Above & Beyond: Anjunabeats Volume 9 (Out this Sunday, 11/13)
Published: November 11, 2011
Above & Beyond’s 2011 has been all about one thing – landmarks. In January they celebrated 10 years of their ever-growing Anjunabeats label, before March’s 200th single release on the imprint; the genre defying anthem and Beatport #1 hit “Rebound” by Arty & Mat Zo.
In April, Jono Grant, Tony McGuinness and Paavo Siljamäki then embarked on their biggest ever tour of the US with a road blocked 22-date stretch, including two sold out shows at LA’s legendary Hollywood Palladium, with the first selling out in just 90 minutes - a new record for the legendary venue.
After seeing their “Sun & Moon” anthem playlisted by BBC Radio 1 and reach the top 15 of the Billboard Dance Charts in the US, the trio were ready to unleash their second artist album – Group Therapy. Earning them a cover star interview with DJ Magazine and described as “stadium dance with an incredibly personal feel” and “artist album of the year” in a Mixmag review, the string-laden album has been praised by critics and fans alike as a masterpiece in emotive, song-based electronic music.
In such a fast moving year, it seems fitting to close on a familiar totem pole in Above & Beyond’s annual calendar; their Anjunabeats Volume series. Capturing the sound of a label that has dominated Beatport charts and been supported this year by DJs as diverse as The Swedish House Mafia, Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren and David Guetta, Anjunabeats Volume 9 offers 2xCDs of predominantly unreleased, exclusive tracks from artists like Arty, Mat Zo, Super8 & Tab, Andrew Bayer, Jaytech, Maor Levi and Above & Beyond themselves.
Modern, melodic and emotive, Above & Beyond’s Anjunabeats sound remains unrestricted from one-dimensional genre restrictions. From the reflective, filmic pianos of Above & Beyond’s own unreleased “Tokyo” through hypnotic progressive sounds like Jaytech’s “Overdrive” to the synth-frenzy of Nitrous Oxide’s “iPeople” and the explosive funk-charged house fusion of Mat Zo and Arty’s brand new collaboration “Mozart”, Anjunabeats Volume 9 captures the full emotional intensity of the Above & Beyond DJ experience.
Also including Above & Beyond’s futuristic electro-edged anthem “Formula Rossa”, Anjunabeats Volume 9 covers the work of over 20 artists – a testament to the vibrant, tightly bound label family that Anjunabeats has evolved into.
Above & Beyond will be broadcasting the 400th episode of their Trance Around The World radio show via a special live eight hour broadcast from Beirut, Lebanon on 26th November - with guests Gareth Emery, Kyau & Albert, Mat Zo and Jaytech. For full info check out tatw400.com
Pre-order Above & Beyond Anjunabeats Volume 9 CD: http://bit.ly/vol-9-itunes-us
