BraneFreeze

FYI, a brief article: http://chronicle.com/article/Psychedelic-Academe/139509/

Well, when the Singularity arrives, I figured that I'd upload my music along with my consciousness. However, it then occurred to me that I might not be able to "hear" music at that point.

Will DAT Records also sell digital downloads of the two EPs?

Way too many samples that are neither profound nor interesting; many are just intrusive and annoying. The music is OK but nothing really grabs you. 7/10

Some people want CDs. Some people prefer (high quality) digital. Just provide both options at a reasonable price. After all, the incremental cost to provide digital is tiny compared to CDs.

The Beatspace + Bandcamp combo probably also involves two sets of distribution fees. Maybe that's why the B + B album prices are so high.

Beatspace sells many labels through Bandcamp: http://bandcamp.com/search?q=beatspace http://beatspace-suntrip.bandcamp.com/ Is it possible that some labels aren't aware of this? Does Beatspace pay the labels as fast as Bandcamp pays Beatspace?

Draeke -- First of all, thanks for all the great music you've put out the last few years. I really appreciate the hard work and dedication needed to pull that off. Now my questions. I've noticed that Beatspace uses Bandcamp for digital distribution of DAT Records. Does that mean that DAT is unable to set up a separate Bandcamp account to function as the "back office" for your own DAT online store? I've always thought that labels and producers get a pretty fair deal when they work directly with Bandcamp. Does Beatspace involvement negate that advantage? Do you have any input regarding Beatspace pricing (because I think their digital prices are out of line)?

I'm 30+ too, but now only buy CDs as a last resort. I already have hundreds of CDs from the pre-digital era, but these days the convenience, flexibility, and lower price of digital music is much more compelling than the tangible pleasures of CD ownership.

I think it's a little early to write off digital sales as too small to make the effort. First of all, I've noticed that more labels and producers are adding Bandcamp, but so far the albums mostly come from their back catalog, music that's been available for some time through other channels and formats. It stands to reason that there would be lower demand (in an already small market) for older music. I'm glad the old stuff is more easily available (and sometimes remastered), but let's take a little more time to see how new albums sell in this approach. Second, I've noticed that many digital albums are simply over-priced on Bandcamp (and elsewhere). Personally, I consider 10 euros a gouge for a standard length digital album (320 MP3), and I'm much more willing to go the file sharing route (even for a lower quality file). Given that there are no costs for physical production (ie, CDs) or shipping, I consider a "fair price" to be more in the range of 7 euros per album (and Bandcamp data suggests approx 5.5 euros (7 dollars) as the optimal album price). So, once again, let's take a little more time to see how alternative pricing might work. Third, it seems that labels and producers have more flexibility with Bandcamp, than with Beatport or other distributors. Have all the options and permutations really been explored? My sense is that many goa / psy labels have an ambivalent and halfhearted approach to digital distribution, which ultimately affects sales revenues. I know there's probably a reluctance to experiment when you only have a few releases per year, but it seems to me that the cost of staying the same (ie, heavy emphasis on CDs) is much higher than the cost of trying something else. If your current sales suck, what have you got to lose?

Which brings me to an old issue: are labels in the music business or the plastics business? I don't understand the continuing fixation with CDs (which almost always incur a loss) to the exclusion of any digital distribution alternative. The number of CD buyers (for all kinds of music) decreases every year. It's time to accept the new reality and new buyer preferences.

I think this is the same version that was available in 2010, but some people had trouble contacting DD directly to purchase the high quality download. Now that the album is finally available on Bandcamp more people will have a chance to acquire this remastered classic.

Whatever happened to the Suntrip Zirrex release?

The remastered and extended album is now available at Bandcamp: http://doubledragon2.bandcamp.com/album/continuum-re-mastered-extended-2010

The remastered and extended album is now available on Bandcamp: http://doubledragon2.bandcamp.com/album/continuum-re-mastered-extended-2010

Both my wife and the dog had the same reaction: "Turn that damn thing down!" Know what? Ain't gonna happen.

Hope he adds the Mineralien Molecule EP to the Bandcamp site.

I would also recommend Bandcamp for digital distribution. The label / producer gets a much higher payout percentage than iTunes, plus they can also handle distribution for CDs and other merchandise if you like. I've also noticed recently that more and more goa / psy producers and labels are putting their catalogs on Bandcamp (eg, Cosmosis, Crop Circles, Glowing Flame Records, Geomagnetic, Beatspace, etc). Why not take advantage of an easy way to monetize all of your releases, even the old ones. On a personal note, I have no particular yen for plastic disks. I am quite satisfied with high quality digital downloads, and I am much more likely to pay for them if they are easily available at Bandcamp or Beatport (I refuse to buy from iTunes, and Amazon digital quality is poor). FWIW

This album should be required listening for all goa / psy producers. The complex, sophisticated rhythms are light years beyond just about everything coming out these days. Metatron's Sugar Cube nearly levitates your sound system.

Artist: SeaMoon Title: Expression Of The Moment Label: Awakening Records Date: May 2012 1. Expression Of The Moment 2. Genetic Guitars 3. Zentimental 4. Satanic Pleasures 5. I've Got No Philosophy 6. Stages Of Depth 7. Storytelling Frequencies 8. Connecting The Source 9. Surrounding Stillness SeaMoon is Simon Neumann, a German artist who released A Twisted Downbeat Adventure EP in 2010 through Ektoplazm. He has also released a few tracks on compilations, and the DMTones EP in January 2012. Expression Of The Moment basically builds on and develops the twisted, trippy, downbeat, sometimes glitchy, sometimes murky, slow funk style of his debut EP. This album as a whole seems more cohesive, sophisticated, and polished than that EP. I liked almost every track. Genetic Guitars (the only track to appear previously) is a little bit of an outlier style-wise, but still solid. I've Got No Philosophy is a serpentine groove. Storytelling Frequencies and Connecting The Source both increase the tempo and energy level as the album heads for the finish. Unfortunately, the final track Surrounding Stillness is a little disappointing. It's not bad, but it just sounds so generic compared to the other unique SeaMoon tracks. Overall, despite my one reservation, this is a very good album: 9 / 10. Available for preview or purchase at Bandcamp: (http://beatspace-awakening.bandcamp.com/album/seamoon-expression-of-the-moment-awakening-records)

Excluding some great remasters and reissues in 2012 ... Uptempo: 1) M-Run - Some Run Just For Fun 2) Etnica - Live In Athens 1996 3) Braincell - Psychedelicious EP Downtempo: 1) SeaMoon - Expression Of The Moment

Who are the other artists?

Just discovered this album (not much psy in witness protection). Kind of surprised it doesn't get more recognition. Twisty, crunchy leads. Reminds me of an uptempo version of Cosmosis "Synergy". I liked almost every track. Pot Alert sounds like voodoo on acid. Highly recommended.

The US musical scene is so large, and has so many "home grown" genres, that Goa barely moves the needle. Unlike Europeans and Israelis, very few Americans ever went to Goa, and why should they? There was plenty of music, parties, dope, and sunshine a lot closer to home. Still, thanks to the internet, there are probably a fair number of Goa fans in the US today, but they're not concentrated in any one location. The issue of whether or not Goa is better than other types of electronic music in the US is a matter of personal taste. I could just as easily make a similar statement that most Goa sounds moronic compared to jazz (comparing, for example, rhythmic complexity). There are plenty of good electronic music producers in the US (eg, Chromatone, Bird Of Prey, Phutureprimitive), but they just have different interests. Instead of complaining about lack of Goa, why not try to enjoy other kinds of music as well? (You might also consider the possibility that Goa is fading around the world, and the lack of Goa in the US is really not that unique.)

I usually boost the treble, but leave the bass and mid-range alone. I think the dance floor heritage of this music tends to overemphasize the bass component.