this song just sets us back a notch. And we aren’t ready for an uplifting break just yet. Second issue is now we’ve just gone with three tracks in a row with vocals. It’s not unheard of in an ISOS compilation, but I think it’s nice to mix things up a bit.

5. Glenn Morrison – Contact (ISOS 6) (Track: 7/10. Mix: 6/10)

Regarding the track: Glen Morrison did an excellent job with this track. It’s very simple; nothing fancy in the arsenal here. But perhaps where it shines in this elegance is where it falls short. It’s a bit repetitive and it’s definitely not suited for the middle of a set in a club, but rather a track to blast lying out on the beach watching the waves roll in. So a bit plain? Yes. But still catchy. And I don’t find anything wrong with that.

Regarding the mix: Transition was pretty good here. Further, an excellent choice from ISOS 6. Biggest issue here is again, this is a opener on ISOS6 CD1 (track #2), just like Beautiful the track before. Which means this track, as before, fails in pushing the mix along. I don’t think it’s really suited this far into our mix, and would have been better off earlier on. Finally, I think this song is a bit repetitive. So did Tiesto apparently. So while Tiesto made sure to swing into Mr. Duguid’s single after just 3:27, Thomas makes us endure this song for almost 6 minutes. At least it’s not a vocal….

6. Kostya Veter featuring Madelin Zero – Envy (ISOS 8) (Track: 8/10. Mix: 6.5/10)

Regarding the track: I think Madelin Zero’s better work was in last year’s hit “Another Day.” I’ll admit her voice her, while beautiful, doesn’t hit me as hard as her newer works. Which I guess is a good thing: that means she is improving (always a good sign). Kostya does an excellent job with this uplifter. The piano breakdown is superb in my opinion, but I rather see it dubbed for that part. I think the constant vocals on this track detracts from the beat, and perhaps maybe this song would be that much better with the dub mix. Still though, I’m definitely envious of this song (I’m a sucker for the strings).

Regarding the mix: I wasn’t a fan of the EQ work here, but the transition was good. Quick (not a fan of quick transitions in an ISOS compilation), but good. Look, another vocal. Imagine that. As a side, I’ll admit I love vocal trance. Hardcore old trance enthusiasts right now are shooting daggers at me with their rolled eyes. But I still like non-vocal trance. One of the specialities of trance is that vocals aren’t needed. Take your average pop song. Basic 4/4 repetitive beat where we have a beat for the verse, the bridge, and the chorus. To play onto your emotions then, a song needs to have vocals that capture you. In trance, however, vocals only assist in bringing you euphoria. Which might explain why trance vocals rarely follow the set pattern in pop music. It’s the beats that trigger our emotional response with trance. Take Whitney Houston’s (may she rest in peace) “I Will Always Love You.” Powerful song. It brings tears to my eyes. Now listen to it without the lyrics. Great string work, but it lacks that emotional response. Whitney’s voice and lyrics make the song. But compare that to, say, Motorcycle’s “As The Rush Comes.” Again, a powerful, euphoric song. Now listen to it dubbed. I’d argue it still brings out that same emotional response. Perhaps not as strongly without the vocal assistance, but it remains nonetheless.

Which brings me back to this mix so far. It’s been relaying to heavily on vocal tracks to do it’s pushing, and the non-vocal tracks so far have been a bit lacking. So while the beat may be picking things up a bit (finally), we’re sacrificing this by playing another vocal track.

7. Mads Arp featuring Julie Harrington – Slow It Down (Mathilda Mix) (ISOS 4) (Track: 9.5/10. Mix: 5/10)

Regarding the track: Wow wow wow. I loved this song when I heard it for the first time on ISOS4. I loved it when the remixes were released last year. I love it still when listening to it on ISOS10. This is how vocal trance should be done. Julie Harrington’s voice is bliss. The breakdown before the vocals is heavenly. It’s definitely one that I could just close my eyes to and dance the night away in a Caribbean club. “We can be free…” Indeed we can Mads Arp. But will we free ourselves from the music? Can we break free of the emotional pull? “Slow it down….” Enjoy the night. The music. The search for sunrise. Because when it comes, the night, like this song, will fade out into a distant memory.

Regarding the mix: Ew on the transition. ISOS, in my opinion, should be a smooth mix from one song to the next. We are listening to this in the summer, after all. Time moves more slowly, and so should the transitions. Not this drop out and in like we heard here. Regarding song selection, +1 on picking up the beats finally in the mix. But -100 for using yet another vocal. See my rant above for “Envy.” That sticks here as well. Change your style up Thomas! It’s ok. As Armin says, “Don’t be a prisoner of your own style.” Of course, that doesn’t mean playing Swedish House Mafia tracks on ASOT, but it does mean it’s ok to not do the same thing over and over.

8. Marc Marzenit – Trozitos De Navidad (Primavera Remix) (ISOS 6) (Track: 6.5/10. Mix: 8/10)

Regarding the track: I’m not a fan of the beginning part of the song that gets repeated. The high pitched hits are interesting, but it’s missing something for me. The rise/drop in the middle of the song when it breaks down, however, is nice. The only thing is it feels off from the trance I’ve normally listened to in the past. Not sure why, but it feels influenced from perhaps techno and/or house. Still though, it’s not a bad song in any form, just perhaps not a superb one. Finally, while I’m not a fan of the high pitches, it does invoke a sort of sailing/flying feeling, so it fits into this ISOS theme.

Regarding the mix: Finally a long transition for once. This is how ISOS should operate, not like our previous transition. Still, the higher pitched synth from Marc mashes a bit harshly with Mads Arp fading out in the background. On the plus side, no vocals! And it kicks up our beats still! And it definitely works in the middle of our tracklist. And as the song can be repetitive, Thomas kept it at 4 1/2 minutes, which I can appreciate.

9. Ad Brown featuring Renee Six – Something For The Pain (ISOS 8) (Track: 6/10. Mix: 6.5/10)

Regarding the track: This was a decent track in South Africa, and continues to be a decent vocal track here. Renee Six has a good voice with a nice range of talent. The track, in general though, is average for the most part. It’s a filler track. There’s nothing horrible about it, but there’s nothing spectacular either. It’s non-memorable in the set. You’ll hear it, you won’t skip it, but by the next song, you won’t remember what you just listened to. Which is fine: compilations can’t be 1.5 hours of hit after hit. Those memorable tracks are helped implanted into your memory because they are surrounded by average songs. It’s like how an average looking male/female could be more desired if placed next to a below-average looking male/female. The mind plays tricks on us, and music selection is no different. So now that you’ve forgotten what I’ve written, let’s look into the mix and selection.

Regarding the mix: Another long transition, excellent. And with the vocal “Help me fall away” pushing it along, it’s actually a rare superb transition in this set. Of course, we have ourselves another vocal track to no one’s surprise. It still keeps our beats up a bit in the middle of the set, but it’s a bit different in style compared to Marzenit’s prior song and the upcoming Deadmau5 track, so it feels out of place here.

10. Deadmau5 – Arguru (ISOS 6) (Track: 8.5/10. Mix: 8.5/10)

Regarding the track: This is one of the fedw deadmau5 tracks that can work in both the house and trance scenes. While deadmau5 has always been a hit or miss with my musical tastes, when he does hit, boy is it a knockout. HR8938 Cephei, Aural Psynapse, Faxing Berlin….this track is no different. It’s simple, non-repetitive, and catchy as hell. It’s got a great bassline and the synths used feels dirty, if that makes sense. A bit naughty. A bit sexy. Which when you’re chasing the sunrise and run into that señorita, it’s perfect. It was a great fit in ISOS6 and is a great fit here now.

Regarding the mix: Quick transition again, but while I’m not a fan, it was tastefully done. Non-vocal is nice here alongside the higher bpm to keep our mix thumping inside of the Rio club. I think there are better tracks on ISOS6 CD2 (Nic Chagall by far), but this isn’t a terrible selection. I do think Black Hole Recordings liked the fact that deadmau5, who is known across multiple genres including progressive house, dubstep, and trance, was featured in this tracklist. Well known artists can generate more sales.

11. Zoo Brazil – Crossroads (ISOS 7) (Track: 9.5/10. Mix: 9/10)

Regarding the track: Zoo Brazil has definitely made some great ISOS tunes over the years. One of my favorites from South Africa was “There is Hope.” And while we might be at a crossroads now, it still has everything you’d want from a song. Great melody, powerful strings, a killer bassline, and perfect breakdown. If you took away the the electric piano/synth that leads the melody, it would feel just like a dark Coldharbour song found on one of Markus’ compilations. And knowing how much I love Coldharbour indicates just how superb this track really is, standalone or otherwise. So while the track might be called “Crossroads,” my feelings for it have definitely chosen a route.

Regarding the mix: The transition was good, but the initial drumbeats were a bit over-powering; EQ work needed to be adjusted a bit. To continue with my rant, non-vocal! For those keeping track, yes that is two in a row. And it’s a superb non-vocal in my opinion. Still keeps us moving from deadmau5. Still has that darker, dirtier feel to it. And overall was an excellent choice this late into the mix and was an excellent choice from ISOS7.

12. Mark Norman presents Celine – Colour My Eyes (ISOS 5) (Track: 8.5/10. Mix: 1/10)

Regarding the track: This track hit me the first time I listened to ISOS5. This song defines the ISOS feel. The beach feel. The summer trance feel. Celine’s voice is excellent here. The beat is melodic; you can drift deeper into your lover’s eyes as you move across the Monte Carlo terrace. Perhaps the only complaint I have is a bit too much vocal in the song? But it still remains secondary and doesn’t try to overpower the melody, the beautiful snare of this song. Excellent work from Mr. Norman here.

Regarding the mix: So we go from the darker trance from the prior two songs to a vocal (yes) that was used as part of the intro to ISOS5:LA. That was song #2 back in 2006. We’re using this as a near-ending song in our mix. It doesn’t fit. We did a complete 180 here. We went from the dirty dancing at 4AM back to the sunset over Venice Beach 7 hours earlier. To make things worse, the transition was one of our quick fade out/fade in. Boring, cliche, lack of creativity, and didn’t feel like a mix at all. I think the only redeeming thing here is that Thomas was willing to pull a song from an older ISOS. And yet, ISOS5 CD1 has so many better songs on it (JES. Hello?).

13. Jonas Steur featuring Jennifer Rene – Still I Wait (Richard Durand’s In Search of Sunrise Remix) (ISOS 9) (Track: 9.5/10. Mix: 8/10)

Regarding the track: Love Jennifer Rene’s voice here. It’s a heavy vocal track again, but Jonas Steur overlayed a good melody behind to enhance the vocals of this song. Combine this with Richard Durand’s touch, and you have an excellent song that puts a smile on your face. It’s catchy. It would be great for a drive, for a dive, or live. Please check your shoes if your feet and body aren’t moving when you hear this song. “I love to see you smile.” Yes, ma’am, whatever you say Ms. Rene.

Regarding the mix: I wanted Empty Streets to transition next, but I’ll settle for some Steur. Interesting transition with Ms. Rene’s cut vocals used as an element. I think this was tastefully done here. And while this song definitely continues our vocal trend of this mix, it goes back into a more upbeat melody that we had before our prior song. I rather have seen this following Zoo Brazil than Mark Norman’s masterpiece. So while we aren’t doing another complete 180, we’re still changing up styles yet again, this time we’re at the 2AM last call. On a unrelated note, this is one of the best songs from ISOS9, so kudos to Thomas for picking this song for his mix.

14. Cressida – 6AM (Kyau & Albert Remix) (ISOS 7) (Track: 8/10. Mix: 5/10)

Regarding the track: We’re here for the last track on CD3. And we end with a song that came near the end of ISOS7 CD1. Kyau & Albert did a splendid remix of the original here. It’s a great non-vocal (vocal stabs only) that works perfectly as the sun starts to creep up above the horizon. It’s happy despite the dark bass hits. I love the synth stutter that Cressida uses. Overall, I think it’s a splendid tune and fits in with the ISOS theme.

Regarding the mix: Another ok transition. It dips pretty quickly out of the prior song. There’s also a bit of delay before we kick into the heavy beats that this song carries for most of the way. I think this was overall a decent way to end the mix. It doesn’t feel like an ending though. I’m actually surprised that Thomas didn’t use “Hua-Hin” or another ending song that Tiesto had used previously as a way to end his mix; you would have thought that after copying the intro style down, he would have done the same for the ending. But no matter, it still continues a somewhat up-temp beat from our prior song while still seeming like things are winding down for the night as the sunrises. My final complaint was the way he ended the mix; it does feel like the song should go on for another 8 bars or so, but it doesn’t.

Right, so there we have it. The third and final CD of In Search of Sunrise 10!

CD3 Average: Tracks: 8.3/10. Mix: 6.2/10.

So, overall I feel that this mix was average at best. Don’t get me wrong, it had excellent songs. But the mixing work by Thomas and song-order and selection meant that it fell short in a few areas. The heavy use of vocals was also a turn-off, even for a vocal trance fan like myself. Please read further below in my final wrap-up to see my rant on why this mix wasn’t the best choice for ISOS10 as a classics compilation.

Dinky-Di:

Song selections: So many 9.5/10 rated tracks. Funny enough, many came from Tiesto. Even in his later trance years, it shows he still knew how to take killer tracks and make a super compilation.

Blimey:

Transitions: I felt at some points that Thomas had completely forgot everything from How to DJ 101. It’s not that they didn’t follow the smooth flow found on Tiesto’s and Durand’s ISOS compilations. It’s that some weren’t even mix transitions. Rather, push stop on one track and push start on the other. While it can work, it doesn’t for this sort of mix. And Thomas did far too many of these types of short or rough transitions that I can’t overlook it.

Track order: Far too many “intro” type songs halfway through our mix. Thomas took too long to build up a beat, and one he finally did, he killed it quickly with yet another intro-type song.

Vocals: Far too many for an ISOS compilation. See ISOS CD2 for how to make a non-vocal sunrise mix. See Markus Schulz for how to do non-vocal trance superbly.

Conclusions

So let’s wrap things up.

In Search of Sunrise 10: Australia Average (excluding CD3): 7.1/10

In Search of Sunrise 10: Australia Average (including CD3 Track Score): 7.5/10

In Search of Sunrise 10: Australia Average (including CD3 Mix Score): 6.8/10

A quote I saw regarding ISOS 10 sums up my feelings on it the first time I saw the tracklist: “I don’t know many of the artists/songs on here, but the ones I do know have nothing to do with what an ISOS compilation should be.” Unfortunately, things still run true at the end of our journey. We lack our classic ISOS transitions and song selections. Too many times did I think I was listening to a TATW or GDJB by mistake. And biggest of them all was memorability. I can name you songs from ISOS 1-7 that stood out above the rest; that made the CD. Which is difficult when many of the songs are memorable and stand out. With Richard, I haven’t got that yet. I’ve had a few gems mixed in the rough. And what’s worse is that ISOS8 and ISOS9 had more gems in them than ISOS 10. Even after listening to the mix, nothing sticks out apart from songs that have been on for a while (Orjan, Super8 & Tab). It’s not that Richard is missing Tiesto’s signature spark on these compilations, it’s that Richard missed the benchmark that he set with ISOS8. It works as a whole, but barely. And it definitely doesn’t put me into the same state of mind that the prior ISOS Compilations did years ago. And this is coming from someone who religiously buys and listens to these compilations year in and year out. In fact, they are my driving music during my beach trip every year to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I stick the CDs in my changer and just drive. But for 2013, I might have to leave one out.

Now, regarding the third CD in the compilation, aka “Classics.” Before I delve into my rant on CD3 and why I believe Black Hole blew the perfect opportunity for the 10th release of In Search of Sunrise Celebration, I’d like to showcase how many songs came from each iteration:

(Bold is my emphasis)

ISOS 1: 0

ISOS 2: 0

ISOS 3: 0

ISOS 4: 1

ISOS 5: 2

ISOS 6: 3

ISOS 7: 4

ISOS 8: 3

ISOS 9: 1

And here’s a fancy pie chart:

So, as you can see, the mix completely ignored the first three ISOS Compilations, which are arguable the best three In Search of Sunrise Compilations ever produced. It’s like saying “List the architectural marvels of the world” and leaving out the Egyptian Pyramids. Or “The Most Influential Cars Ever” and skipping over The Model T and the Lamborghini Miura. Or to relate it back to trance, listing the “Best Trance Songs Ever” and skipping over Greece 2000, Airwave, and Tiesto’s Remix of Delerium’s Silence. If you did any of these in real life, you’d look like a fool. So why was it acceptable to skip the first three ISOS albums? Further, even songs from the ISOS 4/5 era (differs from 6/7) aren’t well represented here. In fact, the majority of Mr. Megel’s song selection comes from ISOS 6-8, which is 10/14 songs or 71% of the album. Basically, this is a not a best of ISOS compilation, but a “Best of ISOS in the Last 5 Years” compilation. Utter bollocks.

I can see why Black Hole picked this mix. It showcases the “newer” trance tunes. They want to sell records, they need to have current, uplifting music. Today’s trance fans know the name Deadmau5; they’d be dazed and confused if you started dropping Kamaya Painters’ tracks on a mix. ISOS 6 and newer showcase this newer post-Dutch style of trance; this more modern and perhaps trousey side. But I believe Black Hole missed a big opportunity for life-long fans like myself. A classics mix compilation isn’t suppose to cater to new trance fans. That’s what your first 2 CDs by Richard Durand are suppose to do: play the hottest new tracks that match the feel of the ISOS label in an attempt to garner new and current fans of the trance genre. The 3rd classics CD? That’s suppose to be your big thank you for long-time trance listeners who have stuck with the ISOS label for 13 years now. Reward them with a journey of trance. Mix songs from all 15 CDs so far. Give back to your loyal fan base; don’t just ignore them and dump them for newer listeners.

So yes, as stated in my CD3 review, there were good songs selected. It’s not a bad mix. I enjoyed it (although perhaps because I enjoyed the older songs more than the mixing quality itself). But it falls very short of what a Classics Compilation should have been. They would have been better off just dropping in ISOS 1 into the package instead of this mix; it definitely would have been better received and more in tune with what classic trance is suppose to be.

I’ll get off my soapbox now. My final question is, “WHERE’S MY JES?!!?!?!” We saw her first appearance on ISOS4, being on every subsequent one up through ISOS 8. India, in fact, was the first time since 2005 that JES wasn’t featuring on an ISOS Compilation. I was hoping it was just a one year mistake by Durand. Apparently not.

Anyway, rants and review have been completed. I hope you’ve enjoyed this review as much as I have writing it. As always to finish off, I leave you with my FAQ.

Why should I buy this album?

Because damn it, it’s still an In Search of Sunrise release. I’m a sucker for them. You might be as well. Yeah, it’s not as good as it used to be, but it’s still a nice album to play on a long drive or a relaxing night on the beach.

You should also buy it if you’re a fan of lesser-known uplifting trance tunes. Or if you like Richard Durand’s work. I’d consider the purchase if you were a fan of his prior South Africa and India releases, but don’t expect the same things from the past two years.

Is it as good as In Search of Sunrise 1?

No.

What about In Search of Sunrise 9?

No.

Okay…how do the ISOS Compilations stack up then?

As I said before, you have to look at each of them as separate for their era in my opinion. So first off:

ISOS 1

ISOS 3

ISOS 2

Nothing beats ISOS 1. 3 edged out 2.

Next:

ISOS 4

ISOS 7

ISOS 5

ISOS 6

I think here 4 was the strongest, especially the second CD. Still lacks to the first three in the series, but it has aged well. I enjoyed ISOS 7, again with the 2nd CD. ISOS 5 is very close to 7 for me. There are better songs on ISOS 5, but I think overall it is a hair less than 7. Many people will disagree with me here, I think. ISOS 6 is just short a bit in last.

Finally:

ISOS 8

ISOS 9

ISOS 10

Nothing will compare with Tiesto. Not even worth trying to compare. I think 8 was an excellent start for Richard. 9 and 10 are very close behind. In fact, it’s really difficult to place these three. And I think I know why….

Richard Durand hasn’t found that spark yet in his compilations. He hasn’t made them unique enough to be remembered individually on their own. In fact, on my first listen through with 10, nothing stood out to me. It was good, but not memorable. I remember listening to ISOS 5 for the first time and being completely blown away (first trance CD, remember?) Imagine my reaction then when I heard ISOS 1. But these….they haven’t hit the spot. Which brings us to:

Now that Richard is on his third ISOS, how has he been holding up so far? We all know Tiesto left some big shoes to fill; has he been meeting expectations?

I think as a compilation series separate from ISOS, it’s been solid and on par with Richard Durand’s potential. There have been some excellent songs selected along with some pretty stellar mixing. However, I still think the compilations fail to capture that magic that Tiesto put into his ISOS compilations. As James May from Top Gear would say, “it’s lacking that fizz.” It’s just not that same special In Search of Sunrise compilation that I grew to love from Tiesto. So for newer listeners? Excellent. For long time ISOS lovers? Eh.

What did you like about the compilation?

The classics compilation did include some good songs from the past 5 years. I can appreciate that despite my other rants about it. In addition, there were some good songs mixed into the first couple of CDs. I also did appreciate the track order in general, going from our uplifters to our club music with the breaks in between.

Dislikes?

It lacked a spark. It lacked ISOS character. It wasn’t particularly memorable. Nothing stood out, and paled when compared to even Richard’s earlier attempts. And Black Hole screwed up on the Classics Compilation. And even if the song selection was superb, I’ve heard better mixes from r/trance users than I did with Thomas’ attempt. It definitely didn’t feel like an CD/Award winning mix.

I’m new to the trance scene. Should I look at this album for current and past inspiration?

Absolutely. Definitely helps expand your horizon a bit from mainstream trance into the uplifting scene with lesser known DJs (one thing Richard Durand has maintained since Tiesto’s departure). Further, the classics compilation will definitely give you a very nice overview of past ISOS series in the prior 5 years and what to expect from them.

I’m a long-time trance addict and have been listening to ISOS since 1999. Will I like the Classics Compilation on In Search of Sunrise 10?

No. You’ll want to chuck it out the window and put in your ISOS 1 CD. Now that’s a classic compilation.

Finally, if I buy this compilation and really like it, what other compilations can you recommend to me?

In Search of Sunrise 1-9. Buy all of them. Listen to them in reverse order (start with India). You’ll thank me later.