Trance2MoveU

Sort of. See that backpack in the previous photo? He sits in that while I do all the hiking. Mdk

These are a few of the pics I took on my latest hiking trips. This is less than an hour from my house. View from Black Rock Summit. Rice Fields...though I didn't see any rice. That's me hiking up a mountain in West Virginia. A brutal 2 miles. My son at the top of Rice Fields. That was a 15 mile hike. Mdk

Artist: Virtuart Title: Time Cruncher EP Label: Koyote Records Date: 1996 A. Time Cruncher B. Tetragrematon I'm not feeling particularly funny today so I think I will just leave you with the facts. This is Olivier Abitbol who released an album called Drehkar back in '99 which I thought was highly underrated. I would call him old school and the way he makes his music supports this. He builds tracks slowly, adding layers linearly because well, he didn't have the luxury of relying on Cubase or Logic or whatever the software du jour is. As I have said before I missed out on the golden age of goa trance so I love finding old gems like this. I don't even know if he is still producing music, but he did deliver a track not so long ago for the Suntrip compilation Sundrops - Light In Motion. Time Cruncher- This has to be one of if not the track Virtuart is known for. It begins with a floaty synth not unlike the soft, cold hum of machinery followed by some spoken French. The delicate synth lines dance lithely above the bass as a chopped up string sings forlornly. It's not a power track, but more of a drifting effort that takes you from cloud to cloud. You really get a sense of that when the strings attain a higher octave. Tetragrematon- I had never heard this track before so this was an exciting prospect. The robotic voice utters something unintelligible as the flute seems...out of place. Another builder that combines leads in truly danceable fashion. Leads change sounds and melodies as they all keep to that goa vibe. You know where you can hear each new addition? The layers thicken the track and then there is a direction change. Moving from something dark towards perhaps hopeful. It's in a drifting style that shows us how it was done in the good old days. I've heard more powerful goa and I have heard more chaotic and dark goa. This is very melodic and listener friendly. If you are fortunate enough to come across this EP I highly suggest picking it up for a slice of the good old days gone by. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Pantheon Label: Neogoa & Psydance Records Date: April, 2011 1. JBC Arkadii: Cold As Ice (128 BPM) | 09:18 2. Kaoz: Voices From A Blackberry Garden (140 BPM) | 08:42 3. Komondor: Pangea (142 BPM) | 06:09 4. Relaxotan: The Dimension Of Imagination (140 BPM) | 07:41 5. Stryder: Neo Dance (140 BPM) | 07:34 6. Javi: Into The Vortex (140 BPM) | 08:57 7. Deimos: Doomsday Funk (142 BPM) | 07:30 8. Blackstarrfinale: Is Pause No (146 BPM) | 09:31 9. Innerself: At The Edge Of The Universe (95 BPM) | 07:13 It's about time I got around to this. As the principal reviewer at Neogoa I am a little embarrassed with my tardiness. Please bear with me though, all the porn on the net isn't going to watch itself. Just kidding...kinda. I've chronicled how busy I am so I won't bore you with the mundane details of a stay at home Dad, but have you seen the intarweb lately? So much going on. If there isn't terrabytes of free porn or my country's continuing desire to humiliate itself it's that f*cking royal wedding coverage. Why do people care? Why? Is it going to make your life better or give you a raise? They're having viewing parties. Need I remind you that coverage begins at 4 a.m. EST. I didn't even know there was a 4 a.m. Madness. There are Britons that have been camped out for over a week to make sure they get a good spot for the sparse seconds they will see the royal couple. Here I thought only Americans were that retarded. Hero worship like that should be saved for chicks with big boobs that are goodly enough to sleep with you. Get your priorities in line. I love how every Brit who couldn't get away from that dreary island fast enough now returns to offer "authentic" insight into every minute detail. I'm happy for William as it couldn't be easy growing up in the royal limelight his entire life. Not to mention losing his Mom. So my beef isn't with England it's with my stupid media outlets and their desire force feed me with ridiculous amounts of coverage. My solution...I'm going hiking. I'm going so deep into the woods you would need a f*cking carrier pigeon to find me. *closes book, mini-rant over* This is the 3rd compilation released by Neogoa but this time it is in partnership with Psydance records. As was explained to me, this is a more experimental foray into the world of psytrance. It was compiled by Richpa and Stryder (Psydance label founder) and mastered by him with the exception of tracks 6,7, and 8. They were mastered by this fellow... Why not, if you listen to him he was responsible for Obama's birth certificate, the Panama Canal, and Jesus Christ. The cover is beautiful again (great job Richpa) and the promo text is...well, it's promo text. And I quote: "Mysterious sounds will flow deep into your ears and ressurect the Glory of the dead, enchant your soul and enlighten your spirit from within. Each track will guide you closer to the marvel of many wonders, taking you back to the moments where they all started. As the melodies make your body and brain dance, you will feel the elusive energy releasing inside the music, with which we honour the great deceased and revel in the aftermath of their great works." O....Kay? Cold As Ice- This is Arkadii Tronets (nope, not making that up and as far as I know he is not a cyborg...maybe) and he had a pretty good track on Protozoa. It has a good bounce with bubbly bass that you can just hear. The leads ricochet off each other right into the break. The final synth has a mysterious tone that I found appealing It's not a melodic goa stormer or even aggressive, but it is a nice intro track that leans more than a little towards the psytrance side of things. Voices From A Blackberry Garden- My wife has a crackberry and as a surgeon she has to have it with her at all times. That thing is forever going off with emails, BBM's and calls...I wannna throw it out the window. I mean it. No idea who this is but think of this track as as a drone that's pissed off. It's evil and I feel like someone round house kicked me down the rabbit hole. Ummm...can't really dance to this unless you are in a coven. Pangea- Jeez, who the hell are these people? I liked this one. The layers started to stack and the effects kept the atmosphere alive. The break is a shimmering rebirth that showers melodies from the skies above. It's heavenly in feel, with great synths. The bass is a rumbler separating good and evil. Nice listen. The Dimension Of Imagination- Relaxotan? Artists are special people aren't they? This has a simple beat with a running synth being arpeggiated. It's hypnotic in its simplicity I think. Not very elaborate or revolutionary but when that lead gets filtered it is catchy. Neo Dance- Mr. Psydance steps up to the plate with a heavy psy influence. Chopped up synths in a dream dance fashion. It builds towards the end, but doesn't grab me. Nothing really exciting here. Into The Vortex- I've heard this guy's tracks on Project DIY: Belgians United and thought they showed promise. He starts with a nice ethnic sounding intro complete with long sitar-like sweep and running synth. This is more of an in your face style and he seems to mean business. 303's scream and here is the smackdown I was looking for. My favorite by far. Doomsday Funk- This is Mr. I master all of Neogoa's releases. It's a pretty good psytrance track that has playful melodies. The break is airy and reorganizes things, changing directions without you taking notice. Very fluid. Is Pause No- Luis Pabón has had a track now on all 3 Neogoa compilations all with good results. It's a very positive track and makes me feel like I woke up to a beautiful sunrise. Halfway through it takes a turn from positive trance to spiritual goa stylings and thickens up. Just delicious. I like the way you lull me with the jab and then hit me with the uppercut. It was so gradual you didn't even know you've been put to sleep. Quality. At The Edge of the Universe (Floating In Deep Space)- "I discovered a meal between breakfast and brunch." The last track of the compilation is a downtempo on and it kinda has an on edge feel. Nice use of the Pulp Fiction sample and the leads scrape the sky over some percussive sounds. Not slow, but not quite mid tempo either. As a huuuuuuge Simpsons fan I appreciate any and all samples where Homer is featured. Good job. First off if you are expecting another Dimensional Gateway or Future Architecture you are going to be disappointed. It's not that kind of party. As I mentioned before it is more experimental and melds goa and psy together like a sandwich. Some like baloney and cheese (not saying the music is cheesy) and some don't. The two genres are so connected anyway it's not like they are going out on a limb here. It's either a goa album with psychedelic influences or vice versa. IMO this wasn't as enjoyable as the other 2 compilations. I prefer my goa ultra melodic and lush with lots of layers. While this is not that compilation it does do a good job of guiding goa trance in another direction. Kinda like Goasia did with Dancing With The Blue Spirit. Most of the tracks were better than average and none of them are bad. Well, maybe the 2nd one. It just didn't have that punch that makes you sit up and take notice. Still, like all Neogoa releases this costs you nothing and you just might find you are into it. Download it free here. Mdk

Artist: E-Mantra & Suufi Astrolab Title: Astrograms Label: Elektronica Records Date: March, 2011 1 Searching Ganesha / E-Mantra 2 Praying Forest (Neurosect Remix) / E-Mantra 3 Dansul Ielelor (Eleusyin Remix) / E-Mantra 4 Telepatic Alienation / E-Mantra 5 Pompierul Piroman / Suufi Astrolab 6 Birds Are Flying Over The Dark City / Suufi Astrolab 7 Bicycles For Elita / Suufi Astrolab 8 Ambient Girl Outro / Suufi Astrolab Purple monkey dishwasher. Ice cream sandwich toilet seat lawnmowers. Rocking chair turntable biscuit fans. That crap didn't make a lot of sense did it? Well, almost as much sense as the ridiculous promo on the vendor sites. Do they hire people to come up with this crap? And pay them? Where do I sign up. And let's be honest if Kelly Kapowski can't figure it out what chance do the rest of us have? This is Elektronica Records first release and they have landed quite the whale. Makes me wonder if Emmanuel has an interest in this label. If you love goa trance and have been listening to it the last several years then you undoubtedly know who is top dog. E-mantra has been wearing the crown for years now having released in my opinion the one of the greatest goa albums of all the new school releases called Arcana back in 2009. I've yet to hear him make a crappy track so when I see he is on a compilation, I buy it. He's earned it. His style is hypnotic and multi-layered with cascades of melodies that float amidst the stars. No, we're not dating. There are 8 tracks here with 4 done by E-mantra and the 4 others by some project called Suufi Astrolab. It would not surprise me one bit to fine out that is Emmanuel as, umm...well. To begin with, check out that beautiful cover. It's like a nebula in deep space with more colors than a pack of skittles. So, you know...taste the rainbow. Searching Ganesha- Pads, pads, and more pads. The bass rumbles in their aftermath and we are underway. The sounds are distant, like memories of your childhood. You know they are there, but you actively have to bring them into focus. The layers come in droves, thicker than 10 ice cream sandwiches. It really is dreamlike and the pan flute melody drives the outer space feeling home. Hypnotic and super smooth as leads pile on in all their filtered glory. Superb my friends, superb. Praying Forest (Neurosect Remix)- This is the Neurosect remix of a track on Arcana. Whoever that is. I love the voice of the Ent from LOTR and all I can understand is the word Eisengard. Totally fits with the vibe. It bubbles like the original with loads of layers and far reaching consequences. Leads fade in and and get filtered to provide an otherworldly experience. Seamless and floating while twisting amongst the stars...this is the definition of awesome. Other than this.. Dansul Ielelor (Eleusyin Remix)- Another track off Arcana this time given the business by his side project Eleusyn. You know, the duo responsible for the Phantasm and Carbon EP's? Just like the last track I went back and listened to the original in hopes to compare, but I get swept away with the melodies that I don't even remember to listen for differences. So you will have to do that on your own, but what I think this does is move in a more dreamy trance direction. It's still goa and it is very atmospheric, but as far as I can remember, held close to the original. Telepatic Alienation- More atmospheric deep space goa right down your pie hole. And you love it. I know I did. It moves progressively, with sounds echoing in the cold. Then the layers trickle in. It's never obtrusive, but eases in smoothly. Bubbling 303's sky piercing melodies, and deep hypnotica. Wonderful. There he is again...I defy you to find a greater symbol of approval than Kevin Arnold. Doesn't exist buddy. Doesn't exist. Pompierul Piroman- "Mike...Mike, you got a phone call. I dunno who it is, but they said f*ck your new school!". Yep, this sounds like 1997 all over again. Layers and dripping with that Street Fighter battle UX versus MFG...finish him! Rumbling bass and searing acid lines. This one's gonna get bloody. Ooohhh...Ned Ryerson, you got knocked the f*ck out! Birds Are Flying Over The Dark City- There are a lot of things I don't understand. Beyonce and Jay-Z. Insurance. How are you going to charge me for some sh*t that might happen? Cricket. Not the bug douchebag, the sport. For whatever reason, this made it onto a brilliant goa album. It is all over the map...ambient, breakbeat, psy, I mean it has it all. An absolute total mood and vibe killer. It's interesting, and I spent the most time on this track, which kinda sucks cause it is also over 10 minutes. The more listens I gave it, I liked it unfortunately I feel that it is sorely misplaced. But this is like showing up to a baby shower with a dildo...what the f*ck? Bicycles For Elita- A breakbeat dub piece here, and I'm left scratching my head. It's not bad, but why put this here after such a mindbending goa trip? This reminds me of the Regenesis album by Radical Distortion. It's just a breakbeat riding a saw wave type sound, and contains none of the imagination that the previous tracks had. Ambient Girl Outro- Holy deep bass Batman! That is rumbling with echoes in the background. Very short and not very memorable. Seriously. What the f*ck? We were on the verge of another Arcana and then...what? First thing I want to know is who is Suufi Astrolab and why is he messing up this album? Is it an alias of Emmanuel? Does he owe this guy some money because I could loan you a few scheckles. Whoever it is clearly showed that they can craft an old school goa stormer, but this then descended into experimental territory. Average at best. There is a time and place for this type of music, but I didn't think this was it. I bring up Regenesis because that one did the same thing. Superb goa trance destined for greatness and then he screwed the pooch. I'm sure most goa fans will download the first 5 tracks because they are clearly worth it. The rest...no thanks. Psyshop Beatspace Saikosounds Goastore Mdk

Such a shame isn't it? Well, he had a good run. And thank you exotic for the support! Mdk

Grapes.

Artist: GeKo Title: Corrupted Symphony EP Label: Dropland Recordings Date: April, 2011 1. Corrupted Symphony 2. Precrime (feat Sinful Reactions) There is a lot of music released out there. I mean...a lot. Sometimes it's tough to wade through the swamp and find something worthwhile. We all have our favorite artists which we latch on to and follow their career. Sometimes you are rewarded and then other times...not so much. GeKo is Amir Ben David from the Holy Land who released his debut Poison Flowers in 2009. It was awesome and had everything you could want in psy...power, melody, atmosphere. Definitely on my list of artists to watch. So you can understand my surprise when I heard this thing. It, ah...wasn't good. I mean, it started out promising, but quality can be a slippery slope. Corrupted Symphony got on my bad side quickly with an annoying lead melody that went on waaaaay too long. I liked the Iron Man sample but talk about a flow killer. Precrime again had a cool sample from Minority Report I believe. I thought this would be the track to buy as it had more power, but the more I listened to it, the more I didn't like it. The sounds weren't very appealing and were actually uninspired. Lazy even with the "melody." I have an idea...instead of putting out an EP to cash in on tracks that are subpar, work with them some more and make them killarrgh. That may not be fair as taste is subjective. Still, if you liked Poison Flowers, this will disappoint. Juno Download Mdk

Artist: Sick Addiction Title: Writers Block EP Label: Timecode Records Date: November, 2010 1. Issah Koh Sissah 2. Future Shock 3. Suicide Bomber (feat. Spector) 4. Swing Timecode has a long and proud history of releasing some of the greatest high energy psy. It's full of power, melody and makes the listener stand up and take notice. As of late, they have gone to a more digital format releasing EP's from the likes of Phyx, Principles of Flight, and now Sick Addiction. This is is the fusion of two Portuguese psytrance artists, Tiago Pimentel (Tryambaka) and Manuel Trindade (D-Maniac). I don't know much about Manuel, but The Olive recently released his 2nd album Replenishing Roots and it was a rollicking good time. I'm not going to go through the tracks and some might call me a lazy motherf*cker. That's ok, I can take it. I think you're ugly. The tracks are all in the same style and sound very similar. First the good...they are pretty beat intensive and have acid in lots of the tracks. It tends toward the dark side of things with eerie melodies which I like. Now for the bad...it's kinda cheesy. Think the theatrical sound of POF mixed with generic full on. There are samples which are the freshest Nebraska corn as well as stops and starts with the annoying build up. It just wasn't enjoyable to listen to. As soon as it became nicely dark something like the above would come along and ruin the flow. Maybe they are suffering from writers Block. Their album Demented Diary is much better and would tell you to go listen to that. Beatport JunoDownload Mdk

Artist: Vertex Title: Spliff Science EP Label: TesseracT Studio Date: March, 2011 1. In Heat 2. Spliff Science 3. Visionary TesseracT Studio is the do it all label. Not only do they claim to release music in a lot of genres, but they also have their own mastering facility and their own team of design artists. I've sung their praises before most recently with Questions by the Riddler (Talpa) and the outstanding Vertex debut Ocean. This is Nikola Kozić (Zyce) and Slobodan Gaćeša (formerly of Flegma) with a nice little EP that I recently picked up. It was an easy decision really because their album Ocean was that f*cking good. The have that dreamy progressive style that can carry you away and make all of your worries seem not so bad. In Heat- You know what this is? It's sitting on a lounge chair on the beach with your toes in the waves while sipping on a beer. It's not too warm and there is a nice breeze blowing your hair. The percussion gives it the island feel and it bounces in just the right way. What it isn't doing is weaving an intricate tale. This is just sit back, relax, and watch the people go by music. Nice. Spliff Science- Back when I used to smoke weed I did it like most everyone else. Either via joint or bong. To be honest, without going to the net, I don't know what a spliff is...only that Bob Marley used one. This track is a continuation of the first one in its smoothness. It's more detailed than In Heat but still has that sunshine feel the warm water on my toes percussion. There are more layers but still nothing uber complex. It flows nicely and there is even a tempo change out of the break. Nice and postive. Visionary- I used to work for an eye doctor that named his company visionary. It really wasn't and he was a putz who thought his sh*t didn't stink. That aside, the bass sound is the same with more echoing effects. Again nothing fancy, but laid back like that cool counselor at summer camp. Even when the tempo seems to increase near the end. Not heavy. So a nice little 3 track EP for your listening pleasure. If you enjoy music that floats lightly on summer breezes than this is for you. If you loved his debut album than this is also for you. It's a nice way to kick off the warmer season. $6.48 for 3 wavs? Ouch, I would get the 320k mp3's. Psyshop Mdk

Artist: Electric Universe Title: Higher Modes Label: Electric Universe Records Date: March, 2011 1. Embracing the sun 2. The Point 3. Daft Robot 4. Rockers and Rollers 5. Lazerbass 6. Higher Modes 7. The Funkadelic Drummer 8. Gratified 9. Bodhysattva 10. Up 11. All is nothing 12. The Web See this guy? Approach him with extreme caution. Let me explain. I saw a movie yesterday that really had an effect on me. And not in a good way. It was called Splice and it was about creating life by gene splicing and its ramifications. It was slightly ridiculous, but that could be overlooked because it was well shot and the acting wasn't bad. It did however take a turn for the worse. There was a scene where the "teenage" female alien was in the barn and well...Adrien Brody f*cked it. Yep, forget that he's got a girlfriend or that he created this alien in the lab or that it has a tail that can kill you. The funniest part is when his girlfriend catches him and he returns to seemingly apologize he utters the line "We f*cked up." Well, yeah cause you f*cked an alien. For God's sake you can't make anything around this guy. Nothing is safe. Christmas time with the family, "Hey where's Adrien?" "Oh, he's in the front yard f*cking the snowman your kids just made." "Wow, Johnny that is great science project...Damnit Adrien, get your dick outta the volcano." "Oh for f*cks sake Adrien, I just made that sandwich." The moral of this story is keep Adrien Brody far away from anything that you care for. Which brings me to this release by all time master musician Boris Blenn. When you are an icon in your field you have a lot of leeway to experiment and make music that maybe is outside the box. People are very forgiving based on past experiences. Take the Rolling Stones. How often are they going to trot these fossils out. Sure they made great music but that was a grandpa ago. This is the guy who made One Love and Cosmic Universe. I even liked Sonic Ecstasy and Silence in Action. Not to mention the countless wonderful tracks he has made for compilations. But he also made one of the greatest psytrance tracks in history, Fully Awake. So yeah, in my mind this guy gets a pass on whatever he tries to create. So here he is with his latest effort Higher Modes and I cannot wait to see if he still has it or he f*cked the alien. Embrace The Sun- Usually when I see a psy track that is under 6 minutes I'm already thinking it is a commercial piece of crap. Now that may be really wrong painting all of psy with a broad brush but that is just the way I feel. There is no question this is full on to the bone, but it is very well produced. The pads are really warm with scampering leads that rise and fall. He delivers a bouncy rhythm with sky reaching melodies and I felt it was pretty good. If you are looking for psychedelia however, this is going to be a looong ride for you. The Point- Drifting pads and wavering synths bring in the beat with otherworldly effects. Like in the previous track his breakbeats are appealing and I like the way he breaks up tracks. A 303 drops in and it feels very comfortable like putting on an old shoe. The break has a flow killer though and that is the sample discussing points, lines and dimensions. It's like all the momentum you built up comes crashing down. Samples are supposed to enhance not dominate and I felt like that's what this did. You had me...and then you lost me. Stay outta my porn collection and that won't happen you nosy bastard! Daft Robot- Ok where were we? Ah yes, more full on with cheesy samples. C'mon Boris...you're better than this. Terrible, just...awful. Rockers and Rollers- And you thought it couldn't get any worse did you? Someone decided to unearth S.U.N. Project and bring their sh*tty style of guitartrance back. But don't forget the drum solo that was apparently recorded live. It wasn't even that epic, kind of like a taste. I appreciate him trying something different, but that was...well, it wasn't very good. Lazerbass- Hear that? That's me shuddering at what I am about to hear. The title gives it away as the bass is really big and ummm, lazery. But couple that with annoying lead sounds and some stops and starts and I gotta check and make sure I'm listening to the right disc. Good God this is bad. And I'm sorry, but it would take a lot more 303 to make up for this. The end is better, but....sheesh. It's like he sh*t on the sequencer and dared someone to put it on a disc. Higher Modes- Ok, ok, let's take a breath. There are still 6 tracks left for you to save this thing. Dude, a rising synthline is just a disguise for an extended build up. You are not fooling me. The middle of the track however is like a shinning light smashing through the darkness as it recalls your glory days. The sample could've been better and the buildup out of the break hurts my ears, but believe it or not, this was the best track on the disc not named The Web. The Funkadelic Drummer- Sir this is neither funky nor psychedelic... Gratified- You're just making me angrier with these track titles. I want to be gratified, but I ain't gonna find it here. Again with the guitar. Really? What the f*ck Boris, this is sad. God, and the buildup is really painful. Brainwash just texted me... yeah he said,"WTF dude?" Bodhysattva- Man the sh*t parade just keeps on marching doesn't it? It's just over produced trance. Fluffier than a kitten. In all honesty this isn't that bad, but it is nowhere near what you would expect from Boris. I swear he lost a bet. Had to. Up- Man that title is really prophetic, as in "No where to go but up." I'm fed up. Please shut up. However right from the first vocoded vocal you are headed straight down to craptacular town. I'm really awestruck as to how bad this is. That sample just keeps going, ever so slowly. Excruciating. All is Nothing- Running synths in a Paul Van Dyk style give way to a galloping bass line. It then...you know what? F*ck that. Where the hell did the PSY go? You know, PSY? Jesus tap dancing Christ... The Web- The final track on this merry go round of terrible is an area where I feel he should now concentrate his efforts. Downtempo. Eerie melodies and terrific layering make this one very deep. Lush pads and bubbling bass really give this a mysterious feel. Hey, man give credit where credit is due. He nailed it here. First let me say that like most of you I have been a fan of his for a long time. He is legen...dary. That said, what the f*ck happened to you? I can hear some of your style here and how strong it can be, but it's almost lost beneath 10 tons of sh*t. I suppose we should've seen this coming, but I held out hope that you wouldn't succumb to this infectious disease of commercialism. Higher Modes (the track) had its moments where I thought, "Yeah, he's still got it." The Web also showed your talent and was thoroughly enjoyable. But too little too late I'm afraid. The best thing about this was the pretty colors on the cover. Avoid this sack of crap like the plague. I'm not linking to this. You can't make me. Mdk

Artist: Rubix Qube Title: Saturate EP Label: MMD Records Date: December, 2010 1. Saturate 2. Konan The Barbarian (feat Xatrik) 3. TIA (feat. Luna) 4. The Full Moon (feat Rabdom L & Luna) 5. Maximal - Soundproof I went EP shopping the other day and came across this delightful little gem. We all know Nexus Media and Timecode are the creme de la creme of South African psytrance, but this little label should not be overlooked. Producing the same high energy dark themed music as the the other two, Mind Manipulation Device Records brings forth an EP by Rubix Qube otherwise known as Kieron Grieve. Even his name is dark. Having released Ulterior Motives last year let me tell you he brings an ass kicking wherever he goes. You can find that review here. Saturate- Holy crap this is massive. It's like Synsun scored the Terminator. A symphonic intro gives way to eerie strings and laser bursts with acid overtones. Heavily groovy with multiple layers right into a post apocalyptic break. The cover says Rubix, but it looks more like the Hellraiser one and that is the vibe I'm getting as it waylays an entire city. Twisted synths and lasers blare above a frenetic bass line. Superb beginning man...we are on some super hero type sh*t here... Yeeesh...maybe a little bit more super... Konan The Barbarian- "Now they will know why they are afraid of the dark." A teamup with 2 of my favorite psytrance artists? Yes please. The intro is evil to the bone as synths wail and acid drips with hopelessness. Moaning sirens and moaning voices scream above a very angry bass line. If the first track was massive then this is massive times ten. There is loads of atmosphere here to enjoy as the track is thicker than pea soup. The tempo change brings a guitar lick that works very well and actually goes on for a while. Leads screech as they try in vain to escape their prison and eventually it returns to 4/4 time. If you like Conan samples then you will like this. Also instead of just following the generic 4/4 playbook, they do different things to break up the beat. Awesome. TIA- What do you suppose that means? I don't know who Luna is but whoever it is makes a powerful track for sure. Darkness reigns, as thick strings flow amidst filthy leads. Acidic melodies prance about like Satan's children under the weight of layers of sticky goodness. It's evil, no question about that. The break unfurls more sinister sounds and let me tell you this is a joy to listen to. Dark and danceable. Keep it up! The Full Moon- More cyber evilness as these people wield a wicked bass line. It has gravitas, nut crunching power. Scratchy sounds and computer choppiness blanket this thing and gives it a Matrix feel. But on steroids. After 6 Red Bulls. The lead has a haunted house vibe and other synth sounds remind me of the harshness of Frozen Ghost. A little slower but still highly enjoyable. Maximal- "Perhaps you'd better start from the beginning." Dude, this is on constant repeat so no problem. Is this an alias? Perhaps his downtempo or tech-trance project. The beat is a wall of sound as the bass wobbles below more synth madness. It's got a slow swagger daring you to say something. I'm sorry did he just break out the funky stick? Yes...yes he did and he beat the living hell out of you with it. Damn, it's just inventive. Thick like your my friends porn collection and twice as juicy. He doesn't forget the melody as this creeps along right into a break. A guitar strums a small riff as deep sounds bellow. This really is nasty and if you're lucky you will get it all over you. Very Maximal. Very impressive sir. If you like the Nexus or Timecode sound than this is well worth getting. It's fast and detailed, with plenty of groove to keep the hips wriggling. There is plenty of post apocalyptic cyber infused atmosphere to enjoy and he is definitely an artist on the rise. If psytrance is a weak individual with a grudge then Mr. Qube is Brock Sampson totally owning.. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Red Gravity Title: MLDNRG (Um, excuse me...what?) Label: None Date: 2010 1. Smaple 2. Padda 3. Urflipper 4. Modern Society 5. Mixdownfixdown 6. Colors Of Chaos 7. Katana 8. Pyramoons 9. Nosam 10. Pleydo 11. Rules Of Defiance 12. Anadi Vasana As you know, I have a 2 year old and he is very healthy. Funny as crap too. We were hiking and I removed a large tree branch from the trail and my son who doesn't pronounce the letter s serenaded me with "Daddy has a big dick" for 20 minutes. Yes I do son...yes I do. But I digress.... So when we took him to the doctor for his appointment the guy recommended we see an endocrinologist to make sure there is nothing wrong with his hormone levels. Really? Look House I'm not very tall. My wife is even shorter. I'm pretty sure we aren't on the verge of delivering the next Yao Ming. But like a good sheep I went anyway. As expected the Dr. (very nice but had an Indian accent that could crack a hot sidewalk; normally not a problem for me because I studied under the master , but she was tough to understand) said there was nothing wrong with his levels and that the X-ray showed normal bone growth. But then she recommended we go see a gastroenterologist to verify why he is small. 2 $50 copays to see a specialist and $50 for the cost of the x-ray our insurance didn't cover just so you could tell me that my son is short. No f*cking sh*t detective he has small parents! Look, I'm glad that we went, even though I'm out some green because if they had found something then of course you would want to know. But damn is it frustrating to have to see several doctors to tell you something you already know. You are probably wondering what this has to do with Red Gravity. Nothing...think of it as a small peek into the window of my life. This is Leo Petrus from Sweden who has appeared on the Twist Dreams comp as well as the remixed Filteria thing. He decided to give these tracks away and that was awful nice of him. The link is down below. Some of the tracks are really short and seem like snippets of some stuff he might've been working on. There isn't a theme here as he just uploaded some past stuff for free. Nicey nice. Smaple- Made from some of the best sh*t on Earth. Oh, Smaple. Well, that's different. It's a nice little goa tune with echoing leads above a Colorbox type bass line. It's fast and has some nice twists and turns, but like Kanye Imma let you finish this and then get back to you. Padda- I really liked where this was going until the key change. It has some nice melodies and a real old school feel but it seemed like a collection of ideas in a rough draft. The bounce is good but someone hit the Kanye button again. Urflipper- Look Leo that could've been 3 really good tracks if you would just finish them. Don't give us snippets as that only teases with what could've been. So once again, play me out Kanye... Modern Society- Ok, now this is more like it. Almost 6 minutes so I feel I can invest in it. It has nice layering of goa melodies as the sounds switch up. It's not an all out assault, but more of a grooving undulating tale. It bubbles and has an organic taste that sounds pretty good. Maybe the sample could have some music behind it so that it isn't such a stark contrast and flow ruiner. Just one rectum's opinion. Liked the track sir. Mixdownfixdown- Experimental sounds, soaring melodies that sparkle in the sun. It plows ahead full steam as modulated leads scream and get twisted like pretzels. The groove is also good as the layers keep coming, some with growling capability. It reminds me of Etnica and that is never a bad thing. Colors of Chaos- Twisting the cutoff builds the tension as the lead rises and falls. Crunchy with a stand offish quality as the highs and the lows play off each other. More layers fatten this beast up and it's aggressive like UX would do. The lead is choked out like a UFC fight as it twirls in widening circles. I'm spinning, spinning... Katana- Leo we discussed this. You looked me right in the eye and said you understood. No more patterns. Pyramoons- That moon is sizzling! Mangle that lead brother, as this one has all the makings right from jump. Twisting leads, rapid fire kicks, searing synths...It just keeps kicking. Outta the way grandma! Nosam- What did I tell you Leo? These unfinished patterns are begging to be sorted out. Pleydo- I liked play dough. Except for the way it made your hands smell. I knew a kid that ate that sh*t. Nasty. This is a mid tempo goa track that bounces with hot fire. The break is smooth as one of the leads still fires. A perfect example of a track that just needs some finishing touches. Me likey. Rules of Defiance- This one starts of slowly but grows in intensity. It bubbles and whirls with different leads taking center stage. Almost progressive in its intent. While not my favorite, I like the ideas he put in here. Anadi Vasana- More twirling sounds with a nice helping of light. The standout part for me was the percussive tapping in the break. Nothing groundbreaking, but it was a nice way to break things up. See what I did there? First off thank you very much for giving these tracks away. You didn't have to do that and I wanted to let you know that it was appreciated. I know you're on to other things, but I hope one day you revisit this collection and give it the polish it deserves. There are a lot of great ideas and melodies so with proper mastering and thickening up, this could be a quality release. The talent is evident and Leo seems to have a more old school sound than a lot of today's producers. I recommend you check this out. Get it in MP3 or FLAC Mdk

Artist: Eleusyn Title: Carbon EP Label: Joof Records Date: April, 2011 1. Eleusyn - Arcas 2. Eleusyn - Kosmodrom 3. John '00' Fleming & The Digital Blonde - Oxygene (Eleusyn remix) Who is up for some more E-mantra goodness? Ok, ok I see you in the back. Yeah, me too. I recently wrote about how busy I was, but this guy trumps me. Everyone loved the spacious goa trance masterpiece Arcana in 2009 with its spiraling melodies and trip inducing atmosphere. This year he released a downtempo album called Visions of the Past (which I hope to acquire soon) and another 4 tracks with Suufi Astrolab on Astrograms (ditto). Emmanuel Carpus has proven his ability with every track he releases and is one of the pillars of the new school goa trance movement. Can it be called a movement anymore? It's been going on for almost a decade. Once again he teams up with Reasonandu for their 2nd EP. The first was the very good Phantasm reviewed here. I would describe the Eleusyn project as goa trance with an outer space trance appeal. Sounds great. Arcas- Like a fat guy at the drive thru I sometimes don't wanna wait and the guys oblige me. The track starts with a nice beat as synths sparkle all about. The main lead shines brighter than a reflection off a windshield as a new one rolls in. It's got a ravey quality to its sound and it builds nicely. It is isn't long before the 303 rumbles into focus providing a nice taste of warmth. The layering is delicious and you can hear the E-mantra sound very easily. It bubbles and flows just the way I like it. Kosmodrom- I think this one is my favorite. With drums echoing deep in the distance a sample is spoken (I think he says "The Ladies must love" but don't hold me to it) and numerous synths trickle above the bass line. This one is more driving with a darker edge. Nice 303's giving it that old school feel, but also cold space leads making sure you know who is producing this. Hear the guitar riff? It's nicely done, subtle not overpowering. The whole track is seamless and fluid allowing you to just go with the flow. Oxygene (Eleusyn remix)- I have only heard the Jean-Michel Jarre version so I have no idea what these 2 guys did to it. More layers and more delicate synth work start off bringing yet another space vibe. That telltale melody is front and center and thickened up a bit. This leans more towards psy than goa in my ears, but that's just me. Nonetheless it brings back memories of a time long ago when I lived in Paris with my significantly older girlfriend. It's not bad, but I don't think it compares to the first two tracks. Anything that has E-mantra associated with it interests me. He has such talent that it's a blind buy. 6 bucks for 3 wavs is steep though but it is so worth it. He has that floating, meditative style that carries the mind away with great melodies and super production. A perfect companion to their Phantasm EP. GoaStore Beatport Mdk

Best Uptempo 2010 1. Alienapia - Goapocalipsis 2. Amithaba Buddha- Myself In The Mirror 3. Crossing Mind - The Holographic Paradigm 4. V/A - Energy Waves 5. V/A - Goatronika 6. V/A - Temple of Chaos 7. V/A - Protozoa 8. V/A - Midnight Storm 4 Acid Rain 9. Nolax - Turning Point 10. V/A - Beach Atmosphere Best Downtempo 2010 1. Asura - 360 2. Galaxy - Everlasting Tone 3. V/A - Earth 4. V/A - Vital Signs 5. Astropilot - Solar Walk

Back in the day when I fancied myself a knob twiddler, I had an RM1x and enjoyed making songs. Hell, I made at least 40 of them. Granted the memory was limited and since I used it as a stand alone synth and sequencer I couldn't really expand my horizons. Well I have long since parted with the Yamaha beast, but I still have the files saved on a disk. Does anyone have a program or know of a way to convert the RM1x files to wav or mp3? Mdk

I have heard Motion Drive's latest In The Dirt and it was pretty good. Some outstanding tracks interspersed with good ones. No filler. I have reviewed a lot of Tesseract's stuff and it has been top notch. Between them and Iono I have my progressive fill. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Feldgrau Label: Timecode Records Date: November, 2010 1. Electrofeld - Brethren 2. Stealthy Rockers - Phyx & Artifakt 3. Skull & Bones 2 - Principles of Flight & Phonic Request 4. Recovery - Sub Zero Well, well, well...what do we have here? Timecode is one of the premier South African labels that has released some of the best psytrance. Ever. High energy, twilight stalk your girlfriend who really isn't your girlfriend though she would be if she gave you a chance and really got to know you what is her problem why won't she call she is such a bitch sitting over there and laughing I'll show her music. Times are hard and I believe Timecode is trying to go to a digital format which would obviously be more cost effective. But it makes me wonder, are we witnessing he demise of this once proud label? Only time will tell. Feldgrau means "field grey" and was the uniform color of the German army from 1907-1945. See what you can learn from Wikipedia? What? What the f*ck is an encyclopedia? Oh, those things. I remember when people used to go door to door and sell 'em. I guess their on some hard times now. Al Gore's internet totally killed those guys, I kinda feel sorry for them. Nah, screw those guys riding around on their bicycles with their suits and handing out Jesus pamphlets...Jehova's what? Oooohhh...sorry about that. Anyway, this is a 4 track EP with some very familiar names. Brethren, Phyx, Artifakt, Principles of Flight...interesting. Electrofeld- Who ordered a dark helping of tech-trance? Here you go. It bounces slowly with clanking and screeching synths that are building the tension. The break comes with some nice percussion and gives me a Rob Zombie House of 1000 corpses feel. Yikes. Hi there. It's not until the end where it begins to get trancey. I liked its hop, perhaps this is a new direction for them. Or maybe they're just proving they can do other things. Either way, pretty cool. Stealthy Rockers- If you would've told me that Artifakt made a trancier track than Brethren I woulda slapped yo momma. More darkness and techiness also with a nice bounce. Like the previous track there is a lot to listen to here, but then again that's the style ain't it? Deep wavering synths, percussive noise, insightful sample...it's all here. Good track. Skull & Bones 2- I'm not a big fan of POF and the Phonic Request disc was a little too dark and noisy for me. But now I have my big boy panties on so we'll see where that gets me. Really? You think I've lost weight? Well, I have been working out more. Next month I hope to get back into my Star Trek uniform. It's symphonic and theatrical just like you would expect. Strings, loud and aggressive synth, and even a small build up. The synth is punchy though, but it just doesn't appeal to me. Recovery- So, the newest artist in the bullpen is left to bat cleanup? Shrewd, gentleman. And by that I mean risky. But with the deep rumbling bass line and groove it pays off. The key change and melody is very infectious and did you see that? No of course you didn't. I was dancing like no one was watching. It's got the chaos of an Artifakt while maintaining the melody of the label's rich history. It's a pounding track really and I think the best on here. Good job. Well, I feel that maybe a little luster has fallen off the Timecode diamond. The power is still there, and it continues to be dark with some really nice melodies. However, it pales in comparison to a huge part of their previous work. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the tech-trance stuff as it shows a great deal of imagination, but I think the trick is to successfully weave it with what has been their bread and butter for so long. This is a good EP, but these guys have set such a high standard that I can't help but be a little disappointed. I believe it was Dylan who said "The time's are a changing..." and Timecode's style seems to have proven that. I don't normally rate individual tracks, but if you held a gun to my head, in the order of best to worst for me was 4,2,1,3. Juno Download Beatport Mdk

Artist: Gaiana Title: Blue EP Label: Blue Hour Sounds Date: August, 2010 1. Earth Prayer 2. Guardian Spirits 3. Colours of Life 4. Lunar Landing Continuing with the shiny happy people humping unicorns under the rainbow theme this is the first installment of the full spectrum EP's, where each color inspired the artist. This is Gido and Bluestorm and their EP is a gentle reminder for people to reconnect with the natural beauty which we are all a part of as well as to infuse the music with Lithuanian energy. Hippies. Go peddle your pot somewhere else. Nah, I'm just kidding. I love pot. Well, I used to, before I got married, had a son and had to grow up. My political compass still believes is shouldn't be a crime to have some for personal use. Lithuanian energy? I was looking at some pictures of the countryside and it really seems beautiful. Then I came across these: Holy crap she is hot. I would need a f*cking stepladder to shave those legs. Triplets? That's like the holy grail...you know it's out there, but you'll never find it. Note to self...Must.Change.Nationality. Earth Prayer- It's gutteral, primal, and very organic. Deep bass sounds join effects to create a nice balance of highs and lows. The bass says I'm gonna f*ck you up, but the highs say everything will be all right. The sound is thick and detailed with a whole lot happening. The leads echo and bounce off all surfaces giving it space, and allows for a wonderful trip. Very Temple of One psychedelic if you know what I mean. Guardian Spirits- Twinkling sounds and chopped up synths patter like raindrops on a window while the bass churns away. With the combination of sounds, it seems alive but at 10 minutes it's a long track and sometimes my mind wanders. I mean the last 4 minutes was basically the same thing. Colours of Life- I have a question. I know that colour is the British spelling, but Psynews is telling me that it is misspelled. Does that happen to you Europeans? Just a thought. With that deep bass and creepy effects, I think I made a wrong turn into the pixie forest. Clicks and long sweeps fly by only to flit away again. This would've been the perfect time to sneak a goa melody in there. Alas, that didn't happen, but this was very earthy kind of business. Good, but could use a little more variation. Lunar Landing- Obligatory mission control sounds are here and while there are some cool synths with loads of reverb and echo, it still sounds thin. Heard it before, there ain't nothing to separate it from the rest of the bunch. No question so far as to the best EP in my eyes. It ends and begins with Ianauria's Orange and then Blue and Indigo are tied. I haven't heard the other two yet. What you have here is great effects, some cool sounds and the same bass line. It needs some more spice. They layer nicely, but it does need more meat in the sandwich to take this from Subway to that deli over on West 57th. I have never seen pastrami piled so high and there was still an old guy that was screaming about the portions. Hey Matlock, that sandwich weighs more than you! Juno Download Beatport Mdk

Artist: Gido Title: Indigo EP Label: Blue Hour Sounds Date: March, 2011 1. In Deep Space 2. Multi Dimension Reality 3. Spring Grooves It has been a ridiculously busy morning; took the dog for her grooming appointment, did the grocery shopping, seeded parts of the backyard for grass, painted my son's letters that will go on the wall, had my pickup truck jumped, and now just put little man down for his nap. Whew! Homie needs some me time. I came across the Italian label Blue Hour Sounds (website here) a while ago when I did a Garden of Delights Review as well as one for the hardest artist name in the world for me to spell, Ianuaria. Both of those were a bit of allright, and so the saga continues with more of the "full spectrum" of EP's. All of the music is related to a color and inspired by that color eventually comprising the 7 colors of the rainbow. Looking at the site, it seems there is already some overlap. I know purple and indigo are different colors. I know this. Kinda. But I'm also quite sure that there are some other colors of the spectrum you coulda used. Red doesn't inspire? Neo didn't have that opinion. A nation of a billion communists would also disagree. Hell, this was a logo of one of the ultimate frisbee teams I played on Just sayin. Anyway, this label and their hippie philosophy employ Gido (Adomas Juozapavicius) and this is his first EP. When they aren't sitting in a f*cking drum circle or kicking around a hemp hackey sack, these guys are releasing some quality tunes. No, no, no! Stay away from those kids you dirty hippies! In Deep Space- Supremely psychedelic with a forest meets outer space vibe. The beat thumps as synths flow over each other in waves. Reverb and delay help with the shimmer as the leads intertwine in a cosmic dance. It's more of an effect driven type of melody than scales, but I just think that adds to the mystery and psychedelic nature. Nice. Multi Dimension Reality- Well kick me in the nuts with a slightly goa soaked shoe! Someone spilled a bottle of patchouli and look what tumbled out. The break is filled with sounds to keep the ear busy, but more psychedelic than Wild Things does. Might've stepped on some toes there. Oh well, my rectum's opinion is as good as anyone's. It's another example of no real lead melody, but a combination of several little ones built around the rampaging bass line and kick. It started to get a little monotonous however so I think they need to get back to that dry erase board and brainstorm. Spring Grooves- Wow, more thumping kicks and echoing sounds. The only constant is that bass line as the synths appear and then fade. And that is basically all it is, effects with reverb while small leads dance over the bass. Still liked it though. It's a nice little EP with a bunch of psychedelia. I imagine it would work very well for hallucinating. Still, the tracks sound pretty samey and can get a little stale rather quickly. I liked it, but think he will only get better. You can get them at Juno or Beatport, but I think $6 or so is a lot for 3 wavs. I would say get Ianauria's Orange EP instead and then if you still wanted more, go for this. Beatport Juno Download Mdk

"No one can feel naturally homosexual." How the f*ck should I know? What is the definition here? If I feel like wearing certain clothes or hairstyles? Do I desire sex with a man? I don't know if you become homosexual or you are born that way and I suppose that is the big debate. Some weird questions but I suppose they do help illustrate where you would align yourself. Mdk

Artist: Nova Fractal Title: Main Sequence Star EP Label: Neogoa Date: April, 2011 1. Through Our Senses 2. Autopsy 3. Common Cold I'm a pretty busy guy. Sure I'm a stay at home dad for my 2 year old (another on the way) while mommy goes out there and makes daddy's money. Yes I have a sugar momma wanna fight about it? Some wonder how busy could I be, you don't have to go to work. True I don't have a commute or a boss to answer to or deadlines to meet or a clock to punch....hmmm work is for suckers. What I do isn't work, I enjoy the hell out of it but I'm still busy. The house doesn't clean itself and clothes don't stay clean, let me tell you. Nothing gets chocolate out. Oh yeah, the acre of property I own doesn't magically stay mowed either. Still as busy as I might be, running a netlabel like Richpa does seems infinitely more challenging. You'll have to ask him how putting together a compilation would compare with battling a raging case of mudbut my son so prodigiously makes. You wanna gif of that? Neogoa kicks ass. Pure and simple. It is only April and they have already released 2 compilations (Future Architecture and Pantheon) as well as an EP by Sky Technology called Next Visions. They all have great mastering and like this one, the artwork is excellent. I haven't even listened to Pantheon when I was given this little treat. This is Renato Brnić from Croatia and if you don't remember his track Perplexed on Future Architecture then I suggest you refresh your memory. Renato delivers 3 tracks of drifting goa trance to float away on waves of melody. Watch out for the Balkans people, they are f*cking taking goa trance over. Through Our Senses- Ah b*tches we have ourselves a storyteller here. I love long intros and he sets the scene here with some mysterious atmosphere. Plenty of effects and layers with a churning bass line. It's over 2 minutes when this thing drops its beat with a soft goa riff. The break is computer syntax static and comes out swinging with a new melody. It follows the 3 bears algorithm of not too many sounds and not too little, but just right for a smooth ride. Great track. Autopsy- If the first track set you up, this one kicks you in the nuts right out of the gate. The lead is more aggressive and thick like that root system I'm trying to dig up. With the lasers firing in the background there is a definite space feel. Oh yeah, the mission control sample doesn't hurt when it sets the melody off again. The break is expansive and makes it feel like we are drifting in zero gravity with the ice crystals. It's only a short lived respite as the cannons are reloaded and ready to fire. Another good one. Common Cold- I hate it when my son gets a cold. He doesn't know how to blow his nose yet so you have to keep wiping it. It's sad, but don't worry...I'm teaching him the art of the snot rocket. My wife is gonna kill me. Bubbling sounds ripple against some clanging percussion and the bass feel warm. This track seems the most loaded to me with sounds coming from all over the place. He even has that breathing sound in the Depeche Mode track Dangerous. What? Sue me, they were pioneers for synth and melody lovers. The break sets it up again as the goa undulates like a freshwater stream. He drops the beat and the melody still cascades....well done. I wasn't a big fan of how it ended, it just stopped. That was a nice little EP. I would compare his style to that of E-mantra. It's drifting, it's spacey, it's the perfect soundtrack for hallucinating. There is atmosphere and while not as complex it is deep in its own right. I've heard more intense goa and more layered stuff and this is like right in the middle. Melodic and groovy with a nice amount of atmosphere. Good job. Now I gotta go hang some curtains. What the hell happened to me? Coming Soon... Mdk

Holy crap! That is intricate. Where is the tutorial? Mdk

That was a lot of fun! If only it had a sequencer where we could save what we made and then share it! Mdk

Artist: M-Seven Title: Imaginary Being Label: MSeven Music Date: January, 2011 1. Observatory 2. The Informer 3. Twilight 4. Gone 5. Jupiter Strings 6. Shift 7. Ghetto Blaster Cowboy 8. On The Run 9. Fauna 10. Being Like A Stream 11. Unspoken 12. Make You Feel 13. Spiritus 14. Untitled There is a moment in your life where you will realize that you are becoming your parents. Well, I skipped that and today felt like my grandfather God rest his soul. Not because as child I snuck up to his guest room that had the stash of Playboys while my family was downstairs. Even though I did that. Not because I am forgetting things or creaking like a rusty hinge when I get out of bed. That doesn't make me feel like him. No, watching C-Span did that. C f*cking Span. The most boring channel on the planet. If I wanted to watch old white men argue I would go to a family reunion. What am I doing? Politicians blaming each other for not coming up with a budget for the government. It's going to shut down and nobody wants the blame. I can't take the bickering and the fighting while each side tries to seem superior. I need a break, a retreat, a...refuge. This is Maurizio Nalli from Canada. Hmmm...that doesn't sound Canadian. He released an album or two before this and I remember liking his style. This is put out by MSeven music which through my superior powers of deduction must be his label. Observatory- Atmosphere breaching strings float towards the heavens reminding me a little of Blade Runner, but that is broken by a smooth and warm breakbeat. Cosmic sounds whirl about as I'm kept warm by my ships life support systems. Sure we are far from Earth, but I have the comforts of Earth with me. A soft echoing melody pings against delicate percussion and a synthesized voice. Ultra relaxing. The Informer- A gentle piano melody twinkles above wavering strings and another breakbeat. The tone is more melancholy but just as smooth. If I was comfortable in the previous track, I now feel saddened. As if we breached a door in scientific experiments that maybe we should've left closed. Awesome. Twilight- When the hell did Moby get here? It's an electronica piece with a soft melody above the spoken word. It's calm and soothing with a nod towards outer space. Even though the tempo is increased it still remains alluring. The lady is speaking, but I don't know what the f*ck she is talking about because the music is comforting. The vocal effects are also well done. Nice. Hold up...I can't believe I almost missed an opportunity to make fun of everyone's favorite vampire pedophiles... Gone- With a retro feel the breakbeat clicks as synths hum and a sample about radiation is spoken. It's a positive track with uplifting melodies that I can't even call leads. Little pokes, arpeggios, and percussive clicks. I got the feeling of watching the sunrise from my tent while warm under a blanket. Pretty cool. Jupiter Strings- "4 billion mile trip." Very spacey sounds as if we are turning the corner on Mars and approaching Jupiter. It's another breakbeat rhythm with slight vocal accompaniment. Soft and delicate and hugs you like a fleece blanket. Looking out the window I can see the massive planet slowly getting larger. It's not downtempo or progressive, but somewhere in between. Really good melody work here. Shift- "There is an element of mystery which puzzles many people in my field." Tumbling synth lines fall over a slow beat as they fade and then pinprick synths bounce like soft rubber balls on marble. Very simple and delicious. Ghetto Blaster Cowboy- Nice track name. With a nod towards hip-hop beats that could've been made on Filipe's electribe a leads wanders in and out. Very slow groove that will make you think you stepped into a John Wayne movie. What we have here is a true Mexican standoff people. Great samples. On The Run- Wavering synths warble above a breakbeat with a real dreamy quality. The bass is almost unheard and the kick is...almost toylike. He has a good sense of rhythm as he gets a little funky. Fauna- With the sounds of nature a small bass drop thumps with ethnic percussion. Tribal times 4 especially when you add the flute. The tension builds and then it just cuts out. Only to be reborn my friend. He really makes the atmosphere thick with just a few sounds. Near the end the beat gets heavier but the meditative feeling of watching a sacred ritual continues. Awesome. Being Like A Stream- "Music of a certain kind...arouses the higher revolutions...of realization...of being like a stream." Undulating water flows below a purely warm electro beat and synth. It reminds me of some of the Depeche Mode compositions from Ultra. Analog delicious that changes shape and goes from sweet sadness to a more positive melody, perhaps hopeful. Super smooth and relaxing. I'm so at one with the universe right now I could slip into a coma. Unspoken- More insect voices and an ethereal voice drift above synths and a soft breakbeat. Slow and steady with a calming vocal that refuses to be intrusive. Soft strings and delicate synth lines make me feel like I am witnessing the creation of a spider web. That is lit up with the fluorescence of Avatar. Unreal. Really. Make You Feel- I'm having a very Enya moment. Whisper soft voices that caress. No sound is alarming but all are welcome. The beat is a heartbeat, and if mine were any slower I would be dead. The vocal has the tone of an oboe as it flutters. I didn't think I could get this relaxed. Spiritus- "Hell is empty and all the devils are here." Strings fade in and out in a melancholy fashion as thunder rumbles. Cello work is reminiscent of Rena Jones, and while sadness is the tone, it is still something I am drawn to. Untitled- "People need something to believe in like you say. But you won't be able to have it your own way much longer. Cause the country ain't the same anymore. And I'm already feeling a stranger myself." Amen to that. Still, couldn't that have been worked into the final track somehow instead of being a "track" on it's own. Who am I to criticize. I'm just a guy that criticizes. I don't really know what to say here. This has to be one of the most relaxing albums I have had the occasion to listen to. Some tracks are hopeful, some sad, but all are superbly well done. You can hear every note, every stroke with a shocking clarity. The music was very beautiful and will lift you on waves of warm melody. The tracks are nice and short so they are easily digestible. The guy bends genres also, going from dub to downtempo to electronica all while dropping a smooth beat that is never intrusive. This really gets my vote for Chill Album of the year. Move over Aes Dana. Step aside Asura. There is a new sheriff in town. CDBaby Mdk