Art Of Trance

Art of Trance is the primary solo guise of British producer Simon Berry, founder of the enormously popular Platipus label and one half of the innovative duo Union Jack. His tracks are spirited and adventurous without being overtly poppy, yet he has scored numerous club and U.K. chart hits. Art of Trance tracks typically have an earthy, exotic feel, with titles like "Killamanjaro" and "Easter Island" and frequent samples of nature sounds along with the propulsive beats and simmering acid synth lines. Art of Trance debuted in 1993 with several EPs, which led up to the debut full-length Wildlife on One in 1996. This was followed by Voice of Earth in 1999, which featured the classic "Madagascar," which would be remixed dozens of times throughout the coming decades. Many more singles followed, as well as mix CDs Platipus Beginners Guide (2001) and Tales of the Unexpected (2005), in addition to Retrospective (2009), which compiled both Art of Trance albums as well as a mixed disc. Art of Trance kept a steady schedule of single releases during the 2010s, including the Vangelis cover "Chung Kuo" (2011) and originals like "Stratosphere" (2012) and "Firebird" (2016). ~ Paul Simpson