Above and Beyond – Anjunabeats Vol 4 and 5

Unh Tis Unh Tis Unh Tis Repeat

Within the somewhat psychedelic world of trance music Jono Grant and Paavo Siljamäki, better known as Above and Beyond, often garner acclaim as two of the most recognized artists in the genre. It comes as no surprise then, that their most recent endeavors in the series of mixes, Volumes 4 and 5, pick up on the tradition of exceptional trance music. Exploring a diverse group of respected artists from their parent label (also known as Anjunabeats), while promoting the music of relatively young producers and DJs such as Major Levi and Daniel Kandi, Above and Beyond deliver a surprisingly dynamic record.By and large, Anjunabeats is nothing short of a banger; every track is highly danceable while retaining an atmospheric structure that seems to fill any environment, becoming a soundscape unto itself. Grant and Siljamäki are able to seamlessly blend lush textures with pulsing electronic beats, notably on the track “Buzz”. However, Anjunabeats transcends the generic club trance scene, often focusing on harmonic structure and tonalities as visible in tracks such as “5” mixed by Aalto and “Aria Epica” by the Signalrunners. In this instance, the underlying bass section fades out, allowing the artist to experiment with the interaction of various ambient drones. The album at times bears certain similarities to the minimalist techno present on From Here We Go Sublime, the debut album by The Field.

ame Above and Beyond mix seamless transitions between every track; the album therefore becomes a somewhat organic entity, allowing the viewer to chart its progression and evolution. Above and Beyond have raised the bar on what constitutes noteworthy trance and solidified their reputation within the genre.