Trance2MoveU

Artist: Sidhartha Title: Total Experience EP Label: Digital Distortion Records Date: December, 2010 1. Total Experience 2. Sumharla 3. Epileptic (Sidhartha Remix) Imagine you could work for a while, then decide to...I don't know, take 3 years off. That's what it seems like this label did. After releasing some really good compilations (Work It Out and Adventures on the Dancefloor) they didn't produce a thing for almost 3 years. 3 whole years. It's not like they put out some turds and decided to close up shop. They were on a roll. None of my business really, I'm just glad they are back. I recently reviewed Wizack Twizack's Breeze of Heaven EP that these guys put out so they seem not to have lost a step. This is Nuno Francisco Santos from Portugal and he has been rather busy. His debut Reverse Mode was pretty good and then in 2008 he upped the ante with his 2nd album Bio Rhythm and in the same year released Versus Galaxy. Lately I thought he has been getting a little more commercial, but he has some credibility in the bank with me, so I'm always willing to give him a chance. His style is twilight and he loves to wield the acid broadsword. Right up my alley. This ain't fast pitch softball sweet cheeks. Total Experience- The beat is good and it ain't long before he brings out the acid leads in true groovy style. There is talk of extra terrestrials in a staggered tempo change and then right back into the comfortable glove of 4/4 time. The bass becomes a footrace as it dares you to keep up. I like it a lot. He does the tempo change thing again at the 2nd break with a little build up (grits teeth) but it works out well. Very nice Nuno...very nice. Sumharla- In the same style he lets stabs echo as the bass line sets things up. He has always been able to make you want to move and there is no exception here. The leads are juicy and firmly packed as my flight to Jamaica... Oh, c'mon how are they supposed to get the drink cart by? The lasers and acid wash over me in a cascade of deliciousness as it gets really intense. Love it. You do what you do Nuno. Great job! Epileptic- This is a track done by Tube from his album Personality and his music has been hit or miss for me. Sometimes he comes up with a stormer and sometimes I don't know what the f*ck he's doing. Now if IRC, this was one of Tube's better efforts but I had to listen to it again to compare. It sounds great with a whole lot of things going on. Lots of sounds, pretty loud to be honest, but not uncomfortably so. It's not bad, but doesn't hold up to the other 2 tracks. Prefer the original as it seemed deeper and more of the storytelling variety. The best track on here is Sumharla followed by Total Experience in my opinion. He still has the knack to move you and if you like crazy acid ridden psytrance then check it out. Beatport Mdk

Man that was great. I hope that you are saving all these tracks for an upcoming compilation release. Kinda like a Imba Vs. type of thing. Mdk

Artist: Kut'n'Paste Title: Relapse Label: One Foot Groove Date: January, 2011 1. second coming 2. the gift 3. secret society (Noise Anomalie rmx) 4. nymphony 5. district 9 v2.0 6. deal gone wrong (featuring The Jester) 7. beautiful disaster (featuring Day Turns Night) 8. sinning in the rain 9. carnival of animals 10. relapse I got paid! Not like this guy with his pants off and his man lover rubbing him with money. For God's sake, pull your f*cking pants up. Is it racist to wonder whether this individual is in jail or dead? Just wondering. Regardless, cash is king and the government just gave me back some money which I loaned to them at 0% interest. Aren't I nice? That's how the tax game works. So I goes out and gets me a new disc. In our scene of generic and derivative music, where copying and letting the computer do all the work is unfortunately so prevalent, how can I not review an album by the artist Kut'n'Paste? I mean, c'mon...that's the definition of lazy and unimaginative. I've never heard of Jaco König but kudos to him for choosing a great name. Let's begin with the cover...doll with multiple fractures on fire. Are you an abusive arsonist that was trying to get better, but had a relapse? Abuse is never funny unless it's old time commercials that didn't give a f*ck about political correctness. You got knocked the f*ck out! Who would win, Hawaiian Punch guy or Kool-Aid jug? I dunno. Maybe the cover is a symbolic representation of our lost innocence. Again, drawing a blank. The cover is striking though. Judging by the font and the images, I thought this would lean towards the darker side and boy was I right. Pure twilight music. But you know what...a funny thing happened while listening to this. Fire made it good. One of the best. Episodes. Ever. Second Coming- "Now open your mind...let us begin our quest...to find the new sound." No offense Jaco, but this sounds like the old sound. Plenty of lasers firing and a nice bass line give this a nice groove. Acid washes sound great but I could do without some of the samples in the break and you know how I feel about build ups. Still, this track brings the power in places and it has peaked my interest. Pretty good start I suppose. The Gift- "She had awakened...and thought she smelled something burning." Ouch, babe that usually means a visit to the free clinic. At 2 and a half minutes that shiny chaotic lead is a gift as it tears across the track. With a break a new rambling synth crawls forward and the stacking begins. I like how he switches sounds for new phrases and the bass line deepens to become a noisy rumbler for a time. Nice. Secret Society (Noiseanomalie Rmx)- Amidst a gaggle of noise a simple bass line steps forward. The lead is rather scratchy but what I liked was the short breakbeat. Funky rhythm and real drum sounds. Other than that it is full steam ahead and pretty chaotic without much evolution. Meh. Nymphony- "Unplug from your chairs, get up and look in the mirror. What you see is how God made you. We're not meant to experience the world through a machine." If that isn't the biggest FU to Facebook, I don't know what is. And take your damn Farmville and shove it up your ass! This I like, the bass rages and the ominous melody suits me fine. What I don't like is the buildup of course. Twice. And when you hear the vocal declaring "I'm a nympho" repeated, well you might say...please to meet you! I did! Normally I would hate that, but it works here as the key changes and leads race. Very South African my friend. All in all a good track. District 9 V2.0- I haven't heard the original so this is a blank canvas. Wheew...that bass line is deep. That kick is THUNDEROUS and the effects crawl from the darkest pit. Earthquakes don't rumble this much, wow such power! There are numerous samples from the movie (District 9 if you were in a coma) and they are well placed. F*cking awesome track. Deal Gone Wrong- "You don't know what you're talking about." Man, he really does specialize in deep basses, cause this one is rattling some windows. I know my son needs a nap, but I cannot help myself. Are you South African Jaco? Because Timecode would like a word with you. Holy acidic synth batman! The only part of this track I didn't like was the rapid fire kick and word drugs repeated over and over. Other than that..I'm seriously gay for this track. Beautiful Disaster- When I was still getting high from pot, I saw Event Horizon stoned to the bejesus and thought it was the greatest movie ever. Ever. There are plenty of samples to occupy the fan while the beat punishes. There is guitar in this one, but it is well done. This is another quality headbanger. Like metal? This is for you. Sinning in the Rain- "I think I'm a machine." The delicious breakbeat intro makes me wonder what kind of dark musings he can create in that genre. But that's food for thought for another time. Has anyone seen Jaco and Frozen Ghost in the same place? Cause they're using the same leads. That's cool, but what's cooler is the nah nah nah nah nah nah put to some serious dark music. The lead sounds like it was run through a distortion pedal which I find appealing. The track just keeps growing and growing, really awesome work. Carnival of Animals- "I just don't like techno...You would if you had robot ears." Moving through a subterranean corridor as synths try and escape their underground prison. Sound like a carnival? Yeah it does, but a wicked one at that. It's grimy with that telltale deep bass that will not be contained. Just to change pace he hits you with a higher pitched synth in an almost classical melody. While not as powerful as the previous tracks it was certainly interesting. Relapse- The Emily Rose sample is still scary to me. If I am ever confronted with that in real life, get me a diaper. More deep rumblings with loads of atmosphere thanks to that sample. The effects are also great sounding like scratching on a tomb as they seem to come from all sides. With the screaming it gets pretty noisy but that is all part of what he is shooting for I suppose. The strings are a nice touch. Darkest track on the disc. Talk about finishing on a strong note. This reminds me of Hiyarant's debut Collision. And not just because they both sampled from Emily Rose. It's a horror movie soundtrack that makes you want to dance. When I first got into it, I thought he was going to become just what he was making fun of. Not so my friend. His beats are ridiculously heavy handed and he really does have that South African flare for melody and intensity. But what he also has is well set up tracks with good sample placement (mostly) and a full cup of danceability. Most definitely a welcome surprise that only got better the more I listened to it. This is not your everyday attempt at twilight music. Beatspace Saikosounds Goastore Mdk

Link added in the review peoples! Mdk

That is an awesome story. Just a simple thing like that and maybe he will spread the word to other friends. Mdk

Thank you. No wonder it didn't show up in my German translator! Mdk

Sounds interesting, but it doesn't belong in the reviews section. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Project DIY - Belgians United Label: None Date: August, 2010 1. Fractal Frequency & Fusik - Deadwood 2. Agneton - De Wereldoverbrugger (Short Edit) 3. Ephedra - Travel On A Wednesday 4. Daimon - Grimoire 5. Javi - Eiwit 6. Lapsus - Shake Fear 7. Javi - Alice In Blotterland (Rmx) 8. DjunaSaurus - Nobody's Nuts Without A Little Bit Of Sugar Man, I have had this on the ole hard drive for many weeks, but am only now getting to it. Sue me, I've been busy. I found this as a digital release (link below) but it was an actual CDr in which only 50 copies were made. It was put together by DJ Javi who was a dj for Suntrip, but had to stop due to ear problems. All of the artists are from the great land of Belgium and worked for free. The artwork was done by none other than Mars from Suntrip. I don't know what flower that is on the cover, but all of a sudden I want blueberries.. But back to Belgium...this land had given the world so much: f*ck blueberries. Muscles from Brussels baby! Man he's never gonna live that one down. I will work this hilarious gif into as many reviews as possible Thank you Reyu for setting me straight on this one. I've been to Belgium, but that was back in the early 90's so I don't remember anything but this really cute and touristy town called Brugge. It was like stepping into a fairy tale. Of course it was Christmas time so it was all done up and I was with this smokin' hot French chick..But I digress. Deadwood- - "The world ends and then you're dead. Until then...you got more punishment ahead. Stand up like a man...and give some back." Nice start from people I have never heard of. Arpeggios flutter in and out, numerous at a time. A lead dances in between them putting it's dancing shoes on, but it's a little on the minimal side. I guess I'm just spoiled by layers. Not bad though. De Wereldoverbrugger (Short Edit)- That's me trying to figure out how to pronounce whatever the hell you call that track name. That's consonant abuse Elias. This is the shorter version of a track that was put on the great Protozoa compilation. It's a nitzhogoa special with sparkling synths and that tell tale nitzhonot kick. As usual he pays attention to the details as the bass line thunders and synths scatter like roaches with the light on. He adds leads and builds a tasty treat. I love that melody at around 3 and a half minutes. The break is super with ideas shooting from all angles. Love your work man! Travel On A Wednesday- Well of course you want to travel on a Wednesday...have you seen the price of flights skyrocket on the weekend? No idea who this is. This track tends towards the darker side of things with an intense drive as the synth arpeggios rage on. The key change is pleasant and keeps things interesting for awhile, but the same sounds without a break can get a little weary. Not bad. Grimoire- The dark alter ego of Antares (Simon Felix) who has his debut coming out this month. He creates an alien plane with effects running from the darkness but quickly shying away from the light. He maintains that feel throughout as synths waver uncertainly crying out to be filtered. It's like a childhood icon that was full of smiles decides to say f*ck it and go on a crime spree. F*cking Grimace had it coming...if the cholesterol from the shakes didn't get him you know Ronald would. Lazy fat bastard collecting checks... This track is dark and not a storyteller, but just a good atmospheric ride. The climax brings it all together in a scary frenzy. This guy has talent. Loads. Eiwit- "The spiritual and religious use of drugs has been occurring since the dawn of our species." Man he wastes no time does he? Twist that sh*t homie. Very good bounce as he interchanges leads. Once he's finished with one it's on to the next. Pretty thin, but it still kept my head bouncing. Good job. Shake Fear- Nicolas Wojciechowski had a track on Pure Planet 4 called De Tevroegkomer (whatever the f*ck that means) that I thought was pretty good. I've heard this before and upon listening again realized why I liked it. It's driving with attitude, synths racing while more leads get added. The textures are also different; the bass is kinda gruff, some leads have a delicate touch and some scream like my son when you say he can't watch another f*cking episode of Yo Gabba Gabba before bedtime. Intense and full of adrenaline, especially the climax. Should be time for an album from you, no? Alice In Blotterland (Rmx)- This one bounds out of the gate with multiple leads and keeps the goa vibe thumping. It morphs into different phrases and keeps the flow. It has a gritty feel, with the 303 bubbling and hell, there's even a sheep braying. You know a track is good when livestock do a cameo. Loved it. Nobody's Nuts Without A Little Bit Of Sugar- Wow, this is just annoying. There is a terrible vocal effect used in the 1st two minutes that makes me want to kick my monitor in. Thankfully it settles down and becomes quite the goa stormer. Screeching 303 madness that makes me want to do the spins with weird leads moaning in my ears. Psychedelic no doubt and would've been great if not for the 1st two minutes. Sort that out. Way to go Belgium! Congratulations to the artists and to DJ Javi for putting this nice compilation together. All the tracks were good and several were exceptional. Anytime you release some goa trance, I'll be there. And all of this for free. Links have been updated for download Mdk

Artist: Syb Unity Nettwerk Title: The Space Puppy EP Label: Flying Rhino Records Date: March, 1997 1. Space Puppy 2. Limited Access to the Files 3. Morphogenesis 4. Untitled Kris Kylven is to old school goa trance what Dennis Rodman was to basketball in the 90's. This is not to say that Kris dated Madonna or donned a wedding dress. I'm not saying it didn't happen, but I'm not not saying it either. You would have to ask him. Kris is Mr. UX the undisputed king of dark goa trance. Powerful, melodic, and intensely chaotic. I don't know why he has this project because it sounds the same. His style is unmistakable. Maybe label problems, like the Etnica guys had. I dunno. There are 3 versions of this according to Discogs and I shall review the maxi CD with 4 (actually 3 tracks; why even put that nonsense at the end and call it a track?) Space Puppy- There it is, the Kylven UX synth that stutter steps across the sky. Pure old school goa, but wait...did the track just pick up speed imperceptibly? That lead twists like leaves in a strong breeze as it emerges from someplace very dark. There is a key change as more leads fill the sky and damnit it's getting delightfully crowded in here. If you're not twirling to this, someone amputated your legs whilst you were sleeping. Maybe it was....him!!!! Limited Access to the Files- "My experience is but a small part in this great plan. The Venutians are here among us with great love...believe me there are many more to come. Their purpose is to help us in this world crisis. Their influence is very great as you will see. You're going to be able to meet these people, to talk with them, as well as take part in a trip to their planet. Believe me for I know it is so." The bubbling effects in the beginning set the alien tone as he wastes no time in getting down to business. Here he goes with that synth that is thicker than a pastrami on rye from Mulberry St. I guess you guys won't get that. How about, thicker than your girlfriends midsection? Regardless, more leads pile up (not unlike the layers of pastrami...getting hungry) and I would say this track is even more intense. He has this ability to keep the entire track hypnotic even as he changes sounds or begins new phrases. Truly entrancing as leads climb higher and higher and dark whispers are spoken. The tone is delightfully alien. Morphogenesis- Wow, starting simply enough with a bass line and a jangly synth but a no less alien environment. Juicy leads and dark stabs provide the backdrop as he reinforces his atmosphere in the break. The leads creep about like some supernatural evil and I'm sorry did I just wander into this guy's nightmare? Good God this guy was a great goa trance producer. Just some amazing soundscapes with rich detail and plenty of melody. The beats always made me want to dance, and it was dark and delicious. You can probably still find this at some vinyl shops, but who knows. Even if you have to download it from somewhere, do it. It's f*cking quality. Mdk

Well said. I believe (hope) that the power is going to come from his Daimon project. Great call on the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. Mdk

Artist: Antares Title: Exodus Label: Suntrip Date: March, 2011 1. Exodus 2. Mysticism 3. Aurum Solis 4. The 4th Dimension 5. Dreaming Universe 6. Mount Meru 7. Astral Plane 8. Sun Sanctuary 18? Really, he's only f*cking 18? That's just out of high school. Do you remember how stupid you were at that time? Holy crap. What a f*cking douchebag. Hopefully smarter than these dipsh*ts, but still. That is a time when you think you know everything but you really know absolutely nothing. You're still discovering who you are and what path in life to pursue. Most 18 year olds haven't even been laid yet. Well, I had, but that's because...well, I'm the mack. Ooohh...mac an cheese! That is how old Belgian Simon Felix is and I cannot think of a hotter start to a career. I mean c'mon playa, did you hear Prophecy on Artificial Sun or Eureka from Energy Waves? This kid (I'm sorry but to me you are a kid...I'm old enough to be your father) has released bomb after bomb and in true "pimp" style even gave plenty of tracks away for free. Did you also know he has a dark side? Ugh. If you totaled all their years in school it wouldn't add up to a high school diploma. You know, there is nothing more embarrassing than uneducated white people pretending to be black. No, his darkside is Daimon which was some evil twisted goa trance found on another Suntrip compilation Temple of Chaos. That track is on full repeat for me. Wicked stuff. His debut here is released by the great Suntrip so you know you are going to get melody and light. Exodus- I'm not sure, but this might be from 2005. Great, what was he 12 when he made this? Sitars and shimmering sounds join a mid tempo beat. Plein du soleil as it bounces along with numerous layers. As the promo says, it's a slow and deep downtempo track to give you a taste of what you will find inside. Nothing shocking, but the sun's rays do feel good on the skin. Great intro. Mysticism- Ancient strings crawl slowly in a long forgotten ritual, when the beat picks up. The track is full and layered yet a nice evolving piece of work. It flows very well with new phrases being added seamlessly. Is it goa? Yes? Maybe? I dunno, but it sounds great and well produced. It has the quality of taking you on a trip without beating you over the head with too many melodies. Full of blinding sunshine and detail. Well done. Aurum Solis- 2 tracks in and no stomper yet. Well this track changes everything. You didn't think he was gonna do that to you did ya? The goa melodies begin from jump and tinkle (tee-hee) in a panning motion as sweeps rain down. He twists a lead putting things into full goa mode and then adds lots of layers to it. It's like a 6 foot tall layer cake....hmmmmm Yes, I would love some. He brings the power with the darkest track yet as it screams ferociously. Me likey! The 4th Dimension- After an echoing sample and spacey effects the track builds and sounds very old school to my ears. Lead melodies changing sounds which leave you twirling. At 3 and a half minutes he brings a lead that takes the house down. F*cking awesome! Bubbly yet wicked aggressive sounding...superb! And if that wasn't enough, he kicks you in the nuts with another sparkling lead that takes the groove factor to 11. Awesome. Dreaming Universe- That soft flute gets me every time. The strings add to the ancient feel and this track is so spacious. Lead after lead fold in in a weaving that makes me shake my head. I can't believe this kid is 18. Goa to the bone, and I believe this is one of the tracks he gave away. It is definitely of the floating variety perfect to carry you away on a sunny afternoon. Mount Meru- is a young volcanic mountain which dominates the town of Arusha in northern Tanzania. You sonofabitch, did you climb this? If you did, I am jealous as I try to hike to the top of any mountain I can get to. The intro is very airy and speaks of high altitude mountaintops. The lead is chopped up providing the foundation for effects to take hold. Weaving its way is a snarky lead that is quickly joined by other synths creating quite the picture. Although less aggressive, it is melodic and hypnotic through and through. This is a picture from Mt. Meru that should sum it all up. Astral Plane- You can tell the album is winding down. Not in quality, far from it. But in intensity. This is a very spacey track with floating melodies allowing the listener some deep reflection. The pads drift as otherworldly synths and effects bubble and squirt creating that atmosphere. The break is super mellow as the melody stacking continues with the softness of an 18 year old's bottom. Not his!!...I meant...quick post some porn... Yes I would like some fries with that shake. Sun Sanctuary- The obligatory downtempo goa track to close things out? Don't think so. It's actually more of a progressive tempo with some nice groove, like a funky shuffle. Distant chants float below a bubbly bass and meandering 303. This is really good, more people should explore the funky side of goa. It's a head bobbing good time with numerous shimmering melodies and a growling bite. What a great way to end the album. My hat's off to you Simon, you have made quite the album. Ok, if you have read my reviews you know what a Suntrip fanboy I am Creepy. Be that as it may, some might question the objectivity of this review. I have loved everything they have done...well except Ka-Sol. Dunno how that made it into the catalog. Maybe they were just getting warmed up. Whatever, this label has been the gold shining standard in melodic goa trance. Recently bringing some downtempo stuff and darker themes in goa have only cemented their success. This kid knows how to make goa trance and he does it well. There is great detail and intensity in his music which makes this a melodic sledgehammer. Intro track, progressive builders, and piledriver smashes...yeah, it's all here. I thought this was a wonderful album, and find myself hoping for a darker Daimon album in the future. For those that love Suntrip, this is a blind buy, but for those that are unsure, take a chance. If you love melodic goa, you will not be disappointed as this is a perfect addition to the Suntrip legend. Psyshop Beatspace Saikosounds And of course.... Suntrip Mdk

Glad you enjoyed it! Mdk

Artist: Project Sketch Title: Paradise Valley EP Label: Arkona Creation Date: March, 2011 1. Dino-Sore-Arse (125 BPM) 2. Chemicals For Happiness (128 BPM) 3. Nothing Happens (128 BPM) 4. With A Herring (126 BPM) A self described "moody bastard" this is the side project of Al Psymmetrix from the UK. It's a free release available from our very good friend (and invaluable resource) Basilik. I was looking at how ridiculously high it was rated and had to give it a go. Yeah I'm still poor, thanks for your concern. I'm glad the masses (at least the masses who decide to comment or vote on Ektoplazm) think so highly of this, but I don't get it. 94.50%? Really? Starting with the cover by Ivgenerate it looks like a Picasso on steroids. I think I see the remnants of a keyboard, a flower and a whole bunch of eyes. Very abstract. Dino-Sore-Arse- A slow galloping bass line with chopped up T-rex screams from Jurassic Park. And bird tweets. The lead isn't very interesting nor is the track very groovy. Sigh...is it over yet? Chemicals For Happiness- "Everyone belongs to everyone else..." Oh...so many choices....I'll take LSD for the win Chuck...Better groove here, as it has a bit of a dirty, edgy house vibe. It's a two step brimming with attitude. Clever percussive effects add to its depth and it is a nice bouncer. Nothing Happens- I don't know if I would give a track this name. But that's me, and I don't produce music. More psy-house beats and more percussion to help things along. I admit I do like it, the bass line is playful. The effects are many and as varied as a college campus. Was that a tiger roar? Sulu...set groove factor to warp 5. Aye aye, captain. I liked this one the best, mucho funko. With A Herring- I like the running effect here as it works well with the bass. For the first minute. Then it gets very samey and boring and then I went to pee. The really cool break near the 6 and a half minute mark was my favorite part. Nothing special otherwise. Ok, I think I got it. This is all about getting into a good groove. Of that there is a plenty, but after that....pretty slim pickings. Plenty of effects to add to the ...weirdness. If you're looking for big melodies...you no find dat here. I mean it's free, so all you have to lose is time. All in all, not bad but definitely not my cup of coffee with three sugars and then vanilla creamer. I didn't want to say tea. Although I like tea. A lot. I can drink an entire pitcher of sweet tea (North Carolina sweet tea, not that horesh*it Nestea or Lipton peddle). I hope I don't have a kidney stone...man those hurt. I'm still trying to figure out if Al got all his friends and family to vote this so highly. Dude, WTF? Get it at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Aes Dana Title: Perimeters Label: Ultimae Records Date: February, 2011 01. Anthrazit (featuring Field Rotation) (6:34) 02. Snoeflinga (6:23) 03. Perimeters (10:09) 04. In Between (7:55) 05. Xylem (2:14) 06. Resin (Overspring edit) (10:12) 07. Heaven Report (7:10) 08. Antimatter (Ante) (3:25) 09. Antimatter (Post) (6:15) 10. The missing words (7:58) 11. Currents (5:54) What frustrates you? Job, school, girlfriend...all valid responses. Know what I get frustrated with? Those stupid ziplock plastic bags that hold shredded cheese. Know what I'm talkin' about? The ones that are supposed to make it easier to close and open while keeping your cheese fresh? Every time I go to open one of those things, I end up ripping it. Every time. I got a better one. First tri-mester of pregnancy for my wife is stressful. Nausea, heartburn, fatigue...makes her feel like crap. I feel terrible for her cause I know there ain't nothing I can do to help. Know what else it does? Makes her boobs look f*cking awesome! Talk about frustrating! "Hey honey I know you feel bad and all, but can I get a feel goin here?" Good God that gif is fabulous. Next stop....sofa city. As you know Aes Dana is Vincent Villuis co-owner of Ultimae as well as a downtempo wunderkind with 4 albums to his credit as well as appearances on more compilations than I can count. If that wasn't enough, he was a founding member of another downtempo powerhouse Asura and then to top it off, he makes soundtracks. His style is spacious floating downtempo and ambient as well as some progressive leanings from time to time. Anthrazit- I don't know what that word means...(anthrax + zit = terrible morning.) Yeah, I might call in to work sick if I had this. And a job. The strings are Rena Jones like with a melancholy tone and slow beat that makes me think of a day like today where it is raining and foggy. The melody wavers and carries with it a sense of regret, of wanting things the way they used to be. The pace picks up near the end, but loses none of its emotional quality. Absolutely loved this track. Snöflinga- More rainy day soundscapes with that ultra soft kick and dubby bass line. With a slightly quicker pace the synths are more varied and create an atmosphere of looking through a haze. When the loud percussion arrives it feels like too much, maybe unnecessary. But the pad work as usual is very dreamy. Perimeters- You have to love the pads...you have to. They can say so much with just a hi-hat and a kick. Like the previous tracks the kick is like diving into a down pillow as some glitchy sounds skitter around the outskirts. I love the wailing melody above the distorted strings. It sounds deep and final. Instead of a rainy day, this has an outer space feel. Like looking over the precipice of celestial bodies. Like he is prone to do, Vincent kicks up the tempo but it is very smooth. When he adds the lead melody, it is haunting. The pace ebbs and flows in a brilliant storytelling experience. Beautiful and massive. In Between- Slow going here, with more dubby bass and soft, almost wispy synthetics. There continues to be a glitchy taste to his music, as kicks reverberate. The melody is again forlorn and instantly transforms the track. Instead of being unfocused, it now has a destination. We just have to see how he gets there. As I listen to this I realize there are so many layers superimposed that if you don't stop...you just might miss it. He shows his trance side again as the pace quickens with his...jeez can you call an Aes Dana bass line aggressive? I guess for him it is. He sucks you in with the quiet calm and then hits you with a louder effect to make sure you are paying attention. Nice, but I prefer the slower stuff. Xylem- Like xylem and phloem? I took a plant biology class once. Stop it I'm not a tree hugger or anything, it was required for the biology degree. I remember two things. How boring it was and the size of the professors nose. If she did coke it would be like, like... Yeah, but with a lot less F-word. To be truthful, I find this track to be boring droney stuff, really unnecessary. Pure space filler. Resin (Overspring Edit)- The sounds of swarming bees in front of pads makes me nervous. I don't like bees. Luckily I'm outta there without a sting, and this is another progressive jaunt. The metallic pads speak of industrial buildings with blacksmiths laboring over an open flame. But it's kinda boring. 5 minutes in and I really can't remember what I heard. I feel like I'm back in school. "Mr Kelly could you please tell us what the answer to question # 4 is? I dunno...56? Mr. Kelly this is English class... " It's not a terrible piece of work by any stretch, but it certainly is underwhelming. Heaven Report- Someone needs to do a little more investigative reporting from Heaven. All these media outlets and I can't get someone from CNN on the scene? They really aren't big on transparency. I know what I've been told but it would be really great if Heaven was like I want it to be... If there is anything better than a hot chick with a great rack, I'm listenin'. This is yet another progressive rambler. I'm not saying it's great because it isn't. I don't think this is his strong suit. If he wants to make great progressive check out the Iono label, but his real talent is more in the ambient downtempo arena. Antimatter(Ante)- This is what he does well...fading pads, drifting sounds...very mellow yet still full with emotion. It's a short ambient piece unfortunately, but very well put together. Antimatter(Post)- The 2nd half of Antimatter is a grower with sounds getting added along the way while a pad sings a mournful tune. Effects give this (like all his music) a very spacious backdrop. But wouldn't you know he throws another progressive rumbler in there....but hold up! This one is different. The bass is very thick and juicy like a nice steak on payday (Money's too tight for steak!) and it's the star of the show. That glitchy percussive element is always present as another lead worms its way in with a wavering style. It goes nicely with the pads. Much better, almost sublime. The Missing Words- This starts of so mellow with an undulating synth and pad combination slowly unwinding and then regaining strength. Relaxing...nah more comatose. Lovely for sure like the sun coming out after a rainstorm. The funky breakbeat and guitar strings usher in a heavier beat. It's still slightly glitchy but I am more engaged when he does stuff without the weird percussive stuff. It's good, but when the bar is set so high anything less feels like a kick in the nuts. Currents- The way he blends sounds together is nothing short of awesome. Smooth, long and winding pads with great effects are so ear fillingly delicious it frustrates me that a whole album can't be composed like this. So many sounds and emotions taking place all under a super warm chill blanket. A f*cking fantastic voyage into deep thought, Vincent let's you know who is top dog in this b*tch. My house motherf*cker...--- Vincent Villuis Um...he didn't say that, but with that last track he could. So yeah, this album frustrated me. I believe it started off like gangbusters, lost it's way in the middle and attempted to make a comeback while ending on a very high note. IMO his best stuff is the downtempo and ambient ball field. He is super skilled at combining and blending sounds as well as creating rich and vivid atmospheres. No question. His progressive stuff pales in comparison not having the same feeling. Leave that to the other guys. You just keep making what makes you an icon in this genre. It's a good album, but falls short of being a great one. But, hell it's Aes Dana so for me it's a must have. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Artist: Cortex Title: Spiritual Tonic Label: Geomagnetic TV Date: August, 2010 1. The Unborn 2. Sonic Boom 3. Brain Juice 4. Elixir 5. Elastic Reality - Cortex, Jaws Underground & Twisted Nature 6. Mr Faster 7. Party creature - Cortex Vs. Tempo Shrine 8. Goin N Goin - Cortex Vs. BrainBokka 9. Going to the promised land (rmx) 10. Goan Mad (Cortex vs BrainBokka Party rmx) - G.M.S. Vs. Karan You guys are young, do you like going out to clubs to pick up chicks? I'm married, so I don't have to do that. As a matter of fact, I'm so money all I have to do is pull up to them at a stoplight Yeah, I'll make it rain on ya baby. We've all been to the club, it's dark, music is pumping and you've had 3 or 13 of your favorite drinks. It's getting late and the pickings are getting a little slim. So you see what's left and the girl you settle (and make no mistake, you are settling) on goes home with you and well, you do what you really want to do. Next morning, head pounding, you begin the walk of shame only to find out that Mrs. last night isn't what you thought and the chase begins! Let me show you how I got there. Cortex is Assaf Weizmann from Israel and his 2007 album Time For Salvation was very good I thought. I suppose he made his bones in the twilight genre. So, you know, I figure one can never have enough twilight psy and that's where my night at the club begins. The Unborn- Ok, I'm not sure about the flamenco guitar, (did that not fail on Flamenco Mania?) but I like the big fat bass. Juicy. Pure full on but with that bass and those acid stabs I could really like this. There is an interesting change in tempo that improves the groove factor. When the break hits the guitar plays nicely but that is just an opening for the bass to come back and pound away. So at this point its Sonic Boom- Another tempo change from 4/4 to 3/4 I dunno, but the acid synths make this ok. It of course goes back and bounces ok, and I see this chick and she seems pretty hot, but it's dark, so I'm not really sure. With all the lights it's hard to tell what I'm looking at, but this is how I see it. Brain Juice- Some electric guitar right there...yeah I don't like it either, but something about that riff is appealing. Not unlike the lady I just scoped out. Besides, I have already had enough brain juice for both of us so she's probably pretty hot...right? The break is kind of build-upy, then the beat emerges with a gallop. Not terrible. Elixir- Man this stuff is f*cking with my brain. I like the punchy bass and the acid lead is intoxicating. See what I did there? The groove is pumping, even if it starts and stops a bit, and I'll be honest I'm just staring at my lady's jugs. Elastic Reality- So where dancin' and spinning with the disco lights flashing all over the place. Yeah it's full on to the core, but I'm so wasted I don't care. I like the acid lines, but the build-ups are a little tedious. We're still a go! Mr. Faster- What the f*ck is Kanye West doing here? Man I hate it when artists mangle pop songs to make it "psy." Another damn tempo change? How am I supposed to get my swerve on with this fine piece of womanhood if you keep switching the beat up on a brotha? Man, the room is starting to spin a bit and I wish Kanye would shut the hell up...It's so dark, maybe I shouldn't drink any more... What the f*ck? Was that an adam's apple? Party Creature- The guitar is wailing away as the acid jumps in and I probably didn't see anything. Oh yeah, I'm taking this babe home. Let me give her some of my dance faces so she knows how into her I am Yeah I'm a party creature. Man we gotta get outta here, another tempo change and that guitar doesn't belong here. What the hell, why did the music stop? Goin N Goin- No more drinks for me, let's take this babe home. Like the song, I can't get movin' fast enough. "Here you go baby, let me get the door for you." As I slide into the drivers seat I look over and... No way...I hope I'm ok to drive... Man this song really isn't that special. Build-ups and generic full on. Pass. Goin To The Promised Land (RMX)- As I'm making my way to her place, I put this one on. The ethnic vibes are righteous and that gets her all the way to me town. The flute really makes it.. Pretty good track and yeah, we do the nasty... Goan Mad (Cortex Vs. Brainbokka Party mix)- A remix of a GMS track? How much cheese can one man take. As I wake up I look over at my sweet lady and...she's not there. I hear noise in the kitchen, and as I'm trying to get dressed I hear her coming back. NOOOOOOOOOOooooooooo!!!!!!! Yeah, the track is just as frightening. Just say no and stuff. The moral of the story is don't get wasted at a club if you're looking for love cause this could happen to you. The disc wasn't turrrrible as there were parts of most songs that I liked. But with all the tempo shifts and starts and stops, it was hard to really generate any flow. He's got talent and I think if he actually decided to make a true twilight album it would be pretty kick ass. I leave the links so you can make up your own mind, but it is far, far from essential. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Artist: Witchcraft Title: Magic Frequencies EP Label: Matsuri Productions Date: 1996 1. Magic Frequencies 2. Whale Sometimes I forget how prolific Matsuri was. Not only did they release a lot of great albums but they also had a large amount of EP's. It's been 12 years since they went out of business, but most of the stuff they produced is on the shelves of those in the know. I won't go through them because there are too many but here is their Discogs link. This EP was made by Izik Levy (Sandman) and Rami Shapira (Chakra). I need to listen to the Sandman albums again as it has been awhile, but I do recall reviewing the latest from Chakra and thinking it was pretty good. This EP is one of those which I think is underrated. It's a shame that it was the only one the duo collaborated on. Magic Frequencies- "The gift of time. The gift of life. The gift of wisdom. The gift of light." Right out of the gate it's high tempo with a simple lead melody. The break isolates that synth, but then quickly jumps back into the fray. When they are all put together it creates a nice pace with the leads and pads giving the track a thick feel. I liked it. Whale- At the 1:30 mark we are in bouncing, melodic goa territory, fat and beautiful just how I like it. The break has some nice interesting effects, and the bass line is pretty catchy. What is really great is the changes in leads and melodies that make this track feel so grandiose. The final crunchy lead is whiplike and just the cherry on the cake. I would not hesitate to call this track epic. I wish this had better production. I'm not the guy to discuss mastering, but this definitely lacks power and clarity. Such a shame because the tracks are really good. You can find them on compilations so I guess this isn't essential, but I do think this is one more people should talk about. Mdk

Artist: Zabra Title: Waterworld EP Label: Spiral Trax Date: 1998 1. Waterworld 2. A Trip Back 3. Fluorotronik You ever find something that someone else thought was worthless, but you knew to be a gem? How many stories do you have to hear about some schmuck finding a f*cking Picasso at a yard sale because the dipsh*t that owned the big ugly picture never bothered to look underneath the picture his grandmother gave him? Oh here's a good one...some guy is getting rid of his comic books that he has collected since he was a kid, but he's a grown man so he doesn't need to hang on to this kid stuff any longer. Yeah, this is what was in the stack: Yeah, that's the 1st appearance of Superman. In 2005 that book was worth $485,000. This was the seller shortly after finding out about what he had done. I don't have a good story like that. I didn't find this at a corner record store that was trying to get rid of their electronica for pennies on the dollar. My grandmother definitely didn't give this to me. She was more of a gangsta rap fan. Represent grandma. Westside. I found this on the net somewhere. Never heard of the guy nor the release, but I decided to give it a try. That was when I got that feeling of finding a diamond in the rough. Who the hell is this guy? This was all he released? What happened? So many questions and no answers. Well, that's not true. His name is Zwi (really?) Akierman and this was his only release under the Zabra name. I don't know why because this dude had talent. This was so good I had to listen to it again and again. I felt like Luigi in the movie CARS: "I must scream it to the world from the top of someplace very high!" Read that quote in a thick Italian accent, it sounds better. Waterworld- I love the ominous sound of a submarine ping and the sound of dolphins as the track gets up to speed. The leads undulate, like a invertebrate sea creature caught up in the tide, as he adds multiple layers. His groove is on point but a little more variety would've made this one much better. A Trip Back- The bass line is quick and elusive like a snake here reminding me of Colorbox. The leads dance in the sunshine, swirling around each other and getting more company as the track evolves. This is very dance friendly and I love hearing it. Fluorotronik- Did he save the best for last? Why yes, yes he did. This is delightfully dark and that is reinforced by the break. Sinister melodies flutter around that bass line becoming quite juicy! A thumping good time. So this was a definite find. Pure talent for goa trance and I would love for a label like DAT to find this guy and see if he has any interest in producing a goa trance album. Where to find this? I think you would have to search the net, but I will be frequenting some record stores and yard sales. Hey...you never know. Mdk

I wrote that back in 2009...let's see if I can elaborate... Artist: X-Dream Title: The Frog EP Label: Blue Room Released Date: 1996 1. The Frog 2. The Frog (Morphem Remix) 3. No Guilt Trips Everyone knows of X-Dream and how they are one of the names you speak of when you say pioneers of goa trance. Hell, I know I've written it here before. If you look at most of the replies to this topic, people are in love with this thing. You would think it was the holy grail or something. 3 tracks, including one remix. Time brings changes, and I wanted to see if time has made me rethink my stance on this. The Frog- Of course it begins with the sound of a frog and quickly morphs into the bass line which is actually quite clever. I'm diggin' it, but there isn't a lot here. This ain't goa. Hell, it ain't even psy. It's minimal as in minimal melody, wait...no melody, just effects. I suppose the choir in the background can be called melody, but is two chords really a melody? I don't feel this holds up well and remains uninteresting to me. Yeah, this track is no longer in the pilots manual. Kinda need this guy awake. The Frog (Morphem Remix)- Slightly more interesting with some different effects and percussive elements, but like they say, "You can't put a silk hat on a pig." True, Morphem just didn't have a lot to work with, but man those are the kinds of tracks that you can turn into bombs. So, yeah for me the frog sucks, but Morphem didn't help their cause because the idea of a remix is to make something different. They failed. No Guilt Trips- Screaming 303. Groovy rhythm. Hypnotic, twirling madness. Melodic and dark. A whole hell of a lot more of this please. My opinion on this EP has stood the test of time. IMO, the Frog is boring, Morphem dropped the ball on the remix, but alas, the last track saves the EP from being a total disaster. I have to wonder if they put No Guilt Trips on there to hedge their bets that the community might not appreciate the Frog. Who knows? I suppose you should listen to Th Frog just to hear it, but the only thing worth getting is that last track if you love goa. Mdk

Artist: X-Dream Title: Brainforest/Stop EP Label: Blue Room Released Date: Discogs says 1997, are you going to argue with the mighty DISCOGS??!!?? 1. Brain Forest 2. S.T.O.P. "OH YEAHHHH.....I JOURNEYED DEEP INTO THE BLACK DEPTHS OF THE REVIEW NETHERWORLD AND SOUGHT OUT THE LONG DEAD TOPIC!!! i REACHED DOWN WITH THE HAND OF LIGHT AND GRASPED THE 10 YEAR OLD SUBJECT FROM THE COLD, BONY FINGERS OF DEATH! OH YEAHHHHHHHH!!!!! Back in the day, before Jon Cena and the Rock, there was Hulk Hogan and Randy Macho Man Savage. They were the faces of professional "wrestling." I put wrestling in quotes because over here it was more scripted than a John Woo fight scene. Nonetheless back in the early to mid 90's it entertained the masses, dazzling them with absurd storylines and acrobatic violence that if actually perpetrated on someone would kill them. How do you go from this: Who the f*ck dressed you, Stevie Wonder? to this: "No, steroids had no effect on me whatsoever." Really? So why do you now look like the lead singer of the Charlie Daniels Band? To show you how ridiculous he was check out this outfit I know you were the spokesman for Slim Jim, but you're supposed to eat them not f*cking wear it! The pictures really don't do him justice, because to really see how insane his character was you had to hear him. Total looney tunes, man. But, in his genre at the time he was one of wrestling's biggest stars not unlike X-Dream and goa trance. X-Dream are Jan Müller and Marcus C. Maichel and were true pioneers of the scene and like said scene, "evolved" (you snarky bastard)into whatever the hell they are now. There is a chick in the group now? Some say they are as good as ever and I say lay offum the peace pipe. But, taste can never be measured nor should it. This EP came out in the golden year 1997 and was very popular with 2 really good tracks. At least according to me. Brain Forest- Man this is old school all the way with the slow building of things. The slowed down vocal speaks as sweeps rain down and effects trickle by like...well, raindrops. That filtered lead rises and falls back into a break only to twist and turn out of it right to the end. Pretty cool. S.T.O.P.- Definitely in an alien land here, with effects crossing your ears and reverberating. Pure X-files vibe. A lead climbs and falls like the previous track, but this one has more atmosphere. Dark goa in every sense of the word with a deeper, more hypnotic feel. The groove near the end is very trippy as leads get stacked and I want to get my inner hippie on. So there you go. From one of THE names in old school goa trance comes a delightful EP that has melody, atmosphere, and that classic sound many clamor for. They make "different" music now, but wouldn't it be great if they came out of nowhere and dropped an absolute cracker of a goa album. As far as this goes, I don't know where you could find it, but even if you have to download it check it out. Mdk

Artist: RHoT Title: Land of Corrosive Liquids EP Label: Acid Chemical Plant Records Date: March, 2011 1. Land of Corrosive Liquids 2. Call and Answer 3. Osmosis 4. Smurfs on Acid Let me just get this out of the way. Anything that Filipe touches I'm interested in. I should say, anything musically. What he does on his own time is his business. This is his netlabel and if you have visited this forum at all in the past years, you know that he is a dominant force in the new school goa arena with more aliases than an FBI agent. This is some guy from Canada producing music in the acid style of trance. I don't have much experience in this type of style, so I don't know good acid from bad acid. But what I can comment on is whether I like it or not. Land of Corrosive Liquids- "And this is my house." Is this what acid is? It's very minimal sounding with sounds being added every 8 bars or so. Like that sample? Get used to it because it repeats throughout the whole track. It's a mid tempo jam that does make you bob your head. The bubbly quality is there and that creates a good groove, but it seemed a little on the thin side. Call and Answer- They have this thing called call and response in black churches over here. Being married to a wonderful woman who happens to be black gives me a window into things I might not normally see. Oh yeah, this chick likes your work Filipe. This is a higher tempo more aggressive style with a roaring 303 that you have to love. Funky as hell as you have taught this young grasshopper well in the art of 303 destruction. All it is is the manipulation of the 303, but it's damn fine work. Osmosis- Another mid tempo pace, with more 303 goodness. It's surgical in its precision, creating just the right vibe. Bouncy, swirling, and entertaining. Loved it. Smurfs On Acid- Anyone not see that coming? Anyone? Do you know how much perverted sh*t is out there on the smurfs? It's like a minefield of smurf porn with poor Smurfette on the receiving end of a lot of unwanted attention. Back to the high speed stuff for the final track. I think this track has the most layers out of all and it was nice seeing them develop. The only thing I didn't like about this was the abrupt end to the track. As I mentioned before, I don't have much experience with acid trance, but it seems to me that it is all about the 303. And that's fine with me. Check it out, that rhymes. With a 4/4 beat and the synth, there aren't many layers but the bubbly, driving sound is definitely present. This is a slow developing style, but when it grips you, it holds on tight with a lot of rhythm. Other than the first track, I would say this was a pretty good EP. The fact that they gave it away for free is just icing on the top of an acid cake! Psynews announcement Mdk

Artist: Afgin Title: Emotional Peaks EP Label: Premium Music Date: February, 2011 1. T.R.A.N.C.E. (138 BPM) 2. Without You (137 BPM) 3. The Sound Of Goodbye (135 BPM) 4. Touching Paradise (137 BPM) 5. Lonely Hearts (135 BPM) 6. Warm Breeze (130 BPM) Talent or ability isn't something you can teach. You either have it or you don't. Talent No Talent Dude, empty net, all you had to do is....sigh. Sure you can work hard, practice , or study to get better at a chosen field, but what separates the remarkable from the great is talent. Elad Afgin is one of those individuals. He has released free stuff over the net for years and has been one of the key figures in the resurgence of new school goa trance. Astral Experience on Suntrip in 2009 was a terrific goa trance joint with truckloads of sunshine and light. Not wanting to rest on his laurels, he released (for FREE) his Dream Master EP which began to stretch the boundaries of goa. With this his latest release (also for free) he further combines the elements of goa trance with uplifting European euphoric trance. First let's discuss the cover. If you wanted to be a part of the European trance community, you went about it the right way. Sorry Afgin, but the cover is cheese in all of it's European "No, really that's what the music does to me" glory. The track titles don't help either. Pure cane sugar. The only thing I found gayer is this Wow, that's gay. What? There's a volume 2? Ho-lee-crap. Get the f*ck outta here, a third one? Did the label just ambush a gay porn shoot and say,"F*ck yeah, this will work. Kick ass!" And before I get email from anyone saying I'm intolerant, I don't care if you're gay. You're gay? Good for you. It's not for me. But if you are gay, you have to admit...those covers are really gay. And a cigarette? Really? C'mon man, I know a lot of Europeans smoke, but that sh*t is bad for you. Unnecessary. Now that the superficial crap is out of the way, let's discuss the music. There will be some that hate this due to the fact that it isn't true goa. Sure, there are some goa touches throughout, but it isn't meant to be a goa album. He did that already. What I imagine he is trying to do is expand the limits of the genre. Usually when you make the move to the more commercial, teenage girl, glowstick type of chance it has more cheese than Green Bay, Wisconsin. But this is Afgin we're talkin' about. Homie puts layers in his track as well as surprises that keep it fresh. Yes it is emotional music (so maybe the music really did make him feel like that on the cover) but he's f*cking good at it. Melodic as hell, but he doesn't go for the easy melody, he creates feelings in others that they themselves find hard to understand.. His breaks are delicious and euphoric with great detail. When was the last time you heard trance music with piano in it and it wasn't douchetastic? Well, he pulls it off. And what the hell is wrong with music making you smile and feel good? Nothing that's what. So if you're looking for a great goa album, go check out Astral Experience. It ain't here. The only thing here is a good time. Damn good time. Get it from Ektoplazm Mdk

Meaning behind pics: Luke obviously does better work when buzzed The reason squirrels get run over all the time is because they don't do well with booze Obviously we want the baby to be healthy and he can do that by drinking deep. Mdk

Artist: Sky Technology Title: Next Visions EP Label: Neogoa Date: March, 2011 1. Om 2. Lost Worlds 3. Back To The Future 4. Galactic Traveler The first several years of the Millennium were a dark time. Dark Times indeed. The Catholic Church was rocked with scandal as it was revealed sexual abuse not only ran rampant, but was covered up for many years. Here a Hungarian priest employs the "Look kids, we have skateboards" technique. Some were so bold that they flaunted their evil deeds right under our very noses. You smug sonofabitch.... Baywatch, a program responsible for the marginalization of soft-core porn in primetime as well as the coming of age of millions of pre-pubescent boys announces that the show will end. Reaction was immediate. What the f*ck? In that last image, either the kid just finished doing a bowl of cocaine or he demolished a dozen powdered donuts. My money is on the latter. Just sayin.... But most importantly,minimal trance inexplicably skyrocketed to popularity and attempted to choke melody out of existence. Names like Haldolium, Shiva Chandra, and XV Kilist held the world hostage with their repetitive beats, boring bass lines and absolute absence of melody. But then, something happened. A compilation called Blissful Moments by now defunct Tranceform records fired the first salvo in 2002. Anima Mundi by Ethereal arrived in 2003. All of a sudden there was a crack in the darkness. At first, it appeared to be a blip on the radar, but soon the black void was torn asunder by Filteria with the melody on crack masterpiece Sky Input. Since then we have been witness to the rebirth of melody, sunshine and light. Labels once timid now showed great strength and pride in their creation. Goa Trance is alive and well in 2011 with labels like Suntrip, Ezel-Ebed, Phototropic, Cronomi, UAF...I could go on. Neogoa is the latest warrior in the fight against tired, generic psytrance with 2 stellar compilations as well as an EP by Uth. This is their newest release, a free EP by one of the best up and coming artists in the genre. Sky Technology (Dmitriy Kolosovskiy) is back with his 2nd EP that picks up right where his Time and Space EP left off. Never again will you have to swallow the bitter stench that is minimal. Melodic music is back my friends. Drink deeply of its goodness. Om- A lead strangled within an inch of its life, chants, and a pounding beat start us off. And that's just the first minute! Oh the layers make this a delicious bit of cake my friends. There are space effects and a growling 303 that bubbles to the surface. It's melodic and aggressive with swirling synths and wobbly leads. Great track. Lost Worlds- More modulated synths and layers are easily digestible. Leads vie for position and the break undulates with sounds like the flowing tide. The beat punishes in true 4/4 style, while leads sear themselves into your brain. It's a frenetic pace for sure and it's like an Indian God Battle Royalle! Powerful man. Real powerful. Back To The Future- I don't this has anything to do with Michael J. Fox. But if it did, he would rave about the leads. Twisted and chaotic with one melody replacing another...there's so many. The layers are so thick with stuff going on all over the place. Awesome. Galactic Traveler- Like relaxing downtempo goa? Yeah, me too. This ain't it. Metallic sounds echo and sharp leads distort and waver in this homage to space travel. The synths scream, yep that's the right verb, as a solitary kick applies the reverb. Psychedelic? Sure. But if you're going to be a downtempo track, then calm me down. You've just spent three tracks kicking me in the head, can a brother get a time out? That said, it is nice and floaty in parts and even without a beat he manages to fill your mug with layers. It really is beautiful and another great track as long as you aren't looking for naptime. I don't know who Richpa uses for mastering, but he is doing a helluva job. It sh*ts on crystal clear it's so good. For me the similarities in style to Filteria are easy to see with the multiple layers and chaotic melodies. There is mysticism and sunshine throughout, but instead of the light caressing you it carves it's initials into your skin. I tell you, I'm waiting for this label to release some crap so you can see that I will call them on it, but the way they're going it ain't gonna happen. Until then, sit back and take all of this goodness in as it puts the dark days further in the rear view mirror. Here it is....BAM! Mdk

Seems like that is the general consensus. And what sucks is that we have all heard him do much better than this. Mdk

Great review! Payday cannot get here fast enough. Mdk