Black Hole Recordings New Releases – Week 39

This week’s releases find new life in some unexpected places: a mysterious encounter becomes the starting point for a new album story, a forgotten trance gem gets a techno makeover, and a 13-year-old classic returns with a fresh Airscape touch. Along the way, 140 BPM rave energy, a first step into Tech House, and a few familiar sounds in new surroundings show how the past can still inspire something completely new.

PARAFRAME opens his upcoming ‘Artefacts’ album with “3 Worlds,” a progressive cut built around a deep sawtooth bassline, fragmented female vocals, and the cinematic touch he is known for. The idea draws inspiration from reports of strange metallic spheres appearing in different parts of the world, introducing the mysterious concept that runs through the album.

“3 Worlds” was chosen as the opening single from ‘Artefacts’ because it introduces both the sonic direction and the central mystery of the album. 

— PARAFRAME

Premiered at the Kappa FuturFestival in Turin in July, the single is also set to appear on the upcoming ‘In Search of Sunrise’ compilation, mixed by Markus Schulz.

C-Systems taps into an old-school rave feeling with “Pillars Of Light,” a 140 BPM trance cut that pushes his melodic style into a faster, more energetic space. The offbeat nu-rave bassline gives it plenty of drive, while the shimmering synths in the break move back and forth like lights in the night sky - the detail that inspired the title.

The melody originally came together during a writing session and was meant for a slower 136 BPM “proglifting” production, but raising the tempo and changing the bassline completely shifted its character. The result is a peak-time trance record that can fit comfortably into both melodic and harder sets.

More than 20 years after its original release, “Shine” gets a new life as Frankyeffe revisits one of Mark Norman’s lesser-known gems from the Stream / Overkill era. While “Overkill” became the release everyone remembered, “Shine” quietly stayed in the catalogue until Frankyeffe rediscovered it and heard the potential for something new. Rather than simply recreating its old-school trance character, he takes those raw elements into his own techno world, giving the classic a fresh identity and bringing it back into focus for a new generation reconnecting with the sounds of the late ’90s and early ’00s.

I discovered ‘Shine’ by Mark Norman much later than I discovered Mark Norman’s music. I first knew him for his iconic tracks that Tiësto used to play in his live sets. The moment I heard ‘Shine,’ I immediately thought: ‘No, I have to make my own edit of this.

— Frankyeffe

Thirteen years after “Intensive” first appeared, Johan Gielen vs Virtual Vault’s trance classic is back with a fresh Airscape makeover. The remix keeps the spirit of the 2013 original intact, but gives it a cleaner, more modern edge, bringing those familiar melodies and driving trance energy back into the spotlight.

It hits that sweet spot between nostalgia and something fresh, sounding like the kind of old-school trance tune you might have heard years ago, but with enough punch to work in today’s sets. A fitting update from Airscape that lets the timeless record shine all over again.

Daniela Corvea makes her first move into Tech House with “Okay...”, a lively, groove-led piece driven by punchy percussion and catchy female vocals. There’s a confident, upbeat energy running through it, but the details keep it from feeling like a straightforward club tool, with Daniela playing around with the arrangement to find her own way into the genre.

More than just a first Tech House release, “Okay...” marks the start of a new chapter for Daniela. Instead of chasing a particular sound, she trusted her instincts, experimented along the way, and focused on what felt natural, laying the groundwork for a style she can continue to build on.