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Jon Cocco

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Everything posted by Jon Cocco

  1. MAN WITH NO NAME - MOMENT OF TRUTH 1996 Short Review 01. Moment Of Truth - C+ 02. Floor Essence (Dayglo Mix) - A- 03. Subterfuge - C- 04. Evolution - C 05. Azymuth - A- 06. Low Commotion - C+ 07. Skydiving - C 08. Dawn Chorus C 09. Cairo - B- 10. Sugar Rush (Refined Mix) - B+ 11. Cosmic Echoes - B- I hate fillers. This album is loaded with fillers... songs that verge on average and below. They pale in comparison to few superb tracks existent on this very same album. Why couldn't he have made the entire album up to that level? This album established some awesome songs in goatrance which would later be classic according to hundreds (now thousands) of people throughout the world. While it doesn't really sound goa to me, FLOOR ESSENCE is a superb [CATCHY] trance dance song. AZYMUTH is excellent for Ambient Goa-Trance. SUGAR RUSH is good or great, probably the latter. And at least one or two others are (if even slightly) above average. All others are average at best. A good amount of songs lack zest and good development (past the initially introduced melodies) as the song progresses. They could have been so much more. It's interesting when the melodies in LOW COMMOTION make the song more catchy, however by the 4th or 5th minute, when barely anything has changed or developed prior to that, the song gets tired fast. And that's my problem with much of this album. Many songs seem to lack something. They're repetitive, weak, and just not catchy enough. The weaker songs make the few songs that stand that much better I suppose, but it would have been cool if there were more great songs. Also, several songs are so excellent they make me excited with joy like a little kid on his birthday. Others sound more clubby, as if the artist was trying to appeal to two different sides. This artist is best when making Goa-Trance and Ambient Goa-Trance with one exception to trance being Floor Essence (Dayglo Mix). There is no doubt in my mind. Final Words: This album is so old now that it seems more special in retrospect. But I retain the same score then that I give it now because its weakness' and strengths I find just as relevant as before, when one compares each and every track to the others throughout the album. It isn't a perfect bag people. Far from. HIGHLIGHTS: FLOOR ESSENCE, AZYMUTH, SUGAR RUSH. SCORE: 7.9/10 = C+ Sure the album appears more special now, but that doesn't mean I'm going to take it to bed.
  2. Yea, it's just too bad 2006 isn't nearly as epic and interesting as 2005. The selection of quality releases in 2005 have been few and far between, with nothing really (as a whole) superb, amazing, or groundbreaking by a new (or old) main artist. This is my opinion. I expect 2007 to be better, much better. We're off to a pretty good start so far with - Prometheus 2nd album - TRANSWAVE (OLD-SKOOL) - V/A - TWIST DREAMS COMP - NEW TRANSWAVE - TALPA ... (hopefully releasing this year) - FILTERIA and KOB - YOUNGER BROTHER (??!!!) - and lots more!
  3. LOL. Filipe. Anything is possible but please realize I rarely give A grades. Even several songs from Pleiadians I.F.O. and Hallucinogen albums (which are on my top 5 goatrance albums ever to date) had tracks that did not get an A from me. As a whole however I found the albums A's. I'm very critical because I compare everything to everything else.. so when I give a B+ for example, it's not that common either unless the song is THAT good. Btw.. I like your desire to push yourself and become better. And please don't lose that focus regardless of what grades I give your stuff. Nothing is perfect, not even the perfect stuff so to speak. I look forward to the new stuff.. hope it's really something! Dude, you can't let that stuff affect you. Record labels often find certain artist(s) more desireable for whatever reason throughout a certain time period. You're not the only artist who's felt unhappy with a record label or someone associated to it. The whole thing between you and Suntrip is none of my business but I know it's not good to focus on what you didn't get when you wanted it. This happens to so many artists. There's often times good reasons. I've learned with record labels that alot of stuff happens that is business and "personal difference" related reasons for business. It's often not intended to hurt the artist(s) or individuals even if the artist is disappointed over something. You sealed a sweet spot on a wonderful goatrance comp. Aspara has been enjoyed by goa and psytrancers all over the world. You got your name out! Focus on the positive and try to make peace always because you never know when your time will come. You have alot of talent and it's good to get it out there, regardless of how or who signs you and/or distributes it.
  4. Yes thats it!! I'm certain. And thanks. I really like that song. Maybe one day we can get a release with improved production. How 'bout it Filipe?
  5. I definitely enjoy Southern Oracle. There's just so much more stuff going on... it builds and develops as it progresses. I find the sounds and melodies very catchy and positive sounding, they way they blend together. The direction and flow is good. It doesn't reveal its full self during the first several minutes.. there's more change. It's interesting and better paced. This is one of my favorite songs by Lost Buddha to date. B Ataraxia is cool but it seems more repetitive to me. The ambience part from 1:49 to 2:15 is interesting... but past that (and with exception to something at the end) the song doesn't hold my attention that much. It doesn't seem to build, deepen, surprise, or really develop and become more mentally stimulating the further it travels. I honestly lose patiance with it until a cool voice enters the music and the bassline or something seems to change notes, playing along with the vocal echoes. That part is very catchy. I simply wish the overall song was more fulfilling and captivating around those two parts placed so far apart. This song could some magic right in the middle to bring it up to the next level or something. C+ Filipe, you made a prototype (?) goatrance track once called something "Garden" I believe back in 2005 or 06. It was peaceful, lush melodies...but then Suntrip released Apsara and many people seemed to have stopped talking about previous song' feedback. Can you inform me of the status of this song? Is it possible to be uploaded or available to hear or download in the near future? Is it complete or do you have interest perfecting it? I remember liking it. LOST BUDDHA SONGS: LOST IN PARADISE - B+ ATARAXIA - C+ SOUTHERN ORACLE - B METAMORPHOSIS - B / B+ Filipe, you're been staying true to making real new old/new-skool goatrance while retaining the old-skool spirit of goatrance. I really like that.
  6. Hi Synogen, guys, I'm glad you enjoyed reading what I wrote and I enjoyed reading your post as well. I'm looking forward to the Suntrip Twist Dreams comp. Keep up the great work!
  7. Yeah part of me felt mixed the more I sampled it relative to the albums I bought. Technologic is currently available on Saikosounds and psyshop, (I wish they'd make other stuff too) and I kept going back every couple of weeks to hear it again. Eventually I focused on enjoying the ones I felt sure about. On the other hand, the reviews for it here in the 2000 section are impressive (to say the least) and they just don't make stuff like this anymore. Several songs (especially 8) just sound so damn cool... It's strange... people on this site were calling it Full On back then.. (?) There's so much great stuff out there but it's hard (especially in dark goatrance) to continue searching for stuff when there seems to be virtually nothing left. Every abyss has a bottem though, you eventually hit it.. or you don't and go insane. For those interested in buying Menis - Temporal Insanity for under 5 pounds, see this link.. It's a very cool, dark goa/psytrance album but please don't expect groundbreaking or anything spectacular if you buy it on my recommendation. For a good price it's worth it if you generally like dark goa/psy IMHO. www.amazon.co.uk/Temporary-Insanity-Menis/dp/B00002MYLJ/sr=1-1/qid=1168960731/ref=sr_1_1/026-9196274-1896432?ie=UTF8&s=music Sideeffect, thanks for telling about this one.. Can't find it anywhere to sample tho.. i.e: psyshop, saiko.
  8. Yes, a third Filteria album. Definitely. FILTERIA STUFF Back To Earth sounds interesting. It sounds good. I heard a minute or two. Hopefully it develops and becomes deeper or more interesting as it progresses. Filtertraces (Under Progress) ... Potential. I like the intro and how layers keep getting added every several seconds. Filteria - Chaotic-Om ... Since when was Filteria dark? I like this, especially when the clear drum kicks along with everything else. The melodies don't sound that dynamic however...it's that older Filteria style where the range of sounds seem more limited and contained or something. Some other (other sounds completely) goatrance melodies could really develop this into a far more delicious, juicy fruit. If I were to score it, I'd give it a B- for 2004 I keep in mind. I've heard better on the Sky Input album but this is still a cool song. Those drums are good and I like when the melody approach and direction changes during the last third. All I could think of however was a rumbling, thunder like sound growing louder which would effect the music and create a storming climax burst at the last 30-45 seconds of the song. An idea probably not worth pursuing. (Full-length) Screaming Butterfly (Filteria Remix) ... Mmmm... I like this. Thanks for releasing it! KOB STUFF Mental Population - I don't know about this one yet. The distorted, weird sound effect seems to be more annoying than enjoyable to me but it's cool to see risks being taken regardless. It may turn out good in the end. K.o.B - Pitch & Chips ... Decent to me. I like it more when goatrance carries us places as opposed to the sounds being squiggly all over the place. More atmosphere and/or emotion is great, but I can't get tranced if I'm too distracted by some sound being overly minipulated. It gets distracting IMO but everything else sounds good. K.O.B - These Talking Walls ... I most like this one so far. The children and voices add character and make it more fun and catchy sounding. At first the children voice sample made it seem darker. Oh this has potential... And it's darker!! You can make a real freaky, dark monster, I said it in the past. Dark is cool... That's one of the reasons during the time Lord of the Rings beat out Harry Potter during the time they were both releasing. It was more mature and even the younger kinds now teenagers and young adults wanted to see the more mature stuff. This can become silly or less effective or it can grow and become fantasy PANS LABYRINTH. Interesting. Dark. Mentally stimulating. Provocative. K.O.B - Those Talking Machines ... I like it. Wow.. Most of these KOB songs sound like a totally different artist actually. I really like the music after the sample especially. This is good. Darker sounding too. Just don't let it get repetitive!! Captivate your audiance like no other and you'll push yourself to go further out there.. How about a track that has key changes (as some of your best work on Heliopolis, Rotate to Vibrate for example) and a kingdom world of melodies (As on Sky Input... but not a whole lot of climaxes... A song that literally has more details and layers, sounds, bits, particles, atmosphere than any song ever made?? And/or something so evolved, innovative, intricate, other-worldly stunning and detailed that we are in awe... It can even be a slower goatrance downtempo-esque song if that's the choice, where we can hear and savor every detail, and I mean hundreds of details literally... (if your mixing program has enough waves for that or whatever tool you use to process layers or sounds. In short, A masterpiece... I'm putting it out there to the Universe. Will the KOB songs make up an entirely different FILTERIA album?? Or are they part of the future Filteria album(s) or called KOB as the next artist name by Jannis??
  9. UPDATE MAY, 2008. Soon after you're replies way back, I ended up ordering a handful after listening to a plethora of samples based on your recommendations. Keep in mind I own the albums on the list on page 1 (top) so of the one's I wasn't familiar with before that I most liked.. I BOUGHT Electrypnose - Le Tireur ... Pretty good dark psytrance album with melodies!, His 2006 downtempo one is better tho IMO) Dark Nebula - Robotic Tongue - Great, strong, dark psytrance album with good/great songs and one really, REALLY superb one. MENIS - Temporal Insanity ... Very good, groovy and dark goa/psytrance with melodies. Update: I now posted a review on this. Encephalopaticys - Psychotermic Meditation ... (Very trippy, acidy and psychedelic, almost too acid at times but the atmosphere really brings you in) Semsis - Letting Go ... Some pretty good tracks, angry, aggressive. The last several tracks are great. Overall it's charged style gets tiresome after a while and is best in small doses. Toi Doi - TECHNOLOGIC - Some great/excellent tracks and work in dark/acid Goa/Psy trance. The overall style is very repetitive on several songs more than others however. The industrial/metal sound is really unique, fresh, and compliments the dark Goatrance at times. Update: I posted a review on this in the respectful section. Considering... V/A - THE NORDLAND ORCHESTRA ... (An underrated comp/gem maybe? I won't know until I've heard the whole thing) MENOG - NATURAL BEHAVIOR ... Sounds good, interesting. I suppose all the top best, greatest dark goa/psy trance albums with melodies have been mentioned throughout this thread. If any other info is available feel free to add something!
  10. I added: Electrypnose - Le Tireur Encephalopaticys - Psychotermic Meditation Dark Nebula - Robotic Tongue Menis - Temporal Insanity ... to the collection, and more.
  11. ASTRIX - ARTCORE 2004 REVIEW 1. Poison - B 2. Monster (remix) ... C 3. Tweaky ... C+ 4. Techno Widows ... B 5. Artcore ... C+ 6. On Fire ... C 7. Underbeat ... C 8. Sex Style ... C+ 9. Beyond The Senses ... B I like how each track in Time_Trap's review is short and descriptive, to the point. PROS: There are several pretty good Full On songs here. Poison starts things off well and is probably the most psychedelic song on the album. Throughout the album it's hit-and-miss. Many misses take place in my opinion, tracks that make you go, "yes, that's actually decent or pretty good." For example, Techno Windows a pretty cool Full On psytrance song. It will sound best in the club or to dance to. And Beyond The Senses is very good, one of the best songs by Astrix to date IMO. Just raise the volume and listen to it. I wasn't expecting Astrix to create such a cool psy downtempo-esque tribal piece that's danceable. CONS: There's more bad than good on the album (track-wise) but I'm going to keep this short. TOO MANY tracks are lackluster and weak. They're forgettable and very average which basically makes them crap. I understand why many people were like, this sucks!, to the overall album. In conclusion, I clearly understand why many people were disappointed with this release. For example, the first one was so much better (although I enjoy the closing song here over the debut) that it seems only right to expect Astrix to release something good two years later. However just because much of the album basically sucks doesn't mean each track sucks too. Sure I agree there's no point locating average stuff. There are several pretty good songs here. And virtually anyone can find ways to get the songs if an album isn't worth buying. I did not buy this album but I've heard it along with the first which I just wrote a review for in the 2002 area. If Astrix makes an awesome or a truly great Full On album (and please cheesy male singing OUT OF IT!!!) I'll buy it... but this is NOT that album. It would be nice if he'd spend the time and energy creating a real super album with all great songs and several amazing ones.. but that's easier said than done. BEST SONGS: 1, 4, 9. SCORE: 7.5/10 = C ... (my scale starts at 5 to compensate for the grades A - F)
  12. ASTRIX - EYE TO EYE 2002 REVIEW 01. Life System ... C 02. Crystal Sequenz ... C+ 03. Wider (Rmx) ... B- 04. Massive Activity ... B 05. Eye To Eye ... B 06. Side Effect ... C+ 07. Scientific Reality ... B- 08. FeeL.S.D ... B 09. Valirus ... C+ 10. Freestyle Cafe ... B- I've been enjoying Astrix alot more lately, ever since the DJ played upbeat "Closer to heaven" at a recent party. The singing in that song was cheesy and hurt an otherwise uplifting, good trance dance song. I heard their 2004 album Artcore first before going back to their debut, Eye To Eye. Eye To Eye is the best Astrix album to date. It's groovy and has some very uplifting melodies. It's nothing deep however and most effective for listening to while being active, dancing, exercise, etc. As said above, it seems Astrix was inspired by other great artists to fuse together certain styles and do some very catchy and new thoughts and ideas with it. This album never feels like a rip off or copy of the others though which I like. The problem is no song on this album sounds like a real killer or super song to me. Sure, several really stand out over others but the best ones aren't exactly awesome. That can be argued of course and this album didn't come out yesterday either. It seems Astrix changed for the worse (popish at times and too mainstream and unoriginal sounding) to compensate for inspirations that seemed to be changing or already at that side too. Whatever. But they were always generally more mainstream (club oriented) sounding to begin with. In conclusion, Eye To Eye has more good songs on it than the follow-up released in 2004. This is the best Astrix album to date. It's good, not great or spectacular IMO but definitely a quality Full On psytrance album. And I like those melodies in the middle of track 4 very much! The last song is slower, downtempo psy/chill which makes a nice finishing touch too. HIGHLIGHTS: MASSIVE ACTIVITY, EYE TO EYE, FEEL.S.D. SCORE: 8/10 = B- Samples: http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=3017
  13. HIGHLIGHTS: POSSESSED, VAVOOM, OWN THE WORLD, THE BREECH.
  14. Why did they cut Bombay Night short?? Is there not enough space on the cd or something??
  15. Too bad this didn't get more attention here. There are some very well done downtempo songs on it and I've been enjoying Electrypnose' work very much throughout 2006. I often overlook comps because there are so many of them. Most of them suck. I generally learn about the best ones on here at the end of the year, on the "BEST OF THE YEAR" thread. Some people may be put off by the more progressive, slow/chill ambient while some will find some stuff interesting here. Several I like.. several bore me but maybe I'm in the wrong state or something. I can't review it coz I've only heard the saiko sounds samples. I like Electrypnose's Juste Pour Toi, track 3. He's doing well lately with that fantasy/chill downtempo stuff. He's gotta watch those chimes however not to put them into too many songs or it will start to become redundant and less special and shiney to the ears and mind. It sure works tho.. for now. I'm not buying the comp for this song but I like it very much. Samples... http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=6018
  16. No joke, for several reasons. First, this "Best Of" album has several songs never released (to my knowledge) by Transwave from the time around their peek. And I think many fans and listeners are happy just to see something so nostalgic return (with several new old-skool goatrance songs). It's a nice way to start off the year and sure, a good way for them to make a some $$$. But if this comp had songs I all heard and have... there would be NO point for me buying it IMO. I could especially see two types of groups interested: 1.) The hardcore Transwave fans (just to have in their collect), and 2.) All the new people of the next generation who are learning more about Transwave through their 2007 return, comeback and officially new main album releasing later this year I read. Since many listeners into Transwave's earlier goatrance from the years of '96-98... the question really is.. Is this worth buying for its 4-7 I think unreleased [and/or never available on main or albums most of even heard of to date] old-school goatrance songs?? I looked at the tracklists on my Transwave albums and many of these songs are NOT from their main albums. I have not heard most of these! The first 2-3 are taken from their rare, 1995 debut I believe, but that's the one album I don't own by them. Take into account that many songs on that list were likely considered great goatrance songs back in the day, (and still are in many ways) so just seeing the tracklist with such classic, old-school tunes and vibes from them is enough to excite. It's been 10 years afterall. I'm glad they didn't re-release 100% already released songs on it and I hope the unreleased and rare ones are worth it. TRANSWAVE - BACKFIRE TRACKLIST: - Red = never publically released songs entiretly. - Black = releases on comps and/or singles way back when... most ppl never heard of these. 1. Adoration To The Aum ... (from their 1st main album) 2. Hypersphere ... (1st main album) 3. Anahata 4. Arsonik 5. Cycles Of Life 6. Code S9 7. Flamicogyre 8. Bombay Night 9. Ulysse Voyage 2 See more on Transwave here: http://www.answers.com/topic/transwave
  17. Take a Suntrip - Song Review Includes Chapters: A.) Thoughts B.) Advice C.) Remember D.) Lastly By Jon Cocco PROS:: Take a Suntrip starts off well, gradually adding sounds and melodies as the song progresses during the initial third. The drum roll gives it a positive, light jump-kick at around 1:40. There are often nice goa melodies/layers and they correlate with each other well. At 2:36 several sounds are removed but the kick at around 3:17 sounds cool. The drum rolls add some kick when they take place. It's a tiny energy magnet that's used postively. The song seems to change or develop notes and pattern at around 5:00. The subtle alterations and tweaking of the melodies enhance the song. The song flows and is well mixed from beginning to end. The track is highly simplistic in execution and yet somehow manages to get away with being generally catchy, at least to me and a good amount of others it seems. If this is the second song by Aerosis to date they may do very well in the near future. CONS: It's redundant. Lacks innovation and depth. Predictable. We basically hear everything it will achieve by the first third or so. Honestly, the song doesn't seem to develop much. It's successful catch (formula) and structure is its own flaw in achieving anything more than a generally cool sounding goatrance song. What's wrong with sounding generally cool? Almost every goatrance song sounds cool, that's the problem. It's nothing new. The goal is to stand out, sound different, capture and trance! Reading in-between the layers is difficult because there isn't much to read. Also, the song doesn't captivate or take me away to another place (without drugs). My mind doesn't get lost or fade away into that dream/fantasy state as some of the more ambitious, complex, imaginative, and deeper goatrance out there. In short, I'm not affected on a sub conscious level and I'm conscious the entire time throughout the song. The song is like licking a fairly tasty toad you licked before without the after effects. IN CONCLUSION, I like the song. It's elegant and streaming but repetitive and lacking in depth and imagination to me. I really tried to be critical, fair, and balanced. My tilt is toward the positive although I've heard stuff very similar to this before. SCORE: C+ THOUGHTS: My advice is probably that which you already know. For the record... - Release quality, not quantity. - Go with your gut instinct, and your heart. - Find new sounds, melodies, effects, details, and ways of mixing sounds. Create some of your own! - Listen to some of the TOP BEST goatrance artists ever and create your own original masterpieces. - Take chances. (I can't stress this enough) The guys succeeded going out with the most women also got rejected the most. - Decide what your goal is before beginning the song. Maintain your focus throughout. If your goal is to trance the listener into orbit, it obviously takes time and work... you NEED feedback. - Build a world of sounds, and this has and can again be achieved without going insane like several old Pleiadians, Hallucinogen, Astral Projection (and several more artists) songs. It's not how many layers... it's what you do with them that matters, how they're utilized and in formation as one. - Develop your song as it progresses. Don't give away all your mystery (or so much of it) in the initial third. I should think your song is great during that first third so when the second third (more or less) begins I'm like "Wow, this is excellent." Likewise, don't drop a song in the middle if you can develop excellence into truly stunning or that much better. Go further into the world you create as it's being created. - To impress us you need to impress yourselves at least 10 times as much. We're critical, like you, but the creator is his/her worst critic. I'll be honest with my knowledge and 10 yrs of listening behind me in goatrance and so will many others. Get FEEDBACK from guys who are aware. Suntrip seems to have some very aware guys since I see your track on the Twist Dreams comp. - REMEMBER: When you get awesome, inspirational ideas or intuitions about whatever from dreams... don't sit thinking or talking (don't TALK because that often activates the conscious mind!!) about it for too long. Get them out right away before you become more aware of your conscious state. At the point of waking from out of an inspired-with-potential-information dream, the sub-sonscious residue (memory) will linger depending on the (or lack of) distractions going on and the dreamers ability to remain calm and collected, the ability to maintain focus without thinking, i.e: thinking consciously = don't think at all relative to how you perceive "think" basically - is paramount, essential. Just get the ideas out before they fade!! Writing them down won't last long but it's better than nothing if you have no cpu and/or mixing soft or hardware at the time to record that data in your head. - LASTLY: My knowledge is my mind and my awareness is my spirit. Take this knowledge and use it to your advantage to make amazing, fucking AMAZING goatrance. You have the power to do anything your souls desire.
  18. I agree. Naturally, there is some Full On with psychedelic influence, feel, and elements and the other way around. You can listen to Full On on your headphones and say it's great and/or opens your mind. I honestly find a handful of Full On songs great for being cool trance dance songs. However, the intent [the general focus] behind Full On seems most consistent with being made for dancing to and the clubs, nothing more. It's not the type of music often desired to further mentally explore because it's already done it's job, on the dance floor. And now I'm just repeating what others have basically said.
  19. Alpha Circut? I'll check this out on psyshop. How was I not made aware of this?? Guy from Etnica/Pleiadians? Release in 2006 called Alpha Circuit? How come this wasn't mentioned before? Where was the review thread??
  20. You? I just exploded all over my keyboard. People all over the world are exploding!! Maybe this should come with a CAUTION: MAY INDUCE ORGASIMS Warning. I love old-skool Transwave. And how I wish they'd creat a new-skool in their style (like the Suntrip releases) goatrance album for our time now. Either way it's awesome seeing them return to the energy that made them famous in the goap/psy scene. I third that.
  21. Jon Cocco

    Juno Reactor - Shango

    JUNO REACTOR - SHANGO 2000 Track listing: 01. 06'13" Pistolero - A- 02. 04'00" Hule Lam - B- 03. 06'18" Insects - A- 04. 07'13" Badimo - B+ 05. 06'05" Masters Of The Universe - A- 06. 08'33" Nitrogen Part 1 - B+ 07. 06'25" Nitrogen Part 2 - B 08. 08'57" Solaris - B+ 09. 08'09" Song For Ancestors - A Wow people.. No reviews or words on this forum since 2003?? I listened to this entire album again on my headphones without distractions and you know what? This is an awesome album. If you are a Juno Reactor fan, you must have it. The only track I don't find good is track 2, Hule Lam. I generally love their tribal trance but the overall sound produced here is weaker, far less catchy than others I've heard by JR. That aside, this is a great album loaded with Wthnic/World influence, both light and dark, anger and beauty. I don't care that this album isn't dance floor psy/goa trance focased or lacking in super dance floor killers. How about experimental killers?? That's right. Shango is creative, innovative, intelligent, cleverly composed, inspirational, at times powerful, and catchy for the most part throughout. It's as if the opening song, the beginning is as a metaphor for the less aware (robbing banks, crazy cowboy-ish lifestyle and attitude-theme) and gets darker and more provocative into the middle tracks before turning around somewhere at tracks 5-7. It is at this point that the album, Shango, as if a character, become more meditative, heavenly, beautiful, and floating. Shango seems to go from being a wild, crazy horse... down the dark self/ego need-to-experience-path. It then seems to turn around and enter the state of shedding these elements that hold us down from releasing our inner-self from all the distractions in life. This is just my interpretation. The album seems develop and move toward peace the more it progresses. Towards enlightenment. There is a very human/animal side to this album and spiritual aspect or side to it all it's own. Just listen to it! I love Juno Reactor. I love how they go from beautiful and dreamlike to wild, badass darkness and back again! Talk about artists who tread that fine line between light and dark. I also love how organic sounding their trible sounds (drums, yells, chants) appear to be. While I enjoyed Labyrinth very much and consider it one of 2004's best, Labyrinth became a little too much like well orchestrated movie music at times. I still loved that album and I find something even more experimental and elegant about Shango. This is one of 2000's top best. In conclusion, time goes by and people forget greatness. They forget exactly how they felt towards something they once thought was great. Time goes by and most memories fade even more. People forget other experiences that may have once been special to them. I see some people throughout this thread judging this album relative to psytrance albums. Open your minds! Some peoples mind-sets were different from certain expectations which alter how you look at things as objectively as possible (It's not psychedelic enough??, Of course it isn't. Shango isn't psytrance!) This perception doesn't mean you're garanteed to like the album either of course. Tastes differ even when the general consensus of something is superb. Even I was at first unsure about several tracks here, track 2 the first one I disliked right away. I always found that track not nearly as enjoyable as the others. Regardless, this is a superb album. Some people will consider it an underrated masterpiece while others will say it's weird, different, good, bad. You're all right relative to what you believe in the moment, for you. In the end, everything serves a purpose and it's cool to kickass. Shango isnt dependent on being like other albums. It has a mind of it's own in a sense. It isn't dependent on one style or sub-genre. It isn't goa and it isn't exactly psy either. And yet artists that helped create what would later be referred to as goa/psytrance managed to create something with so much rhythm, style, creativity, and substance -- and still kick ass. I own all of Juno Reactors albums and have spent much time exploring deep into their sound, their energy present throughout their music. This is one of their most mature, thoughtful, and inventive albums whether you like it or not. It's one of those albums that will always stand on its own, unless I'm lacking knowledge or awareness to currently know otherwise. Shango is great, maybe a classic for various reasons. All that aside, it's just fun to listen to! A-
  22. Masterpiece?? Dude no. Absolutely not.
  23. GOD DAMN FUCKING MACHINES!!! They're taking over!!! I surprised myself by actually replyiing on that old thread now. I imagine he got overly excited (like some of us) before the album released. It was all hype in retrospect. Not to defend him but I thought to be certain that the Matrix Reloaded would be both groundbreaking and amazing after being so impressed by the first. Turns out everything I imagined it being (with exception to cool visuals not and much more) was wrong, because "Certainty is only proven in retrospect." -JC
  24. I don't think many people know about the Shop. I checked the official Chi-A.D. site, located the Shop samples (cool, lets you sample all his albums), and listened to the "MS EP" samples. Spectral Light sounds interesting for the brief time of the 45sec sample but it's too little to be sure. Are the songs on the "MS EP" taken directly from the new album?? Btw...I like how the "Shop" part of the site chronicles Chi-AD's work from the earlier albums until now. They should all be available to buy, every song and album. CHI-AD Official site: http://www.chi-ad.com/
  25. Edit: Update April 2007. Many posts in this thread should be deleted. They're NOT reviews or even close. My review is finally up. Page 3.
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