Ruby Trance Volume 9

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I think that last year we started the cover notes with “It had not been our intention to do another Double CD”. The same applies to this year. But when we got down to business, our “short list” was in excess of 120 tracks, so the concept of a single CD became difficult to realise.

The range of Trance continues to expand, with the concept of Epic Trance gaining a lot of ground. Sadly, one of the greatest exponents of Epic Trance, an artist named Andy Blueman has decided to hang up his headphones, and just focus his energies on film scores. Given the beauty and majesty of the music he has produced so far, this man has a great future in film. Ruby Trance Volume Nine features two examples from this master.

The digital explosion has impacted the music scene to such an extent that the music we play is no longer produced on vinyl. This year all the music we auditioned for the CD was digital. We have also noted the push to “compress” or optimise the sound to make it suitable for listening on iPods and similar. The sound has become harsher with vocals often being strident. Compressing the sound is this manner was not possible when using vinyl, so the loss of vinyl has impacted the music twofold.

The composers have also taken to introducing unusual sounds in their tracks so do not be surprised at what you hear, particularly in Jet Stream.

The remix we present of “Love You More” was a bootleg produced by Daniel Kandi. We believe that its inclusion on Ruby Trance Volume Nine is the first time it has been commercially released.

Disarm Yourself has only just been released and is the latest hit from Emma Hewitt. It is a fitting sequel to Waiting.

Mannes Song features a haunting guitar, and sends chills down our spine each time we hear it.

The peak track of our Album is “Arctic Kiss”. The exquisite vocals of Tiff Lacey floating on the top of the music will bring tears to your eyes. Turn the volume up in the quiet section to really experience the lushness of this music.

Our closing track, Florescence, is from Andy Blueman. In the lovely quiet passage in the middle, turn it up very loud, close your eyes, and be transported on the wings of this music; across fields; across vistas; across mountain ranges. Only then will you appreciate the true beauty of this masterpiece.