Cosmic Gate Transcends & Uplifts
Perhaps the biggest shock for me when I started going to shows and festivals, was seeing live my musical heroes in flesh move crowds as they have moved myself when I was younger. The second shock was that some of my beloved trance artists would skimp on the vocals and true trance melodies. That is not to say that Armin doesn’t throw down a lot of vocal tracks in his anthem and harder edged trance sets. Nor that Above & Beyond doesn’t play their classics with Oceanlab. But to me it always seems, they play a harder hitting set, focusing on making the crowd move. I want more of those euphoric uplifts that I hear when I listen to their work at home, those moments when you close your eyes and let Ana Criado or Emma Hewitt’s voice carry you. I leave these shows overall elated, but disappointed in that direction.
On a rainy, Wednesday night this week, when many students were midterm ridden, Cosmic Gate played to a small, but extremely loyal crowd, I was finally able to hit that euphoric note. I talked to Nic Chagall after, mentioned yea the crowd may have been smaller than what they are used to, but everyone here knew who they were and loves their work. There still was that raw energy going through as they played their classics, leaving the crowd chanting at the end “Cosmic Gate!” for one more song. At bigger venues or festivals, people flock because they relatively know the genre or are in search of something to do. Not everyone who comes is aware of your tracks and work. But Wednesday night was just pure appreciation. I like it when DJs play in smaller venues because it allows for that connection – they’re literally playing to you. And it also allows them to do more – the crowd is here for you, show them what you’ve got.
Touring their new album Wake Your Mind they of course dropped a few of their new tracks, and as vocals by Emma Hewitt came on, I just melted deep down. My colleagues who have seen me go to house music shows got to see me get so excited as my favorite vocal tracks came on – songs that I keep close for rainy days. Above & Beyond’s track Thing Called Love was dropped as well as Arty’s Kate (correct me if I’m wrong). Cosmic Gate closed with of course their rework of Exploration of Space which of course, worked up the knowledgeable crowd into a frenzy begging for one more song. I had finally found the set I was looking for with familiar trance bpms and melodies that I constantly find myself listening to. My only criticism would have been the drop of an Avicii track, but that is simply my personal taste.
Although house music is gaining popularity extremely fast, there always be trust in trance and those who were there that night were able to see how trance brings people together on an entirely different level. Transcending and uplifting, trance goes deeper and I give credit to anyone who appreciates trance. It’s another level of emotion that the music brings in. Needless to say, Cosmic Gate left a lasting impression on everyone there that night. For those who weren’t as familiar, their minds were blown with a whole other level of electronic dance music. And that my friend, is a successful show.
Check out pictures from the event on our facebook page right here!
Andrew Bennett – Run Till You Shine (Ft. Sir Adrian) (Cosmic Gate Remix)
Cosmic Gate – Exploration Of Space (Back 2 The Future Remix)
Recent Comments