After previous stop-offs in The Netherlands, Germany, The UK and Belgium, May 2025 finds Hypnotised – the country-by-country-hopping history of trance music – reaching American shores. There it explores one of the genres lesser told yet equally fascinating tales. The fifth album in the series is again compiled by Arjan Rietveld, author of its encyclopaedic companion book, Hypnotised: A Journey Through Trance Music 1990 2005.

To a significant extent, the American trance scene evolved inside its own bubble. Ocean-crossing breakout acts were rare, which gave the scene space to develop a distinct sound and identity one that was driving yet linear, progressive, more tribal, and less focused on the melodic elements that dominated the European landscape. Over time, certain elements of the sound were adapted to suit the unique demands of the legendary U.S. desert raves in Arizona, Nevada, and California. In its formative years especially, American trance also leaned toward the experimental, which is where Hypnotised: A Journey Through American Trance Music begins its story.

On his way to becoming a housemaster, Dennis Aurasphere Ferrers trippy, near beatless The Greenhouse Effect literally came by way of NYCs EXperimental label. Around that same time, the IST labels Orb-answering Dark Black Ominous Clouds and Carousel (from Disintegrator and Koenig Cylinders respectively) sonically carried the comet trail signatures of New Yorks early nineties rave sound. Through the works of Rabbit In The Moon, Florida also made a big early impression on the scene. Released through their Tampa-based Hallucination label, O.B.E (Out-Of-Body Experience) was a blissfully tripped out, sun-bleached stare-at-the-sky number, which was hammered afterhours by Sasha, in turn bringing R.I.T.M. to international attention.

1997s Heart Sequences by Aquarhythms marked the integration of other key stylistic elements into the American sound. Released on Californias Astralwerks, a label known for favouring ambient and electronica-tinged aspect, it introduced a transitory shift toward more textured productions. Perhaps the most internationally impactful force at the time, however, was the trio of Neil Kolo, Chris Fortier, and the Fade label. Their distinctively harmonic, progressive-trance approach found receptive audiences across Europe. By way of the ethnic chants of Kolos Track One Steve Porters sleek Adaptor and Fades racing, The Love, Hypnotised: America showcases three of their finest pieces. From Floridas Fade, the album moves on to Arizonas Plastik Records, and the debut of Markus Schulz – with the halcyon, breakbeat-struck desert rave classic You Won’t See Me Cry. It features alongside Vertigo Deluxes blissed out In Dark Skies and Hyper-Xs significantly more stomping Out There.

There is some irony that the North American scene rolled deeper than some other countries yet produced (in Deleriums Silence) arguably the entire global scenes single most recognizable moment. As it reaches its third disc, Hypnotised: America celebrates Nettwerk America, who alongside Silence (featured here in its original 11+ minute Fade form), also fielded BT & Kirsty Hawkshaws Dreaming and Conjure Ones haunting collaboration with Sinad O’Connor, Tears From The Moon. Resettling back on the West Coast, LAs Fragrant label gifts the compilation not only the acid bubble of Sandra Collinss Red, but also Deepskys propellant Stargazer. The release wraps up with the Dream Music stable, which hit big out of the gate with the revered Time (that so memorably opened Paul Oakenfolds revered Tranceport mix-comp). Its included along with Sylvanes harmonically journeying Voices and Mike Olsons Guardians of the Earth debut, Starchildren.

CD 01 – EXperimental / Hallucination / IST

01. Aurasphere – The Greenhouse Effect
02. Symphony Of Love – Quantum Leap
03. Bio-Dreams – Dream Sequence 1
04. Rabbit In The Moon – O.B.E (Out-Of-Body Experience)
05. Second Hand Satellites – Orbit
06. Hazed – Percussion
07. Lenny Dee featuring DJ Micalizzi – I Have No Love
08. Disintegrator – Dark Black Ominous Clouds
09. Koenig Cylinders – Carousel

CD 02 – Astralwerks / Fade / Plastik

01. Lida Husik & Beaumont Hannant – Textured
02. Aquarhythms – Heart Sequences
03. Spacetime Continuum – Freelon
04. Kolo – Track One (Original Transmission Mix)
05. Steve Porter – Adaptor
06. Chris Fortier and Neil Kolo pres. Fade featuring Dauby – The Love (Sanctuary Dub)
07. Hyper-X – Out There
08. Markus Schulz – You Won’t See Me Cry
09. Vertigo Deluxe featuring Margeaux Fernandez – In Dark Skies

CD 03 – Nettwerk America / Fragrant / Dream Music

01. Conjure One featuring Sinad O’Connor – Tears From The Moon
02. Delerium featuring Sarah McLachlan – Silence (Sanctuary Mix)
03. BT featuring Kirsty Hawkshaw – Dreaming
04. Pure Nova – Pure Elements
05. Sandra Collins – Red
06. Deepsky – Stargazer
07. Sylvane – Voices
08. Dream Traveler – Time
09. Guardians of the Earth – Starchildren