Nitrous Oxide - Show Me / Magenta flac album

Nitrous Oxide is without doubt my favourite trance producer (excluding Above & Beyond), and he gets some unjust criticism regarding his commitment to the always highly-congested world of uplifting trance. Here the first track "Show Me" would most certainly fit well within this bracket, hence as this is his 9th/10th release on Anjunabeats it's a good job that this does not disappoint! Apart from a select few Krzysztof Prętkiewicz is on top of the pile when inventing fresh catchy melodies, and this is backed up by his impecable skill to create a powerful and unique synth. Hence, this track features a very dreamy piano melody and electro-infused synth which rasps away in perfect tandem with the punching bassline. The ability to create a memorable ambient moment is clear too, as a few simple and delicate effects are layered on top of some wonderful string work before the customary synth is resuscitated back into life and ultimate euphoria is restored. Magenta is already being haled as tune of 2009, and there's little wonder why. Those anti-N2O fans have been silenced, as a very different side of Krzysztof's character comes into life as already hinted at in his 2008 prog tech trancer "Cornflake". The dark beast lies within from the offset, after 0:57 of a punchy intro a massive sound completely dominates your mind in the form of a rasping bassline/synth similar to that used by Adam Nickey "Shift" and throughout Bart Claessen & Dave Schiemann's remix of "Elektra". Then at 1:42 there is a brief encounter with the lead synth, which in turn provides the perfect opportunity to calm the storm. This is achieved by the use of some very intelligent software looping & layering and the most evocative vocal sample I have ever encountered - gliding along with those magical strings and an electro-tinged synth reminiscent of a wounded animal (2:36); the melody and lead synth then follows, meeting with some very classy piano work (4:47) just to complete the package. All in all a great release, which delivers a combination of pumping-uplifting-euphoic trance as well as a progressive rasping-melodic vocal tech trancer. An Anjunabeast, 5/5!