TuneLab
Anjunadeep The Yearbook 2010
Nostalgia is a powerful drug in dance music, and few labels weaponize it as effectively as Anjunadeep with their Yearbook compilations. The 2010 edition is a time capsule, a reminder of when progressive house was still deeply entwined with its trancey, emotional roots and we all had slightly worse haircuts. Putting this on is like catching up with an old friend and realizing the conversation is just as good as you remember. The continuous mix flows at a steady 126.5 BPM, anchored in the 12A key, a hallmark of the era’s shimmering, major-key optimism.
The energy is perfectly balanced for home listening or a warm-up, with 66% low end providing a solid, four-to-the-floor foundation and melodic elements taking clear precedence. The mixing is seamless and respectful of each track’s identity, a testament to the compilation’s curation rather than a live DJ’s improvisation. It’s a masterclass in the melodic and progressive house sound that defined a generation. For highlights, look no further than the opener 'Jaytech - Moth (Martin Roth Remix)', a track that still induces involuntary shoulder sways.
'Alison Goldfrapp & Claptone - Digging Deeper' is a slick, vocal-driven gem, while 'Phunk Investigation - Lo-Fi' offers a chunkier, more driving alternative. The journey is a linear, satisfying ride from the anthemic qualities of 'Moth', through the dreamy depths of tracks like 'Sezer Uysal - Fall In Love In Moscow', to the serene, ambient conclusion of 'Chymera - Ellipsis'.