the goa constrictor

This album is outstanding. A few tracks that seem to go nowhere, but the rest are quite unique and very engaging. Delicious stuff. Definitely not your average downtempo/dub/chill out album.

Artist: California Sunshine Album: Rebirth Label: Phonokol Artist Discogs Page: discogs.com/artist/California+Sunshine Buy this Album from Saikosounds here! Review: Reviewing this album is hard. Times have changed, generations have moved forward, and it’s kind of tricky to reference and appreciate this album while also maintaining a perspective of someone who might be new to this music. So I’m going to get a few things out first, then we can move into the review more solidly. Long long ago, there was a project called California Sunshine. Having a name that is an obvious wink’n'nod to the blotter of the same name gives us our first level of understanding. If we take that concept and also interweave it with the literal idea of some California Sunshine you will begin to understand how to approach this album. Cheesy named blotter of the 90’s + Sun shining California coasts = a very specific Israeli Trance energy. And it is very epic. The album starts off with a nice updated version of their classic track Rain. Rain is a beautiful song on, what I believe to be their best album, Nasha. So the album starts by taking a piece of its past and fitting it through the holes of time and into this new world of EPIC. I mean, I know California Sunshine have always been quite epic in their cheese factor, but damn; this album goes above and beyond. They go above and beyond and do it well too. I was honestly caught off guard. I didn’t think that I would love this album as much as I do. At first, I wasn’t sure what to think of the guitars (and there are lots of guitars), but after the disk ended the first time, I reflected upon the music and wanted to hear it again. The second listening, without the shock of the guitars, was even better. I was able to appreciate why they were there and the story that they helped tell. And there aren’t guitars on every single track or anything either. I just know to mention these things because I will be flamed if I don’t. But jesus christ, this album is so uplifting and so good. This album feels GREAT. It makes you smile a lot. It pushes forth the energies of cosmic compatibility and hopeful longing. It allows you to appreciate the spring time flowers in bloom, the bits of rain that give those flowers life, then the sun shining down upon them and making them grow. The air of spring. Of life. Of rebirth. The album is a massive MDMA pill that you can ingest aurally and have no shitty hangover with. It just makes you feel good. *FLASH* memory of playing on the beach with your family when 9 years old *FLASH* memory of eating a big birthday cake with missing teeth because you just lost another baby tooth *FLASH* memory of that sunrise on the mountain, in the arms of the person you love, breathing the fresh air of life, watching your friends dance on the dance floor *FLASH* memory of that one smile, from that one person, that you’ll never ever forget This is California Sunshine. It is a massively big hug and a great piece of heart. Now, for the VERY IMPORTANT DJ ANALYSIS OF THIS RECORD… lol Ok, so… I know very few people who would ever actually play this album out. But most of my friends are too cool to appreciate the level of beauty and cheese within this disk, so that doesn’t bother me much. This album is very much for certain types of DJs and people with certain types of tastes. I will gladly play these tracks during any sunrise set. In fact, I promise that if you hear me playing in the morning at a party this summer, I will totally rock this album. The momentum is infectuous. The drive is rejuvenating. The guitars are very unique. It’s not buttrock goa. It’s not metal trance. I almost want to say that it is like a proper Monster Ballads accompaniment to top shelf Israeli morning trance. Done right. What’s really nice though, is that the album is something that over the past 3 weeks, I have just put on to listen to over and over. It’s not simply DJ material. I actually really love listening to this album and being transported into the feelings and emotions contained therein. Now I just wish Man With No Name would come out and release something totally killer and new again. That would be sweet. So it’s California Sunshine. If you are familiar with them and like them, you should pick this up. While Rebirth doesn’t quite reach the levels of Nasha, it is still a fantastic album and reaches a completely different set of level and ideas. I’m very happy that this is getting released just before the summer season starts, because some great anthemic California Sunshine is _exactly_ what this summer needs. Completely. 2010 has been an interesting year and I am very happy to have California Sunshine as part of the soundtrack of my summer. It will be a good summer indeed. Hopefully you’ll have a good one too. Maybe California Sunshine can help with your soundtrack as well. xoxox -A’damn

Note: This is one large Screen Shot and link. Clicking on it just takes you to the website...

There are no hard and fast rules. Different people like different things in a review. Make sure what you write is relevant and try to use proper grammar. Good luck and have fun with it!

There is a great plugin/script for Mac called Fluke which allows iTunes to play FLAC files. I have been using it for a long time and it is great.

Yeah, it's a balance of supply and demand. You want to find the best balance of profit. Let's look at the number 1,200. You print 1,000 albums and it sells out and there is some demand for more. You sold out at 1,000 and while you could make more money if you had access to magical new copies, printing another batch runs the risk of not-covering costs. There really isn't a true market demand for such reprints most of the time.

Artist: Benza Album: if Label: Sub Artist MySpace Page: http://myspace.com/benzaproductions Buy this Album from Saiko Sounds: http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display_release.asp?id=8219 Review: Here I am listening to the newest Benza album when out of nowhere I wondered to myself, ‘Did I ever finish writing that Benza review that I started last year?’… No. No, it appears that I did not. This is a crying shame and totally not okay. Since I have a free moment right now, please allow me the opportunity to correct this massive oversight. Benza has a new album! It is his fourth album, it has the title ‘if', it is released on Sub Records, and it is really good. I would classify it as a comfortable and pretty psychedelic progressive techno album. Kind of like the newer Electric Arc and Justin Space material mixed with some of that Fuzzion stuff. Slick like oiled vinyl and soft like cashmere, this is music designed to get a party’s rocks off with a purposeful method of slow resolution. I want to make a bad stand-up comedian joke and say, THIS ALBUM _LITERALLY_ FLOWS LIKE WATER DROPLETS OF MORNING DEW FALLING FROM THE LEAVES OF A SUNFLOWER AT DAWN However that would be wrong; I will not say that. I will however think about that imagery for a moment. Then I’ll stop and continue listening to the percussion that rolls from left speaker and back to the right again. I’ll pay attention to the cutup voices that jibber-jabber across the living room (or theoretical dance floor). I’ll feel that pulse of rhythm and story that get woven together for a journey that keeps you engaged throughout the entirety of the disk. It’s quite pleasant. Part of me wants to talk about each sound, melody, transition, and voice that I find to be awesome. This would be problematic though, because I would be writing about every moment of every song. You’d get bored and miss out on the opportunity to discover it all for yourself. I wouldn’t want to do that to you. I like you too much to ruin the fun! Now, I have been informed lately that I should be a touch more critical with my reviews and maybe mention info that I know might be good for people to know, even if it might turn those people off. So I would like to mention that there are two things that might influence your opinion of this album. First, some people I have talked with over the past few months have a real problem with track 6, Jacob ft. Bias B. This song has an added element of hiphop vocals for a portion of the song. I like it, but I also like hiphop. Some others really aren’t into them and people actually complain about this. However, it’s just one song and you should just accept the fact that it is good. Don’t fear the MC. Secondly, there are only 1 or 2 songs on here that start atmospherically with pads. Virtually all tracks start with the beat and work like a normal progressive techno or progressive house song. Which is fine most of the time, but makes it hard for heavy BPM changes and creativity in DJ sets. Having options in your material makes it more fun to play out and opens up more doors for creative mixing. Again, not a big deal, but it might be nice to mention for those DJs who like having that info. All in all, this album will work with many different types of atmospheres and is simply good music to play while decorating cookies. Good work Benza! Now come back to the Pacific Northwest and entertain us! xoxox -A’damn

It's like comics and the collecting of anything. Keeps values high, and encourages more people to buy it quick. If the consumer buys the product quickly, it pumps money back into the label for its next release. If it wasn't limited, the consumer would have less reason to buy quickly and therefore the income that the label is requiring for future product goes unearned. And it is fun collecting records and knowing where you scored that awesome rare 12" or album. What store. What town. Time of day. It's cool.

Indeed! Sean's sets tend to be about 50/50 of his material and others. But those tracks that he selects all have a very proper sound and his mixing style is unique. I'm very stoked that he is slowly getting his groove back on and taking the occasional DJ gig. =)

Process has just been announced as part of this lineup for Psymply Psychedelic this summer. http://apolloslute.com for more info! =)

Robomate - Skill Sampler is fucking AWESOME.

I have the most complete collection of Messiah singles and albums of anyone I know. Messiah rules

[wasn't sure what section to put this in, so i chose here, feel free to move it if you need to] Hi hi! I am wondering how many of you live in the UK and are music collectors who would be hitting up something like Record Store Day next week. I live in the USA and cannot participate but I would _really_ love to score a certain 7" from this and if anyone is hitting this up, I'd love to tip you handsomely if you can score me a record. More info is at: http://www.recordstoreday.com/uk Also, if you are just a vinyl junky in general, ROCK! I still collect. Always will. My goa collection from decades past is one thing, then I have my PWEI collection and Blur, Neds Atomic Dustbin, and other britpop collections. Ween, Skinny Puppy and old industrial, plus a hefty bit of hiphop too. Skweee, trance, techno. A complete collection of the old techno group Messiah, and a lot of Orbital, Utah Saints and some Underworld. MmmMmMmMmMmmmm vinyl. But yeah, if you are in the UK and would be willing to grab me a 7" at Record Store Day, please let me know! I can Paypal you money or hide it in the tray of a CD case or snag you a record from over here and mail it over in exchange. However you wish to roll. Cheers!

Good morning! Head on over to http://goaconstrictor.com/radio at 10am (PDT) for the newest broadcast of FABULOUS! Radio. It's Monday, I just finished my homework, and it's time for some musical interludes. See you soon! xoxox -A'damn

My Top 10 List of labels from anytime are (in no particular order): Flying Rhino Demon Tea Matsuri Blue Room Psy-Harmonics Exogenic 6-D Soundz Freakdance Suntrip Elektrik Orgasm

The lack of Flying Rhino in your list is appalling!

I have to massively disagree. This album has aged greatly and still sounds nice on my ears. I can listen to those melodies for another 15 years and still be satisfied.

Hello my army of fabulous listeners! It has been a while since my last transmission and I am sorry for that. But I had things to do and unfortunately the balance of life made me step away for a bit. But I am back. FABULOUS! Radio 3:30pm -> 6:30pm [PDT] http://goaconstrictor.com/radio To get in touch during the show to make a request, share a story, pass along some news, send some love, give me music, or whatever, you may reach me at: AIM: goafabulous GChat: fabulousradio If you don't have those chat programs, I also have an embedded Meebo chat that you don't need to register an account with and a full chat room for multiple people as well, both available on the radio page. And, of course, there is email: fabulousradio [at] gmail [dot] com There are a lot of events happening this weekend, so tune in and find out some info. Or hear some music. Much love; I have missed you all. xoxox -A'damn

Process has 2 albums out, One Drop or Two? and Superior Technology. Sean Williams is a great psychedelic musician who definitely took sounds to a new level. His early work with Pete 'Slide' Martin as Satori were all very instrumental in my early days of Goa back in 1995/96/97. His work with Tristan around that era are also highly encouraged. All of Sean's solo work is top of the line, proper UK style psytrance with great attention to analog synths. A while back he stopped focusing on psytrance and was working on some great chill out jazz stuff with a group called The Mystery School Ensemble. Great great work with that project and some wonderful music. Since then he has been working on a project called Monosynth Orchestra. It is a freeform experimental sound collage type act that is really awesome. If you like noise and drone music, you'd like them. Sean gets out from time to time to drop an occasional DJ set for people, but he can be a bit of a recluse in his academic pursuits of sound. But, I totally agree, if you don't have any of his work, you are truly missing out. You'll notice that the Beast 12" that Sean did with Simon Posford was really the last psytrance that Simon made. I, personally, believe that it is because that single is kind of the peak of that era of psytrance and Simon knows that he'll never top it. So Simon focuses on other projects.

. . . @ http://goaconstrictor.com/radio That's right kids. It's time for another fabulous installment of FABULOUS! Radio. It's Friday and bloody hell, that is some excellent news. Whether you're going to Tigercore or Catsup tonight, Gumar and his Magical Midi Band, Various, or the Heartless Heather's pre-Valentine's Day Bash tomorrow; all choices are good choices and decompression pre-party time has arrived. So while you finish up your weekly activities, eat some dinner, and have a few cheap drinks at your house while getting snazzy for the evening, allow me to entertain you with the smooth sounds of Radio KGOA. Playing only the smoothest cuts from the archives . . . and maybe some of the new Squarefeet stuff. And those Okta and Puoskari albums. And some Vishnudata. And maybe a bit of Product.01. And some Rip Van Hippy. And a few other odds and ends that I know you want to hear. FABULOUS! Radio 5pm -> 8pm [PST] http://goaconstrictor.com/radio To get in touch during the show to make a request, share a story, pass along some news, send some love, give me music, or whatever, you may reach me at: AIM: goafabulous GChat: fabulousradio If you don't have those chat programs, I also have an embedded Meebo chat that you don't need to register an account with and a full chat room for multiple people as well, both available on the radio page. And, of course, there is email: fabulousradio [at] gmail [dot] com I hope everyone has a great weekend and I look forward to dancing with you soon! xoxox -A'damn

This movie was amazingly boring and pointless. G.I. Joe >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Artist: Traject Album: Birting Record Label: Creative Space Records Artist MySpace Page: myspace.com/traject Review: I hate losing CDs. It’s a massive problem in my life. I am constantly misplacing little annoying pieces of plastic and searching for them. I sometimes lose disks for months and occasionally years. I hate it. While I have some problems with records, it isn’t anywhere near the problem that I have with CDs. This is why I try to always burn at least one backup to my disks and try to keep my originals shelved and never touched. But this also creates more waste on our planet and I hate doing that. Last year I got a new album from an artist named Traject and it floored me. I loved it. Then I lost it before I could back it up. The days became weeks. The weeks became months. Next thing I know, it is 2010 and I am moving homes with the fear that I will never see my disk again. I still haven’t unpacked a single box of CDs. They are all in multiple boxes around my apartment with only my records and the disks in my CD wallets to keep me company. But I did open one box. I was looking for a track for a gig and I knew it was probably in this one box of random disks. I opened the box and started searching through the disks. Not it. Not it. Not it. Not . . . wait a second. I FOUND MY TRAJECT CD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And then everything changed. My new home gifted me with what I needed at that moment, Traject. From that moment on, I felt connected to my new surroundings. The place is different than my last home, but the spirits in these walls reached out and gave me an offering of peace. Creative Space Records is a very unique and wonderful label based out of Greece. The people behind Creative Space Records used to operate a label called Devic Craft ‘Cordings and released a very small but totally amazing assortment of psychedelic trance music. The double CD from Spyweirdos called “Fairy Tales” is still one of the more magical albums that I have. Sadly, after only a handful of releases, Devic Craft decided to stop releasing music. Fortunately, they only chose to shift musical focuses a bit and changed their name to match their mission statement. A place for artists to have the creative space necessary to do something new. Creative Space have a very unique catalog behind them and these days they push the boundaries of what is music, drone, experimental, trance, glitch and noise. Traject is one of these artists. I am not a massive fan of a lot of glitchy noise music. There is so much drone and glitch music that reminds me of a 6-year-old falling asleep while holding down a note on a keyboard, but then there are the artists who can expertly craft a world of tones and beats that dance along rhythm that can entrance your mind in a way that a basic four-on-the-floor could never do. Traject’s album “Birting” is an album that blends discordant beats with a symphony of hypnotic tones. It is glitchy in an Open-Field-Sunrise-With-Boards-Of-Canada sort of way. The album sounds like a haunted house, creeping and echoing all around you as you try to navigate your way to door. Acoustic instruments echoing from distant rooms of the house being played by -or possessed by- ghosts. Not mean ghosts. Confused and scared ghosts. The ghosts don’t know what is going on or where they are at, so they start blending sounds to create a state of trance in an effort to conjure up the spirits who might have the answers that they are searching for. Having this album back in my life is like finding the missing page that was previous torn out of my book of hymns. While the discordant tones and industrial soundscapes that get woven into the fabric of these enchantments might be too much for some to handle, I know it will be perfect for many. Once you hear it and begin digesting it, you may discover that this album has been missing from your own ghost-filled world as well. I truly look forward to hearing what Traject does next. I have a feeling that I’ll be listening to his ghosts for years to come. xoxox -A’damn

It's a movie, it doesn't need to mean anything.

Good morning world. Avatar gets released today. It's going to be 3D EPIC BATTLE ACTION GLORY! I can't wait to see it. Monday will be teh radness sauce. Today is Friday though. So today I will play some music on the radio. Tune in. FABULOUS! Radio Today: 2pm -> 5pm (PST (GMT-8)) Tune-in Live @ http://goaconstrictor.com/radio RSS/Podcast Info: http://www.goaconstrictor.com/fabulousradio/feed.rss To be in touch during the show, drop a line: AIM - goafabulous Meebo - fabulousradio GChat - fabulousradio Email - fabulousradio@gmail.com UStream - Live chatting with other listeners You don't need glasses to touch me in 3D xoxox -A'damn

You all really need to stop bringing "You Don't Mess with the Zohan" into this. While Apatow worked on the first draft of this in 2000, he then left and the project was stalled. When it came back into action years later and underwent rewrites, Apatow had noting to do with it. He didn't direct. Didn't produce. Didn't write what you saw. It is not an Apatow movie. It is a shitty Adam Sandler movie.