Jon Cocco

I agree. I've thought of that too. I woud love to see a new IM album with tracks like Heavywright. I thought the song was very good but the first half was excellent. I also thought the self-titled Vicious Delicious track was good but Duvdev didn't have to put his finger prints all over the song by singing "OOOH-YYYEAHAA." It was so pretentious. Musically the song was solid. The lyrics often take me out of the awesome state the music puts me in unless the song has lyrics and a VOICE that compliments the song, like on Muse Breaks (RMX). Aside from that song, I admit the song "In front of me" isn't my style or the lyrics, but the singing works with the song. I can see that. IM is trying too much to appeal to everyone. Duvdev is making the group look silly. The group is losing core respect while gaining enormous recognition from fans that come like a trend. Then, after the first 4 tracks excluding Artillery, the VD album turns into a compilation of new idea singing songs for a third before returning to Psy. This messes up the flow and gives the album a serious identity crisis. Then IM puts three more or less kickass tracks in the end as if to say to us... "Yeah, we know it was anal rape sitting through the last couple tracks. Here you go, a good lasting impression. The rest will kickass!!!" And I sit back and think, why the hell don't they just release two separate albums??! One for tracks like Heavyweight and another for singing songs like Artillery which really sounds straight off a Linkin Park album, literally. Take "Change The Formality" now, which unlike the others, tries to incorporate both PSY and singing at one second-act time. This song has one of the best climaxe to driving take-offs IM has EVER done in my opinion, after the singing. The singing wasn't necessary in that track because it's [at heart] a pumped up Psy-Trance song. You can't compliment the sheer, electronic pump with various singing sections! The lyrics seem so out-of-place in "Change the Formality" because it's already put the listener in a blazing mental ride not related to dialogue. The climax saves the song in a sense. But the song comes off like a beautiful girl with a limp. IM should stick to singing throughout the song, or avoid singing or saving a verse to randomly add where it's NOT in support. With the final track "Before," they got it. They did something right. The non-vocal tracks at times makes me realize how amazing this album could have been if they were consistent to what they do best, which is Psytrance, including great, innovative Psy like Heavyweight. lol. That pretty much sums it up. No further words.

I posted so much on this topic back in the day. Just read what I wrote on "B.P. EMPIRE" (in the review section here) when I heard they were going to "sell-out" so to speak. I went nuts. People thought I was acting like an idiot but I loved IM's music so much and didn't want to see what I loved changed. Naturally the thought of IM changing was worse than what came to be. They still create an awesome track or tune every now and then. Their new main albums without singing will forever stay in glory with the first three. My favorite album by them is, no surprise, CLASSICAL MUSHROOM, which I called a "musical masterpiece" in my review. After 10 years relative to around 1998, Infected Mushroom decided to attempt to appeal past the Psy and Goa-Trance realm, and why blame them? Only those into Psytrane and Goa had mostly heard of them until now. They're still widely unrecongized to many people in the United States. Their more "mainstream" album(s) aren't even in our retail stores to my knowledge. Anyway, after almost ten years of producing non-vocal-related Psy-Trance, they saw an opportunity to do something different, however related, and took it. Money. Fame. Whatever. Most of you would would change to for millions WITHOUT selling your soul. Notice how I said most, not all. You just don't realize it. I don't think IM sold their soul. They changed to something we generally like less (some ALOT less) because many of us knew their music when the mainstream was still wearing diapers so to speak; before the mainstream was aware they existed. We know how strong the roots are because we saw them grow, thinking it would only grow one stylish, psychedelic path, the tree went an entirely different direction. IM chooses to make what they make whether we like it or not. Sure I'd love another Psy-Trance masterpiece like the days of yesteryear but don't bet on it. And move on. You're beyond it. Focus on the positive, even if it means hearing their albums from the past again and again and again, etc. What I'd like to see from them (which is more realistic currently to ask for) is more singing tracks without that guys singing! For the love of whichever GOD you believe in... please....(!!!) The actual singing and vocals on Converting Vegitarians - The Other Side and the female vocals on Muse Breaks (RMX) on IM the Supervisor was really good. More of that please. If IM can introduce a wider range of elegant female vocals that compliment the music, I'm all for it. If they want to make more tracks (once in a while) like the opening on "CV - The Other Side" with the guys voice, go for it. Because we can have more fun when someone isn't taking themselves so seriously and sucking at it. I have accepted IM change. There's no point in arguing what isn't. And their evolution doesn't mean "better" per say. It's just a change during a progression forward. I'm greatful for albums like Classical Mushroom and B.P. Empire especially and will probably like them until the day I die.

Cool. I just decided to order it along with Goasia's debut. Both should be no less than good! Lumpi, be curios to hear what you thought of Xenomorph at that party last night.

Hmmm... I never really paid attention to this release until now. I don't care for his previous work and generally find it too noisy for my preference. The artist seems to have invested a large amount of time in the technical, mixing aspects and other various details of the production, of the album. I like details. But some of the sounds are a bit too in-my-face at times. The style here is very intense and chaotic, yet in organized patterns within evolving patterns. Just hearing the samples becomes tiresome and tedious after a while, as if the music is overly complicated. But that's also what makes it so enticing and interesting at times. It's like giving your mind a workout. Samples http://saikosounds.com/english/display_release.asp?id=6543

Looks like the 3rd Xenomorph album has finally come out. It's called "Demagoguery Of The Obscurants" and it's DARK as you'd expect from the artist who created on of the darkest albums in Goa-Trance. Samples: http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=6858 For those less familiar, Xenomorph is arguably to Psytrance what Marilyn Manson is to Industrial Goth/Rock Metal, minus the world-wide stardom of the latter. Those familiar with some of Tim Schult's music may relate. The album seems very story and theme driven too, with New World Order, the darkness and chaos that emits when a powerful and mysterious group of individuals attempt to control and run the world. Based on the samples this third album sounds a bit more Industrial-Metal than the others. It's heavy, gritty psytrance as before. I really like the MELODY WORK at times. But NOT the vocal work in track 2 and 4 with exception to the voice samples. My only gripe is that the male vocal work on tracks 2, 4, 5, is somwhat reminiscent to the angry, throaty, whisper singing a la "Velvit Acid Christ." While I love some of the songs by VAC musically and melody-wise, I find the singing EXTREMELY DISTRACTING from the cool melodic, Psy/Metal music. The track Secret Satanic Hierarchy sounds pretty emotive; different. Enslavement By Consumption, Harbingers Of Extinction and World War III has some strong/dark tone, melody-work, and groove, which I like. My only concern is the several tracks with singing. Edit Update: I ordered the album several days ago. We'll see how it is when I receive it in the next week.

Top 10 Psytrance albums - In NO particular order This is very difficult, lol. One Top 10 "Best Of" thread should be for Goa, another for Psy, in my opinion. There are just too many great releases in both to just say PSY. It's better, more specific and fun, and less stressful to split them up. My Top 10 Goa-Trance main albums It isn't perfect but comes close in my mind to a superb Top 10 list. 1. Pleiadians - I.F.O. 2. Hallucinogen - Twisted 3. Astral Projection - Trust in Trance 4. Astral Projection - Dancing Galaxy 5. Blue Planet Corporation - Blue Planet 6. Dimension 5 - Transdimensional (Re-Mastered) 7. Hallucinogen - The Lone Deranger 8. Chi A.D. - Earth Crossing 9. Cosmosis - Cosmology 10. Astral Projection - Another World ........... 11. Jaia - Blue Energy 12. Tandu - Multimoods 13. Etnica - Alien Protein 14. Transwave - Helium 15. Miranda - Phenomena 16, Transwave - Phototropic 17. Green Nuns - Rock Bitch Mafia 18. MFG - New Kind of World 19. X-Dream - We Created Our Own Happiness 20. Etnica - The Juggling Alchemists... ............ 21. Doof - Let's Turn On 22. Ra- To Sirius 23. MFG - Project Genesis 24. BotfB - Twin Sharkfins 25. Xenomorph - Cassandra's Nightmare 26. California Sunshine - Nasha 27. MFG - The Prophecy 28. Transwave - Hypnorhythm 29. M.W.N.N. - Earth Moving the Sun 30. Mystica - Age of Innocence ............ 31. Total Eclipse - Violent Relaxation 32. Asia 2001 - Ama Zone 33. Space Cat - Beam Me Up 34. Mind Warped - Fluorolizard 35. Cydonia - In Fear of a Red Planet 36. Darshan - Awakaning 37. Chi-A.D. - Anno Domini 38. Chi-A.D. - Virtual Spirit 39. Talamasca - Beyond the Mask 40. Electric Universe - One Love ............ 40. Electric Universe - Cosmic Experience 41. Electric Universe - Unify 42. Electric Universe - Blue Planet 43. Shakta - Silicon Trip 44. Shakta - The Enlightened Ape 45. Digital Sun - Re-Collection Top 10 New-School Goa-Trance albums 1. Filteria - Sky Input 2. Khetzal- Corelle 3. Filteria- Heliopolis 4. Goasia - From Outer Space 5. Ethereal - Anima Mundi 6. V/A - Apsara 7. V/A - Peace Therapy Vol. 2 8. V/A - Twist Dreams 9. Ypsilon5- Binary Sky Top 10 Psytrance albums 1. Infected Mushroom - Classical Mushroom 2. Infected Mushroom - The Gathering 3. X-Dream - Radio 4. Juno Reactor - Shango 5. Juno Reactor - Beyond the Infinite 6. Juno Reactor - Bible of Dreams 7. Cosmosis - Synergy 8. Infected Mushroom - B.P. Empire 9. Space Cat - Power Up 10. Double Dragon - Continuum ........... 11. Talpa - The Art of Being Non 12. Juno Reactor - Labyrinth 13. Fractal Glider - Parasite 14. Dark Soho - Sun Spot 15. Dark Soho - Combustion 16. The Delta - Scizoeffective 17. Lemaurians - Secret Message 18. 1200 Micrograms - The Time Machine 19. Miranda - Asynja 20. Miranda - Northern Lights ...........

UPDATE edit: Mantrix's follow-up to 2006's popular Psytrance Universal album just came out. Track list : 1. Undercurrent 2. Solid State Logic 3. End Of Time 4. Come Get Some 5. Interconnector 6. Infinity 7. Turn On Your Brain 8. Shine Samples: http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=6994

I think I know why Aneobis likes this track so much. It's magical sounding. More so for its time and for those who heard it back then and listen to it today, only to have those old feelings and memories triggered again. Magical someoneo said. I think there's something very uplifting and emotive about the melody work. You'd never know it based on the first several minutes. The song is so old and rare, ethnic, melodic. It's an old-school Goa-Trance song which initially sounds more Trance than Goa until a certain sound takes place, followed by the evolution of where the song goes. I really like the second half of this song, especially the end. I like how it builds and the melody work. The song is so simple unlike what we'd later came to expect from Goa-Trance. I think this thing was made around 1994 or 1995, and released around 1996. So sure, songs like this one would be eventually blown away from all the stylish, intricate production/creative/technical work that would soon arrive.It's quite lengthy too, at just over 10.00. I even had to delete some porn to make room for it. *Oops!* I didn't say that. Yes. And I really like what begins at 5:50 and how it pushes into drive at 6:03. Ahhh so simple yet the sound they use and how the artists altered the melody here is pretty awesome. Even by todays standards. It's catchy!!

Did you have fun doing that? It looks like you had fun doing that.

Updated: July, 2008 All of them. KA SOL was the only one I thought was pretty good, not great as a whole. And the comps have been great and/or excellent. But I feel V/A - Twist Dreams is unquestionably the weakest to date, although it bests 99% compilations releasing today. V/A - Opus Iridium was a boost back up to greatness and excellence. 1. FILTERIA - SKY INPUT - A- 2. V/A - APSARA - B+ 3. KHETZAL - COROLLE - A- 4. FILTERIA - HELIOPOLIS - B+ 5. KA - SOL - FAIRYTALES - B 6. VA - TWIST DREAMS - B+ 7. DIMENSION 5 - TRANSDIMENSIONAL - A 8. GOASIA - WAVES FROM OUTER SPACE - B+ 9. V/A - OPUS IRIDIUM - A- 10. RA - 9th - A- I've never experienced a record label with so many consistently strong releases as Suntrip Records to date. It's pretty amazing actually. And I expect them to maintain excellence because they continue to invest energy into developing their awareness and the artists they attract and sign.

The authentic, unreleased "Crop Circles - Tetrahedron" album is an amazing piece of work. In a sense this IS the closest thing you will ever get to a real sequel to I.F.O... Not Family of Light. the style is closer to I.F.O. in Tetrahedron than F.O.L. with few exception. There are moments, parts, and tracks where Crop Circles seems to top or at least be on par with the elaborate mixing complexity and stunningly intricate melody designs of I.F.O. I read that this album would have released in 1998 if the label didn't go bankrupt (Wikipedia). Has anyone ever considered posting a real review to the authentic masterpiece in the review section?

Another YB..? another Shpongle..? Do you realize how boring this is getting? Shpongle and YB are great but can we hear something NEW please?? The first and second Hallucinogen album was both innovative, different, and track sequel or two aside, they were something new! This is why I think many people would love a third Hallucinogen album, because of their memories from the first two, regardless that the third would be completely different as well, if it ever got made. While not as groundbreaking as the first obviously, Shpongle 2 accomplished this new approach too. While the third seemed to score more mixed reviews than before because it wasn't as novel in ideas. I thought Shpongle 3 was great overall (new tracks in the Shpongle sound I'll always give a listen to) but each album feels less special to me. I want something new. This is a good thread because so many people across the world share the same wonder with this artist. But the idea of another YB album just after this one released one month ago??? I find uninteresting. It's too soon. Shpongle is more interesting obviously, but something new would be more interesting with exception to Hallucinogen 3, if he kept his amazing intricate essence and style as he did when he crossed over from Twisted to The Lone Deranger. It was an amazing crossover and one of the most mature and ground breaking examples of evolution (although I wouldn't say the sequel entirely triumphed the debut per say) in Goa and Psy.

Samples: http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=6978 http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/inr/inr1cd026.html Psyshop says this is ambient. It isn't. I'd categorize this as Trance but even that isn't entirely accurate. It's more trance than ambient. So far I like what I hear and will probably order this soon after my Goasia and Xenomorph 3 arrives.

After many years I have finally written a real review on this album. See the 1997 review section for details, track scores, and more.

I want to hear the album. When will it be available? It's almost Christmas already! Also, the Yoga track. I missed the free upload. Is that unreleased tracklist above available to download for free? I feel like I missed something. The last Lost Buddha track I heard and and have is "Lost in Paradise" from the unreleased "Pyramidal Trancendence" comp. That was a year ago. And what about the Pandemonium! album? What ever became of that album too? Surely one of these have released in the last year, no? What's the status of these albums?

PLEIADIANS - I.F.O. (Identified Flying Object) DRAGONFLY RECORDS 1997 Track list: 01. 11'18" Maia - A 02. 08'42" Taygeta - A- 03. 09'20" Merope - A- 04. 08'26" Alcyone - A 05. 09'14" Electra - A 06. 11'39" Asterope - A 07. 11'46" Celaeno - A- I.F.O. is labyrinthine. No Limits. Anything is possible. Everything is possible. The album communicates this in the form of sound. And it does so in an extremely provocative, classy, and intelligent way. This is arguably the most praised album in Goa Trance along with Hallucinogen's Twisted and Astral Projections TNT. I clearly find this more intelligent and classy. I.F.O. is dynamic, imaginative, psychedelic, sophisticated, emotive, fast paced, thrilling, and epic. The journey is gorgeous, insightful, tasty, deep, and potentially mind expanding. It's an album I can't seem to get enough of, though I listen to it maybe once or twice a year at most. One of the things I enjoy most with this album is the exploration element. Listen to I.F.O. and walk away, only to hear it weeks, months, or even years down the road. Over time the tracks and your overall perspective will likely change. Your favorite songs today may be different tomorrow or likely another day in the future. For better or worse, you may currently believe you're certain which tracks you prefer, though I.F.O. has proven me wrong numerous times. I think the reason is because each song has so much going on at once. Focusing on one of several melody leads with complimenting sounds can produce an entirely different mood and state as opposed to focusing on other "songs" or melody/sound combinations within the same song, so to speak. Ironically, these artists have correlated each identifiable wave of combinations in a way that, when opening the mind (not thinking, focusing on any specific sound) has the potential to create a perceptually transcending experience. I.F.O. can be perceived as a journey through the cosmos and beyond. It can be extremely visual I find, and it's often interesting to compare and contrast different view points because it's such an intriging piece of work. It's very intellectual and stimulating and one of the only album's I really wouldn't mind discussing for hours. Why? Even with a certain number of layers, the artist's clearly have appeared to, without saying to us directly, taken music intricacy, mixing to an unprecedented level. I initially found Maia great but not excellent because it was slower than the following five songs. I was impatient and therefore I compartmentalized Maia as "less than" do to its slower speed. When in actuality Maia is a superb song; one of the best songs I've ever heard in my life! Furthermore, I really did not like the final Goa, Downtempo-esque number Celaeno. I found it boring and disappinting each and every time I heard this album for eight years. Until the date of this review. Poor Celaeno. Virtually everyone seems to have put this one down over the years. I initially wished Pleiadians had ended the album with another super song. However that isn't the case for me anymore. While nothing superb in my opinion, I find Celaeno rich, absorbing, and effective; it compliments the album and closes it nicely. Turn it up, put on good headphones, and try not to focus on any specific sound or melody; you may become aware of what I mean. Same goes for the rest of the album. Just let the music do what it was created to do. This is a journey album after all. Let the music take you wherever it wants to. The crisp braiding waves of melodies not only appear to come by the half-a dozen to the dozen(s) at times. Many layers are so subtle, for support you can barely hear them in relation to the plethora of arresting, leading melodies that stand out as bright as the stars they, the Pleiadians represent. The general track here has so much going on in it, it's curious how many hundreds of hours it took the these four artists to complete certain songs. An observation is that if you keep your focus on the main melodies, you'll often miss a whole other dimension to the song. The tracks flow extremely well. They're heavily melodic, layered, deep, groovy, driving, and dynamic. The fast paced melodies are often elegant and sexy; they often harmonize with each other like water in a stream. Also, the various sounds and melodies selected are so wide in range; they're occasionally matched together to create some of the most infectious, psychedelic sounds, rhythms, and mixing I've ever heard in my life. Where as most albums seem not to uncover so much upon return trips, I.F.O. is one of those special albums. This release is so involved and packed with sounds that it's damn near possible to forget exactly how certain tracks sounded if you walk away for too long. You'll remember bits and pieces, sure (the main melody in Aserope is unforgettable to me), but so many details will escape your senses. Naturally if you hear anything every day, week, or month you may get tired of it or feel that it's lost its magic. The same can be said for anything if overdone. When I was a kid I used to get off the bus and run into the house every day after middle school just to watch Terminator 2. Eventually after the 30th time or so I hit an exhaustion peek and never wanted to see my favorite film (at the time) again. My little, stupid story that no one gives a shit about aside, this maximal style won't appeal to everyone, obviously, not even everyone into Goa-Trance. Regardless, I think this is a very special album for very special times. Each time I return to this album it sounds as wonderful as the day I first put it to my ears. This album is magical to me, even the tracks I generally favor less than others. It's a rare album in a rare genre. My mind was arrested throughout the first time I listened to this album, eyes shut, relaxed, with head phones and in a dark room. I felt like something shifted inside me both during the album and when it ended. I feel like in a sense I became more open-minded. This album has helped me motivate myself in numerous ways too. I used to listen to this while miraculously drawing the most detailed and elaborate works of graphic design I never knew I had inside my mind to create. Over time I seemed to become more conscious of the state I'd go into while listening to this album. The result was a more clear and concise [aware] state relative to how I view myself, those around me, and the world we live in. In conclusion, I.F.O. is a super detailed, evolutionary and intangible form, artistically showcasing an elaborate perception of the formless realm. It is filled with passion and spirit. I love the creativity in this album and find it a technical accomplishment, a centerpiece in Goa-Trance, and a classic. It's hard to imagine all of the energy put into this album not having an affect on the body, mind, and the consciousness in some way. Step outside of the ego and arguing opinions (me too earlier on in the thread) and be present with I.F.O. To me, this is in the top 1% pinnacle of Goa-Trance. I LOVE (no, not literally.. I find fascinating, intriguing, and infectious) the style and find the sound work audibly delicious. I think it's impressive how much of an impact these seven tracks have had on so many people throughout the world for over ten years. The amount of technical complexity, depth of sounds, melody/sound leads(!) and melody/sound work in general, directions, mixing, and flow is virtually unprecedented at times. After ten years, I.F.O. is my most favorite album in Goa/Psy Trance. Favorite Tracks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.7. MAIA, ALCYONE, ELEKTRA, and ASTEROPE are some of the most wonderful and arresting songs I have ever heard in my life. A

Wait. I've never heard this one! Now I really want to hear it. Aneobis has very good taste in music. Some of my all time most [TOP] favorite Goa tracks ever are: - Astral Projection - Kabalah - Astral Projection - Liquid Sun (beautiful sunrise song) - Chi-A.D. - Exit Eternity, Black Light, Liquid Neon Sky - Pleiadians - (All of I.F.O. especially Maia and Asterope, excluding Celeano), - Pleiadians - Vimana (This is an underrated masterpiece) - Pleiadians - (from the F.O.L. album) Headspin, Modulation, Meter - Technossomy - V.T.O.L. (Another underrated masterpiece)

Ummm... the proper Crop Circles tracks and more are on Limewire, for free. One would just have to try several times and be patient, that's all. They pop up time and again, the authentic tracks.

Thanks for the list Rezwalker. I know, I'm late in this thread but many have still not released yet. It's very cool to see someone post upcoming releases like this. Still waiting for that new Chi-A.D. album. Hope it's superb as Earth Crossing was. The summer is long gone. Still, delay in time is often a blessing in disguise with Dave from Chi-A.D. I'm most looking forward to, from those who haven't released yet. - TALPA - ASTRAL PROJECTION - TRANSWAVE - X-DREAM (REMIXES) ......... Let's hope this isn't a cheap excuse to cash in on the popular We Interface album. The rmx's better be excellent, juicy, and worth it. I hope MWNN is better than the last (Interstate Highway) which wan't bad, it just wan't anything impressive as a whole. Ethereal on the other hand I am very interested to hear asap.

Omg are you being sarcastic? I didn't know they had sarcasm in your country too. No I'm just being sarcastic. I'm actually from Platunego (procounced Pla-tune-Go) about 8 light years away. But we like to think we're from the Adromeda galaxy because of, you know, Pleiadians. Actually I had no idea the date on this. I haven't been here too often in the last several months. It was actually the "Younger Brother" and "Eat Static" albums that initiated my return after purchasing them, to write reviews. For that matter I thought Talpa and Transwave (new-school) were releasing their new albums this year too, but I've heard not dates on those yet either. Anyway back to topic, I heard the samples for the GOASIA debut album on saikosounds and I think it sounds great, at times awesome. It will be going out in my next order.

Yes this is an amazing song. The first time I heard it I attempted to drive 160 mph in my fathers car. I was so pissed off that it was electronically limeted to 130 mph. I wanted to go a thousand and lift to the stars. If anyone told me that I had to pick one favorite song in Goa-Trance, what would it be... I'd say this one. It is one of the few songs I've not only given the very rare A grade to, (which brackets 9.4-10) but this one gets the seldom given 10/10 from me. This album is the pinnacle of Goatrance, and this song is the pinnacle of the album, in my opinion. I'm glad to see you finally obtained this masterpiece. I initially wasn't too happy with the FOL album but tracks like Headspin, Modulation, Meter) I found (and find to this day) more or less brilliant. As time past I appreciated both albums far more because I realized we'd never get another album in this style by those who born it again. The follow-up does an excellent job of "Maximal Psytrance" during it's opening, but it fails to meet the wide array of sounds and elegance found in I.F.O., in my opinion. Then again some people find this album even better, as their style has changed but also evolved in some ways whether you call it an evolution or just a difference. I've written a big review on Family of Light here after all these years since my early one in 2001 or so. I will most likely go back and update I.F.O. sometime.

Omg Goasia released a main album??! Someone please start up a real review threat. This is something I've wondered about (if Goasia would indeed release a fresh, debut album) for years! CELEBRATION EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!! :posford: :drama: :clapping: Samples!!!!!!! http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=6900

Update: Add to list YOUNGER BROTHER - THE LAST DAYS OF GRAVITY EAT STATIC - DE-CLASSIFIED GOASIA - FROM OUTER SPACE XENOMORPH - DEMAGOGUERY OF THE OBSCURANTS

EAT STATIC - DE-CLASSIFIED 2007 SOLSTICE RECORDS 1. Invasion 2. Sucker Unit 3. Trantaloid 4. Deadly Amphibian 5. Sin-Quest 6. Tractor Beam 7. Pachama 8. Visitors 9. Brassneck 10. De-Classified After listening to this albuma handful of times I can honestly say this is a very solid album. What's so refreshing here is the level of various styles in the Electronica genre, and the quality of the overall package. These styles include Trance, Techno, Psytrance, Breakbeat, Dub, Drum 'N' Bass, Ambient, and Downtempo. The album is also fun to listen to, unexpected on more than occasion, and includes enough groove to a pretty lasting effect on most listeners I'd imagine. 1. Invasion is a great opening track. I love it. The U.F.O. sample sets the mood for the rest of the album. The beats, rhythm, and mixing work here is excellent. The sounds are infectious, driving, and emotive! I especially love the melodies and ambient throughout. This is a very well done song and I'm really happy with it. B+ 2. Sucker Unit isn't as satisfying as the opening but few it's pretty hard to compete with somethat that's pretty much flawless. It's selling point is its very psychedelic melodic sounds that create a great fusion of sounds. Some experimental work sounds cool but it seldom seems to return to its strong opening two minutes. B- 3. Trantaloid is my least favorite track on the album because of a specific melody that begins around 1:33. It's a little too goofy sounding for my taste to the point I actually find it irritating. Save I have a sense of humor. It's evident these artists love playing around. What's cool is that their unexpected, sometimes experimental parts often evolve into something better. I admire the first half but I enjoy the second. What's interesting is that it starts goes from sounding like an innocent child to a fairly dark adult, regarding the melody, tempo, and tone. Overall it's a pretty cool song, nothing great in my opinion. B- 4. Deadly Amphibian is very different from the others in that it's psychedelic and by far the most energetic song on the album so far. There is a very strong under-tone (bassline, rhythm) throughout most of the track too. I really like the altered, bubbly sounds added. It seems so simple but it's so catchy. Moreover, the sound changes up through somewhat dynamic transitions evoking new moods, sounds and beats, creating new textures, and patterns. It's very well composed and technically accomplished overall. B+ 5. Sin-Quest is the strongest song since the opening to me. It's the most energized and psychedelic song on the album too, more than the last I feel. I actually wish there were more super songs like this one here. Just when you thought you've heard everything this thing has to offer, it bursts, evolves, progresses, lifts up, and pushes forward with even more energy. If it's Full On, it's an example of what a great Full On Psytrance song is to me. I just love how this song buids up, the energy, the climax and melody work, and how it breaks out. This is a fierce storming psytrance song that is highly recommended for dancing to, clubs.B+ 6. Tractor Beam is the "Drum 'N' Bass" number on the album. It would sound repetitive and generic if not for all the good sounds, melodies, and other various components Eat Static decides to develop into it. After the previous two psytrance pieces, this one makes a really nice excursion. It's different and refreshing, and it's grown on me quite well after time. B 7. Pachama is the slowest track here so far. It seems like a cross between downtempo, trip-hop(?), techno, and experimental. I mean anytime there's a dog barking as a melody, well there's something you don't hear any day. The female touches are catchy. What I like is that this group doesn't play out the surprise moments or sounds because the track is often good enough; the details are there to simply compliment. The track isn't all that eventful but a comfortable one to chill to with some unique and memorable moments and melodies especially. B- 08. Visitors is a return to more energetized psy and trance with what seems to be addictive drum combos and God knows what else. These guys create some very catchy rhythms thanks to attention to good sounds, melodies, and mixing. This song can be very spontaneous, unpredictable at times. It's just fun to not focus on the music too much. Just open your mind and focus on driving, dancing or whatever. When the sound changes and breaks out or evolves into something more catchy it's all the more pleasurable. B+ 09. Brassneck is less psy, more melody driven psy, breaks, and more. The initial beat becomes repetitive as it progresses and at first I wasn't impressed with the melodies. The change up is good though, especially the melodic notes that follow. It's almost like this group toys with the listener sometimes, before saying, "Hey, we know that wasn't impressive. Now check this out." B 10. De-Classified is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard all year next to the last song on Younger Brothers follow-up. I think this track would have been superb if the incoherent, gargled (computerized) voices were removed from the first third. I don't like how distracted from the romantic, mood setting music I become when they arrive. Suddanly I'm listening extra carefully because I cannot make out what is being said. The concept of vocal work could have been excellent here if the artists incorporated a real, live, female with a beautiful voice, who sang some well written [coherent] dialgoue. Otherwise the barely audible dialogue seems like Eat Static attempting to be artisty and more unqiue in the lasting impression then they had to be. Big gripe aside, I find this one of the best, most creative, emotive, catchy, and unique chill, downtempo song of 2007. It really has a flavorful sound completely different from anything I've ever heard. B+ In Conclusion, this album seemed to come out of nowhere and grab my attention. Not only can these artists pull off quality techno and trance, dub and breaks, they also create some very well done psytrance, tech-trance, and downtempo-esque numbers as well. Due to the variety in electronica styles however, some may be put off by certain tracks. Several songs are not nearly as catchy as some others, to be fair. Also, I initially didn't think the album was psychedelic enough, but this isn't a psytrance album after all. It actually gets pretty psychedelic at times. Furthermore, it's funky, and it's fun! Overall this long awaited follow-up won't shatter your senses. It's no masterpiece in my opinion, but what they did here they did very well. This is one of the best Electronica albums I've bought so far all year. Favorite tracks - 1, 4, 5, 8, 10. B Samples: http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=6701

It's a well done album. My favorite tracks are 1, 4, 7, and 8, though every track has something interesting, catchy to offer IMO. I enjoy listening to the album straight through. Mantrix seems to do really well with edgy, nighttime, crystal-clear, driving trance such as the opening track Levels. They also make good tribal-influenced electronica. I'd love to hear more. Furthermore, emotive work as what's in the second half of Alpha Beater is catchy!