Throughout the mid- to late '90s, when trance and techno were growing continually further apart, Commander Tom helped define the murky area between the two. The German producer/DJ/labelhead released music that was both trance and techno at the same time — a unique sound he trademarked as his own. Commander Tom showcased his blend on mix albums like the long-running Commander Tom in the Mix series. His Noom label became a trend-setting outlet for his productions and the work of other producers with a similar style. Furthermore, Commander Tom traveled the world as a first-class DJ. Beginning in 1996 he began releasing annual volumes in the long-running Commander Tom in the Mix series.