How life can be beautiful. I am realizing it right now, chilling out in de the sun with my laptop and some trance on my third-floor office-apartment balcony.
And a small week ago, six days to be precisely, I was thinking the same. Although there was no sun, I was still enjoying life and marvellous trance flowing into my ears.
I am talking about ASOT, or A State Of Trance. Not only just a saying, also Armin van Buuren’s brilliant radio show (every Thursday-night from 8 pm till 10 pm at www.Di.fm). And to finish it of, one of the best party’s I’ve experienced in 2007!
I arrived quite late (around 17.30) due to some partying the night before (Bassleader) and people not hurrying enough. A bit sad knowing I’d be missing part of Menno de Jong, but also very excited because I heard on the radio that the atmosphere and music over there at Pettelaarse Schans (who came up with that name?
) were brilliant! Anyway, arriving at 17.30 meant queuing for half an hour before I got in, thanks to a smaller stage and more people than expected (I guess).
So, while stressing out because of missing Menno de Jong and starving at the same time (I hadn’t had any breakfast yet), I eventually got in!
Time to rush forward immediately, because Marcel Woods was spinning his records, shooting very nice trance at us! First thing I noticed was the good quality of the sound. Big deep basses, but also loud high tones, all in perfect balance. Quite a performance for an outdoor party I think! Happy I had my earplugs with me, otherwise it would’ve hurt. Literally. A girl in front of me wasn’t very happy with the sound and the subwoofers doing their thing
Mister Woods
After elbowing myself through the crowd I found myself upfront, right behind some Marcel Woods-fanclub from (I guess) Brazil! People from Brasil, all the way to Holland for a party. And we’re complaining if we have to drive 2 hours. Spoiled, that’s what we are!
Looking around I saw lots of foreign people in the crowd. At one time I found myself standing with a Greek girl on the left, and a girl from Czech Republic on the right! I also saw people from Italy, the UK, Australia and some other countries.
Besides the fact that most of them were girls and pretty (I am a man after all), I also loved them for being so enthusiastic. Screaming, dancing, taking photos, enjoying. You could almost see ‘happiness’ written on their foreheads. Yeah, exactly like at Trance Energy, I found that foreigners are very good for the atmosphere! Quite logic if you realize they have maybe 5 opportunities per year to see the big DJ’s.
Oh where was I, Marcel Woods. The party got me hooked within seconds, standing in such an amazing crowd, loving every second of them being @ ASOT. In the meantime Woods was going for it with records like Cherry Blossom, Advanced, Greece 2000 and King of my Castle. And not like he just threw some records on, no! Some cool mixing, tricks, teasing the crowd with holding back at crucial moments as well. And, very important, he enjoyed himself as well. A big smile on his face, clapping, laughing. Great to see a DJ enjoy as much as you are doing at that moment!
After more clapping, cheering, jumping (as in up and down, not the other thing), dancing en loving trance, it was time for the next big name. Al the way from the USA (or Germany), they had arranged Markus Schulz to do his thing in that packed little tent on a star-shaped Island in party-country number 1.
The German American
Since Markus’s fantastic set @ Trance Energy 2007 I’ve been listening to more of his sets and his radio show (at Global DJ Broadcast, also di.fm, the 2 hours before ASOT). His sound is totally different from the trance I’ve listened to years and years ago, but also very good. Very relaxing, smooth, making you wanna float away on a big pink cloud
So, I was very much looking forward to his set. Most people in the crowd went crazy just seeing him appear behind the decks, proving he’s one of the most ‘wanted’ Trance-DJ’s at the moment. Armin told us in his radio show Markus and Menno de Jong were most requested for the line-up, so again proof.
As his set started, loads of people seemed to come to the front especially for Markus, making it just that bit more crowded that was left possible
But again, good for the atmosphere. Markus started of wit some calm tracks, like we know him from the GDB-sets. Only then he has two hours time, now he had only one. This slowly building up took me a bit too long, so time to grab a bite, a drink, and say hello to some friends.Of course, I could have known, not the best decision. Friends telling me his set was very good, and I myself liked the second part better than the first after downloading the set. I’m going to have to give myself a second chance at Mysteryland or so I’m afraid
Ultimate joy!
In the meantime Mister Armin van Buuren himself had taken place behind the decks. Exciting for me, since I am a fan, and never heard him play live before! So within a short time I found myself upfront again, experiencing one of the best trance sets I’ve ever heard. Enjoying a great set with a gorgeous girl in my arms. Despite the tiredness, I could have party’d on ‘till the next morning! The whole picture was just mind-blowing, so fucking incredible.
Brilliant records, a crowd going nuts, Armin himself almost constantly clapping and bowing to us for being such an amazing crowd, the crowd itself starting to clap almost every other record. They say house is a feeling. Then what is trance, if it’s more than ‘a’ feeling? That sensitive music, people, joy and happiness all around, it brought tears to my eyes. Not only knowing the party would be over within two hours, but also from pure joy! I’m starting to love trance more and more.
The ending of his set was also very worth mentioning. It started of with banging beats at Communication Part 3, which Armin played in an awesome way. Slow and relatively quiet pieces, but full mind-blowing at other moments. De subs were pumping at full level, making me shiver.
A couple of minutes earlier I was thinking to myself ‘hmm I didn’t hear Anthem yet. Did I miss it, or did they somehow forgot to bring this record?’
And what does this hero Armin do. He throws Anthem on! What a great way to end my night.
Love flowing through the tent, people singing along, a cute little girl dancing on the stage. Again a perfect picture!As sad as I was after Anthem, the party ending, Armin again made true his favourite-status by throwing on another record. This time an old one, as I was hoping for. We deserve a classic of the week, like in the radio show, right?
I remember once seeing a little video clip of Tiesto performing at the first edition of Sensation, playing Yahel - Voyage. A beautiful record, classis trance.
And thanks to Armin, I finally got to hear it live! Voyage would be the final record, the last piece, the ending of ASOT 300. I can’t wait for next year’s edition!
Trance Energy, the radio show, and this ASOT 300 made me rediscover how beautiful trance can be. And being at a trance party, is one of the moments I realize life can be beautiful as well!
Steven
