The trio responsible for some of the biggest trance hits on record – Above & Beyond – are back to deliver yet another, this one a fan favorite since its debut at the Group Therapy Weekender at The Gorge Amphitheater in July. Repeatedly teased ever since, most notably at their milestone ABGT350 show in Prague last month, “Another Angel” is finally here in HQ.

The intro bassline with its melodic hints sounds just like what you’d expect from A&B, with precise, compressed samples reminiscent of Andrew Bayer. Listen to the highs – the hi-hats, the wind-based note that comes in four bars in, the backing percussion – and you’ll hear Above & Beyond. Listen to the overall master, especially the key elements of the mix – the kick, the repeated melody, the bassline – and you’ll hear Bayer – the same Bayer behind the In My Next Life mix of Open End Resource. The mixdown is crisp and powerful, a rare feat that Bayer pulls off with ease. At this point, it should come as no surprise that he is credited among the writers of ‘Another Angel’ along with the trio themselves.

His influence doesn’t stop there, however. It continues into the (almost unanimously) best part of the song: the breakdown. The ethereal melody through a dampened synth might hint at a conventional A&B breakdown, but you couldn’t be any further from the truth. Out of nowhere, a gritty synth booms through the mix – massive and unstoppable. Slithering through the stereo field with unfettered ease, it sends any listener reeling with surprise. It’s crunchy and dense, reminiscent of Bayer’s analog adventures in his twelve-minute tune, Parallels. Except, believe it or not, this one’s even more grandiose. Experience this live, and you might begin to understand. Something about its massive reach and presence across the entire stereo field lends the entire song an almost divine feel, in line with title itself. When Richard Bedford’s vocal sample from A&B’s previous tune, “On My Way To Heaven” shimmers into existence, you’re already primed for the chills down your spine that will ensue.

A short buildup, subtly introducing the main melody, gives you little time to recover before the song climaxes in all its glory. It’s a simple chord progression, but an elegant one, made all the more charming through the packed mixdown. White noise fills in all the gaps between a strong, striking lead and storming bass. Sixteen bars in, the melody develops, with a light-hearted yet dominant lead punctuating the mix at the high end of the spectrum, giving the chords some additional flavor, playing around with harmonies.

‘Another Angel’ is a testament to our favorite trio’s ability to add some new magical touches into their records while still keeping their original, signature sound intact. Here, it’s the gritty, cascading synths in the breakdown which seem to come straight from the depths of glitchy midtempo. On the whole, there’s little that can be said against this tune – a tune that, for me, tops the others in their discography that were released this past year. Certainly a tune of the year contender. If you still don’t believe me, marvel at this one go off at ABGT350 below.