One of hard trance’s most iconic tracks by Cosmic Gate and a timeless trance anthem has just turned a quarter of a century
Cosmic Gate are undoubtedly among the artists who have most successfully carried the flag of German trance, and more broadly, they stand as one of the longest-running and most influential acts in the entire history of trance music: Claus Terhoeven and Stefan Bossems – known to everyone, always, simply as Nic & Bossi – have accompanied nearly three decades of the genre’s evolution, building a career capable of bridging styles that, years ago, seemed worlds apart. The result is a musical journey that is coherent, instantly recognizable, and yet constantly evolving.
The most recent demonstration of this vision is Perspectives, a three-part project completed with EP 3, released just last week: this work further expands the duo’s musical horizons, embracing a progressive sound that naturally fuses trance, deep house, and melodic techno. Yet, at the beginning of their career, their identity was deeply rooted in the subgenre that made them famous and established them among the scene’s most renowned names: hard trance music.
Following their first releases in 1999, The Drums, Mental Atmosphere and the subsequent Somewhere Over The Rainbow in 2000, it was the winter of 2000/2001 that marked a defining turning point in their career: during that period, the track that would become their quintessential hit, and one of the most iconic chapters in trance music history, came to life.
Exploration Of Space was initially included in a master release published in November 2000, alongside Melt To The Ocean, before being officially released on January 19, 2001, via Independance Record. These were crucial years when trance was solidifying its own distinct identity: an uplifting, highly melodic sound, paired with more powerful and impactful productions. The hard trance of that era did not abandon the legacy of mid-’90s German trance but instead fully integrated into the new language of the trance genre.
It is precisely this fusion that makes Exploration Of Space a timeless track. Inspired by the style of some of the era’s landmark productions, think Darude – Sandstorm, the Cosmic Gate track quickly became an enduring trance anthem, instantly recognizable from the very first notes and that legendary “e-e-e-e-exploration of space!” voiced by Thomas Friebe. A staple in live performances and trance DJ sets worldwide, it has crossed generations and trends without ever losing its identity.
The first official remix was by Green Court, released alongside the original version in the initial release. Over the years, however, Exploration Of Space continued to live on, especially through Cosmic Gate’s own reinterpretations. Nearly ten years after the original release, in 2010, they revisited the track with the Cosmic Gate’s Back 2 The Future Remix, released on Black Hole Recordings: a version that refreshed the sound while preserving the spirit of the original, quickly becoming a fixture in the duo’s celebrations and DJ sets.
Then in 2016 came the third incarnation: the Cosmic Gate’s Third Contact Remix, designed for large stages and featuring a more “big room” imprint, confirming how Exploration Of Space continues to reinvent itself while staying true to its soul. An absolute classic, it now celebrates twenty-five years of history, remaining an essential milestone in trance music.
Exploration Of Space, alongside the aforementioned hits and the subsequent track Fire Wire, is part of their debut 2001 album, Rhythm & Drums, which marked the start of an unforgettable trance career that continues to this day.