Daily Archives: December 15, 2020

When you think of the trance genre, one name that certainly pops up isJorn van Deynhoven. More than 15 years of emotional melodies later, Jorn has made the decision to leave the decks behind and go back to being a co-producer and manager. This doesnt mean he is completely leaving music behind though. A State Of Trance fans will know him as a staple to the radio show and event, with him playing some incredible sets and being a special guest on the show with his The Future Is Nowalbum. Sharing his decision in a long Facebook post which can be read in full here, he details the following:

Its been almost 15 years, that Jorn van Deynhoven has been adding to and enriching the trance scene. My musical goal has always been to put a smile on peoples faces. I never wanted to reach for the stars and have always been happy with what came my way. However, thanks to all of you I did reach stars and couldnt be more grateful!

But now the time has come to make an announcement, something thats been weighing heavy on my shoulders as of lately: After 25 wonderful years in this wonderful music scene, I have come to the decision to say goodbye to the trance scene as a producer & remixer.

The reasoning behind this is, that for me my story has been told with all my productions to this date and therefore my story has come to an end. I want to musically realign and only work as co-producer and manager in the background. Just like I did before Jorn van Deynhoven.

My last single as Jorn van Deynhoven will be the single Viva La Vida from my album The Future Is Now. There will be an epic remix coming along for this one. So, stay tuned!

He will still be performing for three years, and in the third year he will go on a special goodbye tour. Stay tuned for more news of his single Viva La Vida.

Continued here:

Jorn van Deynhoven retires from DJing and producing - We Rave You

Written by Manoj Kumar R | Bengaluru | Updated: December 9, 2020 8:47:42 amTrance is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

A depressed man with god-complex, a naive girl at the edge of hell, and two men willing to die or kill for their pride, Malayalam filmmakers and actors continued to inspire respect and admiration of movie buffs with vivid, captivating and meaningful stories in 2020 as well.

Here is a list of the best Malayalam movies that released in 2020:

Ayyappanum Koshiyum: The premise of late director Sachys Ayyappanum Koshiyum is quite similar to Driving License (it was written by Sachy). Two individuals of different social and class backgrounds, who have no prior history of enmity, engage in a fight to the death feud, largely stemming from their bruised egos. But, Ayyappanum Koshiyum is ten times more entertaining than Driving License. Sachy was at his prime as a storyteller while exploring the possibilities of what happens when two men of some consequence are forced into a difficult situation, where both of them cant get out with their reputation, ego and life still intact. Ayyappanum Koshiyum signalled the arrival of a filmmaker with a great aptitude to use all the tents of mainstream cinema to make a meaningful movie with solid entertainment value.

Varane Avashyamund: Director Anoop Sathyans romantic comedy is about a modern-day girl trying to find herself a match in an old-fashioned way: matrimonial services. The film offers a lot of feel-good moments and addresses the social stigma around single older men and women trying to find love again. Also, Shobana as a single mother and hopeless romantic looks stunning in the movie. And the film also gives Suresh Gopi a memorable role after a long, long time.

Kappela: Newcomer Muhammad Musthafas Kappela had a limited release in cinema halls in Kerala in March. However, it became a huge hit and garnered positive reactions when it dropped on Netflix. The film, starring Anna Ben, Sreenath Bhasi and Roshan Mathew, showcases how unsuspecting young girls are wooed and trapped in human trafficking.

Trance: One cannot help but be thankful for having had the opportunity to experience director Anwar Rasheeds Trance in cinema halls before all things went south due to the pandemic. Vincent Vadakkans dense script is a scathing indictment of religious dogmatism that feeds off peoples fear. And Fahadh Faasil delivered one of the best performances of his career.

CU Soon: Mahesh Narayanans computer screen-based movie, which mainly plays out between three characters played by Fahadh Faasil, Roshan Mathew and Darshana Rajendran, explores how the idea of privacy has become obsolete in this age of information. And whats more, the film was entirely shot with an iPhone. Now, if thats not path-breaking in mainstream Malayalam cinema, then what is?

Halal Love Story: After his wonderful debut film Sudani from Nigeria, director Zakariya Mohammed again impressed the audience with Halal Love Story. The film is about a bunch of religious men who set out to make a movie that would fit their description of Halal, which means permissible or lawful in the Quran. And what follows is a close examination of a community which is obsessed with conservatism. And Zakariya examines it without rush or judgement.

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The best Malayalam films of 2020 - The Indian Express

People ask What is this robotic effect? and then you tell them its not an effect, its one of the voices of Balochistan, says Sparlay Rawail one of the band-members of Peshawar-Islamabad based Khumariyaan.

Hes talking about the throat singing in the bands latest track, 'Chaap Trance', featuring the talents of Bujla Bugti, Haider Ali Bugti and Roomi.

The song has been released as a part of a project by the Foundation of Arts Culture and Education (Face) and Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) called by the name of Heritage Live. Its a sort of artists residency, connecting folk artists with more urban ones and helping them record and release music.

Its meant for folk artists, explains Sparlay. Theyre trying to make them self-sufficient but also make a bank [archive] of all these instruments, by recording their tutorials [among other things]. At the end of the residency, as I understand it, they call in different established and semi-established artists to feature the folk artists in their songs. Thats how we were called in to work with the Baloch singer and flute player.

'Chaap Trance' begins with a light beat on the zerbaghali, a percussion instrument similar in shape to the djembe, followed by Farhan Bogra on the rabab. The song then morphs straight into an EDM-esque track.

The singing itself sounds like warbling almost in monotone. The acoustic instrumentation, more than the electronic beats, provide the movement and colour in the song.

The language thats being sung is Balochi but its a very old folk Baloch dialect, explains Sparlay. Haider and Bujla, the instrument [flute] that they play and the way that they sing, when combined its called nar sur to sing and play the flute with it. We [Khumariyaan] used to jam on stage to something called the Baloch chaap. Its a kind of Baloch traditional folk dance.

We always found the beat very interesting. When the opportunity came to do a chaap-based track and when we found out there were two Baloch artists, we decided to meet with them.

While the translation is available in the description of the video, the song is celebrating a devotion to a friend or a beloved. Two lines stand out, towards the end, Precious to my heart, I cant seem to forget you/ And my heart is primed for love like a full moon.

How has the experience been? You find out the disjoint between studio-produced music and folk singing style, says Sparlay. Not all folk artists can work with a metronome. Wed also figured that out in Coke Studio and other projects. But you also get to see the folk phenomenon up-close and personal while its happening. You learn that most folk artists arent exactly well-to-do. The [economic] class distinction is kind of painfully obvious. I dont know if therell ever be a time when folk musicians can transcend [that] class.

Its quite an experimental track. What has the feedback been like? Everyone seems to really like it, says Sparlay. A few people found the throat singing a bit shocking. Theyre kind of thrown, overwhelmed by it. Even those who like it, didnt know theres Baloch throat singing. To see people liking it, not knowing this is their culture and then finding it out, is doubly rewarding. He points out that there are dozens of videos about Baloch throat singing on YouTube.

As a band, Khumariyaan has been keeping busy.

Just as 'Chaap Trance' came out, we also did a track to highlight gender-based violence in Pakistan, in collaboration with the US Embassy. [Its called] Jeenay Do, says Sparlay. We have another video on the edit, Sheenai. Were working on yet another track called Qataghani. Theres a little surprise stored in it as well.

Qataghani is a popular Afghan composition. There was even a bootlegged version of one of the bands performances of Qataghani online which I can no longer find, but they have also released a demo of their current version and surprisingly, it features some choir-esque singing!

Apart from that, what were looking forward to is Khumariyaan playing live on stage very soon, ends Sparlay. Indeed.

Published in Dawn, ICON, December 6th, 2020

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Khumariyaan's Chaap Trance is a genre you've never heard before - DAWN.com

The musical, atmospheric rendition of Tetris from Monstars and Resonair has fast become one of the more interesting games in the series. This is thanks in part to its hypnotic visuals, appealing tunes, and wealth of content. The game in question, Tetris Effect, takes players on a celestial journey. It captivates with a slew of trance-inducing backdrops and rich, thumping melodies that set the tone.

RELATED: 15 Best Puzzle Games On Nintendo Switch, According To Metacritic

The game is a celebration of the original Tetris on the one hand, while also injecting modern-day features and flair on the other. With the new enhanced edition known as "Connected," players can face off in a variety of online battles and even combine their efforts to take on AI bosses. With this sleek, inventive new twist on the classic puzzler, Tetris Effect Connected manages to excel over its more basic predecessors in some areas. Yet, there are some aspects that may turn off some players, particularly when it comes to retro Tetris loyalists.This list will highlight areas where this new version thrives over others in the series, along with a few that miss the mark or fall short.

There is merit to the mantra "less is more," and this can be applied to Tetris; a series that thrives on a formula that's easy to learn and tough to master. There are shades of this in TEC with a couple of classic-style modes in multiplayer.

As a whole, though, the prominent music, flashy effects, and fluid visuals in the background can prove to be a bit much for some. On top of this, you've got elements like tempo changes and flashing tiles that can throw you off and be somewhat overwhelming. In a game that demands focus and precision, this can be problematic at times.

One area where TEC soars is its variety of thematic elements and tones some of which are designed to invoke distinct feelings or moods.

The aptly-named "Effects Mode" puts alternative spins on the gameplay, though it also segments these into a few categories. These include a more classic style, as well as the more serene "relaxing" and intense "focus" category. This proves a refreshing departurefrom the more typical, monotonous tones and styles of most Tetris romps.

When you hear appraisal regarding Tetris Effect Connected, usually the first things players point to are elements related to presentation; the interface, hypnotic backdrops, vibrant visuals, appealing soundtrack, etc. Meanwhile, the gameplayitselftends to be more of an afterthought in some ways. This is ironic, as Tetris was always about the gameplay first and foremost. Everything else was largely kept simple and subdued, in order to let the gameplay shine.

RELATED: 10 Best Mobile Puzzle Games Out Right Now

TEC still holds up in some areas related to gameplay, especially with its multiplayer features. Overall though, the core gameplay seems to take a backseat to a bombastic presentation that, for some,tends to dominate a bit too much.

Great music and sound design can really set the stage for a memorable journey when it comes to video games, as TEC demonstrates so nicely.

The star of the show is really this game's terrific soundtrack. It's brimming with catchy and deep tracks that set the mood and mesh greatly with each level's theme. From the melodic trip "Connected (Yours Forever)" to the upbeat, thumping "Hope," Hydelic offers a slew of rich, trance-inducing tunes to keep you in the zone. It may not have that classic nostalgic charm like the original Tetris theme, but it's sure enjoyable to listen to.

When people think "Tetris," it's usually those vibrant, colorful tiles that come to mind. This array of colors has been a defining feature of this iconic puzzle series.

Yet, there's a notablelackof these hues when it comes to TEC, which tends to favor flashy lighting and particle effects instead. The backgrounds are similarly milder, often coming in the form of acold, dark outer-space backdrop. Of course, this makes for a visually interesting display in its own way, though it may turn off the more retro-oriented fans of the series.

This fast-paced puzzler really lends itself to competitive online gameplay. Ironically, though, this has been a somewhatrecentinclusion in the series.Monstars and Resonair's game certainly delivers on this front. Not only are there the more typical multiplayer face-offs complete with online rankings and leaderboards, but there are some fun new options as well.

In keeping with the theme of connectivity, this rendition offers an interesting new way to play the game as a team. Yes, players can now play co-op Tetris, in a mode that oscillates between individual play and acombinedscreen that allows three players to work together to take out a boss. It's an enjoyable new twist on the formula that's tough to put down.

With a game like Tetris, solid controls are essential for a great experience. Does TEC deliver? Well, somewhat, though they don't tend to feel as crisp or responsive as they could, especially with the bulkier D-pad of the Xbox One controller.

RELATED: Tetris: 5 Games That Were Great (& 5 That Were Terrible)

There's a subtlefeel of lessenedprecision and swiftness in the inputs at times, which is only amplified with theamount of noise and clutter on-screen. It works well enough, butdiehards and retro puristsseeking true, unhindered precision and speed may find TEC a bit lacking.

Tetris has proven to be quite the addictive experience though many entries don't offer much beyond the core formula. Even more modern efforts like Tetris 99 don't go out of their way to offer many gameplay variants or different modes. This is where TEC really shines, and partly whyit's so appealing. There's an impressive amount of diversity in the gameplay, and there's something for most everyone. The campaign and single-player options alone offer lots of variety; from more relaxed, slow-paced themes to intense, heart-pumping grinds.

The game throws a number of conditions and parameters at you, like forcing you to get combos or playing with massive-sized tiles. You can rattle off points in an endless run or speed through with rapidly-dropping tiles. Then there are the online modes, which range from classic-style battles to epic co-op boss fights.

Oneirritating aspect voiced by some TEC players is the relatively small gameplay screen throughout. It seems clear that the dazzling effects and backdrops are supposed to play a more prominent role in the presentation.

Still, it can be tough to get a good view of everything happening on the action screen, which isn't too ideal for a game emphasizing speed and accuracy.

TEC makes it clear right off the bat that style and atmosphere take center stage, and it definitely nails it in this area. How many Tetris games allow for a celestial ride through outer space, a peaceful ocean trip, or an exhilarating flight through the skies?

Even the retro nods are tastefully done, with an authentic reimagining ofold-school Tetris in Classic Mode. The fluid, vibrant visuals, great music,detailed particleeffects set the stage for a memorable journey into the ether. It's a unique, dynamic feel that no Tetris game has touched.

NEXT: 5 Reasons Tetris 99 Is The Better Game (& 5 Reasons It's Tetris Effect: Connected)

Next 10 Hilarious Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity Memes Only True Fans Understand

Stephen is an avid Nintendo, Indie, and retro gamer who dabbles in Xbox on occasion, mainly in the form of binge sessions of Overwatch. He's a history buff, an aspiring writer of short fiction, and a devout metalhead who enjoys poorly drumming along to Black Sabbath on his cheap drum set. When his beloved Chicago Cubs or Bulls are not playing, he typically likes to watch random documentaries or campy horror films.

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Tetris Effect: 5 Things It Does Better Than Other Tetris Games (& 5 Things That Are Worse) - TheGamer

1. They wont fall out of your ears

I know this because Ive almost given myself whiplash trying to shake them out of my ears. Its an important test because the last thing you want is to be constantly fiddling with their position as you exercise. The hook that sticks to the inside of your ear and StayHear Max tips are genius. It means you can crack on with your physical activity with 100% concentration.

At just 0.3oz youll barely notice that theyre attached to your ears as you go. In fact, the first couple of times I used them on a run or cycle I kept feeling my ear to double-check they hadnt fallen out. The music blaring out of both shouldve been the biggest clue to the placement though, right? Still, with the amount of tech tucked into each earbud, its a small miracle that theyre so light.

Doesnt matter if its an audiobook or pumping trance soundtrack, youll hear every single syllable or bass drop without any interference. This massively benefits solo pursuits as it locks you into your workout zone. As you may have predicted from the preamble, theyre not ideal when exercising in a group activity because youll only be able to see lips moving.

The sleek design fits perfectly into the ear and often require a double-take to see that youre actually wearing them. They also come in three different colours: Glacier white, Triple black and Baltic blue. I went with the black because they go with everything, but theres an option to suit different tastes and help to compliment the more fashion-minded gym-goer.

Theres a fantastic combination of comfort, solid battery life (18 hours on one charge) and advanced Bluetooth technology for fewer connection drops. It all comes together to make a device thats ideal for endurance athletes. Of course, those of us that prefer a shorter burst of physical activity will still benefit from these outstanding earbuds, mind.

Bose Sport Earbuds are available now at RRP AED 779

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Bose Sport Earbuds: 5 things you need to know - EDGAR