Trance2MoveU

Artist: Electric Universe Title: One Love Label: Spirit Zone Recordings Date: 1995 1. One Love 2. Out of Time 3. Orange Night 4. Galaxia 5. Equilibrio 6. Electronic Pulsation 7. Virtual Landscape 8. Visiting Venus 9. Nexus If you're only knowledge of Boris Blenn is the limp dicked psytrance that he's been peddling lately allow me to further your education. Almost 20 years old now his debut album set the bar so ridiculously high that he himself has failed to reach it. The entire album is a dreamy and floating experience highlighted by the epic and transformative title track. This was his drop the mic moment. So fluid with melodies that linger and meander sending the listener to the highest of highs on a trail of psychedelic bubble wrap. Out of Time was nice, but it unfortunately followed the opener. The last quarter though is a great journey through space filled with loop de loops! Orange Night picks up the pace (it seems) and throws you back into twirling and hypnotic territory. Galaxia is another strong goa effort replete with a bubbling 303, but my complaint has always been with it's brevity. And if you think 5 and a half minutes for a goa trance track is short Equilibrio slices a minute off of that time! The final cherry on the cake of this masterpiece is the almost equally epic Electronic Pulsation. Set cruiser to auto pilot and enter the dream chamber as the nebulae and innumberable stars cascade by. Virtual Landscape has some nice bounce to it with very clear tones where Boris shows his mastery over the 303. And Visiting Venus is another quality track. Nexus is like a tuxedo at a nudist colony...just doesn't belong. This was the absolute best thing to come from the Electric Universe project. He never matched it or even came close with the exception of Cosmic Universe. Perhaps he knew this was the pinnacle. He reached it and maybe decided that goa bored him. Time to experiment. Oh well, at least we as fans have this release. A reissue though with perhaps a second disc where goa artists of today remix the tracks would pretty much make everything in the world unlistenable. "I'm sorry I can't hear anything over the sound of f*cking awesome!", is what I would say. Mdk

Artist: E-Mantra Title: Nemesis Label: Suntrip Records Date: 1. The Entity 2. Wrath of the Nomads (Rmx) 3. Fall of Icarus 4. Gebeleizis 5. Xibalba 6. Ayahuasca 7. Mission Aborted 8. Orphic Hymn 9. Shae Nab It takes a lot to be a champion. To be number one or the absolute best at your chosen profession. I was never the best at anything. Emmanuel is though. And he has been for quite a while now. He is the alpha male ibex at the top of goa trance mountain. Let's look at the definition of trance. Trance: noun: trance; plural noun: trances a half-conscious state characterized by an absence of response to external stimuli, typically as induced by hypnosis or entered by a medium. Yep. That's what he does. Well what his music does. Maybe he has trouble talking to women, I dunno. Perhaps he is a sh*tty coworker. But his music? If the object of trance is to open your mind and get caught up in the swirling layered vortex of beauty and darkness then welcome to dream town. He opened the door to another universe in his distinct style where the portrait is so vivid and immersive you can feel it on your skin. His music is seamless and has the best flow of any artist out there in my opinion. If I'm E-mantra I drop the mic and say, "Suck it bitches!" "E-mantra Nemesis! Goa Trance 2014! What!?!" Jon's right, the whole album is a lush soundscape with palpable atmospheres. He's painting a picture not with a brush like mere mortals, but with a diamond tipped scalpel. Dark and layered the music is steeped in mystery and magic. It's in a constant state of flux rising and falling, twisting and turning. Entrancing and hopelessly hypnotic with breaks that defy description. Isn't this what we want from our goa trance? This album has everything you could hope for and in my opinion is the pinnacle of his career thus far. Taking all that was great from Arcana and Pathfinder and combining them into a journey like no other. And I'll go one step further. I believe it to be one of the greatest goa trance releases of the modern era. E. F*cking. Sential. Suntrip Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Twilight Title: Space of Time Label: Airglow Records Date: July, 2013 1. Higher Mind 2. Dopamine feat Biotouch 3. Feel the Music 4. Space of Time feat. Double Tech 5. Silent Hill - That's Too Much (Twilight Rmx) 6. Designer Dreams 7. Electroholics - Plutonic Universe (Twilight rmx) 8. Bass Walk 9. Undergroove feat Shake 10. Raindrops Falling "Substances, drugs affect the way your body works." Really? Chick does nothing for me. Nothing. Might as well ask me to stick my dick in a cactus. This is Javier Martinez from Mexico who also has a progressive trance project called Unseen Dimensions. As Unseen Dimensions he released an EP called Airglow, which just happens to be the name of his own label. So it's all connected in a six degrees of Kevin Bacon kinda way. To find out more about this release do yourself a favor and don't read the promo. It will make you dumber by the sentence. Don't they proofread these things? Putting a native English speaker on the payroll wouldn't be the worst idea. I know a guy if you're interested. As Twilight he released Angels Calling back in 2009 which was way better than what I was expecting. Nope, not fair. It was damn good. So with this album he combines the lush soundscapes he perfected as Unseen Dimensions and blends it with full on and Tiesto trance. Yep the floodgates are open, prepare for the cheese. But it never* came *Oh yes the hell it did! I mean I got a little wet, but not drenched, If I'm honest I wanted to hate this. Really I did. But you know what? I couldn't.* *Until a few seconds went by. Sure there are some cheesy moments but it's nowhere near the sh*tstorm I thought it was going to be.* *Yes it was. The full on isn't bad and his penchant for elaborate productions jam packed with sounds creates a sort of enjoyable balance. I liked the percussive interludes he put in the tracks like on his remix of That's Too Much or the beginning of Plutonic Universe. It's actually a refreshing change of pace album after being submerged in awesome goa trance and all the deep and mystical crap that goes with it. And boy does it sound great. Crystal clear. That said the novelty wears off after a few and then I'm looking at myself like I just had two big macs instead of working out. "Little did Angela Merkel know that cameras had been installed in all diplomat hotel rooms since the touchy feely years of the Bush Presidency." Yep it goes downhill fast. Sucked into a vortex of stops and starts, annoying samples, autotune, and full on malaise. So take it with a grain of salt. He didn't redefine the genre (far from it, he just added another shiny slimy coating to the sh*t pile) and most of the samples were eye rollers. This isn't going to be in anyone's top...100. But it was also filled with enough good tricks to make it... fun. Yeah it's kinda fun. If only for a little while. A very. Little. While. Now if you'll excuse me I have a date with a cactus. Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Panayota Title: Butterfly Effect Label: Kaos Krew Records Date: June, 2014 1. The Wizard Spell 2. Dream feat. Skazi 3. Heaven In My Hands 4. Take With Love 5. Butterfly Effect 6. Liquid Crystals feat. Alienn 7. The Atmosphere feat. Stereopanic 8. New Civilization 9. Zoodana 10. D'R Rudy Yeah...it's one of those. This is way you expect a sh*tty boxer to feel. Or those that suffer from migraines. When I was a kid I had those. Got so bac I would wander around the house in my underwear moaning, moving from room to room. Only to find sweet relief in sleep and total darkness. That is after puking into the terlet until I all but passed out. Which is exactly what happened when I listened to this. Panayota succeeds in bringing those horrible memories flooding back to the forefront. Thanks a lot dick. It's loud with more stops and starts than a teacher that likes to go off on tangents. Get to the f*cking point already. Problem is there is no point. The leads are abrasive and there is zero flow to the album or even individual tracks. And don't get me started on the build ups. It's like he was shooting for the world record. This is the type of commercial full on that is a recipe for a migraine. Maybe I'm too old, but music that inflicts pain isn't something I'm into. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Analog Dreams Label: DAT Records Date: August, 2014 1 Hallucinogen - LSD '93 2 Space Tribe - The Great Spirit (Original Mix) 3 Doof - We Are Free (Desk Mix) 4 Slinky Wizard - Funkus Munkus (Original Mix) 5 Green Nuns Of The Revolution - Ring Of Fire (Extended Mix) 6 Total Eclipse - Free Lemonade (Live in Paris 1995) 7 Etnica - Full On (Original Mix) 8 Prana - Voyager 2 9 Nervasystem - Whirling Dervish (Kaleidoscope Mix) "Let me show you something. That'll make you feel young as when the world was new." DAT Records is back with its latest compilation and the hype levels were off the charts. And why wouldn't they be? Look at that tracklist. Ain't seen that sh*t since Destination Goa. Draeke takes what is old and makes it new again, building it better. Faster. Stronger. Yeah that 55 Chevy looks great, but it's stunning with a new coat of paint and a souped up intake valve. As a special bonus the album comes with an 8 page booklet that provides welcome insight to the tracks. Love that. LSD '93- This is one of the greatest goa trance songs. Ever. It's full of power and mystical possibilities. Blows my mind that this was made 21 years ago. This version however is weaker and loses some of its gravitas. Think of the track as the elder statesman of the goa trance age. Don't take away his Viagara. The Great Spirit (Original Mix)- Olli's brand of goa always felt lacking and incomplete to me. Let's face it he ain't in the top ten when you discuss the masters of the genre. I remember album covers more than tracks. But I liked this one. Not a stormer, but a subtle guide with good attention to detail. It weaves hypnotically with a tribal feel. We Are Free (Desk Mix)- Not a fan of the repeated samples, but the crunchy lead synth running through its cycle is delicious and juicy. Funkus Munkus (Original Mix)- Very acidic with dark, tribal overtones. Ring of Fire (Extended Mix)- Kitty like original better. Free Lemonade (Live In Paris 1995)- I've never liked this song to begin with so the fact that it was recorded live in Paris is not going to change my mind. Unless it includes round trip airfare tickets then of course I'm on board. Full On (Original Mix)- Say what you want about this track but I really liked it. The sounds were crystal clear and all the layers were nice and bubbly. Voyager 2- You hear how sneaky that lead is? Dancing. Mandatory. This is what old school goa trance was all about. Foreign and exotic, opening up doors with magical possibilities. Trance state achieved. Whirling Dervish (Kaleidoscope Mix)- The album closes with a mysterious almost downtempo goa song heavy with ancient shaman sensibilities. At first there was euphoria with climax inducing praise. As you got farther into the release thread you would've thought this was a dud. Wrong. With regards to criticism about the mastering let me tell you for home listening this doesn't appear to be an issue for me. Sounds great on headphones or my speakers. I will say that on some tracks the kick sounds muted and others it's right in front in the mix. But guess what? These tracks are old. Some older than you. I imagine that they weren't in the greatest condition and a balance had to be struck when mastering the album. Didn't take any enjoyment away from me. I like hearing different versions of well known tracks. They're not all going to be hits, that's why the famous ones are the famous ones and the other aren't. Prana ain't Prana because they released Kollage. Someone said that we are reluctant to criticize our favorite labels and that may be true to some degree. But not because of some blind loyalty. Maybe we're afraid that they'll stop doing what they do. And we enjoy goa trance way too much to have it goaway. (See what I did there?) Making an album and releasing a CD seems like hard work. Harder work than I want to do. Especially if it's trying to resurrect older material. You're not going to please everyone. Sometimes you hit a home run and sometimes you put your uniform on backwards. While nowhere near as epic as Live in Athens this album is a worthy addition to your collection. Why? It's like listening to a piece of history that has only recently been discovered. Sometimes history ain't pretty and can leave you with more questions than answers. Sometimes you might not like what you find. Like you I love what DAT Records does and hope they keep doing it as long as the passion is still there. They have my full support and I will continue buying their music. Having missed out on this great era once I have no intention of repeating that mistake. DAT Records Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Fill Your Head With Phantasm - Psychedelic Trance Label: Phantasm Records Date: June, 1995 1. Akasha - Beings From Another World 2. Interlect 3000 - Gravitation (Sundog Remix) 3. Quartermass - Kali 4. Mindfield - Sphynx 5. Synasthesiacs - Channel 9 6. Mindfield Vs. Sundog - Ghosts On The Highway 7. Temple of Dreams - Oscillation 8. Sundog - Brain Capers 9. Synthasy - Spiral Journey 10. Taufactor - Red Shift 11. Mojo - Bass Driver 12. Silver & Steel - Dreaming of Disco Valley "Beings from another world have visited Earth before." Regardless of your political preference, this would ah...hmmm...this would explain a lot. The first in the series this compilation had some potential, but not unlike a two day old bottle of coke lost it's fizz near the end. The first few tracks were not spectacular, but solid efforts with the means to sweep you up and prepare you for takeoff with their deep goa sensibilities. Then it got a little too happy and trancey as if the compilers followed the pot luck method of track selection. "Yeah, f*ck it just throw it in there! It's a stew man! Everyone loves a good stew!" The quality and depth found in the first few were noticeably absent in later tracks. Phantasm was a label started by John Ford (Mindfield) and the late Simon Carman and you will find a lot of the tracks by Mindfield, Sundog (John Ford and Simon Carman) and various other side projects of Mindfield. The best thing I can say about this compilation was that while some of the tracks were unimpressive it's a mixed CD and it is mixed well. Hardly essential and I imagine if it didn't have sequels that were far superior this would have faded into obscurity. Mdk

Artist: Brain Accent Title: Orange Acid EP Label: Cyrex Technologies Date: 1996 1. Orange Acid 2. Anno Domini 3. Broken Dreams One and done. That's what this project was. And normally it would be destined to languish at the bottom of the bargain bin with the rest of the one hit wonders. Snuggled nicely in between Men Without Hats Safety Dance and that song by Big Country. But the guy behind this project is one of the cornerstones of the genre. Tim Schuldt aka Mr. Everything. Sure he is a mastering guy now, but back in the goa heyday he took the music into places you didn't think it could go. Dark places. Uncomfortable places. "Like the backseat of a 68 Beetle?" Precisely. This three track EP has two pretty hypnotic goa tracks in Orange Acid and Anno Domini. Not on the level of Pleiadians, but damn fine in their own right. The track Broken Dreams is pure filler, but don't let that stop you from enjoying the other two. Mdk

One part Jean Michel Jarre, one part new age style reminiscent of Enigma, and one part dreamy soundscapes. Actually there is a sh*tload of the latter. The sophomore effort of Asura is a floating one where the project even manages to make a track full of house vocal affects (Raindust) sound trippy. Sounds of melancholy are everywhere as is the attention to detail. Requiem From Nowhere is probably my favorite with it's head nodding beat and pads of sad. Even the short track Incoming has a heavy thud of a kick and a goa "ish" melody that is hard not to love. A very, very solid album. I think this guy might have a future. Mdk

I agree with Jon about a quality blend of ambient and trance on Asura's debut. Much more trancey than Life^2. Throw in the goa touches and there is a lot to like about this album. If I had one gripe I felt the opening two tracks could've shown a little more evolution. You've got a lot of chalkboard to write on when the tracks are over 10 minutes. Other than that the melodies and melancholy went hand in hand like porn and the internet. Mdk

I absolutely adore this album. It's never too fast or too slow. Just when you might be drifting too far away, he brings you back with 4/4 beats. Repeat. Being partially mixed helps it be ultra cohesive and makes for a dreamy and vivid journey. There are moments where I was working while listening and became hopelessly lost. Ever walk into a room and immediately wonder what the hell you were doing there? Lush and magical. Great job. Mdk

Just moved to my new home and am taking a break from unpacking. So many boxes it seems like it shall never end. Need to relax and the slow dreamy pace of this album hits the spot. I like what Abasio said, "It's never in a hurry to do anything." Just like I wanna be. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: If I Wasn't Human, I'd Be a Trance Track Label: Cronomi Date: December, 2013 1. Intro 2. New-Born - Unidentified 3. Temporal - Flying In A Trance 4. Portamento - Flying & Falling 5. Psysutra - Free And Independent 6. Artha - Faith 7. Dragon Twins - The Acid Man 8. Vila Nova - Genesis 9. M-Run Spirit - Implosion "What would you like to do if money were no object? How would you really enjoy spending your life?" Give me a minute! It's hard to concentrate while I'm sitting on top of all this uncomfortable money! Probably spend my days listening to music and then writing funny jokes telling people what I think about it. It's a slave master relationship though, you know? Always trying to write that next review. Make it funnier than the last one. Am I writing the reviews or are they writing me? Probably would be a lot easier if I decreased the volume of the reviews I did, but what can I say...I'm a giver. The latest from Cronomi (that other label not named Suntrip, DAT, or Neogoa) is a compilation of goa designed to make you think. It's been in the works for almost a year and you figure that's plenty of time to get it right. And I'd say they came pretty close. This isn't the blasting style of Erta Ale or the Portamento album, but one with more of an organic texture. It eases you into the vibe and invites you to explore its depth. There are some groovy tracks, some floating smoothness, and some haunting in an x-files way. I found a palpable old school vibe around these tracks with some rich detail in which I could lose myself. But that's not to say there aren't and that will lay the smack down. Artha, The Dragon Twins, and M-run rattle some windows and probably some fillings as well. So it's a good mix of several types of goa. A few gripes...one was with the overly long and repetitive Flying Into A Trance. Cut a few minutes off that puppy and no one knows the difference. Also I was a little disappointed in the Portamento track. Rather weak and lacking the intensity I was expecting from him. Good job Cronomi, happy to have this in the collection. Cronomi Mdk

No sir...thank you for your reply. You're awesome. *cue Jimmy Dean breakfast music* Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Under The Moss Vol. 3 Label: Forest Freaks Date: June, 2014 01 - Re-Horakhty - Ravebros (148 BPM) 02 - Tom Noise - Double Trip Tip (150 BPM) 03 - C.Monster - How Do You Know (148 BPM) 04 - Schizoid Bears - Rhythm Of My Life (148 BPM) 05 - Cenotes - Dive (152 BPM) 06 - CTO Gram - Marshmallows, Monkeys, and Mortality (152 BPM) 07 - DoHm - Moss Party (152 BPM) 08 - P.Tale - Ypsilon (152 BPM) 09 - FungPung - Anthill (150 BPM) "How do you know?" Cause I'm American and we know everything. Where the hell have you been? Anyone who didn't think the series sporting foliage with eyes on the cover wouldn't have a LOTR sample is kidding themselves. This type of music just lends itself to fairytale creatures and magical realms. If I studied geography solely by listening to forest trance I would assume all of Scandinavia was like this. The cool parts anyway. Having reviewed the previous two volumes I would say this one is more accessible to those not indoctrinated in the rituals of forest trance. More Wizack Twizack night time mischief than supernatural there's no way out we're all going to die dread. Oh it's still psychedelic as hell so underestimate it at your peril. Full of hallucinogenic atmospheres, bubbly sounds and screechy leads. Just not as heavy. Get more fish with a wider net don't you know. That said aside from the dirge sung at the beginning of Ypsilon and the insanely twisting Anthill (f*cking awesome by the way) nothing stood out. And that's ok. Because with forest trance it is most assuredly about the journey and atmosphere and this compilation has loads of it. A deep eeriness and mystical whimsy. Oaks older than man and moss retaking all that he in is arrogance has built. Structures are temporary, but the forest...the forest is eternal. Creatures that were the stuff of legend appear and we realize that they didn't just appear. They were here all along. Free at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: X-Dream Title: Trip To Trancesylvania Label: Tunnel Records Date: 1993 1. Trancesylvania X-press 2. Automatic X 3. The 5th Dimension (Live In Paris) 4. It 5. Live Fast - Die Young (Dedicated to BH) 6. Children of the Last Generation 7. C.O.T.L.G. (Triplet Mix) 8. Time Begins Tomorrow (Orbit Fly) What you see above you is the 1993 original release by Tunnel Records with the original track order. In 1997 they did a re-release as an enhanced CD with different artwork and track order. 1993. Yep the Rough and Rush guys have been doing their thing for over two decades. What that thing is these days I'm not entirely certain. But you know...they've been doing it. Now we all know their album We Created Our Own Happiness and how that zebra album is one of the all time goa trance classics. Well this paved the way for that and predates it by 4 years. 1993...what a year. Michael Jackson was investigated for child abuse for the first time. The world was asked how much money would it take to whore out your wife, and we were all introduced to a doberman faced string bean of a gangster named Snoop. For shizzle. This album could've easily been called Welcome to Technovania or Welcome to Ambientville. It's quite diverse. Children of the Last Generation is the most goa track followed by It and its funky rhythms, but they all have something to offer. The X-Press is soft trance with the shiny rays of goa peeking through while the nearly 17 minute opus 5th Dimension boasts a very detailed opening that eventually morphs into a trance track. Live Fast cranks up the noise and the techno factor while the last two are decent ambient pieces. It's old. It's dated. Some of the tracks go on too long. But it's still good and as I mentioned it gives the listener a glimpse as to where X-dream were headed with their next album. Recommended for lovers of trance or X-dream or one of the albums showcasing the beginnings of goa. However don't expect to just walk into a record shop (are they even around anymore?) and walk out with a copy. Apparently this has become quite the collectors item. An expensive collectors item. Mdk

Artist: Omnivox Title: Fragments of Evolution Label: Spacedock Records Date: June, 2013 1. Helios 2. Modus Operandi 3. What Happens Next 4. Liquid Fire 5. Eternity Speedway 6. Essentia 7. Moonwalk 8. No More Illusions 9. Nephandi 10. Weapon of Mass Enlightenment Ok that's just ridiculous. You'll be the first one to complain when a guy can't stare you in the face. Our cup truly runneth over people. 2014 has been an...It's just been an...excuse me... *runs over to model in gif and squeezes boobs screaming "honka honka!"* 2014 has been an exceptional year for goa trance. Rarely has so much quantity intersected with quality and for that we should be eternally grateful. And by grateful I mean reaching into your pocket and actually purchasing the hard work of the artists. The list of superb releases this year is too long to mention (the guy from listology seems to have thrown in the towel), but every label has contributed to this bounty. Suntrip, DAT, Cronomi, Timewarp, Neogoa...they all seem to be at the top of their game. So the sneaky f*cks at Spacedock tried to slide this under the radar, but I got ya. Wait a minute...You think I don't know what's going on here? Ok a little background...This is the debut album of Omnivox aka Tomislav Crncic. "That's your name? What's your real name? What was it before you changed it?" Tomislav Crncic. Really? Look at all those f*cking consonants! Ever heard of a vowel? Allright. That checks out. But did you know that Tomislav has "neighbors?" Several of them in fact. Does M-run ring a bell? How about Liquid Flow? I know this is off topic and no offense to Mr. Flow, but...that project name always makes me think of a chicks period. Gross. Change it. Now where was I? Oh, it gets better. Guess who else is his neighbor? Goasia. That's right, the same Goasia that started up a little label called Spacedock Records! They share internet connections. Calm down. It's in Croatia so that means that there is one tired as f*ck hamster on the hamster wheel. But having the stars of goa trance as neighbors? This would be like Kanye being my neighbor. "Hey Kanye can jump on some of that broadband?" "Yo Kanye, can I squeeze Kimmies sweater puppies?" "Yo Heezy, can I borrow a f*ckin' cup of sugar?" You see! Do. You. See? This confirms my theory that goa trance is the language of aliens and for whatever reason they landed in the Balkans. They hang out in groups, they use each other's communication devices...they are trying to take over and you guys are acting like everything's fine! *sniff sniff* Why do I smell alcohol? Aha! Right outta the playbook. What's the first things aliens do when someone discovers them? Douse them with alcohol! So the guy sounds like a lunatic! *Voice from the kitchen* "No it's because you're on your seventh beer you lazy f*ck! Now go take out the garbage like I asked you to an hour ago!" So back to Omnivox, he released an album back in the day called Inner Polarity as Vox. But Vox didn't sound anything like this. Well more than his name has changed. He's grown and I don't mean that in an eat your f*cking vegetables or you're not getting up from the table kinda way. He's gotten better as a producer (which is easy to do when you have one of your alien friends teach you the intricacies of Cubase) and found that hidden sweet spot where great melodies and danceability meet power. His Alien Humanity EP was the first hint of that change back in 2012 and it blew me away. Fast forward to 2014 and he's put together an entire album full of cosmic goa trance replete with atmospheric breaks and bludgeoning force. Right from the start Helios sets the tone with a great intro. This is straight forward pumping goa trance that will move you as it evolves continuously. It screams, growls with liquid sounds, and scorches. I can see the similarities with M-Run's style. The fact that it's another Balkan doing goa trance pretty much necessitates a drug test doesn't it? Babies in my country come outta the womb screaming and crying, over there they're booting up Soundforge. This is one goa trance release that has it all. Melodies, power, you name it. A great time. I haven't wanted to fornicate with an album like this since...since... "Honey they're doing it to me again!!!" Spacedock Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Bingo. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Snuff Label: Terror Lab Industries Date: July, 2011 1. Brain Hunters - Snuff 2. Ironstein Vs. Dani Filth - Dr. Stein 3. Absense - Litt Avskum 4. Sub-Zero - Antichristvs 5. Dani Filth - The Harvesting V2 6. Ironstein Vs. Excell - Tripple Distilled 7. Damage - Blowing Up Your Speakers 8. Hiyamyzo - Pussy Power 9. Zinx - Articulator 10. Stereopanic - Viper 11. NRS - Evil Men "Hit me...hit me so it hurts." Good...God this terrible. Why do I keep doing this to myself? Forget the fact that the subject matter is reprehensible. The music itself is one buildup and d-list horror move sample after another. For those that don't know a snuff film is a film that shows an actual murder of a human being. Now Terrorlab Industries has made it a business model to shock. All you have to do is look at their album covers. At some point (um, we are way f*cking past that point) the shock value wears off and now you have to stand on the quality of the music. Well, see...now we've got a problem. The atmosphere as you may have guessed is dark with hammering bass lines. Incessant build ups and a structure that manages to crawl in that fetid dank space between darkpsy and night time full-on. Usually I can find a few tracks on their compilations that make the misery a little more bearable. Not here. This album reminds me of the goth kid in high school who dressed in black and wore trench coats. He always gave you a hateful look and was into some pretty twisted sh*t. Well he secretly had a crush on the head cheerleader and built it up in his mind that he was just misunderstood. If he could only explain to her and show her his true heart, she would see he was in pain and that all of "this" was just an elaborate act. Naturally she's horrified by this guy and spurns his advances. Next thing you know she and the whole squad are found in pieces in this psycho's fridge. I think these guys need a sabbatical to find some inner peace. Right now their music is all the same just with different album covers. You know what might be cool? If they did a dark ambient album...Yeah, that would work. Same vibe without the brutality. Because this world cannot afford to lose any more cheerleaders. Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Goa Trance IV The Psychedelic Goa Edition Label: Tetsuo Records Date: October, 1997 1. Syb Unity Nettwerk - Space Puppy 2. Mystica - Expose 3. Psygone - Outer Limits 4. MFG - Alternate Dimension 5. Darshan - Mind Merge 6. Shidapu - Vertigo 7. Aqualite - Wipeout 8. Lochi - London Acid City (Jon the Dentist Remix) 9. Prodenya - Magnetic Fields 10. Bypass Unit - Tunnel Floatation (97 Remix) 11. Vectrolab - Triathlon Testicle Records (tee-hee) delivers again with a CD that today is worth it's inflated asking price. It starts off with a mega ground shaker in Space Puppy and keeps going. Melodies, mysticism, and mayhem. Old school goa on steroids. Sure the ridiculously repeated sample in London Acid City might make you want to dig your nails into your temples, but the 303 growl is too tasty to ignore. Even if the track goes nowhere. The Tunnel Floatation remix is funky as hell, but why so short? Great compilation that showcases some powerful goa. Perfect for those wishing to dip their toe in this pool of awesomeness. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Encryption Label: Timecode Records Date: August 2002 01. 09'06" Muse Crypt : Artifakt 02. 07'11" Malediction : Phyx 03. 08'09" Wizzkid : Damage 04. 09'02" Demontwist : Shift 05. 07'08" Distorted Vision : Damage 06. 09'20" Zinkwazi : Shift 07. 09'24" Kodene : Rabdom L 08. 11'33" Sex And Death : Artifakt "I like the night...the streets, the smell..." Yes they are special. Nothing like shakin' the holy weasel am I right Padre? 2002. 12 years ago. If you were drunk and/or high and in your infinite wisdom forgot to wrap that rascal and ended up having a kid in 2002 he or she would be getting ready for the eighth grade. No more cute mispronunciations or hugs that never end. Nope, now you would be dealing with being the uncoolest person on the planet and the recipient of "You're the stupidest person on Earth" glances from a vengeful preteen. [imgur](http://i.imgur.com/q5aFM28) Sh*t, I wish my kid would say that to me. "Nuh uh little b*tch...child services ain't comin' fo yo ass! What you gonna do now?" Point it this was a long time ago. And the very first release from a South African label known as Timecode was uh...well let's just say time wasn't kind to these tracks. Not compared to where they were going when they earned the title Prime Minister of Mayhem (trademark). Give 'em a break. Pretty sure you weren't the Casanova you are today the first time a girl with Daddy issues decided to throw some leg your way. Of course coming out of the darkness of minimal this must've been like a front row seat at Hiroshima. Lots of screeching noises and distorted sounds to forcibly eject you from your comfort zone. The samples are menacing and fit well with the dark atmosphere that would eventually become their hallmark. It's noisy, futuristic, and laden with techno influences that while not their best effort still holds a sort of clunky charm. So I prefer to see this as a label and artists finding their way. And I think we can all agree it worked out pretty well for them. Timecode Bandcamp Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Psychedelic Vibes 3 Label: Trust In Trance Date: 1997 01. The Delta : As A Child I Could Walk On The Ceiling 02. Oforia : Big Bang 03. Synchro : Kitchen Sync 04. Bypass Unit : Tunnel Floatation 05. Bypass Unit : Weird Monkey 06. Bypass Unit : Green Dreams 07. Bypass Unit : Phaser Galaxy 08. Strange Biscuit : Pseudo Acoustic 09. Terpsichore : Bogakka 10. Children Of Paradise : Alien Nation Part 1 This could've easily just been a Bypass Unit EP and saved me the trouble of wading through the muck in the beginning. THE Delta track (insert snark) bored the sh*t outta me, and Big Bang by Oforia was a swing and a miss. Kitchen Sync is a terrible track anyway you slice it. Ventrally, dorsally...it's all a vibrant cross section of annoying. But then apparently the mensa members at TIT remembered that this was a goa trance compilation and the object was to sell records. It's natural to wonder what the f*ck they were thinking putting not only 4 tacks from the same project on the CD, but then placing them right after the other. Whatever, even though they are in the same vein it's head and shoulders above the quicksand I was trying to escape when the compilation started. Closing with the best the COP had to offer was another good idea. Chances are you have all these tracks so clearly it's not essential. Mdk

Artist: OOOD Title: Two Dawns Over Baleswar EP Label: Completely Cabbaged Date: 1996 1. Two Dawns Over Baleswar 2. Herbs & Spices "Dude. You don't have to hide in the shadows. Didn't you and Robin come out already? i mean everyone already knew. Oh not yet?!? My bad, my bad...I won't tell anyone else. No worries man...nobody reads this sh*t." Solid EP with typical OOOD evolution. It's not your straight ahead goa and this was smack dab in the beginning of their goa trance period I think, appearing on their Alive album. Both tracks show changes in direction with great layers. Two Tales has a tribal element which was great, but Herbs and Spices was surprisingly good. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Connection PsychedelicGoa Gathering Vol. 1 Label: Neurotrance Records Date: December, 2013 01 - Disciple of the Opium - The Noise of Nothing (120 BPM) 02 - Insider - After Synthesis (131 BPM) 03 - Basslion - Deeper and Deeper (138 BPM) 04 - Lunar Dawn - Collateral (141 BPM) 05 - Imox Maya - The Time Has Come To (147 BPM) 06 - CoaGoa - Fields of Red Dust (130 BPM) 07 - Blackstarrfinale - Is Pause No (Extended Version) (146 BPM) 08 - Magic Science and Imba - Ghost Town (144 BPM) 09 - Liquid Move - Monster Inside (Darkside Mix) (142 BPM) 10 - God Has a Bass - Revolucion (145 BPM) 11 - Moontrip - 6th Perception (144 BPM) 12 - God Has a Bass - Choose (145 BPM) 13 - Stereo Vision - The First Trip (145 BPM) 14 - Future Energy - Radikal People (145 BPM) 15 - Awwen - Cosmo Traffic (148 BPM) 16 - The Darkface - Inside The Box (147 BPM) "F*ck! F*uck!! Did I miss Lunar Dawn? Did they play already? Hey...that guy over there is really dark." Hopefully the party this was from was a little more...ah, awake intensive. I think that meerkat pretty much says it. I hate to speak ill about a free compilation and a label that freely gives music away, but do not drive or operate heavy machinery when listening to this. It's a lot of full-on that is totally forgettable with some goa sprinkled in. There was one thing that stood out and piqued my attention. This compilation was mastered by the one...the only...Sammy! Sammy! *cricket* What the f*ck is wrong with you people? Sammy! Ohhhh...you probably know him by his other name...The Darkface! *leans in and whispers* "No it's not." Free at Neurotrance Records Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Tokoloshe Tales Label: Timecode Records Date: April, 2010 1. Concept - Propaganda Machine 2. Artifakt feat. Phyx - The Ladder 3. Tryambaka - Mythology 4. Lost & Found vs. Ex-Gen – Unlimited Access (Absolum edit) 5. Twisted System - Overtone 6. Poison - Radio Active 7. Khopat vs Tryon - Mind Over Matter 8. Earworm vs. Horizon - Powerful Stuff 9. Scorb -The Ploy 10. Brethren vs. Slug - Feedback "Indeed...let's get started." Some albums keep you coming back. Whether it's such good music or that music was the soundtrack to an important event in your life. I'll always have a soft spot for Information Society because that was the first concert I ever attended. Don't judge me. I was young. Pony by Ginuwine sticks with me cause of what my wife could do when that song came on. Timecode will always be one of my favorite labels because they're incredibly consistent when it comes to quality. At their zenith nobody could hold a candle to their releases. And more than a decade later they're still doing it. And doing it well. They're the Suntrip of South African psytrance. Just look at who's on this thing. I haven't seen this many big names since we decided to send NBA players to the Olympics. Boasting an all star tracklist for this compilation it's like these guys jumped in a time machine and dropped back into 2005. You gonna roll up in that? Try. Harder. Bam! Of course it kinda looks like a coffin... The dark vibe is ever present as are the thumping beats. Need some acid in your diet? This will do it. These are the artists that realize this is still dance music and they do it without giving into the commercial cheese. I liked all the tracks except Mythology. The samples were cringeworthy and like that f*cking cat on the interwebz I had shame. Like when that girl you've been stalking sees you in your tidy whities. Yeah there's no unseeing that. Moral of the story? Timecode? Good. And keep you f*cking pants on you twisted f*ck. Timecode Bandcamp Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Nostromosis Title: Wood Illusion EP Label: Self Released Date: 2011 1. Mowgli 2. Wood Illusion 3. Mantras of Druids 4. Ents 5. In the Middle of the Glimmered Trees This is Igor Sidorov and I think he has a new EP out on Timewarp Records. Wood Illusion dates back a few years and is his first released ep. I think he first released it by himself and then I guess Goa Records decided to pick it up, slap on a new cover, and now you have the honor of paying $7.50 for it. And I think it shows an artist that has some great ideas, but also has room to grow. I liked Mowgli and it's many layers and Ents with it's fluid goa melody, but I'm guessing his sound palette was slightly limited. Either that or I just didn't like the sounds he used. The rest sounded like a first EP would sound. Very raw and choppy. As I said the ideas are there and they are solid. Now it's just experience and the execution that will follow. I would love to see him come back to this and remix it. Beatport Mdk