Trance2MoveU

Artist: Various Title: Artificial Elements Label: Prog On Syndicate Date: September, 2011 1. 8 miles high QUEROX AND PHAXE 2. Wetland MONOD 3. Now it's time REVERSE AND FASMA 4. Floating SYNESTHETIC 5. Pumping Rythm INFINITY 6. Paranoid Sight SYNSONIQ 7. Smooth Mood CABAL 8. Artificial Elements PHAXE 9. Close your eyes COPYCAT When I want some progressive trance I look to three labels. Iono of course, followed by TesseracT and then Prog on Syndicate. Owner and manager Querox began the German label in 2008. Concentrating on progressive trance in different styles they bring some of the best artists of today to the table. Melody + groove = here's my wallet. Oh and by the way, what the f*ck did you do raid the beach? Look at all the Greeks on this thing! 8 Miles High- Kevin & Tobyjas (sounds like I know them doesn't it?) get together for a ripper of a track that will make you feel like you are 8 miles high. Or...high at 8 miles? Either way you know it's got to do with weed, right? Just google image it and see what you come up with. It's got some nice groove with some sharp synth work. It's not overbearing, but comfortable like that shirt I still have from college. Yeah it's torn and faded, what are you my mother? The break is bigger than all outside as the track switches directions with a new melody. Superb start. Wetlands- Fotis Sarros is from Greece and he delivers a stunner of melodic beauty. Oscillating strings, soft pads, and gentle keystrokes. Oy, sounds like I'm writing a harlequin romance...More bouncy groove and layers upon layers of melody. Beautifuly sad would be a good way to describe it's vibe. Spectacular. Hmmm...this gentleman bears watching. Now It's Time- Now it's time for a toast. It's f*cking Tampico, just drink it freakshow! Two more guys that might as well work at the DMV. Obviously they don't. Not mine anyway. But that's three tracks in a row that have zero boundaries. Melody all over the place and none of it tired or boring. Just massive in scope with great effects and fluid movement. Jesus, can you have sex with a CD? Cause seriously I might start dry humping this b*tch. Floating- "Let me tell you about this dream I had." Me first. It's about these two Easter Bunnies that are man sized and are actually serial killers. After a long day cherry picking dumb blondes at the local college they get hungry for cheeseburgers. So they pull into the drive thru and well...it writes itself doesn't it? "I said hold the onions, extra pickles...What? No, no extra pick...do I have to come in there?" These two guys have had some really good tracks, but to ask them to follow those first three really isn't that fair. It's more housey and without the...largesse of the previous tracks. Whereas the others were at 8 miles, this one just bumped its head on a traffic light. Kinda boring and seems thrown in there. Like when ugly chicks go to the club with all their pretty friends. You look at them and ask "What the f*ck are you doing here?" Pumping Rhythm- "The atmosphere is electric." Settle down, it's not that electric. Ok, after falling to Earth I'm starting the arduous climb back to the firmament. This is Nick Karamalakis from Greece and I hope he's locked his doors cause from what I see on TV they're burnin' sh*t over there. Normally I love a break, but this had the speed up slow down synth thing that I don't really care for. And while the rhythm was most assuredly pumping, the melodies didn't really sit that well with me. It's not bad, but it cannot hold a candle to the first three. Sorry to keep bringing it up, but they were that good. Paranoid Sight- This has the two note bass line bounce. You know what I'm talkin' about, right? Well, it also has some nice layering that gives it a full figure like that girl I hooked up with in professional school. What can I tell you, I like my tracks like my women, with a little meat on the bones. She might've been a little big, but she worked really hard and had some tremendous ti...My wife's not gonna see this, right? Anyway, this is Ueli Schill and...how the f*ck do you even say that first name? Oo-el-ee? Well, he can call himself Rip Taylor for all I care if he keeps making tracks like this. Melodic and full of sounds with varying textures. Well done. Oh hey look, it's Rip Taylor! Rip Taylor! *lowers voice to a whisper* Yay...Rip Taylore everyone. Smooth Mood- Never heard a track from this Italian artist, but I've also never felt fake titties before. I'm sure they still feel like titties. The break combines bass sweeps, far away effects and soft keystrokes to make a very emotional atmosphere. The sounds fit together well and it's melodic without hitting you over the head with reverb and delay. Although there is nothing wrong with that. Damn, it is smooth. Artificial Elements- Kevin Joseffsen has been tearing it up this year with some great EP's. Good bouncy beat with some vibrating strings set the tone as the break opens up with delicate key strokes and a bit of sunshine. With a nod towards the style of the Riddler, the melody strays into eerie territory only to be countered by some head bobbing goodness. The echoes, oh the echoes! Massive track! Close Your Eyes- Holy f*ck what did I stumble onto here. If this were a cassette tape I would've worn it out already. It's been on repeat all damn day. It's got some badass swagger with some sticky icky bass. N*gga you dirty. Vocal manipulations and the mid tempo beat make this track ideal for some head nodding. Milos keeps it funky with that shimmery cascading synth that makes this a party. Where the white women at? Ever watch this? F*cking furniture talks. Tell me the creator wasn't on acid. I dare you. Damn that was a good compilation. It got slightly impotent in the middle, but the tracks surrounding those were some kind of awesome that I didn't give a f*ck. Groovy, melodic, and massive to the core. Asking me if I recommend this is like asking Whitney if she needs a Xanax. Get it. Psyshop Beatspace Goa Store Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Blacklite Tubes Label: Blacklite Records Date: November, 2011 1. Out of control FLEGMA AND ZYCE 2. Total Integration PURPLE RAVER 3. Ayahuasca Reset NUKLEALL 4. Pink Noize LOUD 5. Exact Dosage M-THEORY 6. Ancient Plants (Barkode rmx) NUKLEALL 7. Super Conscious HYPNOISE 8. Galactic Mantra (Wizack Twizack rmx) OVNIMOON AND VIA AXIS 9. Impulse Response (Rack Riders rmx) GHOST SIGNAL Blah blah blah Blacklite Records blah blah blah Italy blah blah blah blah psytrance blah blah blah remixes blah blah blah cool cover. Got it? Out of Control- "It's a headless blunder operating under the illusion of a master plan." Ladies and gentlemen, your government! But seriously...it's your government. These two have made more quality tracks than I have friends when people realize I have a pickup truck. All of a sudden it's "Can you help me move Mike?" or "Would you let me borrow your truck?" Fair weather friends aside this is firmly rooted in the Psy-gressive genre (if that even is a genre or a just a label) with a big beat and flashy lead. The sample is pretty good and repeated several times as effects echo and whizz past. Pretty good. P.S. Sold the truck so I assume my "friends" will disappear. Good riddance motherf*ckers...you never filled the tank up anyway. Total Integration- "Consider the possibility of the reaction." Yes let's do that. The possibility of my reaction being is quite high. Full-on with a lengthy time signature change will do that to you. It's not terrible by any stretch and even has some very good layered effects and melodies. Just didn't connect with it. Ayahuasca Reset- Somebody's been playing some Lazer Tag. Do kids do that anymore? No? Man, I don't know what's cool anymore. It's only a matter of time before my kids start treating me like a leper and ask me to drop them off a couple a blocks from school so their friends don't see. But there are a lot of lasers in this thing. The really sweet part comes with two minutes left when the 303 barks and the bubbling froths over. At that point I woulda went into full-on goa mode cause that woulda killed. Not bad, but nothing to get your knickers in a twist over. Pink Noize- "It's a sign...something has happened." It all begins during the break for me as this thing swims in a oscillating soup. The lead grows from a low rumble to a sharp roar as the track builds in intensity. Storm warning as this becomes a concussive wall of force. It's an unrelenting beatdown that should force a lot of smiles from the kiddies. Exact Dosage- "The drugs we gave you have a fairly serious side effect. Dehydration. Your head is probably sore, your throat dry. If you don't eat or drink something soon, you're going to start hallucinating." If you love the machines are everywhere vibe you could do a lot worse than this. It bristles with electronic energy as those effects zip past leaving a trail of ones and zeros in their wake. Good power and a great sample make this a solid track. Ancient Plants (Barkode Remix)- The intro is very high-tech with undulating computer layers and machinations. It's another thumper that hits in waves, pumping and skidding with short synth stabs and running leads. Twilight music that is quite tasty. Super Conscious- "The reason we exist in the world of limit...the conscious world...is to access the infinite. To access...the Super Conscious." Gurlgling and bubbling sounds jockey for position with patently electric interference as the bass line rumbles. Lots of sounds to get plugged into and this really gives off a cyber vibe. It's driving and pumping with a dark taste. Galactic Mantra (Wizack Twizack Remix)- Damn you Tommy. Damn you to hell. I hate the original track with it's robotic voice telling me all that it is. Read my lips...I DON'T F*CKING CARE! It seems all the remixes I have heard insist on leaving that damn sample in there. So here you go doing the same thing, but ah...you throw a little goa twist in there with 2 minutes on the clock. And you know what? It was awesome. Why couldn't that be the dominating feature? Please tell me your working on another remix of this track that leaves that voice out and expands the goa parameters. Impulse Response (Rack Riders Remix)- This is a Nukleall & the Purple Raver remix with a good ending track that has effects cascading over that bass line. They do that tempo change thing again but it works here. Pretty full with twists and turns. With only their 2nd release, Blacklite Records have churned out a pretty solid compilation. Most of the tracks are good with some standouts like the Loud as well as the Flegma & Zyce effort. What it's missing is that track that really knocks you over. It's not essential, but with several strong tracks it's worth checking out. Let's see what they do with their next disc. Psyshop Beatspace GoaStore Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Acai Com Guarana Label: Uxmal Records Date: November, 2011 1. Fowling Peace ABSTRACT SUNRISE 2. Physical Disorientation PROTOACTIVE 3. Nebulosa STRANGE DOCTORS AND VIRAM 4. Ultimatum G25 5. Gonne without saying EROTIC DREAM 6. Old Man PAKMAN 7. Power System SUBSISTENCE 8. Cosmic Coffe TACIT 9. Dia De Chuva AUSTRALOPTHECUS A Mexican label brings you 100% Brazilian progressive trance. A lot of money must have changed hands if you could pry these artists away from Carnivale. Most of them are unfamiliar to me, but that's fun. Like going to see a magic show Oh man, I hope this turns out better. Fowling Peace- "Everything's evolving." It's a bouncing track with searching bass sweeps. Sure it doesn't have a lot of melodies or twists and turns, but it does have an organic quality that grabs you. Sounds very earthy and full. Physical Disorientation- One of the projects I am familiar with produces a track that is everything I like about progressive trance. A consistent swing with lots of melody and far reaching effects that floats as if time was standing still. Pretty dreamy. Nebulosa- "We know it's hard to acţept yourselves as vibrational. But it's easier to accept yourselves as emotional." Another great track that fills each space with percussive echoes and synth riffs. It's rich in sunshine and floaty vibes, shimmering like the sun. Ultimatum- Thinking man's progressive here. At first I thought it was pretty light, but that break really opened things up for me. It also changed direction whilst keeping the flow intact. I imagine this is less about dancing and more about pondering the universe. Gone Without Saying- This is the other project I know and he flies on the lighter, housier skies of trance. Still uses the same tricks like washes but add vocal hits as well. Nice, but nothing earth shattering. Old Man- One of my favorites. The bass sweeps get me every time. It's another fairly simple track that is put together well. Shimmering leads balance it out as more synth hits give it a wide open appeal. Not overloaded just driving. Power System- This track has an electric feel that corresponds to its title. The lead sounds like a live wire that threatens as big washes tumble down. Another cool thing is the leads themselves add a percussive element to the mix. Cosmic Coffe- Cosmic Coffe? Oh...I see what you did there! Guess it won't be long until Starbucks puts a very weak and mass produced version on the market. I swear, those stores are like herpes...outbreaks all over the place. This is a drifting piece with echoing effects that accumulate as the tracks progresses. Nice breaks as well along with shiny synth runs. Sweet. Dia De Chuva- I can't tell you how many times I've sat down and played the tabla during a thunderstorm. Well, I'll tell you...it rhymes with hero. But that's exactly what's happening here, with a slow bounce and a melody composed of sadness. Some cool alien sounding effects escape from the rainforest but then it morphs into a faster tempo complete with a very ethnic lead. Which I really don't like. Meh, can't please everyone. Next time leave the snake charmer at home. Congratulations to these guys on a very good compilation. With the exception of the last track, this was full of very good progressive tunes that followed a winning formula. Not too heavy, but still melodic and dancey. Good time music. Psyshop Beatspace Goa Store Mdk

Here's what I watched recently: Transformers Dark Side of the Moon- Typical Hollywood overproduced stuff, but the destruction scenes were cool. Black Swan- Between the director's masturbatory and lesbian fantasies, it was kinda cool to see this chick lose it. Buried- Thought Ryan Reynolds did a good job making you feel claustrophobic. Bad Teacher- Had it's moments Conviction- An hour longer than it needed to be, but good acting from Hillary Swank. Predictable. I Spit On Your Grave (2010)- Brutal rape turned my stomach but I guess it's as good as a rape/revenge movie can be. Captain America- Where do I start with how much a load of crap this was? 79%? It's the end of days... The Help- Didn't get gritty enough with how the help were poorly treated, but we don't want to start a race war do we? Still, very good. The Triangle- Ghost Ship meets Groundhog Day. Not bad My brother gave me a whole bunch of movies so.. Mdk

Artist: Easily Embarrassed Title: Tales of the Coin Spinner Label: EE Records Date: August, 2011 01 - The Truth (66 BPM) 02 - Blessed Day On Distorted Shape (79 BPM) 03 - Sylphesizer (100 BPM) 04 - The Coin Spinner (60 BPM) 05 - Moon People (70 BPM) 06 - The Old Ways (100 BPM) 07 - Little Match Sister (97 BPM) 08 - Triplets (95 BPM) 09 - Nothing But Spirit (82 BPM) 10 - Under The Jester's Hat (58 BPM) Before Jon Stewart was making fun of politics and the media he had a bit part in the Dave Chapelle vehicle Half Baked where he said, "Yeah, but have you seen it...on weed?" That stuck with me because that's how I used to be. I was that guy. Event Horizon was a great movie, but on weed? It scared the sh*t outta me. Silence of the Lambs? I thought I would suffocate because I couldn't catch my breath. It seemed like the infrared scene was an hour and a half long. Hell I even stood up in the movie theater during Alien Resurrection. Yeah, not one of my proudest moments. Like Rick James said, it's a helluva drug. Point is that's how I would watch all my movies. But you know...I got kids. Besides I was also the paranoid guy who swore the chick at Applebees knew I was high. What gave it away, the smell or the fact I had to point to the picture on the menu because I couldn't speak? So wasted. Don't do drugs kids. All roads lead to drinking out of a urinal. This is Jeffrey van der Schilden, Nick van der Schilden, and Peter Spaargaren with another free offering. Guys love making music and giving it away. This is their 3rd full length album and it is wonderful. The journey they take you on is a combination of the analog warmth of Jean Michel-Jarre and the celestial atmosphere of Vangelis. It's viewing the glare of a stare from an enormous window of a starship. Of Androids walking among us like it was the most natural thing in the world. Of the old man spinning coins describing a world the way it used to be. Futuristic samples stretch out between wavering choir pads and Vangelic synth runs. Ambient laments and breakbeats that harken back to the days when Crystal Method knew what the f*ck they were doing. Somehow they manage to work a reggae style beat in there and it doesn't seem the least bit out of place. The title track with its acoustic guitar melody is a melancholic short story of regret. Most of the melodies are of that type...and they do a great job mixing real and electronic elements with a lush cinematic scope. Nowhere is that more evident than in Moon People with its crawling eerieness that should make you a little...uncomfortable. An awesome trip through space that I cannot recommend highly enough. The fact that it's free is just icing on the cake. Good show boys! Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Kadasarva Title: Steamagination Label: Sun Station Records Date: December, 2011 01 - World Of Tomorrow (145 BPM) 02 - Quaternion (144 BPM) 03 - Cybermind (145 BPM) 04 - Trylon And Perisphere (143 BPM) 05 - Submatukana - The Krypt (Kadasarva Remix) (142 BPM) 06 - Ginger (147 BPM) 07 - Quakers (144 BPM) 08 - North Pole (143 BPM) 09 - Amrita (144 BPM) Ah, 1998. Gas was $1.15 ($3.55 at the time of this writing) and a stamp was 32 cents (.45). A time approaching a new millennium when the world was close to sh*tting itself because we were unsure of how all our computers would react when we hit the big 2000. A time when a small silicon valley company called Google (what a stupid name, it'll never last) was founded. A time when we began to fully understand that Bill Clinton was a chubby chaser and liked to go...ahem, hoggin'. But most importantly, a time when the love affair with the melodic stylings of goa trance was coming to an end and psytrance was searching for a new direction. Too early for boring minimal crap, it found it's footing in the crunchy, industrial sound unwilling to totally let go of all the trappings melody had to offer. This is Alex Volkov from the Ukraine who makes the old school stuff with some modern production. After all the positive talk with people falling all over themselves saying how great this is I had to take a listen. Hosted by our good friend Basilisk at Ektoplazm it's a free journey. World of Tomorrow- "I have been witness to a world consumed by hatred and bent on self-destruction. Watched as we have taken what used to be a paradise and failed in our responsibilities as its steward. I know now that the course the human race has set for itself cannot be changed. I am the last desperate chance for a doomed planet." It doesn't get any bleaker than that does it? This is a return to the good old formula of creating a thumping track and building around it. The effects are great with plenty of metallic clanking and post apocalyptic vibrations. Whiplike leads are in full play and this might as well have a blinking neon sign saying welcome to the late 90's on it. Quaternion- So delightfully futuristic with it's crunchy beats and robot-like whirring of servo motors. This is being trapped on that huge junk barge in Star Wars being driven by those little Jawas. Robots of every make and model chatter in clicking and bleeping sounds. Some in obvious disrepair. I wasn't thinking too much of it, but the effects are so involving and intricate that you cannot help getting swept up. It packs a heavy concussive wallop to boot. Cybermind- "I will not abide disobedience." Ok I like where this is going. What's the safe word? This has all the great effects of the last two tracks but now contains a bubbling bass adding to the groove. It gets pretty intense with some squealing leads, but also has some nice synth lines. It's almost 11 minutes long and there is not rest break. I liken the sound to choking a digital image of a female at an S&M club and all that comes out are 0's and 1's. Yeah, I got...I gots some problems. Trylon and Perisphere- Awww, this has a very throaty lead that scrapes the tonsils right off. Alien bubbling and stomping with a swagger, but it's that lead that sizzles like putting your hand on a stove. It's got some dark and ripping goa licks to be sure and the danciest of the bunch so far. The Krypt (Kadasarva Remix)- Dark and bubbling sounds abound and you can feel this thing beginning to become more bold. Deeply electronic and fluid as this crawls from its place of entombment with screeching oscilating feelers. Its focus shifts several times, but never loses its way. Ginger- This is a problem that I feel we have not sufficiently addressed as a people. Ginger's are evil. They travel in packs like zombies waiting to strike at the unsuspecting. Such contrast between that pale skin and fiery red hair is unnatural. Some say that each freckle is a mark of the beast. They are of course led by the most evil of villains. The track? It was ok. It sounded like the electronic crackling of a live wire. Whiplike and driving showering all with sparks but not much to chew on. Quakers- "I have surmised that there...are local bases of operation. And some of these local bases may be underwater." Sure as hell sounds like it. But waaay underwater where light cannot penetrate. It's got that goa bass sound that threatens to erupt as mechanical noises spray all over. Alien sounds fly overhead as this track is relentless. That bass really kicks up some dust. Plenty to concentrate on. North Pole- Dark and barren just like I imagine the Pole to be. Layers of synth begin to stack and rumble as this becomes a driving force. Lead switch and get the filter business creating a powerful monster of a track. Loved it. Amrita- Breakbeats and running synths are in the playbook for this one. But that's not all. It breathes and pulses with energy, moving straight ahead. It's dark. Pumping. Psychedelic. Futuristic. Everything you could ever want in your psytrance. Can it be a little samey in theme and composition? Maybe. But he arranges the sounds so well that it doesn't come off that way. At least not to me or any of you based on the replies this review got. It's got power and atmosphere coming out of all orifices with not one single buildup or predictable moment. Good for you sir, you have made one helluva'n album. And you gave it away. Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Invisible Reality Title: Parallel Fantasy Label: Iono Music Date: February, 2011 1. Inkognito 2. Vanishing Rainbow 3. Pacifier Move 4. Criminal Code 5. Celestial Objects 6. Pure soul ghost 7. Be Real (Invisible Reality rmx) - Haldolium 8. Parallel Fantasy 9. Insomnia Iono Music is the king of progressive trance who put out more than that girl in high school. Hooking up with her is like riding a moped...fun as hell until someone sees you on one. One thing that you don't have to concern yourself with is whether a release is worth your hard earned dough. Invisible Reality are Shamil Abramov & Igor Sorin who are now based in Israel. I know what you're thinking. Is that f*cking dog just gonna take that from that b*tch ass cat? There is this pervasive idea that while Israeli artists were once the pioneers of a lot of trance they have since continued the downward spiral into a massive cheese tray. A lot of that well deserved. But I assure you that this project is no joke. They have released several EP's and their debut album Invisibility was as close to flawless progressive as you could get. This has been out for almost a year now and somehow it always finds its way into my playlist. Why? It's not close to being the most powerful music out there. I've heard tracks with more layers and melody. So what is it? First of all the production is superb. Every sound is crystal clear. And there are a lot of them on display in various iterations. Second, it sounds fresh with real instruments. Not the preset of a real instrument. This isn't your basic cut and paste 8 bar generic music. No pattern was followed, just intelligent arrangements. It tells stories with numerous twists and turns. Drum sounds are as varied as snowflakes with clever breaks. Third, the transitions and melodies are very smooth. There is a dark theme running through this album with eerie melodies and crunchy percussion. Put all of that together and you get an outstanding record that will take you far away. I urge you to give this your full attention and listen to this gem all the way through. This goes right up there with the best progressive this year. Psyshop Beatspace Saiko Sounds Goa Store Mdk

Yeah son! Yeah. Holdin' down Virginia! Holdin' it down! By myself. P.S. If I'm not mistaken, Asheville, NC is a hotspot for our music. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Sonic Alchemy EP Label: Sonic Motion Records Date: January, 2012 1. Existenz - Phatmatix & Atyss 2. Isolator - Atyss 3. Scorpio Department (Toxic Remix) - Atyss & Triskell Expectations. We all haz them. I expect that these two fine eligible gentlemen will go home to a twin bed with salsa stained sheets from last night's Arrested Development marathon and lay down amidst their iPhones and iPads and proceed to knock out a few knuckle children to the pimply faced greeter at the Gap that almost talked to them until mom stumbles in screaming dinner was ready over an hour ago. I expect a professional tennis player to know that beating your girlfriend on the court you're currently about to play on might not be the best way to go. II expect this was how it went down when Barbie caught Ken tossing He-Man's salad. Expectations. After the f*cking awesome Hypnotwist and Motion Sensor compilations I expected an absolute cracker from Atyss, an up and coming twilight psytrance producer. It didn't happen, but everyone deserves a mulligan just ask any golfer you know. So now Sonic Motion Records is out with a quick hitting 3-track EP with Atyss, Triskell, and my main man Phatmatix. I would've bought this for his appearance alone after his two superb albums. So to say my expectations were high...well, that might be an understatement. Existenz- "We've not always been as brothers. But let us put aside such matters." What.The f*ck.Was that? Let me get back to you on this... Isolator- "At the 70 hour mark an insomniac will experience micronaps." I just...I'm...still on the last track. This is Atyss all by his lonesome and he has a metallic lead firing over eerie pads and a synth riff moving at high speed. Not bad I suppose. What makes it bad was the Nutek style buildup. I hear that and I wanna start smacking people. Pretty intense for sure. My favorite part was the last bit that had the synth running and a twinkling melody floating above. Scorpio Department (Toxic Remix)- Toxic has always been a mixed bag for me. Some of his tracks were really excellent but a lot have been commercial pablum. This one is a remix off State of Resonance from Atyss and has a very appealing bass line; short and punchy just like me after I drink too much. It has a couple of buildups but they are very brief so no harm no foul. The groove and the power is there so I'm on board. It's a pretty good one. Back to the first track. I wanted to hate this thing. I wanted to. So ready to shred it. But after hitting repeat many times over something bizarre happened. I really began to like it. Full of super big beats and funky breaks with a bass line that wraps around you like a python would. It's still a twilight track and yes it does have some annoying sample cheese. But that bit after 5 minutes is massively funky and ready for dancing. Pumping. So I would urge those interested to give it a listen. Maybe it will grow on you also. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Space Tribe Title: Peak Experience Label: Space Tribe Music Date: November, 2011 1. Peak Experience (vs Mad Max) 2. Destiny (vs Laughing Buddha) 3. Real Simulation (vs Dickster) 4. Just say yes!! (vs Mad Maxx) 5. One Drop (vs Laughing Buddha) 6. Distorted Reality (vs Tristan) 7. Beyond Words (vs Dickster) 8. Gene Machine (vs Laughing Buddha) 9. The Bomb (vs Johan Bley) Few things are sadder than watching an icon fall from the mountaintop. I think she just gave me eye chlamydia Did you watch the Superbowl Madonnapalooza halftime show? It was like a 16 minute commercial pandering to the audience. That Madonna...always good at seeing which way the wind blows. "Look at me! Pay attention to me, I'm still relevant! I'm still cool, look...I work with Nikki Minaj and M.I.A. (who?) and those guys that keep on shufflin!" And Cee-Lo what the f*ck man? You looked like the fat black Keebler Elf they keep in the back to break down the truck. Nobody wants to see a 53 year old grandmother hobble around the stage lip synching to bad music. I can do that at my na-na's house. I get you were an icon and you truly were. Changed the game and had an tremendous impact on girls (and unfortuanately lots of guys). But that was two decades ago. Life changes. We as a people evolve as technology evolves and the torch gets passed. You time was during the introduction of the first cell phone and Ferris Bueller. We have the internet now...we know where to find you. This is Olli Wisdom one of the true legends in our little corner of music who's been banging out tracks for more than 15 years. From my window he released a bunch of albums early in his career that were more memorable for the flashy colors and pictures than any of the sonic material on the inside. But I still sought them out and collected them because that's the kind of anal guy I am. A completionist. It wasn't until the middle of last decade that he really popped up on my radar with the albums Time S-T-R-E-T-C-H and Thru the Looking Glass. Full of power, melody, and acid explosions and boy I was hooked. I really enjoyed his collaboration with Electric Universe as EsP. His last album Electro Convulsive Therapy in 2008 had some real stormers on it but it also had tracks that had you scratching you head, wondering what the f*ck he was thinking. So where is he now? Looking at the tracklist impressive names abound so here's hoping that he maintains his footing and doesn't plummet like Boris Blenn did. I mean did you actually hear Higher Modes? Peak Experience (Kailash Rmx)- "Well this calls for a joint, wanna do the honors?" The first teamup is with Max Peterson who had a fantastic debut with After World in 2008. You'll be seeing him again, but this has a full-on foundation with repeated samples and little in the way of meat. Kinda just goes through the motions but has a nice synth line near the end. Not bad, but I have heard much better and deeper tracks from both artists. Ummm....is that joint still on the table? Destiny- "A single moment that takes you out of yourself. Makes you feel very tiny or very large to some extent one with life" Jeremy Van Kampen is one half of Cosmosis and released the underwhelming Sacred Technology waaaaay back in 2010 under the Laughing Buddha project. Already the acid quotient is higher and that makes me smile. It bubbles at times but my favorite part is the 303 lead that slowly growls in volume that reminds me of the meat locker scene in Blade with all the vampires. They add effects and take a rather thin track to thicker status as it all comes together at the end. Better. Real Simulation- "They discovered that you may not be real." Dick Trevor has been around for a decade or so and more often than not has nailed that British, hypnotic sound. Acid waves screech by and this is even more promising with the pumping bass line and effects. It's more detailed with echoing leads and lasers firing from all directions. The signature move of Olli is to twist and manipulate a sample and he does that here. The layers begin to stack and a new melody arises while the acid flies. Good stuff. Just Say Yes!!- "If you smoke marijuana...you will become a unmotivated dysfunctional loser." While that may be true, you could also marry a surgeon and become a stay at home Dad to two kids. But yeah, I see where you're going... Max is back and he brought his distortion pedal with him. But they also brought the bouncy leads and acid whip. Now normally I don't go for guitars in my psytrance. But the crunch isn't bad even though they might go a little overboard here. It's hit or miss really. I'm sure some will love the far away scream of the guitar and some will throw their headphones across the room. Not me. No, that was saved for the painful stop and start samples that included Obama (yes I'm not kidding) saying "Yes we can." And then for the ahem...guitar solo. So what did I do? Well, I actually just shook my head, but this was what I wanted to do. One Drop- "One drop...that's all you need. Can't be greedy. I guarantee you'll see the world with new eyes. Trick is...you have to let it take you in. Follow it. Soak it in." Hey Jeremy's back! Everybody Jeremy's back!!! The acid wash stutters like the Kings Speech and then the tempo changes. Doesn't last too long before that acid returns and it brings it's friends. That and the sample are the stars here. Good stuff again. Distorted Reality- Tristan Cooke is another one that has been around for a long while. They begin with a heavily modulated lead but it's the next one over top of it that has my attention. They continue to build on things and it gets better and better as the track moves along. By 5 minutes this thing is stickier than model airplane glue. Easily my favorite as it sees a return to former Space Tribe greatness. Good show mate. Beyond Words- "It was a life changing experience. It goes beyond words." Dick part 2. And they take a little effects trip before it gets going. Hallucinatory samples get monkeyed with and then they bust out the lead. It slows down and then gets all reggae on you. Pretty smooth transition. But it's the buildup that I didn't care for. As far as I'm concerned that is a momentum killer. The end has a screaming 303 but what am I supposed to do? Forget that middle bit ever happened? Can't do it. Just.Cant.Do it. Gene Machine- "The subatomic world of DNA." I typed that, but the way the sample was played with it would stretch about 2 lines. Jeremy again? What are you guys, dating? Anyway, you can really make a Space Tribe track out with they way he f*cks with samples. You ain't changed a bit Olli. The first 3 minutes are white noise to me but that echoing lead has me by the short and curlies. Awww shucks. I can't stay mad at you Olli. It picks up in intensity and adds layers flying with a space vibe. Pretty good. The Bomb- "We've had time now to see and study the effects of LSD." The synths shine and this one feels darker. But the guitar....sorry I just don't like it. It dominates and I can't concentrate on the synth parts. Not for me. There are a few things you can count on with a Space Tribe release. The font on his album, numerous drug samples, and a heavy dose of acid. And all that is represented here. So why do I feel...unfulfilled? The tracks were fine mostly, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. Power, a presence...something. There was something in all of the tracks that I liked, but other than Distorted Reality it lacked that blistering few that can carry an album. Good parts surrounded by the not great with maybe a little too much relying on samples. To be honest, this sounds like it could've been made 5 years ago. And that's cool, because I have plenty of music from 5 years ago that I liked. But when I compare it to the two albums I mentioned in the intro it pales in comparison. So let me say that it's good. Not top of the mountain good, but maybe just below base camp good. I don't normally rate it, but if I had to...4/5 Psyshop Beatspace Saiko Sounds Goastore Mdk

Artist: Xatrik Title: Badass EP Label: Disasterpeace Records Date: January, 2012 1. Badass 2. Dangerous Conditions 3. Work My Magic 4. In It Holy sh*t. What the f*ck happened here? This the same chick that sang Genie in the Bottle? Apparently there was also a Pizza Hut franchise in there. What the hell was your wish, lifetime supply of cheesy breadsticks? *Puts finger to ear to hear producers* This just in we are going with live video that has just come into us of Ms. Aguilera on a rampage at a New Jersey Nets game. "Oh the humanity! She's insatiable!" Once an incredible talent, Ms. Aguilera now spends countless hours at various drive thrus using the voice to "King Size it" and whining when told she cannot put a frosty on a Wendy's triple. Rumor has it that anyone not making the cut on her team must report immediately to a giant deep fryer where they will be promptly sodomized with a stick so she can snack on you like a corn dog. I have no proof of that, but you know, it sounds perfectly plausible. Xatrik is Greg Hamber from South Africa, the birthplace of the vuvuzela otherwise known as the Christina Aguilera dinner bell. He's back and fatter than ever with his new Fatass EP that promises...I'm sorry? Excuse me, I think I would know...oh sh*t. Badass. Not Fatass. Wow, that uh....that makes a lot more sense. Badass- Typical Xatrik with high speed cyber technology sounds and acid erupting from a sawed off shotgun. The bass line is sprinting like it's on the run from the cops and the groove is intact. It's bombastic and crackling with energy. It truly is badass, but then so Greg's full time job... Dangerous Conditions- "Do you want to live forever?" With a little help from the Qube he continues to shower the listener with acid and heavy beats. It's dark with impending doom as it changes tempo which I wasn't that big a fan of. Minor drawback as this thing gets it's second wind and brings the power with the groove. It rises like a tsunami full of cars, houses, carnival equipment, a couple toilets...you get the idea. Let's just say that it keeps comin'. Work My Magic- "Mr. Fletcher? You don't have to worry about the police...I worked my magic on them" It starts with a slow techno crawl and quickly rounds into form. Bouncing with nod your head goodness he experiments with breakbeats and techno applications. There is a dark melody that hums throughout as bass sounds warble and wobble. But they don't fall down. In it- Man that bass line is like a Godzilla village stomping beast. Or the local ladies at the Golden Corral lunch buffet Ewww....pretty sure the chocolate wonderfall is limited to food. It's a wall of concussive force kicking in the deadbolt and shattering double plated glass. It's a snowball track that gets bigger as it rumbles downhill. Oh yeah, you stepped in it. F*cking punishing. Another quality twilight excursion from the reigning heavyweight champ of the genre. His ability to mix dark vibes with acidic mayhem and groove are unmatched. Work My Magic is interesting as it isn't just a 4 on the floor stomper, but rather a composite of that and some breakbeat manipulation. It sounds great with everything crystal clear and I think he really payed attention to cranking up the funk meter. So there you go. Having a gun doesn't make you badass. Being Xatrik does. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Remix-ed Part 01 EP Label: Dropland Recordings Date: December, 2011 1. Damage (Concept Remix) 2. Physical Matters (Sinful Reactions Remix) 3. You Go Banzai (Z3ro Remix) Dropland Recordings is a Spanish label that has been making some noise lately. The two Malfunktion EP's with tracks selected by Mr. Smashed were well worth my time brimming with high energy and powerful twilight music. This EP is comprised of three tracks by him that were given the remix treatment by some heavy hitters in the genre. Damage (Concept Remix)- "Remote controlled creatures. Brains powered by atomic energy." The original was on the Synthetic Alchemy compilation and Arnaud takes an already great track and puts his spin on it. After albums like Paranormal he quickly became one of my favorite artists in the genre. When you stumble upon a good twilight track you can just feel it. The sounds, the bass, the vibe...It's another acid laced beatdown that won't disappoint. Physical Matters (Sinful Reactions Remix)- Sinful Reactions are the Pereira brothers from Portugal and they tackle this awesome track from the Another Dimension compilation. We're really splitting hairs here because this is another acidic firestorm with powerfall beats and a relentless attitude. Just like the original. So I guess some might say, why do we need it? Some might. But they're probably also the ones who ask do we really need more dancing midgets? To which I reply: You bet your f*cking sweet ass we do. You Go Banzai (Z3ro Remix)- "There is no substitute for reading the text of the course and the workbook. Even after you've already done the lesson." Never heard the original but this is Javier Duran from Mexico and his track on Psycho Laboratory slayed all so you know...high hopes. Because I haven't heard the original I can't tell you if this is radically different but what I can tell you is that we've got more of the same bombastic leads and big beats. A little more stopy starty than I would've liked, but worthy of your attention for sure. There have been some good twilight EP's floating around and this is one of them. Are they close to the original? Maybe. Probably. I dunno, but if you like acid firing like shrapnel from a grenade then you cannot go wrong with this. Beatport Mdk

Thank you sir. Done. Mdk

Artist: Talpa Title: The Path Label: Sundance Records Date: December, 2011 1. J 2. The Path 3. You 4. Distraction 5. Lenjivac feat. Merlin 6. Instinct 7. Hidden Smile 8. Shall we dance 9. An accident in Talpania 10. Away Serbian goblin Goran Juric who, if you have been listening to psytrance, would know has been around a while. Lately he's taken his flair for the dramatic into the funky ass wriggling progressive arena under the Riddler project, but before that he was all about the symphonic and set the world (hmmm, we're kinda small for a world, perhaps a neighborhood?) on it's ear with his blistering debut The Art of Being Non. After a hiccup with his second effort he's back with his third release and there is quite the buzz about it. J- I'm guessing he titled this track for his girlfriend. We've all done some stupid sh*t to impress a girl, but the difference here is Goran actually has some talent so he doesn't come off looking like a doofus. This is some very bright and happy intro music. Remember that SouthPark episode where all the cute forest creatures come out? This is them in a woodland orchestra performing a downtempo piece...right before they get all satanic. I mean, you know it ain't gonna stay like that right? "Well....hello there." The Path- Part Riddler Part Talpa he kicks it off with an eerie psychedelic stormer. Told you those animals were gonna get crazy. Levels of synth licks and melodies skip over each other sometimes playfully, sometimes angry like a bipolar girlfriend. "It's not you...it's me. I just don't think we should see each other. Ok you're right...it's you. You're f*cking crazy." One of my favorites. Hits in all the right places. You- This one travels close to the same path with a very goblinesque synth that speaks of creatures in the dark you can't see. The piano twinkles over the bass line and this puppy breathes with some scary intent. I love that the bass line isn't a one noter, but rather more complex. He's a fan of that oscillating synth as well as mixing different textures together. Not bad. Distraction- There go those damn woodland critters pounding out the funeral march on a kiddie piano. Right before they turn your insides out. Sadistic f*ckers. Spooky with an eerie groove just like the previous two tracks and we see a slight return to the winding synths from The Art of Being Non. Pretty good, but it doesn't separate itself from the previous two tracks. Lenjivac- The same vibe is in place here...eerie but not scary. Like a midget troll. Yeah he's scary, but it's not like you're gonna wet your pants over a midget. Back to the story it's more Tim Burton creepy yet endearing at the same time. Just the combination of the pads and delicate synths make this a meal. There are lots of little sounds to discover here, and the break beat is a special treat. Instinct- Jungle sounds start you off, but it isn't long until the sinister vibe returns. But for me this was the weakest track on the album. Very vanilla. Now when I hear the jungle sounds I just skip it. Hidden Smile- I guess he's trying to conserve sounds, because the bass is the exact same as the last track. Must be a shortage. Hell even the rhythm is the same. But the difference is the complexity. Left of center melodies that increase the tension and heighten the groove. He hits the spooky vibe and then some uplifting positivity with twisting and winding leads. Sounded good. Shall We Dance- The Riddler is back with his groovy self and the stacking of melodies begins. Tasty! Lots of changes to keep the mind fully involved with a wicked carnival atmosphere. What I like here is that it is seamless...when he hits with a new lead it flows and doesn't sound like separate tracks. Another good one. Yes we shall An Accident in Talpania- Soft melodies and light percussion make you believe that you've arrived at your destination. But while the melodies can be uplifting it is a wolf in sheep's clothing. The clouds begin to darken and the wolf shows its teeth. Power and evil swagger push to the front making this one of my favorites also. Away- The final track is a downtempo one. Sure you followed the Path, but where are you? Who knows, but the ambient destination gets all...what's the word...Ultimae on you. Light melodies and scratchy sounds float above the pads and it's an eerie end to magical trip. I mentioned him earlier, but this is a soundtrack to every Tim Burton movie ever made. That guy takes what is normally benign and puts his freaky twist on it and a whole new avenue of eerie opens up. Remember the original Alice in Wonderland? Probably not children, but it was cute and harmless. Tim Burton Version? "Here kitty....nice kitty..." Willy Wonka? The original was a recluse who ran a chocolate factory, but Tim's vision had me wondering whether he was going to eat the kids. Hmmm...note to self. Great idea for a horror movie. No, a real horror movie. Not that p*ssy PG-13 crap. R baby. Maybe NC-17. Definitely NC-17 if I can convince Megan Fox to do it. Wait, Lindsay's a f*cking mess. She'd do it. Yeah baby! Anyway.... Point is, with the exception of the nauseatingly sweet intro this is a train to spooky town. Like when you sit next to the guy on the train who...just ain't quite right. It's groovy in a lot of places and strikes with a Dickensian roundhouse kick. The layers are nice and he follows the theme throughout the whole album. It seems like a return to the style of his first album that showcased his brilliance. So yeah, I enjoyed the crap out of it. That said, I suppose you could look at the other side of the coin and say it's too samey without much difference between the tracks. It's not going to knock you out with it's power, but that is not it's intention. Very good, but not great. I guess all the Talpa bunnies inflated the Discogs score, but who knows. Nonetheless I can recommend it without question as it's different than a lot of stuff out there. Hell the fact that there ain't one buildup is enough for me. Nice work Goran. Psyshop Beatspace GoaStore Mdk

New UX? Hmmm.... Astral who? Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Ambrosia Label: Ultimae Records Date: November, 2011 1. Sub Strat MAX MILLION AND GUSK 2. Light Tails MIKTEK 3. Distant Industries ONE ARC DEGREE 4. Principles of Gravity AES DANA 5. Homo Imperceptibilis SYGNALS 6. Sun Ritual SESEN 7. Hyades ALPHA TEK 8. V.A.N.T.A ASURA 9. Why MEMPHIDOS 10. Ominous Ride MIKTEK Ultimae. Nuff said? Sub Stata- Love that breakbeat they open up with. That sh*t is gritty. Which of course is the perfect yin to the yang of all the layers in this pig. Strumming guitar, pads that reach from horizon to horizon, and a memorable lead melody make this an ideal opener. Full...so full. . I would breast feed until I was 70. Light Tails- This track is aptly named because sparkling synths float behind the ever present churning bass. It's slow and drifting. There is a hypnotizing quality about it like how some spiders mesmerize their prey or Dave Chapelle does battle with Gochira... So hypnotic.... Distant Industries- One Arc Degree delivers a massive track with a big breakbeat and shimmering leads that become more distorted as they're filtered. People are talking in the background and I gotta wonder if he recorded this in a coffee shop. Hey, shut the f*ck up, I'm just here to get my danish. It doesn't impact the track thankfully, but with nice layering and flow it is very pleasing. It has floating qualities with vocal harmony and even a slight operatic riff. Principles of Gravity- Soft choir, stuttering synths, and the classic click and pop percussion and you know you are listening to an Aes Dana track. It's mid-tempo with pads ruling the atmosphere as it echoes with breakbeats. The choir gives it an overcast Propehecy feel where Christopher Walken does battle with the good angels. Moody sumb*tch. Homo Imperceptibilis- "You have 48 hours. That's the length of time it needs to adapt itself to our living conditions. Then it will be too late." The piano arpeggio is the focus as the effects and beat crowd around. Once that's gone, it's whizzing and whirring rivulets of electronica as the bass wobbles. The break has some cool percussive sounds and then it gains mid tempo status with a cello that sounds like Rena Jones is in the house. Long track that has a lot of phases so a good amount to chew on. Sun Ritual- Dawn breaking over the Himalayas perhaps? What began as a party of 5 is now whittled down to 3. Quite the mysterious intro at 20,000 feet. No beat until almost 3 minutes and it was worth the wait. It's a cross between hip-hop funky and soaring pads that leave you without oxygen. There is so many little touches here that they all add up to brilliance. It's unbelievable. There is talent and then there's, uh...talent. Yes, yes, that's really impressive. Hey fatty, when was the last time you saw your penis? Hyades- How do you follow up a brilliant track? With another one my dear Watson. This bubbles and meanders like a snake on the hunt for that dumb mouse who didn't see the writing on the wall. It's stand offish with attitude, bass growls and layers drip with atmosphere. This is the darkest track that oozes malevolence. Annnnnnnnd.....I crapped myself. V.A.N.T.A.- Am I the only one who starts singing the FANTA commercial when I see this track name? I am aren't I? Besides Aes Dana, this is the only other artist that I am familiar with. After all the great tracks from the "newbies" I never thought I would have to wonder if Asura could keep up. Well, I'm afraid he was outclassed on this one. I thought it was going to be a classic becuase the first 4 minutes are awesome downtempo with chopped up chants and deep pads, but I don't think it could run with the complexity of previous tracks here. Whereas the beginning was all dark mood, the melody is light and doesn't fit for me. Still good? Yes, of course. Why- With the brightest track on the compilation Memphidos proves that sunshine always follows the rain. It's a break beat with dream sequence synths. I was diggin' on the beat too. Real thumping. Nice, but I think it's misplaced on this compilation. It's like inviting a vegan to a barbecue. Yeah, nobody wants to stare, but we're wondering why the f*ck you didn't bring any carcass to the party. Ominous Ride- Miktek with another go and he's going crazy with the rain stick. But thankfully it's back to the dreary after that previous bright hiccup. Slowly evolving with pads and a sad piano melody pretty much descirbes this final effort. The story closes as the hero stares off into an uncertain future. This was really dark. Not dark in a satanic or get me the hell out of this forest way. More in a gloomy are we ever gonna see the sun again way. Composed mainly of Greek artists it's ironic that a land known for it's beautiful sunshine can deliver such moody and dark music. And I loved it. I believe all will agree that too much happy sunshine music is just as annoying as too much heavy dark stuff. This was wonderful and I have come to expect nothing less from Ultimae. Layer intensive, great effects and atmosphere, with a varied set of rhythms. Some artists you know and some you probably don't. Comgatulations to Fishimself for compiling, Mr. Vilius for the mastering, and the artists for their great work. Do not hesitate to get this if you like your chill on the darker side of things. I don't think I'm telling tales out of school by suggesting this could be downtempo album of the year. Psyshop Beatspace GoaStore Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Entities 2.0 Label: None Date: January, 2012 01 - Dual Barrel - 27 Sundowns (142 BPM) 02 - Deimos - Future Failed (140 BPM) 03 - Hotep - Digital Man (142 BPM) 04 - Nova Fractal - Blindsight (145 BPM) 05 - Lunar Dawn - Genesis (146 BPM) 06 - PsiloCybian - Mindblowing (142 BPM) 07 - Delta Cycle - Vortex (145 BPM) 08 - Psynthax - E.C.T. (143 BPM) 09 - Symatix - The Attack Of The Dissonant Frogs (146 BPM) 10 - Phantasmagoria - Campfire Story (144 BPM) "Let's see, cashbox, glocks, stacks of $100's...hey! Hey, honey...will you take the f*cking kid, I don't want him gettin' his hands on the money! Jesus...what kind of parent are you?" This is the 2nd chapter in the Entities series which sees a lot of the same Croatian artists ply their trade. As with the first one this is a free release and it crosses genre boundaries. First one really didn't impress me much. It was like fast food. Good going down and got the job done, but you always wish you ate a little better. As far as sound goes it was done by the master of mastering Igor Čeranić so zero concerns there. Artwork by my good friend and Psynews member Richpa. Dude's got talent. 27 Sundowns- "Wanna know something? I am high as shit right now dude. I just, I just liked like three toads. I've been up for like 27 suns up and suns down." Saša Dukić & Igor Čeranić know how to make some noise. This is a dark and industrial rampage with acid scraping metal. The battle between man and machine rages on and to be honest it isn't really going that well. Love the break, it oozes with electricity and fear. It doesn't bother with being subtle or agile...oh no. Some people whine and pout when they don't get what they want for Xmas. This? Shoulda checked that list again fatboy. Future Failed- Just Igor this time and he offers another powerful track. Amidst a garbled transmission he pounds one out like his angry at the kick drum. The juicy bass lead dances nimbly above the fray as he stacks the layers and keeps them all going at the same time. While not as descriptive as the first track it's still synthtasticly good. Digital Man- Written by Stjepan Hojan you can see where he got the project name. Another dark track with bass sweeps and effects whirling by. And I wouldn't be offended if you thought that there was a slight goa feel to it. The main melody storms forward while support effects give it some depth. He introduces new lead sounds and they fit right in. Very futuristic and digital sounding. Nice. Blindsight- Renato Brnić released his Main Sequence Star EP this year and I thought it was awesome outer space goa. And he continues the trend with some churning sounds and rich layers. The break is great with the deep pads and bubbling synths from the beginning. The problem I have with it is that I didn't care for the progression of the melody. I felt it was static and didn't change much from the beginning. Purely personal. This ain't Dancing With the Stars you know...it's not like you're gonna get sent home. "I can't see what you're trying to do here." Genesis- Welcome back Kristijan Ilišinoviæ. Remember his track The Run on Goa Overdose 2? Outstanding and so is this. Love the storming nature and the acid lines in this goa treat. It's full of motion and direction changes along with a spooky mood. The leads are sharp and wet with liquid, the kind that duck in and out of dark places. This will get those stiff joints moving... God, I love Bollywood. Mindblowing- Saša Dukiæ (half of Dual Barrel) gets a chance to flex his psytrance muscles all by his lonesome. It's like you decide to work out and then before you know it BAM! How the f*ck do you find shirts? Holy crap this was an awesome track. So firm...so fully packed. Great leads and oodles of layers with the driving intensity you hear on tracks from Temple of One or God Save the Machine. Mindblowing? Pretty damn close. Vortex- This is Domagoj Kirnbauer and I feel sorry for you. No not for that. That could happen to anyone. Who drinks a case of beer. After a bottle of wine. While on heroin. No I feel sorry for you because nobody should have to follow the last track. That should've ended the album. This is a bit atmospheric, but largely boring. It's not until 6 and a half minutes that an interesting lead appears. It's awesome, but it's like throwing a guy a life preserver after he's been floating face down for 10 minutes. Needed to focus on that lead. E.C.T.- Miroslav Lakiæ is an artist I have no knowledge of. Reminds me of Shotu type stuff, lots of effects over a prominent bass line. But the power is there as are leads that are quite cutting. Rumbling bass sounds combine in layers. Sticky like maple syrup but nothing spectacular. The Attack of the Dissonant Frogs- Now this is some juicy, dark forest rumblings. Chirping insects and eerie effects set the atmosphere as melodies peek from places of shelter. Looking for a time out? Forget it. It's a relentless ride with no GPS to get you out of this forest. Campfire Story- Closing things out with another forest field trip is Damir Abjanoviæ & Marko Paviæ and they pile on the effects like I do sprinkles on my ice cream. You got your clunky sounds, scratchy leads, and deeeeep bass line. I like it a lot due to the atmosphere which is terrifying and comes in waves. No sunlight in sight. Great job. This was a compilation that had a few gems on it and is definitely worth your time. All of the tracks sound great (nice work Igor) and create a really good atmosphere. To be honest, I didn't find any sunshine or lollipops on this. Pretty dark all the way through. You could definitely feel the tide turning into stormier weather right around the Vortex track. Kudos to the Dual Barrel, Lunar Dawn, and Psilocybian tracks as they were for me the best of the bunch. Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Rainbow Static Title: Tickle My Bunny Fone Label: Bunny Fone Date: September, 2011 01 - Cute Pounce (162 BPM) 02 - Peeb. (201 BPM) 03 - Yes and Bite (197 BPM) 04 - Cake Barf (152 BPM) 05 - diVabetes (77 BPM) You know I don't watch Dr. Phil, but I gotta side with him on this one. I had to review this. Had to. It is the most bizarre and ridiculous sh*t to ever hit these ears. Obviously it is a joke, because nobody can make music this bad on purpose. They're probably really cool guys and I would love to talk to them, but this makes me think that they made a bunch of crap, knew it was crap, and then piss all over people for thinking it's crap. The project is Bunny Static and Rainbow Fone from the Pacific Northwest and I'll be honest, the only reason I wanted to hear this was due to the ridiculous BPM's. 201? Really? Well that and the entertaining discussion it spawned on Ektoplazm. So what's up? This sounds like cats thrown in a blender with pitched up beats which makes sense because they call it psy-prance. It's stupid vocals twisted up becoming unintelligeable and annoying. And the first track is over 9 minutes long. Do you have any idea how excruciating this was? Forget dancing to this or following a melody...that sh*t need not apply. This is music...wait, no it isn't. Sure some hipster is going to say it's creative and artistic, but I have to disagree. This is what you send to someone when you hate them. It's high speed noise with cartoon effects and vocal samples thrown in that has no musical value whatsoever. You know what Suomi sounds like? Take that and multiply it by 11. But that's not fair to that entire genre because at least that is musical. For God's sake it has samples of some guy puking and a bunch a drunks singing Pour Some Sugar On Me. Kudos to Ektoplazm for putting this up on his site because it shows that he doesn't discriminate against anyone's music. I'd rather be that guy than listen to this again. Hey I hated it, but I'll leave that for you to decide. Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Scopes Title: Glass of Water EP Label: Psyderweb Records Date: September, 2011 01 - Glass Of Water (70 BPM) 02 - Daze (59.5 BPM) 03 - Astronauts (70 BPM) 04 - After The Break (70 BPM) "This is a glass of water. Colorless...tasteless." The country known for windmills, tulips, and wooden shoes brings us Marcel Hartholt with a nice 4 track EP that makes me want a glass of water. It's slow downtempo beats and soft synth touches that make me feel like I'm swimming in the deep blue. Mellow isn't a strong enough word for how this goes down. I was curious to hear what 59.5 BPM sounded like and it's a whisker away from comatose. None of the tracks are over 6 minutes so it's easy to digest. Favorite? Probably After the Break because it just takes me away to a nice place. As always free to download from our friend at Ekto. Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Schizoid Bears Title: Bearsky Dreams EP Label: Forest Freaks Date: December, 2011 Nothing is more terrifying than seeing the dark side of something that always gave you comfort. What can I say, Santa loves the hoe, hoe, hoes! shortly after this pic was taken they found parts of little timmy in the freezer of the neighbor across the street who always waved to you on his way to work. "Now where dat Barbie b*tch at?" So the Freaks are at it again with a release from C. Monster and P. Tale. Two Lithuanians who love the dark side and first name initials. It's a 4 track EP that makes you think what really goes on in the deep woods where there are no prying human eyes. Love the cover with the psychedelic colors and the slighly out of focus bears watching in the background. Back on Action- Sounds like the bears have had enough with these f*cking hikers sh*tting in their woods. Hear that weird evil cry? That's them. Great effects and twinkling sounds create a rich atmosphere. But that is only added to with the clicking and bubbling as someone sings in an attempt not to be scared. It's not powerful but rather suggestive. Ooohhh...look what you diiiiiiiiid. Now you made him angry. Planeta Pliuk- Something about Russian that makes samples spooky. Unless you're Russian I guess. For all I know he said, "How bout some scrambled eggs for breakfast?" But for me it's very cold war get the hell outta here type stuff. Holy sh*t did you just forest goa me? I think you did, Ursa Major. So this is what bears do in the woods when nobody is lookin'. Twisted forest sounds with intertwining melodies. Pumping all the way through as you get lost in the woods. Easy to get turned around isn't it? Waggish Night- I love layered forest tracks and this is the tail that wags the dog. Or bear, in this case. Typical forest sounds with eerie pads and bouncing leads are on the menu and it does.not.stop. A very deep and involving track. Sick and Tired- "I'm sick and tired of hearing about all of the radicals." More of the punishing style with juicy and bubbling effects and unlike a lot of the darkpsy or forest this has more than one melody running concurrently. So the bears are sick and tired of you starting fires in their woods. Sick and tired of the sh*tty food selection in your pick a nick baskets. But mostly they are sick and tired of your extreme couponing. "Take that bush league sh*t to Food Lion, p*ssy. Dis Kroger, n*gga!" I hope they release more stuff and refine their sound. Some of the tracks were a little light in places and could use a little more oomph. Sounds odd to say, but I hope they take this in a darker, horror movie direction because it almost writes itself. Like a psychotic serial killer bunny named Kottontale that...ah, you get the picture. Using the cuddly teddy bear as a theme could prompt some truly psychotic images. Psychedelic....I meant psychedelic. It's free so I urge you to check it out. "That was nice, right? Just like we rehearsed. You need me to do it again? Cuase I got no problem with that." Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Dionitrix Title: Well of Dreams Label: None Date: January, 2012 1. Vivid Dreams 2. Trip To Goa Trance 3. Reincarnation 4. Fall Silently Bonus Track - Enter The Sphere Hey David. David is this you? Yeeesh...you better f*cking clorox that tub when you're done you weirdo. On second thought, just get the f*ck outta here. I have no idea who this is, but whoever you are thank you for posting your music up here for free. Of course you realize that means that you are opening yourself up to criticism from no talent douchebags around the interwebz, right? Hope none of them come here. Far be it from me to sh*t on someone's hard work, but I'm also not that guy that will sugar coat anything and tell you it's gonna be all right. Not me. But let me get right to it. Vivid Dreams- This is a mish mosh of styles and directions. Dark creatures in the background, twinkling melody...Interesting to say the least. But it seems like you had a lot of things running around in your head and just decided to throw it all together. Like a casserole. Now normally I love me some casserole, but this needs some direction and polish. And some cheese, sprinkle some cheese on that mother f*cker. Trip To Goa Trance- Any melodies that you might hear are in the background and sound rather amateurish. Which is ok, because he is an amateur. I realize that everyone's idea of goa trance is different, but I'd like to think I can recognize it when I hear it. I uh, didn't hear any. Reincarnation- It's a techno punch in the face with that heavy kick as synths dance the dance. Thinner than loose leaf paper, but it's the most musical track yet. That's not that big of a compliment. Fall Silently- Ok, we've got some musicality and get this there is a female vocal. No info on whether she was sacrificed shortly thereafter however. The hi-hats are drawn out in a shuffle as a synth arpeggio runs. But there is the unmistakeable sound of white noise that overrides everything. Let's see where do I file this...where do I file this...ah! There it is... Terrible. Enter the Sphere- How is this a bonus? It's assault and distorted industrial mayhem with very dark tendencies. Sounds are twisted and manipulated in ways that God did not intend. I played this for Trent Reznor (NIN) and he said you have a lot of problems. But amidst the chaos there is some musicality. Not much, but some. It's evil and talks about killing. We're still making dance music right? I mean, this doesn't make me want to dance. Makes me want to take a wood sander to somebody's bare back. It is what it is. This is an amateur making an attempt with his first release. I hope you take my tongue in cheek review for the humor I'm attempting because I realize how hard it is to make quality music. Takes time and loads of practice. Your sound is all over the place and I'm guessing you are still discovering it yourself. Michaelangelo didn't just run into the church, jump on a scaffold and say, "Gimme a mother f*ckin' brush...I got this." Or maybe he did. I wasn't there. Check it out if you like Mdk

Artist: Auma Title: Interacting Processing Label: Enig'matik Records Date: August, 2011 01 - That Old Magick (100 BPM) 02 - Settle And Release (105 BPM) 03 - Machromatic (100 BPM) 04 - A Collision Of Craniums (100 BPM) 05 - Nude (95 BPM) This is Luke Peart based in Melbourne with an EP that sounds different than most. He makes downtempo but with influences that range from hip-hop to smooth jazz to glitch it definitely makes it's mark. It's free so there isn't any excuse not to check this out. Unless you are a bitter soul with popeye face. The Old Magick- This reeks of Ultimae quality with the cold percussion and skittering sounds. Perfect music for a rainy day with detuned tones and a funky break beat. The bass does the heavy lifting but all the effects create the spooky atmosphere. My favorite part is when the beat drops out for a second. Slick. If you're riding a train home from work and it's raining outside...this is your soundtrack. Settle and Release- Electric piano smoothness with rolling bass sweeps make this pull your coat closer to you as you cross the street in a rain shower kinda music. The hip-hop influence is on full display with the beat and the chopped up percussive funkiness. Music like this could make Steve Carell seem street. On second thought.... Machromatic- The BPM is only 100 but it sounds twice as fast as that with glitchy electronics. Soft pads float in sharp contrast to the hectic chaos below. It's like a weird melodic dream sequence. Catch the drill? A Collision of Craniums- "Here we see Mark and John taking a traditional hug and adding a more personal touch. Watch...how the foreheads gently collide." "Damnit b*tch, I said gently! We're not insured for that!" More gentle melodies that caress your head and tell you that everything is gonna be all right. What is that sound, a kid's piano? The layers are stacked and this is a very happy track. He transitions into a reverse sounding break and then you hear that cool sample. More smiles here than a dentist's office. Nude- This sounds like something Radiohead would do. Screechy, unintelligable vocals about some boy that doesn't understand him over strings and a break beat. Not my cup of tea. Good EP with the exception of that last track. Smooth music that deserves a listen. Ektoplazm Mdk

Yeah really good tracks, but if you're going to charge 4 bucks for 2 songs that sound nearly identical to the originals, well that seems rather dishonest. Mdk

You're very welcome. That one is in the works. Mdk