johnb820

I can't stop listening to this song lately. I have no idea why.

People talking on their phones while in line at a fast food restaurant. I am not a violent person... but that may turn me into one one day.

That's definitely several good reasons as to why Twisted is so good, but fewer layers is not one of them. The quality of trance is the transition from simple layers to more complex ones, most preferrably at points to engage the listener and keep the energy going. Also, there's a lot you can do with just one synth. The kinds of tones you can derive from placing effects can make it sound a lot more complex. The idea is to make sure that every effect and every layer serve a purpose towards the mix. The most interesting and subtle things come from the harmonics that occur when tones start colliding. For instance, a frequency cutoff sweep is compelling because the altered wave interacts with various other elements within the mix from the top to the bottom. Phasers likewise play with the volumes of various frequencies, emphasizing different aspects of the mix as the tonal focus shifts. The visual association with the manipulation of sounds take on various forms, some chaotic, some divinely pure, some internalized, others externalized. The complexity of the layers has very little importance compared to the craft of perfecting inspired soundforms. Some people are Picassos at drawing beautiful sounds through a lot of practice and patience, some are not. Finally, I just wanted to comment on the last thing you said about melodic structures. What you are referring to is song structure, something that I too agree many artists lack. I can't stand full on, prog, techno, etc because there is no song writing. One of the few artists I can think of that has written really great compositions is RA. The musical structures are so well thought out and it's often not just one thing and then another. To Sirius and 9th and I'll throw Second Phaze in there, are full of subtle musical progressions that perfectly and logically lead from one to the next, providing the kind of focus that a lot of artists don't seem to care about. I mean, sure this is goa trance and not a Beethoven Sonata, but all the same, one of the most rewarding things as a listener for me is to hear where a song goes, how it develops, where it wants to take me. Melodies, harmonies, chord progressions all captivate me far more than big fills, long breakdowns, explosive climaxes, etc.

Awesome release guys! Lots of really groovy, mind bending tracks!

I noticed soundcloud not working for me either. I think it's a problem with my flash plugin and firefox though, as I have had problems getting bandcamp to play things too. Temporarily switching to Chromium fixed it.

I wonder if Joske has heard anything from the new RA album.

Just look at this god damn art work! Anthropomorphic is the 7th Entheogenic album, released in May of 2013. Like its predecessor Gaia Sophia, Anthropomorphic was released on bandcamp and appears to have been worked on by Piers Oak-Rhind alone. Its digital only release is somewhat mind boggling to me as this album is jaw droppingly good and not only that, the artwork alone would be worth holding in your hands. But thankfully this masterpiece was released regardless and we are able to peer into the world of Entheogenic yet again. Right from the first track, we are treated to sounds of alien nature, dripping and scraping, wooshing, and flowing. Beneath the effects are sounds of animals, and rivers, forests, and trees. But it's all been altered somehow, distorted and twisted. Scattered throughout the nearly 43 minutes are beautiful vocals, vibrant acoustic instruments, and loads of sonic effects the likes of which no Entheogenic album has come as close to. The result is a gorgeous, green, life affirming world that had been lost and is now found. The compositions are so effortlessly crafted on each and every song. The final track, Soma (Veda Mix), features an uptempo dance beat as thoughtful samples explain to us how our ears create vibrations in the air and we create the universe with our ears... or something. Just as I was so impressed by Gaia Sophia, so too am I impressed by Anthropomorphic, in a way that Flight of the Urubus did not. These four tracks are just so wonderfully produced, journeys within themselves in ways that even the older Entheogenic material never quite created. Things are a bit more chaotic and there's less structure, but that in itself makes for a more compelling listening experience each time I put this on. It may be a bit late to provide a link, but I think if you have enjoyed any of the previous Entheogenic albums, this one is not one to miss. And listen to Gaia Sophia while you are at it. http://entheogenic-usr.bandcamp.com/album/anthropomorphic

Psychedelics sometimes, yes.

This is a great release! Good job guys.

It is all one continuing expression of the same idea manifested in each and every artist's production. Aesthetically? Sure, some people are going to connect with certain styles and ideas, but to me? It's all one and the same. Goa is as goa does. Old stuff, new stuff, there's no difference.

I've been listening to this album a lot lately. While some things about these songs seem to miss some of the more interesting aspects of Moment of Truth and other MWNN songs, I can't fault Martin for bringing the energy and melodic craft. Own The World and Tarantula are so powerful. Vavoom! and The Breech have nice entrancing moments.

Etnica/Pleiadians, if that's really fair. I don't think it's really fair to criticize those artists that made the full on attempt. Some made better full on than others. Cosmosis was never really goa trance aside from the first album and that had other members contributing to it besides Billy. I put Cosmosis sort of next to Electric Universe in that it's hard to define their stuff. Both did a lot of experimentation with different production styles and ideas before settling with generic full on.

It occurred not to long ago to me that I was hearing basically identical production styles between Hallucinogen and Shpongle to be honest, The Lone Deranger being the most creative thing he has ever made, and Ineffable Mysteries being the best set of compositions he has ever written. Each album is unique in their own way though. The sheer scope of Shpongle's work covers so much, so many genres, so many different influences, but it's always been deciphered through Simon's interpretation of 3 dimensional space when he mixes.

Good explanation Shpongled!

Now that I have finally given this album enough listens I feel the desire to comment on it. Stardust Chronicles is brilliant! I am not sure I understand the lack of attention to this album, although I can see how it might be a bit tough to get in to. To start, Nebula Meltdown really has a lot of conviction to write so much goa trance in major scales, within a genre strongly associated with minor scales, etc. Another thing that kept me personally from really getting into the album was the fact that it was mixed as one continuous piece of music more or less. I've had to find the time to listen to all 73 minutes of it because I couldn't just play any particular track. The album demands that you listen to the whole thing as one piece, which is fine of course, but I could see that putting off some people maybe. When I first heard the samples I immediately could see this album being played on a summer's day with a warm breeze, the sun shining on my face. It sounded hopeful, in a perhaps simplistic sort of way. Stardust Chronicles is such a shimmering euphoric, bright album the artwork really doesn't do it justice in my opinion. This is an album for every color of the rainbow in painstaking detail, intricate and forever deftly weaving up and down and in and out. While not every track is going to tear up the dance floor, there's enough energy here to move it along. Although I personally find the more introspective tracks like Psychic Beacon and Alnitak Sunrise to be the best. There's originality and creativity here. Stardust Chronicles is a light breezy fun work of art as much to appreciate at home as well as the dance floor. Good work Kristian Aro!

Thanks for the review Trance2MoveU. I'm glad you found my track ok and I am ok with that. This was the first track I have ever had released on an album and I am so proud to have been a part of it. Everyone's words motivate me every day to continue to write and perfect my productions.

Why did you have to ruin my Wednesday evening? No amount of warning would have stopped me from listening to it.

I will likely write a review. I've only listened through most of it once because I just haven't had the time. I've been so busy lately.

Thanks for all the responses everyone, you too radi . It seems to have gotten a little better since yesterday. I am pretty sure it was just a strange temporary pressure abnormality. It could have even happened just riding the subway home which causes all sort of pressure issues down in the tubes like being on an airplane where you are constantly trying to pop your ears. Combined with the high volume and cold weather messing with my sinuses it was probably nothing to worry about. It still scared the hell out me though because I am familiar with tinnitus and have lost quite a bit of hearing from rock concerts and clubs.

So I was walking home from work today blasting Merr0w's Citrus Circus through my headphones and it was a really cold and windy day here in Buffalo. I started feeling my ears hurt from the cold as I had nothing to cover them, combined with potential tinnitus from the volume of the music and now I can't hear bass out of my right ear. I really hope I didn't permanently damage my ear as I now hear a low hum out the affected ear indicating that I did damage those nerve endings. It also feels like that ear is clogged. Does anyone have any experience with this and if so maybe some suggestions for trying to deal with it? I am really hoping I just ruptured it or messed up the natural fluids in the ear canal.

How the hell have I not listened to Uth's album yet? Thank you for the reminder Richpa!

I finally got around to ordering this and the other recent suntrip releases which could only mean that people finally started paying me . I had not noticed at first that Richpa did the artwork for this release but it's excellent just like all of his artwork. I can't wait to listen to In a Special Kind of Space.

Speaking of Globular, a new album has been released, on ektoplazm no less. http://www.ektoplazm.com/free-music/globular-magnitudes-of-order

Subtle complex high hat patterns, a very small part of psy/goa but so endlessly rewarding when you do notice them.