Trance2MoveU

Artist: Trinodia Title: Stargazing Label: Ovnimoon Records Date: Febu..Februr...2/2012 1. Arietis (09:33) 2. Tau Ceti (10:28) 3. Ursae Majoris (09:50) 4. Alderamin (08:20) 5. Sirius (09:11) 6. Nashira (09:01) 7. Groombridge (08:19) 8. Eltanin (08:08) 9. Stargazing (06:33) "1960 was the beginning of radio astronomy. New dishes were being built which could search the heavens..." Daniel didn't re-invent the wheel here. It's not like he created a blanket with sleeves (aka a robe worn backwards) Gangsta Bitches. And that's ok. Most releases aren't going to be classics as they follow a formula that was successful. Hell the whole movie industry is built on the paradigm (yes I used that in a sentence) "You made how much on that piece of sh*t? Why haven't you already made six more of them?" Did that to the Saw franchise. Ran that motherf*cker straight into the ground. But I digress. You always remember the great ones. Jordan and Gretzky. Pleiadians and Transwave. Biggie and Snuglife. Carmen Electra... Where the hell is her Oscar? He didn't make the next IFO or Back To Space. It's not going to push LSD off the shelf and I think Rock Bitch Mafia is safe. But what he did make is a new school goa trance album that sounds great. It is full of light and airy melodies perfect for spinning and twirling and taking that trip to the next solar system. It's also quite stomping and groovy in places. I found nothing ordinary about the intertwining leads and ripping 303 on Alderamin. Did you hear Eltanin? I played that at high volume and the natives got restless. "IHOP is the next block over! And get off my lawn!!" F*cking hippies. Play it and they will come. He closes it out with Stargazing, a nice detailed downtempo track that combines the mystical with vastness of outer space. Point is he didn't go out of his comfort zone at all as all the tracks all seem to follow "the formula." But it's a good formula. If you sit around and just listen to classics of a bygone era I imagine you will become quite tired of the same albums. They're called classics for a reason and they are limited in number. While not as epic as Human History I would say this was an enjoyable listen and a good addition to my collection. Can't ever have too much melodic goa trance I say. Besides, he gave the his last album away for free. You owe him. Psyshop Beatspace GoaStore Audiojelly MDK

Artist: Goasia Title: Unvisited Galaxies Label: Spacedock Date: May, 2012 1. Tribal Experience 2. Chemical Brain "What it does is...reaches into your brain...chemically." People ask me why I review Ep's so much. It's like junk food...gives you that quick burst of energy and who the hell has time to sit down and have a full meal. I've got kids and anyone who has kids will tell you that you can't turn your back for a second. The other day I'm rinsing dishes to put in the dishwasher and I look down and my 9 month old is holding a knife. I'm all for letting them explore there world, but she could hurt someone with that. Namely me. There is always something going on, so finding time to digest a whole album and then write a review is a time consuming experience. Remember when I reviewed that darkpsy/forest compilation and I said I was on the crapper? I wasn't kidding. You can lock the door of the crapper. So Ep's are nice short dime bag of music, but unfortunately like potato chips, you cannot stop at one. So that's why I do it. What are you writing a book? Balint Tihamer and Vladislav Radulovic have been at the forefront of goa trance since it came back with a vengeance. Their most recent album Dancing With the Blue Spirit had some excellent tracks where these gentlemen aren't afraid to take goa in different directions. This short 2 tracker is no exception. The cover lets you know that a space theme is in place. Tribal Experience has some tribal chants right in the beginning. I know, I didn't see that coming either. The melody is catchy and not threatening. The way Gremlins weren't threatening. Maybe a little scary, but you knew you could just kick them across the street. Oh and f*ck Gizmo, he started all that sh*t. Like they have done in the past, they meld psytrance with goa so sometimes the lines get blurred. Not bad, but I liked the second one better. It had more racing melodies with a wink to Nitzho imo. Pumping and churning that comes in waves. Thank you gentlemen for a nice little sample of what you're working on. Recommended. Juno Download Mdk

Artist: Deliriant Title: Paranoia EP Label: Kaos Krew Date: June, 2012 1. Radioactive 2. From The Void - Deliriant Vs. Mad Piper 3. Chronic V2.0 "I'll tell you what I do like though...a killer." Because I can't get enough of the South African sound, I decided to review this after the quality sHiFt EP O.M.G....not to be confused with the wailing of a near 40 year old named Usher. Shane Renew is no stranger to stomping twilight tracks. His first album Chemistry 2009 is one of the best I've heard to this day and his most recent Miracle Cure while not as great still brought the heat. This is a 3 track EP that includes a remix of Chronic from his album last year. Guy is also a sound engineer so obviously he knows what he's doing. Comparing him to other artists in this part of the genre is hard not to do as the same tricks are employed. Acid, big beats and rampaging bass lines. The power could use a little boost on the first track, but that is a minor quibble. From the Void sees him join forces with Mad Piper (whoever that is) and it works brilliantly. This was the one where it was all put together in a volley of acidic flash grenades. The last track was grea to begin with so unless there is a banjo solo with a member of Infected Mushroom singing it would be really hard to f*ck that up. But when you hear a sHiFt track you know it, and it's devastating. While all of them are pretty good, he has some short buildups that make me wince just a little bit. Still, if you're looking for some rocking twilight action you can't go wrong here. Juno Download Mdk

Artist: sHiFt Title: O.M.G. EP Label: Nexus Media Date: June, 2012 1. 4th Dimension - sHiFt & Deliriant 2. Consequences 3. OMG 4. Can 'O Worms "Sounds like it's having a hallucinogenic effect." Was totally going on my first hike this year. 14.4 mile (wait, you might not know what a mile is...I think that's like 69 kilometers or something) loop through forests, up mountains, and along rivers. Peace and quiet and a chance to get away from the kids. Yep, today was gonna be awesome. Notice I said was. Unfortunately for me today was also the day that my wife's car decided to need a new starter. She's gotta get to work and that leaves my vehicle. Wait, maybe there's another way... Damnit, my kidnap rope is in the garage. So I watched her pull away in my jeep on her way to work, taking my fun day with her. Alas all is not lost. Sure I can't be outside, but I can enjoy the latest from Mr. Chris Hoy. This is a 4 track EP released by the outstandingly consistent Nexus Media. I haven't heard from him since his last album, but I remember reading something non-porn related where he said the fans don't like it when he strays from his style of dark, pumping, eerie dance mayhem. If that's you (it's me) then you will not be disappointed with this. He brings Mjolnir heavy beats with his signature minor key style. Plenty of lasers and acid blasts punctuated with cool samples. The first track is a collaboration with another South African psytrance destroyer Deliriant and it's like he never left. But for those who want something new injected into his music, well he even manages to throw in some dubstep on a couple of tracks that sound really good. Let's face it, this music is supposed to make you want to dance and he succeeds easily. But as per usual, he doesn't just craft mindless 4 on the floor aural beatdowns as his melodies and atmosphere make these tracks a powerful force to be reckoned with. I thought he was f*cking with me with the piano arpeggio on the last track, but he even made that work. Chris you've still got it. Hey look, I can see the mountains from my window. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Forest Beings Label: Biijah Records Date: July 2011 01 - LiquidNoize - Digital Syllable (155 BPM) 02 - DoHm - Pinkles (155 BPM) 03 - Eitonin - On The Road (150 BPM) 04 - Hallucinated Hologram - Tornado (152 BPM) 05 - Butterfly Effect - White Rabbit (148 BPM) 06 - P.Tale - Small Brain Big Skull (148 BPM) 07 - Therange Freak - The Reaper (152 BPM) 08 - Cacofonix - Whirl (150 BPM) 09 - Goch - Cooking (148 BPM) 10 - Sanathana - Exorcism In Zulu Land (148 BPM) So here I am again visiting Ekto with another free forest compilation. Sometimes you just want it dark. I like my movies dark. I like my women dark. This seems like a good fit. A few names jump out at me, but most are unknown. With the bpms not dipping below 148 I need to ditch the lounge chair and head into the forest to give this a listen. Wait...I can't do that. Nobody's here to watch my kids. Sounds like I need to head to the one place I can get some "me" time The toilet. Ah yes...that seems appropriate. Don't know if I can put in over an hour on the sh*tter, but damnit I have to try. The trolls would want me to. Digital Syllable- Holy sh*t the dark rumble from the underworld has found it's way to my bathroom. The kick moves at a frenzied pace and wailing pads rise from the fire. The tribal drums don't seem to fit, but that's a minor quibble. This is an intro track that welcomes you to the forest from which there is no escape. Hey Satan, wanna hit the fan? I'm doin' some work here. Pinkles- I think DoHm is one of my favorite forest producers. His style is of course intense, but also graphically descriptive with (gasp) melodies at times. This is a screeching voyage down the throat of troll with some eerie effects, but alas I don't think it's his best work. It moves straight ahead with blinders on without any of the twists and turns of some of his other tracks. The best part was the pads at the end and wish he could've found a way to incorporate that during the rest of the track. Ok, but he's done better. On the Road- Boom goes the kick and bass to thunderous effect. Bubbling and scratchy leads lead the way as the changes begin to take place. Crazy bass line manipulation and rapid fire kicks add to the appeal. Throw the cool oscillating break in there and we have ourselves a winner. Tornado- "There is no such thing as death. Life is only a dream, an imagination of ourselves." Hard bass lines and squeaky effects make this track feel like it's bursting to contain itself. Ripping leads with razor sharp edges threaten to disembowel as this is the darkest one yet. But it's not mindless. It undergoes changes and maintains it's spooky vibe without descending into noise. White Rabbit- A forest track with a Dr. Dre snippet? get the f*ck outta here. Effects wipe across the screen like blood splatter as the chunky bass line chews away at the ledge you're standing on. Am I hallucinating or is that demon fiddling with the radio? Please....anything but that...I can't take Call Me Maybe any more! This is just pounding away at my neurons and making me want to cut myself. I think I'm turning all goth on you. Small Brain, Big Skull- "Congratulations son...you've got a very small brain." My favorite track here. At least the most accessible for those not into worshiping the dark arts. Squirty synths fart over the machine gun bass line as the layers create a good atmosphere. There is a funky section in the middle that makes me think KC and the Sunshine Band had a hand in this. Not bad at all. The Reaper- I didn't think it could get darker, but with a title like the Reaper, it shows you what I know. It's like I'm witness to some tribal ritual while on mescaline. Deep bass and scary effects show you how hopeless your situation is. I think my review could've been that last sentence. Maybe it should've been. "Twinkle Twinkle little star..." Whirl- This one is like a showcase of all the creatures that are running around the forest at night. Maybe you even approach one thinking he's kinda cute. He wouldn't harm a fly. But then you realize you've been led into a trap and that little bastard is smirking cause you know you done f*cked up. You know this right? Cooking- Love the bass in this one. It's searching for victims like a psycho vaccuum cleaner. This is the nightmare scenario where you are the one cooking my friend. Is it getting a little hot in here to you? Exorcism in Zulu Land- Hands up if you think we're gonna end on a happy note? Anyone? And just to make sure you don't get any bright ideas about getting away, they put the longest track at the end. But it was really well done. African chants, a break to build up tension, and a boatload of effects. How US gymnasts train for a back handspring. Damn, this is dark. With zero hope of seeing any light. You know how the black guy is always the first to get killed in the movies? Well everyone gets killed in this movie. I don't care what color you are. Not my favorite forest comp for sure because you're dumped into the dark pit without an hope of a lifeline. Even the jews had Schindler. Some of the tracks were decent, but I'm more of a visitor to the dark side not a permanent resident so this one's not for me. Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Keep It Surreal Label- Pixan Recordings Date: February, 2012 1. Salvia - PHASE 2. Mania - ASSIOMA 3. Impedimental - AJJA AND FLOOTING GROOVES 4. Madman's Diary - MOLE 5. Double Mind Trick - DUST AND CHRIS RICH 6. D n A - FULL FACE 7. On the Radar - JOCID 8. Forest Ship - ARCHAIC 9. Invisible Residents - WHIPTONGUE 10. Pusher - PANTOMIMAN "Today I want you to open your mind to the possibility that one day we will make contact." I don't have a lot of experience with Pixan because I'm not a darkpsy kinda guy. There are plenty of other people that probably are more familiar with that part of our genre, but f*ck 'em* they can write their own review. The promo says it goes from night style to twilight so we'll see. *by f*ck em I mean you can ask them nicely and they will probably be able to help steer you in the right direction. Working on my anger management. Yeah, I'm not advocating violence against women because your man boobs aren't as appealing, but I can imagine that is the same look she gave that douchebag Chris Brown right before he went apesh*t. Salvia- Never heard of this guy, but he drops a pumping beat with a live wire lead. It sounds like the album cover looks. Don't touch the edges, you'll get a shock. If you heard the first 2 minutes, then the other 5 sound like the same bar over and over again. Oddly enough, even though a melody was absent, I did enjoy it. Mania- You know what you can spell with his name? Soma, from the Latin meaning body. What were you thinking? This is pretty psychedelic with more of those sharp leads and random sounds. Not bad, but the melodies are still firmly planted on a milk carton. Should we issue an amber alert? Impedimental- Now these two projects I've heard of. And it's my favorite track so far. Bubbling effects and a punishing bass line never fail to disappoint. It's alien and isolating at the same time with more layers than the previous two tracks. Madmen's Diary- "Charge up your suit first." After a long sample about things I'm sure I fell asleep to in college we are back in the pumping bass line business. And business is good. Not to mention more in the twilight areana where I feel more comfortable. Groovy sounds with acidic backsplash and it even has a break. This is some funky sh*t! Double Mind Trick- This could be Madmen's Diary part II because it sounds almost identical. Go ahead accuse me of being biased against darkpsy. It's not like I said all Chinese look alike. Although I would say that if you're looking from the second story. Futuristic Matrix-esque sounds are scattered all over the place in staccato cadences which add to the groove. Very electronic with the melody still AWOL. D N A- Jeez, this is like going to a party and not knowing anyone. They're all looking at me wondering what the f*ck I'm doing here. Hey man, don't hate on me. I'm just trying to get down to your funky sounds. Maybe if I dance like they do, they will accept me. Score. More pumping bass lines with a very good kick are the order of the day while scratchy and bubbly leads put fear into the less hearty. Those squirting sounds are deep. I'm beginning to think that Melody gave me the wrong address. It couldn't be on purpose could it? On The Radar- Holy sh*t, a little melody! And by little, I mean under 4 feet tall. *Takes a look around, sees nothing but chicks with dark eye shadow, pale skin, and multiple piercings* Wanna hook up? Cool! All we gotta do is go downstairs and get outta this dump. If you can't love the one you want love the one you're with, right? Forest Ship- I like the atmosphere in this one. It's dark and pumping telling me there is no escape. Like the title says, it combines the juicy darkness of forest with the alien of outer space. The bass line is frenzied and it's waves of effects tumbling down upon me. Good one. Invisible Residents- Whiptongue. F*ck yeah, he wields the acid groove and destroys all challengers. Finish HIM!! ....um with the Rock 'em Sock 'em robot I guess. Pusher- Weak. Did we get too many pumping and driving beats that we had to go out with a whimper? This got me as close to rocking out as jumping gets you closer to the sun. See what you did? Got my internet muscles all riled up. I'm done. So those who are more experienced with Pixan probably already knew what to expect. Intense rhythms that all sound rather dark. It's not mad at your parents music, but it ain't Vibe Tribe either. There were a couple of twilight tracks, but mostly it's darkpsy lite. Makes you want to get fired up, but runs out of gas at the end. A point driven home by the last track. Still most of the tracks had good effects and get the blood moving. If you're looking for melody then...let's be honest. If you're here...you ain't looking for melody. Psyshop Beatspace Saikosounds Mdk

Artist: Mr. Peculiar Title: Alternate Worlds Label: Hadra Records Date: April, 2012 1. A new machine 2. Psycho Disco Balls 3. Everything Remains 4. Infinity (Mr Peculiar rmx) 5. Another World 6. Mental Universe 7. Ascention 8. Pandora 9. Algarythm "This truly is another world." Tell me about it. A world where the government deploys drones to fly over the backyards of regular citizens. What the f*ck are you looking for? A world where doing your job can get you arrested. "You see, it's all just a...what happened was...di-did Hawaiian Punch put you up to this? Where's my lawyer?" This is Dustin Saalfield with his fifth album and first one in 5 years. Guy's been doing his thing for over a decade and creates some of the most descriptive and involving psytrance today. Since I love sci-fi like the rest of you nerds, the cover has me all hot and bothered. Ummm...no. You're acting like a pedophile that was just released from the prison across from the elementary school. What the f*ck is that noise? Is that...is that a drone? A New Machine- Sounds like someone got some new hardware!!!!! This has an incredibly mystical and spiritual beginning with a tribal chant that goes on for 3 minutes set against an ambient opening. Talk about setting the table...Like he often does, he creates the atmosphere with effects flashing out as the bass line runs. If I put my mind to it (and you know that I can) it's easy to be a willing captive on his space disco vessel. The final break (at 11 and a half minutes you know there is more than one) illustrates how vast the corridors are as sound reverberates of alien material. Nice opener. Even if it was just full-on, it was all the ancillary stuff that I enjoyed. Psycho Disco Balls- *insert disco whistle* Bout time someone brought the disco back into the club. George Jefferson's ready...are you? Complete with brass and guitar wah-wah it's all studio 54 up in here. For f*ck's sake Liza, do you have to be such an attention whore? Aside from the transvestites and doing coke off the stomachs of bartenders he just seems to be going through the motions. The break was awesome as usual, but not a track that's gonna stay with me. Everything Remains- After underwhelming me for the first two tracks, he gets back to his strength. Atmosphere. This one stinks of it. Melancholy, forlorn...whatever you want to call it. The vibe captures you and if you're not careful you can get lost in all these layers. It's drifting and right in my wheelhouse until he does the unthinkable. N-no..no...I mean I don't think he fell asleep in the back of a car with his shirt off. Thug life? More like chub life! Yikes, let go of the pork rinds. No, he slows it down, like the batteries were running out. Man I was mad, but because the guys got skills, he turned it into a quality break before returning to the dream. Infinity Rmx- Yes I know it has the dreaded galloping bass line, but listen to all the fanfare behind it. Bubbling effects, arching synths, and of course he owns the breaks. It is very futuristic in his alien and floating style. I feel like I'm at an extra-terrestrial zoo oohing and ahhing over all the foreign electronics. Another World- "A strange new world." As if the previous tracks weren't alien enough he shoves a 3 fingered hand up your rectum. It's fast and there's all kinds of critters running around here. "What's a matter...you never seen a translucent biped mesomorphic organism before?" If you can tell me what movie that's from, you win a bucket of semen. This track has all the atmospheric synthplay that makes psytrance fun. Never a wasted minute as melodies crawl over each other like passengers on an Indian train destined for Bombay. Quality tune. Mental Universe- How can you not like a track with a choir in it? You can't. Well, unless you're Catholic. A choir might make you wet your pants. Oh c'mon, don't tell me you feel sorry for the church? Laser shots, acid splatters, and long sweeps make this one very appealing. His breaks are just awesome at teleporting you right where he wants you to be. Not bad. Ascention- *Turns pages of dictionary, while licking thumb* Ah there it is... Filler- Hungarian currency unit. What the f*ck Let's try again. Filler- One that fills. F*cking dictionary. Filler- Something added to augment weight or size Thank you. Thank you, was that so hard? Pandora- Another long one, but this is a slower, almost mid-tempo experience. It's very magical that flows with a saunter like it was made by a shaman. Progressive in nature with a primal feel. Why do I feel like I'm going to hear a voice say, "I'm sorry Hal, I can't let you do that." The orchestral part of the break gives the track a cinematic quality like the main characters stumbled upon something that Michael Bay will soon destroy. Impressive. I feel it went on too long, but hell if you've got a story to tell...I liked it. Algarythm- What are the odds he ends the disc with two progressive tracks. Put your hand down doofus, it's a rhetorical question. If you told me this was Flegma & Nerso I would've believed you. Good groove and wonderful effects as I'm sure this would gather the masses into a frenzy. Make a hole people, I'm tryin' to get a soul train line goin' here! "Psycho Disco Ball is over! Get the hell outta here!" So after a couple of commercial bumps in the road this turned out to be a solid album. If I had one gripe it's that damn galloping bass line. I hear it and instantly the hackles on the back of my neck stand up. Also it becomes a bit full-oney for me, but the majority of that is offset with brilliant layers of synths and effects that wrap around you like a straight jacket. Rich in atmosphere it's a bubbling cauldron of alien stews that never strays from the outer space theme. While nowhere near as good as Infinite Evolution it's still worth the price of admission. Recommended. Psyshop Beatspace Saikosounds Goastore Mdk

Artist: Crossing Mind Title: The Inner Shift Label: Suntrip Date: April, 2012 1. The unenlightened perspectives 2. Solarium 3. Modulated self reminders 4. Magnetic fields of life 5. Elastic Harmonies 6. No way wrong (2011 rmx) 7. Plutonia 8. Optronic Circles (Inner Shift mix) When you're at the top of your game, you feel like there is nothing you can't do. Here is everyone's favorite goa trance label with their 25th physical release. 25th. That may not seem impressive to Colombia Records, but when you're dealing with a niche market in a sh*tty economy it becomes pretty damn impressive. We all love a good story, and there aren't too many better than this. Working his life away in the coal mines of Western Pennsylvania had to be a dark time for him. He wasn't the biggest or the fastest, but with tireless effort and perseverence (and a little prayer) he finally got his shot to play big time college football. Wait... Sh*t, that was Rudy. Then who the f*ck is this guy? This is Stephane Beze (sorry my computer can't do accents...the punctuation not the...you get it, right? Cause I can do an awesome Indian accent, you would think Apu was talking to you. Yessir, Nossir, hot dog, hot dog) and he's apparently been making music for a decade. We all owe a big thanks to DAT Records and their hard work for "discovering" him and releasing a free treasure trove of quality material. That was like picking up a hot chick at a club and when you're leaving, she asks you if he equally hot friend who wants to get back at her boyfriend can come too. Now who's gonna say no to that? So after that he drops the Holographic Paradigm again released by DAT. Then another free EP called Ultimate Reality on UAF. To say he's prolific would be an understatement. His goa trance is long unraveling melodies that make you feel like your in the mid 90's and now he's releasing his latest on the label that defines melodic goa trance. Mastered by Tim Schuldt with artwork by Richpa.... What the f*ck do you think is gonna happen? The Unenlightened Perspectives- It's mechanical chunky with a Daze of Our Lives feel at the outset and there is immediate melodic and layer gratification. Leads stretch to their limit like a fat chick putting a hurtin on some spandex. This track doesn't sit still for a second with constantly changing leads. Already magical, it becomes legendary when he throws the breakbeat in there. You know what this is? An aural happy ending. Solarnium- Wow. I'm blown away by this lush, evolving piece of atmosphere. The leads twist and turn and leave a sonic trail I believe I can actually see. Unbelievably full and moody, it shimmers crossing the line into the mystical. Yeah, yeah, the rabbit hole and all that, but I didn't fall down that hole. I fell up it. Modulated Self Reminders- Again with the layers of melody he carries you up without touching you. It's a drifting track that has me wondering where the time went. Partly abrasive and part acid tongue lashing this was another great one. Magnetic Fields of Life- I like how he distorts sounds giving it a Depeche Mode eeriness with squelchy and run in place moments. Long melodies that are measured in days not minutes. It's just brilliant storytelling with no shortage of characters. Pumping music for the discerning traveler looking for that outerspace getaway. I don't think that is what they meant by friendly skies. Elastic Harmonies- And just when you think it couldn't get any better. He wields that distorted lead like it's a + 5 flaming broadsword. If you got that reference then here's to hoping that one day you will kiss a girl. It comes at you in waves, each bigger than the last. You've got a key change to keep you on your toes, but this thing just keeps on reaching skyward. A 10 minute tour de force that breaks the sound barrier. No Way Wrong (2011 Remix)- Another melodic scorcher that is hip deep in layers and lead changes. It hops across the solar system on asteroids never lingering too long. Tumbling, tumbling...blistering. Plutonia- The final two tracks are downtempo pieces that still maintain that deep space vibe. Well, maybe mid-tempo is more accurate. Scraping leads begin to stack up twisting in concentric rings that flow into one another without the hint of a seam. He is still the master of his distorted domain and makes a slower track still seem like it left a burning mark on you. Optronic Circles (Inner Shift Remix)- The vibe is so outer space I don't know what else to tell you. Alien mid tempo groove, it is clear he ain't finished with you yet. The lead skitters and side steps in a way that reminds me of other old schoolers. And that is a compliment. Don't shut it off too quickly, because after an extended pause there is more eerieness to come. The Suntrip site calls it a hidden track, but at 1:35 in length...it's more of an epilogue. This was how I felt after each track was better than the next. So when is goa trance not simply goa? Obviously this is goa trance, but to shackle it with the chains of one singular genre seems unfair. This is glorious electronic music with beautifully crafted atmosphere and spiraling melodies. It's high technology on a voyage into deep space, and I'll be honest...you might not be coming back. How could you? Stephane has succeeded in smashing the full-on derivative goa algorithm. Do you have any idea how many times I had to (almost typed rewind) start a track over because I checked out of real life and floated into goaland. This is a landmark achievement in goa trance. Can you get enough layers? I know I can't. 3 layer cake? Limp-dick. Gimme some of that 7 layer sh*t. Rainbows? Yeah I guess there are rainbows here. But I'm looking at them through a 40 foot square window 50 miles up on a starship. Congratulations Stephane, it's awesome work. Thank you, and thank Suntrip. Good to be king, isn't it? Suntrip Psyshop Beatspace Saikosounds Goastore Mdk

Artist: Damage Title: God of Terror EP Label: Terror Lab Industries Date: June, 2012 1. God if Terror 2. Electrify 3. Cuttin Wax 4. Fight The Aliens. I know better. I do. Back in 2005 I picked up his debut God Help Us because I was kinda new to psytrance and was sold on the cool cover. Yeah that wasn't my cup of tea and I soon gained the knowledge on how to navigate this large field of music. Bad Creationz? That was worse. Way worse. I didn't even know he had an album in 2008, but if I did, I'm sure I would've reacted as if someone just sh*t in my cereal. So here we are in 2012 and he's still going. Nothing has changed. There are plenty of samples and guitar like sounds If you are a fan of stops and starts with buildups and headache inducing ravey leads then I'm sorry I must defriend you on facebook. This just isn't working out. Aw, I can't do that.... I don't have any friends. I must be honest, there was one bright spot on this EP and it was the last track. Loved the racing bassline, loved it. An acidic deluge melts the synapses and it is this high intensity twilight style that I appreciate. Balls to the wall. Of course they still manage to f*ck things up with the buildups and house like utterances and abrasive leads, but it's nice to know they have the ability to keep it twilight. *Names and link held to protect the guilty.* Mdk

Artist: Pleiadians Title: Starseed EP Label: Self Released Date: May, 2012 1. Starseed 2. Electra 2012 3. Asterope (Etnica Remix) New Pleiadians you say? Classic masters of goa trance return with a short 3 track EP. A quick look and I notice one new track and 2 remixes. Hmmm... Starseed- Ominous pads and bubbling synths open for a galloping bassline and at first glance it sounds like old Xerox from the Battleship days. But when they get back to the goa roots a new portal is opened up with changing lead sounds and melodies. Looks like their time away hasn't affected their 303 wielding ability either. Good track. Electra 2012- Hmm, there was a track with the same name on some album back in 97...what was it? Whatever the name of that album (don't think anyone has heard it) the original was one of those select tracks that define the genre of goa trance. Shouldn't be touched. This is where my opinion diverges with Draeke. This is a full-on version of an absolute classic that reminds me of the crap Astral Projection tries to pull. Is it bad? Of course not. As a matter of fact, I liked the mini break, but I don't think it's very special. Actually a boring toned down version. Asterope (Etnica Remix)- Here's where I agree with Penzo, what's with the f*cking galloping bass lines? You guys are better than this. Or at least you used to be. The atmosphere creation is still top notch as evidenced by the break that bores into your soul. Lovely. Yeah, uh...how bout no? Don't get me wrong, I love the Pleiadians and they are responsible for some of the most mind blowing tracks out there. Best ever even. But this doesn't live up to their past work in my opinion. If I wanted full-on remixes of classic goa tracks I would listen to whatever Astral is putting out. Or not putting out (how many prophecy remixes are we up to?). Don't mean to bitch, because they deserve much respect, but this fell a bit short for me. Starseed...you betcha. The rest? Bandcamp Mdk

While I don't think it's on par with a bunch of professional artists out there, I think most of the tracks (esp. the one's you mentioned) put me in a very good mind state. Long drifting melodies and good atmosphere were really enjoyed. He's got talent and will only continue to improve. Put a bigger label behind him and those sonic deficiencies you say you hear will vanish. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Encoder Operations Label: Uxmal Records Date: March, 2011 1. Deep Connection - Sensogram 2. On Beat - Stratil 3. Sugar Rush - Synesthetic 4. Blue Bottle - Woodwise 5. Not amuse - Elecdruids 6. Human Extinction - Helber Gun 7. Time Code - Pakman 8. Circle of eight - Natural Vibes 9. Flow Control - Twins "We wouldn't be the first lifeform to wipe itself out...but what is unique about us is...we did it knowingly." This is the third physical release by the fine gentlemen from Mexico. Most of the artists are new to me, but like a blind date it could work out. Compiled by co-owner Zonka it begins with a very dreamy and flowing track from Sensogram. Powerful and melodic, great way to start. On Beat is slightly stipped down, but crackles with energy like a downed power line. Good use of effects. If the next track was the Sugar Rush, then how I felt after was the power nap. Wasn't a bad one, but nowhere close to the previous two in terms of interest. Woodwise keeps the nap alive with some filler. ZZZzzzzz.... Not Amuse forgot the "d" but remembered to bring thick atmosphere with an absolute gem of a break. It becomes more aggressive as it comes out of said break as well. Trying to lighten the mood (not really) is Helber Gun which is a project worth watching. They bring more of the lush outer space atmosphere that was found on their From Another Planet EP. The break has that awesome sample and is one of the stars on this compilation for me. If I wasn't staring at the computer I would've said that Time Code was part of Human Extinction. Same bass line, same gallop...did somebody fall asleep at the wheel? It's drifting but lacks the lush feeling of the track before. Circle of Eight has it's groove shoes on with a funky popcorn arpeggio and reminds me of clubs I wasn't cool enough to get into. The last track...meh. Having listened to their releases, I must compare this label to second string players. Sure they have some good tunes on occasion, but they're not yet there in terms of giving you quality minutes like Iono or Tesseract. Now it could just be that they are shooting for more of a minimal pumping vibe and I'm more on the layered melodic frequency. As always taste is subjective. But let's focus on the positive, because there were some really good tracks here. A tip of the hat goes to Sensogram, Elecdruids, Helber Gun, and Natural Vibes. Not bad, but a compilation I would pick and choose from. Psyshop Beatspace GoaStore Mdk

Artist: Concept Title: Straight Forward EP Label: Kaos Krew Records Date: May, 2012 1. Straight Forward 2. You Have The Right 3. It's Gone (feat. Tryon) "Wow great choices...genocide or brainwashing." I've got a concept. Why don't we make some music with some balls. Jupiter heavy beats with buckets of acid that seem to never end. Power with the force of a mack truck going the wrong way down a one way street. Hello dark vibe and goodbye smiley faces. Sounds like Aranaud was listening. But you knew that. His collaboration with Smashed on the Dead Star EP was monumentally exciting. with But this fine French gentlemen always gives the people what they want. Vicious Cycle, Paranormal, Experimental...his albums all deliver the same thing. In your face high intensity and no-nonsense dance music. The vibe is futuristic and cyber intensive. Twilight music with a heavy acidic component that never fails to get the body moving. Some people paint with watercolors he uses the toxic and lethal acid. And a big f*cking brush. The first track was good (a little sparse at times), but the last two are more chaotic and full of energy. I'm telling you, the way he works those acidic bursts is like skipping a flat stone across a lake. Recommended. Keep fighting the good fight! Juno Mdk

Artist: Elegy Title: Akasha EP & Optics EP Label: Synergetic Records/ Veleno Music Date: February & April, 2012 Optics 1. Optics 2. Circles 3. Invisible Light - Elegy & Slyph Akasha 1. Akasha 2. Infinite Space That's right, your eyes do not decieve you. I picked up 2 Elegy EP's and decided to put them both in one review. This is Italian Daniel Mair (wait, is he Italian? Doesn't sound Italian) and I first became aware of his work via Ektoplazm (like a lot of music) with his Sleeping Giant EP. Smooth melodic progressive is his calling card and he fills it in with great effects. As I mentioned previously he walks the same path as Flegma & Nerso. Akasha Akasha- For those of you who didn't believe drugs grew on trees, I give you the album cover as exhibit A. Akasha from the Sanskrit meaning ether or air. So like, the center of a donut is akasha? You gotta put it in terms I can understand. It's rainy day stormcloud music, not angry but rather pensive. The lead is a soft, singular tone that has a reverberating quality adding to the melancholy. The break is calming with a collection of vocal samples about las drogas, but they aren't intrusive. Good track. Infinite Space- "The universe is expanding. It is a natural question to ask...what is it expanding into?" This is more in the Iono mold with large washes and effects rippling across the windshield. The samples give it a overwhelming space feel. Smooth and dark, just the way he likes it. Another good one. Optics Optics- Atmosphere is key with this one. It begins slowly and asks for your trust. As he likes to do, he crafts a dark feeling with effects keeping you in tune. The break is a calming influence with the soft voices of a choir. Now some might think it's a little empty and some might say it all fits into one sonic tapestry. Optics...it's all about how you see things. Yeah, I'm gonna need a few more of these. Circles- "The plants are talking to us...we need to listen." Awesome sample. Awesome. This tracks has a chunky scratchiness to it that is offset by the reverberating lead that echoes of into we shoulda listened. It's dark and speaks of regrettable decisions. We've all been there... The dark side doesn't mix well with whites. Look at that...I just made a statement about race relations by accident. Invisible Light- This one is rather laid back and sleek. It doesn't give you much up front, but it sets the atmosphere with a dark tone. Real secret agent type stuff. Didn't care for the change in tempo, as if felt as if he was following a playbook. He did however come out of it very smoothly switching to 4/4 with a flowing break. So top marks there. Even though it was rather sparse in places, he recovered nicely. His style is drifting, melodic progressive trance and that's what you get here. The beat churns on as leads float into space buoyed by thinking mans samples. Solid couple of releases. Akasha EP Beatport Optics EP Beatport Mdk

Artist: Time In Motion Title: Audio Gigolo EP Label: Iono Music Date: August, 2009 1. Audio Gigolo 2. Dreamscape Take all the artists that you heard making some weak sh*t and dump 'em. Bliss, Dynamic...Oh yeah, Perplex get the f*ck in there. Going through the massive pile of stuff on the hard drive, I came across this gem from 2009. God, is that really 3 years ago? Time in Motion is a Danish trio that fit the Iono progressive trance mold to a T. Big beats, floating ethereal melodies, and effects to create a lush atmospheric track. Their EPs Four Degrees and Smooth Vibrations were excellent. It's two more tracks that are a worthy addition to your progressive collection. Shimmering synths and echoing effects play against hammering kicks and deep bass sweeps. Very enjoyable indeed. Do not hesitate to order this, it's the goods. Besides it's from Iono. Beatport Juno Mdk

Artist: Timeless Title: Imperfection Label: Digital Nature Date: April, 2012 1. Imperfection 2. Playground (Timeless Remix) - Daydream 3. Goodbye "If there is something wrong with me that I don't know about, then you owe it to me as my best friend to tell me!" "All right...you're a narcissist, you're a sociopath, you're probably psycho, you're paranoid, sexist..." "Those are just quirks...endearing quirks!" Quite being such a self-righteous prick bugs. Daffy whacked Hitler with a mallet...what the f*ck have you ever done besides foster your carrot addiction? This is Tal Aoude from Israel with 3 tracks for your listening enjoyment. Now I heard his Re-Run EP, but that was basically other artists remixing his tracks, so a little too early to determine whether I'm a fan or not. Imperfection is a track that not only has groove and anyone can relate to, but has one of the best looney tunes samples I have ever heard. Have you seen that cartoon lately? Funny stuff that I think more people should use. I think I'm falling in love with Daffy Duck cause he's got issues. Moral of the story is everybody's got imperfections and unless you're delusional like our friend Daffy, you would do well to keep that in mind. Stop judging people. I'm talkin' to you mister, in the bright shirt. I've never heard the original so please excuse me if I don't dump a bucket of semen like the promo guy seemed to. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to do so, just make it worth my while. And they do. Big beats, oscillating synths, and pretty good break. It's very fluid for the most part, just don't like sometimes how it goes from very full to just a kick and a one note bass line at the drop of a hat. Purely minor, as the track in itselft is pretty damn good. So, uh....I guess I owe you a bucket of semen. The final track is appropriately called good-bye. Either because it's the last track or a suicide note. Probably the first one. Someone call him and make sure he's ok. It's chock full of goodness like smooth melodies and a great break. Super track to end on. So am I a fan? Yeah, I guess so. Good stuff all the way round. Recommended. Juno Beatport Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Wide Open Label: Echoes Records Date: October, 2011 1. Wide Open - Sphera 2. Level 70 - Gaudium 3. Mental Isolation - Aqualize 4. RTL Kids - Sphera & Rocky 5. Kelman Gates (Double Click Remix) - Easy Riders 6. Dimethyltryptamine (Loud Remix) - Quantize 7. Back & Forth - S-range & Major 7 8. Being Realized (Mute Remix) - Sphera 9. Night Shift - Egorythmia Echoes Records from Israel presents a who's who in progressive trance on this compilation. I'm familiar with the work of all these guys so right off the bat the bar is set pretty high. Wide Open- This is Liran Elkayam and Rami Shalom and it's a shot in the dark, but I imagine they are from the Holy Land. And it is my opinion that a little divine inspiration didn't hurt with this monster. You could not have picked a better name for this track. *shakes head* Impossible. Oscillating synths wash over you in waves like you were standing under a waterfall and a tumbling synthline stays the course for almost the entire 10 minutes. Strings shimmer, but it's the break where the magic happens. Huge pads waver and get louder as a melody to weep for drenches you in ecstasy. I've been excited before, but but this is Kate Upton doing the cat daddy for me excited. Unbelieveably massive. The track, not her rack. Well, both I guess. Level 70- Andreas Wennersköld released his new album Session of Progression that is in my pile of stuff to get to. He brought his daddy's drum kit with him and the beat hits harder than an open ice body check. The break brings an evolving synth and he sticks with it on the exit. There is an unquestionable swagger which is cemented with his use of the 303 as it barks with dominance. Let's see, yep...file this one in the psy-gressive cabinet. Good one. Mental Isolation- Vladislav Koumpatidis & Koinis Anastasios continue the more aggressive style and the break is once again the star. Smooth pads and a rolling synth line gets filtered and then continues. The only bad was that cheesetastic sample out of the break. RTL Kids- Sphera teams up with Roy Tilbor and decides a little house groove is the way to go. At 10 and a half minutes you'll want to telephone someone to let them know where you are. Like the synth at around 4 minutes, it's floaty and something you can grab a hold of. I don't know who the RTL kids are, (Roy Tilbor loves kids...might want to alert the authorities) but I like 'em already. Yessir! Hmmm...perhaps the phase "something you can grab a hold of" shouldn't be used with Roy Tilbor Loves Kids. Dimethyltryptamine (Loud Remix)- "Heavy doses of dimethyltryptamine" will affect your web slinging. Chunky with spiraling descents will have the dance floor jumping I'm sure. The sample is a f*cking infomercial for LSD and he does some sample manipulation that just comes off as annoying to these ears. I'm sure if I was on LSD things would be different, but since I'm not...I bid you good day sir! Oh you...I can't stay away from your chock full of nuts beats and you mother f*cking dimension sample. Kelman Gates (Double Click Remix)- "Listen to me! Whatever door...you opened in my brain, I want you to shut it! Now!!!" Ah Kevin Bacon in Stir of Echoes...very underrated movie. When asked for a comment about Footloose being remade Kevin replied, "They just keep f*cking that chicken don't they?" This trio packs a groove lunch with them and it's got fatl beats, shimmering synths, and a chip on its shoulder. Powerful track to be sure. Lovely. Back & Forth- People make a big deal abouta S-range, but I never got the appeal. Sue me, that's taste for ya. They got a nice soft kick working here with washes and synths that rise and fall. But I have to hand it to 'em, the way they fall into the break is satin smooth. The break itself was nice and it sets up with a nice close. Not bad gentlemen. Being Realized (MUTe Remix)- The effects in this one are great, as they fill the space perfectly. Bubbling goa-like sounds put me in trance heaven, but you had to know that a guy that was part of Shidapu was gonna know how to bring it. Long one, but it changes enough that it never gets stale. The break at 3 and a half is a sublime peace of melody, that gets you high. I felt they ran out of gas near the end, but this one is still awesome. Night Shift- The closer packs a futuristic feel with some hella good atmosphere. But that's what this guy does. You gotta let people do what they do. This chick dry humps a fish. And she's good at it. You do you boo. You do you. Unlike the other tracks this one has a darker quality. Synths rip and echo into the night and I just feel like the main character is up to no good. No witnesses, that's the rule. Great way to end. Very good compilation for those that love melodic progressive with a little more edge. Recommended. Audiojelly Juno Download Beatport Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Planet Riders Label: Dimensional Records Date: July, 2011 1. Soul Searcher / E-MANTRA 2. Steps To Heaven / AJNA 3. Solar Storm / GOASIA 4. Big Blue (Live Version) / FILTERIA 5. Secrets Of The Mind / HYPNAGOGIA 6. Land Of Time / LIQUID FLOW 7. Zero Gravity / GOASIA 8. Planet To Planet / SHAKTA 9. Pure Deliverance / JIKOOHA Sometimes it just hits you right. The timing of the moment is flawless and everything comes together in a perfect storm of...awesome. Holy sh*t! How could this not hit you right? Look at the tracklist. Go ahead, I'll wait while you clean up the drool. What's that? Yes, I recall the first compilation I chose to review for 2011. Turn On, Tune Out, Suck Balls or something. But this is different. There is no such thing as bad goa trance, just sh*tty speakers. Dimension Records is fairly new, but is obviously into the occult because the only way you get a lineup like this for your virgin release is to sell your soul. Or sacrifice someone, either way it's a black magic victory! Most recently they released the excellent old school sounding Space Elves effort Terrestrial Planet Finder reviewed right here. I realized this came out in the summer of 2011, but you can never have too many reviews or opinions. Hear that you lazy f*ckers? Help a brotha out. Soul Searcher- Top dog Emmanuel Carpus continues to hit all the right notes with another dreamy effort that provides the fuel for the ship to get into deep space. Did you hear his latest album Pathfinder? I'm sure you did if you are a true lover of goa trance. It didn't disappoint this reviewer and neither does this. It chugs along on the bottom end, but shimmering synths float amidst misty nebulae bursting with color. You know how he does. The 303 provides a little growl and before you know it the track is over. I think I just got time burgled. Steps to Heaven- Speaking of steps, my next house is going to have hardwood steps. I'm sick of vacuuming those carpet things. This is Olivier Chazard and I liked his tracks on Opus Iridium and Pure Planet Vol. 4. He must have gotten his degree in twirling melodies because these things are like a moving DNA chain. Busting through the glass ceiling they rise and fall at high velocity. The break provides a momentary respite before it's back to the melodic obstacle course. Loved it. Solar Storm- Goasia is Balint Tihamer and Vladislav Radulovic and their album Dancing With the Blue Spirit was almost universally celebrated. So I'm sure I shall stick out like hooker at a baby shower and tell you that I didn't care for this much. It was very trancey with a melody and sound that immediately got on my last nerve. Which is usually reserved for the Republican right, any member of the insurance industry, and poor white trash who think they're gangsta. If only there was some photographic evidence available on the intarwebz to illustrate my point... Big Blue (Live Version)- Live version of the track from Daze of Our Lives. Crazy Filteria synth work with melodies turned up to 11. It's goa on steroids and brings me back to the Sky Input days waaaay back in 2004. What's not to like? If you don't like this, well...you blow man sized teddy bears. I wouldn't bring it up if I didn't have it. Freak. Secrets of the Mind- What'd he show up with the crew from So You Think You Can Dance to get on this compilation? Not that I'm complaining. It's a fast track and really starts to feel its goa cheerios after the 5 minute mark with piercing leads that scrape the firmament. Soon after the layering begins and you realize that you are in a rocket ship my friend. It never loses it's momentum and is constantly showing something new. Can't hate on that. Can't hate on that. Land of Time- *sigh* It's not terrible of course, but I expected much more in the way of variation from him. This is straight ahead without much to grab on to. It's like a guy who's into f*cking fat chicks shows up at a vegan commune. We actually have footage from one of these types of gatherings. "One can only stomach only so much Indigo Girls" Zero Gravity- Goasia get another crack at things and don't fail to deliver. This is the type of sound I know they can produce. It's twisty and ethnic, melodic and powerful. Just when you think you got it under control, another melody and sound leak out. Fast and furious and I'm not talking about the sh*tstorm that is in theaters. Jesus Vin, what happened after Pitch Black? Do you even read the scripts you steal when a director is in the next stall over? Planet To Planet- "We drift through the universe, from planet to planet? We adapt...we survive." Seb is back with a new goa track! Hey everyone, Seb is back! At first I was like, no way...then I was like, It's got a chunky bass feel on the bottom end that works great with the shimmering leads. F*ck Yeah I am on board this pig! Full of tension similar to a coiled spring ready to pie you in the face. This is a fast paced monster that brings back the feeling of Lepton Head with all of it's twirling and twisting melodies. He has the ability to steal time from you because you just spent the entire 7 minutes dancing like you're at an audition to be a Fly Girl. Don't forget your headband! Pure Deliverance- Plenty of effects to keep it spacey and bubbly as they filter the hell out of that lead. This is a fastball that goes right down the pike and then adds some bite with the 303. They're not telling a story, they're force feeding you. How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat? Well if you were looking for sh*tty goa trance keep steppin'. Most of the tracks here are beyond good and should fill the belly of anyone hungry for a bunch of the melodic stuff. It's hypnotic to be sure with power and track evolution that sometimes can be lacking. Way to go Dimensional! Psyshop Beatspace Goa Store Mdk

Artist: Somnesia Title: Mystic Moon Label: Gliese 581C Date: April, 2012 01 - Mystic Sun 02 - Encounter 03 - Goa Spirit 04 - Cosmic Gate 05 - Halluminium 06 - Nomad's Land (Original Version) 07 - Beyond The Sky (Extended Version) 08 - Space Liquid 09 - Dusk Till Dawn "I believe that these extra terrestrial vehicles and their crews are visiting this planet from other planets, which are obviously a little more technically advanced than we are here on Earth." Not possible. Christophe Grossel is no stranger to goa trance. As Somnesia, you've heard his tracks like When Kali Meditates (Goa Overdose), Eternal Life (The Omega Point), and Sunlight (Future Architecture). Awesome stuff. Did I mention he is also a member of our little corner of the web? But in a world of what have you done for me lately there hasn't been an album. Until now. Released on Gliese 581C he presents you with his debut. For free. Apparently he used to work for them. Forgive me I'm old, when I worked for someone, I actually had to fight traffic and drive there, fight it out with a grossly overweight co-worker as to who would get the last half eaten creme filled donut (C'mon fatty cut me a break isn't this your third one?), and try to look busy for most of the day. Working for a net label, he probably did all his sh*t with his fuzzy bunny slippers on. Gotta take a sh*t? F*ck it, do it with the door open that chick from marketing with the wonky eye can't see you. Sign of the times I guess. First thing that jumps out is the beautiful cover. A dark blue night with a nebulous cloud drifting across the full moon. Nice looking and it basically tells you what you're gonna get. Mystic Sun- Holy crap if the intro was any longer it would be an ambient track. You don't hear a kick until past the 3 minute mark. Fine by me, because this is storytelling by the light of a campfire. Ominous pads and running synths have me looking skyward. The track has a give and take quality...not giving you everything at once, but parsing it out in measured amounts. If you're not thinking about space when you hear this, then you must already be there. Encounter- Undulating is the perfect word to describe how the opening synth behaves. It twists around you like an anaconda and when it's ready applies the force to crush the life out of you. At almost 10 minutes long it continues to build to an powerful climax that...that could be the most unintentionally erotic thing I have ever written. (I say written, but who the f*ck writes anymore? I wrote a check the other day and it looked like my 3 year old penned it. Shoulda used a crayon.) That lead is constant, never vanishing throughout the whole track. Pretty impressive. Felt like I was riding that...whatever the f*ck it is in the neverending story. Blistering track. Goa Spirit- I don't know why but I thought this said goa spice. Hmmm....goa spice.... She had to have seen her time with the Spice Girls was short. You think Posh is going to put up with sunshine's shower optional policy? And how long will the label tolerate her blowing the budget on weed, hackey-sacks and patchouli? You know who I feel sorry for? C*cksucker spice. Would've broadened the bands appeal and she never gets a shot. Well, other than a money shot. Cheesy. Too much. Made my stomach hurt. Oh, not the track. This was the bagel with cheese I had for breakfast. The track is awesome. Mysterious vibe with leads bundled together like fiber optic cables. Dances as one would if you were walking on hot coals, never lingering in one spot for too long. It builds to a point and then halfway through begins to reorganize. Ever seen a skier tumble down a hill? F*cking garage sale with skis flying this way and that? No matter how hard you try to stop it only makes it worse? Well, it's like that, but in a great way. Intensity increases, layers multiply and at the end you're looking around wondering where the f*ck that came from? Cosmic Gate- Rapid fire dark vibes with shimmering synths bring the feel of space into the living room. Melodies tumble like the particles of a recently exploded star and this would make great driving music. He throws different melodies at you in enticing layers that make this one a delight. Halluminium- Triplets are creepy. Why are we spending so much money trying to find extra-terrestrial life from up above when those freakshows are walking among us? Let me show you how I got there. It's really very simple. Track name sounds like aluminum of course and that makes me think of the foil. After being sidetracked for twenty minutes on how I could make another bagel with cheese, I refocused and thought that putting on the foil is a hockey term for fighting. Which I got from the classic movie Slap Shot. Well, there is a group of triplets in that movie that are a few croutons short of a salad. Total elapsed time...less than a second. I. Need. Help. More of a grower that gathers ammunition as it goes on. It flies on the dark side of the skies with an entertaining style. Nomad's Land (Original Version)- 10 and a half minutes? I used to love the sight of that, but you know I got kids right? Gotta take a sh*t just to get a few minutes to myself. "Lemme alone! Go watch Dora or something!" Whew, dude is working pretty hard to squeeze that one off isn't he? Burger King really needs to clean their restrooms. Running through space with the utmost quickness. Melodies move with jellyfish like quirkiness and then dance like Gregory Hines isn't really dead. Cristophe really puts a track together well balancing out the highs with the bubbling undercurrent of basses. So you take a driving rhythm, layer it with eerie melodies and you've got my daughter crying because she thinks daddy is possessed by the devil. Top notch! Beyond The Sky (Extended Version)- Hmmm....extended. Like c*ck enlargement. Surely I'm not the only one annoyed by the incessant advertising on the side of the page telling me that with this "one weird trick" I can make my dick look like a f*cking python. Why the hell would you want that? Do you know how hard (get it) it would be to buy pants? And I think we are all aware of the danger of the pee hard on. Pitching a tent is no way to go through life, son. As you could've probably guessed this one takes a while to get going. 13 minutes? Minus commercials that's almost an entire episode of How I Met Your Mother. Speaking of your mother, like a frenzied sexual encounter in the backseat of your mom's minivan, the ahem, "magic" happens at the end. But don't miss out on the atmosphere he creates because it's quite good. While not unleashing his inner Ron Jeremy to test your gag reflex he does provide a good show with bubbling basses and smooth melodies for a look at the softer side of goa trance without making gay porn. What? Space Liquid- Never thought I would say we are down to a manageable 9 minutes. A cold and mysterious intro has me thinking about a deserted space ship a la Event Horizon. Analog pads stream across sensors and I think I saw Gary Numan's ghost. As the title says, he makes a very liquid sound and then promptly hops on his Jean Michel Jarre horse before introducing some goa licks. What you thought was a spooky ambient piece drops a beat near 6 minutes. Nice. Dusk Till Dawn- That is all. He recently celebrated a birthday and wound up giving us a present. This would've been presented to him closer to the date if Photobucket wasn't full of b*tches. But like Ivan said, at least I'm popular. Well happy motherf*ckin' birthday Christophe and thank you for this gift. It's a superb release with everything that makes me love goa trance. Twisting melodies, awesome power, and music I can get lost in. He hits you with the power in the beginning and then slowly begins to turn the lights out culminating in a slow, eerie end of the world downtempo outro. Like De La said, you did it big like white boys wallets (obviously they never peeked at my wallet.) And you gave it away? Thank you from a guy with a small wallet. Ektoplazm Mdk

Ha ha...he called you Simba. Mdk

All right, that's enough outta you! Mdk

Well said. I got the sense they have a formula and know that we like it. Smooth and lush. Oh, and f*ck you Photof*cket! Pics will be back on June 4th. Mdk

something just came in the mail today. this'll be the first time I actually have heard the disc.

I've collected comic books for a very long time. Still have the first issue of Alpha Flight, remember them. Anyway, watched Captain America and thought is sucked sweaty goat dick. So part of me doesn't want to see this, but the boy who spent all his dough on comics does. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Enchanted Explorations Label: Visionary Shamanics Date: April, 2012 01 - Shotu - Acai (Chris Rich Remix) 02 - Dream Visioner - Who Are You 03 - Amrita - Ratatam (2012 Remix) 04 - Aegolius - Fobia 05 - Mussy Moody - Pure Elements 06 - Nolm - Gold Freaks 07 - Grobians - Alien Invasion 08 - Shadowls - Chronicle Of Mystery 09 - Therange Freak - Enchanted Explorations 10 - Petran - Voyager Of Psychedelic States 11 - Paganopath - Legends And Fairytales "I can do whatever the hell I want! I'm a human being not some robot!" Sure you can, but I just saw a robot do this... So if I was a parent of a robotic Asian child (racist bastard) I would be very nervous right about now. When asked for comment, Yo-Yo Ma replied, "Are you from the escort service? Where da bitches at?" Here is the 2nd forest compilation by Visionary Shamanics. The first was Interweaving Dream Magics and you can find my review of that gem here. Most of the people on this thing are unknown, but what better way to get the crap scared out of you than the unknown? Acai (Chris Rich Remix)- Mr. Rich is an artist from the UK and he tackles a Shotu track from the Epicentre compilation. Don't really recall the original, but I like where he's going. Full of motion and straight ahead power. It has a very cyber feel with bubbling electronics. Ones and zeros are escaping the mouth of this computer program because he's choking the life out of it. Loved it. Who Are You- This is another track that is like surfing the net from the inside. Atmospheric and bubbly with a female computer vocal sample. The bass line drives this puppy as effects scrape across the windshield. Like that bug that hit mine on my last trip to VA Beach. Huge motherf*cker. Get ready for the squish! Ratatam (2012 mix)- 10 seconds in and I've crapped myself. Try listening to this in the woods. By yourself. Some scary stuff. Scratchy synths and a heavy does of dark forest horror. Creepy crawley things and unkown creatures mocking me from the dark make this the perfect bedtime story. For a serial killer Yay Yay..clowns are...fun.. Fobia- Yet another hallucinogenic nightmare. You didn't fall down the hole, you were pushed in. An eerie melody (and there is quite a lot of it here) is your guide and the ground you're walking on bubbles with the faces of trapped souls. Don't f*ck with this track, it apparently swallowed part of the Florida A&M brass section. Scary and atmospheric just how I like me forest. And with a little lemon. Pure Elements- Man that kick is punchy. I really think the forest genre has evolved and become more musically vibrant. There are more layers than an onion and all of them are scary. With sizzling effects like the sound of flesh burning there are also computer sounds. I liked it, but it wasn't as descriptive as the last rumbler. Gold Freaks- At this point you are so deep in the forest there isn't a prayer of getting out. Feels like I havent seen the sun in weeks. It scrapes, it bubbles, it can be noisy at times...I liked it, but it's just your ordinary run of the mill lost my way can't get out why is it so f*cking dark forest track. Alien Invasion- "Something as big as a battleship had just flow over and passed him...at speeds so great he couldn't begin to estimate it." Much more illustrative track with breaks, a sample, and leads to keep it interesting. Ominous? Surely...I mean c'mon it's an alien invasion. Lots of layers bubbling under the surface make this invasion a reason to celebrate. Yeah! Teddy Bear party!!! WHOOO!!! Enchanted Explorations- We finally come to the one artist who I have heard of. With very scary pads and clever use of a sample that we've all heard before I am fully on board this fright train. It's got it all...melody, deep bass bubbling, wails of agony. Like when I go to my son's pre-school... What...what are you kids lookin' at? Oh come on...the asian violin joke? You're still on that? Go drink your juice boxes! Chronicle of Mystery- "Why are you here? Why did you come to this planet?" We...Come...For...Scarlett....Johansson.... You know I cannot...nope can't for the life of me name one movie she's been in. Look, she can't even figure it out. To be famous for your tits is pretty low bar to set. Love the way it starts with the chopped up strings. It continues with a detuned downward spiral that has Trent Reznor looking for razor blades. If this is a hallucination, it's still a long way from being over. Walls are melting, trees are cracking their branch knuckles...Holy sh*t...did that tree just...drool? Voyager of Psychedelic States- The guy speaking that sample sounds like someone I would've shoved in a locker back in high school. But let's be clear...I am 100% against bullying. So much so, that I am 100% for watching the bully get his ass kicked. So...that's like, what....200%. Speaking of kicking ass, this track does. Wailing, moaning leads that echo forlornly like throwing a rock down a well. It's pumping and evolving, full of motion. A liquid, scary thing. Legends and Fairytales- Wow, this is dark. Lots of sounds and all of them telling you that you're f*cked. Imagine walking around an environment where everything can kill you. It's like a nightmare...or Australia. Visionary Shamanics is doing things right. They make forest compilations that are interesting and totally immersive. Leads, effects, spooky samples...it's like a how to. There is a feeling with forest music of not being in control, that things are happening around you and you are just a pawn. Dark and hopeless is no way to live your life, but it works great for a little forest escapism. Rekomended for a psychedelic trip. "I don't normally listen to forest trance....but when I do...it's Visionary Shamanics." Ektoplazm Mdk