The year 2001 has certainly been a mixed bag in terms of the electronic music scene, and has perhaps been the only genre of music to have really evolved within just the past 2 years. With a multitude of DJ continuous mixes filling the racks, it can be extremely difficult to decide or what you want to gain from a particular mix or album. There have been some amazing mixes this year which have shown the true depth and diversity that only electronic music can bring a listener. Electronic music is a broad term encompassing several subgenres, the most popular being trance, progressive house, drum n bass, jungle, and down-tempo/trip-hop. The year 2001 has certainly been the year of dark beats when it comes to progressive trance and house. This all encompassing new style was mainly influenced by the Global Underground Nubreed series (featuring stunning mixes by Anthony Pappa, Danny Howells, and Steve Lawler) as well as several delights offered by American DJs Chris Fortier, Taylor, Sandra Collins and Jimmy Van M. With the release of John Digweed’s Global Underground in Los Angeles early this year, the trance scene was shown the future of electronic music in all its glorious glum. This showed that the dance floors were now demanding a higher class/less cheesier style of electronic music. However despite this change in direction on the dance floors, producers and djs of years past (Such as Paul Van Dyk and Ferry Corsten) have now shown that adding a melody now and then is not going against the grain, but in some cases, offering a shining light into the dark underworld of modern progressive mixes. Despite several brilliant releases, it seems that deep driving bass fueled mixes are here to stay. 

My picks for the top 10 electronic mixes and albums of the year would have to be the following (in order of personal favorite)

1.) Max Graham - Transport 4:
This English born DJ spent most of his time spinning tracks in the desolate wilderness of Canada for the past several years allowing himself to create quite a unique style of mixing for himself. Upon receiving an offer to join the long list of former Tranceport DJs (Including Paul Oakenfold, Dave Ralph, and Sandra Collins), the series was renamed to Transport in order to allow more room for diversity in the series. Favoring melody, vocals, and ambient atmospheres over the current trends, Graham shows that the transport name change was not undue. Graham spins a truly beautiful progressive set perfectly balanced with several of his own stirring tunes (“Tell you” and “Shoreline” are excellent, and sure to be floor fillers). Always light and never completely overpowering, play this one loud and over and over again.
2.) Paul Van Dyk – The Politics of Dancing:
This album by PVD is different from every single other prior release of his because it is the first mix album the renowned German producer has ever compiled. He said that he was always hesitant to release such an album because he felt that mix albums try too hard to imitate the real experience – which he feels can never be brought via a CD player. Therefore, he decided to focus on making his first mix CD something tuned towards the home listener. Selecting only his favorite club tracks, he stripped each tune into the basic elements he required to carry the groove and implemented his trademark bass drums and hands in the air style. Although it is a very commercial release, PVD is able to keep the cheese factor low, and show the world that he is still one of the greatest trance producers of the century.
3.) Sandra Collins – Cream:
Proclaimed the greatest female trance DJ in the world, Sandra Collins does not fail to please. Her Tranceport 3 contribution marked her first big release since her Lost in Time mix almost 5 years ago, and her latest mix for the superclub Cream only catapults her status higher. Collins spins a delightfully dark set which is very reminiscent of Digweed’s LA release however easily surpass it emotionally. The last 4 songs will send your mind spinning into the night in a flurry of burning ash.
4.) Taylor – Synesthesia:
LA based DJ Taylor seemed to surprise almost all of us this year. After playing a extremely “safe” set for his Ministry Trance Nation America release with Jimmy Van M, it seemed that Taylor’s commercially domineering disk was overshadowed by the hauntingly more intriguing Jimmy Van M disk 2. This should’ve been the first sign of the times. Realizing that the world of progressive trance was rapidly evolving, Taylor released Synesthesia which would inevitably blow everyone’s expectations of him as a DJ out of the water. Deep and driving, Taylor starts his mix strong and relentless, never letting his mood let up, even for a moment. By the end of his first disk, your mind is left virtually breathless. The second disk continues his perilous ride and only hooks you into listening to his release over and over again. Definitely a landmark of the 2001 trance revolution and must be heard by any means necessary. Deeply satisfying.
5.) Jimmy Van M – Bedrock:
When John Digweed released his bedrock mix in late 1999, most would’ve agreed that his progressive masterpiece would be a hard act to follow. But who better to follow that line than Digweed’s set opener Jimmy Van M! Jimmy Van M has long opened for such acts as Sasha and Digweed at NYC’s infamous Twilo, and his style of spinning as shown on his Trance Nation America release show that he was well prepared for the 2001 electronic music movement. This follow up to Digweed’s Bedrock is more experimental in the sense that Jimmy picks the most whacked out and crazily melodic tunes and mixes them into something twisted yet striking. Although it is dark and brooding, it diverges just slightly to accentuate Van M’s unique style of mixing.
6.) DJ DB – The Secret Art of Science:
DJ DB has been long credited as being one of the leading proponents of the growing drum‘n ‘bass scene in the United States. His earlier release Shades of Technology released the full potential of drum‘n’bass, a subgenre of electronic music which has all but died due to the overbearing tech step style which has long dominated the airwaves within the past few years. Discounting the current trends of the scene, DB mixes tracks by such artists as Photek, EZ Rollers, Roni Size, and LTJ Bukem into a truly invigorating magnum opus. With such a perfect blend between downtempo beats and drum n bass, I never thought drum n bass could be so…pleasant! Truly a memorable release of 2001.
7.) John Digweed – Global Underground Los Angeles:
I am a bit partial to this mix because it was my first taste of the new progressive sound. Impeccable in its delivery, Digweed’s set can best be described as a long and consistent journey; sedate and dreamy. Digweed is usually an acquired taste, however this release may be a bit too unusual to suit the exploring listener – but if you give it a chance, the rewards are bountiful.
8.) Way Out West – Intensify:
Damn, I love WOW, because Nick Warren and Jodi Wisternoff constantly pull off amazing tracks. Their self titled debut featured amazing hits such as “the gift”, “blue”, “Domination”, and “The fall” however with such a strong debut, a follow up to match such a caliber of electronic music had to be nearly almost impossible. But then you just know Nick Warren and Jodi Wisternoff constantly and consistently pull off amazing tracks, and Intensify yet again features some of the most mindblowing trance tracks which have been blazing the track-lists of top DJs throughout the year. Songs like “Mindcircus” are given a gorgeous touch with the vocals and the two intensify parts, as derived from the title and album cover of the release, are simply heavenly and certainly intense. The track “Activity” has already been a featured track on Paul Van Dyk’s first mix compilation. For electronic music that will never let you down, and never leave you bored, leave it to Way Out West to make your fucking day!
9.) Daft Punk – Discovery:
I’d never thought I’d say it, but what has to be the most commercial electronic album in stores right now has every right to be within my top 10. Daft punk makes likeable songs – catchy, yet in a strange way, very endearing. Their songs “one more time” and “digital love” have already popularized their way into TV ads and movie features, however their sound still sounds fresh listen after listen. You can’t tell me that you didn’t get “One more time” stuck in your head at least once this year! It was damn near impossible to resist! Daft punk have really evolved since their stunning debut “Homework”, and have shown with this release that they are still top game in the world of today’s growing house and disco music scene. Not to be missed.
10.) George Acosta + ATB – Trance Nation America 2:
This was my official summer trance album. The whole idea of summertime is to get away from it all, and the best way to do this musically was to listen to something other than progressive house! I have owned almost every single George Acosta release (except for his AM edition which is not very inspired compared to Awake or his PM edition) and this release is a shining example of Acosta’s magic over the tables. Acosta spins an unyielding concoction of builds and climaxes that will stir even the most restricted of listeners. With repeat listens, it becomes hard not to rate this disk as Acosta’s best work to date. Having never heard ATB do anything other than produce, I found his performance as a DJ on this mix compilation to be very impressive. Overall, a very nice collection of the latest eurodance hits of 2001. Due to the changing tides of electronic music, this ministry release may be one of the last of a dying breed of commercial and cheesy dance music. However, that fact alone does not mean you can’t still have fun with it anyway. Just don’t count on hearing much more of this when you hit your local dance clubs in the near future. Pick this one up!

    That’s pretty much my review of my favorites from this year; as for the next who knows what will happen! I can however count on electronic music continuing its evolution into darker, uncharted territories. Let the journeys begin.

 - Petrol