The trio are popular in the electronic dance music scene for their forward-thinking uplifting trance productions and collaborations with renowned vocalists. They have their own record label, Anjunabeats, which releases trance & progressive music, and they also host their own weekly radio show previously known as Trance Around the World but relaunched in late 2012 as Group Therapy. The group's tracks are regularly played by DJs around the world, including Armin van Buuren, Gareth Emery, Ferry Corsten, ATB, and Kyau & Albert. The trio has been consistently ranked among DJ Magazine's Top 100 DJs Poll, having placed at #4 in 2008 & 2009, #5 in 2010 & 2011, and most recently at #25 for 2014.
Above Beyond
Above & Beyond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking for a peace at the end of the line.
Sometimes I can't help myself, fever's high,
I'm all at sea and so unwise.
I'm so afraid I'll lose your love, as time goes by,
But courage is a fire and a beacon so bright.
The sunset built a memory, our love sign,
Will I wash away, turning like a stone?
I need a place where I belong.
Call a setting sun to throw me down a rope
And take me to a place called home.
I close my eyes, I know you're there, love of mine,
Standing on the shore in a world I design.
The sunset fires a lonely flare into the sky,
And all at sea we say goodbye.
Will I wash away, turning like a stone?
I need a place where I belong.
Call a setting sun to throw me down a rope
And take me to a place called home.
Looking for a place called home.
The song "Home" by Above & Beyond feat. Hannah Thomas is a poignant track that speaks about the search for a place of peace and belonging. The lyrics are introspective, with the singer picturing themselves lost at sea, feverish and unwise. They express a fear of losing someone's love as time goes by, but also acknowledge courage as a guiding light, with the sunset building a memory of love that brings them to life.
The song reaches its emotional peak in the chorus, with the singer calling out for a sense of belonging: "Will I wash away, turning like a stone? I need a place where I belong. Call a setting sun to throw me down a rope and take me to a place called home." They long for a place of safety and comfort, where they can find themselves and their true love. They picture their lover standing on the shore of a world they designed, and the sunset firing a lonely flare into the sky as they say goodbye.
Overall, the song is a moving portrait of the human desire to find a place of rest, love, and belonging. Above & Beyond's music is lush and atmospheric, with soaring synths and Hannah Thomas's haunting vocals building the emotions to a climax. It is a song that speaks to anyone who has felt lost, adrift, or in need of a place called home.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I come to find myself, catch the tide,
I'm on a journey to discover my true identity and purpose, and I'm following the natural flow and rhythm of life.
Looking for a peace at the end of the line.
I'm searching for a sense of calm and fulfillment that can only be found at the end of my journey.
Sometimes I can't help myself, fever's high,
Occasionally, my emotions and desires become too intense and overwhelming for me to control, causing me to act recklessly.
I'm all at sea and so unwise.
I'm lost and confused, and I lack the knowledge and wisdom I need to navigate through life's challenges.
I'm so afraid I'll lose your love, as time goes by,
I fear that the intense love and connection I share with someone will not withstand the test of time and will eventually fade away.
But courage is a fire and a beacon so bright.
I draw strength and inspiration from my courage, which serves as a guiding light to help me navigate through tough times.
The sunset built a memory, our love sign,
The sunset's beauty and tranquility provided the perfect backdrop for a loving memory to be created and cherished by us
And all at sea we come alive.
Even in the midst of uncertainty and confusion, we find a sense of liveliness and adventure that invigorates us.
Will I wash away, turning like a stone?
Am I going to be worn down and eroded by the forces of nature and time, losing my essence and identity along the way?
I need a place where I belong.
I crave a place where I can feel at ease and fully accepted, without fear of judgment or rejection.
Call a setting sun to throw me down a rope
I'm calling out to the beauty and serenity of nature to offer me a lifeline and guide me towards comfort and safety.
And take me to a place called home.
I long to be transported to a familiar and nurturing environment that I'm proud to call my home.
I close my eyes, I know you're there, love of mine,
Even when I'm not physically with my loved one, I'm confident that they're always present and supportive, bringing me comfort and solace.
Standing on the shore in a world I design.
As I stand on the shore, I feel empowered to create the life and world that I want, using my imagination and creativity to shape my reality.
The sunset fires a lonely flare into the sky,
The sunset's fleeting and melancholic beauty reflects my own sense of loneliness and isolation, reminding me of my own mortality.
And all at sea we say goodbye.
As we embark on a new journey, we must let go of the past and say goodbye to what no longer serves us, making way for new beginnings and opportunities.
Looking for a place called home.
Once again, I'm searching for a safe and comforting place to belong, where I can be myself and find happiness and fulfillment.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SCOTT THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DJPaulWest
For anyone who’s interested in getting a deeper understanding of what you're listening to… I’ve pulled together a mini-study of the set - demystifying the art of DJing and showing that it isn’t just pushing buttons! :)
Mood
The overall mood of the set was fairly chilled and melodic in nature – very much in line with the kind of music which Above & Beyond produce (and therefore it comes as no surprise that virtually every track played was produced by them!). The lower/mid intensity storytelling here aligns very well with the energy of the absolutely stunning location – overlooking the islands and water – and the notion of being high-up and in a spacious surrounding is mirrored by the soaring melodies - putting people ‘into their heads’ and making them feel emotions.
Energy/Intensity
Overall, the BPM of the set (which is the biggest driver of energy) started at 122 in order to set the scene; every few tracks this was moved up by ½ BPM – peaking at 125 BPM for the final 3 tracks of the set.
Whilst there was small but constant movement in the tempo (BPM), the intensity and mood tracks provided the unity / ‘glue’ to hold the set together - which remained fairly consistent.
The tracks played were progressive in nature (more complex) and therefore were not driven by any one frequency – but more-so the frequency spectrum was filled. As such the mix & blend time was usually fairly minimal – to guard against any clashes between the melodies of the two tracks in the mix. For example – for their track “Believer” (playing from 7:45 to 12:02), as the energy / main motif of the track ends at 12:02 (leaving just the percussion and bass stabs) this is the mix point for the following track “Sweetest Heart” – where the percussion is brought through at 12:15, and the motif of this track starts at 12:32. This is fairly standard practice for DJs mixing complex progressive tracks.
In terms of key observations and emphasising what was done very well:
Marrying Energy with the Environment
Above & Beyond (Tony and Paavo here) do a very good job of aligning the energy of the music with the energy of the location. The track selection was chosen to make the crowd ‘feel’ an emotion; using lots of longer motif melodies driven by the highs and mid frequencies.
(to note - where house tracks are driven by motifs/loops which are 4, 2 and even 1 beat in length, this makes people want to dance. When motifs are 8, 16, 32+ beats in length, while they are still 'dance' music tracks, they have the effect of moving people emotionally, more than physically. Hence the longer motif lengths chosen here by Tony and Paavo are an appropriate. Stunning location and well-chosen track selection)
Stability Vs Movement
Much as with the observation made for the Hernan Cattaneo Cercle set, there isn’t a lot ‘movement’ in the set construction. The intensity of the tracks and the mood remain relatively consistent, as does the overall ‘feel’ of the set – characterised by mid and higher frequencies of the melodies / vocals.
However, as they are playing progressive tracks (where the tracks themselves have a lot of movement within them) the tracks act as an appropriate contrast to the stability of the set structure.
As mentioned above, Tony and Paavo do in fact move the BPM up in small increments every few tracks (from 122 to 125), so in this respect they are actively managing the energy of the crowd upwards throughout the set. For example see the energy difference @8:40 versus @1:16:00 (although, you’ll also note the percussion intensity is also greater for the second clip). This provides a marginal upward movement in energy.
Note – (as mentioned on the Hernan Cattaneo set) for other sub-genre’s of house music, the tracks are produced more like ‘components’ or individual ‘characters’ and designed to be layered by the DJ, whereas for progressive house tracks they are structured almost like a microcosm of a DJ set – 4 beat bass stabs dominate one moment, then gentle mid-frequency piano keys emerge while higher frequency pads creep upon you, filling the sonic range – and these ‘characters’ dance with each other – different frequencies, different motif lengths moving in and out of focus. It therefore makes complete sense that where the tracks are complex and have movement, the structure of the set offers stability and unison in holding the experience together.
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If you're interested in reading commentary on other Cercle DJ sets; I've included a list of the Cercle video links with my commentary at the top:
Martinez Brothers at CÉ LA VI Marina Bay Sands: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29LwM9Xa6l8&lc=Ugw8FjXRTwNr_igsxEh4AaABAg
Blond:ish in Sint Maarten: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad4IAkS-1-w&lc=UgyYS7pegfiMkfHUmKx4AaABAg
Lee Burridge at Omnia Bali: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h96MGcsi7GQ&lc=UgyXBVeIehYJkpXra-R4AaABAg
Hernán Cattáneo at Cercle Festival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Easqg4SUl2Q&lc=Ugz6nHNUJYRxJcvLxhh4AaABAg
Black Coffee at Salle Wagram: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGqg_ZzThDU&lc=UgxQT39JEwTd-j7E1Ax4AaABAg
More to come soon!
@dafebeme2
I was there! This was, no doubt, one of the top three experiences of my life. I couldn't believe I could get a ticket since I thought those were so expensive because of the few people I always see in Cercle videos venues. They playing in my country was an absolute shock, so I get to the pre inscription link to the tickets and made it to the first ones on the list without expecting much, but amazingly it only was like 80 Euro so I bought it without hesitation. The hype, the 400 kms motorcycle ride from Bogotá to Guatapé, the small beautiful town, the walking up to the top, the sound, the show, the sunset, the insane night rave. It was absolutely perfect. Thanks Cercle. Edit: For those asking, I am the guy who removes his sunglasses at 1:10:02
@patrickobrien1332
AMAZING! I love this story! It looks incredible.
@ricardocaetano9243
Thanks for sharing. It's the first experience i've read by someone attending this amazing events. This one was the first i caught live online on Facebook.
@bobpaquin1
While I was watching this jaw-dropping stunner, I was wondering just these questions... how did those lucky few get there, how much did it costs, did they walk up. Yay for you to experience this!
@lajulalaromers221
paaaa muy sarpado
@FrancisPowlesland
Jealous!!!! ;)
@aboveandbeyond
Thanks for having us, Cercle!
@ayanda1271
De nada!
@Cercle
❤️
@nazmazgani1843
I’ve been checking for this set daily! So happy it’s finally posted!