dukeofharen/darktremor-trance.txt

## darktremor-trance.txt
_These are the rules for posting recommendations. If you break one, I will ignore you. Read them before making a suggestion:

1.If you suggest even one track that is already on the list, I will ignore all other tracks in your suggested list. Use edit/find (on this page), or hit control-f to search out tracks before recommending them. Don't just whip your playlist off into the comments, I want you to make sure it's a)better than some of the tracks on this list, and b)NOT ALREADY ON IT, before you suggest I add it. This list is massive, and the base of tracks it was selected out of is even bigger. I don't mean to be a jerk about it, but I don't have the time to sift through records that are already on the list. Plus, that tells me you didn't think about your suggestion.

2.If you've been listening to trance for less than 9 months, you have a DJ Mystik track on your computer anywhere, or you still (seriously) find tracks by typing "trance" or "techno" into a file sharing program, then please don't suggest anything. Your recommendation is going to be stupid. No, trust me. It is.

3. Don't post "I can't believe [insert probably stupid and derivative track here] isn't on the list! What gives?!?!?" or anything even remotely close to that comment. What gives? If it's really such a masterpiece and it's not on the list, then I probably haven't heard it, dumbass (Or I've heard it, it sucks, and you just have no taste). If you make that comment, I will ignore you. In fact, if you even think about making that comment, don't bother posting, your suggestion is going to be stupid. There are literally millions of trance tracks, and there is no possible way anyone could listen to them all (I've only heard tens of thousands). Although the best tracks tend to bubble up into underground recognition (and no further), there are likely dozens of masterpieces that have gone unnoticed - this is what I'm looking for. However, there are hundreds of thousands of piles of derivative crap that directly steal from classics and never go anywhere. These appeal to newbies who haven't been around long enough to hear the originals (and to E-tards who have no memory of any tracks they've heard at any events), which is why no one who hasn't listened to trance for over 9 months should post here. If you don't know enough about trance to know that more records are released than could ever possibly be listened to, you don't know enough about trance to make an intelligent suggestion, and you're wasting your time.

4. If you have ever, EVER in your life shouted "TIIIIEEEESSSSTTTOOOOO!!!!" or said anything along the lines of "OMG OMG OMG Tiesto is such a God OMG!" don't post here, because you're an idiot. He can play records. Calloo, calay, he belongs on Mount Olympus.

5. Do not write a post stating something like "that's just your opinion! [boring derivative crap] is a masterpiece, you just won't open your ears!" [Stupid derivative crap] is not a masterpiece. You just haven't heard enough trance to know that [stupid derivative crap] doesn't have a shred of originality in it.

6. If you don't like at least five trance tracks produced before 1995, don't bother posting a suggestion, as you know absolutely nothing about trance. Come back when you're older, sonny.

7. If you don't like acid, or don't know what acid is (and weren't knocked out by rule number 2), you're an idiot, don't post.

8. If you don't listen to at least 3 other kinds of electronic music that are not mainstream hip-hop genres or played on the radio, you have no perspective, don't post a suggestion.

_Here's a torrent of the first 50 songs:

here

Many thanks to AsColdAsIce for making this. I'm not sure if it works, but it's worth a shot.

Final note: there are going to be songs on here that aren't perfectly 100% trance. If you see this tag beside a track:

{arguable},

then the track is disputable (or disputed) in some way.

The genres essentially represented are ibiza trance, epic trance, psytrance/goa trance, anthem trance, classic trance, acid trance, ambient trance, tech-trance, and progressive trance. I am liberal with these categories, and what has also ended up on here is some trancier ambient house, acid techno, progressive house, tech-house, "minimal," and breaks. There is a limit, but it's blurry. For example, you won't find funky house, breakbeat hardcore, or aggrotech on here.

Humate - Love Simulation (Paul van Dyk's Love mix) [1993] [Ibiza trance]

It's amazing how little this track loses its loveliness with repeat listens. I've had it for 6 years now, and I still love it just as much as I did when it floored me on the first listen. Even the other top 10 tracks (while still amazing) have diminished in some ways with compulsive listening, but this one remains the shining gem at the top of the trance genre. This perfectly captures the beauty of a tropical sunset on a peaceful deserted island, and to this day never fails to evoke such a scene.

The Age of Love - Age of Love (Jam & Spoon's Watch out for Stella mix) [1992] [classic trance]

This is often erroneously called the first trance tune of all time, including by me for a very long time. Well, it wasn't. There was no "first trance tune." It seems to have slowly coalesced out of the Belgian new beat, acid house, techno, and euro-house miasma around at the time. You can look for related tracks in each of these early scenes, but none of them are "trance" per se, they clearly fall into their respective styles. And the first artists who actually set out to make "trance" were mimicking a genre that was already defined. So where do you draw the line? You don't. There was no big bang.

Also, the so-called "original mix" available pretty much everywhere is almost universally actually the (admittedly superior) Jam & Spoon remix. I finally found the real original mixes, and they're not trance at all - they're inarguably new beat. You can almost hear some trance in there, but it's a seed, at best.

That said, this version is a fantastic track, and still one of trance's first. It's beautiful, ethereal, and above all, entrancing.

Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar (Three N' One mix) [1998] [anthem trance/ibiza trance]

The track that defines everything that an ibiza anthem is, full of all of the excess and bombast of the island: pure dancable joy. The track's central hook is a long, arpeggiated melody looping such that the beginning and end melt together into an endless sphere. It sounds like sped-up 70's minimalism run through a 90's dark trance synth with a sub-tribal feel (it's the beats that do this). I'll admit, the build-up is a little bit cliche by now, but it wasn't really at the time, and for second-wave trance, it's as creative as it's going to get, and more than compensated by the spot-on anthem. In a not so surprising twist, this was initially written by one of the fathers of modern trance (Cosmic Baby), back in 1993 (they were always better at trance than the bedroom nerds and the corporate pop machine). It has gotten another remix every single year since 93, most of which are picked up by trance jocks and many of which go back on the club charts (the best is undoubtedly 1997's chart-topping Three N' One remix (although some prefer the 1998 Nalin & Kane version, and classic trance addicts will love the original)).

Future Sound of London - Papua New Guinea [1991] [ambient trance/classic trance]

Released in 1991, this song wasn't even intended to be trance - no one even used the word yet (although there was a fledgling sound growing in the underground house, rave, and techno scenes). It was meant to be ambient breaks, but "Papua New Guinea's" atmosphere was like little other electronic dance released at the time - ethereal, spacy, almost angelic, but still dancefloor-worthy, catchy, and even relaxing. The song instantly became a trance classic once the genre was brought into official existence in 1993, and deservingly so. Like it's predecessor "Age of Love," even today it can be played without sounding the slightest bit dated.

{arguable - ambient breaks}

Underworld - Born Slippy (NUXX). [1995] [classic trance/hard trance]

A melodic trance tune with stream-of-consciousness lyrics that become stranger with each listen, mainly beacuse they never really had any actual internal logic to begin with. The melody is unforgettably catchy, and contains a nice twist in the middle, in which it goes from being a wistful and pretty little ambient trancer, to a hard and abrasive swedish techno stormer, and pulls both off better than just about anything in either genre. Surprisingly, especially with this being, you know, actually good, this was a huge hit in Europe (it went to number 2 on the world chart in 1996-97), and gets at least two new remixes every year, at least one of which always goes back on the club charts (hopefully 2006 will be an exception? Honestly, they're never going to top the original). So, not only is it one of the best, it's also the most popular to still retain credibility.

{arguable - melodic techo(?)}

Sasha - Xpander [1999] [progressive trance]

Perfect progressive trance. A melody that, like the last 2 tracks, is atmospheric, loops on itself, and endlessly contagious, without seeming repetitive. This song is absorbing - the feeling throughout is impossible to describe, since like I said before...dancing about architecture. Just download the track. It's incredible. (Was another mega-European hit. I don't know the details specifically, but it doesn't matter).

Nalin & Kane - Beachball [1996] [ibiza trance]

Gorgeous, elegant, and never tiring. It's quite possible that I've listened to this track more times than any other, probably my personal favorite. Built out of tribal, yet melodic beats (the "Nalin and Kane sound"), relaxing and inobtrusive vocals, and a slow, subtle build that takes its time to breakdown. When it does breakdown, air strings and seagulls wash and flow around each other as if musically taking flight to a Mediterannean sky over a sunset-golden beach. When the breakdown ends, "Becahball" slowly floats back to earth, before spending the remainder of the track rippling back and forth between the sky and the sand.

{arguable - ibiza house}

Paragliders - Paraglide [1993] [classic trance]

DnTel - (This is) The Dream of Evan and Chan (Superpitcher Kompakt remix) [2002] [minimal trance]

This is probably the only trance track ever created with vocals worth listening to. But it doesn't rest on them, just allowing them to sparsely resonant in a minimal nothing, it raises them, gently bringing them to soaring heights with gorgeous melodies that slowly drown out the surreal beauty of the evocative lyrics. Eventually the glistening bells overtake the words entirely, taking the already flying track into the stratosphere. It's the perfect representative of minimal trance.

{arguble: tech-house/progressive house/microhouse}

Hardfloor - Acperience 1 [1992] [acid trance/classic trance]

{arguable - acid}

Hybrid - Symphony [1997] [orchestral trance]

Wow. Forget Adagio for Strings, forget Protect Your Mind, forget ****ing Airwave, symphonic trance was created and destroyed with this track. Everything trance is supposed to make you feel, and almost everything classical is supposed to do can be found here in this amazing song. Easy to dance to, creative beats (breaktrance, so they actually put some thought into them), more melodies than you can possibly count, and all this without sounding crowded or overstuffed; all of it original. They even did it without overusing the breakdown. Fantastic, it completly lives up to its title.

Aphex Twin - Didgeridoo [1992] [acid trance]

This track is simultaneously hard, twisted and beautiful, which is something I would have considered a nearly impossible feat until I heard this, and despite being over 15 years old, it still sounds innovative and fresh today. Built on a foundation of Basic Channel-esque foggy acid lines, Didgeridoo manages to build and break like trance, while meandering and wandering like ambient and relentlessly pounding and squiggling like acid techno without sounding forced or mashed together. A didgeridoo sets the bassline resulting in a simultaneously relaxing, funky and dark atmosphere. It can sound like a trance anthem, a techno monster, or an ambient chilldown depending on how you listen, and it's all of those together and more, and it grows greater with each listen. Didgeridoo is undoubtedly one of the greatest trance tracks of all time. Whether or not it's in the genre of "trance" per se is questionable (though a connecting thread is certainly there), but in the most elastic sense of entrancing dance music, it comes out pretty close to the top.

{arguable - ambient acid techno(?)}

Orbital - Halcyon On & On [1993] [ambient trance]

{arguable - ambient techno}

Chicane - Offshore [1996] [ibiza trance]

{arguable - ambient house/ibiza house}

Banco De Gaia - Heliopolis [1993] [classic trance/acid trance]

Choice - Acid Eiffel [acid trance]

{arguable - acid techno}

Ame - Rej [2005] [minimal trance/neo-trance]

{arguable - "minimal"}

L.S.G. - Netherworld [1997] [progressive trance]

Balil - Parasight [1993] [classic trance/acid trance]

Salt Tank - Eugina [1996] [ibiza trance]

The PQM - You Are Sleeping (Luke Chable Vocal mix) [2004] [progressive trance/deep trance]

{arguable - progressive house}

LSG - Hearts [1994] [classic trance/acid trance]

Dance 2 Trance - We Came in Peace [1990] [classic trance]

Another contender for first trance song ever created. Whether this track came first, or Age of Love is questionable, but the quality of this little masterpiece is indisputable. Almost like minimal goa, mixed with James Holden-esque progressive (but of course, it predates all of that). It's reminiscent of being on the moon, or on the surface of an alien world: exactly the way trance should sound.

Underworld - Dark Train [1994] [classic trance]

Infected Mushroom - Mush Mushi [goa trance/psytrance]

Gabriel Ananda - Ihre PersÃƒÂ¶nliche GlÃƒÂ¼cksmelodie [2005] [minimal trance/neo-trance]

Paul Van Dyk - For an Angel [1994] [epic trance]

Metal Master - Spectrum [1992] [classic trance]

Push - Strange World [2001] [anthem trance]

Humate & Rabbit In The Moon - East (Opium Den Mix) [1995] [classic trance/acid trance]

The MFA - The Difference it Makes [2004] [minimal trance/neo-trance]

{arguable - progressive house}

Cybernaut - Hydroponix [1997] [goa trance/psytrance]

Datura - Yerba Del Diablo [1992] [classic trance/acid trance]

{I find it's a lot like psytrance/goa trance, but this isn't a bad thing.}

Three Drives - Greece 2000 [1997] [progressive trance/anthem trance]

PHD - Summer Storm (Leisure Lounge Edit) [1994] [classic trance/acid trance]

Jam and Spoon - Stella [1992] [ibiza trance]

Hallucinogen - LSD [1994] [psytrance/goa trance]

Commander Tom - Are Am Eye? [1995] [classic trance/dark trance(?)]

{arguable - rave}

Phobia - Phobia (DJ Hell mix) [1991/2007] [classic trance/acid trance]

What actually makes the DJ Hell 2007 mix different from the 1991 original is pretty minimal (ha. ha. no.), but it seems to do the trick, elevating what was already a trance classic into the neo-trance masterpiece it was always meant to be. Really though, everything that made the track so incredible to begin with is there, and everything added on could have been created back in 1991. But it rounds it out perfectly.

It's rather dark trance. The anchoring melody is simply a two note depth charge interspersed with a transmission-like voice ("let me have silence") and a strangely affecting diva wail, held down by a circular acid line that eventually dissolves into quasi-anthemic territory (a la Acid Eiffel, which it actually transcends). Everything here is simple and effective, and reminiscent of floating in space past a rocky wasteland moon, no power in the ship, unable to navigate, fleeing alien depth charges. Or perhaps it's like being under the ocean on an alien planet in almost complete blackness and silence but for the occasional bursts of extraterrestrial explosives seeking to destroy your submarine, hidden in the deep, the power.

This is also a flagpost of what seems to be a classic trance revival of sorts brought about by an adoring minimal community (some of whom floated out of classic trance-land in the first place, fleeing the epic anthem boom of the late 90s. You know who I mean. Sven Vath. Stephan Bodzin.)

Etnica - Moon Influence [1996] [goa trance/psytrance]

Yahel - Voyage [2000] [psytrance/epic trance]

Binary Finary - 1998 [1998] [anthem trance]

Note: 1999 and 2000 are the same track, re-released for more guiltless radioplay and club spinning. Although why this odd norm exists at all is beyond me. If you still like the track, just keep playing it. Don't buy it again with a different date stamped on the cover, just so you can label yourself "upfront."

Union Jack - Red Herring [1995] [acid trance]

Beanfield - Tides (Carl Craig mix) [2004] [minimal trance/neo-trance]

Cybordelics - Adventures of Dama [1993] [classic trance]

The Thrillseekers - Synaesthesia [1999] [epic trance]

Leftfield - Phat Planet [1999] [deep trance]

{arguable - progressive house}

Atlantic Ocean - Waterfalls [1993] [anthem trance]

{arguable - anthem house}

DJ Tiesto - Suburban Train [2001] [epic trance]

James Holden - Nothing (93 Returning mix) [2003] [progressive trance]

Roland Appel - Dark Soldier [2007] [minimal trance/neo-trance]

Efdemin - Lohn & Brot [2007] [minimal trance/neo-trance]

"Minimal" has gotten so trancy this year that almost all of the best new tracks warrant (high) places on this list.

This is the only trance track on the entire list that I fell in love with during the opening bar (Those first three notes are actually truly beautiful, and even if the track didn't go anywhere from there it would still warrant a place somewhere on this list as the best filler of all time). I don't even cut this track up in my iPod playlist.

{arguable - minimal. But argue with me that it's really minimal and not trance at all and I'll actually beat you down. I will find out where you live, and I will beat you down. It's got breakdowns, dammit, BREAKDOWNS. Yeah, minimal. Right.}

Orbital - Belfast [1992] [ambient trance]

Art of Trance - Madagascar (Cygnus X mix) [1998] [epic trance/anthem trance]

Gus Gus - Purple (Sasha vs. The Light mix) [1998] [progressive trance]

James Holden - Horizons [1999] [progressive trance]

Cygnus X - Superstring [1994] [classic trance]

Patrick Chardronnet - Eve By Day (Ripperton mix) [2006] [minimal trance/neo-trance]

The Field - Over the Ice [2006] [minimal trance/neo-trance]

{arugable - minimal techno(?)}

Banco De Gaia - Last Train to Lhasa [1995] [classic trance/ambient trance]

{arguable - ambient house/progressive house}

Astral Projection - Aurora Borealis [2000] [psytrance/goa trance]

PPK - Resurrection [2001] [progressive trance/anthem trance]

Shakta - Lepton Head III [1996] [goa trance/psytrance]

Way Out West - Mindcircus (Gabriel and Dresden mix) [2001] [progressive trance]

{arguable - progressive house}

Astral Projection - Mahadeva [1996] [psytrance]

Like an ancient tribal ceremony, plus aliens.

{arugable - psy. But really, think about it. Psy...trance. PsyTRANCE.}

Petter - These Days [2004] [deep trance/neo-trance]

{arguable - progressive breaks}

Zyon - No fate (No Fate edit) [1992] [classic trance]

Paul Van Dyk - Words [1997] [progressive trance]

Stefan Goldmann - Sleepy Hollow [2006] [minimal trance/neo-trance]

{arguable: minimal techno/deep house. Supposedly.)

William Orbit - Water from a Wine Leaf (Xylem Flow mix) [1992] [classic trance/ambient trance]

{arguable - progressive house/ambient house}

Nathan Fake - The Sky was Pink (James Holden mix) [2005] [progressive trance/minimal trance/neo-trance]

{arguable - progressive house/"Border Community techno" [which is generally called neo-trance, any dispute here is silly]}

4Voice - Eternal Spirit [1992] [classic trance]

Lost Tribe - Gamemaster [1997] [progressive trance/anthem trance]

Rabbit In The Moon - Out Of Body Experience (Phase One - First Contact) [1994] [classic trance]

Heartthrob - Baby Kate [2006] [minimal trance/neo-trance]

{arguable: minimal techno, although I think it's really too melodic for that}

Cydonia - Haunted World [1999] [goa trance/psytrance]

Paragliders - Oasis [1995] [classic trance]

Ascension - Someone (Slacker's Rolling mix) [1998] [progressive trance/anthem trance]

Pob - Boiler (Humate mix) [1998] [progressive trance]

Shakta - Silicon Trip [1997] [goa trance/psytrance]

Underworld - Two Months Off [2002] [progressive trance/deep trance]

{arguable - Progressive house}

Armin Van Buuren - Blue Fear [1996] [progressive trance]

Jurgen Paape - Mit Dir [2002] [minimal trance/neo-trance]

{arguable - melodic minimal house/microhouse}

Claude Vonstroke - Who's Afraid of Detroit? [2006] [minimal trance/neo-trance]

Astral Projection - Dancing Galaxy [1997] [psytrance/goa trance]

Art of Trance - Octopus [1994]

Moby - Go [1992] [classic trance]

Ronald Klinkenberg - Inner Laugh (James Holden mix) [2004] [deep trance/progressive trance]

{arguable: progressive house}

Clanger - Seadog [1994] [classic trance/acid trance]

Solar Stone - Seven Cities [1999] [ibiza trance]

Technique - Sun is Shining (Mash Up Matt mix) [1999] [anthem trance/epic trance]

Circuit - Transport Of Love [1994] [classic trance]

Gouryella - Gouryella [1998] [anthem trance/epic trance]

Etnica - Spheric Concept [1996] [goa trance/psytrance]

Pulser - Cloudwalking [1999] [anthem trance/epic trance]

Moogwai - Viola (Armin Van Buuren mix) [2001] [anthem trance/epic trance]

Tilt Vs. Paul Van Dyk - Rendezvous [1997] [anthem trance]

Way Out West - The Gift [1995] [ambient trance/breaktrance]

{arguable - ambient breaks}

Goldenscan - Sunrise (DJ Tiesto mix) [1999] [anthem trance/epic trance]

DJ Misjah & DJ Tim - Access [1995] [hard acid trance/classic trance]

Union Jack - Two Full Moons and a Trout (Caspar Pound mix) [1993]

Genlog - Airwalk [1995] [classic trance/hard trance]

Pantha Du Prince - Walden [2006] [minimal trance/neo-trance]

{arguable - "minimal"}

Push - Universal Nation [1999] [anthem trance]

Art of Trance - The Colours (Indigo mix) [1993] [classic trance]

Schiller - Das Glockenspiel (Humate mix) [1998] [progressive trance]

Bedrock - Heaven Scent [1999] [progressive trance]

{arguable: progressive house}

Leama - Requiem For a Dream [2003] [ambient trance]

Motorcycle - As The Rush Comes [2003] [deep trance]

{arguable - progressive house}

Nathan Fake - Outhouse [2004] [deep trance/progressive trance/neo-trance]

{arguable - progressive house}

Airwave - Alone in the Dark [2000] [progressive trance/anthem trance]

X-Tracks - Plan 94 (The Voyage) [1994] [classic trance]

I love this song: it's like the musical equivalent of piloting a flying saucer. That melody at the end makes me feel like I'm falling to earth through an atmosphere of endless clouds.

Barbarella - My Name is Barbarella [1992] [classic trance/ambient trance]

{arguable - Ambient techno}

Alibi - Eternity [2000] [anthem trance/tribal trance]

York - The Reachers of Civilization [1999] [epic trance/anthem trance]

Caucasuss - Our Dream [1994] [classic trance]

Cydonia - Cactus [1999] [goa trance/psytrance]

DJ Taucher - Atlantis [Phase 3] [1998] [anthem trance]

The Visions of Shiva - How Much Can You Take? (Physical) [1993] [classic trance]

Drum Club - Sound System (Underworld Mix) [1995] [classic trance/progressive trance]

Man With No Name - Silicon Trip [1996] [psytrance/goa trance]

Chicane - Salt Water [1999] [epic trance/ibiza trance]

Ultraviolet - Kites (Fantasy Flite Part 1) [1995] [progressive trance/ambient trance/epic trance]

{arguable - ambient breaks}

Efdemin - Bergwein [2007] [minimal trance/neo-trance]

Starecase - Faith (Loafer mix) [2002] [epic trance/progressive trance]

Lost Tribe - Angel [1997] [progressive trance]

{arguable - ambient breaks/progressive breaks}

Signum - Solar Level [1999] [epic trance]

Dove Beat - La Palorma [1998] [epic trance/ibiza trance]

Art of Trance - Deeper Than Deep [1993] [classic trance]

Booka Shade - Mandarine Girl [2005] [neo-trance/minimal trance]

{arguable - electro-house}

Above and Beyond - No One on Earth (Gabriel and Dresden mix) [2004] [progressive trance]

Riva - Stringer [2001] [progressive trance]

Claude Vonstroke - Who's Afraid of Detroit? [2006] [minimal trance/neo-trance]

Hardfloor - Lost in the Silver Box [1993] [acid trance/classic trance]

{arguable - acid}

Johnny Shaker - Pearl River [1997] [anthem trance]

Groovezone - I Love the Music [1998] [epic trance]

Coincedentally, another lost treasure that no one has ever heard of.

Dominic Plaza - Sounds Rushing (David West mix) [2005] [epic trance]

James Holden - A Break in the Clouds [2002] [neo-trance/minimal trance]

{arguable - progressive house}

DJ Tiesto - Dallas 4 PM [2001] [anthem trance]

Kamaya Painters - Wasteland (DJ Hitchhiker mix)[2000] [epic trance]

Blue Planet Corporation - Alidate [1999] [psytrance/goa trance]

Chicane - Lost You Somewhere [1998] [Ibiza trance]

Kaito - Soul of Heart [2004] [neo-trance]

{arguable - tech-house(?)}

Aztec Mystic - Night of the Jaguar [1999] [tech-trance]

{arguable - detroit techno}

James Holden vs. Ben Pound - Kaern Turned [tech-trance]

Arpeggiators - Discover Your Innerself [1993] [classic trance]

Juno Reactor - Samurai [1994] [goa trance/psytrance]

Libra Presents Taylor - Anomaly - Calling Your Name [AKA BT ft. Jan Johnson] [1995] [classic trance/progressive trance]

Ramin - Brainticket [1993] [classic trance]

Pole Folder - Apollo Vibes [2001] [deep trance]

{arguable - progressive house}

Free Radical - Surreal (En-Motion Remix) [2001] [anthem trance]

M.I.K.E. - Sunrise at Palamos [2000] [anthem trance]

Blue Planet Corporation - Crystal [1999] [psytrance/goa trance]

Solid Globe - North Pole [epic trance/anthem trance]

Chimera - Hypnotising [2002] [progressive trance/deep trance]

{arguable - progressive house}

Spicelab - Amorph [1992]

L.S.G. - Train of Thought 1.2

Joker Jam - Innocence [2001] (progressive trance/anthem trance)

Cosmic Baby - Fantasia (Airplay) [1994] [classic trance]

Rui Da Silva - Touch Me [2001] [deep trance]

{arguable - progressive house}

Guy Gerber & Shlomi Aber - Sea of Sand [2007] [neo-trance/minimal trance]

{arguable - "minimal"}

VDM - No Hesitation

James Holden - One For You (Avus One For Heads mix) [2001]

Petter - All Together [2004] [deep trance/neo-trance]

{arguable - minimal techno/progressive house}

Cherry Bomb - Eclipse [1994]

Vernon - Wonderer [1993]

Moonbeam - Sunshine [2007] [neo-trance/minimal trance]

{arguable - "minimal"}

Blank and Jones - Nightclubbing [2001]

Filterheadz - Yimanya [2004]

Faithless - Insomnia [1996] [anthem trance]

{arguable: stadium house}

Minilogue - Elephant's Parade [2007] [neo-trance/minimal trance]

{arguable - "minimal"}

Evolution - Phoenix

Quench - Dreams [1993]

AFX - VBS.Redlof.B

Partial Arts - Trauermusik [2007] [minimal trance/neo-trance]

{arguable - minimal}

Gypsy - I Trance You [1998]

Breeder - Tyrantanic (Slacker's Kingdom Come Mix)

{arguable - progressive breaks}

Man With No Name - Teleport

The Light - Expand The Room [1997]

{arguable - progressive house}

Odyssee of Noises - Troya [1993]

Bille Ray Martin - Honey (Chicane club mix) [1999]

Dynamic Maniax - Calling Middle Earth

{arguable - hardcore(???)}

Agnelli & Nelson - El Nino [1998]

Alex Smoke - Chica Wappa (Mejor edit) [2005]

Juno Reactor - Samurai [1994]

Marmion - Schoneburg (Man with No Name mix) [1994]

Yahel - Going Up (trance mix) [1999]

Chicane - Don't Give Up

Albion - Air

030 - Midnight in Europe

{arguable - progressive house}

LSG - Into Deep

LN Movement - Golden Desert [2000]

The Visions of Shiva - Perfect Day [1992]

Perpetuous Dreamer - Future Funland

ATB - 9 PM (Till I Come) [1998] [ibiza trance]

West & Storm - Porpoise

{arguable - hardcore (apparently)}

Solar Stone - Solarcoaster

Juno Reactor - Feel the Universe (Kox Box mix) [1994]

Airwave & Markus Schulz - Angelica [2006]

Oliver Klein - Rheinkraft (Ian Wilkie remix) [2001]

{arguable - techno}

James Holden - I Have Put Out The Light [2002]

{arguable - progressive house}

Space Manoeuvres - Part 1

{arguable - progressive breaks}

Max Graham - Airtight [2001] [progressive trance]

Transa - Supernova

Aril Brikha - Winter [2007] [minimal trance/neo-trance]

{arguable - "minimal"}

Aura - Energy Transpose

{arguable - acid}

Atlantis - Fiji (Cequenza mix) [1998] [epic trance]

Extrawelt - Soopertrack [2005] [minimal trance/neo-trance/psytrance]

{arguable - progressive house/minimal}

Kamaya Painters - Summerbreeze [2000]

Blue Minds - Aquapunch (3 In One Mix)

Paul Van Dyk - Columbia (PvD mix) [1999] [anthem trance/tech-trance]

The Green Martian - Industry [2001] [anthem trance/tech-trance]

Catcher - Destiny Sunrise [2003] [ambient trance]

Paul Van Dyk - My World [1994]

This is a really gorgeous track, that was completely overshadowed by Van Dyk's other 1994 masterpiece: For an Angel. Understandably overshadowed, but this one is pretty good too.

Caunos - Herzsprung 1 [1993] [classic trance]

Resistance D - Cosmic Love [1991] [classic trance]

Veracocha - Carte Blanche [1998]

Tiesto & Junkie XL - Obsession

Lazy Fat People - Club Silencio [2007] [minimal trance/neo-trance]

X-Cabs - Neuro [1995]

Juno - A Force Beyond [1995] [classic trance]

Cygnus X - The Orange Theme [1994] [anthem trance]

Jam & Spoon - Find Me (Odyssey to Anooya) [1993] [ibiza trance]

Listen to it beside Love Stimulation, and you'll notice...similarities. But I don't know which came first, and this track is pretty good anyway.

Airwave - Escape From Nowhere

Marc Vision - Time Gate (Original Mix) [1999]

Ticon - We Are the Mammoth Hunters [2001] [psytrance/goa trance/minimal psy/psytekk]

Blue Alphabet - Cybertrance

Y Traxx - Mysteryland [1999] [ibiza trance]

Blank and Jones - Watching the Waves [2002]

Jon the Dentist - Global Phases

{arguable - acid}

Cortex Thrill - Deep Infinity

Moby - Porcelain [1999]

{arguable - ambient breaks}

Sven Vath - Ritual of Life (The Spicelab mix)

Quivver - She Does

Berlin Inc - Berlin (Peace Mix)

{arguable - hardcore???}

William Orbit - Barber's Adagio for Strings [1999]

Jones & Stephenson - Gummiringe [1998]

Agnelli & Nelson - Everyday

Morgan King - I'm Free

{arguable - progressive breaks/ambient breaks}

Sasha - Belfunk

{arguable - progressive house}

Mash Up - Liberation (Ferry Corsten Remix)

Mekka - Diamondback

Legend B - Lost in Love [1993]

Minimalistix - Close Cover

BT - Flaming June [1997]

Lucid - I Can't Help Myself

Dawnseekers - Gothic Dream (Jon Johnson Remix) [2001]

Sasha - Cloud Cuckoo (Luke Chable mix) [2004]

Paul van Dyk - Reflections [2003]

Nalin & Kane - Open Your Eyes [2000]

Lange - I believe (DJ Tandu mix) [1999] [epic trance]

The Swimmer - Purple Cloud

Mauro Picotto - Komodo

Union Jack - Cactus

Cygnus X - Positron [1993]

The Quest - C Sharp [1999]

Moonstruck - Lunar Outbreak [1998]

Max Graham - Airtight [2001]

The Ambush - Sun

Ayla - Ayla [1996]

Blaze - My Beat (Ambassador Remix) [2002]

Andain - Summer Calling [2002]

{arguable - progresive house}

Sensient - File Not Found [psytrance/minimal psy] [2003]

Push - The Legacy

Oceanlab - Clear Blue Water [2001]

Ferry Corsten - Punk [2002]

Dance 2 Trance - Power of American Natives

Andain - Beautiful Things [2003]

{arguable - progressive house}

Odysee of Noises - Circe [1991]

Kernkraft 400 - Zombie Nation

{arguable - electro-techno???}

Da Hool - Meet Her at the Love Parade

Deep Dish - Say Hello [2005]

{arguable - progressive house}

Alici - Silver Clouds In A Yellow Sky

The Roc Project - Never (TiÃƒÂ«sto vs. Filterheadz Remix)

BT - Godspeed

Synergy - Hello Strings

Psychic TV - Infinite Beat

BT - Dreaming (Lucid mix)

Jan Johnson - Flesh (Tiesto mix)

Airscape - L'Esperanza

Ridgewalkers - Find (Andy Moor mix)

{arguable - progressive house}

Robert Gitelman - Things 2 Say (Push mix)

Josh Wink - Higher State of Consciousness

{arguable - acid breaks}

Andy Ling - Fixation

Cascade - Transcend

Fragma - Toca's Miracle [2000] [[epic trance]]

DJ Yanny - Initialize

Demonic Emotions - Stuck on a Space Trip

{arguable - acid}

Gouryella - Walhalla

Mauro Picotto - Proximus

Der Dritte Raum - Hale Bopp

Cass & Slide - Perception (Vocal Mix)

Allure - When She Left [1998] [epic trance]

This is a lost treasure - many of you will have never heard of this. An earlier Tiesto track, but it's epic, melodic, gorgeous, and everything Tiesto wishes he could now do. If a bit too fluffy.

Jericho - Personal Reflexion

Three Drives - Air Traffic [2003]

Gabriel & Dresden - Arcadia

Alphazone - Rockin [2003]

Ballroom - 4AM (Marc O'Tool Remix)

Tekara - Breathe in You [1997]

L.S.G. - I'm Not Existing

Flutlicht - Icarus (The Flight)

Plummet - Damaged

Darude - Sandstorm [1999] [anthem trance]

This track is not a sellout, and it deserves much of the popular support it got. There is not one element to this track that panders to the masses any more than the rest of the anthem trance. I'll admit, there are better tunes that should also be imported to the mainstream, but this track is still pretty good.

Apoptygma Berserk - Kathy's Song (Ferry Corsten mix)

Digital Express - The Club

Three Drives - Sunset on Ibiza

Mono Culture - Free

Fluke - Zion

Underworld - Dinosaur Adventure 3D

Spoiled and Zigo - More and More

Paul Van Dyk - Connected

Nikola Gala - Swing 2 Harmony

{arguable - progressive house}

808 State - Colony [1992]

Hi-Gate - Pitchin'

Solid Sessions - Janeiro

Fascinated - Totally Fascinated [which is another Push/M.I.K.E alias] [2004]

Evolution - Phoenix

Cloud 69 - Sixty-Nine Ways

Tastexperience - Tantrix

Marco V - Simulated

Steve Morley - Reincarnations

Push - Till We Meet Again

White Room - White Room

Utah Saints - Lost Vagueness (Oliver Lieb mix)

Miro - Paradise

Tiesto - Sparkles

Micah - Grammer Lesson

Coast 2 Coast ft Discovery - Home

4 Strings - Diving (Cosmic Gate mix)

Sasha - Wavy Gravy [ambient trance]

Juno Reactor - Pistolero (Man With no Name mix)

Tin Tin Out - Strings for Yasmin (Matt Darey mix)

Art of Trance - Easter Island (Cygnus X mix)

Electrique Boutique - Revelation

Gouryella - Ligaya

Tranquility Base - Surrender [2004]

Yahel - Waves of Sound

Telepopmusik - Breathe

Dirty Vegas - Days Go By

Dirt Devils - The Drill

Neum - Meet You At the Milk Bar

Mike Koglin - The Silence

Tomaz vs. Filterheadz - Sunshine [2002]

{arguable - techno}

Tilt - The World Doesn't Know

{arguable - progressive}

Gouryella - Tenshi

Tastexperience - Summersault

Solid Globe - Sahara

Super8 - Alba

Transa - Enervate

Sash! - Encore Une Fois {I'm sorry to everyone I grilled on this - it is definitely, inarguably, trance, I've decided on another relisten. I have no idea how I could've possibly thought this to be eurodance.}

Underworld - Cowgirl

Jen - Loops and Tings

Voodoo & Serano - Blood is Pumping

Cosmic Baby - Space Track

De Niro - Mind of Man

BT - Mercury and Solace

Oliver Lieb - Subraumstimulation

Baracoa - Delirio (Venus Mix)

Armin Van Buuren - Communicate

Accessive Rhythm - Activate

Fridge - Paradise

Lightforce - Take Your Time

Ambush - Ambush 2

Mesh - Purple Haze

Refekt ft. Deline Bass - Need to Feel loved [2004]

Cosmic Gate - Exploration of Space

Effective Force - Diamond Bullet [1992]

Sunflower - Cold Turkey

Drax Limited 2 - Amphetamine

BBE - Seven Days and One Week

Slacker - Looky Thing (Daisy)

Space Manoevres - Quadrant 4

Robert Miles - Children [1996] [dream trance]

{arguable - dream house}

Mainstream success or not, I still think it's a pretty good track.

Amnesia - Ibiza (Not really trance, it's actually EBM - the direct predecessor, but this track was so influential that it at least gets this much mention)

Blank and Jones - Electric Circus [2001]

Cabala - Dark Blue [1999]

Coca + Villa - La noche

Brainbug - Rain

World Clique - Don't Do It

Vector 7 - Air of Love [2002]

Underworld - Thing in a Book [1992]

Astral Projection - Aqua Line Spirit

Jonas Steur - Castamara [2005]

Commander Tom - Attention! [2004]

Rapid Eye - Circa Forever [2002]

Tim Deluxe - Choose Something like a Star

Quivver - Space Manoevres part 3

Chiller Twist - Stringz Ultd. (Shelley Mix)

Faithless - God is a DJ

Lightforce - Join me

Rank 1 - Beats at Rank 1 dot com

Storm - Storm

Society London - Spqr

Lustral - Everytime

DJ Tiesto - Theme From Norejfell

Emmanuel Top - Acid Phase

Blank and Jones - Cream

Arrakis - The Spice

Chicane - Sunstroke

Kyau vs. Albert - Velvet Morning [2003]

T-Scanner - Trip To Heaven

Lio - Rapture

Sander Kleinenberg - Sacred (Sunrise Mix)

Paul Van Dyk - Nothing But You

The Dream Traveller - Time

Paragliders - Bagdad (Humate mix)

ATB - Don't Stop

Lord of Tranz - Sanctificum

Kaycee - Escape

Carlos - The Silmarillia

Dance 2 Trance - Take a Freefall

Warrior (ft. Imogen Bailey) - If You Want Me

Fathers of Sound - Water

Tiesto - Flight 643

Kuffdam - Summerdream

The Voyager - Back on Earth

_Note: "Not trance at all, but excellent tracks" removals:

The Orb - Little Fluffy Clouds [1991] [ambient trance]

This is ambient house, and not even slightly definable as trance. I foolishly left it on the list for so long that I didn't want to remove it. I was quite foolish.).

This is one of only 3 ambient anything tracks to ever reach the top 40 charts (correct me if I'm wrong on this one). It was a runaway hit when released in 1990 (although I don't know if it ever reached North America), Little Fluffy Clouds was another major influence on the formation of the trance genre. Catchy melodies, ambient synths, and an interesting vocal sample, combined with the trademark Orb atmosphere make this another incredible classic.

808 State - Pacific State [1989] (it's actually house)

Orbital - Chime [1990] (rave)

Layo & Bushwacka! - Love Story [2002] (progressive house)

Ulrich Schnauss - Kneuddelmaus (very melodic IDM)

Force Legato - System [1989] (EBM)

DJ Hooligan - Hear You Now [2002] (Note: I had this track confused with Starecase - Faith (Loafer mix) for 4 years, and only discovered it today. I heard the actual track. I don't really like it. Besides, it's not even close to being trance. More like ambient pop, the sort of thing I always imagined when I heard the term [the actual genre sounds nothing like this, it's really just ambient/chillout with yet another flashy title] )

Cass & Mangan - Green Eggs [2005] (progressive house/tech-house)

Felix da Housecat - Watching Cars Go By (electro-house/electroclash)

Orbital - One Perfect Sunrise

Ian Van Dahl - Castles in the Sky

P.O.S. - Remember [2003]

Paul Van Dyk - Forbidden Fruit

The Horrorist - One Night in New York City (it's seriously just techno)

Sander Kleinenberg - The Fruit [2004] (Electro-house, inarguably)

Dark Suite - Dark Sweet Piano (Wally Lopez mix) (not trance at all)

Recent Removals: [derivative, cheesy, annoying, undanceable, and/or undeniable not trance/entrancing, it all goes in here]

Pulp Victim - The World [1998]

Rank 1 - Airwave

Delerium ft Sarah Machlachlan - Silence (Tiesto mix) [2000]

Benny Benassi - Satisfaction [2003]

{arguable - electro-house}

Alice Deejay - Better Off Alone [1998]

Planet Perfecto - Bullet in the Gun

Ferry Corsten - Rock Your Body Rock [2003]

DJ Shog - Another World {Quite possibly one of the worst producer names of all time. Besides the fact that putting "DJ" before your alias is ****ing idiotic, "Shog" is probably the stupidest slang term ever invented. Totally inappropriate too, considering it's an ebonic word: this is about the equivalent of a trance artist named DJ Murda-Thug. Only "shog" has no street cred as a colloquialism (ie: only wiggers say it), so it's like calling yourself DJ Fuzzy Street Soldja, playing fluffy trance, and thinking you're pretty hardcore. The track is also terrible.)

Delerium - After All (Svenson & Gielson mix) [2004]

Aquagen - Summer is Calling

Oakenfold - Southern Sun (Tiesto mix)

4 Strings - Sunrise

Tenth Planet - Ghosts

System F - Out of the Blue

Kamaya Painters - Endless Wave [2000] [epic trance]

Oceanlab - Satellite

White Room - Someday

Adam White - Ballerina

System F - Indian Summer

Johan Kivi - Clouds

Orson W - Ilse

Minimalistix - Struggle for Pleasure

Note: the 447 original comments were erased due to bandwidth problems on listology. They can be downloaded here for anyone who really cares.

Author Comments:
For (another) particularly good trance list on listology, check out
Blind's list

For another alternate opinion on the best trance music, check out: TranceAddict's list. His ideas are very different from mine, I don't agree with quite a few of his top tracks, but if he thought exactly what I did, what would the point be of making a list? Worth checking out.