Trance kingpin Sean Tyas has been one of the leading names in the scene ever since his emergence almost a decade ago. The US export who has seen a stellar amount of success over the years is a forward thinking artiste and has always remained true to his art having displayed cutting edge sounds which has helped the genre usher in success. But, there lies the question. How do you cement your legacy?
The answer to that question is Sean’s debut album Degeneration. For someone who has remained at the upper echelon of trance music scene for a significant period, the full length LP truly represents the work of this undoubted virtuoso. A collective work filled with pure audible joy, the double disc feature packs a whopping 14 originals and 12 remixed versions. Coming to the origins of the album title, Degeneration is the long awaited amalgamation of all sides to this multi talented artist’s repertoire. A collective representation of everything that makes up the Degenerate sound. And very true indeed, it is not quintessential trance at its core but something more profound and evolved in nature.
A true genius and expert scientist of audio manipulation exploring any and all avenues he so desired, Sean has served an album which brings in sounds from different genres, be it drum n bass, electro, dark psy or even techno. The attention to detail on each track is exceptional to say the least, which surely is considered a rarity in recent times. Degeneration is a dark yet emotive musical journey that is full of twists and turns right from the moment you press play.
Kicking things off with “Vagabond”, this one is an essential tune which doesn’t fail to bring back classic trance flavors and is a psychedelic masterpiece. Setting the tone up, next is “Swarm” which kicks off with in quiet fashion before all hell breaks loose. Don’t be mistaken for trance as this is purely break beat flavored which pumps out some serious adrenaline while being equally serene with euphoric cuts in between.
While holding onto his core sounds that have shaped a decade long enthralling music, “Diffuse” is an eclectic crossover between trance and liquid drum n’ bass. With cinematic influences in the foray, this one stands out as one of the most exceptional pieces from the album. Sean shows his darker side with “9AM”, a pumping techno showcase and is a definite dance floor weapon which you can expect to be played during those afterhours sessions.
One of the earlier singles from the album, “Something In The Way” is one of those embellished gems which is reminiscent of true trance sounds. The track kicks off with Fisher’s enchanting vocals on top of pulsating bass notes before being laid down by synths which creates beautiful chords consequently creating a progression that brings out the deepest of emotions. “Da Doo Da Dah” is another powerful product from the trance maestro’s camp which is more like a dark techno beat blending in with hints of psy. With an electro vocal loop laid down which surprisingly fits incredibly, this single stands out in terms of its hard hitting production.
Keeping up with his ongoing momentum, Sean delivers another psy-tech influenced tune. Titled “Hive(A)”, this further depicts the versatility of the high caliber artist as he constructs a heavy yet mind-bending sonic journey. “Reach Out” is a splendid example of uplifting trance which is a far cry from what the album has shaped up to be till now. A feel-good single indeed, sublime melodies and high-octane basslines blend in to make up for a fist pumping soundtrack.
Next up is “Ambush” which stays true to its namesake. A highly inspired techno tune, this one is a dark affair which builds up on a surprisingly high BPM but certainly doesn’t fail to impress with a battering bassline which harnesses the groove in “serene” fashion. “Way Down In Mexico” represents the sounds of uplifting 140BPM trance piece driven by the passion towards his art and surely will make you recall his timeless classic, “Lift”.
While being present during a period where artists are losing out on the true meaning of an album, Sean Tyas keeps its true essence alive with Degeneration, which surely feels like a cohesive piece of work. This massive double-disc feature certainly stands out as one of the best electronic music albums available to listeners at the moment, and as much as it stands out in terms of complexity, it is equally matched by the level of production. An ambitious move at breaking free from the currently stagnant and fabricated affair electronic music has become, I truly believe Sean Tyas has succeeded in doing so, comprehensively. With Disc 1 packing in a staggering 14 originals, Disc 2 features remixes from the likes of some A-list artists such as John Askew, Alex Di Stefano, Giuseppe Ottaviani and more.
Degeneration is out on Black Hole Recordings on February 19th, 2016. You can grab your copy here.
Tracklist:
Disc 1.
01. Vagabond (6:31)
02. Swarm (5:20)
03. Diffuse (4:36)
04. 9am (7:10)
05. Something In The Way (with Fisher) (Original Mix) (8:11)
06. Rollout (6:57)
07. Da Doo Da Dah (Original Mix) (7:10)
08. Start Over (featuring Cindy Zanotta) (8:32)
09. Hive [A] (6:52)
10. Reach Out (6:58)
11. Ambush (6:06)
12. Way Down In Mexico (7:15)
13. Kontrast (4:00)
14. Full Stop (3:05)
15. Degeneration (Continuous Mix) (76:59)
Disc 2.
01. Vagabond (Future Disciple Remix) (8:21)
02. 9am (Dualitic Remix) (8:02)
03. Unleash (Alex Di Stefano Remix) (8:25)
04. Reach Out (Giuseppe Ottaviani Remix Edit) (3:46)
05. Swarm (Eshericks Remix) (5:44)
06. Ambush (Reaky Remix) (6:37)
07. Hive (Eddie Bitar Remix) (6:23)
08. Da Doo Da Dah (John Askew Remix) (8:31)
09. Now You See (Darren Porter Remix) (6:34)
10. Way Down In Mexico (Harmonic Rush Remix) (6:40)
11. Diffuse (Des McMahon Remix) (4:25)
12. Kontrast (Roger Wilco Remix) (4:28)
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