Tatsu

Depends on your definition of dead anyway. Dead can be it's overcommercialized or it can be that there are only very few releases or dead to you since you don't like the direction a style takes. Lots of possibilities... I mainly buy psy stuff since it is my main priority but there are still albums from other styles (from hip-hop to pop to rock) that move me. And it's not like you have to buy stuff from the big labels. If you don't mind digging you can find lots of free stuff on the internet. While back in the days all you had were the official releases and the radio, that played the same stuff that was on the records anyway.

True, there where shitloads of songs comming out that had silly lyrics and were rather easy to play. And back then rock and also pop were rather new phenomenons. But that's what you get if you listen to commercial music, lots of generic stuff. So you either dig for the pearls or you don't listen to commercial stuff. Like all those hipsters who listen to music styles that don't even exist yet (just joking...). ;D

This month's order: Crossing Mind - the Inner Shift (Suntrip Records) http://www.discogs.com/Crossing-Mind-The-Inner-Shift/release/3557138 Kino Oko - Colours Hate Themselves (Tribal Vision) http://www.discogs.com/Kino-Oko-Colours-Hate-Themselves/release/2282504 Mindwave - Concept Of Freedom (Iono Music) http://www.discogs.com/Mindwave-Concept-Of-Freedom/release/3535592 Shiva Chandra - Symbol (Spintwist) http://www.discogs.com/Shiva-Chandra-Symbol/release/1153879

Actually 2012 is being great so far! I've been to one of those neo-goa parties with Khetzal and Crossing Mind and especially Crossing Mind was so mindblowing! I haven't heard this kind of Goa in many years and I'm very curious about his new album. I'm also happy about other releases (not only psy but electronical music in general), also some older stuff like Shiva Chandra that I didn't notice before. I also started DJing again. A friend of mine is showing me some tricks and I will attend two days of classes to get some more technical knowledge. I allread played a set (not beatmixed since it was 90ies dancefloor pop/house and hip-hop) at a party and people were having fun. I'm also part of collective that organises events in an alternative gay place. Not only parties but also readings, discussions and the likes. It's very inspiring even when it takes a lot of my free time. I met a lot of interesting people there and besides them starting to be my friends they are also inspiring me to listen to new music from the electro/minimal/techno genre.

Nope, you missunderstand me (the last quote is what I'm talking about). I don't have a problem listening to something that sounds like typical psy (or goa or whatever style) even if it's not innovative as long as it moves me in one way or another. I also think you can sound unique without bringing a whole new innovation to a style. If you manage to create a special vibe, style or combine known elements new. But that's another story... Anyway, what i wanted to say is that psy and his sub-genres have a certain sound. It evolved over the year and is still evolving. But I don't expect another innovation every other month. Becuase of that if I feel that I have heard enough of psy/goa/prog I dig into other styles to get something different. i like to dig out psychedelic house/elecotro/techno tracks, there's lots to discover that is very different to psy but it still moves me in a similar way. Imho it's not a surprise you can't find innovative stuff every other month, I mean how should that be possible? I^m not sure what you want to say about hip-hop. I mean back in 2000 you cold also find a lot innovative stuff in the psy genre. but we have 20102 now... i just used hip-hop and rock (rock in general but also subgenres like Metal, Hard-Rock and some others that I know) to show that imho psy is not that much more or less innovative than other styles that exist for long. I agree about being alive or dead is a matter of perspective. That's exactly what I wanted to say with my reply. I'm glad you see that in the same way because for me (another subjective point of view of coruse) a thread title like 2012 RIP psytrance? does sound more like a general statement to me. Mainly because threads or discussions like that arise again and again and well, it's not getting more original with time. But I'm glad you could clear that up for me.

I'm curious about your answer. I'm allready adding something: sure the goa pioneers were innovative, but mind you: if a genre is new that is rather easy. On one hand because everything is allowed and on the other hand it is new so not everybody knows it. Then Goa evolved into psy, same thing again. Since I'm listening Goa has brought out full-on, prog (different prog and full-on styles even), dark, forest, neo-goa commercial and so on. As far as I can tell the music is still evolving. But how far can you push it until it is not really psy anymore? I mean those discussions arise with every new styll: is dark (or the more commercial releases, prog, full-on and so on) really psyish enough to be called psy? I do think so but the discussions are there.

Yeah, I do like some of if and yes, I do like tripping while hearing it. I also like other psy styles like Goa or Full-On fo example, depending on my mood. There are a lot of releases in that prog-style and as some posters allready mentioned not all artists you mentioned are pure psy. But in the end imho this doesn't matter as long as you like the music. There is some stuff I would recommend besides the names you allready mentioned: Phaxe is quite nice (one of his EPs on Iboga Trance is awesome!); check the Nasser - Checkpoint album, it's different to Neelix and the likes but it's very psychedelic, for older stuff Reefer Decree - Point Of view and an EP he released later are awesome. If you haven't heard it yet, check Lish's second album (Free Fall) imho an highlight and highly psychedelic.

Yeah, it's always hard to judge a track just by samples. But I have to say I was impressed enough to actually look forward to that album. It seems to be melodic but also rather psychedelic, means good to trip to (for me).

I don't exaclty how you define innovative but what you describe with psytrance and the name-changing for the sub-styles or with the punk genre is imho similar with all the genres I know. I mean there is (for me) interesting stuff coming out for all genres, for some more for some less. But I haven't heard a rock or hip-hop album which I have to rate as "I've never heard something like that before". Or if I did then it is a new style/sub-genre. So I personally fail to see why psytrance should be more alive or dead than any other genre that is not new. For me something being alive is not only stated by the level of the innovativity that is shown but by amount of releases that (for my personal taste of course) stand out. Also because if I am wanting to hear something completely different I do not dig in the style I know for 10 or 15 years but into other styles. Not because I feel I can't find something new but even something new will not be completely different since it has its root in the same genre.. I'm amazed to see that when checking out psy I can still find gems. The Talpa album is one and imho it is even rather unique (unfortunately...). It's also funny to browse stuff and then find albums that are some years old and seem to be pure gold, still they went under my radar so I can find them now. It seems you are not able to find intersting releases anymore. Which is sad but saying that because of that a style is dead or dying is imho a bit silly. It is just your own perspective as a listener, means it's once again about personal taste. I'm with Anoebis on this one! And btw @Anoebis: I just ordered the two Crossing Mind albums. Very, very amazing music judging from the live and the samples. I have to say this music gives me the same feeling I had when I went to my first parties and heard the melodic goa madness. I think it is mainly the use of synths. With that he is even better than some old artists and their original music...

Yeah, allready saw this some days ago. Sounds fucking awesome in my book.

Psytrance is alive and kicking, if you take your time to search for interesting stuff. I can recommend the new Talpa album. Melodic and psychedelic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er2G5c_Dt4Q Last weekend I went to party where Khetzal and Crossing Mind played. Khetzal didn't play anything new but Crossing Mind has a new album that will come out this year and I have to say his live was the most amazing Goa I have heard in years. It was so mindblowing I can't even remember when I last heard stuff at a party (and to be honest I also haven't heard an album like that in years). With stuff like that coming out (even if it's only one album) psy/goa can't be dead at all... Freq will also deliver a new album. There are short samples of the tracks at soundcloud. Sounds also amazing imho.

Maybe the ones who stoped making music are not really interested in getting their gear toghether and travel around the globe for just one gig? I also imagine that playing live after not doing it for years takes quite a lot of preparation time. I can somewhat understand you don't want to deal with that if you are not into the music/scene anymore.

After reading that thread I somewhat thought Khetzal is out of the goa business. Fortunately this is not true at all, he is playing a live set in Switzerland in a few weeks: http://www.mysticalforum.ch/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=19626 Nicely enough there is even another Suntrip artist playing, I'm so going to enjoy this!

I have to correct my view on the Tmiedrained album. It is nice but it did not have the expected effects while tripping. Some effects were mindblowing but it was by far not as awesome as Nasser's album. But maybe I found another goodie: Suntree - Inside. I'm listening to it right now (sobber tho) and I think it might be good to trip to. But it will take some time until I can check that out... Motion Drive are actually nice to, haven't heard them while trippin tho.

Besides the fact that it's a rather personal thing what psytrance exactly means there comes also the local component into it. In Switzerland you talk about "going to a goaparty" if you visit any psy doof. Which means the music can be everything from darkpsy, full-on, actually old- or new-school goa, proggy or any other of the possible subgenres. For me the use of the word psytrance or goa depends a lot who I am talking to. I would not write here that I'm planning to go to a goa party unless it is really goa that is played. But I do use that therm when I talk with friends and they now exactly what it means. Same for the use of the word psytrance. On one hand I use it like a subgenre (for example the first Hallucinogen album I would label as Goa, the second as psytrance), on the other hand I use it as generalisation for the music I listen to when I explain to somebody what I'm listening. Means if I say I listen to psytrance this includes, goa, prog and so on (at least if I talk with an English speaking person in another forum for example, if I talk with a Swiss person I would use the word Goa for the exact same thing). In the and all those genres and names are just words. It comes handy to look for music since each sub-genre has a certain definition so people can make recommendations and compare stuff. But all in all those names don't really say much about the quailty of the music. I mean I'm not into darkpsy but still I found one or two tracks I actually dig. While I dig progressive but still there are a lot of releases that I don't care about.

I was thinking the same thing. On the other hand it is a very good album, I just didn't know it's allready rare.

I used to buy from Saikosounds and Psyshop but lately I just used Goastore. It's cheap and delivery is fast since the Shop is in Switzerland.

If I sort my records by the maximal price: Pleiadians - Alcyone (Dragonfly Records - BFLLP 24 PROMO) 12", S/Sided, Promo, Ltd 1997 Uncategorized $ 129.93 $ 154.76 $ 309.52 One Man Game - Total Trance (Purple Trance Records - RR 00188) CD, Album 1997 Uncategorized $ 50.67 $ 110.00 $ 220.00 Various - Trance Mixim (Melodia Records (2) - M.R. 1006) CD, Comp 1998 Uncategorized $ 59.77 $ 64.97 $ 162.41 1200 Mics / Melicia - Money For Nothing / Running Out Of Time (1200 Mic's Remix) (TIP.World - TIPW032) 12" 2003 Uncategorized $ 25.99 $ 45.95 $ 139.28 U-Recken - Aquatic Serenade (Dooflex - DFXCD04) CD, Album 2006 Uncategorized $ 8.97 $ 25.50 $ 128.74 Dimension 5 - Transdimensional (Intastella Records - INTA LP01) 3xLP, Album 1997 Uncategorized $ 38.69 $ 64.95 $ 120.00 Pleiadians - I.F.O. (Identified Flying Object) (Dragonfly Records - bflcd24) CD, Album 1997 Uncategorized $ 33.78 $ 70.16 $ 116.94 Doof - Let's Turn On (Twisted Records - TWSCD15) CD, Album, RE 2000 Uncategorized $ 25.00 $ 38.77 $ 108.25 I'm not sure if I still have the One Man Game album. I somewhat have in mind I sold it. It's also quite strange to see stuff like the U-Recken album and the Money for Nothing EP sell so high. If I go for the median here is another Top 10: Pleiadians - Alcyone (Dragonfly Records - BFLLP 24 PROMO) 12", S/Sided, Promo, Ltd 1997 Uncategorized $ 129.93 $ 154.76 $ 309.52 One Man Game - Total Trance (Purple Trance Records - RR 00188) CD, Album 1997 Uncategorized $ 50.67 $ 110.00 $ 220.00 Various - A Party Is For Life Not Just For Xmas (Completely Cabbaged - CABB CD02) CD, Comp 1997 Uncategorized $ 45.48 $ 90.95 $ 100.00 Ethereal - Anima Mundi (Tranceform Records - TFMCD002) CD, Album 2003 Uncategorized $ 15.00 $ 71.46 $ 100.00 Pleiadians - I.F.O. (Identified Flying Object) (Dragonfly Records - bflcd24) CD, Album 1997 Uncategorized $ 33.78 $ 70.16 $ 116.94 Various - Trance Mixim (Melodia Records (2) - M.R. 1006) CD, Comp 1998 Uncategorized $ 59.77 $ 64.97 $ 162.41 Dimension 5 - Transdimensional (Intastella Records - INTA LP01) 3xLP, Album 1997 Uncategorized $ 38.69 $ 64.95 $ 120.00 Deviant Electronics - Brainwashing Is Childs Play (Helix Records - HEXCD002) CD, Album 1997 Uncategorized $ 44.62 $ 64.70 $ 101.34 Cosmosis - Cosmology (Transient Records - TRANRCD604) CD, Album, Mixed 1996 Uncategorized $ 38.69 $ 56.32 $ 72.18 Jaïa - Blue Energy - Blue Synergy (Yellow Feather Records - YF2000) CD, Album, RE + CD, Comp 2000 Uncategorized $ 30.00 $ 55.85 $ 85.00

I rarely listen to old Goa these days. I still have all the records of course and I still love the music. It's just that I've heard most of my stuff more than enough back in the days so talking about it here seems to be a bit pointless.

I'm not into Dubstep at all but that Bird Of Prey stuff sounds awesome! Tripping material for sure...

I always listened to a lot of music of all styles. Around 2000 I started to go to parties where electronical music (mainly trance) was played and I also started to try drugs. One of my friends had a brother who was djing goa stuff and one day we went to a party where he was playing. I did enjoy it but the music was not blowing me off that much. It was just another sound to party to. We went to more goa parties and then I started to fall in love with the music. The tracks that first impressed me (the tracks I know the names of...) were IM - Dracul, stuff from Yahel's Wave Of Sound album and Psysex - Skywalker (Remix). Those were also among the first albums I bought. Shortly after that I discovered psynews, read lots of reviews and started to order albums like crazy. And here we are now...

I finally have time to listen to the Timedrained album. I'm not done yet but so far it really is kinda similar to the Nasser stuff. Rather calm but still with lots of stuff going on. Will have to see if tripping to it will be fun. Some more suggestions maybe?

Yeah, it took me a while I guess. But it's also nice to know there is still some awesome music to discover, no matter for how I am allready listening to psytrance.

Listening to the samples of Talpa's new album on Soundcloud. Amazing stuff¨!

The samples sound awesome, i just ordered it. That's what I like, melody but very trippy. And it's not exactly a surprise to find the Nachtvolk and the Loud album being mentinoned here. Got both lately and they are stunning. Especially Loud, best psy I've heard in ages. I had to order all his available albums right away...