Xpander (EP)

Xpander
EP by
Released5 July 1999
Genre
Length49:16
LabelDeconstruction Records
Producer
Sasha chronology
Global Underground: San Francisco
(1998)
Xpander
(1999)
Northern Exposure: Expeditions
(1999)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]

Xpander is an extended play (EP) by Welsh DJ Sasha. It was released on 5 July 1999 through Deconstruction Records, and features co-production from Charlie May, Andy Page and Gaëtan Schurrer.[2] The EP charted on release, peaking at number 18 on the UK Albums Chart. In 1999, the EP won an award at the International Dance Music Awards for "Best Techno/Trance 12"".[3]

Background

[edit]

The title track, "Xpander", was featured on compilations such as Global Underground: Ibiza, Pete Tong's Essential Selection, Hooj Choons' Nu Progressive Era, and many other DJ mix compilations. It is considered a seminal release within the trance music community.[4] It was voted the 9th best dance track of all time, by readers of Mixmag.[5] In 2021, the song was ranked #233 in A State of Trance's Top 1000.[6]

The song "Belfunk" was originally created as a remix of Orbital's song "Belfast", but Orbital "hated it" due to it having little-to-no resemblance to the original.[7] A remix of "Belfast" by Sasha and The Light (as opposed to "Belfunk" by Sasha and Charlie May) was released by Orbital that same year.[8]

The title track and the EP were named after the Oberheim Xpander synthesizer, prominently used in the song. The title track was featured in the 1999 racing video game Wipeout 3, the music of which was chosen by Sasha himself.[9] In 2017, an orchestral version of the recording was released as a single, titled "Xpander: Refracted" and saw several live performances.[10]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Xpander" (Edit)
  • Coe
  • Charlie May
3:52
2."Xpander"
  • Coe
  • Forbes
  • May
  • Coe
  • May
11:30
3."Belfunk"
  • Coe
  • May
  • Coe
  • May
11:08
4."Rabbitweed"Coe
  • Coe
  • Andy Page
  • Gaëtan Schurrer
10:23
5."Baja"Coe
  • Coe
  • Page
  • Schurrer
12:33
Total length:49:16

Accolades

[edit]
Award Year Category Result
International Dance Music Awards 1999 Best Techno/Trance 12"[3] Won

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1999) Peak
position
UK Albums (Official Charts Company)[11] 18
Irish Albums (IRMA)[12] 30

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Birchmeier, Jason. "Sasha: Xpander" at AllMusic. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  2. ^ "Sasha – Xpander EP". discogs.com. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  3. ^ a b "WMC 1999 IDMA Winners". Winter Music Conference. Archived from the original on 3 May 2006. Retrieved 31 December 2006.
  4. ^ "Sasha - Xpander EP". Discogs. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  5. ^ "What is the greatest dance track of all time?". Mixmag. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Armin Van Buuren's All-Time A State of Trance Top 1000 List!". A State of Trance. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Burn Studios - Sasha On Remixing". Burn Studios. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Orbital – Belfast / Nothing Left". Discogs. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Xpander EP". DJSasha.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  10. ^ "Watch Sasha perform his orchestral version of 'Xpander' live". Mixmag. Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  11. ^ "Sasha - Chart History". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  12. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know (Search Sasha)". www.irishcharts.ie. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2021.