In Search Of Sunrise 8 – South Africa is a strong but safe addition to the series by new Dutch helmsman Richard Durand. The series, originally kicked off by trance titan Tiësto back in 1999, now has Richard as In Search of Sunrise’s new master and commander. It is arguably one of the genre’s most consistent album compilations, and this instalment is no exception.

With Tiësto formally handing over the controls back in April, Richard expertly fills the ISOS void with a revitalising mix that breathes a new freshness into the long-running series. First tipped by Tiësto back in 2006 as an artist ready to break, Richard Durand has spent the last four years putting in solid performances both in the studio and the booth. From the early days of his Lethal Industry and Flight 643 remixes, he has moved to become one of the most consistently dependable players on the scene; crafting and shaping his own model sound and style. Parallel to that, his spinning career has graduated from that of ‘next big thing’ to that of headlining, all-club-conquering DJ – a passage that now sees him ranked as one of the 50 hottest spinners on the planet.

As with every album since ISOS3, each edition’s roots grew in a specific country. In choosing South Africa to seek his first Sunrise, Richard explained, “I actually saw South Africa first from a vacation point of view. When I returned I spoke to my agent, told him what an incredible place it was and how much I’d like to experience the country from a clubbing side. Gigs were arranged and gigs were played and – simply put – I was blown away for a second time. The scene there is so fresh so open-minded and still is rapidly expanding; it almost made the choice for me!”

In Search Of Sunrise 8 – South Africa navigates the melodic trance plains right across the span to the bigger and bolder tech side. Disc one is the slightly lighter offering and by song three, The Violet Hour – a track already on Armin’s playlist, the groove warmly builds into a catchy crescendo, smoothly rolling into Madelin Zero’s whispery voice in Envy. Richard continues to mine this vein in As The Rain Falls, before shifting into the uplifting Never Alone, which cleverly morphs into the mantra-like vocals of Rasmus Kellerman in There is Hope. Straight out of central casting is the deliciously trancey Pillars Of the Earth while the Moonbeam remix of Introspection Attempts channels the Tiësto sounds of old. Tom Cloud’s The Darkest Star lives up to its namesake, and signals the album’s deepest drawing before ending with Richard Durand’s own personal caress in For No Reason.

Deltree kicks off disc two and its tech feel subtlety is immediately evident. It’s a smart opener, and by midway through displays its layered warmth before coolly cruising into the close your eyes goodness of one of my favourites, Something For the Pain. The clean riffs in September Rain must mimic the steep cliffs in South Africa, and it’s from here where the album takes a brief but subtler more progressive step in Ocean Terrace. Collaborations abound on this album, with the well renowned BT teaming with Andrew Bayer in The Emergency, and with what may become another in the Tiësto legacy; a partnership with proven vocalist JES and Richard Durand with N.Y.C. The album remainder glides through some climbing euphoria in Satellite Of Love and We.are before the smooth guitar sounds of With Me land you, not wanting to re-open your mind’s happily closed eye.

The ethos attached to the ISOS brand makes any follow up a tough task. However, Richard has admirably achieved it, and one can only hope we all get to experience him pushing it out live amongst a room full of likeminded types. Yes, it stays away from anything experimental or groundbreaking, but to the naysayers, the fence sitters, the unconverted, this is a new sunrise and it tingles the skin in all the right places. If you are a fan of early Tiësto you will be a fan of Richard Durand.

In Search Of Sunrise 8 – South Africa is out now on Songbird/Black Hole Recordings. Richard Durand heads to Australia in September – stay tuned to inthemix for full show details.