Trance2MoveU

Artist: Various Title: X-Ray Label: Shiva Space Technology Date: 2004 1. Soap Bubble COSMOCHAOS VS FULLCOLOUR 2. Black Magic rmx SPECTRAL SKUNK 3. Celebral Vortex SCORB 4. El Diablo SHIFT 5. Enter the Fist TRIPTEASER 6. No Beginning MENTAL SKRAGMA 7. no title PARASENSE AND SAM 8. Lapse in Sense SYSTEM 9. Chicken Drumstick R.A.M 10. Creep LEMURIANS This isn't the compilation you're looking for. Yeah, nothing to see here. Some nice tracks, but it certainly lacks that extra ingredient to make it special. 11 years on it now sounds rather dated. It wasn't minimal, but not very deep either. Rather average. Damn. That was the shortest review I think I've ever done. Psyshop Mdk

Artist: Orion Title: Artificial Frequencies Label: Solstice Music International Date: September, 2003 1. Horizon 2. Zig-Zag 3. Timeless Devotion 4. Sleepwalking 5. Viva Bahamas 6. Fast Lane 7. Body balloons (remix) 8. Dig It 9. Ocean of Colours The man who gave us the psychedelic goa classic Futuristic Poetry delivers a very solid full-on album. I almost hate to use that term because the richness of production here is rarely found in that subgenre. Especially not in 2003. The sounds are organic and layered giving it a deep fullness. There are plenty of alien effects which create a dark atmosphere making for great night time listening. I mean with a track named Viva Bahamas I'm thinking bright sunny beaches and chicks spilling out of bikini tops not aliens looking for their next meal. Very good stuff from Mr. Borelli. Mdk

I'm not a big fan of this project. Yeah I said it. Jeez, Cianan's grandma has a strong arm. His debut Brainwashing is Child's Play proved it was because everyone seemed to think it was a classic. Not me. Sure the title track and Viral Spiral were great, but a classic? Really? So here comes Zion604 with an album of rare and unreleased tracks. I'll be honest (always) I almost purposely skipped this. The hype machine was in full effect as everyone was losing their sh*t when this was announced. In the end I purchased it for three reasons. One, the guys at the label are super nice and have pure intentions where the music is concerned. So supporting them and their efforts are important. Two, I missed out on Mind Rewind and I sure as hell wasn't gonna let that happen again. And three...who doesn't love monkeys? "Get over it Ciaran's grandma, it wasn't that good. You know it! I know it! I can name 10 albums that are way better!" And let me tell you I'm glad I did. Like his debut this isn't something you hold next to the icons of the genre. He doesn't make that kind of goa. His strength is in the details. It's the musicality. The album is fluid and the tracks are creative showing continuous evolution. Antic was dead on when he said this was a departure from loop based music. Sound quality was beyond reproach and the whole album has a warmth to it that makes it feel more accessible. The melodies while distinctly goa are joined by other musical elements that also add to the overall depth. Just another actor with a part to play. I do have one issue and that's the incredibly similar Green Room tracks. The fact that someone in the thread used software to distinguish (only minutely mind you) between the two is pretty weak. Far as I'm concerned it's the same f*cking track. Sure it's a great track, but that's what the damn back button is for. Would love to hear from the label what happened here. So you get 7 tracks instead of eight. No big deal. It certainly is a worthwhile addition to your collection. Of course I, uh...I haven't received my copy yet. Which is why the getting the high quality download as soon as you purchase the album is greatly appreciated. #firstworldproblems #whatthef*ckareyoudoing #notevenontwitter #hatehashtags #feellikeadouche #wannapunchmyself Mdk

"F*ck, f*ck , f*ck! Fuck Me! Mother f*cker! F*ck a duck! F*cking hell!" *looks up from newspaper, sees wife with one accusatory eyebrow raised after hearing expletives from other room* "What? Fine, I'll handle it. Dante! That's a little more f-word than I wanna hear from a 5-year old!" *gives wife happy now look* Aww, I can't get mad at the little guy. I mean how could you, he's expressing himself the only way he can. We can't all be top class reviewers you know. He'll do better once he stops writing his e's upside down. The fourth album from Jannis is his most mature yet, using Daze of Our Lives as a springboard. The raw chaos of Sky Input and Heliopolis is gone, but not forgotten. Still rocking melodies aplenty they aren't stacked atop one another like a triple Whopper. He allows them free range to unfurl and forge their own way. But assume he's gone soft at your own peril. The flow is hypnotic and fluid with some tracks attempting to blast a whole in your speakers. The production is top notch with every note sounding crystal clear. Everyone seems to laud Dog Days Bliss, but I'm more of a Food Demons kinda guy. Lights of Shibuya and Nights @12 pm are epic. If they're not the definition of perfect tracks I don't know what is. When I see albums like this receive such glowing and consistent praise I'm chomping at the bit to find that weakness. There's gotta be some flaw, some hole that everyone is missing. Nope. It's a consistent and magical journey that can only be Filteria. Definitely one of the best of the year and a disc every goa fan should own. And yes I read the newspaper with my Daft Punk helmet on. Don't you? Mdk

Artist: Morphic Resonance Title: Chromatic World EP Label: Neogoa Date: January, 2014 01. Telekinesis 02. Epsilon Aurigae 03. Chromatic World 04. Psychoactive Landscape 05. Outro "Hold on bro...I'm just...I can't even begin to get my mind around...Lemme get this straight. You want me to...read the script. Actually read it? Am I on Punk'd? Ashton! Ashton you sonofab*tch, get out here!" *make mind blown hands around head* Obviously he has yet to take my advice, but the look on his face well, let's just say it was similar to the one he had when I caught him trying to understand the speaker phone. Dim witted Ryan aside, big thanks to Ivan for delivering this treat. This is like finding a Picasso for 5 bucks at a yard sale. Christian Fernandez is from Spain and with his cover that looks like Pinhead went disco he just put that country on the goa map with a hard hitting acidic bomb. Mixing the old school and new school styles the melodies are hypnotic and swirling. Hell the first track just kept evolving, I thought it would never end. But in a good way. The acidic bad assery is at a premium with melodies from the Pleiadians playbook. Screeching and thick Epsilon Aurigae is a wet dream Astral wishes they could do. Just relentless. Chromatic World continues the serial unwinding of melodies with a lush and dark atmosphere. I haven't wanted to fornicate with music since M-Run, but... call me, maybe we can work something out. If he puts out an album of tunes like this he will rocket to the top of the goa pyramid. It growls, it screams, and it's a powerful door smasher. Not to mention the teaser of a downtempo track at the end. Futuristic and dark it speaks of evil lurking around the corner. This fool just put E-Mantra, Crossing Mind, and Filteria on notice. Free at Ektoplazm! Mdk

Artist: Cell Title: Phonic Peace Label: Indica Music Date: May, 2005 1. Sensitive garden 2. Mister Ayatih 3. Zaz 4. Magic karma 5. Soon 6. Lord of silk 7. White call 8. Phonic peace for Tibet 9. Orange I'm absolutely stunned that this has never received a proper review on this forum. After all this was our introduction to Alex Sheffer and his mixture of downtempo and old world goa spirituality. Well, he made some great compilation tracks, but this was his long awaited debut. Long pads and foreign language chants that scream blazing sunshine and mystery. Ethnic instruments like tablas and the hammered dulcimer transport you to dangerous lands and ancient cultures and trying foods you have never heard of. Like Walter Mitty said, it's why the airfare to Kabul is only 64 bucks. The Indian vibe is ever present as the trail leads across the mammoth mountains of Nepal and Kashmir. If you enjoy that type of downtempo sound then this is for you. This is one of those albums that is very relaxing and left me with an inner peace. Unfortunately it's no longer in print. You could always go the Discogs route, but voluntarily submitting to a endoscopy with a rusty knife probably wouldn't leave you with a good feeling. Mdk

Just a few quick thoughts on the follow up to Dado's classic Self-Oscillation: Reload- I don't see what all the fuss is about. He says 13 years later. Purple Unicorn- This track was so pretty I wanted to kiss it. Land of Freedom (2001 mix)- A nice progressive take on a goa classic. Fireball- What's the direct opposite of a fireball? Well, that's what this is. Far and Away- Pretty good psy that gets screechy. Something is Wrong With The Machinery- It's a poor craftsman that blames his tools. My kid says the same thing when he can't tie his shoes. Pretty sure there's nothing wrong with the laces. Gangster- If I'm Ray Liotta I charter a flight to slap the sh*t out of Dado for this travesty. Liquid Skies- Meh. It's pretty, but what else ya got? Ananda- Sunshine and candy cane progressive. It is impossible to be angry when this comes on. The Final Swirl- I don't remember this one at all. If we're being honest with ourselves this is not as ground breaking and revolutionary as some might have perceived it to be 13 years ago. But that's a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking. 2001 was a dark time not just for psy, but for the world. Trapped in the suffocating blanket of minimalistic depression this must've seemed like the Apple Macintosh commercial from 1984. Look it up on you tube kids. There are not just melodies, but positive melodies. Yet like someone mentioned, this is all over the place. Progressive, psy, techno, minimal...maybe this is one of the shots fired into the dark wall of oppression during those lean years. This was a release that said melodies were ok. After screaming that albums sound samey I'm not about to criticize this one for dipping its toe into a bunch of different genres. But just cause you bounce around doesn't make it a classic. The tracks still have to be good. Mdk

"Won't somebody please think of the children!?!" Oh the corn. The cheese. The corn and the cheese. Unlike the stuff that Agneton produces (nitzho bathed in dark goa with a more aggressive edge) this is pure nitzhonot and should be taken with a grain of salt. But reading some of the angry comments from the past...you'd think this guy pulled a threeway with your mom and your sister in your race car bed. It's fast with lots of stops and starts, key changes, and sometimes cringe worthy samples (let's face it the whole Sex Style track is an embarrassment to music). Arpeggio goes up, arpeggio goes down. Can't explain it, but when I hear this music I picture sleazy overweight older European men adorned with gold chains and tufts of chest hair doing a lot of Jersey Shore fist pumping. In a speedo of course. "Cover that up...it's not sexy." It is what it is and you should know that before you decide to toss someones salad for it. Cheesy though it may be it is also exceedingly rare with one copy being sold for 150 bucks. But if you want a T-rex and naked chick flying through a frozen landscape well, that sh*t is gonna cost you. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Beach Atmosphere Vol. 2 Label: Iono Music Date: August, 2013 1. Natural Culture OPPOSITE8 2. Life on earth SUNTREE 3. New world order (Egorythmia rmx) RITMO, NOK 4. Drums have been talking SONIC ENTITY 5. One Life (Zyce rmx) UNSEEN DIMENSIONS 6. Massive Attack SPACE HYPNOSE, STATIC MOVEMENT 7. Indaco SHYISMA 8. Sunset Blues AVSHI 9. Burn Out ROGER RABBIT As I'm scraping the ice off my car after the two feet of snow fell and my hands are slowly going numb, a beach sounds really f*cking good about now. Iono delivers part two in this series aimed at those who could use a little warmth and sunshine. It's chock full of the melodic progressive vastness that the label releases on a continuous basis. Now, this might be the frostbite talking, but...meh. I mean the progressive trance is good with plenty of delicious melodies and warm breaks. Iono does this better than anyone and that just might be the problem. No chances are taken here. It's a safe play doing things they've done for years. Changes in the time signature, echoing washes, and samples designed to make you think. All been done before by this label on many albums. I think it's time to think outside the box. Time to shake the progressive world up a bit. It's not bad, but for me it's beginning to get a little stale. Beatspace Psyshop Mdk

Artist: Alchemix Title: It's A Story Label: Ovnimoon Records Date: August, 2013 1. Its a story 2. Time is a direction 3. Upstream (Alchemix rmx) - Protonica 4. Red Forest 5. For a moment 6. What is reality (Live Edit) 7. Rising 8. Freaky Alien 9. The Visions Begin (Predators rmx) 10. Omnipresent "Time is a direction, not a dimension." I got this for one reason and one reason only. The consistent quality emanating from this label. Alchemix is Fotis Karoukis and I haven't heard much of his music, but put an attractive cover with a strong label and good samples and there wasn't much I could do. It's an album that surfs the psy gressive wave much like Ovnimoon himself. Drifting melodies come in layers complimented with nice electronic effects. Sounding soft and delicate would be a good way to describe this. It never feels empty, like he just going through the motions. You can tell he put his time in to carve out some nice depth. For a Moment is a standout, putting all the elements together for a beautiful track. Unfortunately the album begins well, but descends into a less complex more generic sound (Freaky Alien). Even though the Predators remix of the Visions was full-on the atmosphere was delicious. A good album, but it lacks that consistency and special something that would put it in the upper echelon of progressive trance. Worth the time of melodic progressive lovers however. Psyshop Beatport Mdk

Artist: Psilocybian & Black Noise Title: Space Is a Strange Place EP Label: BMSS Records Date: July, 2013 1. Space Bubble 2. God Is A Mathematician 3. Crystal Extractor "So we're nothing but a soap bubble floating in a bubble bath of soap bubbles." First you had Brain Dissolver (soon to be released, check it out it's pretty good). Then he raised the bar with a f*cking rocket on his latest album Dreamtime. And to show you he wasn't a one or two trick pony he let you see his goa side as Screw Loose with the Mental Well Being EP. All around nice guy and psytrance artist Sasa Dukic is not only proficient he is consistent in delivering the quality music we crave. His latest effort has him teamed up with someone who calls himself Black Noise. As talented as the people in Croatia seem to be it wouldn't surprise me if this was his plumber. Or the security guy at the local Wal Martski. Maybe it's the weather chick on TV. Point is seems a lot of artists are coming out of that neck of the woods. And asses are getting kicked. Space Bubble is heavily layered psytrance with lots happening here including a gurgling 303 and a nice break. God Is a Mathematician sounds heavier with a more liquid sound. The power with which it began had me hoping for a greater climax, but it was still rock solid. Crystal Extractor is the last track of the ep and was a solid bit of full-on. The whole thing screams quality psytrance touched by goa with a sound reminiscent of Braincell. Well, what Braincell used to sound like (I'll get into that later). If you've enjoyed his previous stuff this will be right up your alley. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Rainbow Serpent Title: Cutted Scenes Label: Invisible Shadows Date: 1999 1. Believe 2. Imagination Fire 3. Silent Running 4. Exploring the Mars 5. From Darkroom To Digital 6. Exploring the Mars (Part 2) 7. Ce;tic Dance My camel jacknifed a ways back. Total loss, it was horrible. Frothy spit everywhere. I crawl 5 miles on my hands and knees under the searing sun and you hand me a pack of saltines? If I had the energy I'd punch you square in the tomatoes. This German duo makes ambient style music that has motion in the same exact formula. The pads can be lofty cloud slicers, but it's the same sh*t over and over. Part of the song will be floating, and another part driving. Then floating and driving until you wake up. It's extending a phrase over the entire length of the track adding and subtracting as you go. There is zero psychedelia and they close with the outstandingly cheesy and diabetic coma inducing Celtic Dance. It's a whisker from Yanni without the cool porn stache. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Fill Your Head With Phantasm Vol. 5 Label: Phantasm Records Date: 1999 01. Darshan : Slipstream 02. Multiplex : Twisted Tale 03. Mindfield : Twilight World 04. Somaton : Monogatari 05. Lumen : Way Up In The Air 06. Messiah : Reincarnation Of The Mysterious 07. Subcouds : Space Angel 08. Gorlation Corporation : Marmaduk 09. ECT : Maelstrom 10. Tromesa : Stereoplan "After I'm gone your Earth will be free to live out its miserable existence as one of my satellites. That's how it's going to be." This is a gem pure and simple. All previously released singles except the Gorlation track. This was a time when psytrance was in transition mode moving from the bright melody stacks to a darker more techno influenced sound. The tracks are from 97-98 so this is an example of a label trying to squeeze a few more bucks out of you. Or maybe they had truly altruistic intentions presenting tracks that were hard to find. Glass half full? WTF?!? I asked for a large. The music itself is a nice hybrid of goa and psy. It's the type of stuff Anjuna and Zion604 would appreciate. Layered, bubbly sounds with interesting melodies and percussive hijinx. Parts of it are screeching and part storming, but always atmospheric. This ia great album and a must for your collection. If you can find it pick it up...unless you already have the vinyls. Personally I wouldn't know what to do with a vinyl. Might as well hand me a book. "Whattya mean I can't control the brightness on this thing? Well how do I get to my favorites?" Mdk

Artist: M.O.S. Title: Winter Kills / Spirulina EP Label: High Society Date: 1998 1. Winter Kills 2. Spirulina You know that High Society was the name of a porno mag right? Sure you didn't. Uh-oh. Late 90's...German act...set phasers to boredom. We could be in for a crash course and man does it start out that way. "F*ck it, just leave it running. Who want's schwarma?" But the b-side saves the day with a futuristic effects laden track. It's subtle and takes its time, but then it just blasts the door open. Great atMOSphere. See that? See what I did there? Recognize. Mdk

Artist: M.O.S. Title: Xone / Lunar Church EP Label: Organic Records Date: 1997 1. Xone 2. Lunar Church Never knew much about this project except they had an album with a bug on the cover. And it was called Bug. Deep. Xone is a quality bit of goa that hypnotizes and strikes from the shadows. Not much evolution, but effective with squelchy leads. Oh, the church can't wait to get to the moon with collection plates quivering. Lunar Church slinks about with some omen type choir chants. Meh, sorry reverend. Mdk

Artist: ManMadeMan Title: Karmaflage EP Label: AAA Recordings Date: May, 1997 1. Karmaflage (The Light Remix) 2. Karmaflage (Original Mix) This is probably the most perplexing project in psychedelic music for me. At times there have been rippingly good tracks and then there are times I'm left scratching my head. Karmaflage isn't a goa track in the true sense of the word even though the plucked guitar melody wouldn't be out of place on the beaches of goa. It's full of sunshine and positive vibes more intent on eliciting a smile than getting your body moving. And it does that. I prefer the light mix as it's increased length allows more time to soak in all it has to offer. It's not psy, not really goa...just enjoyable. Mdk

Artist: ManMadeMan Title: Angel Hair / Drama EP Label: 21-3 Records Date: 1997 1. Angel Hair 2. Drama Man this project puzzles me. They giveth and they taketh away. A mild mannered Clark Kent of a track on one side and that evil badass that killed superman on the other. Classic schizophrenia. It's logic like this that makes every father of teenage daughters hate all prospective boyfriends. Angel Hair takes the girl out for a lovely evening meal and perhaps a show, but it's Drama that appears when he realizes that after shelling out some major coin he's going home with a thank you and a peck on the cheek. I heard a joke where a father threw a bullet at his daughter's date when he arrived to pick her up. He then said that they move a lot faster after midnight. Some people just love the drama. Mdk

Artist: ManMadeMan Title: Erland EP Label: 21-3 Records Date: 1996 1. William 2. Delirium Here I go again reviewing another MMM ep and the same confounding feelings emerge. I think I've got a problem. I've come to appreciate their talent as electronic musicians (moreso now that I know they have two kids), but there is still a part of me that prepares for the letdown when I hear their tracks. They've had some really good ones, but more often I'm left feeling... This is the case here. Neither of the two tracks on this ep are terrible, but they aren't particularly memorable either. William has a good melody, but it takes half the track to get there. But your patience will be rewarded as it rises to a static electricity charged rocker. Delirium had some good moments and I felt more layering. This ep defines how I feel about this project. Liked the music, but I could take it or leave it. Mdk

Artist: Green Nuns of the Revolution Title: Green Nuns Remix EP Label: Phantasm Records Date: 1999 1. Tufaan - Tufaan (Green Nuns Flakey '99 mix) 2. Mindfield - Sphynx (Green Nuns Remix) "I can't get that song out of my head!" GNOTR and Tufaan are almost the same people so their cross track remixes make sense. On this EP the Nuns also tackle a Mindfield track. What you get is lots of effects with a decided lean towards the techno side of things. It wins as a remix ep because it's very different from the originals. It gets added bonus points for remaining true to the goa sound picture. If you like the stuff Anjuna is putting out these days than you'll love this. Mdk

Artist: ManMadeMan Title: Hex EP Label: Matsuri Productions Date: 1996 1. Hex 2. Elevator 3. Trancesiva Another ManMadeMan ep and another instance where I'm wondering where's the f*cking chocolate? It's not like they threw together a garlic sundae, but this continual mediocrity is frustrating. It's as if they do just enough to call it goa and leave you to sort it out. Hex had zero twists and zero turns. Elevator was better, but they seem to get to a point and then set the cruise control. Where's the detail? Where's the complexity? Hello? Hey people! You left the sequencer running! I've held back comparing them to other goa trance producers from the past, but there's a reason why this project can't crack my top twenty. Get that deity off the record. You don't deserve that. Mdk

Never heard of this gentleman. The title track is a frenetic bit of scratchy goa that appeals to me. The break is good and it reorganizes for another go. The synth lick in Drums of the Temple is mysterious. See what I did there? But, and call me out on this one, shouldn't a track with drums in the title have a wee bit more than a kick drum? We get some more percussion at the 6 minute mark, but that repetitive synth riff and heavy exhalation wore me out. I'm tired. Mdk

This is a psychedelic wet dream. A mixture of goa and psytrance this compilation is detailed and for lack of a better word...noisy. I found I appreciated it more when isolated so I could concentrate on the copious amount of effects. Simon Posford and his brand of controlled entropy are all over this where all the tracks are riddled with constantly evolving subplots. Tie a rope around your waist and dive into this vivid journey. Mdk

Artist: Space Tribe Title: Time S-T-R-E-T-C-H Label: Spirit Zone Recordings Date: February, 2004 1. Infinity and Beyond 2. All reality is virtual 3. Timestretch 4. Giants 5. See the light remix 6. Reverse time 7. Alternate Future remix 8. Nothing is impossible "You know your own future...which means you can change it!" I'm tired of picking on Boris Blenn. Too easy. So let's take a look at his chiral non-superimposable mirror image Olli Wisdom. He was also active in the goa era though I would argue more well known for his album covers than his music. Everyone remembers the pope rocking out with some headphones. But he's also a businessman. Need fluffy lime green camouflage pants? He's your guy. Good God that sh*t is hideous. But like Boris he moved towards a full on style with an acidic edge. Darker with a science fiction atmosphere. And with this album you can hear the heavy acid use. It's now ten years old and some of the shine has come off. Indeed other artists and even he himself have taken the night time twilight sound to more aggressive and chaotic levels. This sounds rather tame today without a lot of the bombast that you might find from artists like Ex-Gen or Alienn. Now I want to say that even though it's getting a little long in the tooth, it's still a good album. Acid aplenty and good samples make this a good one for the dancefloor. I throw this on at home and it still rattles the windows. Recommended for lovers of this sound. Psyshop Mdk

"Everything is spiritual, everything...has a spirit." Jikooha have always been those Asian guys who make goa trance. Not part of the mainstream group of artists that we all know their sound is a little left of center. Kind of like Japanese game shows. Seriously, what the f*ck? They are an acquired taste that is more Kuro than E-mantra. With their fourth album they continue that trend. Sounding old school it's still like nothing out there today. At times it seems discordant (at times, bullsh*t, a lot of the time) where leads compete for dominance. Right off the bat Visionaries sounds like there are two different tracks playing at the same time. But just before it becomes too much for the ear they bring you back and make you realize what a great f*cking ride that was. So now I'm standing here asking myself did that just happen? This sounds like I was dragged into the Tokyo underground, partied all night with hot chicks dressed as school girls, hung out with octopi and dragons with a British accent, only to be escorted back to the surface by anime characters when the sun came up. Relentlessly melodic and trance inducing with screeching leads. Domo you glorious bastards. Bandcamp Mdk

X-dream? Total false advertising. My X-dreams usually result in immediate shame and an increase in laundry. This duo has achieved legendary status in the goa realm and rightly so. Panic In Paradise is billed as a collection of B-sides, but when your b-sides are better than a lot of artists a-sides, then...well you're doing something right. On this album Rough and Rush showcase the progressive side of goa trance. Lacking in blistering power it more than makes up for it by easing the listener into their universe. Once there the hypnotic layering and mostly dark vibe make escape impossible. The tracks are juicy and bubbly and at times perhaps a bit overlong. You might not remember the names of some of the tracks, but the melodies will bring it all back. People seem to get their panties in a twist over Rain, but even though I don't care for its cheesiness, its sum is greater than its parts and becomes a very deep excursion into trance and goa. There are some misses like that of Eleven (make it stop) and the annoying vocal whispers on Parent Plant which kinda destroys an otherwise devious alien sounding track. This album is definitely a solid effort and belongs in your collection. Their sound is distinctly goa and recognizable before they got all We Interfacey.