A guest pick from Metro & Metro-Reloaded, Saltcoats — featuring resident duo Twice as Nice.
There’s a reason the dancefloor at Metro erupts when certain intros land. Some records are simply built different: unforgettable riffs, goosebump breakdowns, and hands-up drops that hit the same now as they did the first time you heard them under the lights. Here are ten cast-iron trance anthems we reach for when we want the room bouncing in Ayrshire.
The Countdown
1) Energy 52 — Café Del Mar (Three ‘N One Mix)
If you’re chasing that “golden hour over Ibiza” feeling in the middle of a Scottish winter, this is the shortcut. Originally released in 1993, then propelled into UK chart territory by the ‘97/’98 remix packages — notably Three ‘N One and Nalin & Kane. The melody is immortal.
2) Veracocha — Carte Blanche (1999)
Ferry Corsten & Vincent de Moor’s one-off under the Veracocha alias is the definition of “clean rush”. Those airy leads and sparkling arpeggios are a perfect main-room lift. Released on Positiva in the UK in 1999, it went Top 30 and has never left the big-room crate.
3) Binary Finary — 1998 (Paul van Dyk Remix)
That choral-pad build and octave-jump hook are engineered for mass sing-back without a single lyric. The track’s various mixes (PvD, Gouryella et al.) are the stuff of trance folklore — with the 1998 tag evolving to ‘99 and ‘00 across new remixes.
4) Paul van Dyk — For an Angel (E-Werk Remix)
Released originally in 1994 and reworked in 1998, PvD’s most celebrated record is a masterclass in restraint: warm bass, crystalline leads, and a heavenly B-section that’s tailor-made for a sea of raised hands.
5) Delerium feat. Sarah McLachlan — Silence (Tiësto’s In Search of Sunrise Remix)
Vocal-trance perfection. McLachlan’s ethereal topline hovers over a widescreen build that packs both emotion and punch. If you want one mid-set “arms-around-your-mates” moment, it’s this.
6) System F — Out of the Blue (1999)
Ferry Corsten again, this time as System F, serving a riff so insistent the room starts bouncing before the kick even returns. It’s peak-time fuel that turns casual punters into converts.
7) Gouryella — Gouryella (1999)
Corsten links with Tiësto and the result is pure, floating euphoria — the sort of trance that makes you feel like you’re levitating above the booth. It’s a guaranteed goosebump reset before you slam into something tougher.
8) Rank 1 — Airwave (1999)
If you were anywhere near a club at the turn of the millennium, this was the moment the place went bananas. UK Singles Chart Top 10 and repeatedly voted among trance’s greatest, “Airwave” is all about that colossal, crying-through-a-smile lead.
9) Push — Universal Nation (1998/’99)
Belgian heavyweight Mike Dierickx (a.k.a. M.I.K.E.) forged a darker, driving anthem that still slams on modern rigs. This is the one we reach for when we want the floor to lock into a proper rolling trance groove.
10) Chicane feat. Máire Brennan — Saltwater (1999)
A glistening, Celtic-tinged slice of trance that ties the room together — especially fitting on the west coast of Scotland. Hit No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart and remains a universal sing-along.
Wildcard: Darude — Sandstorm (1999)
Yes, it’s meme-famous. It’s also an absolute weapon. It’s still such a cultural juggernaut that Helsinki staged a 25th-anniversary city run this year. Use sparingly; the effect is devastating.
How we play these at Metro-Reloaded
- Open with warmth: Start with “Café Del Mar” or “For an Angel” to build the vibe.
- Vocal peaks: Hit “Silence” when the room is full. Everyone sings, security smiles.
- Drive the floor: Use “Universal Nation” to reset energy with something grittier before the finale.
- The Hammer: Save “Sandstorm” for the exact right second—don't telegraph it.
Why these still work in 2026
- Hooks you can whistle: Instantly recognisable motifs.
- Breakdowns that breathe: Proper "hold the moment" breakdowns designed to flip a room.
- Timeless production: Clean leads and rolling basslines that make sense on modern systems.
- Shared memory: From Ayrshire to Ibiza, these tracks are generational glue.
