Trance2MoveU

I like to stretch myself on occasion. As far as how to do my reviews, I'm torn. Sometimes an album is so poor or disappointing that there is no way I would waste my time going through all the tracks (See Brainwash album.) Others are so good that I feel if I don't describe it, I won't be doing this piece of art justice. Obviously track by track is much more labor and time intensive. Above all I enjoy writing and hope that I am helping someone who wants to know about a certain release. Also, I like to add humor b/c it's tiring to just read what someone has written especially if it's track by track. Mdk

Artist: Cosmosis Title: Howling at the Moon EP Label: Transient Records Date: January, 1997 1. Howling at the Moon 2. Atomic Funfare 3. Psychofunk Here is another one of the icons in our genre. The first two albums Cosmology and Synergy are pure goa trance classics. It has been Bilbo Bagginz porject since 1997 and he is still going having released Fumbling for the Funky Frequency just last year. What is it about the U.K. that fosters such musical brilliance? Tell me you didn't rub one out to Ginger and I will call you a liar to your face.,...I mean c'mon it almost isn't fair that this little island with horrible climate tasteless food should be so prodigious. What else are you gonna do I suppose. Purely our gain, because the music of Cosmosis is timeless. The Transient Records label is another stalwart responsible for countless EP's and seminal releases. Hell the Transient series of compilations is pure gold...well, right up to about 5. Howling at the Moon- Widely regarded as THE Cosmosis track, I am in no position to argue. 11 minutes of pure goa psychedelia. It churns, it gurgles and it's alien sounding intro just gets me salivating. Sharp stabbing effects fire upon a shimmering synth line and if you're looking for a gentle entry into sound this ain't for you. The lead is prickly, being filtered to within an inch of its life. At the break when things attempt to calm down it is just the calm before the storm as a new melody springs forth. It twirls above the pounding bass, becoming thicker and more bold. The climax at 5 and a half minutes makes me weak, alas Bill is just getting warmed up. The track refocuses as more and more leads join the fray. Enter 303 and it is all about surrender. The key changes at the end just keep getting pitched up as he pushes the envelope. Purely hypnotic goa trance. Perfect. Atomic Funfare- The bass dances lithely as outer space effects curl and drag. A sticky bass sound chimes out a goa melody as another lead is chopped up giving the track some structure. And that's what he does, produces melody after melody without missing a step. Some are different, some the same to make the track fatter. Whereas Howling was an assault, this is more subtle, but no less melodic. He teases, giving you a little and then pulls back just to make sure he has you on the hook. Great track. Psychofunk- With an Astral Projection type sounding melody to start more sharp leads arrive. They are twisted and check out the flutter of that hi-hat! The synths combine and the 303 is of course the most prominent as it climbs and climbs. And yes, it is slightly funky. Nonstop arpeggio after arpeggio that still maintains the flow. A dreamlike break (kinda) allows for the synths to growl and grow in intensity. Then it's POW! In your face 303 insanity. The climax is melodic and very rhythmic as previous melodies spiral about the cortex. Superb! An awesome trip is what this was. As I said before, Cosmosis tracks are timeless and superbly well crafted. Rhythmic and melodic through and through. These three tracks are wonderful, and even though Howling at the Moon is available on a few compilations, Atomic Funfare and Psychofunk are much harder to find. So if you come across this buried in the back of your favorite record shop (are they even around anymore?) pick it up. Fast. Mdk

Artist: Pleiadians Title: Pleiadians EP Label: Flying Rhino Records Date: 1996 1. Jungle Trax 2. Zeta Reticuli If you had to pick some of the most influential Italians, who would you choose? This guy? Maybe this one? Why do they revolve around violence? The answer is these guys: If I have to tell you who this is then you are not a true goa fan. What could very well be the greatest project of old school goa trance ever, released several EP's as well as the supreme being of the genre I.F.O. Their sound is melody, melody, and what the hell, more melody. They did it better than anyone and there is a reason they are the cream of the crop. It is the same people who are in Etnica, but they changed their name to release on a different label. Jungle Trax- With an almost techno arpeggio, things get started with a bounce. The goa melody bobs and weaves and then thickens up giving the track volume. The cool thing is that the melodies constantly change as new sounds are added to the mix. Sharp, stinging leads penetrate the brain, as yet another melody ups the ante with more chaos, but you ain't seen nothing yet. The key change is maddeningly good and just when you think it's too much, it just keeps changing and rising. So, so delicious. Zeta Reticuli- The synth rises and falls with the beat, while another lead scrambles overhead. Catch that kick roll? Subtle. The short break allows another melody to shine, but only briefly. There are so many changes in direction with new melodies replacing old ones while still keeping the driving flow moving. Nonstop, relentless, driving rhythm. This is for those that love the I.F.O. sound. With yet another break at 3 minutes to go, the track reorganizes itself, and remember that melody that was only there for a short time? It'ssssss....back! Full circle. An absolute classic. Mdk

Artist: Dimension 5 Title: Tribes of the Moon EP Label: Blue Moon Productions U.K. Date: December, 1998 1. Tribes of the Moon 2. Limitless Dimension Dimension 5 are one of the premier names in goa trance. Their album Transdimensional is at the top of a lot of lists for the greatest goa trance album of all time. Every track on it is brilliant. At one time there were 5 people in this project including another old school master Christer Borge-Lunde otherwise known as Ra. They no longer make music as a group, but their debut album was re-released by Suntrip in 2007. Hell, Ra is still on the Suntrip payroll and dropped his sophomore effort 9th in 2008. These guys have been making music for a very long time and this was released by a label formally known as Intastella Records formed by Kerry and Nick. Tribes of the Moon- With a long sweep alien effects skitter across an outer space pad. The bass scrambles as a lead rises and falls. As synths combine the melodic bliss increases creating a hypnotic ramble across space. New leads replace old ones in perfect fluid motion as they seem to grow out of nothing. Total old school flavor with more outer space shootings contribute to the ride. The track undulates forging its path, but is never boring. It shows its age a little with the repetitive sample but still a great track! Limitless Dimension- "Sometimes...I think we discovered a new planet." Beginning with another sweeping pad space seems so cold. The frosty melody rings forth before being replaced by one that grows tantalizingly slow. It rises amidst a very imaginative sounding synth that adds to the far away galaxy atmosphere. At the break a new lead teases, moving cat quick up and down. This is what happens when deep space trance meets goa. This is how old school is done. I love the new era of goa trance, but these guys build a track from a solid foundation, replacing melodies with smooth fluidity instead of stacking them. Not a lot of reverb so they tell the tale with entrancing melodies and allow the track to unfold. There is something so alive about their tracks and it still sounds fantastic today. Mdk

Artist: Blue Planet Corporation Title: Cyclothymic EP Label: Flying Rhino Records Date: August, 1997 1. Cyclothymic 2. Crystal Flying Rhino was one of the most superlative labels in the golden era of goa trance. They shut down in 2002, but before then they released some of the most sought after music in our scene. Most of you probably have their highlights like GNOTR Rock Bitch Mafia, Technnossomy Synthetic Flesh and of course the BPC album Blue Planet. I think what makes them a collector's dream though is the EP's. I have had a hell of a time trying to find some of the most sought after like the rest of you. So when I do get my hands on one, it really is a special moment. So the next reviews I do are going to be some old school EP's as I have "rediscovered" how brilliant they are. Starting with this one. Blue Planet Corporation was originally a duo consisting of Gabriel Masurel and Christophe Lebras but he took off after the release of this EP. Shame, and it has me wondering what could've been. Now it is just Gabriel, but they released music way back in the early nineties under the Underground French-Kommunication label that can be considered trance or space trance on EP's like Overbloody Flood and The Second EP. Recently DAT Records released A Blueprint For Survival which was a compendium of their old stuff as well as some unreleased things. Some liked it and some thought it should've stayed unreleased. There is a thread here that is 3 pages long if you want to discuss it. This EP is widely regarded as a favorite, and definitely for me. The BPC sound is composed of deep layers where every sound fits together perfectly providing a smooth melodic ride into outer space. Never too heavy and always smooth. Cyclothymic- It bubbles right from the start with a delicate goa melody. The bass is super clear and the kick is very fat. Spiderweb thin leads pounce joining with each other creating a dreamy fluid feeling. During the break there is a forlorn pad with some distortion over a crunchy beat. The bass returns with very slight effects adding even another liquid bass sound. More soft melodies tread water lightly like an insect on a pond. This track shows how goa trance can be powerful and melodic while not being overbearing. Awesome. Crystal- This is less goa trance and more outer space deep trance. It begins with a shimmering lead climbing through the clouds as a very distinct bass sound bounces underneath. Floating pads accompany silky smooth synth tones until that telltale melody arrives. The same sound in the Greece 2000 track from 3 Drives on a Vinyl. At 3 and a half minutes there is a goa tendency that continues to flower right up to the heavenly strings. The signature lead is streak on window brilliant as it scorches back and forth. Just truly atmospheric with a portal for escapism. Superb. There you have it, two tracks by BPC that are some of their best. They are all over compilations so chances are you have them already. Finding the vinyl (without having to fork over a small fortune) is considerably tougher. These guys were great at combining smooth melodies that allowed the mind to drift. Their sound was crystal clear that you could almost touch it. So what if the music crossed genre boundaries. Good tunes are good tunes and these were lovely. Mdk

Artist: Psilocybian Title: Wry Figments Label: Ovnimoon Records Date: August, 2010 1. Back from a magic party 2. Mary Poppills v2 3. Analena 4. Proof of principle 5. The UFO Guy 6. Blue Eagle (Psilocybian rmx) 7. Succumb 8. Jumping Jack Flashback 9. Offbeat Heartbeat I was sent a promo copy of this to review even though it came out in the summer. So...is it really a promo? I don't care because it enabled me to hear something I totally missed. This is Sasa Dukic who also releases music under the names Mammal Footwork, Screw Loose and Dual something or other. I first heard his music on the Dimensional Gateway compilation (one of the best goa comps out there people!) where he crafted quite the atmospheric goa track. This is his debut album and one quick visit to the 'shop tells me that it is on Ovnimoon Records. Is this a label created by the artist known as Ovnimoon? So have we reached the point where we are recycling names now? I tried to find out, but the intarwebz are on some hush hush sh*t. Ovnimoon is Hector Stuardo and he has put out some brilliant work in the progressive arena with releases like Signals From the Surface, Geometric Poetry,, and Family of Light. You know, Hector is the man! Like this guy: Just talkin' bout Hector. Back from a magic party- This begins as a groovy track with nice effects. It bounces along with a dark tendency, not in style, but atmospherically speaking. The sweeps are deep and add depth as the break gurgles with a simple melody. Not a whole lot happening, but a very good intro to the journey. This is an example of creating a lot from a little. Mary Poppills V.2- A nice progressive and eerie sounding stomper greets the ears. He is very competent with the echoing effects and it sounds great. The melody at the break growls over the ever present bass line as this track's strength is atmosphere and groove. Good track. Analena- "What you are watching, is a crude robot being trained spontaneously by a creativity machine. Unlike popular humanoid robots controlled by human programming, this robot, is in a sense, is creating new ideas and forms of action." More vibrating deliciousness as the leads work their way past sonic noise. The bass scrambles as a lead scorches above but it doesn't stay long. He uses other sounds to create different melodies to keep it interesting, almost holding the place of the more dominant synth. This track is more aggressive and also more rhythmic and complex. The key change at the end was a nice surprise. Very good track! Proof of principle- Effects are everywhere as the bass pounds out the steady rhythm and it isn't long before he works the percussive angle. The goa flavor is tangible (even though there isn't one such melody) as the delay and echoing create a sumptuous delight. This is a power track as is gets stronger the longer it goes on. Not a lot of evolution, just good straight forward psytrance. The UFO Guy- A bubbly beginning, and right back into the 4/4 stomping. The sample about UFO's is interesting and well placed. It fits with the flow of the track and like a lot of the previous tracks, there isn't melodies stacked atop each other, but rather a focus on power and working with what is there. Not evolutionary (far from it) but still pretty good. Blue Eagle (Psilocybian rmx)- I have no idea who Neon Noodle is, but here he gives this artist the business. Smooth, spacey pads contrast with the abrasive sweeps, as a computer voice speaks. The lead is dirty, 303 dirty and creates good bounce. More great effects as the track thickens up with a gurgling lead crawling below the surface. The break is short but effective as the power increases. Leads enter subtlely but stop me if you have heard this one...the atmosphere created is delightfully dark and vivid. The computer voice begins to annoy, but luckily it is in the background. I liked it a lot. Succumb- "What we perceive as solid matter is mostly empty space. Just as we may perceive that a life is full when it is actually a series of empty encounters." This one has the the galloping bass line to start and then changes to a more rapid fire approach. It hops nicely but is a little plain until the 303 pops out of the break and just storms angrily right to the end. Perfect example of not a lot of twists and turns, but still providing a good sense of flow. Jumping Jack Flashback- See what he did there? Big kick and a shuffling groove? Yeah, I'm on board. More effects and the sidewinding bass line give this a warm progressive feeling. Melodies come and go and they add a funky element. The break is filled with sonic goodness making this a nice track. Offbeat Heartbeat- This is the final track so it is fitting that it is of the slower breakbeat style. It bubbles and squirts, with piano stabs and a great sounding percussion section. Funky as hell with a sunshine appeal. A twisted lead snakes in with an atonal vibe. Just like the intro, it was a great way to bookend his album. As I mentioned in the track descriptions this is about atmosphere. I am a firm believer in effects and that they can make or break an album. He uses them to maximal "effect" (God, that was bad) and they drive the track. When you are immersed in what he is creating, countless melodies aren't needed as you already feel part of the listening experience. What he does, he does well. Powerful, vivid 4 on the floor psytrance. Want soaring goa melodies; take a look at his Screw Loose project. If I had one gripe it would be that there wasn't a lot of track evolution but even with that shortcoming he provided a great sense of movement. This was good psytrance with great attention to smooth transitions and the establishing of a mood. Even though he didn't reinvent the wheel this is a good first album and recommended. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

The review for the Wicked Wires CD was spot on. Same type of nonsense. Now, having never tripped on LSD or done cocaine maybe I am missing the boat and quite possibly this is to psytrance what IFO was to Goa. But if that is what it takes to make this music listenable, then...well... Mdk

Artist: Brainwash Title: Maximum Overload Label: Fractal Records Date: October, 2010 1. Simple Imagination 2. Electric Stimulation 3. I'm hard bass creator 4. Don't Panick 5. Maximum Overload 6. The Advice 7. Psychological Dependancy 8. Freak 9. The End Do you like multiple incessant buildups? Frequent stops and starts without any flow whatsoever? Then, this is for you! The fact that this is out of stock at Beatspace can only lead me to conclude that we have seen the decline of civilization as we know it. Who the f*ck does this appeal to? It's loud, abrasive, and so generic that I think the cover should look more like this: I sat through this entire album and am thinking of filing suit. Surely compensatory damages apply here. Just when you think that our music has turned a corner and ceased releasing this drivel along comes the next purveyor of Taco Bell to back up the toilet. Normally when I come across an album that is subpar, I usually try to lean on the positives. I cannot do that unfortunately as this album falls into cliche after cliche in each track. It's easy to criticize especially when I don't make music myself, but if slamming your finger in a car door hurts, you don't keep doing it. To protect the guilty, I will not reveal his name (bullsh*t it's Marco Pinto) and his last album was far from great, but this commercial effort takes craptacular to a whole different level. This is the same label that released Bio Rhythm from Sidhartha, right? What the hell happened? For God's sake the cover itself has a silhouette of a guy with a gun to his head. What does that tell you? I think reviews are supposed to be entertaining and fun to read, but I'm not mean and will not continue to pile on this poor guy who has obviously fallen asleep at the wheel. Ok, one more. "Are You Not Entertained?!?" Psyshop Beatspace Saiko Sounds Mdk

Artist: Zyce Title: L'Apstraction Label: TesseracT Studio Date: December, 2010 1. L'Apstraction 2. Illustration Tesseract Studio has their toes in a lot of pools. They do most of the cover design for their releases and have their own mastering studio. Since it is damn near impossible to survive releasing one genre of our music, more and more labels broaden their spectrum to appeal to a wider fanbase. Mind you if the music still sucks than I don't care how many different genres you purport to produce, sales are going to suffer. Ep's have been a good thing for labels, as they give you a taste of what the artist is about, a tease if you will. If you like it, well, you're more likely to buy more from that particular artist aren't you? Zyce is Nikola Kozić from Serbia and his album Transgressive was a great progressive trance ride. He has the talent to make big spacious tracks that are not short on melodies. Meditative music without being chill if you get me. Well this is no exception. Since there are only two tracks I will give you a summary of what you're going to get. A nice steady beat and slowly evolving melodies that twist and turn. There is plenty of reverb and washes to add volume to the track. The tracks have the Iono music style of echoing washes and percussive sounds with oodles of reverb. The breaks are smooth with plenty of the above sounds which just thicken the whole effort. The last third puts it all together and allows it to hit its stride. Illustration is a little more melodic and carries more of an outer space vibe, but still has the same characteristics. I actually liked that one better. It is a nice little EP and pretty cheap so not much to lose. If you enjoy melodic progressive trance then I would recommend it. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Uth Title: Distant Instincts EP Label: Neogoa Date: December, 2010 1. Distant Instincts 2. Haze Of Reality 3. Reflections Of Consciousness 4. Levitating Flower I have just returned from Christmas vacation (it was pretty lazy with lots of food) and over a foot of snow on the ground. At the beach. Read that again...there was more than a foot of snow at the beach. How the hell does that happen? Needless to say I really needed something warm to make up for the beach that I was missing. This was my reaction when I had my first listen to this EP: After my next few go arounds, I was more like this: This is Alex Lytvyn from Toronto, Canada and I was fortunate enough to hear some of his downtempo work before this came out. He has immense talent and his tracks ooze feeling and emotion. Did you know he can craft a rather kick-ass goa trance stomper as well? He offered it here on the Psynews forums a little while ago and you may still be able to grab it. While it is good, his downtempo project is the jewel in his crown. Mellow, smooth, and absolutely mystical sounding. For starters, look at that f*cking cover...brilliant. Beautiful to look at and not just a little reminiscent of the Filteria artwork. You can get this for free at Ektoplazm. Distant Instincts- "At night I close my eyes and I try to imagine I am floating up, up and away." The dawn arrives slowly without much fanfare, when a breakbeat pops and a deep bass rumbles with a heavy step. Waves crash with thunderous power against the shore as shimmering synths dance lithely above. A sad melody drones amidst sunlight percussion and we are in full float mode. This must be what it feels like to walk on a cloud. Haze of Reality- Shivering breaths echo as a flute wails mournfully while pads hum below twinkling tones. Slow and steady with an ethereal piano melody that evokes nothing but the brightest sunshine. The break hears an undulating synth filtered ever so slowly and the beat is just so consistent. Bang, pow, boom. A perfect backdrop that allows the track to flower right before your ears. Reflections of Consciousness- Birds chirp loudly as a monk chants to the mountains before another breakbeat drops. Percussive sounds echo and delay as a melody crawls slowly across the track. Mysticism reigns supreme as sunlight sparkles across K2 and then there is a key change which transforms the track from one of sorrow to one of hope for the future. It is excellently done without a hint of cheese. Synths skitter right to the end in a sublime groove. Levitating Flower- Another dubby bouncing steady beat providing the foundation for melody creation. The synths "accelerate" as a group chant chimes in the background. This is a purely mellow exercise, as it changes direction while not losing any of its charm. I'll have another beer as I watch the sun dip below the horizon, thank you. This was a tremendous EP. F*cking brilliant piece of work. What the hell is wrong with you Alex, giving this quality work away for free? You have deep tribal percussion and chants, bubbly, resonating bass, and sky-surfing melodies all with which to carry you away. This is the definition of a totally immersive listening experience as the sounds fit snugly together like puzzle pieces. So deep and detailed that it begs for repeated listens. So much so that even after multiple trips I still feel like this: It's free so even you hippies can afford it. Get it. Mdk

Congratulations on your first review here! Mdk

Artist: Ishq Title: Sama Label: Electronic Soundscapes Date: September, 2010 1. Intro 2. Sama 3. Vidya 4. Energeia 5. Elysian 6. Urasvati 7. Persia 8. Path 9. Mandala This is the 2nd full length from Ishq (Matt Hillier and Jacqueline Kersley) called Sama. Their album in 2001 Orchid was brilliant and I thought ahead of its time. They have been around a long time and have more aliases than Filipe Santos. Sama has a pretty significant meaning in Buddhism, so I'm expecting deep, meditative compositions. The cover itself is warm and inviting, perfect for spending time by the fire on a cold winter's day. Intro- With a very Buddhist beginning, the gong rings amidst the gentle crash of the ocean. Not a lot to say about the start. Sama- Birds call as a soft rain tumbles down. Pads chime slowly with a pillowy soft kick popping quietly. Discordant synth tones play above a dubby bass while more pads guide you through this journey. A Kitaro-esque lead meanders, conjuring up images of the Silk Road. An ethnic instrument blends perfectly with a melodic pad creating a perfectly relaxed atmosphere as the rain returns. Vidya- Ethereal vocals and a far away pad comprise a beautiful beginning. A beat slowly emerges totally content to sit back and listen to the soft pads tell their tale. Choirs soar and strings pierce the clouds. I would say this is as close to Heaven as one can get. Energeia- Fluttering effects float above cool pads as this has a drone appeal to it. I would say a nice interlude, but from what. I couldn't be more relaxed than I am right now. Elysian- Tinklings shine above gentle pads with a cool effect on a voice. So soft and relaxing melodies with nary a beat to be found. The sounds of birds and water further calm the nerves. Urasvati- Metallic clankings ring off a pipe that drips moisture as you hear cattle wail in the background. Percussion slowly thumps as an insistent synth beckons. The drum evolves, but that synth goes on too long and I don't care for it. In what was a calming experience, this comes off as harsh and grating. The track itself is pretty good as it gets better but it just seems out of place. Which is a shame because it is over 15 minutes. Persia- Bubbling amidst the quiet forcing you to listen as a man speaks. Pads combine slowly drawing out a smooth soundscape. A brief chant, but the pads are the star here. Immersive. Path- As the wind howls soft chimes ring and effects sputter. There is definitely a spiritual bent to this one, as if there is a...presence. Oddly disarming as gentle chanting is just within earshot. Mandala- More discordant tones jumble with the pads as tones travel skyward. This was like a jumble of everything you have heard on this disc as it descends into the sound of flowing water. The pads continue their melodic trek becoming more atmospheric if that is possible. To give you something to hold onto the gentle percussive melody at the end is a great way to finish. The tracks are gently mixed together for the most part and I think this goes a long way towards a submersive listening experience. And what was that experience? Only the most calming hour or so I have had in a while. The pads created beautiful melodies as synths where whisper soft with the sounds of nature giving this a very organic, meditative feel. Well, minus the misplaced Urasvati. If you want to be put at ease with the ability to drift away from all that you know, then this is for you. Psyshop Beatspace Saiko Sounds Goastore Mdk

Artist: Frost-RAVEN Title: Thee Old Ones Label: Goa Records Date: May, 2010 1 Thee Olde Ones 2 Warlock 3 Feed your ego (Frost Raven rmx) - Ectima 4 Molly 5 Trolls 6 Merlin The Wise 7 Morgana the wicked 8 Deka (7th Mix) 9 Seraki Mire I was invited to review this album a few weeks ago and now have ample time to do so. This is Dustin Lee Musser, a psytrance DJ from San Francisco. Whoo-hoo! USA! USA! We lead the world! Ooh, not the best example...how about that American cyclist? Pure talent... Yeah he's a winner. Say what? He got caught doing what...? Oh, f*ck. Well, in America we have such a high standard of living that all can envy. Streets paved with gold... For the love of.... Ok ok. Well one thing is for sure you don't have to worry about those tsunamis happening here. I don't think a volcano has erupted in the US since Mt. St. Helens in 1980. Natural disasters seem to avoid the good 'ol US of A. Wait, that was here? I'm sure we took care of it though, because if it is one thing I know, we take care of our own. Him again? Man, we got a lot of problems. Music doesn't seem to be one of them however. Sure, the music scene is full of subpar artists that are all flash and no substance, while robotic DJs continue to force the same 15 songs down our throat every hour on the hour. Everyone and their mother are trying to put their ghetto kids on youtube with the hope that Ellen will "discover" them and get them on her show well on their way to fame and riches. For God's sake, this is the face of music in my country right now... Why am I still here? I bet Dustin didn't think he would get a review like this . This is his 3rd studio album and I'll be honest, I haven't heard one single track from him. I figured it for more copycat full-on that was beneath my notice. Obviously I'm not the end all and be all for what is great music, but be real there is a lot of shi**y music out there. Thee Olde Ones- "No they can't help you, I mean it. If...you're talking about a sarcophagus that doesn't match any thing in our records. There's nothing that's not in our records..except what came before. The old ones." Choir pads join some percussion with an eerie feel. The beat is heavy and the track is taking its time. After a quasi break it starts up again with more of the beginnings' percussion and a higher pitched bass sound in rapid fire mode. Halfway through there is a yummy break. The above sample sounds great, but the track itself is nothing to write home about. Not much evolution. Warlock- This one bounces along with a thick bass sound and a distorted synth that gets louder. The break is again eerie, (I think we found his forte) and all too short before we are thrust right back in. Another break which sounds great before a synth with a house feel snakes forward. This is a really beat driven track I guess for the clubs and it would work nicely. Not so much for home listening though. Feed Your Ego (Frost-RAVEN RMX)- I have never heard the Ectima track so I cannot compare the two. This one has a progressive swagger; crunchy with some nice echoing effects. A lead grows into the chaos, and is gone just as quickly. There is a sample, but I can't understand it except for the New World part. The synths are revisited and it has a pretty good bounce to it. Pretty good! Molly- Love the start of this one, spooky, metallic with great use of panning. Very alien. The leads crawl and are grounded in the nighttime. This sounds delightfully dark. There is a breakdown into electronic noise and then right back at it. The effects start piling up and then a new melody drifts in but is quickly swallowed by the darkness. The power is there and driving in an almost goa melody. Pretty sweet. Who was Molly? Ex? If so, she must have done something really bad... Trolls- More squirting darkness and power. Pretty fast and intense with more than just a nod to the dark side. Twinkling sounds flow nicely above the riot and they devolve into a twisted lead. At the break is a truly horrific sample about trolls stripping a captive female. What I can't decide is if it is a serious movie, or a porno. Very powerful and dark but also catchy. I liked it. Merlin The Wise- I love his intros as they are very effective and so far very dark. The bass line rumbles as pads sound off in the background. There is a forest feel here with effects and washes. The melody is light and I don't mean in the sunshine sense. After a break with the Merlin sample (which I loved) a great lead makes the track even more furious. Pretty cool track. Morgana the Wicked- Arthurian legend influence? Another sample as the bass gets its dancing shoes on. Effects bubble, and the beat drops producing some good flow. There is a tempo change amidst more foreign language chanting. Reeeeeally dark. Shimmering sounds float while chopped up synths rage until it all dies down. Not bad at all. Deka (7th Mix)- Mmmmm....love a good choir pad. Twisted effects start the beat off as synths combine in a filtered bowl of delicious. The elcetro/techno influence arrives giving a momentary respite right into a beatless break. But you can hear the slow arrival of another crunchy groove. Seraki Mire- "Everything looks good from here. Yes. Yes. This is a fertile land and we will thrive. We will rule over all this land and we will call it...this land." I really want to know what movie these samples are from. The obligatory downtempo number. Sounds like real drums as a bass line hums with the skittering of effects. Synths echo and get modulated to distortion all while maintaining the same aura. The goa feel here is unmistakable, and it was a nice way to end. Well, he is definitely not who I incorrectly assumed he was. This was Twilight approaching dark with some nice melodies and great atmosphere. You could hear where the album took a turn down darkness avenue around track 3 and not coincidentally that is when it began to appeal to me. I'm a guy that likes layers of complex melody and oodles of atmosphere. I suppose it is easy to make a full-on track with all the technology out there, but where he shines is the breaks and intros. I enjoyed them the most but he also brought the power and groove. The melodies in tracks like Deka (7th mix) were pretty damn good. With the samples he uses he reminds me a little of Xenomorph. All in all I would say this was an enjoyable listen and reminds me to not make assumptions. Good job! Beatspace Psyshop Goastore Mdk

Thanks a lot for the info. Did you hear the EP? Mdk

Artist: Nerso Title: Timeless Label: Synergetic Records Date: December, 2010 1. Timeless 2. Existence This is Dragan Matic from Serbia who...wait a sec..when I hear his name I think of this guy: "I must break you..." "If he dies...he dies" So many classic quotes from that movie and it was also home to one of the greatest 80's montages ever. With high tech training and of course a healthy dose of steroids Drago takes on all natural (Yeah, sure he was...) Sylvester Stallone in a metaphoric battle to finally show which nation of the cold war is supreme. What were we talking about? Dragan (whom I shall forever refer to as The Dragon!) is an extremely talented producer of progressive trance. His style is one that is super liquid and emotive with fantastic melodies, so whenever I see an EP of his I grab it up. He has been on so many compilations I have lost track and his effort Opposite last year with Flegma was outfrikkenstanding. Timeless- Long, echoing sweeps set this up as cold as the cover when the galloping bass line hits. Soft melodies trickle from behind the bass sweeps, twirling in increasing volume. At the break pads wail sadly as a new synth struggles from below. This track seems sad while at the same time pensive. Not a whole lot of evolution, but he uses what he has and I like it. Existence- Another cold feeling of isolation as effects ricochet of the bass line. Sounds bubble, so close you can taste it, as a solitary lead weaves its way up and back. The pads provide a melancholic structure during the break, stretching the vibe, giving the track an epic feeling before jumping right back to where it was. Again, not super complex, but with the effects he makes it larger than life. Not much to say about two tracks. It is a quality EP if you like this type of effect driven melody music. It's really well done and sounds great. I highly recommend it. Beatport Juno Download Mdk

Artist: Sun Control Species Title: II Label: Iboga Records Date: October, 2010 1. Serenaii 2. Yaban 3. Pi in the sky 4. Two 5. Quadrant 6. Spleens 7. When worlds collide 8. Scalar Fields 9. With the frozen lands in place This is Andrew Davidson from down under with his 2nd release. His first Scienza Nuova was an absolute smash and one of the best progressive trance releases I had ever heard. Next to Iono Records, Iboga is the best label with a knack for putting out superb music in this genre. Serenaii- A forlorn melody starts with a soft ringing of a piano note and Ultimae glitchyness. I just want to say that the clarity of the piano note sounds as if it is coming from a Steinway. A short stretch of singing and then the beat kicks in. Warm, with a deep bass groove that becomes quite nimble as the track progresses. There is a key change that I would've like to see evolve a little more, but it is a nice way to slide into the album. Yaban- Right into the beat here, with more of a subdued style. The sub-bass is really low, and carries the track while echoing tones ring from far away. The main ingredient here is the beat as it brings a warm vibe as synths fill in for atmosphere. The break is also smooth giving a nice bouncy vibe. Not bad at all. Pi In The Sky- More spacey synth wanderings with a housey feel. Very vivid and funky. The clarity of the sounds really shines as the beat kicks with a soft pillow like punch. The groove is high as a tinkling sound carries the melody. During the break smooth synths bring more melody and depth, I could've done without the distorted voice, it was sounds slightly cheesy. Again, not bad at all. Two- He is very skilled in filling gaps with sounds that are short lived and it all goes to creating a rich atmosphere. No exception here as another deep, deep bass rumbles below plenty of effects. The melody makes you bob your head and takes its gradual time. The break allows the track to open up like a flower and finds its legs. Very nice indeed. Quadrant- After a minute and a half things get going, galloping along in true house style. It's funky, right to a break when it switches focus. Synths twinkle about, and pads wail in the background. This one was ok. Spleens- "People were rendered mute...by fools who spoke many words but said nothing. Afraid of...an obscenity. The prophet stalked his enemy...until..diminished by his wounds, he turned to the next in the ancient line of light." That sounds like a sample out of a samurai movie. It is mid-tempo with a ringing that reverberates over the bass. It really takes it's time, growing all the while, until the break comes. It bumps right out, with an insistence. There isn't a lot of melody, but what it does have is a swirling full fell to it. I found it interesting. When Worlds Collide- I like that the bass begins with a held note as strings waver above. A melody evolves ever so briefly over percussive elements creating a trippy bouncy feel. The bass is tangible and so smooth and liquid you feel like you could reach out and touch it. The effects go a long way here doing a great job as the track ends with some nice acoustic guitar strumming. Loved it. Scalar Fields- This one feels wide open right from the start, with a dubby bounce. Pads swirl above, but distant. Soft tones move amidst whispers. It saunters as unknown sounds flitter about, with a jazzy trippiness. A nice breakbeat dub to slow things down. The voice was unnecessary but still really nice. With The Frozen Lands In Place- Ultimae sounding ambience with dubby bass. Even though the kick is 4/4 with all the effects it feels slower. Unobtrusive as if this were a chill tune with a beat. Smooth have a beer at sunset glide, as sounds echo while waves crash upon the shore. Great way to end bringing a smile to my face. This was a very groovy and warm atmospheric album that was subtle and not in your face at all. I would describe it as a progressive house ride with a chill vibe. It tended towards the housey style, but none of the annoying crap that makes house...well, house music. The details are many and this isn't a progressive album that consists of a kick, hi-hat, annoying vocal and same bass line after bass line (I'm looking at you Symphonix!) I also believe that this album has a very distinct flow. Sure they are great tracks on their own, but he keeps to a certain feeling that really comes out with listening straight through. While there are melodies here, the groove is the star and he brings the funk and makes it very danceable. And the final two tracks to wind it down and chill were appreciated. Recommended for those that want to chill but not be motionless. Smooth, man. Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Symphonix Title: The Usual Suspects Label: Blue Tunes Recordings Date: October, 2010 1. Remember You 2. Sexy Dance 3. Downtown 4. Strawberry Lime 5. Music from heaven (Symphonix rmx) 6. True Reality 7. Dawn to dusk 8. Dirty Minds 9. Ask for permission 10. Feel Free Look at that cover. Aspirin, cigarettes, goofy sunglasses...what is that a condom wrapper and a clunky iPod? Get a job you worthless parasite! Quit living off of mommy and daddy's money and be a productive member of society. Obviously these guys travel to exotic locations playing festivals and carry only the essentials. Dicks. Symphonix are brothers Sirko and Stephan Woetanowski and according to the woefully boring promo text at Psyshop they are keeping it progressive. This is their 3rd studio album and besides that they have been on more compilations than I can count. Blue Tunes Recordings is...jesus will you look at all the stuff they put out? They're a bunch of prolific motherf*ckers. I own a lot of it and I will tell you they are a quality progressive factory. But enough about that, let's see if this lives up to the bullsh*t hype. Remember You- This has a fat kick and a nice bass line. It's a scaled back approach, different than what I am used to. Not a lot of variation here. Throw me some effects, man! It's kind of boring until about 3:45 when there is a slight key change that wakes me up. Groovy, but I would say this was a slow start. Sexy Dance- Oh f*ck...really. Do I wanna dance? Kick, stab, shuffling, and one note bass line...C'mon guys you're going to have to do better than that. 3 minutes and I'm ZZZZZzzzzz.... Oh but it gets worse because the ladies voice is speaking over the weak track and she is on the cheese train. Woo Woo. This is quickly spiraling out of control. Seriously she says, "Uh...I like that." F*cking sad. Downtown- I have to give it to them, they bring a pillowy soft kick. There are more stabs and yep, the one note bass line. Good God this is boring. It's so minimal and repetitive that my mind wanders. Kick, bass line, stabs...Someone send these guys a melody chart. Strawberry Lime- Soft strings float by as the kick enters. This has a few more components but the one note bass and stabs are still there, don't worry. More rotating strings and bouncy percussion. Getting there... Music from heaven (Symphonix rmx)- With a slow start we jump right into...a one note bass line and a kick. In a live show do you just press a button and go get a drink? Yeah it's groovy, but what else? Tedious samples repeated....I'm starting to lose it...And this is a remix! Isn't a remix supposed to improve how a track sounds? True Reality- The kick and one line bass note stopped being effective 5 tracks ago...Add cornball lyrics and this is almost too much to take. Dawn to dusk- It's the same f*cking track and we are almost 3 minutes in. The break is slightly interesting, but I feel there isn't much left to see here. Dirty Minds- I didn't think it was possible for a track to make me feel like I am a pervert. Ask for permission- Kind of eerie, but it still suffers from the same malaise the rest of the album has succumbed to. Feel Free- You don't know how close I was to ending this review after track 5. This may have been the greatest track ever, but I'll never know because I wasn't paying attention. Nah, I was, but I didn't hear anything different from the previous 9. God that was excruciating. This is the definition of a one trick pony. I guess they have that minimal progressive style, but it drives me insane. So boring and empty with no track evolution. With track names that have everything to do with late night clubbing you would think there would be some energy here. It's the same formula time and time again. This is like just playing the presets on the synth and letting the sequencer go. I hate to speak ill of someones work because they must have worked hard in between the beer and weed, but this lacks any emotion or passion. It is substantially closer to house music than progressive especially when the samples ask me questions. If you want to hear quality progressive trance stay away from this and listen to what Iono music cooks up. I'm leaving links to samples because this is just my opinion...you can make up your own mind. But I would take away their instruments if I could. Psyshop Beatspace Goa Store Mdk

Artist: Hypnoxock Title: Tales of the Mind EP Label: Trance Lab Argentina Date: September, 2010 1. Camouflage 2. Reflex 3. Emotions First off, damnit why did I get such a big picture? Second, how the hell do you pronounce this name? Hypno - sock? Hyp noxic? I think they do this just to f*ck with you. The Spaniards are at it again with this digital download after the tremendous debut Synthetic Resurrection. If I had to I would label their style as twilight psy and I have yet to hear these guys make a bad track. I found this on Juno Download so if you're interested you can start there. Camouflage- At first I was like...whaaaat? Then I was like, ok let's dissect this. These guys blew me away with their debut; it was fast, intense, and melodic. This starts off with a huge beat and some great effects in mid tempo. It's groovy and they're channeling their inner progressive. There is so much to occupy the ear it is ridiculous. The "break" is smooth with cool cat flow and allows a new melody to blossom, not unlike my boys Flegma & Nerso. More leads join the party and it sounds really massive. It snakes its way with that galloping bass line providing perfect dance floor material. That was unexpected, but I loved it! Reflex- With a break beat start and lots of pads another big kick drops in. The bass is equally large, as effects set the stage. Another progressive romp, this one also brings the groove. The break allows percussive effects, and stretching pads to really create space. The groove returns with a vengeance and finishes strongly. It's a short track, but worth the time put in. Emotions- "You have 5 seconds to terminate this tape." Flutes, effects and pads really create a solid intro. The bass bounces and then a bass synth takes over sounding very analog. Thick and fat, just like your mom. Another lead stealthily advances rising and falling right into a break. This one is of a quicker tempo I believe and more in the psy vein, but still rich in sounds and effects. Your mom comes back and she is pretty groovy for a fat chick. Loved it, I hope she calls again. Man I did not see that coming. If you like the Iono music style you will love this. It's massive, detailed and uber groovy. As I mentioned earlier I guess they are flexing their progressive muscles this time. Great job as this is a wonderful listen proving they cannot be pigeonholed. It's less than $3.50 so nothing to lose. Man, I can't even get a happy meal for that. Juno Download Mdk

Artist: Braincell Title: Dirt n Dust EP Label: Free Spirit Records Date: October, 2010 1. Dirt n Dust 2. Free Spirit 3. Kundalini Ever heard the term good things come in small packages. Of course you have. As a short guy, my mother constantly told me this to help my self-confidence. I don't know if it was the sole factor, but I became quite the accomplished athlete amidst a sea of giants. Ever heard of this guy? Guy looks like a dwarf, but in a league of 6'7" 350lb football players he was only one of the best running backs of all time. How about this person? I tried to find the craziest pic of him. If he is taller than 5'4 I'll eat the chair I'm sitting on. Nonetheless, when he isn't jumping on Oprah's couch he is one of the highest grossing movie stars around. Now a lot of it doesn't have to do with him I would argue, but this maxim is proven time and time again. One last time. How about this guy? Dude still scares me. Even though he talked like Michael Jackson, here is one of the most feared heavyweight champs of all time. My point (finally) is that sometimes EP's in a nice small package of a few songs are great things to buy. Such is the case here. Braincell is Ralph Knobloch from Switzerland and this EP precedes his new album Intelligent Beings. His previous discs have been awesome forays into groove and melody. This guy know psytrance and he knows how to do it right. Dirt n Dust- A big wash echoes across the plains as a bass line rumbles with a crisp clarity. Synth sounds bounce off each other as a lone lead grinds out the melody. After a short pause synths gurgle and bubble like an oil pit, really giving this track some depth. It isn't overloaded with sounds or melody, but he makes great use of what he does provide. The track is dark and atmospheric really bringing a sense of isolation. Just the way I like it. Free Spirit- The start reminds me of the minimal days of the early millennium. It starts to boil, with a very liquid flow approaching forest territory. A juicy lead reverberates as another one sneaks in under the radar. Then another melody flutters over all giving the track a lofty feel. I love the effects as they work great with the bass, not overpowering but additive. Great track. Kundalini- With a chopped up lead and a machine gun bass line the track begins. A synth weaves its way around effects as another bass lead pops up. It isn't until the very end a melody emerges, but that's ok. I think this track was more about groove and atmosphere than getting deep into melodic bliss. So there you go. A short 3-track EP that shows how psytrance should be done. It isn't as melodic as his previous stuff, but more of a driving psy with a hard edge. And it wont cost you more than 5 bucks. Juno Download Beatport Mdk

Artist: Artha Title: Fluori Dolby EP Label: Cronomi Records Date: February, 2010 1. Signs 2. Astral Body 3. DNA 4. Sannjasin (Remix) Differences. We all have them. They are everywhere in everything. Personally, I hate lobster. I think it's disgusting with all the cracking and juices. But I know people that would eat it 7 days a week. In art, there are always artists that do something that is left of center or 180 degrees away from the norm. It makes them unique and sometimes it becomes brilliant. Artha is Michał Bączek from Poland and he recently released his debut album Influencing Dreams on Cronomi Records. With the goa trance revival in full swing, he took a left turn and did what nobody else in the scene is doing. Personally I didn't think it was that spectacular, but I appreciated and respected it. Before the album though, he released this EP for free. That's right, quality goa trance...for nothing. You can get it here. Signs- Clanging sounds and a whippoorwill rise create an outer space vibe before the beat kicks in. Chopped up strings bring a dark melody as effects dart about creating a sublime atmosphere. A warm 303 bubbles not giving you too much sunshine, but enough to enable the will to proceed on the journey. It undulates, as if watching life in slow motion, or an octopus slowly unfurling it's tentacle. Melodies seamlessly insert themselves coming and going like a thief in the night. It's all a grand tale told with reverence, both vivid and eerie at the same time. Superb! Astral Body- Wobbly synths preface the unleashing of a furious lead. Sounds combine bringing groove to a whiplike lead. The synth changes its direction climbing skyward, as the warm sensation bubbles underneath. When the madness ceases, he delves into a more subtle goa tunnel, adding effects to take you to a different place. The chaos resumes right to the end. Good track for sure. DNA- "A genetic cyborg evolved from synthetic DNA." Settle in now for the last two tracks which happen to be the longest of the bunch. Cybernetic alien skitterings show themselves briefly, teasing you from their hidden places. Instead of hitting you over the head with sunshine melodies, he gently brings you along. He builds the track, adding new melodies above the bass line and evolving what is already there. It's hypnotic. The break is beatless, but the aliens live. Just when you relax, BAM!! He hits you with a strong goa lick. They branch off, snaking this way and that. Add the hi-hats and it's a Buddha party! After another short break he crushes you even harder with a dastardly goa assault. Awesome! Sannjasin (Remix)- Metallic effects and a flute don't normally mix, but he pulls it off. Bubbling synths accompany a woman's singing, as the break reorganizes things and the beat is heavy. A melody rises and falls, a lead screeches across a short break and this is a perfect example of how he makes psytrance with a goa slant. His introductions of new leads and melodies are super smooth. I love the 7 and a half minute mark as another synth growls under a slow and steady beat. This track has a lot of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Great track. This was deep, and oh so vivid. The detail used in sculpting this statue is so precise. The tracks a so chock full of stuff that the long length is needed to unravel his story. He weaves a psytrance hammer while caressing you with sweet goa blanket. Differences. He uses the psytrance and effects to set the stage and the melodies to show you where goa can be taken. If his album was all like this, I would've screamed it from the rooftops. But this EP was a treat and further showed his talent. While not everyone will think this is super, (I do!) you have to respect his talent and ability as an artist. Highly recommended! P.S. Can someone tell me what Fluori Dolby means? Mdk

Artist: Alienapia Title: Goapocalipsis Label: Space Baby Records Date: February, 2010 1. Distinctive Perception 2. Dharmakaya 3. Estimate of standing crop 4. High Visual Philosophy 5. Inner Poison 6. Magic Magnification 7. Fear and anger - Alienapia Vs. Psy-H 8. Reign of madness (Alienapia rmx) - Ra 9. Misterika Island - Alienapia Vs. Agneton 10. Remnant Space Baby Records is a label out of the Ukraine which is fairly new. To date they have had 7 releases including Forest Trip by Kyoto (which I reviewed) as well as the Magic Dew compilation (also reviewed) and that was a great mix of psytrance and goa. Here we have the boys from Zymosis...waitaminute...aren't they a downtempo project? Give me a sec...yep, they released a downtempo album called Fragments. So they apparently also do some goa trance. As a lover of pretty much all things goa, I had to check this out. As all of you know goa trance is in the middle of quite the resurgence with release coming out all the time. My question is this...is new school goa the new full-on, ripe for bashing? You know the drill, someone does something and you love it, then before you know it everyone and their mother copies it, diluting the product until it was a mere shell of what it once was. Pretty soon you end up with something like this: *shudder* Here the boys from Zymo...Alienapia give you 10 tracks two of which are an intro and an outro, and 3 tracks available on other goa compilations. So...5 new tracks? Interesting... Distinctive Perception- This is the intro and right off the bat there is a mixture of outer space feeling and mysticism. It's a breakbeat with a goa melody and let me tell you, it is just getting warmed up... Dharmakaya- This track is also available on the Alternative Colours compilation. It is driving with screaming leads and has a scrambling bassline that keeps going into the break. A high pitched twinkling melody becomes more elaborate and the signature of this track I believe. The melodies continue to spiral upward into atmospheric bliss. Estimate of standing crop- A nice chant has me staring at the stars as dusk arrives while I sit in a Buddhist temple in the Himalayas. This is dark revealing the brutality of man. As melodies unfold a pounding bass note thunders and the layering gets thick. The break reinforces the spiritual nature by adding whizzing and whirling sounds. The melody wails amidst melancholy strings creating a tremendous atmosphere. Superb storytelling here! High Visual Philosophy- This track was also on the Magic Dew compilation. Ethnic clanking opens the door for scrambling melodies as they become filtered and twisted. A staggered acidic lead drops in and briefly changes the tempo; didn't see that coming. I mean I did, because I have heard it before, but you know what I mean. The break sees more sounds reach skyward as another synth uncoils revealing it's dirty nature. While not as dark or vivid as the previous track it is no less furious. Awesome! Inner Poison- This track is also found on the Goatronika compilation...I see his their genius. Reviewers like me point this out and that is free mass marketing of other goa trance releases! They do it for the music! Hmmmm...mass marketing? How many people read this...5? 10? Don't care, that's not why I do this. This one is liquid, dripping with melody and also quite dark. The melodies swirl together then become louder as the track reaches its crescendo. Once combined it is pure goa trance magic. Superb! Magic Magnification- Like a flower with high speed photography this one opens up with a driving beat and melody. 303's tear holes in the dark reality so massive that time itself cannot support the change. Unrelenting leads prop up floating pads right into a well deserved break. The difference between the track at full speed and the break is jarring but beautiful to hear. Skittering droplets of atmosphere dance over a breakbeat as the track resumes. Another great effort! Fear and anger- A Russian vocal sample sets the mood as if I were in the movie Hostel. Dark, dank, and dripping with regret. An ethereal melody composed of mournful wishes sprints frantically heavenward. It's dizzying. Sounds from the past scramble and you can hear the Hallucinogen influence. With great atmosphere and ripping leads you can taste the psychedelia as sure as you put that little stamp on your tongue. I don't know what was said in Russian, but I think it was fairly evil. Holy crap that was good. Reign of madness (Alienapia rmx)- The balls on these guys remixing one of the classics...Filtered synths roam the terrain of the mind, bubbling as if you could see each individual water droplet in a waterfall. Melancholy strings mask the fury and mystery behind the ritual you are witnessing. Big beats, scattered and scarred synths rage as 303's sear the skin on your body. F@#%ing fantastic. Misterika Island- "I have found the bridge that spans two worlds...the link between all souls by which we cross into our own true nature." What.The.F@#$? I want what he is having. You know that when you get an Agneton track that the psychedelic Nitzho-goa will fly. Bingo, a rapid melody gets you right here while the ringing kick blasts among the hi-hats. It is so groovy that you really cannot comprehend it until you hear it. I'd swear it was done on turntables. The break revives the opening melodic theme and if images of the Middle East don't pop in your head...More arcing melodies twist and turn their way through the wormhole soaking you with a feeling that warms the soul. F#$%! Remnant- The outro that lets you see where you are and reflect on where you have been. A sad flute whispers above dreamy pads beckoning you to return just as the door slams shut. Wow. Get.This.Now. Period. Mdk

Artist: System Sequence Title: A.R.G. Label: Neurotrance Records Date: November, 2010 01 - System Sequence - Human Unconsciousness (147 BPM) 02 - X-Avenger - Energisonic (System Sequence Remix) (147 BPM) 03 - System Sequence - A.R.G. (8:05) 04 - System Sequence - The Message (147 BPM) 05 - System Sequence vs Radiophobic - Expanded Mind (147 BPM) Neurotrance Records is a netlabel that releases free psytrance. Basilisk is kind enough to post it on his site and we all know what a valuable resource Ektoplazm has become. I have a lot of CDs to review, but every now and then I like to throw a curve and review some of the free stuff. Some of it is very good and when I come across it, that is where these forums become invaluable. There is a lot of music released these days and I like the idea of learning about some cool stuff that I might have missed. System Sequence is Mario Funes AKA DJ Zoer from Mexico and the promo says he specializes in the "hi-tech" area of full-on. Oh, really... Human Unconsciousness- Holy crap where did this come from? Sweet sweet goa melodies right off the bat! This has laser like leads adding to the chaos and great sound. The bassline is angry as it rumbles unchecked while lasers fire from all points. It really is crazy and might be more than some can handle. Not me. There are short faux breaks, but the craziness doesn't let up. This is like South African Psytrance with a little goa thrown in. Awesomely intense! Energisonic (System Sequence remix)- It really does sound very cybernetic and future like. Mario drops some minor key pads to up the eerieness, but it ain't long before the acid oozes in. Acid leaves, new leads arrive with a frenetic pace and switching tempo right into a break. He had me until a bunch of build ups with machine gun kicks are repeated. Still, it sounds so great with acidity on high that I didn't mind that much. Pure power. A.R.G.- I love the metallic textures and futuristic sounds he uses for atmosphere. The bass thunders as layers of sound are constructed even though I didn't care too much for the lead melodies in the beginning. It's like crazy just for crazy's sake. Still, intense as f@#$ and the break is trippy with it's desolate space ship vibe. A couple of buildups here and there otherwise a great track! The Message- More cyber sounds put together in rhythmic bliss. Just all out insanity. This is dancefloor music. The only problem I had was the part where it speeds up to stopping...you know what I mean. Other than that, it is punishing. Good track. Expanded Mind- "The way that I take psychedelic drugs seems very natural to me but then when I describe it to groups of people like this I realize that people have all kinds of styles." The leads duel to see which is the more twisted as the track builds. This is him Vs yet another person I don't know. Doesn't matter, this is another intense track with leads blasting the ears from every direction with groovy beats. Another slight buildup (stop it) but it was brief and doesn't take away from the blistering quality of this track. Now this was refreshing. One of my favorite albums of all time in the psytrance genre is Absolum's Inside The Sphere. Why? Because it was able to successfully combine intense energy, with melodic music while adding a palpable atmosphere. It's not that easy to do. Concept can do it and Speedball nailed it as of late. This was a great EP to introduce me to System Sequence and the hi-tech cyber acidic style he wields. Super fast hyper trance that makes you want to get up and dance. If I could offer a small piece of advice...lose the buildups. It kills the flow and I for one hate them. Other than that this was a great EP and let me remind you...it was free. P.S. What does A.R.G. mean? Come and get it! Mdk

Artist: Jaws Underground Title: Still Alive Label: Geomagnetic TV Date: October, 2010 1. Music Box 2. Danger Zone (Jaws Underground rmx) - Mesmerizer 3. Teknologic 4. What City (Jaws Underground rmx) - I.Dot 5. Trance Fighters 6. Sub Division 7. The Rules 8. Still Alive 9. In Space - Jaws Underground Vs. A-Mush This is Alexandre Joly from France with his 4th album. Four? Really?? Wait, is Joly his first name or last? I'll be honest with you, I read his name and thought is sounded like Angelina Jolie, and had to search the interweb for pics...you know how that goes. So here I am 4 hours later. I mean, c'mon this chick is hot! Anyway, Geomagnetic TV is an American label that has been firmly planted in the world of full-on. They sure have been busy releasing a ton of stuff. I have some of it, and can usually find a track that I really like. I think this guy is on the twilight side of things so maybe I stumbled onto something? Music Box- A child's music box plays a soft melody as a couple of girls discuss where babies come from. The bass line rumbles as orchestral stabs play in the background. Not unlike Principles of Flight. Lasers fly among a chopped up chant. There is good use of an actual drum sample a couple of times as a lead dances out of the break. The layers start to stack, as the next break sees that disturbing sample return. An acid melody slithers out between deep bass stabs. Not bad! Danger Zone (Jaws Underground rmx)- Two French DJs comprise Mesmerizer and man was I getting ready to kill this one. I don't know what's going on at Mind Control Records, but they are really getting good at producing uninspired, cheesy, generic full-on. And you best believe all the full-on cliches are present here. Infinity reference repeated (it's not psychedelic any longer), generic bass line, and track slow down. Ugh, now I don't know what the original sounded like, but if you remix a track you have to take the blame. Teknologic- Buy it break it, suck it, f*$# it...you gotta be kidding me. Techno bleeps and blops with one of the more annoying samples I have heard. Another track slow down...no you know what it isn't worth the effort to type how crappy this is. When did he think this was a good idea? What City (Jaws Underground rmx)- "There was a time that we didn't know the world was round or.. that the atom existed...or whatever, because we didn't have the technology to observe it. And then boom! One day..right? So...it's totally conceivably possible that at a later time we will have the technology to observe...God." The last part of that statement makes a lot of assumptions me thinks. I.Dot (get it, I dot dot?) is...ah, I don't know who the f@#$ that is. Anyway, the thumping bass line is back as several leads guide us through. Pretty groovy. The break brings that sample back and a little acid joins the party. The melody is good with the key change and this is making up for the last two Abominations (Mind Control Records pun). The sample comes back...yet again with a new spacey lead. I like the shift in focus, even though it is more on the epic trance side. Guilty pleasure for sure but a good track. Trance Fighters- With a large does of Japanese samples this has both feet in the cheddar category. Full-on to the bone, complete with buildups. Sigh. Keep it moving, nothing to see here. Sub Division- Ok now we are getting back on track with a fast paced bassline and some good tempo. Synths whirl about as the lead melody descends against the beat. A thicker, more acidic synth picks up some slack, but it just feels empty, no emotion and no direction. Skip it. The Rules- The intro has some interesting percussive elements and heavy breathing like in a horror movie. It starts full-oning in predictable fashion and pretty much stays that way. This is getting ridiculous. It isn't terrible, but there is no layering and the leads that are chosen to, um..lead are not that great. Still Alive- If you liked the movie Saw then you will see that it is all over this track. But in cheesy fashion, instead of using a poignant voice sample from the movie, he uses what I assume to be his own voice. Or it could be from one of the later installments from the series. Let's be fair after the 2nd or 3rd did anyone really give a s@#$? The rampaging bass line and more Saw samples with boring leads is pretty much the way this track rolls. In Space- So thankfully we close with a pretty good acidic facewash. Where the hell was this for the rest of the album? I don't know who A-mush is but I'm guessing he did the lion's share of work here as this track style wasn't found anywhere on the album. The beat is heavy, and the acid is flying around like a shrapnel grenade. It isn't very complex, but sometimes the simplest tracks done well can go really far. This is powerful and straight forward danceable. This was an utter train wreck. Where is the passion? Where is the deep storytelling? Hell, where is the power. Maybe he isn't a twilight artist. Some of this was as cheesy as you will find. It wasn't very detailed and didn't maintain my interest at all. I liked the remix of the I.dot track and the A-Mush collaboration but after that, it is slim pickings. Now I don't want to pick on full-on (it is too easy to do), but there are examples of great music that uses that style. Mr. Peculiar does it. U-Recken does it. This however is not one of them. You are still alive Mr. Underground, but just barely. Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Tales of Heads Label: TIP Records Date: October, 2010 1 Troglodyte / Eat Static vs. Lucas 2 Dirty Tackle / Dickster vs. Lucas 3 Mind Cockpit / Laughing Buddha vs. Lucas 4 Stinkin' Warehouse / Avalon and Lucas 5 Magic Umbra / Tristan vs. Lucas 6 Hooked On Machines / Lucas 7 Hat Trick / Aphid Moon and Lucas 8 All In The Mind / Raja Ram vs. Lucas 9 Far From Home / Prometheus vs. Lucas Legendary. Classic. Iconic. Well, as much as the music and images in our little scene can be I suppose. Looking at the cover, true psy heads know that lurking within is nothing short of the highest psychedelic quality. Here, let me show you...remember this? Everyone who loves old school goa will see what they did here. It is a who's who of the greatest names in the genre. I won't name them because if you don't know them then you really need to do your homework. How about this one... or this one...? They even went all phosphorescent on your ass! The Shiva head cover is known for bringing out the best in psychedelic music regardless of your favorite. So now we have a new release with the famed cover on the scene. Put together by Lucas (Former Flying Rhino label manager, now TIP.World persona) who is also responsible for the great God Save The Machine compilation. Oh, in case you were wondering, it looked like this... Sense a theme? Troglodyte- Eat Static have been around a long time and are just not my type of music. It's abrasive, harsh, boring...IMO. I even mentioned on the GSTM comp that I didn't like their track. The Eat Static contribution is all over this as it is more of a breakbeat techno piece. A lot of chopped up vocals and alien samples. So I guess you could call it psychedelic, but it felt more like, been there done that. Average track. Dirty Tackle- Soccer reference? Seen plenty of those. This is Dick Trevor who has been on a lot of good compilations. I like the smooth pads and soft percussion to start, with a smooth vocal to add smoothness. The bass bounces along as a melody crawls out of the slime. This track builds in steps and the leads create a juicy feel, very liquid. There is a nice bit of depth here and it is very psychedelic as synths bubble and gurgle. Love that. This is what I was looking for. Great track! Mind Cockpit- "Welcome to the center of the braiiiiiiiiiin. You may enter the cockpit of the miiiiiiiiiiind. Only after you have answered this question." Laughing Buddha just released his album Sacred Technology and I cannot wait to give that a listen. Here he teams up with Lucas with a great track. It isn't long before it starts to hit its stride with some funky bass and effects. The percussion hits relay a sunshine feel, and the leads are rhythmic as hell. I would also classify this as an old school production, as the lead after the break has that vibe that just hypnotizes and carries you. Synths scramble all around, but it really delves into the old school as a 303 begins to growl with an acidic grudge! Super groovy and a fun listen. Loved it! Stinkin Warehouse- "Now about these hallucinations...what are you seeing?" Avalon is Leon Kane and his debut Distant Futures on Nano Records was pretty damn fresh if you ask me. Thumping bass and scientific samples give this track some delicious depth as acidic synths pepper the sky. More groove heaped upon laser stabs as the layers are spread out before you. Absolutely juicy old school sounds ride the bass and make this a bouncy ride. The break allows a new lead to flower amid a 303 and puts it all together at the end. Great track. Magic Umbra- "What I loooooove.....is the fact that I am watching the mechanics of the solar system work." Tristan has been around so long that if you want to see all he has done, you should go to his Discogs page. That sample was twisted and extended to bring you here. The lead climbs to the surface amid cool breakbeats as the bass darts in a zigzag pattern. More sounds are added to the palette as the leads begin to build upon each other. At 4 and a half minutes one synth takes over as it becomes filtered into a break. More twisted sounds? Why yes, thank you. And if you could add some lasers that would be great. Thank you. I liked it, but it wasn't as strong or as deep as the previous 3 tracks. Hooked On Machines- "I'm hooked on machines." "Well...then you'll enjoy this." Lucas is gonna handle this one all by himself. He starts with the sample and some liquid synths and this track feels spacious. The bass line rambles as atmospheric synths rain down like a drizzle, but the star is a delicate lead that is super nimble and has plenty of company. Layers on layers, so delicious! The darkness is all around us as soft synths drape us in their hypnotic stare. Old school feeling once again and the break is awesome. I felt like a cork bobbing up and down in the sea of groove. This is a very deep track and demands multiple listens. Hat Trick- "It's actually very scientific." "My hat is deep and full of magic. I got rabbits, handkerchiefs..I got smoke machines, bubble machines...I even got love marines...and still the hat goes deeper." You say hat trick to me and all I think of is hockey. I love the way these guys combine sounds. There is no empty space to allow the track to become boring because there are things happening all around you. Synths come, some faster than others, and then they vanish all in a dance of hypnotic rhythm. Swirling, bobbing, weaving...the leads are sometimes chopped up and fired in a rapid machine gun pattern. The break is another item that though short, allows smooth transitions to the next phrases. More liquid goodness adds to the psychedlic flavor and I am buying into this. The second sample came out of nowhere, but it was cool to hear. Great track. All In The Mind- "LSD an acid derived from a fungus... is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and undetectable. Once swallowed it is all in the mind." Here is one of the Godfathers I suppose, Raja Ram (TIP records creator, quintessential hippie, and yes, one time envelope salesman) has really done a lot for this scene. The beginning starts off psychedelically tribal with a gong and a...you guessed it, an LSD sample. He loves those! His trademark chopped up voices combine with a very spacey melody as the bass churns. Then bam out of nowhere the 303 kicks you in the face. It gets filtered and the groove intensifies, with effects adding to the mystery. The second break brings back the intro and then the track thickens with a new lead. Nicely done! Far From Home- "I am delighted to meet you. But we need your help. We are far from home. After we have replenished ourselves and shared with you what we can, we will leave." I recently reviewed the latest Prometheus album Spike, and while not impressed, I await to see what he will bring to the table. With a percussive crawling the track begins as the bass joins in. It's kind of odd to have that percussive element there the whole time, but it is growing on me. Another deeper lead spreads its filth as yet another gargles underneath. Funky. More so when the hi-hats kick in and the layers begin to stack. At the break, a soft, plunking melody blends well with the filthy lead. This one is all about groove which it has aplenty. Good track. Lucas has a keen eye for what psychedelic trance should be. Most of the tracks follow the same roadmap. The intro, and then it does its thing. Break, go a little further down the rabbit hole to another break, and then end furiously. It is a recipe that works and they do it well. The tracks are very hypnotic and have enough twists and turns to maintain interest. I don't think the Eat Static collaboration fits with the rest, but I don't care for them anyway, so take it with a grain of salt. This compilation provides plenty of trippy sounds and groovy rhythms while at the same time giving a big wink to the old school sound. If you like what I just said then this cd is a must for you. Highly Recommended. Juno Downloads GoaStore Saiko Sounds Psyshop Mdk