Leaderboard

Agree with all the criticism, bullet-pointed here for convenience: - no adventure in the composition, you've heard the first 2 minutes then you've heard it all already. - too many elements fighting for space, just sounds like a wall of sound. Even if you can fixate on something, it doesn't really take you anywhere. - the mixing/mastering makes the above issue even worse by squashing this space. How did it come to this? I blame these things specifically: 1) computer screens. The modern producer spends too much time in front of one. His senses are focussed on seeing, not hearing. Back when Goa was made on hardware, the producer only had tiny screens. He was working with an array of knobs, sliders and keys. The senses used were very tactile: combining hand-to-ear coordination rather than eye-to-ear. Would a guitarist play his instrument with more soul if he could play a software version? 2) the loudness wars. It's ruined a lot of music, not just Goa. Check this video out from 2006: it demonstrates how the loudness war ruined the seminal Dire Straits album, which originally came out in 1986 to demonstrate & promote optimal dynamic range from CD audio. Dynamic Range which has subsequently been crushed by cash-grabbing 'remasters'. 3) the drugs don't work anymore, or rather they've changed. There's less psychedelics in the scene, more narcotics (uppers/downers). 4) emphasing the kick: old-school often had low-frequency kickdrums with the envelope starting a little soft, which sat nicely in the mix, allowing the other elements centre-stage. New-school often has higher-frequency sharp-attack kicks, which have a harder presence and a higher volume, this doesn't encourage focus on the other elements (presuming the other elements are worth focussing on). I've tried a lot of modern goa, from different labels. The only artist who stands out so far is Astrancer, unfortunately his work has also suffered from the loudness wars. Ra's 9th is ok, but that samey metallic kick sure does get tiring. There's still a lot to try out, some highly-rated Suntrip CD's I haven't spun yet so hopefully I'll be taken on a better ride, but I had to turn off that Epoch Of The Terrans comp as it was just numbing to listen to. Putting on an old Goa Head directly after was truly soothing to the ears. More I think about it, the more I see Forest-Psy as the spiritual successor to old-school: tells trippy stories, weird surprising stuff can happen, decent quality control of CD releases with the loudness wars thankfully not being able to destroy all the elements (because the producers tend to mix their individual tracks with awareness of space). Some forest-psy pieces are works of art, just like some old-school, and will be enjoyed decades from now (just like any good music regardless of genre). Disclaimer: as I mentioned in another thread the above is from the perspective of home-listening. I understand and respect the argument that this new-school sound works well at big parties. I do still party myself, tho' rare when compared with my youngling days from late-90's/early-00's. The only recent festival gig which really got me dancing like old times was Goa Gil's monster-set at Ozora 2017. At least there's light in the dark...