Trance2MoveU

Top 5 artists: 1. E-mantra 2. Filteria 3. Antares 4. Liquid Flow 5. Khetzal Top 5 Labels: 1. Suntrip 2. Phototropic 3. Ezel-Ebed 4. DAT Records 5. UAF Top 5 albums: 1. E-Mantra- Arcana 2. Khetzal- Corelle 3. Amithaba Buddha- Goa Gate 4. Filteria- Daze of Our Lives 5. Liquid Flow- Presence Top 5 V/A: 1. Energy Waves 2. Goatronika 3. Alternative Colours 4. Human Hyperactivation 5. Twist Dreams Top 5 Ep's: 1. Lost Buddha- Psyramid 2. Sky Technology- Time & Space 3. Liquid Flow- Goa Terminal 4. Lost Buddha- Regeneration 5. E-mantra- Signals Top 5 Cover art: 1. Khetzal- Corelle 2. Anima Mundi- Ethereal 3. E-Mantra- Arcana 4. Radical Distortion- Psychedelic Dreams 5. Filteria- Heliopolis Mdk

I figured you were on top of it. Awesome site my friend. Mdk

Are you in the process of adding other albums to the discography? I didn't see the Crossing Mind on your wonderful album cover discography. Also the new Amithaba Buddha. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Full Swing Label: Iono Music Date: August, 2010 1. Funky Dragon (Featuring Djane Betty) - Dancing Desert (8:32) 2. Timedrained - Vildmis (7:32) 3. Loopstep - Atmosphere Inspiration (9:01) 4. Egorythmia & E-Clip - Paralel Worlds (7:44) 5. Sideform - Elektrik (8:20) 6. Ovnimoon - Gathering Of The Angels (Analog Drink Remix) (6:48) 7. Motion Drive - Drop Out (Etic Remix) (8:18) 8. Liquid Space - First Taste (8:13) 9. Klopfgeister (Featuring Nachtalb) - I Am A Cowboy (8:08) Iono Music. Does anything else really need to be said? This German label headed up by Matthias Sperlich (aka Cubixx) and Olaf Mauer (aka Murus) has been extremely proficient in releasing top quality progressive trance music in a relatively short time frame. Artist albums, compilations, and EP's all done with superior sound that make this the best progressive trance label IMO. They now have a new website with a internet shop and a pretty cool player. I have reviewed a lot of their stuff and overwhelmingly it has been positive. In an age where psytrance has become stale they continue to drop albums that set the standard for deep, emotive music. Just when it couldn't get any better, they deliver this FOR FREE. An entire compilation that will cost the buyer nothing. Ladies and gentlemen, this is known as a steal. The first track is by Funky Dragon and it is not business as usual. The effects and small attention to detail make this a great opening number. Percussion, sweeps, and a wide open break take what seems to be a simple track on the surface and turn it into an elaborate ordeal. Wonderful. Timedrained's debut CD Dilemma still gets a lot of play in my deck. A nice bouncy tune dripping with more of the same detail. Nothing overly elaborate, but the delicate touches make it seem fuller than it is. Great track. This is the one artist I am not that familiar with. He had a track on Abstract Visions which wasn't bad. This is quite nice. Soaked in reverb and full of the nice Iono touches that just give a track loads of atmosphere. In this style there isn't one predominant melody, but a sum of all the effects that drive this tune. Awesome! E-Clip has been bowling strikes lately with his tracks and here he teams up with Egorythmia to deliver a dark track. It growls with a rumbling bassline and ominous clankings that speak of a post apocalyptic future. Very driving without a lot of melody but the ones that are there works very well. The Sideform track is thin, but I enjoyed it anyway. Not a lot of variation, but it moves along nicely. Ovnimoon is nothing if not proficient and lately he seems to be all over the place. I don't know if Analog Drink is a separate artist or not, but I wasn't that impressed with this one. Kind of boring, with some housey influences. Not my style. I like a track that can get down to business right away and that is what Etic provides with his remix of a Motion Drive song. It's another bouncy track which is pretty light. Nice. Liquid Space must have gone on sabbatical because they haven't released anything since 2005 and then exploded in 2010. Good to have them back because this track is worth the wait. A nice party number that is uplifting. Good job. Final track is house all they way. It has a cowboy motif and all I can picture is a gay after hours club with Village People. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but the track has a very "enlightened" feel. Not for me. I would say this effort was pretty rewarding. This compilation is a can't miss. Beautiful, rich progressive trance that will take the listener to far away places. Put the headphones on and drift away. The first half of the compilation is as described with the 2nd half becoming more house oriented. Having reviewed a lot of their stuff it must seem like I am on the company payroll. I wish, but I had to buy the CD's just like everyone else. I know times are tough and money is hard to come by; you want to feel like you're getting a good return on your investment. Once again this label leads the way and shows all how it is done. And let's not forget that this was free. So you literally have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Iono Music Mdk

Rereading this makes me happy that his album could be out this year! Mdk

So with your blistering track on Temple of Chaos how is your debut coming? Close to a release like 2010? And maybe a Cloudwalker EP? So greedy for goodness. Mdk

With the upcoming release of Amithaba Buddha's 2nd album, the comps Spiritual Rising, Protozoa, and Goa Overdose, I thought I would chime in to see how this project is coming. Any closer to an album release? You know the goa community always wanting more. Mdk

I do not believe that this gets the recognition it deserves. Perhaps a slight bumping. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Goa Overdose Label: Underground Alien Factory Records (UAF) Date: August, 2010 01. California Sunshine - The Gate to the Past (Remix) (7:09) 02. Nolax - Bioavailability (6:54) 03. Hybrid FX - Higher State of Mind (7:35) 04. BlackStarrFinale - Rabbit Marker (10:51) 05. Celestial Intelligence - Real Worth (7:08) 06. Grand-Cheff - Dirty Trance (8:48) 07. Space Elves - Tribute to The Wonderboy (10:45) 08. SETI project - Space Invaders (2010 Remix) (6:46) 09. Dhamsuta - Lucent Venture (7:48) 10. Somnesia - When Kali Meditates (9:10) First off this cover is truly beautiful in every sun drenched hippie way imaginable. This netlabel is doing some wonderful things for the New School of Goa and the fact that they are releasing so much quality music for free is amazing. UAF is run by Imba pictured here Nah, just kidding...that's not him. He is a delightful fellow who emanates positive vibes and is an active member on our little piece of the internet. Every month or so, they release an EP with different styles of goa. It's like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get. And did I mention that it's free? This is UAF's 13th release and let me tell you the trend of dropping beautiful gems on the ears continues. With this release, Imba said we were going back to the old school and class is in session brotha! If you've heard of this label (and I'm assuming you have if you're reading this) then you will recognize all or most of the artists. The most well known is California Sunshine with Gates To The Past remix. It's an pretty good opener (I really didn't like it the first several times I heard it) that sets the tone that we are deep in the old school. It seems rather simple with arpeggios and the whispering of the title (cheese)but that's ok for an opener, and to be honest I didn't expect much from them anyway. Nolax is Christoph Mitsch from Austria who recently dropped his 2nd full length disc called Turning Point. This is another simple sounding track with nice melodies just not as dense and layer rich as most goa these days. Not bad. Hybrid FX (who?) and brings a strong melody right from the get go. There is a definite old school vibe here and it sounds very pleasant. This is one of the tracks that grew on me the more I listened to it. Luis Pabón is BlackStarrFinale and his track ramps up the intensity. And it is quite the sledgehammer coming in at almost 11 minutes! The high pitched sounds take some getting used to, but it gives the track a tribal feel. Once the breakbeat kicks in with a 303ish sound funkiness reigns. Very enjoyable! All the pieces come together near the end in some arpegiated madness. This guy knows how to do some goa! Celestial Intelligence is another unknown to me, but that is irrelevant. True to form, this joint sounds very old-school with melodies tumbling over one another. The track gurgles and whirrs, and just has that other worldly energy. Great stuff! Grand-Cheff has said in another thread that he likes to put silly stuff in his tracks and he succeeded by inserting a Dirty Harry sample in French into this track. I couldn't understand it so it didn't matter to me. This track is non stop and has no real break to speak of so strap yourself in. The next track is a group project called Space Elves which is comprised of Imba, CoaGoa, SETI Project and Arronax. I loved their track "Anjuna Beach" on the Energy Waves compilation by Suntrip. Once I get passed the cornball voice (3 times) telling Wonderboy to wake the crowd up I can somewhat enjoy this effort. The leads aren't very pleasing to the ear and seem abrasive. Not my favorite, but it's not bad. SETI Project is Paul Yelland and he had his album Tribal Trance re-released in better quality (by UAF of course!) so he's got that going for him. I like how the track evolves as leads vie for supremacy. You can tell that the tunes are becoming less hectic and intense as the compilation winds down. Dhamsuta put together a stormer called The Sitting Goddess on the compilation of the same name. This track is very melodic but subtle. Some of the leads can barely be heard amongst the pads and comes off as delicate keystrokes. Less frenetic but equally melodic. Very nice indeed. Somnesia recently released his Rainbow Source EP and he ends the compilation. Think of this as the downtempo (actually mid-tempo) closer back in the days of old. The melody is mysterious as effects clamor for attention. Very ethereal. Melodies are everywhere. When one vanishes another replaces it seamlessly. Ra could've made this track. It just shimmers. This is my 2nd favorite track and my favorite from Somnesia. Like a lot of releases this requires numerous listens to get the feel of what UAF is trying to do. He went old school on you and this sounds like a mix rather than just a collection of tracks. It's not mixed, but it has that feel where the deeper you get into the tracks the heavier and more psychedelic it becomes. Very nice touch. For my money (but I didn't spend any cause it was FREE!) BlackStarrFinale had was the belle of this ball. This compilation created a nice time portal to the past. Don't get me wrong, I love the new school and think its multi-layered facets are the things of dreams. Every now and then though, it's nice to get back to the roots of the music. Good job UAF. UAF Records Mdk

Artist: Sunstryk Title: Pure Essence Label: Plusquam Records Date: July 2010 1. ascending soul 2. leaving eden (album version) 3. killer-born 4. no surface (extended version) 5. love again 6. sacred place 7. pure essence 8. baby boom (Sunstryk remix) Ace Ventura I like progressive trance with it's rumbling basslines and melodies soaked in reverb. Throw in the effects and you've got yourself a good immersive listening experience. There are a pile of artists that can make such beautiful music so there is plenty to enjoy. Plusquam Records has quite the history and discography with artists like Haldolium, Liquid Soul and of course Sunstryk. Their music ranges from progressive to house and all that stuff in between. I have heard a few tracks of Thomas Vitali (who now runs the show at Plusquam) on several compilations and I will say one thing...he likes it long. Insert joke here. His tracks are routinely over 9 minutes and this disc is no exception. The tracks are dreamy and have a floating quality about them. There are plenty of melodies to taste and I would say his style is entrancing. With track lengths pushing 10-12 minutes on some the mind easily becomes submerged in what he is trying to create. Some say that too long of a track can be boring, but if you want to delve deep and be hypnotized this album will help you achieve that goal. The first couple of songs were good, not great, until the extended version of "No Surface." An absolutely blistering trip down progressive avenue. I believe him to be at his best when creating a somewhat dark or introspective track. What I mean by that is he excels in the not so bright and sunny business. Melancholy leads and pads are the name of the game and he is good at them. So I would recommend this to anyone who wants to lay down, put some headphones on, and experience some well made progressive trance. It is not without its flaws, but it gets the job done. Pretty well actually. Beatspace Goa Store Mdk

This really deserves to be bumped. Quality, quality, quality. Mdk

Sounds like it's a winner, but has anyone else experienced the problem that Digitoxin complained of? Goa trance needs good bass to help drive the music and it would be a shame if this release didn't have any.

Artist: Various Title: Noctopus Label: Electric Power Pole Records Date: July, 2010 1. Tres Bon SUNRUNNER 2. Imenja MELTDOWN 3. Hollows SOL CONNECTION 4. Sprog WIDESPREAD 5. Aftermath MELTDOWN 6. Bushwalking To The Moon SUNRUNNER 7. Nauseous Conspiracy WIDESPREAD 8. The Good Old Days SOL CONNECTION Electric Power Pole records is based out of Australia. This release is a progressive trance offering, and I'll be honest (the only way I know how to be) I have never sampled any of this label's wares. I've always wanted to go to Australia and maybe one day I will, but the reason I got this was because it is full of total unknowns. I have never heard of any of the artists nor anything they have produced. To see how the boys down under do progressive trance intrigued me. I'm not going to go through a track by track review of this for I have neither the time nor the energy, but I did want to let others now what this disc was about. I would call this glitchy, grungy,progressive trance. "Hollows" by Sol Connection has an uplifting melody but this is the minority. Nowhere to be found are the deep layered, effects driven soundscapes that I am used to. What is here is a more stripped down, bare bones approach. Low grumbly basses paired with tribal percussive ideas taking a more minimalistic approach highlighted by the track "Sprog" which slogs its way for an excruciating 10 minutes. IF that's your cup of tea, then this is worthwhile, but for me it is totally devoid of variation and melodies that make the music interesting. It is just mindless droning with none of the atmosphere that can make this music brilliant. I did like the soft barely there melodies of "Aftermath", but there was so much crap to wade through to get to it. For me music is supposed to be a great soundtrack for a mood. This was empty and depressing and made me realize I have to go outside and mow the lawn in ridiculous humidity. 2/5. Mdk Psyshop Beatspace

This is melodic trance at its most emotional. It's like trance for lovers, weathering the bad times but always coming up to a beautiful sunrise. A new beginning. Not goa, but beautiful. Nice work and thanks for the free music Afgin. You are still the man. Mdk

Hello, UAF Records? Yeah this is Filipe. I have another EP ready to release on your label. More old School deliciousness. Oh yeah, different name. I'm going for the record. Mdk

Maybe I just don't know the definition of "acid leads." This was intense, chaotic, melodic and groovy to my ears. There wasn't much variation, but for moving purposes, I thought it did quite nicely. Mdk

Artist: Conscious Chaos Title: Divine Justice Label: Red Revenge Records Date: July, 2010 1. Discopopulate 2. 696 3. The fourth kind / Conscious Chaos vs. Frozen Ghost 4. Esoteric Agenda 5. Red Revenge 6. Blind Submission 7. Discopopulate (Frozen Ghost rmx) 8. Ingredients for Sestruction 9. Preventing Seperation / Conscious Chaos vs. Frozen Ghost vs. Psyqlops 10. Big Acid Binge / Conscious Chaos vs. Shift Hey, times are tough. Like most people I don't have a lot of green to throw around. You have to be careful with your money. So when I am deciding to purchase a CD I want to hear it first. This isn't out yet, so I downloaded it. I've listened to it quite a few times and felt like reviewing it. That said, I will be first in line to buy it, but more on that later. Conscious Chaos is Johan Schreuder from South Africa and this is his debut. I hadn't heard any of his stuff so this was a surprise. The main reason it caught my eye is that he collaborates with two of my favorite artists, Shift and Frozen Ghost. Hell, if I close my eyes, this might one of their albums. 1. Discopopulate - "It had such promise...my great machine. It was meant to be an instrument of progress. Of Creation. The machine was born purely of my intellect. Which I now know...was not enough. My creation was hopelessly flawed...and indeed dangerous.. for it lacked a human soul. And could be easily corrupted by those who controlled it. That's why I am making each of you." Enter melodic acidic intensity! Those lines just swirl especially when the beat drops out. The bassline crawls searching for victims as the leads pierce the ears. The break takes on a symphonic tale of regret as another sample creates the atmosphere. What a tremendous opening...this is just shut your eyes and dance music. Stupendous! 2. Six Nine Six - "During the next mission you won't be flying alone. It appears that there is more to this alien thing than just talk." More distorted atonal leads accompany alien sounds from Pitch Black. The lead rises with the track as the groove intensifies. There is a sci-fi feel with messages to pilots as the chaos continues. The break aides in this feeling with a cold string providing the foundation. Good stuff! 3. The Fourth Kind - A collaboration with Frozen Ghost has my ears pricked up in anticipation. The signature squelchy leads are present as melodies twirl around the clear bass line. It builds up almost to the point you can't take it, then the floor drops out and the melody takes a different shape. Purely groovy with twisted acid which makes quite a delicious mess. Not much on storytelling, just a punch in the face. 4. Esoteric Agenda - "I don't have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad. A dollar buys a nickel's worth. Banks are going bust, shopkeepers keep a gun under the counter....All I know is that first you've got to get mad. You've got to say I'm a human being goddamnit! My life has value!" This guy really knows how to set the stage. The same acidic, crazy leads start you off again. And it keeps going. Once you've heard the first 3 minutes, you've heard the rest. Variation....not much, but we ain't telling a story here. 5. Red Revenge - Acid. Leads. Groove. Repeat. That's pretty much the description for most of the tracks, but this one is one of my favorites. So powerful and dance friendly. 6. Blind Submission - "What we think we understand, where we came from what we think we're doing, the more you begin to see we've been lied to. We've been lied to by every institution. What makes you think that for one minute the religious institution is the only one that has never been touched. The religious institutions of the world are at the bottom of the dirt. The religious institutions in this world are put there by the same people that gave you your government, your corrupt education to start up your international banking cartels....because our masters don't give a damn about you or your family. All they care about is what they have always cared about and that's controlling the whole damn world." Wow that is one pessimistic and angry sample. The lead reflects that anger and this track is another one that ain't here to take you to dreamland. This is aggressive overthrow the government grab a sniper rifle type of psytrance. There is another sample which decrys Christianity and allows the track to regroup. Powerful and in your face, but very little variation. 7.Discopopulate (Frozen Ghost Remix) - This is the second track where Mr. Ghost lends a hand and he remixes the first track on the album. I'm a big fan of his tracks so expectations are high. I was only slightly disappointed. Crazy leads, crawling basslines, and a rich full sound. There is very little variation here basically presenting you with leads and running over you like a bulldozer. Pretty good for what it is, but the original was such a crusher that it would've been hard to outdo it. 8. Ingredients For Destruction - This track begins a little lighter with a still aggressive sound. Abrasive leads (is Artifakt hiding in the studio?) combine with crunchy ones as a distorted guitar makes it even...crunchier. Not much for melody, but maybe this was put here strategically to allow your ears to recover from the beating they have been taking. Much less insanity here with not a lot to keep my interest. 9. Preventing Separation - Any track with Frozen Ghost (3rd time is the charm)in it is fine by me. I don't know who Psyqlopz is, but I don't think that is how you spell that. Nonetheless this track is just fun. It bounces, it weaves and it sears. The melodies are all deadly and this is like getting hit with a brick in its intensity. Just when you think it is too much, they drop a few to give your ears a little relief. I'm a sucker for an acidic groove and this track has it in spades. 10. Big Acid Binge - And now we come to one of the reasons I bought this album....a collaboration with Shift. The lead that starts this track is strangled for all it's worth. It sounds like an unknown species calling out in warning. It ain't long until that beautiful acid barrage hits above the growling bass line. The break allows for an evil, alien calm, but quickly the lead grows in intensity. The last part of the track throws all the elements into an aural assault that will leave you dizzy. Wonderful. Wow. That was a truly intense listen. Overwhelming almost. If you're looking for a smooth dreamy sunrise experience, you got off at the wrong beach, because this will pummel you. Very loud and very intense but with oodles of groove and melody. Just how I like my psytrance. I don't think it will be long before you see this artist on Nexus Media or Timecode because that is his type of sound. Some may find it too intense and difficult to listen to all the way through. For those individuals, I'm sure there are some Air Supply records for you in the bargain bin. You do have to be in the mood for this type of psy. The other critique would be that all the tracks sound similar. So, for variation I would say this is weak, but for in your face kick you in the balls psytrance, hop on board. Just when you think the genre is headed for the shitter, something like this comes along and restores your faith. Bravo. Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Psygone Title: A Second Breath Label: BEAMUP Music Date: November, 2008 1. El Viaje (8:57) 2. Industrial Captivity (8:22) 3. A Second Breath (8:44) 4. Rápido Estupidez (8:19) 5. Opposite Dimensions (9:28) 6. Ignorance Is Bliss (6:12) 7. First Breed (7:03) 8. Compression Overload (8:35) Ok how many times have we seen it? How many times must we be burned? An artist who was responsible for one of the greatest hyper goa releases in Optimystique is back with his loooooong awaited follow up to that classic. Is it a continuation of his first album or did he change his style? "He" is Danish wunderkind Michael Kjeldgaard and this effort is going to do one of two things. Piss off the purists who won't except anything less than an Optimystique II or devolve into the all too familiar path of train wrecking into the full-on wasteland. I'm looking at you MWNN. It is a digital download only and it seems it is only available on iTunes. I hate iTunes and I'm sure a lot of others do as well. I tried to link to it, but each time it crashed my shit so...fuck you iTunes. You know how to get there. So what's the verdict? This is a mixture of several different styles. It goes from Psy, to Goa to Nitzhogoa to regular trance. Personally I didn't think it was anything special and I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. I'm certainly one who wanted him to come with a blasting goa trance album. None of the tracks really stand out with the exception of "Rapido Estupidez" which has a howling 303 and an interesting "trance and Israeli Nitzho" vibe. "Ignorance Is Bliss" is a funky bassline driven number that will have you nodding your head with satisfaction with some nice melodic elements. "First Breed" is definitely deep in the goa style and was one of the better efforts here. It should be applauded that he is trying new styles, but I didn't think he did any of them really well. A lot of the same sounds were used and it at times sounded a little ravey. Still, it wasn't that bad (compared to a lot of crap out there) and you can tell he still has his skill at crafting goa. The gripe I have is that the tracks are thin and when he does showcase his goa ability, it doesn't last nearly long enough. Seems like the intricate multiple layered sound has passed him by. I can't recommend it as a must have because it ain't, but some tracks are pretty cool. I don't usually rate albums but this one sits squarely in the 3/5 range for me. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Subfuse Label: Tesseract Studios Date: July, 2010 1. Computer Music Magazine THE RIDDLER AND FLOAT 2. Attractors BEATSKLOP 3. 1910 VERTEX 4. Earth Prime ZYCE AND NERSO 5. Age of Change MIDDLE MODE 6. Santo Daime SIDEFORM 7. Ground Zero EGORYTHMIA VS FLEGMA AND NERSO 8. Stereo Panic ZYCE AND FLEGMA 9. Night Swallowing Day E-CLIP AND FLEGMA 10. Obi Wan Bobi HARDY.VELVES TesseracT Studio is just that a studio where (according to Discogs) they allow their artists to create many different types of progressive trance and ambient. They also have their own mastering facility and design artists, so it's like a one stop shop for progressive trance releases. I have never heard any of their releases, but I recognized many of the artists on this disc. That's why I got it. If you have read any of my progressive trance reviews, then you would know this is right up my alley. When I listen to progressive trance, I like it to be floating, melodic and drifting. Something you can immerse yourself in and get lost. This disc has a few newbies and some core producers that all should be familiar with. 1. Computer Music Magazine - The Riddler is actually Talpa and I think he may have found his niche as his music has evolved from the groundbreaking album The Art of Being Non. Man what a groovy bassline! Super smooth progressive house style with guitar licks in the background and a good time vibe throughout. Very peppy. Great way to start a compilation. I think they are taking the piss about Computer Music Magazine, but that is what this track is, a good time. 2. Attractors - No idea who this act is and have never heard of them. I would call this more on the minimal side of progressive. The bassline takes center stage with not a whole lot going on, but fairly fluid in its movement. Filler, I believe. 3. 1910 - Whereas the previous track was the shortest, this one is the longest. Vertex has put out a couple of tracks including a nice one on this years previously reviewed Kosmics Playground. There is a feeling of nostalgia with this one where the atmosphere is created quite well. The second break in particular is dreamy. Good use of reverb throughout. Strong track if a little long. 4. Earth Prime - Now these two acts are the go to guys when it comes to deep, emotional progressive. They erect good grooves below floating melodies. There are chopped up vocals of a tribal chant and ancillary effects right up until the break at around 5 minutes. Unfortunately this track is not their best effort or I should say, it is not up to par with their usual production. It's fine, but nowhere near as involving and rich as most of their other work. 5. Age of Change - Here is another of the new artists, and this is what I expected from Zyce and Flegma. Deep bass sweeps and atmospheric sounds really set the mood. It is very dark and makes me feel isolated. The break is awesome as this artist has a command of how to manipulate sounds. Superb! Where the first track was all sunshine, this one is blacker than a trillion midnights. 6. Santo Daime - I have heard two tracks from this duo (Dark Light and Welcome Home) and they were both very impressive. A page is taken from the Iono Music school of drifting progressive complete with sweeps and a churning bassline as melodies echo high above. There are so many different sound textures that the ear doesn't tire of the same old sounds. The break is trippy with more sweeps and a funky drumkit which is nicely blended. Great original track and would be thrilled to hear more of this type. 7. Ground Zero - Having heard several tracks by Egorythmia I wasn't bowled over, but being teamed with Flegma & Nerso I expect big things. Not. Disappointed. True to form, this is another drifting track that concentrates on atmosphere. The melodies are short and show themselves sparingly, but there are so many that one is never left alone. Keep it rollin! 8. Stereo Panic - This track was fine and continued down the same path that their tracks always do, but I felt it was a little thin. There was too much time just hearing a kick, hi-hat, and a bass line. Thicken it up a little. 9. Night Swallowing Day - E-Clip has really come into his own laying down killer after killer. Teaming up with Flegma these guys deliver a smooth missile of deliciousness. You couldn't get more soaked in atmosphere if you tried. Sweeps, reversed chants, dominating melodies...the gang is all here. The break really illustrates how brilliant these producers are, showcasing their ability to stir up emotions with their music. Just drips with quality. Kick.Ass. 10. Obi Wan Bobi - "I don't want to be human. I want to see gamma rays. I want to hear x-rays. And I wanna..I wanna smell dark matter. I wanna reach out with something other than these prehensile paws. And feel the solar wind of a supernova flowing over me. I'm a machine." Nice closer here that comes right out of the box bouncy. I don't know what movie the sample comes from but it was pretty cool. And let's face it, it makes the track. The melodies continue and the track thickens up becoming quite the force. Super. Man o man what a nice journey. Aside from one filler track, this is a must have. It has all the qualities that make a ride on the progressive rocket ship enjoyable. Deep and emotional, rich and thought provoking. In a time where psytrance continues to get stale and derivative, it is nice to know there are producers out there that know the meaning of quality. Buy this, you will not be disappointed. Mdk Beatspace Psyshop

Artist: E-Clip & Flegma Title: Dynamic Violence EP Label: Iono Music Date: May, 2010 1. E-Clip & Flegma - Phantom Traveler [9:04] 2. Flegma & Nerso - Sonic Manipulation (E-Clip Remix) [7:49] 3. E-Clip & Flegma - Antimatter [7:12] 4. E-Clip - Salvation [8:39] This is a 4 track ep for digital release by Iono Music. This label is the leader in the vast, melodic progressive trance that I love. They have released a whole bunch of quality artist albums as well as numerous well received compilations. Here is their Discogs page, I urge you to check them out. Flegma is Dalibor Delic & Slobodan Gacesa and E-Clip is Marko Radovanovic and they have released a true gem in this genre. Phantom Traveler floats dreamily along with rich strings, deep bass, and soaring melodies. The breaks are short but effective and you are immediately launched right back into the fray. Perfect track. The E-Clip remix of Sonic Manipulation combines a space sample with a medieval chorus in the beginning that grabs your attention. The detail in this track is very complex with all types of sound textures. The tracks have this stand offish quality that prevents them from becoming cheesy. Antimatter is rich in atmosphere right form the get go, and is definitely dark. The groove is tight as each new facet of the track is revealed, but it never loses its purpose. The melody explodes in the last 3rd and becomes quite the tale. Salvation could be a continuation of the previous track as it chugs along because the melodies continue to impress. But it is more than that. The intricate details that when added together create such a vivid ride that I have no qualms in setting the player on repeat. The way they evolve the tune in the break is just breathtaking. I find it hard to review short EP's sometimes because how many times can you describe what you find in each track. What I mean to say is that this EP is so good, that all the adjectives which would portray how beautiful and moving each track is could be written in one sentence. But nobody would take that seriously. Hell, with what I have written you still might not. Regardless, this is worth the buy if you are into smooth melodic progressive trance that is so detailed it makes you want to cry. Samples Mdk

I just reviewed your EP my friend. Mdk

Artist: Beast303 Title: Controlled EP Label: Underground Alien Factory Records (UAF) Date: June, 2010 Tracklist: 01. Beast303 - Beast303 (6:32) 02. Beast303 - Zoo Logic (7:36) 03. Beast303 - White Leopard (7:00) 04. Beast303 - Pyro Acid (7:46) 05. Beast303 - Lady of the Water (8:13) It is my hope that people are very aware of this netlabel because they are releasing a truckload of quality choonz. And you know what? They are all free. But don't discount it as amateurish for that reason because it most assuredly is not. They have released numerous EP's from artists like Sky Technology, Grand-Cheff, and PharaOm just to name a few. The sound is most definitely old school goa trance and they do it well. One of the best things about the label is their variety of goa trance style. Something for everyone. Their latest offering is a 5 track EP from the man of a thousand aliases Filipe Santos. In a little bit of a change of direction, this EP is an acidic trance lover's dream. And as per usual, Filipe doesn't beat around the bush, but instead goes right for the throat. Aggressive 303 mania with crystal clear sounds. The screeching lead of the first track lets you know that you aren't in Kansas anymore. While that sets the tone for the EP, it isn't until you dig a little deeper that you discover where Filipe's talent really shines. Zoo Logic begins with a tribal percussion and bubbly bass, but quickly turns into much more. The filters are unrestrained as the soft kick thumps in the background. Goa melodies swarm in a mixture of acid trance and 1995 India leaving only one option and that is to dance. White Leopardcontinues the 303 chaos as it seems to get more and more bubbly. The bounce is there as the melodies reach ever higher. The flow is maintained and the energy never leaves. Pyro-Acid has to be my favorite track. You can hear the 303 rumbling underfoot as the hi-hats chirp away. As he twists the cutoff knob the adrenaline begins to surge and all out chaos ensues! How do you not dance to this? At 5:30 a screaming, and I do mean screaming 303 demands you pay attention. Holy crap that is intense. I just listened to this track 3 times in a row. This is a nasty mother f***er! Lady of the Water slows it down so you don't hemorrhage. Synths bubble below soft tones as melodies are created from nothing. The bass guides but doesn't interfere. It really is a mournful track, maybe speaking of what might have been. Smooth. Well, what can you say, Filipe has done it again. He has come through with another ground breaking effort that combines the genres of acid and goa in a danceable masterpiece. This EP kicks in the door of the status quo of goa trance (which I love) and opens up all new possibilities for the genre to explore. Like the combination of Nitzo and goa trance this is a welcome exploration that I hope other artists will build upon. Great work as usual Filipe and kudos to Imba for getting artists to produce such fine works with your label. Mdk

Quality release. Edit: As time has gone on I like this release much less than I originally did. It sounds very similar, pounding home lots of the full-on tropes that I cannot abide any longer. His sample work is great and sets the mood for the tracks, but I just cannot get past the bass line. Mdk

I thought the "Bombscare" remix was ok, but felt that it could've been fleshed out more. The Pleiadians track was disappointing aside from some interesting bass work. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Kosmics Playground Label: Prog On Syndicate Records Date: June, 2010 1. Expect No Less / Monod 2. Synthetic Life / E-Clip 3. Flash Point/ Jiser 4. Are on the sky / Elfo 5. Desire / Time Stretch 6. Save Us / Querox 7. Obsidian / Flegma and Nerso 8. Dark Light / Sideform 9. Prosperity / Zyce and Talpa 10. Present / Vertex Here is a new label with a progressive trance compilation. Label head Querox has put together a selection of artists with an international flair not seen since the old Benneton commercials. Most of the artists are familiar with a few relative unknowns. There is a discrepancy I have noted, albeit minor. Track 3 on my disc reads as above, but checking Psyshop's site, they have it listed as "Sub Motion" by Infinity. Probably just a misprint. So another new label jumps into the scene, what can you expect? Some pretty good tunes. "Expect No Less" - Great track to begin the compilation. Not too heavy just floating away with your thoughts on a space ship. It goes by very quickly. "Synthetic Life" - Wide open and tumbling through the vastness of outer space is how I would describe this. This is the perfect balance of melody, atmosphere and trance. My favorite track on the disc. "Flash Point" - Simple bassline again, but rich bass sweeps along with fresh twinkly sounds fatten this beast up. The break at 5:20 really shows this artist's ability to meld sounds in a captivating way. Time enough to catch your breath, but not so lengthy to sound like a different track. Awesome. "Are On of Sky" - This track has a familiar melody, but I cannot place it. Almost like a child's lullaby. On the whole, it's a nice playful song, but doesn't hold my attention like the others did. "Desire" - Snorefest until the break takes over and then it seems like a different track...well, almost. It's still pretty minimal, but cannot compare to the rest of the gems here. Skip it. "Save Us" - With a deep bass and thunderous kick this track blends chopped up vocals and sounds. The melody is in the distance growing a little more bold. The break is clever, with more short vocal snippets. This is what it would sound like if Artifakt made progressive trance, just less chaotic. Different, but welcome. "Obsidian" - This track is a continuation of the great partnership between these two artists. A track that is loaded with atmosphere and clever bass manipulation. The swirling melodies have lots of ancillary company, giving it a very deep feel. Superb! "Dark Light" - This track has the simplest one note bass line, but contains plenty of other sounds that thicken the track. A soft pan-flute tone is surrounded by analog flutterings, The break is short, but effective providing a seamless re-entry back to the beat. There is an odd key change in the final 3rd of the track, but it is interesting. Very good effort. "Prosperity" - Talpa is back with Zyce and this is an example (IMHO) of two artists going in opposite directions. Talpa's last album for me was a colossal disappointment, while Zyce continues to put out great music. So what happened here? Did Zyce lift Talpa up or did Talpa bring Zyce down? The former is true, with sparkly synths and good motion to the track. The melodies undulate amidst melancholy sounds creating a great feeling. The break is dreamy as the track flows along. This is an excellent example of a great collaboration. "Present" - "Much of the work we do cannot be measured in standard terms." This is a floating track with a really cool break about aliens. The sounds are very delicate and soothing providing a nice exit. Well worth it. Aside from a couple of clunkers, this is a fresh ride down the progressive highway. The artists deliver a very high quality selection of tunes that a deep and emotive. Recommended! Psyshop Beatspace Mdk