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Artist: M-Run Title: Live Session Album Label: Cronomi Records Date: March, 2020 1. Live Session 1 - A Trip to Andromeda 2. Live Session 2 - Technosonic 3. Live Session 3 - Spiral Cloud 4. Live Session 4 - Chronos (Live Version) 5. Live Session 5 - The Magic Mug 6. Live Session 6 - The Redeemer 7. Live Session 7 - Hexagon 8. Live Session 8 - Oxigenated Seal What's this? A new M-run album? Sure, I'll dig into this. Let me get a cup of coffee first to keep focused. Hold my calls. Ahhh...that's the stuff. Now let's see...M-run for those that don't know is Mario Matakovic from Croatia and this is his second album. His first Some Run Just For Fun was a revelation in the goa trance scene. Easily a classic chock full of butt shaking grooves that took goa into directions never before seen. If you're a fan of goa trance it is mandatory listening. So with his second album for the Cronomi label he embarked on a very ambitious project, giving us a behind the scene look how he creates his music in the studio. So he created his tracks, practiced and rehearsed shooting for a recording in one take. Do you realize how difficult and extraordinary that is? Easy? Sure, maybe for an octopus. But to control an entire track and play it flawlessly in one take? And each track had a different hardware setup? I wonder how much F word was uttered during those takes. How many cats were kicked because he messed up one little bit and had to start all over again? I wouldn't be surprised if he was sick to death of playing these tracks. If I were you Mario I would be looking over my shoulder for PETA. They don't take kindly to cat kicking. "Ok Mario...take 76. F*cking hell." So what's the music like? First I'll say this is not Some Run II. Yes there are plenty of grooves and his production is second to none. Each track is its own tale and it is super easy to get lost inside. While his first album was an atom bomb with one jaw dropping moment after another this one is more laid back. It's not so much a "get on the dancefloor album" (although you could certainly dance to it), but more of a cerebral relaxed vibe. There are plenty of head bobbing beats and space age sound effects and even some times where it is powerful (Spiral Cloud, Hexagon). His production is second to none (love me some kicks without hi-hats to start a track) and I can honestly say it grows on me with each repeated listen. The all important first track sets the tone, bringing an organic and mysterious allure. Technosonic with its vocoded speech brings a down and dirty groove. The Magic Mug is like sitting in a groovy cauldron during an Egyptian summer. The Redeemer carries such a funky swagger while continuously building on its foundation that it is instantly one of my favorites. I would say this is another triumph for Mario. His two albums are distinctly different, but share equally impressive music. I heartily recommend this album. Cronomi Bandcamp

Artist: Clementz Title: Kretslop Label: Suntrip Date: May, 2020 1. Æ-Re-Stu 2. Big Rip 3. Inner Core 4. Spirit Dance 5. Voices of Helium 6. Distorted Angel 7. Rise and Shine 8. Outside This World 9. Music Machines Shall Inherit The Earth 10. Easter Hymn Actual footage of Hans getting coffee in the morning after releasing album. Clementz is Hans Henrik Clementz and he's from *checks notes* Norway? Really? I know during this global pandemic we've been quarantined away (well, most of the world because the dumb ass Americans apparently think the virus just disappeared because they wanted a f*cking haircut), but Norway is kind of on quarantine all the time isn't it? Tucked away in a corner of the world you don't really hear what's going on over there. What are they known for other than beautiful scenery, polar bears, and the northern lights? Actually that's enough. Well add goa trance excellence to the list because it ain't just Ra form the snowy north anymore. Kretslop (how come I can't make that f*cking o with the damn line through it!?!) means circuit in Norwegian I believe. This first half of this album is extremely intense. Acid, layers, and big booming kicks. Æ-Re-Stu is a fantastic opener illuminating how vast and potent this music is going to be. Big Rip is certainly has all of that. Huge and powerful it also has its delicate touches making this the ultimate banger. Inner Core harnesses the same energy and is relentless, and even though Spirit Dance allows you to catch your breath in spots, it has a very danceable melody. Infectious really. But if you thought you were going to have a break, well that myth is shattered by the absolutely bombastic Voices of Helium. Even though it's the shortest track on the album it's got layers of spirals and power to make this an instant anthem. Like the Suntrip promo says they focus more on the melody side of things during the second half. Outside This World feels like a bit of a let down. Remember in junior high dancing to the jam and then the dj plays a slow song and the people mostly leave the floor? Kinda like that. Well, Music Machines and Easter Hymn brings them back with their very bouncy melodies. Congratulations to Hans for a very good debut album and one of my favorites this year. Highly recommended! Suntrip Bandcamp

Zero Barrier is my favourite track by CHI-A.D., the track structure is just so complex and incredible. It only unleashes the melodies after 7:00 minutes of build-up, and when they come crashing in with huge psychedelic energy. What a track!

Artist: Various Title: Voyager: Third Plateau Label: Hado Records Release: May 13, 2020 Tracklist:- 01. HelixNebula - Over The City Of The Future 02. Artifact303 - Consequences (HelixNebula Remix) 03. Celestial Intelligence - Constant Motion (Median Project Remix) 04. Median Project - Flights In Dream And Reality 05. Fiery Dawn - Boogie Man 06. Midi Junkies & Psychologist - Altay 07. Psychowave - Never Ending Mistery 08. Galaktion & Groove Hunter - Crystal Worlds 09. Sonic Elysium - Thunderstorm HelixNebula – First time hearing this amigo and gotta say it is a great theme to bring to the compilation first up. Floating and uplifting, it really does make it feel like you are floating over a city of futuristic buildings made of gold and glub-glub. Artifact303 (HelixNebula Remix) – The track gets better and better as it goes on, The first had me wondering if something great was going to eventually happen and it sure does. Helixnebula brings more uplifting energy to the comp Cellestial Intelligence (Median Project Remix) – I’ve listened to the original and this version back to back and up n’ down. Median Projects adds flour to the mix and densifies it in a way that only he can. A few extra layers and added zips and hey presto we have ourselves an AAF certified banger. Like the original the track becomes exceedingly more exciting as it progresses. It leaves me feeling light and capable. Median Project - This is the sort of song that got Median Projects name on the map, hidden layers reach up from the depth and screech at you as intensity intensifies. you go from deep sleep in the cold emptiness of space to hyperspeed through a nebula all in the space of 8 minutes and 10 seconds. Fiery Dawn – Whose afraid of the big bad Boogie Man? Not Fiery Dawn, this guy faces his fear head on and damn he does it with gusto today. The track is full bodied with a long finish, think of a Hunter Valley Shiraz. Energy is kept high and every element compliments the last. Fiery Dawn should get a cellar door award for this baby, it’s hot on the lips and only gets better with more listens. This reminds me Midi Junkies & Psychologist – The mood changes into full-on/psytrance territory. I normally don’t go out of my way to listen to this style so I appreciate having it here for me to hear. A lot of effort goes into the mids and highs, it feels like the bassline and kick could have been given a little uniqueness love. Regardless the theme and that 5 minute break into triplets is sweet as pie. An engaging dancefloor stomper. Psychowave – Psychowave comes in with his high quality psytrance, more squelches and psychedelic layers than you can poke a stick at. The track has its moments and no doubt would be a banger on a dancefloor. For my at home listening it lacks anything stable for me to grasp on to as each moment flies by so fast. Cleanest production in the game though. Galaktion & Groove Hunter – Picture sparkling gems overhead, refracting in the forest light as it glimmers through the tree tops. A half dark half, half sparkly track that has some decent grooves, my favourite of the three psy tracks (You’d hope so, that name comes with expectations). Sonic Elysium – Horrifyingly uplifting and full of nice feelings. The main lead is to die for and reminds me of a high quality old school Muses Rapt style. The first listen comes with a lot of excitement as the track grows into what it eventually becomes. Subsequent listens keep the smile on the face as it fills me with empowerment and positivity. Hado Records hit the nail on the head right here right now. The psytrance tracks might not be everyones cup of tea but then again the Goa trance tracks may not be either. Nobody did a bad job here and exceed at each style that is tested out. Sonic Elysium and Fiery Dawn are my favourites, but really I like them all. Not a wasted spot on the comp https://hadorecords.bandcamp.com/album/compilation-voyager-third-plateau - Bandcamp is down at the time of writing this but here is a link anywho. https://www.beatport.com/release/voyager-third-plateau/2994895

Current goa trance music: This album: This album is most certainly different. This is the Unikitty of goa trance. SUPER POSITIVE. Elysian Fields sounded like it had samples from Cotton Eyed Joe and then took a darker turn! Sirs, you aren't following the rules. Passing Spirits and it's key changes put me off, but The Fool and Tantric Tweak got things back on track. You know what else it is? All over the f*cking place. It's like a toddler running on pixie sticks six deep with a can of silly string. There is certainly something to be said about not creating paint by numbers goa trance, but to me this seems like...well, kinda like, uh... Do I like it? I don't really know. I love when things are different than the norm whether it's movies, music, or other art. There should never be boundaries on creativity. Keep pushing, keep exploring. I will say this: For me it's not instantly digestible. It's not the style of goa trance I normally embrace. It certainly will take many listens to appreciate (more than what I have currently given) which is a task I will may undertake. Nothing good comes easy, but on the other hand listening to music is a leisure activity. Do I want to work hard to enjoy music? This is certainly not your run of the mill goa. And it is definitely like nothing I've ever heard before.