Trance2MoveU

I thought it was close...very entertaining. Mdk

There is a zoo 1 hour away that has cages and such but also has a drive through safari where you can get really up close and personal with the animals. On certain days, they let you have your picture taken with the baby tiger as well as ride the elephant. Haven't done that yet. Natural Bridge Zoo The animals know to get in front of slow moving cars to get food and they also watch your fingers on the automatic windows. Mdk

Bout time! He says while getting goa trance for free. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Fractal Energy 4 Label: Fractal Records Date: February, 2011 1 People Have The Power / Sidhartha vs. Tryon 2 Shattered Dimension / Geko 3 Storm / Outer Signal 4 Version Two / Khopat vs. Brainwash 5 Sky High / Magneto vs. Freeze 6 Global Strike / Alienn vs. Ignition 7 Flying Forward / Karmacrop 8 File Exchange / Magneto vs. Freeze 9 The 4th Dimension / Supercell 10 Mind Blow / Hyperactive vs. Exodus Ahhh, sequels. They have been around as long as anyone can remember and do their darndest to cash in on the initial success of whatever came first. Just like clockwork you can bet Hollyweird will shovel them out and with Swiss accuracy you can almost bet that they will be sucktackular. The Next Karate Kid...Even Ralph Macchio didn't want a piece of this...Ralph Macchio! They're praying on the cover, praying nobody sees this. Teen Wolf Too...Just soak that image up. Conan the Destroyer(you know it's bad when Arnold is the most accomplished actor in this steaming pile) Interesting side note: Wilt Chamberlain who claims to have nailed over 20,000 women in his book is the bodyguard charged with protecting the virginity of the princess. I'm not making that up. Just put a new bell and whistle on it and trot it back out there with the same formula to make some more cash. Some are ridiculous. Did you know that they are planning to make a sequel to the 1983 hit Vacation? Hey, f*cktards, they did that already, it was called European Vacation. And really, a sequel to Showgirls. Showgirls? If I kicked you in the nuts and it hurt, why would you want me to do that again? Umm, yeah...I would would gargle with some bleach if I were you. Have you ever been to a strip club? With the same idea, here comes DJ Solaris with the 4th installment of the Fractal Energy Series. This title has gone the way a lot of the movies have done. First one was great, 2nd a little worse, 3rd one...ok, it's getting a little tired and now, here we are. The tracklist looks tasty, but will we be dealing with a LOTR situation or will this be Police Academy 9: What the F*ck am I still doing here? People Have The Power- Oh. Hell. Yes. This is how it's done. Sidhartha has been laying it down for quite a while and The Twilight Solution by Tryon in 2008 was one of the best albums for me. Dark vibe throughout, rambling bass line and echoing synths that come at you in waves. Lasers fire in massive bursts and the energy here is immense. This is twilight music to the core and a superb track. Shattered Dimension- Amir from Israel scored a pretty good hit with Poison Flowers in 2009. With some techno influences he gets right into it with some sweet synth sounds that play over a repeated riff. Very groovy and danceable and his 1 bar breaks are pretty inventive. The long break was entertaining with nice effects even if I couldn't understand the sample. Hi-tech for sure and a karate kick lead to the face. Nice work! Storm- This duo has had more smashes than a guy who works for Taco Bell. Their album Fabric of Space had its fair share of great tracks so these guys are pretty solid. The bass line thumps as effects round out the edges. The distorted lead is minor key delicious and then he adds a modulated synth making the track pretty noisy. The break has a cyber vibe as he twiddles the filter cutoff, but the best part is the end where he ties it all together with lasers and layers. Good stuff. Version Two- "Be careful...there is much energy in the room beyond. It stems from nothing that lives." If that does not sum up these projects I don't know what will. These guys have had a couple of great tracks, but more often than not I'm underwhelmed by their production. Hell I'm still recovering from the trauma suffered at the hands of the last Brainwash album Maximum Diarrhea. There are stops and starts and buildups but with the heavy acid lines it is much more enjoyable than previous work. It's pretty intense with the throttle mashed down the entire way. The break seethes with evil though as the tension rises and effects fall. The buildup out of the break though reminds me why I wanted to strangle this guy in the first place. He cannot help himself. Way better than the album...wait, like that would be difficult. I think someone needs an intervention. Sky High- Oh yeah, I'm still rockin' Earthquake. Aren't you? I heard this guy was in jail in India a while back. Guess he got out. Their effects set the dark stage for quite the stormer. Acid whizzes by your ears and you would swear he was on the wheels of steel. The intro and the first break have a cinematic quality as an outer space leads tramps out its melody. The lead out of the second break is metallic and it weaves its way through a variety of stops and starts. I'm not a fan of the sound, and honestly it killed whatever momentum it generated. Not bad, but I have heard way better. Global Strike- Alienn is one of my favorite artists and his album Cosmic Matter is f*cking awesome. He doesn't make bad tracks, he just doesn't. Lasers, effects, and that deep bass line rock with a metallic lead. When the acid synth that is Patrick's signature comes in you know it's an Alienn track. Where did I put my dancing shoes? The only thing I didn't like was of course, the buildup, but it was mercifully short and doesn't really detract from the power in this track. Great stuff. Flying Forward- Khopat + Sidhartha should mean twilight gold. Should. The bass line rages at a rapid pace as acid splashes all over the place. Layers start stacking and the lead melody has a carnival atmosphere to it. The break sees a lead grow out of the darkness, get detuned a bit, and of course be part of a small build up. The end kicks some major ass though, like that Australian kid did to that small bully. Where is that clip? See dude, you can only push someone so far...good for him. File Exchange- "The psychedelics opened my mind to whole new spaces of myself." Magneto and Freeze? It's like Comicon up in here. Computer sounds echo above the bass line as the track builds. I like the lead (kinda goaish) as it churns amidst some acid flashes. Relentless for sure, as it keeps hammering away with a slight key change. It gets buildupy also (seems to be a theme) but it ain't bad. Well the final build up was kinda bad. I like how it keeps shifting focus and melodies, you know out with the old....Good job. The Fourth Dimension- This is Beat Fehlmann (yes you read that correctly) and every track I have ever heard from him has been subpar. He was also on Gaia Tek 2, 3, and Fractal Energy 3. Everyone deserves 4th chances (right Mel?) and well...maybe it's 5th chances. Hold up, it's not turrible, but it's like all of his other stuff...it just is. Nothing special. Either he is a co-owner of the label or...I don't know how to finish that last sentence. This is like being on the front lines and the platoon fires rocket launchers and machine guns, and then he gets up and throws a rock. Congratulations DJ Solaris, you have redeemed yourself and made up for volumes 2 and 3. The tracks here are high energy and twilight tastic. Some were of the weaker variety, but most were good and several were downright excellent. Psyshop Beatspace SaikoSounds Goastore Mdk

The pic I posted was an old one, back when I was young...here is the family today. Yep, that's a real baby tiger. Mdk

I didn't think I would like it either, but the more I played it the more infectious it became. After his disappointing 2nd album, he has gotten his groove back. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Fashion Label: Blue Tunes Austria Date: September, 2010 1. Haldolium - Salt (remake 2010) 2. Ski Fi - Evolution 3. Symphonix - Everything You Want 4. Midimal - Age Of History (Phaxe remix) 5. Suntree - Carrying The World 6. Galactika - Human Beings (Ritmo remix) 7. Jochem Peterson & Tom Hill - Wild Silence (Neelix remix) 8. Xibalba - The Path 9. Osher - Tell Me (feat Venes) 10. Lish - Running Away Montagu and Golkonda? If I didn't know any better I would think this was the next villains to fight Godzilla. Is that Montagu...or Golkonda? Poor name choice aside, the Wötanowski brothers have been at the helm of quite a few good compilations. Sure I have been less impressed with the Symphonix project, but everyone deserves a 2nd chance. I said 2nd not 102nd Lindsay. I mean really how long is it before she does porn? Get it over with already! I picked this up solely for the Phaxe remix, Suntree track, and the Ritmo remix. No it was actually for the Haldolium one, you got me. No you didn't. Salt (Remake 2010)- Awesome, a remake of Salt...never heard of it. How boring was it before he remade it? It slumbers along like it overdosed on some Ambien and only at the very end is there a remotely interesting melodic phrase. I suppose there are those that like the minimalist style of this artist, but sadly..I ain't the one. Friends don't let friends listen to Haldolium while driving. Evolution- Miles better right out of the gate. A bouncy beat with some choir stabs. Yeah, I wasn't expecting that either. The break is smooth with a synth providing a nice undercurrent for the simple galloping lead. It's a little light on ideas (considering the title) as it really doesn't evolve much, but it's not bad. Everything You Want- Based on their latest album The Usual Suspects I wasn't expecting much from this track. This is a project that has the tools, but doesn't seem to be able to put it together. Here though they bring a smooth X-files vibe with chimes echoing with far away reverb. It's not heavy at all, but delightfully digestible. You've heard the chord progression more times than you've changed underwear (hopefully) but it works. Nothing groundbreaking, but has a nice groove to it. Age of History (Phaxe Remix)- This is a remix of the track from the Sunday compilation. I have liked most of Phaxe's work and once again he doesn't disappoint. He uses some cuddly popcorn percussion with his numerous layers. The pads were especially sweet with their far reaching capabilities. Enjoyed the break as the tension builds and a new melody emerges. And that melody is very playful and happy. Very nice stuff. Carrying The World- Have you heard his album Inside yet? Why not, it was made 2 years ago and was fantastic. Most of his compilation work is also worth checking out as well. Like the rest of the compilation, this one is rather minimalistic in scope and evolution. The break is a little underwhelming (and you need one as long as this b*tch is) maintaining its tempo without the beat but it didn't introduce anything new. So....I could do without this. Dude, with the repetitive "the word" sample you kinda...well, you know.. Human Beings (Ritmo Remix)- Don't let me down Dubi! I've never heard the original so this is a clean slate. He begins with some floating pads but I don't care for the percussion at 2 and a half minutes. It is short lived however and he continues to develop his track in the break. Nice recovery. The chopped up synth is very remote and adds a nice touch. The 2nd break sees a return of the intro pads and becomes a nice way to tie it all together. Pretty good, but I have heard better from him. Wild Silence (Neelix Remix)- Neelix drops in with a remix and it sounds like a housey Village People beat. I have nothing against that as I grew up with that record. Sure it's a gay anthem factory, but try explaining that to a 7 year old. I just remember thinking they were bad ass.. C'mon you got a cop and the army guy had a gun and a knife...that rules for a 7 year old. And there's an American Indian. Talk about an under represented demographic. Listening to this track....I think I prefer Macho Man. No you're gay. The Path- Anytime you have a sample that describes the track you've already made my sh*tlist. For example, "Motherf*ckin' big fat bass." That's for 7 years in Tibet! The track itself isn't terrible, as it works with a lot of percussive sounds but it would've had to be the best track in the world to come back from that annoying sample. Keep steppin'. Tell Me- I've been impressed with Osher as his album Twilight was a very nice bit of all right. That rhymed. And I believe he delivers the track of the compilation. It kinda has a glitchy start with a long sweep that echoes into the distance. The effects make it methinks, sounds coming from everywhere while the beat maintains its steady pace. Slow and deliberate with a nice groove. Bravo sir. Running Away- Lish released an album called Miles Away with mixed results for me, but he will always have Free Fall which I believe his best work. Still you would need several CD's to make a greatest hit for these guys....they've been doing it a long time. This track has that house bounce that makes the toes tap. No twists just straight ahead bounce. Hey that's a great way to end the compilation. Short wrap up here. There are some good tracks here and I would say this is on the more minimalistic side of the progressive genre. Some nice melodies and good groove, but not lush and many layered. You have some house influences that are also pleasing so it's not bad. Plenty of other compilations have this one beat though. JunoDownload Beatport Mdk

Mdk

Yeah that is one thing that I would love to see expanded here...many more smileys. Mdk

Hey! Mdk

Listening to the E-mantra track Neural Vortex from Resonant Earth. Mdk

Artist: Painkiller Title: Duty Freak Label: Nutek Records Date: November, 2010 1. Blackout 2. New Visions 3. Out of control 4. Diverse Species 5. I Believe 6. YourLife.com 7. OverActive 8. Blurry 9. Gazpacho This is Roy Engel from Spain with his 3rd album. It's released by Nutek so my hopes aren't...well let's just say that I am prepared to set the bar very low. Nothing personal, but that label has been known to sneak a few turds in the punchbowl. Roy was really good at making powerful psytrance with his first two discs (also released by Nutek) so I'm curious to see if he still has it. Blackout- "I'm going to show you an interesting application today. It's called blackout." In typical generic full-on fashion the track builds slowly with the bass line being the main ingredient. It's a good title, as I attempted to chloroform myself. When the track starts rising in detuned fashion I'm starting to buy what you're selling. The breakbeat is pretty cool as the sample returns and brings a rave style synth riff with a terribly painful build up. Ouch dude, you want to kick me in the nuts with the first track? Is that how it's gonna be? New Visions- "Over the years, the European Space Agency has proved that space visions can be turned into reality." I'm sure they can. Just not in this economy. At first I liked this better as there are some good layers but watch it with those build ups. The sample is nice however it comes of as a cheap ploy to work a build up in. You ain't foolin nobody Mr. Engel. Out of Control- "This is AMAZING!" This is why we restrict the scope and size of government." Much more powerful and in your face than the previous tracks. This is what I am used to from you Roy. Hard and driving with an edge. No real buildups to make me angry just run through a brick wall momentum. Easily the most substantial banger here so far. Diverse Species- "We have evolved as communal organisms. Colonies..of vast numbers of species. In the guts alone there are more than 50 trillion bacteria. Most of these bacteria are not parasites and they don't normally cause disease. In fact...you could not survive without them." Wicked sample Roy, I gotta hand it to you. The lead in the next wave is pretty good, as another arrives to replace it. Man it bounces nicely above that bass line. But I told you, watch the build ups. And what the f*ck is up with that interlude? It came out of nowhere and...well played sir. I like different. Kudos again for the surprising turn the track takes, I wondered when the acid was going to fly. Pretty good, but unfortunately joy was short lived as the track lost whatever momentum it had at the end. I Believe- "I want to represent an idea. An idea that you really can make what you want." I think that was an I Am Legend sample, but don't hold a gun to my head. The leads are grimy with a whiplike motion as a new filtered lead climbs out of the muck to dance. It all comes to a crescendo and then gets deconstructed, but the end promises a groovy ride on a roller coaster. Very good Roy, but you still lose points for the build up though. Yourlife.com- "We are here today to ask those who are still sleeping to wake up...and join us." Like most of you I googled that "website" to see what would appear. Some teen blog or something...I'll be honest, I have a very short attention span. I really liked this beast. Forceful, like when I put the smackdown on someone, and chaotic with a good lead synth like when I try to find my car keys. The bad...Roy you don't f*cking listen, I hate buildups. Just don't do it. Apart from that this track is full and really goes full throttle. OverActive- With a cyber feel right form the get go the track slings bass sounds above computer whirrings. It constantly feels as though the track is rising trying to get to that other level. The break is a slice of freshness as stuttering popcorn sounds stagger about. It's not long though until we are climbing again trying to reach...what, I dunno...the cookies on the top shelf? All in all it has the goods with a pretty good ending. The buildups though, I just cannot get past them sometimes. Blurry- Yeah, I don't know about this one. Really full oney, with not a lot of redeeming qualities. Did Nutek try and sneak this one in there? The one note bass line, the simple melodies...it all adds up to... go home and do it again. Tommy Lee Jones...Men In Black...is anybody listening? Gazpacho- I can't be the only one who thinks of this when I hear the word gazpacho? Tomato soup served ice cold! Barney tells her to go back to Russia...anyone? The flamenco guitar comes out in this one and I'm sorry I just don't think it has a place in psytrance like reason and facts have in organized religion. Another Simpsons reference...did ya catch that? Anyway, there isn't anything psychedelic here, tempos change and I wasn't feeling it. Terrible way to go out Roy. If that is even your real name... Man this was a surprise. When I read this was released by Nutek I was preparing for the demise of another artist whilst he caters to the lowest common denominator. But that didn't happen. This disc is full on, but more towards the darker side. It has power and crazy melodies and he ability to make you want to dance. It's not without it's flaws of course. For me there are too many buildups in the tracks to make them outstanding, but that is purely taste. My father once told me that opinions are like rectums...everyone has one. Well my rectum hates buildups. Also that last track...flamenco guitar + buildup = get me the hell outta here. I know he is from Spain, but that would be like me breaking out in the Lucky Charms song because I'm Irish. Maybe. While it's not going to knock any one of the Midnight Storm CDs out of my rotation, it has its very good moments. You've still got it Roy...well, at least some of it. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Artist: Rumble Pack Title: Breaking The Silence Label: Moon Spirits Records Date: November, 2010 1. Warped up 2. Tec Droid 3. Restructured 4. Spike 5. Breaking the silence 6. Sonic Fusion 7. Roadtrip to wonderland 8. Hallucinated 9. Just passing by All right, now that I have put my son down for a nap, I can get down to business. As I was carrying him to his crib I accidentally whacked his head on the side of the door. Whoops. So either he is really tired or has a concussion; let's hope for the former. The other day he fell down a few stairs. Kid doesn't cry though...he got up, looked at the stairs with that "what the f*ck just happened" look and went on playing. He constantly bumps into the kitchen table and just keeps on going. Love that tough little guy. Anyway this is a project that has been on my radar since they went by the name Blue Vortex back in 04. It is Andreas Maerki and Philip Guillaume from Switzerland and they apparently went to the Filipe Santos school of projects because they also go by the name of Natural Flow (progressive side) and Philip is Motion Drive. I think these guys have long stradled the line between progressive and psytrance with pretty good results. Since I like to educate as well as amuse, let's see what the great nation of Switzerland has contributed to the world... Obviously known for watches, chocolates, and that cheese with the holes in it, but did you know that they founded the Red Cross? That would explain the flag similarities. Some of the most incredible scenery is there including the Matterhorn. Let's not forget their contribution to cutlery and resourcefulness...the Swiss army knife. But for me, they are most known as the country that gives safe haven to child rapist and fugitive from justice I don't care where you ran off too, if you did that to anyone I knew no place would be safe. I don't blame Rumble Pack, but I don't not blame them. I would probably get around to slicing that guy's windpipe, but with all that delicious chocolate and great skiing, I wouldn't be in that much of a hurry either. Warped Up- "If indeed there is an invisible landscape, then perhaps that invisible landscape is a universal. Not just on this planet, but on all planets." Yeah, I don't know what that means. The first thing I noticed about this track is its atmosphere. Truly outer space with a deep chill. The bass line is simple, but the effects bring out that tinge of isolation. Just you and the stars. There are plenty of melodic layers to enjoy and I feel this would fit well in a progressive or psytrance set. Nice, my friends. Tec Droid- "HK-47...I did not realize that you still existed. Especially now that the other generations are activated." With a title like that and the sample, there is a definite future vibe here. When people think of droids invariably these come to mind Is nothing sacred? This is a pure full on tune that isn't that great. I and others have discussed that there is a difference between mindless full-on and intelligent full on. Like chicks in Vegas who participate in jello wrestling, you cannot paint them all with one brush. Although if I have to hear how another dancer is just doing this to pay her way through medical school I think I will plotz. It has a nice atmosphere to it even if it sounds like it was made 7 years ago. By Alien Project. Restructured- But Billy, it's got lasers...you like lasers. That it does my friends as well as several leads adding to its depth. The effects cover up for the dated bass line and it really is like taking a trip in a time machine. Still, the rhythm is nice even if it has a full on fluffiness about it. The final bit is quite good in the break and while not superb it was a little better than average. Spike- 4th track in and I am drowning in full on, but all I ask is a little patience because things eventually get better. From the middle on this is a rich and eerie ride through space. The leads are nice and reminds me of stuff from Glowing Flame, but the fact that I had to wait over 4 minutes makes me a sad panda. Still better than the last track. Breaking the Silence- I think something else is broken...your bass line maker because it's stuck in full on mode. I do like some of the effects, but that creativity gets lost in the generic plodding. My favorite part is the break where pads arc across the sky and a lead burrows from underground to break the surface. Not enough ideas for this one to take flight me thinks... Sonic Fusion- Again there are some nice touches here with some good leads and layering, but it is sucked into that vortex of derivative full on structure. I'm going to have to break out disappointed Asian father here... Roadtrip to Wonderland- More like roadtrip to Snoozeville. Hallucinated- Yep, bass line machine is definitely broken. Stuck on crap. What did you guys do, leave the room and let the sequencer run? C'mon, you can do this. Maybe. Just Passing By- That's funny cause that's just what this CD did...it just passed by. To be fair, this one had a good break that brought a smooth lead out. But thin, people, really thin. I would sum this disc up in the following manner. Started off great and then.... Sigh. You know when you turn on the radio you have so many choices right? From classic rock, to top 40. From metal to country music and even gospel. You know what this is? Easy listening. From 6 years ago. It's pure full on with some nice progressive touches and atmosphere, but most assuredly light. I liked the first track the best, but there is nothing here that stood out or I would remember if you played it for me right after I just listened to it. Generic and easily forgettable. Pass on by like the Pharcyde. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Artist: The Riddler Title: Questions Label: TesseracT Studio Date: February, 2011 1. Robots like to have sex 2. Hide and seek 3. Digital Users 4. Questions 5. A whisper of hope 6. Little Bastards 7. Intelligent shade of green 8. Outsider 9. Surprise 10. Dreamer This was a blind buy. Because this label has consistently produced top notch quality progressive trance, they have earned that respect from me. Compilations like Subfuse and Future Nature as well as the Vertex release Ocean have all garnered rave reviews from me. Smooth, emotional music that did not forget to pack its boogie shoes. So, yeah I just bought it without hearing samples. Come to think of it, that was kind of ballsy and risky. But I'm here to tell you that it was worth it. So much so that it has found a new home atop my playlist. I can't get it out. Like that friend who won't leave when the party is clearly over? But actually it is like a hot piece of ass that you find ways to meet. To show up "coincidentally" every where she is. Because of this, the review will feature boobs, butts, and a whole lot of shaking. Because...well, I like all of those things. So keep the kids away. God I hate that guy. His fifteen minutes was up 16 minutes ago. Thankfully the one responsible is not him. It is none other than Goran Juric. You know, Talpa? When he released The Art of Being Non way back in 04 it was revolutionary. And I don't use that word lightly. He followed up with When the Somberness Becomes a game and well, it was... But not unlike Osher I believe he has found his new calling. This disc is loaded with...f*ck I don't know how to label it. It has house, progressive, ambient influences....it's all over the place. But it is so infectiously groovy and induces involuntary ass wiggling that really needs to be studied. Imagine if you could harness that power stop a bank robbery just by playing this...one moment the crooks are threatening hostages, and they're scared out of their wits... the next... It's the Soul Train awards. Just so you know, no racism was implied. I'm sure there are plenty of white bank robbers but they are hard to find on Soul Train. Just sayin. Robots Like To Have Sex- Well no sh*t, who doesn't like the sticky icky? I knew Goran changed his style, but this is total 180 type stuff. Huge big beat and wrap around bass with mid tempo love. Even the break is super well done with drifting pads and soft repeating tones. The chopped up funkiness is just the icing on the cake. Makes a brotha wanna bounce.. Hide and Seek- More Earth shattering bass that whips your head around like you just got knocked the f*ck out! Rambling riffs rise and fall but at the perfect tempo for shakin' it. The dark melody that comes next is ultra groovy and sinister. Even white boys gotsta shout The bounce keeps going with the synths shimmering and the bass thumping and then it brings back the melody with spooky effects. The synth runs arrive again and on their own they would be annoying but with that bass...grill cheese. I like grill cheese. Fantastic. Digital Users- Opera singing? Choirs? Wouldn't think that would fit together would you? Liar. Well with the bass as the glue it sure does as a lead screams across the track. I mean it has it all, stuttering synths, vibes...it's kinda like a Tim Burton house party. Spooky yet eerily groovy. Questions- The bass is different here, more rumbling instead of filthy. The captain has turned the groove sign on and we can see the city lights. The break is special with it's jazz doo's...who the f*ck invited the cast of glee to this party. Whatever, it works. It's another pensive groover that isn't solely about the good time. The end is almost a Catholic lament for chrissakes. Very nice though. A Whisper of Hope- This is the ambient interlude which is kind of weird. It floats along with a simple refrain as the background. I wonder what he is hoping for? This is what it made me think of.. Little Bastards- We're back to uptempo stuff with a glitchy, grungy roller. It's more minimal with its wobbly bass, but it has a melody that screams to be heard. It's disco ball intense and kinda nasty. Wow, two Katy Perry gifs...didn't see that coming. Intelligent Shade of Green- There has been a shift in focus gentlemen. No longer are we here to party, but to be introspective. This is the thinking man's progressive trance with a xylophone, brass sounds and a smooth breakbeat. Melancholy sounds echo into space as the bass line rumbles forward. Where we once had sunshine and light, the sun has since set and the freaks shall come out at night. Outsider- Eerie spookiness continues as synths shimmer in the moonlight but man did he pack his nut kicking bass. It's super groovy and melodic trancey style hits me just right. When the epic trance lead comes in you can't help but feel you are on the shores of Ibiza. Slow and sexy like. Surprise- Another low grumbler with big bass and somber synth tones. The sun is long gone but ain't nothing like a Doggy Dogg party cause a Doggy Dogg party don't stop. More synths come in layers as a piano riffs in briefly. High brow stuff here people. He then takes a turn towards electro but I gotta hand it to him, he delivers a tasty treat. Dreamer- We close with the soft sound of the tides lapping at the shore as more synths shimmer high above the Earth. A smooth breakbeat allows me to reflect on what Goran has just delivered. Guitar strings gently strum amidst distorted synth sounds. A really relaxing piece that ends with the sounds of wildlife and the ocean. Super. Wow, this was a stupendous release. It was melodic, emotional, and first and foremost ass wiggling tastic! He brought elements from all over the map and put them together in a seriously tasty melange that gets better with every play. My hat's off to you (if I wore one) this was an excellent effort that should be heard by all who like electronic music. Tesseract you have done it again. I can't make it any plainer..well, maybe this will help. It's a f*cking cracker. Highly recommended. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Artist: Tryambaka Title: Replenishing Roots Label: One Foot Groove Date: February, 2011 1. Red / Tryambaka 2. Citizens of the Universe / Shiva and Tryambaka 3. I saw your saw (Sick Addiction rmx) / Tryambaka 4. Acid Trip (Tryambaka rmx) / Menog 5. Fitz Fatz (Tryambaka rmx) / Rastaliens 6. Sex and Death (Tryambaka rmx) / Artifakt 7. Furious (Tryambaka rmx) / Elixir 8. Alien Disco (Tryambaka rmx) / Cosmosis 9. Power of Celtic (Tryambaka rmx) / Shiva Shidapu I like people who take risks. They're special. Rather than stay inside their comfort zone they venture out into the unknown. Everyone knows about base jumpers and sky divers, but those people are f*cking insane. The real heroes are the regular people that try to do something a little different. Whether out of desire or need. "Yeah when I went to pick her up for our date she said that she had a surprise for me. I thought I was gonna get laid." Anyone can ask for change on the street; this guy went the extra mile. I gave him ten bucks. I knew things were bad in Greece, but I had no idea. This is Tiago Pimentel (not the kid above as far as I know) and I heard a lot of hype about his 2nd album. It is being released by One Foot Groove who recently gave us the very impressive Kut 'n' Paste disc. Turns out it is for the most part a remix album, but check out some of the artists and tracks he is giving the business. Alien Disco? Power of Celtic? I know Tryambaka is a twilight artist, but those two tracks seem a wee bit out of his strike zone, no? I knew that I had to hear them. By the way, his last name is Pimentel which sounds like pimento to me so...from here on I shall refer to him as the olive. No offense homie, I love olives. Red- "It's like everything is one big puzzle in your mind." Ooohh, juicy bits. Crawling creeping synths shamble above a powerful kick. With a very forest feel the bass line moves up and down as metallic leads spray like machine gun fire. It's pretty thick with layers and atmosphere while not taking its foot off the pedal. I got the feel that when I stepped into this track it got all over my legs and wouldn't come off. The final part has a twist in design that maintains its twilight focus. Nice opener olive! Citizens of the Universe- "Ignorance is no longer an excuse." It never is. Ever try to get out of a ticket? "Sorry officer, but I didn't know that I blew through a stop sign" doesn't seem to go over very well. Fear not though, there is more darkness afoot, squire! Leads that are too fast to grapple weave quickly above the bass line. There are key changes all over the place to keep the mind focused as a wailing lead bounds out of the break with razor sharpness. Very expansive and powerful and just when they might reach the height of the groove, a break arrives and let's you catch your breath. It's right back into the fray with more groove and rhythm. They did a great job with the melodies as they give the track beauty and make it also emotional, loved it. I Saw Your Saw (Sick Addiction Remix)- "In your own time...tell me the first thing you remember." "I woke up...all I could taste was blood...then metal." Yeah, in bartending school we call that the "you've had too much I'm not serving you anymore." Like the movie Saw? Then this is the track for you, full of samples and horror movie twilight. Not the teenage vampire gay-fest but the genre. But lest you think it's a cheese fest, they manage to deliver the power and melody while keeping the theme intact. The lead was a little shrill in my ears, but as per usual it is replaced with other dark sounds. Man these guys have the knack for putting together deep tracks. There is a lot going on but this is a good mover. Another good job gentlemen. Acid Trip(Tryambaka Remix)- I'm so glad the olive decided to tackle this track from Menog's album waaaaaay back in 2003. Because I thought it sucked donkey balls. I mean the lead in the original was so modulated that it sounded like he was playing it underwater. No offense intended, I think 2003 was a time when Menog was trying to find his way as an artist and that can always be forgiven. Actually I think I was too harsh; perhaps what I should say that the track had potential but left too much on the table. Yeah, that's it. So...um, no donkey balls. So Tiago gives the track a much needed makeover with clear production and more depth. The bass line is an immediate improvement as it rages forward with metallic scraping leads giving it a more chaotic feel. The break introduces that far away, melancholic vibe building to a pounding kick. Spooky horror movie synths are all over this track making you think you are watching a 1950's era science fiction film, but he doesn't forget where his bread is buttered. Twilight intensity is here in droves, and I think he did an admirable job. Fitz Fatz(Tryambaka Remix)- Talk about diggin' into the vault...On to the remix of the Rastaliens from their album Freestyle. Like the Menog track before, this one is full of darkness in its original state so I'm curious to see where he takes it. If you guessed down a dark road....ding ding ding! Winner. Yeah, 70's Family Feud with Richard Dawson where you never knew how drunk he was when he started tongue kissing some poor schmuck's wife. She liked it. The lead is crafty and agile as it dances along while effects perpetuate the dark feel. It feels like something is crawling on me. Please don't let it be spiders. Please don't let it be spiders. Get the f*ck outta here. They got sh*t like that over there? I would be like that chick in the 2nd Indiana Jones flick afraid to put my feet on the ground and screaming the whole time. Thumbs up on this one as it is more melodic but still creepy and rhythmic. Great job Olive. Sex & Death(Tryambaka Remix)- Another long ago track from the Encryption compilation by Artifakt. I have never been a great fan of his music as it has always seemed harsh and amelodic, but I appreciate his creativity. And this one was way out there, quirky and built for the tech-trance crowd. Now the original was over 11 and a half minutes so I'm glad he cut it down a bit. It still has that techy vibe with scratching sounds and bleeps, but he drops a dirty groove here. So firm and fully packed with much more melody. The only negative here is the buildup and even that wasn't that bad. Keep on flying soul brother! Furious(Tryambaka Remix)- Well here we go, a foray into goa and crazy goa at that. I went back and listened to all the tracks he's remixing and I think this one was an underrated gem. Well the Olive turned a chaotic goa track into an insane twilight stomper. It never stops and when the sample says Furious, mother f*cker it is on! This is an absolute skull crusher and catapults to the top of my favorites. Bravo sir, bravo. Techno Viking approved! Alien Disco(Tryambaka Remix)- Talk about chutzpah, taking on one of the greatest goa trance anthems and remixing it? After seeing what he could do with the Elixir track though I am a believer. It begins kinda sunshiney goa but quickly the night goa takes over. The lead shambles up and down and the signature synth squirts its arpeggio out while pads convey the night time. When the acidic lead arrives all bets are off as this should make Cosmosis proud. Another cracker. Somebody get the hose, homie is on fire! Power of Celtic(Tryambaka Remix)- I hate this song. Hate it. I know a lot of people label this a classic, but it makes me want to kick things when I hear it. What Mr. Baka did here though was give it life and a continue with the dark cinematic feel. It's got power, minor chord leads, and some of the original to let you know he heard the original. He assaults with lasers and horror movie chimes and cat quick bass lines. I wasn't a fan of the key change, but it was also in the original so that wasn't a deal breaker. So you get some beef, some Irish highland vibe, and some pretty deep darkness. Think of it as an updated version with more punch! I thought I was going to be in for another full-on disappointment. Far from it. The olive takes control and creates some remixes that for my money are all improvements. Well, not the Alien Disco. His version of it was kick ass, but you really can't touch the original. They had power, groove and plenty of darkness and melody. Very impressed. If you are a fan of twilight music then this will be right up your alley. GoaStore Saikosounds Beatspace Mdk

I've picked on Haldolium for being minimalistic and uninteresting, but your very honest review has my interest peaked just a little bit. The review itself was a great read as it felt like two friends talking rather than just text. Good job. Mdk

Artist: Leenuz Title: Polyhymnia Label: Ovnimoon Records Date: November, 2010 1. Echocentric 2. Senses 3. Astral Progression 4. Gathering of the tribes 5. Divine Darkness 6. Omnipotent 7. Ghost Network 8. Massive Hard On 9. Polyhmnia I live in the United States of America. I am proud to be an American and think that this is the greatest country on the planet. Now before you think, "There goes another Yank that thinks his sh*t doesn't stink" let me tell you, we have a lot of problems. First off we're run by f*cking idiots. I don't care what side of the aisle you're on, they both do the same stupid things. How the hell are we now in 3 wars? One side is mad that we are at war with Libya (although before we went that is what they wanted) and the other side is pissed we didn't get into it fast enough. We haven't won the first 2 and we want to start another? We gots no money. We're broke, but we keep getting rid of dollars like it's got dogsh*t on it. I would say China is bending us over, but we've done it and continue to do it to ourselves. That's like if I owed a million dollars (I know that ain't close to our debt, but it's still a lot of dough for normal people) and said, "F*ck it, you know what I don't have...a yacht." We give other countries millions and billions but refuse to take care of our own. Crisis in the world, who is the first one there? We are. That's great and I'm proud of that fact, but how long do people in the US have to be homeless, or how many kids have to go hungry and uninsured...lots of problems man. Which brings me to my final point. We are a nation of fat f*cks. That's fantastic Shamu but who do you think is going to have to pay for the doctor to amputate your leg because no matter how many times you have been told that not all food is comfort food you had to have that fourth humongous slice of wedding cake and your diabetes is off the chart? Me that's who. And the b*tch is smiling about it! She doesn't care so long as she can get those pudgy sausages she calls fingers to mash the buttons of the phone to vote for the next American Idol. There's too much food in this country. Know what we need...a famine. I'm not talkin' about a fifty year long ordeal, just a decade or so to weed out the lazy f*cks. You know, survival of the fittest? Before you get your panties in a bunch about me hating on fat people, I realize that there are some situations where it cannot be helped. Instances where body chemistry is at work, glandular issues, depression...I feel for those people, I do because unfortunately my father is one of them. But I'm not talking to those or the ones who want help. I'm talkin' about this heifer, who can't dig herself out of her La-Z-Boy for five seconds to walk what seems like to her a marathon to her fridge and get an apple or an orange while Jerry Springer is on. Lord even our pets are obese. Do you hear this conversation? Cat sees a mouse run across the kitchen floor and between wheezes says, "Ah....f*ck it. Where's my milk?" We need to do one of two things if you aren't on board for the famine thing. Aren't there lions in Africa that are endangered and starving? Send these sprinters over there to sustain the feline population and numbers will undoubtedly soar. Having feasted on large Americans the prey of the lions will also thrive and give bounty to the people in Africa that are starving. It's total win. Either that or make it mandatory that fat people have to have houses with 3 flights of steps. Can't make it to the front door? Here's a blanket, looks like you're sleeping on the sidewalk. You're probably asking where is the review. All right, here we go, a proper review. Please excuse my rant, had to be done. Once I get going it's hard to stop. Leenuz is Linus Nilsson from Sweden and he combines progressive music with some forest and goa stylings. I heard a track from him a long while ago that was given freely called Elve of Dorthonion that gave me a clue what to expect from this guy. Echocentric- That bass line rumbles loudly as a wavering synth oscillates across the track. The break is cool too with some percussion and clever synth work. He's got the washes that you hear in progressive music, but he brings power as well. Thumping really, with bass sounds that coalesce like the flood of a tsunami. Too soon? It turns into quite the galloper, with a nice hint of goa goodness. Senses- Again he hits with that really pounding bass line but this track starts off quieter. More minimalistic if you will, but he adds small touches slowly. Delicate goa melodies sneak around during the break. The sample is unintelligible to me, and the track reverts back to its minimalistic state. Normally I would hate it, but I kinda like it. You can feel something building and that something is some swirling leads. Pretty good. Astral Progression- 3rd track in and I feel like I feel like I have heard this before... I think if you put Astral into the title, you have an obligation to make a cosmic track. Gathering of the Tribes- Nothing make me feel more funky than a tribal feel. That is some rhythmic percussion. Throw in that chanting and I might as well have jumped out of a plane into the bush. The bass shows a lot more life instead of plowing full steam ahead like a senior citizen who can't see over the steering wheel. The melody line is also quite groovy sounding very old school. I wish he would've maintained it a little longer as the final couple of minutes doesn't offer much in the way of twists. Still, powerful tune. Divine Darkness- Yeah, the title here is a tad misleading. The lead here is chopped up and does have a dark feel to it. Another one comes in and it is just straight ahead without much change. There is also a nice bass sound later on and then another synth that spirals like a nitzo tune. Not bad, but nothing divine. Omnipotent (Leenuz Remix)- Love the beginning of this track with its wraparound synths and soft breakbeat. It's not long before it begins its gallop and for too long I might add. This is just pounding of the bass and some sounds in the background. I found nothing redeeming in this track after the opening. Shame. Ghost Network- It takes over two minutes for this one to get on its horse and even when it does I find myself disinterested. A melody going this way and that, but it's boring. Not much here. Massive Hard On- The bass is really deep on this one. More aggressive and driving. Once again I don't understand the sample, but this is a pretty good psytrance track. Probably my favorite here. Polyhymnia- Down to the final track and he ended well. This one probably has the thickest sounds and most atmosphere. It's driving while also being hypnotizing with its melody. There is a bubbling underneath as well as a nice percussion. The break is some of his best work I believe, as it allows the track to gather itself and introduce a new melody. Nice work. What I'm finding in his tracks that melodies aren't very intricate and tend to go on too long. That gets tiring after a few tracks. You won't remember this but back in the late eighties when they would do a remix of a song it was basically just making it longer and adding some slight changes. There are parts in every track that I like so it's not to say this isn't an enjoyable listen. It is, but I felt it needed more details. Hell, there were areas where I swear he put in a 303 just bubbling under the surface. Let that beast out my friend! My mind started wandering more as the disc continued to play. Essential? Obviously not, but it was worth listening to. There you go! Mdk Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Artist: Kozvox Title: Cosmic Voice Label: Independent Date: March, 2011 1. Medsin (148 BPM) 2. World Beyond (148 BPM) 3. 28 Tweaks Later (148 BPM) 4. Concious (148 BPM) 5. Perspective (150 BPM) 6. Sex Cells (150 BPM) 7. Seventh Dimention (150 BPM) 8. Human Behaviour (150 BPM) I'm a sucker for twilight music so when Basilisk put this up on his site I knew that I would get to it at some point. I've never heard of Kozvox but kudos to you guys for using a name that sounds like a name that already has a good following. Someone is putting that marketing degree to good use. The promo mentions their “consciously uplifting” approach to sound design. What the f*ck does that mean? Medsin- "Don't want to wait around for another half hour son cause I'll be f*cking you up." Don't tease the British, they can't help it if they talk funny. Matrix-esque chopped up computer voices chatter above a very frisky bass line. It's nicely cold when the synth echoes its arpeggio high above the bass that can't seem to get enough. "I need you to sort me out...you spilled my medicine." Love that sample and the track ain't half bad son. It surely has its groove thing going on. World Beyond- Lots of echoing and reverb in this one that really gets going around the 3 minute mark. Well, that's when the first melody I can detect appears. I didn't care for the stop and start after that which went on for a good 30 seconds. I got two words for you....flow killer. They recover nicely with some noisy clanking and banging that sounds like a plumber took 5 while working to express his inner Neil Peart. Don't know who that is? Drummer for Rush. I would've said Tommy Lee, but that guy hasn't drummed anything since Pamela Lee. 28 Tweaks Later- You know what needs tweaking? The bass preset. There are others you know. This has an ominous tone as the pads dictate, but it feels kind of empty and thin. I think they could've done so much more with this. Concious- "When it was over all I could think about was how this entire notion of ones self, what we are...is..is just this logical structure.." More great sample work and atmosphere is found here, they really are good at it. Was that a train whistle? Nice one. What wasn't so nice was the goofy Windows closing sound. Less is sometimes more. Meh, nothing to see here. Perspective- From my perspective, you guys are still using the same bass line. This is the definition of an empty track. There's still 6 minutes to go? Jeez, it just goes in circles... Sex Cells- This song was very boring and the end is so incredibly annoying I thought I would post something that sex is trying to sell me. I could use another exercise ball... No question, I could use...umm, whatever the f*ck this thing is. And here I need...ah,...what I could use is some...that's just an excuse to look at some nice cans. Seventh Dimention- This is a pounding darkpsy tune. Wait, I think I've heard this bass line before. C'mon guys. And the buildup...The track is surely "dimented" but far from thrilling. Human Behaviour- "First of all the word corruption is a monetary invention." Wait for it...wait for it...SAME BASS LINE! Really frustrating. And disturbing. But not as disturbing as this These guys are good with samples. They know when to use them and how to apply effects to them so they never sound tired. However besides that point, the whole thing sounds rather thin. Not a whole lot of variety, I mean the same bass line is present in every track. That cannot happen people. I think this may suit the tech-trance crowd than the ravenous twilight audience. Some more melodies would've been nice also. I would skip this as they have a long way to go. Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Digital Breed Volume II Label: MMD Records Date: May, 2010 1. Quarantine- A-Mush 2. Psycho Diver (Zion Linguist Rmx)- Zion Linguist Vs. Technodrome 3. Shehoor- Blue Demon MMD is another South African label that just like Nexus Media and Timecode deliver the goods. Frantic, twilight psytrance that doesn't leave your ass out of the boogie equation. While I thought the last Damage album was pure crap, the rest of the stuff is really good. Quarantine- "Crazy people don't know they're crazy." Man that is some tasty acidic goodness right there. Oh yeah, that's not coming off your shoe. It's like if you stepped in dog poo and the only thing you could wipe it off with was more dog poo. The bass line rages and the break introduces another synth which is single minded in purpose. What's the only thing that could ruin such aggressive flow? A series of buildups and while they are there, it's not that bad. The climax more than makes up for it. Power, acid, and a driving bass line make this one pretty enjoyable. Psycho Diver (Zion Linguist Rmx)- I have an idea...let's get a part owner of the label to put a track here. That's what this is? I see. This is Laurence Sonnenberg and he has released 2 albums and been on a lot of compilations. There is a hi-tech cyber feel to this one with screaming leads and a pounding beat. He's got one lead that is modulated pretty heavily and harsh, but out of the last break comes another that ties it all together. I really like the end of this one, with its groove and eerie atmosphere. Good job! Shehoor- She a whore? I dunno, but I heard that she been givin' that stuff up to all the graffiti guys. You could paint three of those murals on some of that ass. I don't think this has anything whatsoever to do with the Beastie Boys, but I write what I want. Never heard of this act, but it has its feet planted firmly in the twilight area. Dark cyber age computer music that is high tempo aggressive. The choir pad lends a little horror cred to the nightmare but lest we forget this is dance music, there are some groovy stabs that funk the whole thing up a bit. If you like twilight music then this will fit the bill. Pretty groovy and intense, with melodic touches and acid a plenty. MMD is quality so f*ck yeah, I would recommend this. Beatport Juno Download Mdk

Artist: Goalien Title: Psychedelic Dilemma Label: Sita Records Date: January, 2011 1. Asteroidal Dust 2. Do it now 3. Hallucinating (feat. Agneton) 4. Evolution of mutation 5. Inner Mind 6. Psychedelic Dilemma 7. Aggressor 8. Tragic Kingdom 9. Origin of life Enough time has passed and I have listened to this so much that I am ready to give my opinion on the latest from our friend Boris. Besides, I got laid, so...uh, I'm feeling kinda good. Cookieliscious! Goalien is Boris Huskic and this is his debut. He has released several tracks on some new school compilations that were for the most part highly entertaining. This is being released by Sita Records so that should tell you what style he is producing. I suppose you would call this Nitzho-goa that combines the playfulness of nitzhonot with the sunshine melodies of goa trance. The king of that genre right now is Agneton and since he and Boris run the label, this seems like a natural fit. I love the cover as it reminds me of several things. We all know aliens have been to this planet long before we were able to rub two sticks together and once again a Bruce Willis movie has it right. "Don't stop, make it pop, DJ blow my speakers up..." I can't tell whether the alien presence is attacking or not, but this smacks of a no-fly zone over Egypt. Peace out Mubarak. Nice knowin' ya Khad...Qadda..plastic surgery accident. I can't imagine how Muslims could think that the white man is at war with Islam. Not seein' it. Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya...at some point you have to pull the goaltender, give him a pat on the back and say, "Just not your night kid." Asteroidal Dust- One look at the duration and you know you are in for an intro track. A rapid fire nitzho kick thumps as spoken word samples pepper the ears. A goa melody is quickly joined by some atmospheric pads and you get a sense of what you're in for. Do It Now- The undulating melodies of Arabia tumble out at 2 minutes and are soon joined in battle with more synths. A good litmus test if this works well was the fact that I had to listen to this over and over because each time I was just spirited away. New melodies twirl about each other as octaves are raised like a high stakes poker game. The beat doof doof doofs on while the dance continues. Great stuff! Hallucinating- The scale, the scale! Tender work being done on the dulcimer but this is way more full power than the previous track. Afternoon winds blowing across the desert as I sit on a cushion of the softest material. As I peer through my tent of silks I see... "Yes, multi-pass I know, I know. Stay away from the food services table and take of the f*cking crocs!" The melodies come fast and furious and continue to fly through a break beat type of interlude. Pretty cool and intense without taking itself too seriously. Fun and very danceable. Evolution of Mutation- With long sweeps and bubbling effects this has a definite alien feel. Futuristic power with the X-men sample about mutation in there as melodies bounce and ricochet off one another. Powerful without being aggressive while still maintaining the melodic air. I liked it as well. Inner Mind- Radio signals from space? Dude, your planet is on the phone...I dunno something about picking up your sister after soccer practice. I don't f*cking know, load up the vampire wagon (minivan) and go get her nightmare creature! These melodies are cat and mouse quick and the sounds switch repeatedly keeping it fresh. Like all the tracks so far, it has that tell tale kick and octave switching melody work. This appeals to me and it makes me want to dance, but I can see how some might find it overwhelming and a little too samey for 4 tracks. Psychedelic Dilemma- Oohh, a nice long track length! This has a thicker feel with more layers right from jump. It is also fast and melody crazy with I believe a harder edge. Easily one of my favorites. Aggressor- This track was on the Sahasrara compilation back in 2008. It is what is says it is, aggressive and high octane. The bass line and melodies scramble like a Sega Tecmo Bowl QB with no offensive line twisting and turning. He does his breakbeat thing again with great results as the sounds just churn up dust. Another great track. Tragic Kingdom- Not to be confused with the No Doubt album of the same name. She was kinda earthy, I think she would dig this music. Well, before she went all Hollywood and crap. The bpm's might read the same but this one definitely feels slower. He does another great job with layering and keeping the feeling of euphoria going. As a matter of fact this leans more towards dream trance than goa until nearly the 5 minute point. Then the ol taste buds get slapped with a generous helping of goa flavor. Which brings me to one of my favorite things to say to your girlfriend (if she has a sense of humor) The pace quickens and we're back into familiar territory. Not bad at all. Origin of Life- I was hoping for a downtempo track to give me a break, but no he has more power to unload. It's mysterious in tone as leads twinkle from a hidden position. Here come the layers and I see he wants to end this journey on an upbeat note. Laden with nitzho style arcing melodies the track unfurls like a flag in a strong breeze but instead of being overwhelming the synth work is more of the delicate variety. So in a sense, I suppose it is similar to a downtempo track in feel if not pace. Well what to think? If you like nitzho or its influences then you will like this. It is very melodic and of quick tempo. The problem lay in the fact that it can be too much of the same style for the whole album. Some might be overcome and fatigued is the word I am looking for. It's hard work to track all those intense and super-fast melodic lines. I love this stuff so it's not a big deal for me. He has a talent for melody and I will say it is a good album. I enjoyed it and think that he will only get better as an artist. Congratulations Boris. Psyshop Beatspace Saikosounds Mdk

Artist: E-Clip Title: Shuma Label: Yellow Sunshine Explosion Date: January, 2011 1. Live is enough 2. Asia Tribe 3. Crow 4. New level of being (feat. Egorythmia) 5. Chandra 6. Reactor 7. Nostalgic 8. Existence 9. Cosmic Energy You ever have a friend or know someone that, whatever they attempted or did was successful? Answers in school came easily to them without really having to study. Or they just excelled in sports because they were naturally athletic. Maybe they were just in tune to things or maybe they worked their ass off and we never knew. When I was in optometry school I had a friend that used to smoke so much weed but was consistently at the top of the class. However they do it, it gets done and we are left to marvel at their accomplishments. Well this guy has that quality when it comes to music. This is Marko Radovanovic who released a psytrance album in 2008 under the name Beyondecliptica called Groove Technologies which was a superb album I thought. Well his friend Flegma rubbed off on him and now he delivers psy-progressive stuff under the moniker E-Clip. Every track I have heard from this guy is a deep and lush experience. Stories are told. So when I saw he was releasing his debut I knew I wanted to give it a try. I see that it was put out by YSE and... I thought that was a label that had a rich past, but now only released not goa trance that said Goa Trance 97 on the cover. Hmmmmm.... No track by track review here. To be honest, it's hard to discern one track form the next. Well, that is until the last few tracks where he is on some serious Glowing Flame style sh*t. While some might view that as a negative I see it as an epic tale that lasts over an hour. It's a perfect example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. The post-apocalyptic atmosphere is thick with long sweeps, echoing synths, and dreamy melodies that fade into each other. To me this wasn't dance music as much as a vehicle to transport you to outer space. It wraps you up and keeps you safe from the cold void while beats pound away as the cosmic lightshow unfolds right before your eyes. This is lush progressive trance at its best with a psychedelic edge and gets my vote so far as best progressive album of the year. I know, it's early....but it's awesome. Jeez...I just wrote a f*cking promo. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Let's see....I suppose the Lost & Found and Artifact303 albums for me. Mdk

Artist: Lish Title: Miles Away Label: Iboga Records Date: March, 2011 1. Alien Workshop 2. Alpha Groove 3. Funky Habit 4. Route 44 5. Miles Away 6. The Light (Album Edit feat Ace Ventura) 7. Robots in my lab 8. Necessary Activity (feat Andrea Bertolini) 9. Feel Good The first thing I did when I got this album was to listen to Dejavoodoo. After hearing what they did back in 2002, I can now understand why the new album is called Miles Away. Lish are Israelis Lior Maimon and Shay Tiab and have been making their mark in the scene for quite some time.Here is an interview of the duo done by our very own pr0fane which I found very informative. This is their 3rd album after the brilliant and I mean brilliant Free Fall back in 2005. How do you improve on something so great? That's a good question. Alien Workshop- That's a pretty large kick you have there gentlemen. Immediately it is evident that there is a progressive house swagger to their beats. It is slow and deliberate with a warm feeling. This is music to dance to with a beer in your hand. Melodies creep in almost undetected, smooth meanderings. It's very organic...can I use that here without sounding pretentious? That was a great start. Alpha Groove- Such a total turnaround from their earlier work. Pulsating synths wobble amongst lithe percussion and a string obligato. This is a house groove without the annoying vocal, no question. I like it. The melodies slide in smoothly right into the break as another synth wavers almost out of sync with everything else. Groovy and this is why musicians get all the chicks... It's all there in black and white. Funky Habit- This one strayed a little to close to the housey sun Icarus. I can take some of it, but this is pure house music with not much in the way of melodies. It went one way with zero surprises to it. Sorry guys they can't all be home runs, but there wasn't anything funky about this habit. Good hat! Route 44- See, this one is already funkier than the one with funky in the title. Must be the bass. Is route 44 the down syndrome cousin of route 66? The one that just goes in circles? Be careful, the NASCAR groupies might take exception to that. You know...all left turns? Have you ever seen some of their fans? All jokes aside, the beat is pretty cool but again it is pretty minimal with no melodies to break the monotony. I didn't hate it, but it was still lacking to my ears. Miles Away- The bass is really sub level and makes me want to bob my head, but once again that is all this track has. Empty and not engaging. The groove is just one part of the outfit, you still need some clothes before you step out the door. Otherwise you might as well just wear a pizza box... Oh for f*ck's sake! The Light (Lish Album Edit)- Ok, now this is worlds better. Melodies and pads right from the get go to complete the ensemble. Sure there is the smooth beat, but it doesn't have to carry the load alone. Working together you lift heavier loads and this is a groovy monster. It grows on you, changing and evolving with nice effects and melodies. It sparkles with Tangerine Dream running synths...yeah think of the subway scene in Risky Business...do you guys even know that movie? Anyway there is a tempo change but this is a great example of how good a progressive trance track can be with house influences. Good job! Robots In My Lab- I like the effects in this one. Bubbling and echo style stuff, all over top of a groovy bounce. There are some washes and organ stabs that give it a nice funk injection. The break allows a cool melody to sprout and it's percussive feel fits in well. Danceable as hell once it gets going. Go Bender...it's your birthday. Necessary Activity- "Every time I see your face..." Doesn't she make pasta? What? Oh, that's Bertoli. My bad. Whatever, she has a very, very minor role, but Oh snap! That is the jam motherf*ckers! I defy you not to bounce to this. It really is a necessary activity. The bass is warm and popcorn is a poppin'! Another grower that packs a punch in the climax. Wow, the girl scouts are really going outside the playbook for selling cookies. Feel Good- So if you don't know by now that this is a progressive house album then you really haven't been paying attention. The boys end on a good note with an infectious little tune that feels so good. The melody is happy without tasting of cheese with some more kernels from the popcorn left over. Nothing to alert the media over, but a nice smooth way to close the set. Where Dejavoodoo was still in the progressive vein, it was dark and minimal. Miles Away brings fun and progressive house beats with a warm melodic caress. If you compare the two albums you might not think it from the same project. A total 180 degree turnaround. Must be easier to get chicks with melodic music. Hot chicks anyway. Ahh, evolution. Miles Away has a progressive house bounce that invites everyone to the party instead of a select few. Way more digestible and even though I felt they lost their way in the middle, there are plenty of feel good jams here. It's summer afternoon tunes chillin' in a car you spent all day waxin' type good. Good job. Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Pan Electric and Alexander Daf Title: All Around The World Label: Tempest Recordings Date: 2009 1. Unseen But Not Unheard 2. Eastern Approaches 3. Birthright 4. Affinity Plus One Birthright 5. At The Edge of the World 6. So Long As There is Faith 7. Ghosts Laid To Rest I don't have a lot of experience with Matt Coldrick but apparently he used to be a criminal. Maybe, but Discogs says more along the lines of car theft. He's a big time psy-chill guy now having released an album with Ishq as well as his debut from 2007. I didn't hear that and I was underwhelmed by About Time. Somehow I came upon this and since my life is rather turbulent at the moment I needed something to relax to. It's a funny story how this collaboration came to be and really does prove that music knows no language. You can read it on the Discogs page. The cover is absolutely beautiful and could be just what I need. Unseen But Not Unheard- This is the longest track and goes through many permutations. Cycling synths, acoustic guitar, and bubbling melodies all find there way here. The bass is deep and abrupt as a mid tempo pace arrives. It's gone as quickly as it came. With floating melodies the break is very soothing as if I was walking through that Elven city in LOTR. Birds and waterfalls and sh*t. The beat comes back with a thunderous crash as if it has a purpose. Pretty cool as it goes from relaxing to intense and back to relaxing. Eastern Approaches- Ahhh, afternoon music. There is a mystical and tribal feel here as percussion rattles away and synths waver. It is very loud with cascading twinkles and loping stings that sound great. This sounds like if Kitaro and Yanni ran into each other at high speed. I see waves crashing as well as purple mountains majesty. Not bad. Birthright- Dreamy guitar floats over dub style bass as a flute flutters above. The percussion begins to grow in volume turning into a smooth downtempo vibe. The flute carries the melody with accompanying guitar. Smooth man. This could be a jam session between studio musicians. Loved it. Affinity Plus One Birthright- I see your Affinity and raise you one birthright. How the hell did poker become so popular that you could televise it and people would watch? F*ckin' degenerate gamblers. They broke this beat and then funked it up. The bass is beautifully playful and would thump on some subs. I feel like I should bust a freestyle. Okay then...One and two and three and to the four...keep on waiting to see what I have in store. Rippin up the mic like it was last months bills, my rhyming style so fresh it gives you the chills. Yeah, you feel me. Needless to say (ignoring my tired rhyme) the beat was pretty cool. Spit that sh*t Mario! At The Edge of the World- Shimmering synths roll as a bass sound sets the mood. It's warm as pads help thicken things out. Another fluttering synth receives the filtering treatment as yet another one shines higher above. Pure sunshine, staring over the edge of a great precipice. The guitars come in along with even more synths. It's very full and I can almost feel the breeze. So Long As There is Faith- Another smooth tune where they somehow give the leads a funky rhythm all their own. The bass is Jan Hammeresque along with the xylophone and I feel like I'm on the set of Miami Vice. Not that Colin Ferrel Jamie Fox crap. I'm talkin, Don Johnson and Phillip Michael Thomas. Somehow a detective got to drive around Miami in a Ferrari and wore a suit jacket over a tangtop. You know how much BO that guy would have? But it sparked a trend that had every yuppie in the world wearing a blazer with the sleeves pulled up over a pastel t-shirt. Motherf*cker never wore socks either. But it was so cool back in the day. The song? Oh yeah, that was pretty good. Ghosts Laid To Rest- Whisperings and a slow string heavy sweep that meanders on its introspective course. Another synth swims amidst guitar strums. I get a sense that this track brings closure to the listening experience. It is sunshine and light made more so with the break beat. Together they have a good sense as far as combining sounds. I enjoyed it. Well this wasn't a relaxing trip down beatless avenue, but it was great to listen to. While not as polished as an Aes Dana or Carbon Based Lifeforms it does bring several genres into play. I didn't find a bad track here and felt that this would be perfect beach listening. These two guys show they have talent that's for sure. Whether it's the melding of real and electronic instruments or the ability to change the beat, I was impressed. Juno Download Beatport Mdk

Artist: Osher & Avshi Title: Desert Trip EP Label: Synergetic Records Date: December, 2010 1. Desert Trip 2. The 60's I have to give Osher his props. Propers. Snaps...whatever the kids are saying these days. After riding the Ananda Shake project into the ground he has reinvented himself in the progressive trance genre. I reviewed his debut album Twilight (go find it) and it was surprisingly deep and rich. He has been composing some very lush progressive soundscapes in the IONO music vein. Big beats, floating melodies and expansive breaks. Here he teams up with someone named Avshi who has been doing his own thing for quite some time. Desert Trip- "When it gets really interesting is when we use that same system of symbols to...." Oh man I would love to go on one of those. Money is tight these days so taking a tour of all the desserts sounds really cost effective. What? That's not what that means? Oh...desert. Like the Sahara. Gotcha. I knew that. With a melancholy violin and soft percussion twinkles shine high above. The kick is full and there is a swagger to this. Sharp bass and echoing synths give this track some space and it only gets groovier. The combination of synths is so very thick and rich that it is impossible to get bored with this one. If you are a fan of progressive like me. It's very dreamy and the melodies drift like the winds upon the endless sands. Outstanding work gentlemen. The 60's- "I do not blame Dr. Leary for all of this. I think he was an important part of it. Such things as Grace Slick and the Jefferson Airplane and the rock groups talking about the glories of drug use. It was a drug world." I wasn't alive in the 60's so let me answer that question first. The bass is of a higher pitch here as more echoing synths follow. While spacious in its own right, this is not as grandiose as the previous track as the sample about Dr. Leary reappears frequently. Not bad but it doesn't have the same flow or atmosphere as the first track. For 3 bucks you get some really good progressive numbers. Desert Trip is the star here with its great detail, but The 60's is not bad. Osher is definitely one to watch as his production skills are really growing. Beatport Mdk