We’ve got a belter of an album out today thanks to our boy ilan.
Yes, baby. After a long while of waiting, one of the pillars of the Anjunabeats sound, ilan Bluestone, is back on the label with yet another album, this time, titled Ignite. This long-play is his third project of the kind, and it’s being released on the same place the previous two cancall home: Anjuna.
For over a decade, ilan has been a firm fixture in the Dance and Trance music scene, even being the creator of the subgenre “Tronce“, which would become the direction Progressive Trance would adopt circa 2012-2015 thanks largely to his input. As a key artist on the Anjunabeats label, his early ‘Anthem Test’ Instagram livestreams became a standard practice and a fuel for close interaction between him and his following.
His albums offer the clearest look into his current state of mind as an artist. His 2018 album Scars was a love letter to the inspirations that had shaped his early musical journey. 2021’s Impulse embraced the high-energy club side of life after Lockdown (during which time he engaged even more, livestreaming often and even joining the wave of producers on Clubhouse (if you remember that app)).
Ignite
Ignite then, follows this thread of personal stories through albums, and this time, it tells the story of an artist rediscovering his creative passion after experiencing burnout in 2023. “Touring Impulse after the pandemic was amazing. But by November 2023, I’d played 70 shows in just over a year. The constant travel took its toll, and I had to come off the road to recharge by being in the studio again, explore new sounds, and work with fresh collaborators”, ilan Bluestone shares.
Through no less than 15 tracks, ilan shows the world what he’s capable of in a wide variety of genres, spanning 80s Synthwave, cinematic ballads, melodic Progressive House, New Age electronica, and his unmistakable Trance sound. At the same time, he brings both old friends and new talent to the spotlight throughout the project: Jasper Blunk, Giuseppe De Luca, ALPHA 9, H.E.A.R.T.S., Diandra Faye, EL Waves, Gid Sedgwick, Maor Levi, Jonny Bluestone, Pieter T, FiL Straughan, Ellen Smith, Ollie Wride, and Natalie Shay.
“There are darker moments on there, but ultimately ‘Ignite’ is about the emotions and experiences that spark us into life. Writing these records felt like a weight coming off my shoulders, and I’m hoping they inspire others to tackle and overcome their challenges in life.”
-ilan Bluestone
Writer’s Picks
Two tracks are my absolute favourites: ‘Mewo Fie‘ and ‘Move All Night‘. The first I already reviewed last week, and I insist, it’s got that introspective journey vibe, that intimate Afro House vibe (true Afro, not cheese Afro, mind you), and I love hearing EL Waves’ strong vocals. The second, good God, it’s just fabulous. Giuseppe even delivers some Italian vocals during the chorus of this amazing funky track, something straight from Heaven. The track ends with a volume fade out, in true Italodisco style. It’s funny that my two top tracks in the album are anything but Trance, but they carry the exact same feels, so I’m not surprised.
Other tracks that really caught my eye were ‘Pause & Breathe‘, a song that feels so early 2000s, ISOS-styled, I love it. The main pluck melody also reminds me of that golden Tiësto remix of ‘Silence’, so yeah, nostalgia adds to it. And also, ‘Paradise‘ is out of this world. That’s one of the purest pieces of Trance I’ve heard this year, everything from the piano to the plucks to the pads to the vocal delivery, everything is so powerful and pure.
ilan Bluestone — Ignite Tracklist
- 40 with Jasper Blunk
- Tethered To The Flame with Giuseppe De Luca
- Paradise with ALPHA 9 featuring H.E.A.R.T.S.
- Pause & Breathe featuring Diandra Faye
- Africana with EL Waves
- Slow Down with Gid Sedgwick
- Ignite with Maor Levi and Giuseppe De Luca
- This Town with Giuseppe De Luca
- Mewo Fie with Jonny Bluestone, EL Waves and Pieter T
- Heaven Needed You More featuring FiL Straughan
- The Waves featuring Ellen Smith
- Move All Night (Italodisco) with Giuseppe De Luca
- Last Man Standing featuring Ollie Wride
- Safe & Sound featuring Natalie Shay
- Turiya with Giuseppe De Luca
Final Thoughts
When an artist of the calibre of ilan Bluestone puts out something so personal, I can’t do anything other than listen and try to grasp his message in full. I appreciate the bravery to put out things that mean so much to the creators, I think it’s a trend that will end up healing the music industry in a way. Thank you ilan, for being so open. And thank you for 15 years of incredible music. Looking forward to the next.
Listen to ilan Bluestone‘s brand-new album Impulse by hitting the ‘Play‘ button on the Spotify player below. Also, click here to support the release on your platform of choice. Be sure to follow our page to stay up to date on the latest news and views regarding our beloved Dance music industry.