Magik Muzik CD 34-1

Dutch producer Sander Van Dien aka First State has always been an artist with many sound styles. Always experimenting, and always bringing his creativity to sonic fruition, the DJ & producer whipped up two stellar albums Time Frame(2007) and Changing Lanes(2010). And now after 4 years, Sander returns to the studio to complete that trilogy and aptly names the final chapter Full Circle(2014). Releasing on the revered Black Hole Recordings, First State has designed a sound terrain that features a whopping ride of 15 never-before-heard tracks! This one has massive written all over it!

First State came into Trance limelight way back in 2007 after his single ‘Falling‘ emerged as a smash hit for DJs and fans alike. Signing to Black Hole Recordings, Sander has never looked back and three artist albums later he continues to provide massive smash hits that rock dancefloors the world over. Tracks with Sarah Howells such as ‘Reverie‘ have been adored by Trance lovers worlds over, as much as innovative and affectionate ‘Bashups‘ that raise havoc on the dancefloor time and again! Morphing the First State sound over the last three albums the last twelve months have seen a more underground edge emerge alongside the big riffs, breakdowns and luscious vocals that have made Sander’s sound so intimate to us. For ‘Full Circle‘, First State’s sound spectrum becomes ever expansive as he frequency hops across genre bands – often inside the confines of a single track! With vocal performances by Trance legends such as Eric Lumiere, Sarah Howells, Relyk & Tyler Sherritt the euphoric quotient that has been sacrosanct with First State productions has been retained!

Here’s what Sander had to say about the upcoming release of his new album:

‘Full Circle’ represents my journey as an artist and song composer, as I feel this album stands for the completion of an era and my development as an artist. With this album I’ve followed my heart and some songs took days while others took weeks or sometimes even months. Even though an album is never finished for a producer until it leaves it’s studio, the same goes for a circle as it has no beginning nor and ending.

The album kicks off with the analogue-vocoding tremble of ‘I Need Your Love‘. A happy and fruity synth groove accompanies some dancefloor oriented kicks and drumlines to kick off this highly-anticipated album in a ceremonious manner.

Sarah Howells has collaborated time and again with Sander, and she reunites with First State on ‘Skies on Fire‘ to present the first track on which you’re heart is sure to be melted as you reminiscence the loss of love. With the heavenly vocals of Sarrah, we hear a blissful combination of a guitar riff and pecking bass grooves till a breakdown introduces the familiar synth melodic rise that makes the track a somewhat happy reminder of times gone by.

World’s apart’ begins with a teasing guitar and piano work accompanied with some Mylo-esque grooves infused into the track. All that buildup lands us to the energetic melange of drumloops, bass grooves and uplifting piano serenades. This one truly sets out as the defining moment on the album, pure and euphoric – just like Sander wants it!

Cross the Line‘ singer songwriter Kyler Relyk England reunites with Sander on ‘Take the Fall’, which defines the sacrifice one makes for the ones he/she loves. With the angelic vocals of Relyk in the background, a ceremonial parade of beats and melodies make this track as alluring as it is touching.

Lourdes‘ brings forth some more fantastic instrumental fusion by First State as he combines some playful piano with cheeky synths till a breakdown of sharp subverting synth lines align the senses to make this a hot stepping and gratifying sonic journey!

US singer/songwriter Tyler Sherritt further broadens ‘Full Circle’s vocal spread with some indie-rock elements and edges. With ‘I’ll never die‘, he presents a spirited tale of affection as the instrumental work by Sander suggests the same. Some big room synths complemented with a familiar bass and drumline makes this track purely festivious!

Neev Kennedy unites with First State for ‘Nothing lasts‘ against a backdrop of another heavy cocktail of sound styles as elements of Trance combine with the vocals and a breakbeat melody to present a hypnotic mixture of blissful melodies and synth waves making this a dynamic track!

An astounding sound canvas of violins and tech-through-elec grind on ‘Anunnaki’ combines with the ingenious creativity in production by Sander, infusing some surprising elements such a vocal loops besides a chopped up synth-line that is sure to get your fists pumping and feet elevated!

Battle of Hearts‘ combines First State with Fenja as a insisting vocal melody combines with another big-room landscape of charading melodies and riffs to make this another festival anthem!

Sarrah Howells makes another alumnus appearance as she provides her vocals for ‘Seeing the Stars‘. Picking up on ‘Skies on Fire‘, she continues the intensity of her love lost as Sander first dives into some beautiful piano work first before a arpeggiating synth groove picks up on the Love quotient of the track to make it yet another sonic commemoration.

Quilla‘s vocals on ‘Where you are‘ uplifts our senses before the superior studio production skills of Sander combines various live instruments with nostalgic pads and synths to make another delicious love symphony, one that will want to make you hold on to your loved ones and catch them in a tight embrace.

Trance vocalist supreme Eric Lumiere collaborates with First State on ‘Glow‘ as we see the results of a fruitful partnership of classic vocal work combined with harmonious piano work and studio wizardry! With the piano loop transitioning into a sweet melodic riff that rushes through the track, it is sure to be one of the highlights of the album, as it has massive and legendary written all over it!

Eternally toughened by retro-futuristic chemical FX, ‘Humanoid’ takes the famous Robotic effects bookmarked on every Big Room anthem nowadays. With a twist of wobbling synths and an ever-patient buildup of peak-time melodic riffs, Sander makes this track a unique and unpredictable twist to the album, which till now spelled euphoric but now categories itself into a mold of its own!

Tyler Sherritt returns on ‘Maze‘ as he provides that indie-rock vibe to this meticulously crafted studio gem. With a calm and caressing initial vocal work by Tyler, nothing prepares you for the intense breakdown to follow! A gradual buildup of vocals and drum loops lands us to the doorstep of a wobbling and polarizing synth drop that is completely unexpected while hearing that blissful vocal tale. This one’s a beauty!

We end the album with ‘One Push‘ which aces unchecked frenetic festival-ism as it takes cutting edge studio production to all new level of sonic territory. An electrifying and radical synth wave takes us back and forth an infectious melodic riff, all garnered by the delicious vocal sample of “..ONE PUSH…”!

Out March 3rd through Magik Muzik division of Black Hole Recordings, ‘Full Circle’ defines an age of Electronic music that needs not be dissected into genres and sound styles. Combining sound styles across various mediums of artistic representation and fearless experimentation between Vocals, indie-rock elements, robotic vocoders and Big room synths, ‘Full Circle’ extends the belief that Sander Van Dien is an unprecedented legend!

You may pre-order this brilliant album here!

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