As part of their multi-faceted celebrations of 20 years of their label Anjunabeats, famed trance trio Above & Beyond have unveiled yet another tremendous compilation in the form of the fifteenth edition of their widely-acclaimed ‘Volume’ series. A 34-track mix, Anjunabeats Volume 15 sums up the latest sounds in progressive trance, with their twin Anjunadeep and Anjunabeats labels sharing one disc each. Much like previous installments of the collection, label stalwarts like Spencer Brown, Alpha 9, Andrew Bayer, Jason Ross and Genix find a spot on the two-and-a-half-hour selection.
Disc 1 sees the deeper side of trance shine, featuring the lighthearted ‘Lost In You’ from Marsh, Marcus Schössow and Matthew Felner with ‘By Your Side’ and ‘Surreal’ under their ‘gardenstate’ alias, and Spencer Brown and Alpha 9’s second collaboration with ‘Ariel’. Freely flowing from one bassline to another, the 16 tracks on Disc 1 make for the perfect repertoire of soothing deep trance.
Disc 2 emphasizes the more well-known classic Anjunabeats sound, as label bosses Above & Beyond secure five productions of their own, alongside a couple from Alpha 9, Andrew Bayer and Genix. A&B’s ‘I Saw Good’ from ABGT350 finds its lucid synths soaring in the beginning of the mix, paving the way for a melodic beauty in ‘Friend’ from Alpha 9 and MUVY, progressive goodness in ‘Sacrifice’ from Oliver Smith and the anthemic collaboration between Cosmic Gate and Andrew Bayer, ‘The Launch’. Near the end of the mix, A&B return with a dirty instrumental ‘Crash’, while member Jono Grant lends his vocals on ‘Diving Out Of Love’.
With the sheer quality of each tune on the compilation, it’s clear that the curation process wasn’t easy. With Tony McGuinness taking the reigns (and having to buy a new laptop to accommodate for more storage space), a shortlist of nearly 50 tunes was narrowed down to the final 34, making for Tony’s favorite compilation from the label in some time.
Above & Beyond are especially aware of the timing of this release, hoping for it to serve as light in the midst of the global pandemic which has affected numerous members of the Anjunafamily. They say, “The rug has been pulled from under us all as we battle this unprecedented global situation. From isolation comes motivation, however, and it’s time to revisit a trusted friend: the Anjunabeats Volume series. We dedicate this mix to you, our Anjunafamily, and in particular to those who are facing hardship at the moment. Stay strong, we will dance together again soon.“