So the trance contingent of renegade masters (AirlockPHL and the ambiguous Philadelphia Trance Association) called on me to headline a party in the woods. It was something that could never happen in the EDM cultural wasteland I relocated from years ago and where playing anything over 128bpm after 2004 (among other offenses) would likely get a DJ blacklisted. I’d never had the chance to play a lot of these cuts at a big gathering of open-minded folks. Plus, I had seen enough highlight reels of pounding loopy hardtrance sounding like ’90s Drumcode records on +16 that I needed to express myself through the dance.

So there I was. In the forest: old enough to be nearly everyone’s mom and young enough to be Carol for admirers with mommy-issues. I enjoyed every minute. You’ll enjoy a bit of salt on this blog because the number of what I call “fashion DJs” has reached epidemic proportions and these organizers along with the selected lineup leaned heavily toward authenticity: people and performers out to have a good time, all smiles, good vibes, and great selections. I popped on a dark swing dress and brought my favorite lightning fast (and mostly dark) ’90s trance CDs and put together a mix. Except I had to edit it down. The mix that was released today is number 239 in The Sound of Volition catalog (my mixtape-slash-audio diary label), Fast City, and it is a fleshed-out re-creation of that night. Head music for heady people.

01 Virus – Sun (Jam El Mar Mix) 02 Johann – New Kicks 03 New Order – Blue Monday-95 (Manuela Mix) 04 Section X – Atlantis 05 Arpeggiators – Discover Your Innerself 06 X-Change – The Indians 07 Jones & Stephenson – The First Rebirth 08 Yello – You Gotta Say Yes To Another Excess (Uff Die 12-Mix) 09 Jam & Spoon – Can You Feel It 10 Tokyo Ghetto Pussy – I Kiss Your Lips (Club Mix) 11 Virus – Moon (Jam El Mar Mix)

“I am the Bishop of Battle, master of all I survey. Insert coin.”