Reflecting on Two Decades of Above & Beyond’s ‘Tri-State’

20 years ago today, Above & Beyond solidified their place in the scene by releasing one of the greatest trance albums of all time, Tri-State.

Turn back the clock to 2006, and you’ll find yourself in a different era of the scene. Trance dominated the market, tracks were far longer than today, the community was much smaller, and production certainly wasn’t as grandiose. Yet this was also the time when many artists took major steps forward in solidifying their legacies, including Above & Beyond.

Jono Grant, Tony McGuinness, and Paavo Siljamäki had joined forces as Above & Beyond in 2020, simultaneously launching what would become one of the biggest labels in the trance genre, Anjunabeats. A collection of sublime singles, many of which were released under various aliases, had already won fans over, and their 2004 BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix helped push them to the next level. Yet it wasn’t until 2006 that Above & Beyond took a leap of faith by releasing their debut album, Tri-State, and the response was enormous.

When you explore seminal electronic albums, Tri-State needs to be part of the journey. While it’s a snapshot of the sounds that dominated the trance scene during that era, it offers far more than initially meets the eye. There’s emotional depth, lush production, sleek rhythms, soaring vocals, and gorgeous melodies across its tracks, which range from club-ready bangers to instrumental gems. Beyond that, it saw Above & Beyond make a definitive statement of who they were and what they were all about — something that the trio has carried with them to the present day.

While Tri-State was released on March 6, 2006, the album’s rollout began nearly a full year earlier. “Air For Life,” its lead single, landed in July 2005. A collaboration with fellow UK trance artist Andy Moor, this progressive trance soundscape, littered with energetic builds and sultry vocal layers that toy with the ears, wasn’t just a glimpse of the album, but the sonic elements that would define Above & Beyond.

Once released, Tri-State was quickly hailed as one of the most journeys in trance. From how the soft piano notes and synths on the album’s title track help set the journey in motion, to dominating vocal performances and groovy, boundary-pushing moments elsewhere, each passing second is time well spent.

“Alone Tonight” arrived as the album’s second single the week of its release. It has since cemented its place as one of the trio’s most beloved tunes, still receiving consistent play today. Its atmospheric intro transports you to those moments where you’re driving down a dark road. The vocals, courtesy of Richard Bedford, play perfectly with the ride, swelling with energy during the track’s build and adding emotional depth that hits you straight in your core.

Bedford is also credited with vocals on “Stealing Time” and “Liquid Love.” Years later, he would lend his powerful vocals to three more of the trio’s seminal Group Therapy tunes: “Sun & Moon,” “Thing Called Love,” and “On My Way to Heaven.”

A dose of pure trance is what Above & Beyond set out to showcase on the album’s third single, “Can’t Sleep.” At its core is a driving beat with synth moments that make you feel like you’re soaring among the stars. These play perfectly into Ashley Tomberlin‘s vocals, which speak to anyone who’s spent sleepless nights alone with a broken heart.

If “Alone Tonight” and “Can’t Sleep” weren’t soul-stirring enough, the following tune on the album’s tracklist, “Good For Me,” will accomplish that. The sole feature from Zoë Johnston flips from the somber atmospheres about lost love to one that’s soft and filled with warmth. One of the most memorable tunes on Tri-State, it’s a light, airy ride that gives listeners moments to breathe as they bask in the uplifting ambiance — something that Above & Beyond would explore more in depth in the years to come.

Of all the tunes on the album, those three singles have stood tall decades later and continue to receive play, not just in Above & Beyond’s sets but also in those of other Anjuna artists and beyond. Yet there are still more moments that convey the trio’s dynamism throughout Tri-State‘s runtime. Tracks like “Hope” and “In The Past” lean into their cinematic side, while “For All I Care” sees them touch a bit more into the indie realm with McGuinness on vocals. The soft breaks on “Indonesia” and “Home,” which also bring in vocals from Hannah Thomas, help close the album majestically.

Two decades later, Tri-State remains as impactful as it was when it was released. It remains a fan favorite of longtime Anjunafamily members and new ones alike, while also helping usher the trio into the spotlight they deserved.

More importantly, Tri-State set the tone for the core message of Above & Beyond’s music and the emotional release they sought to deliver. Although the trio’s sound has evolved over the years, the themes of love, loss, and finding solace amid the swings of life remain prominent throughout their work — and the scene is a better place because of it.

Turn back the clock to a different time and place by streaming Tri-State on Spotify or your preferred platform.

Stream Above & Beyond – Tri-State on Spotify:

Above & Beyond – Tri-State – Tracklist:

1. Tri-State
2. Stealing Time
3. World On Fire
4. Air For Life (with Andy Moor)
5. Can’t Sleep
6. Hope
7. Liquid Love
8. In The Past
9. Alone Tonight (with Richard Bedford)
10. Good For Me
11. For All I Care
12. Indonesia
13. Home

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