ALPHA 9

ALPHA 9 is the second project of Alexander Popov, a Russian producer whose own-name records sit at the uplifting, high-energy end of trance. Under the ALPHA 9 name he slows things down and softens the edges, writing instrumental tracks around long melodic builds, warm pads and piano lines that favour mood over impact.

The alias found a natural home on Anjunabeats, the label run by Above & Beyond, whose catalogue leans toward exactly this kind of emotional, melody-first trance. In practice the split lets Popov keep two distinct audiences: harder, faster material under his own name, and gentler, more reflective music as ALPHA 9.