Trance2MoveU

Templar, you really are testing my budget. How can you refuse the British psytrance sound? Mdk

Thank you Liam for your comment and to you Templar for coming to my defense. It's all taste. All of it. Some people like Venus de Milo and some wonder where the f*cking arms went. I didn't like this particular release Liam, so what? I'm one guy and by complaining about one guys opinion you do three things: One you sound like a primma donna that can't take criticism and two you give more power to my words than they actually have. Perhaps you're smart like a fox though as the third thing it does is bring attention to your release. Now people who might not have known about it will check it out and make up their own mind. That can't be bad, can it? Mdk

Artist: Toi Doi Title: Mother Pitch EP Label: Underground Alien Factory Records Date: July, 2011 1. Frogs Party (146 BPM) 2. Oxigen (146 BPM) 3. Worm Twist (146 BPM) 4. D-Liss (Recycled Mix) (146 BPM) UAF headed by our own Imba is out with their 22nd release and it's by a true veteran of the scene. I don't know if he had to promise his first born or worked out the kinks on that deal with the devil, but we have some material from the legendary Toi Doi. Gilles released his first album back in 1998 called Technologic that loads of people love. I never heard any of his stuff after that, but am always eager to see what new goa trance Imba delivers. As always, it is free. Frogs Party- If you guessed you would hear frogs on this one give yourself a cookie. Thankfully it never approaches annoying like my most hated song "The Frog" by X-dream. If you like that come to my backyard at night, we got plenty of frogs, crickets, and birds. Go nuts. The leads he uses are a little left of center, definitely not from the new school playbook. It's dirty with more of an underground sound rather than beating you over the head with layers of melodies. It churns along with no break whatsoever. Cool. Oxigen- More modulated filthy leads at both the low and high ends. Again no break, but he switches leads with ease. It drifts with a progressive attitude and with the crunchy bass it's a gritty affair that is quite danceable. For the last time, get off my f*cking desk! Worm Twist- He's got his dirty leads weaving amongst themselves as some tribal chants shout with joy. His leads are pretty awesome I must say. I liken his style in this way: While corporate heads fly off to exotic locales in their jets, the working man stays behind to make sure the company doesn't go belly up. He's a working mans goa producer. And this was another groovy feather in his cap. D-Liss (Recycled Mix)- This is the darkest track yet. It's got lasers, crazy good groove, and twisted leads. He just keeps hitting you with squirmy synths with that dirty appeal. It churns on with no rest breaks putting me in that state of trance. Perfect for spinning like our favorite dandruff queen. I know that a lot of people have looked forward to this release and to his return to the scene in general. Anytime someone wants to release some goa trance they should be welcomed with open arms. Gilles is a veteran who has been doing this for a long time. The fact that his first album is still talked about speaks to his talent and quality of work. If you liked Technologic you will no doubt like this. Sure I liked it. It was gutteral and crunchy when the majority of artists leap for sunshine and light so the change is a welcome one. But I'm not so quick to put this above other UAF releases. Sky Technology, Persistent Aura, Trinodia, Beast 303, Goa Overdose...I liked those more. If I had to put a number on it, I would say 4/5. Solid. Personal opinion and nothing more. I'm glad he's back as well and look forward to more stuff from him. Thanks for bringing him back Imba and for free no less. Recommended! Ektoplazm Mdk

Fabulous! If the point of a review is to educate and entertain then you scored on both accounts. It takes some time to do reviews as you well know and sometimes the humor as the reviewer sees it might not come across to the readers. Always a tightrope to walk. Way to go survey1 I'm flattered. Mdk

Is this Alex? Thank you for the compliments! I really enjoyed your album as the review indicated. My reviews are just one man's opinion and it's good that other people have differing conclusions. It helps me to see things that I might have missed when I go back and listen to the music. Above all I just try to make reading these things a little more entertaining. Also if it brings new people to the scene, all the better. Mdk

Artist: Organikka Title: Mind Control EP Label: Neurotrance Records Date: March, 2011 1. Mind Control (148 BPM) 2. Halloween (148 BPM) 3. E3blue (148 BPM) 4. Zero (148 BPM) God I hate rap music today. When the hell did it change from rapping with style and having a good time to the hook laden bullsh*t of today? Even Kanye used to be good then his head exploded and it's been a sh*t sandwich ever since. Remember when gangsta rap used to be cool? But then white kids stopped being afraid of it and now the latest rap jingle can be heard in a McDonalds commercial. Buh da buh da da, I'm lovin' it! But really I'm not. So for my birthday I boarded a bus and beat the sh*t out of Lil' Wayne. How to Love indeed. I mean, he's like your slow witted cousin that speaks with difficulty and stares a lot. I don't deny that he's had a rough upbringing and if the world is gonna lap up everything he regurgitates then he deserves his success. Just don't expect me to fall in line. Anyway, rant over. Since I'm still broke I have been all over Ektoplazm and their fine selection of free music. This is Bruno Faria from Portugal with his debut. I do love me some Portuguese psytrance almost as much as the stuff form South Africa. He appears to be a jack of all trades as he did the mastering and the artwork as well. Mind Control- "Do not translate this message. Just listen." Oh yeah, I'm gonna like this. With a heaping amount of acid and lasers (you will find he REALLY likes this) he does the twilight sound proud. It swirls and echoes with a dark tone as he switches melodies. It's a frenzy of nighttime madness. Halloween- The word Halloween evokes all types of evil imagery so this is a track tailor made for twilight sounds. His bass line is a deep rumbler, while lasers and acid splattering everywhere. It's lean, mean and ready to drive right over you. Power and attitude are its calling card with just no regard for safety. I really liked it. Boom! Eblue- This guy loves the ladies...I mean, lasers. Fine by me, because he's good at it. Some of his sounds remind me of The Frog from X-dream. Unfortunately this one is kind of thin with no real direction. It would seem he was building towards something, but then it would just fizzle out. Zero- "Well, the only way you're going to get order is if the Batman takes off his mask and turns himself in. Every day he doesn't people will die. Starting tonight." Get ready for an all out assault on the ears with lasers firing at will, a rampaging bass line and rising synths. There is no rest it's just the foot mashing the accelerator. Look, Gary Busey will tell you, this guy is just cramming this track straight up your rectum. This was a good twilight EP. Plenty of lasers and acid for those (like me) who love that stuff. The only complaint I have is that it seems the leads are lacking in power or fullness, whereas the bass seems a little too prominent. Believe me it's not enough to take away from this rampaging ride. Recommended for all lovers of the twilight freak show. Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Synthetic Forest Title: Min Egen Lilla Vaerld EP(Oh yeah, you got that right!) Label: Sacred Evil Records Date: January, 2011 1. Ogcocephalioidei (138 BPM) 2. Trollish (138 BPM) 3. Min Egen Lilla Värld (138 BPM) The first thing that drew me to this was the unbelievably good looking cover. Dark, foresty, scary...The second was my burgeoning interest in the forest genre. I suppose it doesn't get any more forest than an artist named Synthetic Forest. This is a 3 track EP that combines the forest style with tech-trance. Right off the bat you can see the BPMs are lower and there are a lot of stops and starts as well. I've crucified artists for that sh*t but here it adds to the...eerieness. Ogcocephalioidei- "The difference between the LSD experience and the DMT experience..." The first track has enough vowels to give Vanna White a heart attack. I can't even pronounce it, but what I can tell you is that bass can't get too much lower. It's super spooky and laden with effects. Hell, there's even a chick's high-pitched sneeze. It's dark without being threatening but it really feels organic. Like tendrils curling around your arms. Trollish- Guess what, the bass got lower. It's more frenetic, but has a super descriptive breaks. Alien sounds roll out of the forest in waves as larger winged creatures fly above the canopy. I thought I heard Treebeard, but who the f*ck knows. Sometimes it was a little too chaotic, but that is a minor quip. Min Egen Lilla Värld- The formula seems to be deep rolling bass line with high toned effects clanking above. Add more effects. I didn't feel connected to this one as more often than not it resembled noise. A little on the minimal side at times but I like what he tried to create. Forest trance can be really complex and tough to follow sometimes, so thank you for the moderate track lengths. It was dark and delicious to experience. Visceral and alive. I would recommend a little more variety in tempo because it would keep the mind focused. But this is a small EP so you get a pass. It will be interesting to see how this artist's music evolves. I tell ya, I'm starting to like this type of trance. Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Grower Label: Lookinglook Records Date: May, 2011 1. Atati - Versions (60 BPM) 2. Spectrum Vision - Outsiders (100 BPM) 3. Mahaon - Leaving The Limit (feat. Locus) (75 BPM) 4. Vonoom - Dirty Dishwater (80 BPM) 5. Overdream - Mystique Cabalistique (92 BPM) 6. E.R.S. - I Went Irie (The Orient Funk Experience) (100 BPM) 7. Irukanji - Muti Cappa (88 BPM) 8. ShizoLizer Gin - Sweet Dino (100 BPM) 9. Xylonite - Thermal Expansion (125 BPM) 10. Unusual Cosmic Process - Cosmic Harmony (96 BPM) 11. Liquid Crystal - Raindrops (90 BPM) 12. Kalpataru Tree - MetaLullaby (77 BPM) Part eight and the final chapter in the series "That's it? After 6 months that's what you f*cking came up with" brings a beautiful cover in the vein of Ultimae releases. Letterbox format with pretty vibrant flowers amid blowing tall grasses...I can feel the stress just melt away. The lion's share of these artists are unknown to me, but I treat that like a good thing or a new adventure. Like that party I threw a while back. It was supposed to be just for family, but I guess you can't control who your family...brings. Grandma! Grandma!! No more gettin' low...you just had hip surgery! Man, Pablo got hammered. At least we found him a ride home. Might as well kid. If the Henny don't get ya, judging from all the snacks on that table, the Diabetes will. When asked for comment Satan replied, "Whoa, whoa! Don't pin this on me. I didn't tell that crazy b*tch to do that!" Versions- Great way to start the compilation. It's a slow, drifting piece of ambient that has swirling synths and a constant bass line with no drums. Sporting a nice melody and growing more bold as time progresses until it slowly slinks away. Outsiders- This is an abstract bit of music with elements of glitch, downtempo, and tribal influences. The title suits the track being kind of stand-offish. With spacey melodies and soft synth touches it switches between percussive styles. Not bad. Leaving The Limit- This one has a funky little beat with more outer space melodies. Different synths fade in and keeps it quite interesting. Very thick track and very enjoyable. Dirty Dishwater- With loads of effects and a dubby beat we get into some dirty dishes. Sunny afternoon type stuff with a smooth reggae flair. The whole track just bounces along like it hasn't a care in the world. Mystique Cabalistique- With techno and tribal leanings, this track has an eerie tone about it in an Alice in Wonderland kind of way. Chopped up voice samples and rining sounds echo mysteriously throughout. There is some pretty piano and string parts that make me feel I have just stepped into the frying pan. The pace quickens and becomes quite frenzied with all the comings and goings. Interesting, getting all flutey at the end. I Went Irie (The Orient Funk Experience)- I see your bouncy beat and raise you one funktacular track. You wouldn't think a gentleman named Manfred could get down, but man fred got down! His basses were crisp and he mixed in some percussive wizardry that had this reviewer dancing. Felt like I was at a block party. And the cool thing was he kept introducing new sounds and phases to make that 9 minutes fly by. Good job! Muti Cappa- This one was a strange mix of outer space sounds and Earthy flavor. You had acoustic drums, a strumming guitar, and some screeching and moaning. Not my idea of relaxing. Didn't care for it. Sweet Dino- Yeah he's sweet, but didn't he get into a lot of sh*t too? This is upbeat in the progressive style but bursting at the seams with effects. It sounds like something Aes Dana would do, you know there floaty progressive ambient style? Yeah you do. The synths are deep outer space and radio knob twisters. Thermal Expansion- With a crunchy kick and soft tones this track is a drifter. Synths gallop through computer generated realities as pads form the framework. There is a very futuristic feel here with analog synths screaming as they fly past you. And the end is like falling into a down comforter surrounded by pillows. Bravo. Cosmic Harmony- You don't normally hear a gun being cocked and the word harmony thrown around together, but I suppose that could forge a type of...nah I can't even finish this sentence. But this track should be listened to. Epic. Truly massive in scope and detail that made me feel like I was moving even though I was standing still. Superb! Raindrops- Holy crap that really does bring forth images of rain falling. Well done without sounding cheesy. Very full with nice melodies and changes in direction to keep it from becoming boring. Because at over 9 minutes...well ya gotta do that. MetaLullaby- Ethereal voices float over plucked strings as electronics click deliberately underneath. It's really just an outro but a perfect way to end this business. This was a great compilation. I'm telling you I have heard just as much great free music as I have sh*t I had to pay for. Really, this close to no longer buying stuff. You had a lot of styles here and it sounded great. No question, this was a good one. Ektoplazm Mdk

According to Discogs it's for sale! This sounds like great news! Organique And it can be purchased here! Juno Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Yggdrasil Label: Yggdrasil Records Date: September, 2005 01 :: PhasePhour - Evolution of Space 02 :: Heggmatech - There Is A Place 03 :: Trold - Fruit Juice 04 :: Krussedull - Lord Vader 05 :: Tech Republic - The Incredible Machine 06 :: Phobium - Self Interest 07 :: Loke - Twisted Nerve 08 :: Psy-Fi - Wind Chapter 7 in the series You Motherf*cking piece of Sh*t is an oldie but a goodie. I am fairly late to the forest party, but what I have discovered is that not only is it insanely trippy, but it can also be melodic and groovy as hell. This is a free promo that the label put out 6 years ago full of Norwegian artists. Since the massacre (hence the title of the review) in Norway I figure it's the least I could do to shine the spotlight on our very good friends way up there. Norway. Up until recently the only other country that gets less attention is Lichtenstein. Seems like all the other Scandinavian countries steal all the notoriety. Denmark has Hans Christen Andersen, Finland has reindeer, Sweden has hot blonde chicks, and what does Norway have? Fjords? I'll tell you what they have...some seriously twisted musicians. Evolution of Space- I wasn't aware these two guys made forest music. Ah, but here you go. The bass lead is the big feature here and it gets twisted this way and that. With echoing effects it feels more outer space than Scandinavian forest. Not a lot to be afraid of though as it doesn't really evolve into anything. There is a place- "When and Indian is lost he must reach into the spirit to find a way. We are lost right now." Now this is more like it. Trippy sounds rising and falling and did you see that? That motherf*cker pushed me down this hole! This is rife with the stink of fear but has some melody to give you just enough light to see the overgrown trail. Spooky animal sounds call from the dark to let you know you're not alone. Creepy. Fruit Juice- "Hey! What kinda party is this?" A f*cking awesome party, that's what! This has melody, plenty of effects, and a groove factor that's off the charts. It throws my entire perception of reality into question. I feel ya. But you expect nothing but the best from Trold or do you not recall Time of Illusion from 2007? Hit the books, Poindexter! Lord Vader- "Lord Vader....Yes master?...Rise." 10 and a half minutes means you better pee now because you have a lot of digital farts to get through. The lead at the outset blends into the next one as if hiding behind a thick mossy tree. New synths sprout out of the ground quickly like a plant biologist's wet dream. Too much? I liked it, but felt it went on a little long. Recession is f*cking with everyone's paper. The Incredible Machine- Bingo. It's hot as a b*tch here. F*ck Al Gore's internet, greatest invention of all time right there. Lots of echoes and wobbling and I have my hallucination set to high. This is look at your hand and see it quivering type freakout sh*t. I can see every molecule tumble out of the plastic bottle as I pour it in a glass. Rumbling, and I mean RUMBLING bass as static rises to a fever pitch. What the hell is going on here? Kill it! Kill it! Kill that motherf*cker!!! Self Interest- This one switches direction a lot from muffled hi-hats to screaming alarm like leads and chopped up bits of sound. The layers fall nicely into place as the synths play a cat and mouse game at high velocity. Not bad at all. Twisted Nerve- Don't leave me. This is what I would be saying if I were in this nightmare. To the untrained ear, it would sound like a bunch of noises echoing over a constant bass line and kick. But the modulated leads and delicate synth tones speak of downed trees and fog so thick you can cut it with a knife. Harsh tones and evil whistles don't help. Did it just get colder in here? This reminds me of Jeepers Creepers when I'm a mac goes down that pipe and sees all those people sewn to the ceiling. Not something that I would choose to listen to, but if you're looking for a hallucinatory soundtrack...you found one. Jeepers, creepers...where'd you get those peepers... Wind- For a track named wind it sure has a bunch of loud washes. Eerie leads lead me to believe this is what happens when you realize you're lost in a forest the size of Manhattan. F*cked. Wow, that was demented. There were parts that were melodic and parts that were just plain scary. And I mean that in a great way. This is Alice in Wonderland on acid with strong atmosphere. As I mentioned, I'm just getting into the whole forest thing, so any recommendations would be appreciated. This was delicious. If I find myself in a Norwegian fores at nighttime, I'm sure you'll find me with well soiled trousers. Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Tactic Tech Title: Mechanism EP Label: Drumlore Date: February, 2011 01 - Calgary (128 BPM) 02 - Mechanism (128 BPM) 03 - ReRun (130 BPM) 04 - Angels (125 BPM) Part 6 of the series, Wait...$5 for a f*cking gallon of milk? brings in Nikola Markovski from Serbia with a 4-track EP. I tell you, the Serbians are taking sh*t over in the psytrance world. It's released by a Canadian netlabel which I assume provides him with tickets to hockey games and a RMCP escort where ever he goes. That's a stereotype? Next thing ya know you're gonna tell me this is also. Herro, wercome to shitty wok! That's just wrong. No black woman I know would mix patterns like that. Not true. Arabs hate slurpees. And that's why we are at war with Islam. F*ck them. Oh f*ck, that one's true. Calgary- Did the label make you put that there? Is this what it's like in Calgary? Big house beat with a swagger as you go down a dark alley. And that's it. I still liked it. Mechanism- "When you watch something growing, it works exactly in the opposite direction. It works from the inside to the outside." More funk. Big beat with a plink plonk that is infectious. The sample is repeated and then it goes full-on house. Some washes and the sample again. So I see how it's gonna be...strong groovy beat with no evolution. But I don't mind. Because that plink plonk is addictive. Get it Jimmy! ReRun- More of the same heaping plate of funk that forces involuntary dancing. Jesus, this is addictive. Must...resist...temptation...to post...ah f*ck it. Angels- See track 1,2...and 3. So basically it's hit a button and let the sequencer run. These tracks ain't gonna take you to that other level of hallucination. Or even the first level. But that's not what they're here for. Like Morris Day he wants to see some asses wigglin' and some titties jigglin'! Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: LuneCell Title: Cosmic Dreams EP Label: None Date: December, 2010 01 - Cosmic Dreams (130 BPM) 02 - Expand (140 BPM) 03 - Terraform (140 BPM) 04 - Alkaloid (90 BPM) Part 5 of the series Spare $100 for a hotel room and a hooker? brings Tim Howe from Maryland in the good ol U S of A! I chose this EP to review because of the pretty blue cover. Never heard of him, but did I mention the EP has a pretty blue cover? He delivers one dark progressive shot and 3 downtempo rumblers that were mastered by Tim Schuldt so sound quality shouldn't be an issue. And it isn't. Cosmic Dreams- It's kind of an off tempo track to start but then it gets its 4/4 legs. The effects ring of deep cold space as the bass line hums. I'm sorry, but did that sample just say frutition? He sure did, but proper English aside, the track is dark and brooding with a taste of forest evil. Definitely like a nightmare. F*cking Ikea...they have some twisted furniture. Or...what the f*ck was that? I actually saw this movie when I was a kid. It's called Xtro. Pretty weird. Expand- There was a thread about digital farts and this is full of em. More like digital diarrhea. Slow, funky psydub with a dark intent. Synths waver and wobble as the aliens walk among us. Creepy. Terraform- More downtempo goodness as the effects wash over you like a bloodbath. Digital gurgling. It's evil creatures with no use for humans treating us like so much detritus. Alkaloid- Evil whispers of a tortured soul echo over a break beat. And what a big beat is. My absolute favorite, with dark, twisted effects. If the previous track was casting us aside, this is the scavenger coming to feed. This was pretty cool. Nothing groundbreaking but you can see his talent for atmosphere. His strength seems to be the downtempo stuff and as you can see by my gifs they create potent imagery. At least for my sick mind. Maybe I listen to too much Wizack Twizack...might be rubbing off on me. As usual Ekto provides this free so don't hesitate to check it out. He is definitely on the right track as I hope he'll get more intricate. Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Pusherstreet Title: Can't Be Stopped EP Label: Panzar Produktionz Date: May, 2011 01 - Some New, Old (140 BPM) 02 - Cant Be Stopped (140 BPM) 03 - ZnowZtorm (140 BPM) 04 - Acid Test (140 BPM) In part four of the series touch my 401k and I'll kick you in the crotch, brings Raz from Etnoscope and Liam from InYourPhaze. I just typed that and I have no idea what it says. I do know they are a Swedish progressive project and released their debut in 2009. Love the name and cover btw. This is released by a label that has more z's in it than my snoring. I really hope they don't sound the same. The promo reads 3 new tracks and one classic. Anyone else think we are a little to liberal with the word classic? Eleanor Rigby...classic. Stairway to Heaven...classic. Bohemian Rhapsody...classic I guess. Now there is a Pusherstreet classic? I dunno... Some New, Old- Aside from a nice groove this is as empty as the News corp apology. Nothing's happening. There isn't a law that says you can't have it both ways. It's very minimal sounding and by minimal I mean boring. Rupert is sad panda. Can't Be Stopped- 11 f*cking minutes!?! Why not just shoot me with a horse tranquilizer? I love long tracks when they're interesting. This was anything but. No offense to the Japanese, but I was hoping for an earthquake to 7 minutes into this thing. ZnowZtorm- What's with the f*cking z's? Ah, I like z's. They make you sound like you have a French accent. This is the most interesting track so far with more sounds but it still pales in comparison to..well a lot of stuff. Acid Test- "You are freakin' out...man." Maybe this is just party music. You know stuff to get the crowd hyped up before the main act. It bumps pretty well, but...sorry, I just nodded off. How the f*ck did this get a 90% rating on Ekto? Family vote? And some of the comments...so psytrance? Acid shit? Look, I'm one guy with an opinion and hardly the authority on music. But I have listened to a sh*tload of psytrance and acid...this doesn't have any of those qualities. It's just one beat all the way through with very little to accompany it. I even went back and listened to it more often than usual just in case I just "didn't get it." Yep, same result. So for all that liked this, congratulations. I'm happy for you. To me it was boring and empty with nothing interesting at all. It's free so you can of course judge for yourself (which is ultimately how you should do it anyway.) Ektoplazm Mdk

You've never heard one? Hmmm...you're right. It mustn't exist. I found releases like U-Recken's Deeper Into Man to be very deep. But watch out...here we go getting all subjective! Mdk

Artist: Messy Mass & Baba Gnohm Title: Night of the Living Kebab Label: None Date: March, 2011 01 - Yes, I Like Shawarma (118 BPM) 02 - Cream Fresh (126 BPM) 03 - Dear Dr. Döner (123 BPM) 04 - Splatterbrain (127 BPM) 05 - Night Of The Living Kebab (115 BPM) In Part 3 of get your f*cking hands out of my pocket comes a collaboration between Messy Mass (you mean like what I just cleared out of my son's diaper?)and Baba Gnohm. They are two Danes and while I'm not familiar with Messy, I have heard awesome tunes from Baba when he paired with Luage on the Monolith EP. This is another EP that brings together a lot of styles and quirky samples. What? Don't mind those douchebags up there, I just told congress to jump in a hole. I suppose it could also be a metaphor for not being a lemur and following the crowd to really bad releases. Which this EP does, but you don't come here for philosophizing, you come for the info. But you stay for the humor. Yes, I Like Shawarma- "You hungry? Yeah, I'm starving. You like shawarmas? Yes, I like shawarmas." You've got some deep bass and wobbly synths here. After the seemingly out of nowhere sample (which is cool as hell, btw) the tempo takes a hard right into groovetown. Population: you. The track is a tale of two halves with the 2nd one being more funky. Cream Fresh- "I've seen you around...but I had no idea you were a queer." We're all on the same page here, right? I mean, has there ever been a more homoerotic cartoon than He-Man? This is another quirky tango of bass and break beat. The sample is the gayest thing I have ever heard and just as left of center as the rhythm. Funky, yes. Like the guys working the carny rides. You know they're human, but you can't help but feel they're a chromosome shy of a set. Yeah, Ill uh...I'll make my own funnel cake.... Dear Dr. Döner- Yes Dr. may I have another. I feel like these guys should have back up dancers. Funky times 10. And some forest scratchiness as well? Talk about going out of your comfort zone. Splatterbrain- These guys are really working the break beat. Plenty of synths whirling around too. Right in the middle of the track they switch bass sounds and veer off into a different direction. Very Suomi with funk riding shotgun. Night of the Living Kebab- NOTLK? With a little maneuvering... I knew it! It all makes sense now. And by that I mean no sense. The style is similar to the other tracks, but here they float an eerie melody to make you think the Kebab zombies are on the move. I felt this was pretty funky. Not as deep or involved as Mr. Bill, but not bad at all. Sometimes it seemed like they were just throwing some electronica at you instead of having a certain direction. The break beats were cool and there are plenty of synths to keep you occupied. While not PS3 quality, it definitely is nod your head music with a super NES retro feel. Liked it. Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Mr. Bill Title: Suave Label: None Date: April, 2011 01 - Calligraphy (110 BPM) 02 - Majoram (105 BPM) 03 - My Little Helper (95 BPM) 04 - Osseous (160 BPM) 05 - Spatiala (160 BPM) 06 - Staunch (140 BPM) Part 2 in the series the government if f*cking with my money brings me to a delightful bit of music. Mr. Bill. No, not that one. Wait, maybe that one. I don't know. Actually it's Bill Day from down under with a brief 6-track EP that brings together loads of styles in a mish mash of funk. Electro, dub, techno, jazz, hip-hop beats...you name it. It's on Ekto so of course it's free of charge. Calligraphy- is a slow saunter with you and your girl on the dance floor. It's got 8-bit video game sounds, juicy bass, and skittering electronics that don't fake the funk. The melodies are infused with jazz touches that sound wispy and fine Nasty business, this. Get low! Marjoram- Ummm...did the bass get deeper? It sure got nastier, now with more *pop*! After it slows down it totally changes gears with a jazzy electric piano. Then it goes all wah-wah on you while keeping the funky bass Groovy man. No sh*t I just said that. My Little Helper- Someone make sure his driver's license doesn't say George Clinton because he keeps funkin' sh*t up in here. This gives new meaning to the word wobbly as his guitar licks you like my kid does a lollipop. Man, I just had a Puttin' On The Ritz moment only with more funk and less gayness. His electro layers work well with his break beat that's for sure. Great stuff! Osseus- Not a huge fan of DnB but I felt this one. Nice to know he can do different styles. Even though it's not my favorite style, he brings frenetic keystrokes and punchy synthlines. Is it possible to be mellow while being uptempo? He did it. Spatiala- Very electronic with a glitchy undercurrent. With numerous layers out front, the stings are very melodic and soft. My favorite bit. And talk about a shift in direction half way though! It becomes a trance track complete with chopped up electronics and a break beat. Super. Staunch- F*cking gangsta! Yo grandma...you gonna let someone else hit that? This is on some old Compton sh*t. Sippin on some gin and juice flavor. Crafty bass and another switch in style at the midway point. Aggressive synth riffs roll over the boom boom of the kick and he finishes with a break beat as electronics whizz by. Man this guy is full of twists and turns. His site is right here and I'm gonna have to check it out cause this was great! If you like electronic music there is something for you here. I love psy, but sometimes you need a break from the 4/4 time signature. His beats are fresh and his bass is funky as hell. More of this please. Super whether you listen at home or you're rollin down the street in your 64. Westside! Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Brujo's Bowl Title: Healing With Sound EP Label: Arkona Creation Date: June, 2011 1. Realization Dub (80 BPM) 2. Gyananakashu (The Eye Of Knowledge) (80 BPM) 3. Brujo's Drift (80 BPM) 4. Healing With Sound (80 BPM) Have you heard? My government can't stop arguing with each other about the precipice the country is on and we are set to default on our debt for the first time in the nation's history. F*cking fantastic. While not trying to sound like an economics course that means an increase in interest rates which will affect mortgages, credit card rates, car loans, student loans... In short we are headed for a a world of sh*t. I'm really thinking about sending my bills to those a**holes in Washington. You f*cking pay them. So seeing as how my monetary situation is soon to be in peril, I might as well get used to spending less. But that doesn't mean I still can't enjoy good music. The fine fellow at Ektoplazm has seen to that. This is Saxon Higgs from Wales with a 4-track EP that promises dubby sounds and "a warm and zingy character, sending waves through the senses" Brother does it deliver. Booming, dubby bass and skittering sound effects warble on Realization Dub. With high speed percussion and a wobbly synth it takes the listener to the beach with a cool drink. Super emotive guitar work on Gyananakashu as the accordion riffs above the soul clap. It goes on a little long, but still a great piece of work. Brujo's Drift does more wobbling and well...drifting. Great groove to nod your head to. The final track Healing With Sound saunters with the attitude of a gangsta as clicking noises scatter around the deep, deep bass. So this is dubstep? It can be funky, melodic, rhythmic...very good listen that you should really check it out. And remember...even Congress can't charge for something that's free. Right? Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: PTX Title: Fade Out Label: Bionics Records Date: March, 2011 1. Smaplay 2. Bumper 3. Uptime 4. Hannya 5. Loft 6. Starter 7. 4freaks 8. Old Faces 9. Sound of Goa 10. Surfer Sometimes you have to make do with what you have. For example a bluetooth headset is convenient (if not blatantly annoying to the person next to you) but it can get a little pricey. Boom, problem solved. F*ck you Verizon. I have a friend who rides motorcycles and while I'm not fond of a trip to the emergency room I suppose some would find them desirable. I heard it goes 0-60 in like 4 sec...when you throw it in the back of a truck going downhill. Gangsta! It's the summer and everyone loves cookouts, but in this economy who can afford a grill? Shopping carts...is there anything they can't do? I wanted to review something else but it hadn't arrived yet so I had to make do. PTX is Patrick Chen and this is his 3rd album. That's a pretty good accomplishment, I don't even have a job. Participate in the X-Periment and Color Your Ears were great efforts so I am interested in how his sound has evolved. Reading the promo nonsense I see you've had some electro and techno influences. That could be...good? Right? Smaplay- "F*cking thing sucks!" I'm sorry, but did you just sample Bill O'Reilly from the Inside Edition days? I think you did. Kudos. Unfortunately that was the highlight. It's a stipped down full on parade that harkens back to the Alien Project days. It's groovy with a cool sample but it's thinner than Kate Moss at lunchtime after a visit to the toilet. Yeah, I did. Bumper- You do know it's 2011 right? A hype DJ goin' on about lettin the bass drop? Couple this with a weak break and buildup and it's not for me. Some groovy parts sure, but a lot of things have some good stuff in them and then don't turn out so...well. Matching pimp and hoe outfits? Yeah, I don't know when that was a good idea... Uptime- "In the mean time keep the f*cking music down!" Emphatic cursing really helps get your point across, ask any comedian today. Yeah it's full-on, but God help me I don't hate it. Don't get me wrong, I want to, I really do. But it has this driving, undulating feeling that I find groovy. But let's be honest it always reverts back to a stripped down version that you've heard...let's see by my count...465,321,755 times. Years ago. Get with the program. Hannya- This one is more of a slow starter, kinda progressive like. Eventually it builds and has a spacey feel to it. It would be a good soundtrack to something badass happening. Full-on? You bet, but I've heard way worse. You have to...you know you have. Loft- At this point I'm pretty sure what I'm gonna get from this disc. Just when I'm ready to trash it he brings that driving style that appeals to me. Pumping and great music for the car. Sounds like stuff from Glowing Flame which I think we can all appreciate. I just wish he would keep doing that. Good stuff. Starter- There is definitely some electro shenanigans going on here. Wailing leads make me think this needs to be played at a big club where you can just be you. Even with the hige kick it's minimal sounding and I don't care for the stuff myself, kinda empty. Just kept looking at my watch waiting for something interesting to happen. That time never came. 4Freaks- This could possibly be the worst track of all time. Hold on..getting a text from Lamont I know dude, it's really hard to believe. Why would he put this on the album? "I wanna freak you." Really? High on Coke and Jell-O pudding pops, upon hearing this track Bill Cosby was sent into a swoon in which he may never recover. When asked for comment the only response was a torrent of nonsensical gibberish. Old Faces- See, now he's just f*ckin' with me. More of the driving style with synths screaming above the beat. It's like that cartoon about the frog that can sing when nobody is looking, but as soon as someone else peeks...ribbit. Wipe that smile off your face. You're making me look like an idiot. Sound of Goa- This was actually a great track. Close your mouth, you look ridiculous. While not really goa, it may be as close as he gets. It drifts with chopped up choirs and has some really cool bass sounds. The leads and strings are also impressive as a story is told. Hey Imba, shoot him an email and see if he would be open to a goa album. Best track on the whole enchilada. Surfer- Last track and he pulls out a progressive number. It's minimalistic sounding, but it's got some deep bass and funk to it. 2nd best track that makes me want to get dirty. This is what it is. A full-on album with some big beats and groovy quality. This is what PTX creates. Like most full-on there is some cheese and some generic crap also. Still, when he nails a track he nails it. Most tracks had some good parts in them, but they were far too brief. He shows flashes of brilliance and the ability to create a banger, but it's not the deepest release I've heard. Far from it. Unfortunately I also found it was the weakest of all his albums. Slightly above average full-on which is still miles better than anything I could make. Psyshop Beatspace GoaStore Mdk

Umm...hello? This is not psy-polka. F*cking amateur. Mdk

Can I review it? Mdk

Artist: Absolum and friends! Title: CO Lab Part 01 EP Label: 3D Vision Date: July, 2011 1. Power Science (Vs. Lost & Found) 2. Get Up Now (Vs. Outer Signal) To this date Inside the Sphere by Absolum is my favorite psytrance release. Power, dark melodies, danceability...what more could you want? So whenever I go EP shopping (which is too damn often) if I see a release by Christof or one that he appears on, I buy it. This just came out from 3D Vision and that is a label that I also cannot resist. Added bonus alert? Appearances by Lost & Found and Outer Signal. Power Science- "We've put an explosive charge in your head...sound familiar? Well that would explain the headaches. Two of the most awesome twilight acts around on one track? Yes please. Power and leads that like your little cousin that you don't see very often...ain't quite right. The acid runs deep here and now it's all over the walls. I am NOT cleaning that sh*t up! I'm telling you that. The break gives you a brief rest before picking up right where we left off. Pretty standard ass kicking stuff that won't displease. Do you think they're dancing to It's Raining Men? Get Up Now- "C'mon now, get up!" And boom goes the dynamite. Let me show you how we got here. First, you ah....are gonna hear that sample a lot here. Starts off great with a big beat and a flutter of a synth keeping time. It adds drama and suspense and I'm thinking we have another cracker of the animal variety. The nimble lead dances with agility that's hard to come by and then the sample begins to repeat. Leads get crunchier and scratchy like my sheets were made of poison ivy. So I'm thinking this is still a beast until the final break. Who the f*ck invited the dog? Is this your dog? Get him the f*ck out of here! Listen to the track and you will see what I mean. Rapid fire dog barking sample with a rising track? You just fell off my playlist. Barking dog aside, these are two pretty good tracks. You've got a stong beat, requisite acid splattering and an overall dark atmosphere. Not the best I've heard, but they shouldn't disappoint. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Rinkadink Title: Human Technicians Label: Alchemy Records Date: March, 2011 1. Tranzmachien 2 Rinkadink Vs. Loud – Abstract 3 Rinkadink Vs. Slider – Triple X 4 Bootleg 2011 5 We Can Build You 6 All That Matters Is Love 7 Control The Future 8 Eightsawz 9 Rinkadink Vs. Mike Modular – Techmology (2011 Remix) Alchemy Records did most of their damage in the early and mid 2000's but here release Werner Van Jaarsveld's third solo effort. Now I'm not gonna lie. I know what I like and this artist, well...has left me feeling Just because you're from South Africa doesn't mean you get the keys to the kingdom know what I'm sayin? But let's talk about this CD and not dwell on the past. His last album was over 6 years ago so what's he bring to the table? Not too much I'm afraid. This would've been a perfect time to unleash a bomb from someone who has largely been on the periphery for the last few years. But that didn't happen. This sounds like it could've been made in 2005. Not necessarily a bad thing, but this is as vanilla as it gets. With lots of full-on touches there ain't anything that makes it stand out. No memorable melodies, lush breaks, or power that screams to be heard. It sounds very thin and I found myself skipping forward in tracks at times to find improvements. Remember Rabbit From The Darkside? Well, it sounds a lot like that. Now that wasn't a bad disc but it's not 2004. As Janet Jackson said, "What have you done for me lately?" I can tell you, shortened my wishlist, that's what you did. Beatport Mdk

Artist: SETI Project Title: Wizard's Night EP Label: Underground Alien Factory Records Date: May, 2011 1. Wizard's Night 2. Insomniac 3. Demons This is Paul Yelland with a 3-track EP. He released an album on UAF back in 2009 called Tribal Trance that wasn't very memorable for me. That's ok, because I think he is coming into his own, maybe workin' out the kinks. Whereas his previous tracks sounded raw this is a step up in both intricacy and the production values. Sounds more professional to these ears. Wizard's Night- Oh yes it's Wizards night, and the feelings right...Kool and the Gang don't get no love? Why do I see a dancing Gandalf with that big hat of his? This track sounds rather simplistic in the beginning yet it becomes more intricate the longer it goes on. There are many leads and layers and it's done very well, but it lacks that floaty, ethereal feeling. That's ok, it's doing its own thing. Bubbling and sparkling leads with a nice growly 303 rising from the earth. That's when it gets into ass kicking mode. So this is quite awesome, like a good friend having your back or to put it another way... You don't just walk into Mordor without protection.... Insomniac- I can picture this. It starts off with a metronome-like clicking for about a minute. You know like when you can't sleep, but you hear the second hand of the clock clicking? Yeah like that. It's got a pretty cool violin sound and then it gets all goa-ey. Chants, bouncing rhythm in a hypnotic style. Not as evolving as the previous track and it makes me think of what I do when I can't sleep. TV? Internet? Club? Then...inspiration! Demons- This is a grower as it starts off slow and blooms into something more in the floating style. Effects and bubbling leads populate this piece. Not bad, but it kinda bored me. Obviously my favorite was the title track with its twists and turns, and I think it's the best I've heard from Paul. The other two were ok, but just didn't stand out. It's free over at Ektoplasm of course. Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Ovnimoon Title: Magnetic Portal Label: Ovnimoon Records Date: May, 2011 1 The Source 2 The Liberation (feat. Flegma) 3 Love is the key 4 The holographic sphere 5 Believe in the change 6 One Heart (feat. Man Machine) 7 Izolan (feat. Middle Mode) 8 Energy of life 9 Galactic Mantra (Ovnimoon 2011 Remix) This is Hector Stuardo Marileo from Chile and he has been...well let's just say he has been all over the place. Here is his Dicogs page and you can see for yourself how prolific he is. 7th studio release and a sh*tload of compilation appearances and you quickly discover he gets around. His style is a hybrid of progressive and psytrance with great melodies and atmosphere. He also doesn't forget that this is dance music as he brings the beat. His album Geometric Poetry (review here) was superb and I believe he gets better with each release. The Source- "At the center of all that is...is a great light...the source." Welcome to space where alien life thrives amid long sweeps and the deep cold of dimensional bridging pads. Drifting melodies circumnavigate a nebulous galaxy at light speed as the beat pounds away. Very beautiful and a hell of an opener. The Liberation- Pairing up these two heavyweights can only mean good things and just like this gif it's a... Bullseye. More deep sweeps and washes continue with the space feel. The atmosphere is one of cold hypoxia but aggressive like someone is stepping on your throat. Searching leads weave alongside laser blasts as the storytelling gets thick up in here. Couple a tempo change with an airy flute and you've got yourself a truly thick track. Sub-Saharan Africa meets Event Horizon. Love Is The Key- "Love is the key. Love is what makes up the universe. The present technology on Earth will only develop to a certain extent, because mankind does not yet understand that love is necessary." Wow, this guy can create a mood. Rumbling beat at the outset with a plethora (yeah, I said plethora) of effects that carry this to the 2 minute mark. Sweeps was apparently a major of his at university, because he has his degree. As I sit on the toilet! Someone spent some time getting his master's in goa, because he rips one (no pun intended...well, maybe it was) that sounds a lot like E-mantra! The sample is long, but it ain't a flow killer and it's robotic quality fits right in with the outer space goa ride. Groovy, atmospheric, and layer heavy! F*cking knockout. The Holographic Sphere- "Visualize an infinte hologram of unconditional of love above your head. This is a holographic sphere with the flower of life pattern. Infinitely expanding inwardly...to infinity." Ummm, what? That was some bong hit you took, are you all right? Here's a bag of Fritos, work on that. This has all the bpm's of psytrance with the floatation device of progressive washes and long sweeps. It's intense and he ain't done with his goa experiment as he builds to an early climax. Don't worry about it, it happens to all of us. Well, not me, but when you dance like this the girls come running! Super deep break as the layers cleanse the soul. Power and atmosphere right down the gullet! Good show old boy! Believe in the Change- I don't think he's talking about menopause. It's like riding around in a cloud city with these ethereal pads. So floaty as the pitch bend wheel gets a workout. Slower, but no less intricate by any means. He uses that scratchy sound that a lot of darkpsy artists work with, but it comes off less...darky. The chant brings you back to Earth and it's more of a progressive drifter with less twists and turns. Still tasty. One Heart- Never heard of Man Machine, but if Hector's label is releasing it, maybe I should check it out. We've clearly reached the less aggressive portion of our program. Not to say this isn't driving, because it is, just not as lethal as previous tracks. It's more of the standard psygressive style. Not bad. Izolan- Here he pairs up with this duo that so far have the Midas touch. Their collaboration on Nerso's track Deep Blue was wondrous. This is psytrance that is lush and melodic while also bringing the power. Something hopeful about the melody. Combine that with the unfurling synth lead that knows where it wants to go and you've got the makings of a very intense experience. 303's swirl in the periphery, but whew...good psy! Energy Of Life- Swirling melodies twist as the beat drives on into the unknown. Loads of layers with some nifty chopped up synths. Not much to say here, just good atmospheric psy that doesn't disappoint. Galactic Mantra 2011 Remix- This was off the Geometric Poetry album and I thought the original was a slice of all right. It's got a little of that goa sunshine we love so much, but what I don't like is the "I am yadda yadda yaddda crap." It doesn't say that, but you get my meaning. Eliminate that and you have a nice spiraling track with a deep pad heavy break. Jeez M. Crow it has been a banner year for progressive trance. Can you really call this progressive though? It drifts and flows like it is, but it also has the hands against the wall, spread your legs "I'm gonna kick you in the nuts" aggressiveness that a lot of the world's police force is using. He can float as well as deliver some scathing goa flashbacks. Superb atmosphere creation while punching you in the face with his rhythms. Oh yeah, I recommend this. Psyshop Beatspace GoaStore Mdk