Trance2MoveU

I suppose this would be the place to put this topic, although with it being so close to the topic with Karma in the title I might be heading for some bad luck. I was thinking about this today and sometimes celebrities, athletes, and public figures exhibit behavior that makes you wonder if they ever had any home training. I saw a short video of Chris Brown and it just made me want to introduce my fist to his face and watch his nose explode. Only rule is you can't choose Justin Beiber. That one is a given. Mdk

Here's the Luna Nova review. Luna Nova compilation. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Scandi90's Label: Zion604 Records Date: October, 2012 1. Stronghold - Sarolta Monspart 2. LBM - Little Blue Men 3. Pack - Frippic Bounce 4. Shape Shifter - Construction Planet 5. Fender Bender - Little Blue Men 6. Self Transforming Dialog - Atmos 7. NRG Beings - Miranda 8. Reza's Delight - Shazbatt 9. Nervsond 47 - The Mato Project Pffft...Scandinavia. What have they ever done? Well, for starters the Vikings right? Sure on paper they seem ferocious and primeval, but I've been around long enough to know that you can't count on those pussies to cover the spread. What's that? We're talking about the Minnesota Vikings right? Ok, well they're known for the midnight sun right? "Turn it off! Turn that f*cking thing off, I have to work tomorrow!" Cool temperatures so it's bound to be comfortable. Rich culture and beautiful scenery are just a couple of reasons I can't wait to visit this area when I get some real dough. Zion604 is an Israeli label that is committed to releasing goa trance that is more on the abstract side. Headed by Roy Sason and Stephan Spivak their journey to The Kingdom was well received and this new compilation is even more...out there. It's one thing to focus on unreleased tracks from well known artists, but to narrow that focus to a laser beam on solely Scandinavian tracks...well I'll come right out and say it, you're insane. These are tracks you won't find on Suntrip or Cronomi Records. For this compilation they wanted to release stuff with that Scandinavian sound that the average goa listener wouldn't necessarily reach for. In a market where CD sales are disappointing at best this is a brave move that reaffirms their belief that bringing goa to the people is the ultimate goal. Only two of the artists on this compilation are on my radar. The rest is a box of chocolates. Stronghold- A real slap bass? Sure why not? It IS Scandinavian so anything goes. There are percussive tribal facets to this as well and a pretty strong groove. Varied and strong. LBM- I'm blue daba dee daba doo...l'hiem! The first 4 minutes of this track was an exercise in annoying repetition. Then it began to mature and thicken with a nice throaty lead. Pack- 10 minutes is a long time and it might've been a little too out there for me. Shape Shifter- "Who's in command of this ship?" There is a large techno presence here and it has a cold feel. The chunky beat is non-stop and it picks up momentum near the end. Not bad. Fender Bender- The Azulitos are back with their brand of techno goa. That guitar lick burns in my memory, but I'm not sure it's because I've heard it before or because Boris Blenn co-opted it. Either way it doesn't change that much as it unfolds. Self Transforming Dialog- "I'm feeling the sensation of going kinda clockwise." Six Flags Afghanistan is well underway! Your tax dollars at work America. Atmos did goa? Learn something new everyday. He's got talent and it shows with great sounding leads and goa in the melodic style I'm more accustomed to. Very good! NRG Beings- "We are all energy beings." You knew she was gonna nail it right? Rhythmic, melodic, and layered goa goodness that still has some Scandinavian weirdness to it. Her 303 has snap crackle pop and is easily my favorite here. Kudos for Asherun for not going with the easy call and selecting one of her more well known tracks. Reza's Delight- One day we can all hope for a cure. Surely that's where they got their name right? One doesn't just say Shazbatt in everyday conversation. I liked the bubbling in the beginning and then the leads become more metallic. This was more of a psytrance track that just rambled on. Nervsond 47- When this first starts it's minimal with nice goa bubbling, but give it time and you will appreciate this old school gem even more. Well it's interesting to say the least. This isn't your normal old school compilation with stacks of melody, but like Anoebis said it leans to the darker side of things. 5 years ago I would've hated it, but now that I can appreciate different forms of goa there is an excitement to see what direction they attempt to steer the music. I can see why some might not like it especially after the uber melodic Etnica and Mindsphere releases, but that's like comparing apples and oranges. Both are great, but it depends on what you're in the mood for. The production here is awesome so thanks to Zion for introducing me to tracks which I would've never listened. One thing I noticed is that the Discogs tracklisting have Pack as the third track, but the Bandcamp page has Shape Shifter as the number three track. Bandcamp Mdk

Artist: Dimension 5 / Chi-A.D. Title: Blue Moon UK Sampler Label: Altar Records Date: June, 2012 1. Dimension 5 – Transformation (Original Unreleased Version) 2. Dimension 5 – Beyond The Stars (Original Unreleased Version) 3. Dimension 5 – Limitless Dimension (Original Unreleased Version) 4. Chi-A.D. – Celestial 5. Chi-A.D. – Biocandy 6. Dimension 5 – Glow (Original Unreleased Version) Mother pus bucket everything old is new again! That seems to be the hotness on the streets these days. We're all enamored with the possibility of discovering a gem that was forgotten and locked away on DAT from the masters of goa trance. Something that was left in grandma's attic or found on an old hard drive. Transdimensional, arguably one of the greatest releases in goa trance history was given the remaster treatment and we ate it up like chocolate caramel covered crack. Draeke at DAT Records continues his personal mission to re-release every intensely sought after old school album as well as digging up those lost tracks we crave. Now labels like Zion604 are throwing even more old school variety at us. It's good to be a fan of the old right about now. Koen (RIP) told you everything you need to know about these tracks so I'll just add a thank you to all those who worked so hard to bring this hypnotizing art back to light. And this is no doubt art with spiraling melodies that take you farther into space than any rocket ever could. We've all heard these tracks and I'd venture a guess that you at least have them on your computer. I do. Some have said they already have these tracks on other albums or compilations. Why are you charging me full album price for 2-3 tracks I might not have? Good for you. I don't have them. I missed the golden era so when the opportunity comes along to snag some awesome old school goa trance with fresh mastering and actually have the physical copy in my hand...I'm happy for some label to take my money. And Altar did. Altar Records Mdk

Artist: Crop Circles Title: Full Mental Jackpot EP Label: DAT Records Date: June, 2013 1. Full Mental Jackpot 2. Different Species 3. Full Mental Jackpot (Etnica rmx) 4. Effortless - Cosmic Creative Rays Crop f*cking Circles. This is the other EP that was released by those crazy Italians and may be more massive than Lunar Civilization. I prefer to look at them as a whole however. A conglomerate of powerful and melodic masterpieces. The title track lays the smack down with numerous twists and turns each more twisted than the last. 11 and a half minutes of pure bliss. Different Species begins slower, but is no less involving and alien sounding. Sharp 303 ripples and spiraling leads tumble from the sky. Now we learned with the Live in Athens 1996 album by Etnica that it wasn't uncommon for them to make several remixes for a track. With the FMJ remix it's more subdued than the original...well at least to start. But this is Etnica we're talking about here so you don't have to wait long before it goes all Full Mental Jackpot on you. Is it better? That's like asking if the first piece of chocolate cake is better than the second. The most interesting track is the final one that due to a labeling error on the DAT master was originally credited to Crop Circles. In actuality, it is by Cosmic Creative Rays which is a Lotus Omega side project and easily the most chaotic and intense track here. Hallucinogenic with melodies that aren't as pristine or accessible, it is still layered goa to the bone. Purchasing these two EP's is a no brainer. These tracks are absolute classics that every goa head knows and loves. The sound quality is superb guaranteed to please. So it you love goa and don't want to take a second mortgage out on your house to buy the original EP's... get cracking. DAT Records Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Artist: Querox Title: How Life Goes On Label: Prog On Syndicate Date: July, 2012 1. Dirty Beat Drop 2. Dancing Angel 3. Go Now 4. Berlin Soundtrack 5. Backstage Girls (feat Monod) 6. Kiss the ground (Voice:Rea) 7. Say Goodbye 8. How life goes on 9. Fly Away (Querox rmx) - Phaxe I love the letter q. Can't have quiet without it. And how would you get any answers if you couldn't ask any questions? And what the f*ck would ducks say? I think you spell qu'ran with a q, so without it billions would have to get a new holy book. May I suggest something from the works of a Dr. Seuss. It rhymes. Which brings me to a project that begins with a q. Querox is Tobyjas Schiermeier with his debut on a label that is no stranger to quality progressive trance. There is a light feel to this style. Sometimes it comes across as a little thin, but at the same time it can be appealing. Can't be a melodic orgy all the time can it? He doesn't bore you to death with solely a minimal approach, but allows effects and melodies to germinate in their own time. He flirts with progressive house, but not enough to make me wanna hurl the disc out the window. And believe me that first track tested my restraint. Most tracks eventually become fairly detailed progressive and it's interesting to see how he gets there. Somewhat similar to the mutE or Midimal style I love the fine details he put inside and think it works great on headphones. One of the strengths of the album are ther dreamy breaks. He's very good at it. Of particular note was the euphoric title track that was so juicy you could taste it. If I had to pick a problem area it's that the middle of the album is weak, with 5 or so tracks sounding very similar. This isn't going to rock the floor or shake any speakers, but it's an interesting hybrid of minimal and progressive styles that doesn't have its feet solidly planted in either. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Artist: Talpa Title: White Clouds EP Label: TesseracTstudio Date: April, 2013 1. White Clouds - Talpa 2. Spirits (Talpa Remix) - Zyce 3. Unimation (Talpa Remix) - Zyce & Nerso Goran continues to impress with his music. Whether he's producing as Talpa or The Riddler his attention to detail has always been something to look forward to. This EP is released on the progressive label TesseracT so you know what to expect. White Clouds has dreamy elements combined with the electronic throat clearing of almost dubstep in a very positive track. It's uplifting and wiggle inducing. The remix of Spirits is a long, unwinding bit of progressive trance that I would expect more from Zyce than Talpa. Groovy no doubt, but unexpected. Unimation is the final track and it is another remix that doesn't sound anything like Talpa. Great, but who is this guy? Let me say that I enjoyed this release for its melodic and drifting content. It's a perfect fit for the label and expresses their style very well. But this doesn't sound like Talpa. It sounds like every other Balkan making progressive trance. Quality of course, but nothing like the guy who gave us The Art of Being Non. His style under the Talpa moniker has been trending less towards psychedelia and more in the direction of something softer and less challenging. And that's what you get here. Good progressive trance that is melodic and uplifting. But it's not Talpa. Talpa doesn't make that music. If The Riddler is his funky project and Talpa was his psychedelic endeavor, then maybe he needs a new alias if he's gonna make music like this. Recommended for melodic progressive trancers. Psyshop Beatport Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Greenosophy Label: Ultimae Records Date: February, 2012 1. Initial - MNNSK AND MIZOO FEAT ANA GOLDIN 2. Tear-blind eyes - Rildrim 3. Minimum - Liquid Stranger 4. Emerge - Sesen 5. Idea Spiral (Ozora Festival 2011 live edit) - Cell 6. Nubian Sandstone - Ajja 7. Subzero - Tripswitch 8. Cobalt 2.0 - Solar Fields 9. Flying Dots - Miktek 10. Folding Pattern - James Murray 11. Brokenm dream of little snail - Cygna Ultimae is the name in chill out or psybient music that creates the perfect soundtrack for any mood. Each release seems to shine with quality and this is no exception. Compiled by Mizoo this mixed journey mirrors the mood of the cover. The opener is an extended intro really, but Tear Blind Eyes burrows deep into the eerie with echoing tones. Listening to this while atop a mountain staring down into the thick green forest reminds me of all that's hidden from view. Long ambient with obvious comparisons to Soil Festivities by Vangelis. Minimum travels in the same gloomy vein but now with a steady cadence until even that drops out. The sounds of water breathe life into the track. Emerge has a slow lamenting opening rife with regret as it slides into progressive territory. Lush layers ensure that it doesn't lose any of its storytelling ability Idea Spiral by Cell is a slow motion flyby of the awesome splendor of the Himalayan mountains. It's one of those tracks that rides the same melody for its entire length even with the tempo increase. The view is breathtaking. Nubian Sandstone is comprised of delicate alien textures coupled with a smooth jazzy groove. The sounds echoing in my headphones make me smile as I feel if I were to touch them they would dissipate like vapor. Half the length of the previous track, but twice the emotion. Subzero awakens like a dazzling dawn with the most driving beat yet. A snapshot into a new age full of wonder and promise; as if a breath of energy restored the husk of a depleted city. But lest you believe this to be a utopia Solar Fields reminds the listener dark days lie ahead. Cobalt 2.0 is in the ambient trance style with wailing synth spirits and gentle pads. Leads run softly beside an imposing mood. Flying Dots slows things down again with head nodding percussion as the movement retreats to the underground. Heavy casualties were suffered and it's time for the resistance to lick its wounds. Better to live to fight another day. Folding Pattern is drone style ambient with a rhythmic clicking that while atmospheric doesn't hold the depth and gravitas found in the other tracks. Think of it as a long interlude. Broken Dream of a Little Snail could be the trailer for the upcoming Disney movie Turbo, but I doubt it. With heavenly voices it seems too lofty for a snail, but I don't know any snails so...Or maybe that's the point. If you're gonna dream...dream big. Melancholy acoustic guitars and violins make this an evolving and lush closer. Good job Ultimae you've once again created something that is ideal for daydreaming. Highly recommended. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Artist: Talamasca Title: Psychedelic Trance Label: Dacru Records Date: February, 2013 1. Psychedelic Trance 2. Cosmic Company (Talamasca rmx) - Digicult 3. Day Dreaming 4. Nightmare (Talamasca feat. Lucid Rmx) - XSI 5. Take Control - Talamasca Feat. Mesmerizer 6. Super Hero 7. Winter Tale 8. Fallen Angel 9. Time Simulation (Live version) "Psychedelic trance originated at the parties on the beaches of goa. The sound is more modern created on the latest electronic equipment." Someone forgot to tell Cedric. This is blatant false advertising. And Dacru, what the f*ck were you thinking? "No Cedric, No! Bad Cedric!" Once a master of the genre that has now seemed to pass him by, Cedric Dassulle continues his epic freefall into generic full-on and dated music production. This might have sounded great a decade ago, but listening to this album has me questioning whether or not you give a sh*t any longer. Sickeningly sweet melodies abound and it wouldn't surprise me if you slept on a bed of sugar underneath cotton candy blankets. Do you get paid by the sample? Because the tracks here are bursting with them. Cringeworthy cliches are everywhere as this leas common denominator full on train barrels into what were you thinking town. I'm embarrassed for you Cedric. Please tell me that your 10 year old nephew got into your Cubase and submitted this to the rocket scientists at Dacru. That's the only logical explanation. A countdown? Really, a countdown? This actually happened. From 10. He continues to make albums like this and further throws dirt on what he did in the past. The message is obviously not getting through. This is as cheesy and uninspiring as it gets. Cedric, you are this close to becoming a punchline. Stay away from this unless you want tooth decay or diabetes. P.S. US customers if you pay 15 bucks for this before shipping you should have to turn in your citizenship. Goastore Beatspace Psyshop Mdk

Artist: The Riddler Title: From Myst to Twist Label: TesseracTstudio Date: December, 2012 1. Never heard of it 2. Christmas Burglary 3. Randomizer 4. Eleven 5. Slumber Party (The Riddler rmx) - Talpa 6. Blue 7. Hunted 8. A pocket full of smiles 9. Popularity Contest 10. You R my star Questions. I haz dem. How did the US let Mexico surpass us in adult obesity? That was our thing man! Where else can you get a fried coke but in America? We need to start thinking outside the box to get our mojo back. I say let's put underperforming students in the deep fryer. Nothing motivates like the threat of extra crispy. Why are Egyptians so good at protesting yet so sh*tty at democracy? Jim Carey. What the hell does the queen of England actually do? Besides putting a dent in the royal budget with Depends undergarment purchases? But mainly the debut album from Goran as The Riddler. Setting the progressive trance world on fire with his mixture of eerie melodies and funky beats he's right back at it with his second release. Which leads me to my next two questions. Where the hell was the publicity on this one and could he strike gold yet again? The answer to that is a resounding yes. This is The Art of Non on Friday night looking to get lucky. The spooky movie melodies continue to flow over hypnotic grooves that force the toe to keep tapping. Part of the appeal is that he keeps it fresh with short tracks. Only two are over six minutes which doesn't allow for boredom to set in. I've mentioned this before, but the mood is Tim Burtonesque...on ecstasy. Like Stella Goran got his groove back with basses that will punish a subwoofer. Perhaps this is more closely related to progressive house without the cheese, it still excels in making the music fun. He even goes a little disco on you in a couple of tracks. That said it doesn't rival the feeling I got when I heard Questions. Some of the tracks are a little weaker and seem like filler. I could see where some might call it Questions Vol. 2 with tracks that didn't make the cut for the debut. But there is surely enough here for a good time. Recommended. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Artist: Main Sequence Star Title: Archaea EP Label: Ovnimoon Records Date: April, 2013 1. Archaea 2. Archaea (Nova Fractal Beat Mix) The busiest man in psytrance (other than Zyce) is stretching his creative muscles yet again with another side project. Renato Brnic is the mind behind Nova Fractal who most recently released Fractal Landscape and his compilation The Call of Goa to superb results. It's a two track wav download that is more outer space psytrance than goa. The first track is very atmospheric and deep with lots of layers above a breakbeat rhythm. He then remixes himself and makes a good track...gooder by making it more hypnotic. It's only 3 bucks at Beatport and I would say if you like his previous work, money well spent. Beatport Mdk

Not that there's anything wrong with West Virginia. Just drove through the eastern side a few days ago and am happy to report that it is very beautiful. People pick on West Virginia as being the hillbilly and inbred capital of the US, but...I don't know how to end that sentence. Mdk

I'm in western Virginia. Not West Virginia. Mdk

Artist: Goasia Vs. Omegahertz Title: Purple Energy 2 Label: Unicorn Music Date: September, 2006 1. A Child From Another Planet - OMEGAHERTZ 2. Yin and Yang - GOASIA 3. Primeval Civilization - OMEGAHERTZ 4. Spectralys - GOASIA 5. Onar - OMEGAHERTZ 6. Spiritual Connection - GOASIA 7. A Soul Rising - OMEGAHERTZ 8. Totem - GOASIA I think Vempy is Omegahertz. Has anyone checked on this? Music is all about taste so there's really no right or wrong. If you like nitzhonot and lean towards the quirky then the Omegahertz tracks will be for you. If you prefer storming more powerful goa then obviously Goasia will be more your bag baby. The fact that these two projects were put together for an album was the real crime. Now nobody's happy. Well, except Unicorn Music who got us to buy a CD where we didn't like half the tracks. Personally I liked the Goasia stuff better as he seemed to be on another level with regards to track depth and atmosphere. But I also enjoyed Primeval Civilization as well. And let's not be too surprised at this unholy pairing. The first Purple Energy saw a stronger Radical Distortion face off with a not ready for prime time Mendark. If they do a third in the series (not likely) maybe they pair Artha with...hell, I dunno Skazi. Psyshop Goastore Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Blissful Moments Label: Tranceform Records Date: February, 2003 1. Paranormal - YPSILON 5 2. Vidukadaya - SUMMAMUTIKKA 3. Eye in the tunnel - XERVANA 4. Elamansa - POLY 61 5. Firefiles - ETHEREAL 6. Aquasphere - AQUASPHERE 7. Liquid - VAST 8. Accessing Ifinity - ETHEREAL Before there was Suntrip there was Tranceform Records. Based out of Finland amongst the reindeer this label had a very brief existence. Now defunct, the three albums they did manage to release were some of the opening salvos in the re-emergence of goa trance. This was the first and only compilation followed by one of my all time favorite goa trance releases Anima Mundi by Ethereal. When this came out it must have seemed like God himself tore the clouds asunder and let the sunlight chase away the oppressive darkness. Their last release was Binary Sky by Ypsilon5 and a movement was underway. No more minimal, just a doorway flung open to the past, perfect for those who missed the magical ride the first time around. This compilation is loaded with power and melody. Paranormal is a hypnotizing trip waiting to happen. Some see it as repetitive and it is, but in the good way. Vidukadaya begins with a Middle Eastern vocal that immediately makes me think of the movie Zero Dark Thirty. Of course it could be Indian...better cover my bases. F*ck you Bin Laden! This Finnish producer earns the loudest track award with its frenetic pace. I don't care for it as much as I used to. Eye of the Tunnel rotates with acidic twisting layers. Heavily layered with different sonic textures this track shimmers in the Middle Eastern sun. Blowing open the doors of darkness the leads are like fireflies on a mission. The Poly 61 track had me wondering how it made it onto the album the first few times I heard it, but with repeated listens it really is massive and thought inducing. Those mournful pads and crying guitar work very well together. Fireflies would have fit perfectly on Anima Mundi with its long searching melodies and vivid break. This is a project I would love to see release a two disc album full of unreleased material. Sally, get Draeke on the phone and let's see if we can make this happen. With Aquasphere smooth progressive gallops forth as mournful pads weep. This project does a good job slowly introducing sounds in a gentle way. Liquid echoes give it a fluid feel. Not super exciting, but eminently enjoyable. There is more evolving goa smoothness with Liquid without waging a loudness war. It takes its time seemingly not in any kind of hurry. Warm melodic riffs rain down in this progressive goa trance effort. Not storming by any means or even...vast, but it works well with what it gives. Accessing Infinity is a beautiful ambient wake up call. It's an after the storm dawn complete with the brightest sunlight reflecting off the morning dew. Stretching with the promise of a new beginning. This was a great compilation that may have begun the rebirth of goa trance. It still sounds great a decade later bringing back the warn melodic sound that at the time wasn't really gone for that long. Guess we really missed it. Not available in any of the shops you can still find it on Discogs for a reasonable sum. Mdk

Artist: Trold Title: Time For Solution Label: Vertigo Records Date: May, 2013 1. In The Hand Of The Shaman 2. Vacuum 3. Adventure 4. 10 000 000 X 14 5. Order In Chaos 6. Miracle 7. We Are The Devine 8. Alright What the hell is this? No seriously, what the hell is this? Forest trolls and psychedelic vikings deliver their 3rd album and I'm shaking my head. Where's the motherf*cking forest? This is like going deep into the Swedish wilderness and finding a McDonalds next to a Wal-Mart. Where is the dark atmosphere? The pads soaked in dread and leads creeping from behind ancient oaks? It's not bad psytrance so let's get that out of the way right now. But when you set the bar so high with Time of Illusion certain expectations are had. That album was frightful yet intelligent. Layers of mystery wrapped up and tailor made for getting hopelessly lost in the woods. This? All the rough edges and less accessible aspects of this project were sanitized for a more family friendly clientele. F*cking Vegas without the gangsters. I know I'm not an authority on forest music, but I don't need it dumbed down for me. So enough telling you what it ain't. What is it? Crystal clear psytrance where you can hear every note and every staccato stab of the bass. I know Colin mastered this, but there are instances where this resembles and OOOD album. It's drug samples, long tracks, and rhythms you can get down to. But all the energy and evil creatures have left the building only to be replaced by softer Disney melodies. Order of Chaos recaptures past glories with its acidic serpents tongue, but it's still too clean. Too obvious. Miracle is a good twilight track that might fit on a Timecode or Nexus Media compilation. The last track sounds just like something OOOD would make. Sorry Colin I'm not picking on you, I'm just sayin'. And that's my point. Where the last album had a forest maze with a nutcase Jack Nicholson in pursuit, here there are baby changing stations and stroller rentals every 100 feet. This must be what hardcore Metallica fans felt like when Enter Sandman came out. I don't like my forest rated PG, but that is what has happened I'm afraid. Funny thing is even though it may sound as if I didn't like it, I enjoyed it. It's twilight and some full-on with rounded edges, but it is outstandingly produced. So if you go into this not knowing what Trold has done in the past then this will have some appeal. But having heard and loved their last album this can only be seen as a disappointment. Time for another solution. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Artist: Silent Horror Title: Patterns II EP Label: DVSM Records Date: June, 2013 1. Variables 2. Pan'd Labyrinth 3. Atomic Structures "The ghosts in the darkness have come." Darkpsy ain't for everyone. Hammering bass lines, noisy and abrasive synth washes, and usually the total absence of a melody...It's a f*cking headache waiting to happen. And I'll be honest I don't know how you dance to this type of music unless it's a mosh pit free for all. The genre has sort of become a parody of itself and the race is on to see which darkpsy producer can make the most noise. The good ones (like Kiriyama) combine other styles with darkpsy for a very complex and detailed journey. But please don't think I'm singling out darkspy because we all know the sorry state of full-on. And don't get me started on "popular" music. Having spoken with Alex (who runs DVSM Records) on numerous occasions I've come to learn he is a really nice fellow. Silent Horror (Jigar Shah) has a new EP and Alex asked me if I wouldn't mind giving it a listen. Last I heard from Mr. Shah was when I reviewed his album Seance back in 2011. Pure darkness that would really appeal to fans of that genre. Well he's back for more and he brings his scary penchant for horror movies with him. And man this is heavy. Remember that hammering bass line I was talking about? Yep, it's here. But he also has a little break in Variables that gives the ear a break from the punishment. That's important because you can only whip someone so many times before the whipping is rendered meaningless. He's really good with the effects and he layers them so the track sounds really full. Pan'd Labyrinth is more scary noises and discovering monsters down dark corridors. But he also does a nice trick with some scary percussion to add some variability. It's a hallucinogenic nightmare for atmosphere and you've gotta be wondering if it can get any worse. Atomic Structures is the heaviest of them all. The beginning is chopped up synths and there you go back into that corridor. Cue the scratchy "darkpsy" synth and another spooky break. It eventually gets so many sounds near the end that it's like punching someone in the face when he's already dead. Look, it is what it is. The sound quality is awesome and when I was playing this I was rumbling a few windows. The kick and bass line are relentless. That said you're not necessarily going to win any new converts to the darkside with this because it's still darkpsy. Those that love that type of music will love this. But those that get tired of the same leads and the madness won't. Sure there's more atmosphere with breaks that help, but it still falls into the same cliche's that the genre is known for. Bandcamp Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Transitions In Trance Label: Ovnimoon Records Date: November, 2011 1. Minimal Session - HAGGEN 2. Floating in the space - PROTOACTIVE 3. Aftermath 11 - MAN MACHINE 4. Crystal - NERSO 5. Energy of life - OVNIMOON 6. Orbiting - WIZACK TWIZACK 7. Organic Interface - PSILOCYBIAN 8. Dark Tale - SPIRIT ARCHITECT 9. DNP2 - HYDROGENERATOR 10. Why can you control time - BODHI TREE I know quality when I see it. Awe.some. Whether Hector Ovnimoon is performing or running a label his work is of very high quality. What's not to love? The music emanating from this guy is layered and melodic, thick with atmosphere and psychedelia. And now he's got a sub label for goa trance? I might just have to give him my credit card to keep on file. I almost missed this release, but eventually it got the attention it deserves. Minimal Session- "Leading medical researchers on youngsters have shown that marijuana is the most dangerous drug." Said every old white man who wished he had tried it in his youth. Ever. The opening track is minimal in structure, but that's where the similarities end. Gooey and bubbling sounds come to a frothy head making it seem fuller than your dad's minimal. Nothing spectacular, but a good opener. Floating in the Space- Protoactive is Allen Feytor and he's come up with some great tunes. Leaving the minimal landscape behind we are now hiking in wide open melodic progressive country. Bass sweeps and synth layers are the order of the day. Changes in time happen smoothly with this one. Aftermath 11- There is a definite robotic feel to this track and I mean that in a good way. Crystal- One of the leaders in the progressive scene Nerso needs no introduction. His distinctive echoing style is on full display as sounds bounce off each other. There is a darkness here as chunky leads tumble over each other like water molecules. Super. Energy of Life- El jefe delivers a track that now climbs into psy-gressive territory. Aggressive along with juicy sounds and goa tendencies. He's got his foot on the reverb pedal and it ain't coming off anytime soon. Deep pads and a sh*tload of atmosphere. This is the soundtrack to outer space. Outstanding. Orbiting- "Tell us how to get back to Earth, I beg you!" No, no really...the key, th-the key is right there! It's already in the ignition. You don't have to...that's not how you jump start... *sigh* If you see Wizack on the track list you know things are gonna get psychedelic. Known primarily for his dark side this is perhaps the leas dark track I've heard from him. Crazy leads though, and I hear some 303's in there which makes me smile. Organic Interface- "I know this is gonna sound crazy, in fact this is kinda crazy, but what if the object was symbiotic in nature. Just say that it wasn't entirely mechanical, that it needed some type of organic interface." Sasa Dukic is one of the best psytrance producers out there not to mention a helluva nice guy. His albums Dreamtime and Brain Dissolver are exactly what psytrance should be. That opening sample and what he does to it sets the tone. Cyber juicy leads are everywhere with a sinister backdrop. The short break brings in a new lead all the while keeping in pumping. Dark Tale- More psy-gressive that takes you in. Not as deep as the other tracks, but not bad. DNP2- I wasn't aware that this project was still active. Surprise surprise. It's full on psytrance now with the darkest track yet. And boy are they giving the business to Tokyo Electric. Why Can't You Control Time- They end this ride with a psychedelic downtempo track that is anything but relaxing. High speed percussion and a thumping kick hammer the point home. Great compilation and in a time when a lot of labels struggle to do one thing very well, this one does it all very well. Anyone who has read my reviews knows my dislike for minimal, but they even made that seem interesting. With strong and melodic progressive trance the ride is a good one full to the brim with effects and psychedelia. Highly recommended. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

IMO this is an overrated album. Made in 95 it sounds simplistic compared to the rich and dynamic releases of today. Hell, even compared to some of his later work. Obviously technology has a lot to do with it, but I also believe it lacks the layers to give it depth and presence. With simplistic sample work and dated sounds it reveals its age. There is more of a drifting trancey feel rather than the storming goa presence on his other albums like Live or Ama-Zone. Even great tracks like Lunar Attraction have periods where there is a lack of activity. None of the tracks are bad, but like that old cigarette ad used to say... We've come a long way, baby. Mdk

Artist: Vertex Title: Earth Label: TesseracT Studio Date: June, 2012 1. Elements on earth - Vertex feat. Solar Kid 2. Surface 3. Avalanche - VERTEX FEAT. PION 4. Welcome to Serbia 5. Faith 6. Enlightenment 7. Out of orbit - VERTEX FEAT. VICE 8. Northern Lights - VERTEX FEAT. FLOAT 9. Joy of silence "What you're trying to do as an artist is to have an experience that is worth sharing and download it into another person's consciousness." Sunlight coming over the horizon. Warm glow of analog synths and comfortable kicks. This is the music that makes beer commercials seem true. In the company of good friends and busty models in bikinis that seem totally into you cause your on your fourth can of bud light. Beer gut and flatulence? Whatever, have another brewski. Now that's a real man. It's smooth like the hair of the girl who drew the last straw as she rubs your back telling you everything's gonna be all right as you deposit the twisted remains of your lunch and dinner into a dirty toilet. Groovy and light, it is full of toe tapping quality as effects ripple and leave a vibrant trail of multi-colored hues in their wake. The sounds are not overbearing and it's never aggressive. If you told me that a trumpet could be prominently featured in a track and still come off as cool I'd tell you not to piss on my leg and call it rainwater. But that's exactly what Welcome to Serbia does. Northern Lights slides a subtle 303 into the mix and seems to fit just right. The deep bass of the downtempo closer warms the soul as he weaves a melodic web in the sunshine. It's high time we recognize and welcome our Balkan overlords as the masters of progressive trance. I found this to be a worthy sequel to his debut album Ocean. His electronic touch is delicate and descriptive. This isn't about rocking a party, but about enjoying and reveling in what the creator has given us. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Artist: Various Title: The Kingdom Label: Zion604 Records Date: February, 2013 1. Kalika Inana (Live Version) - Eat Static 2. Howling At the Moon - Cosmosis 3. Tri Kay - Shakta 4. Mars Supial - Moonweed 5. Scirroco - Lunar Asylum 6. Mass Connection - ManMadeMan 7. Ants 4 Breakfast - ECT & Mass 8. Harold Eben D'Owld - Nervasystem 9. Spiked (Remix) - Double Dragon Zion604 is a label dedicated to keeping the old school spirit of goa trance alive. Run by veterans Roy Sason, Stephan Spivak and Masafumi Hoshida they have also released several other compilations. I reviewed their virgin effort Flight 604 and that had some really good moments. Their latest is a 2 disc compilation of new and old school artists called Phoenix and I am eagerly awaiting my copy. Till then this one caught my eye. Don't see many old school compilations these days and hold on, what's this? Unreleased stuff from back in the day? Finding unreleased stuff from the goa masters is like finding a Lexus under the Christmas tree. Driven by a busty pornstar with money coming out of her... Ewww....I'm not touching that. No, you keep it sweetheart. Put it toward your, ahem...medical school tuition. Eat Static begins with a track that would appear in the morning after a cleansing rain. Sunbeams shining down and reflecting the moisture with a tribal and slow opening as if welcoming you to nature's kingdom. Deep chants groan over bubbling electronica in a hypnotic dream of progressive goa trance. Normally I wouldn't care for this, but it's well produced and captures the feel of an ancient culture perfectly Howling at the Moon- Who doesn't know this classic beast of a track? Now remastered it's barely restrained chaos of screaming leads and rampaging acid lines. Hurtling the listener through the galaxy at ludicrous speed it is crystal clear. Non stop insanity and one of the greatest goa tracks of all time. Tri Kay- Shakta delivers one that somehow got away. It was put out on vinyl but not on CD. I've never heard it so it's new to me! The layers are delicious and eerie, but at almost 10 minutes it repeats itself quite frequently until the break. All the excitement at hearing this lost gem was tempered a bit as it came on like a lion, but left like a lamb. Still good though. Marsupial- Nobody loves a good didgeridoo more than I and that's how this begins. The leads dance in the sky and then come back to Earth. There is no mystery here just an all out goa assault. Scirroco- You say Scirroco to me and I'm thinking of an old Honda. And this track sounded old. Like it was something they were messing around with and never got back to. It seems more of an electronic sketch that isn't very strong. Mass Connection- Loved the atmosphere in this one. More psy than goa in the beginning they put effects in the right places to create an uneasy feel. When the goa gets going it becomes a stormer. Chunky and distorted that lead melody is all consuming. Ants 4 Breakfast- *Checks to see if this isn't Shamanic Tribes on Acid* By far the loudest and most experimental track on the compilation, this one is made for headphones. With rich bass sounds, darkpsy lead rips, and frenetic percussion it's constantly evolving. Full of skittering effects and at first I hated it, but with repeated listens this actually sounds like what having ants for breakfast would sound like. Aggressive and powerful and in a state of perpetual motion. You couldn't wring more out of a lead than this. Suomi meets goa in an insane track. I don't know if I love it or should perform an exorcism on it. Harold Eben D'Owld- There is nothing special about this track as it ambles its way through, but there is a high level of detail. Computer whirrs buzz amidst bubbly synth leads as this has a constant bounce. Clearly we're out of the melodic portion and now it's about setting a mood. Like industrial goa, but less aggressive and at a progressive pace. Spiked (Remix)- This final track was only released on vinyl so it might as well been an 8 track for me. It's from 2001 so clearly the focus at the time was taking goa in a different direction. Lots of percussive pot banging and sounds to create the atmosphere. Sounds like the needle scratching a record. Not dark, just is. This is a very varied compilation with different goa styles represented. It's all over the map from blistering to experimental madness. They mostly sound great so kudos to those responsible for mastering and recovery. I listen to all of my music on headphones so I can appreciate the finer details. This is like a goa market showcasing the directions in which goa can be driven and it's up to the listener to explore. The final 4 tracks mark the line where the compilation shifts from the melodic to the more...daring. What this has shown me is that while layers of melody are great there is much more to discover. Congrats Roy on a compilation that has a little something for everyone. Bandcamp Mdk

Artist: Crop Circles Title: Lunar Civilization EP Label: DAT Records Date: June, 2013 1. Lunar Civilization 2. Antonomasia 3. Full Mental Jackpot (Pleiadians Remix) 4. Ghost Circles Crop f*cking Circles. Rising faster than an old man's erection on Viagra is the star that is DAT Records. This is a label run by Draeke that resurrects music from the golden age of goa trance that was unreleased or only put out on vinyl and then gives it the production values of today with new mastering. His 2 CD release of Etnica Live in Athens was one of the greatest gifts you could give an old schooler, but instead of standing on his success he continues to reach higher with his next offering. What do you get when you add Etnica + Lotus Omega? Crop f*cking Circles. Now this isn't his first date with this project. Remember the "lost" album Tetrahedron back in 08? So full of thick melodic layers he's been going strong ever since. And now we've learned that no task is too herculean. So it stands to reason that his long standing relationship with this Italian supergroup would continue to bear fruit. Like most of you I didn't have these vinyl EP's released back in 07 and even if I did what the hell would I play them on. So I had to make do with mp3's that I found on the net and I was happy to have them. But now I have the CD EP from DAT Records in its little cardboard sleeve cover and the planets seem to be back in alignment for this collector. The original vinyl EP from Auricle Records had just the tracks Lunar Civlization and Antonomasia. Awesome tracks full of spiraling melodies and complex layers to be sure, but then the CD version came out and it included the mind blowing remix of Full Mental Jackpot by the Pleiadians. But Draeke does you one better with the addition of a track I've never heard called Ghost Circles. It falls right into line with their crazy Italian style. Fast, multilayered melodies with tons of 303 goodness. To close this is another triumph for Draeke and DAT Records. He has succeeded in bringing some of the greatest goa trance tracks back into the light. The music sounds spectacular and keeps the genius that was Etnica alive. No longer do you have to shell out ungodly prices for this hard to find piece of goa history cause now he put it within everyone's reach. And you don't even need a f*cking record player, whatever the hell that is. Draeke you've got your had so deep in my pocket people are going to tell us to get a room. DAT Records Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Artist: BlackStarrFinale Title: AURYN Label: Neogoa Date: June, 2013 01 - Nothing (feat. Psibindi On Vocals) (143 BPM) 02 - The Child Hunter (143 BPM) 03 - The Many And The Luck Dragon (143 BPM) 04 - Uyulala (138 BPM) 05 - A New Name (145 BPM) 06 - Graograman (138 BPM) 07 - The Star Cloister (144 BPM) 08 - The Emperor’s Journey (143 BPM) 09 - Doña Aiuola (145 BPM) 10 - AURYN (138 BPM) Luis Pabon has been a key cog in the neo goa apparatus since the beginning and has finally released his debut album for free. I was so excited to hear it because most of his tracks go above and beyond. Besides, he's a friend. Well, an acquaintance really. Fine, we're just Facebook friends. Is that what you wanted to hear? I think he likes me, but everytime I see him his sticking his tongue out. So with great anticipation and excitement I listened to his new album. This is where I would've put something like a sad panda or some girl crying. But since photobucket has been a pain in my ass lately, I'm this close to no longer using pics or gifs in my reviews. But anyway...sad panda. I didn't like it. This was the part of my "job" as a reviewer that I didn't like. He has worked so hard for so long, how do I write a negative review for an artist that label head and good friend Ivan Richpa was so proud of? When an album is terrible it's easy to go negative. But that wasn't this situation. So I decided to call Ivan and discuss it with him. But he never answered. Should've known. Calling Croatia I probably would've had better luck using two dixie cups and some string. I needed to get away from it for a bit and just not listen to anything for awhile. Go hiking, that always helps me refocus and get a fresh perspective. That worked and with it staring at me I decided to re-engage. And boy am I glad I did. This album is different. Way different. It doesn't have the instant appeal of some where you instantly recognize how good it is. At least for me. Put on the M-Run disc and you know it's awesome as the involuntary butt shaking commences. Pick a Suntrip release and you know you'll be smiling. Come to find out this was his intent. Starting at the beginning this was based on the kids novel the Never Ending Story. Never read it and the only thing I remember from the movie was this huge creepy dog muppet that could fly. So I did a little research and found out that Auryn is the name of a Spanish boy band. *looks quizically at monitor* O...kay? My subconscious was telling me to dig a little deeper. Turns out the AURYN (always capitalized) is a magic talisman that gives so and so their power. That would be the two snakes having a tail sandwich on the cover. Then I wondered how the f*ck I ever learned anything before the internet. So it's not the groove that will get you. It's not all of the layers of spiraling melodies attempting to transport you to Nirvana either. So what the hell is it? The depth. Is it goa? Is it psytrance? It's both with a storytelling mission. I don't know what that story is that's up to you the listener. Long unwinding melodies will suck you in and before you know it you're three tracks past where you thought you were. It can be trancey and it can then become aggressive as it seems to have an infinite number of twists. It's pretty obvious he went the extra mile to make something different and he succeeded in that respect. All the gifs in the world wouldn't help if I tried to describe each track so I'm not gonna do that. Suffice it to say he poured his heart and sould into making something incredibly complex and original. Sounds like it worked. You gotta check this out. Free at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Juno Reactor Title: Zwara EP Label: Universal Music (Japan) Date: November, 2003 1. Zwara (Sleepwalker) 2. Teahouse 3. Komit 4. Guardian Angel I don't know the first thing about Juno Reactor. Don't know how this ended up on my hard drive, but there it was so I gave it a listen. The reviews given by our own PKS and Jikkenteki here will no doubt be plenty informative for fans of this project. That ain't me. This will be a brief review for those not in the know. Zwara sounded very noisy and as if I was watching an exorcism while a female voice screamed Zwara over and over. Teahouse was more tribal drum banging. Apparently that's it for the new tracks. Komit I gather was on the Matrix soundtrack, but this is a much shorter version that didn't stay with me. Guardian angel was referred to as a classic by these two reviewers, but I guess you really have to like Juno Reactor to believe that. Juno Reactor seems to be a group of musicians that are very eclectic and dabble in a lot of styles of electronic music. While I didn't care for this, I bet their live show would be awesome. It has that theatrical sound that is probably better experienced than heard. Mdk

"Deeper and deeper into meditation and nowhere to go...but inside." Rino summed this release up perfectly. Unimaginative, amelodic, and too many guitars that don't add any psychedelia. Stripped down to the bare bones and empty this has zero staying power. If they're not annoying with guitars it's droning synths. There are flashes like the break in 380 volt, but it's never explored and just stumbles into already trodden territory. Alienated is the best trance track here, but that's like choosing between a rock and a notebook for a pillow. Boring with a total lack of variation. For all I know they still have the sequencer running. The one saving grace is the final downtempo track which is slow and brooding. Now if they made an album like this... Mdk