Whether you view it as a guilty pleasure, a way of life or as an unsightly blemish on the face of dance music, trance was – and in some quarters still remains – many people’s gateway into the slower, arguably more refined sounds of house music. And while many contemporary producers have turned their back on this this oft-maligned genre, DJ, producer and one half of FCL Red D still wears his passion for trance very much on his sleeve.  

Here, the We Play House founder talks us through some of the defining tracks from his formative years as a trance fanatic, including an early electronic outing from the Godfather of German techno Sven Vath.

Paul Van Dyk – For An Angel
A quintessential 90ies trance classic. Forget the version that became a big hit and forget countless other versions; this is the only one that counts. I’ve played this to dancefloors full of deep and funky  house lovers and even if they want to protest, claiming that this isn’t house…they can’t help but dance with a smile and their hands in the air. It’s all about the irresistible melody. Isn’t it always really?


At The Villa People / Nalin & Kane – Open Your Eyes
A masterpiece of tension and build-up without going over the top. I think tension is the most important thing on the dancefloor and even within single tracks. Mindless banging tires everybody quickly and the right use of tension can keep people (and myself) going all night.


Joe T. Vanelli – Play With The Voice In Germany (Paul Van Dyk Remix)
More Paul Van Dyk? Yes please! Probably the first vinyl I bought where ‘real’ vocals are the cherry on the cake, even if they are nonsensical. Before that I was into dark, spoken word, dirty vocals, usually girls talking about angels and planets… I can’t help but think that this record triggered my love for vocals.


Inner Tales – Odyssey
A sheer beauty that is a perfect start of any special set you play, I opened up my last Panorama Bar set with this one. Another one of those records where tension and atmosphere prove that you do not need big kicks or chords to keep people on their toes.


Castle Trancelott – Indoctrinate
When it comes to stupid project names this one kinda tops them all. But it’s still an essential track for any house music lover. That’s right, I said house. Rhythm is indeed fundamental to the spirit.


Barbarella – My Name Is Barbarella
Sven Väth anyone? This is one of those records that you can play to any dancefloor and make it stick. A very minimalist piece of work that proves that when the groove is right you do not need that much more.


Microbots – Cosmic Evolution (K.O. Mix)
Pure bliss and power in one! I’m a total sucker for good strings or pads and this one right here is the one. Leave me alone in the studio and the first thing I’ll start to look for are strings and pads. Keeping the groove while using these sounds is the hardest part though, and this track is a prime example of how to pull that off.


Jam & Spoon – My First Fantastic F.F. 
Another one of those tracks that to this day can smash any dancefloor. Released as a B-side on the mighty R&S from Ghent, this one sees the lamented Mark Spoon and his partner Jam El Mar flexing their dancefloor muscles. Did I mention I like bleeps in my music?


Jam & Spoon – Odyssey To Anyoona
Back on tension and groove again… In the first part that simple bassline just keeps you grooving, then the vocal chords start the true ascent and you just know a break is coming. Breaks are a key part in almost all FCL tracks, but it’s hard to keep them not too long, not too short and for most people not to cheesy. But what is cheese anyway? Apart from something almost everybody loves to eat.


Emmanuel Top – Ecsta-Deal 
Some Belgian acid madness right here. An absolute storming track that you can play anywhere, any day. A prime example of how to use the TB303. Keep it simple and don’t overdo the squelching. Perfectly balanced, this is acid how I like it. With the little vocal samples finishing it off of course.


Defected presents FCL In The House is out 25 January (2CD, digital and vinyl sampler) on Defected Records - order from iTunes and Amazon.