Jon Cocco

I heard it. Silk Animal (Goa Garden Mix) you call it? This is much better than those two songs or samples I heard about two months ago from you; the earlier stuff I said was decent, but not bad,. This is much better, and I think with more time and energy you will only get even better, and better, and better! Anyway, this is real goatrance, very uplifting but not fluffy. Its cool, very cool. I like what I've heard and I hope that all your tracks are as good if not better and as beautiful. Keep it imaginative and interesting and catchy! And don't be discouraged to add some signature "moves" things that kickass and really stand out and are inventive from you and only you, or to create moments (if even rare) of sheer surprise or climax that break-out into lots of insane layers and melodies!, (in stead of the same sounds before like so many artists seem to do) but its your style no one should try to tell you what to do of course. Its nice to see that you're creating old-skool goatrance and its really cool. Your style has improved! Even my friend friend liked your teaser and said it sounds good. Keep it up! Make it really great!!! I look forward to this track, hopefully on a truly awesome comp or released on your debut album. However it comes, I'm looking forward to it more than before. Thanks for the sample! And yes, it fades in and out but I think thats just so we can sample parts of the song through-out, the final, mastered, released track won't sound like that and I hope everyone knows that. AmithabaBuddha, just like Filteria's inspirations come from Pleiadians and I think several others. (but mainly Pleiads of course) I'm curious to know who you're most inspired by and several of your most favorite goa artists.

hehe, well yes that makes more sense. I suppose hearing it in 2001 just took away some of the surprise and appeal, but thats my fault.

lol... For me, I always felt Radio is way overrated. I mean, its dark and stomping, and has lots of psychedelic, twisted, zipper-ripping altered sounds... Well, okay I can see how its good, its all pumped up and twisting popping music, but so many of you seem to consider Radio like some dark psytrance album that revolutionize and is so amazing?!, I mean, why is this such a masterpiece?, Radio is just one of those few albums that I never "got" or fully understood, but sure it kicks a lot of ass; there's not really any melodies though, or if there is its rare and hardly existent. Its been years since I've heard both Radio and We Created Our Own Happiness, and I remember them both being the best two main albums by X-Dream. Trip To Trancesylvania is nice, probably more for its time because it sounds so dated (there is one great, beautiful track but I forget the name) but overall I find it so REPETITIVE and boring! Irritant is decent or pretty good in general, but its just not that imaginative; it has sime really tracks; overall a fairly good release, not great. Its darker but I think when compared to Radio its not even in the same ball park so its basically a disappointment coming from someone like X-Dream, its still a cool album, just not that good. And lastly, We Interface. I don't know where to begin. Looking at a brand new sound, style, and album, I really, REALLY like the first track. Listen to it loud at night on an awesome system while driving, maybe dancing in some club, it is so cool, but I don't really like almost all the tracks on their 2004 album. Some seem not that imaginative, too miminal, and somewhat repetitive... or just not good and very shallow. I almost feel like I'm being teased if that makes any sense. But several songs have this interesting, unique kind of sound and direction, like one or two with the girls voices... its just different and unique for what it is, but I overall don't find this album good, and yet I love the first track! Their electro/techno approach however just sounds too miminal at times from what I'd expect from X-Dream. Its still interesting to hear them be different I suppose, but whatever, I expected more; something with more depth, something that feels less "plastic" i.e: fleeting, shallow, synthetic. (style without substance) There best albums are: We Created Our Own Happiness... and Radio. Their best side projects are: The Delta (the first one obviously) and COP (Children of Paradise is freekin so cool!!!) My favorites are We Created Our Own Happiness, followed by Radio, and then COP and The Delta.

I totally agree there is good full on, but I thought Electric Universe was considered goatrance? Anyway, some good full on is: 1200 Mics - Time Machine Space Monkey Lemaurians Astral Projections - AMEN I think is considered Full On.

I understand what you're saying. Some people have already said what I'd expect to hear, that goatrance has evolved, (into psytrance) or that goatrance isn't dead because we keep it alive by talking about it, listening to it, etc.. ...but from reading these forums on and off over the years, I too have developed the impression that like Seraph said, the spirit has faded, and in my words, the good old days are not the same anymore because the current state of goa is that there currently aren't all these goatrance releases coming out, the mood, tone, keeping it new and alive other than just keeping it alive by talking about it. I mean the culture! You'd think something this special would only grow, and grow, and grow, but indeed it has as more people have become aware of this music, but they're (not all but) mostly people like you and I. (people who weren't around to really experience it and fully expose themselves back then) I'm sure there are still goa parties, and so in that sense goatrance isn't dead, but on these forums years back in the late 90's, I remember we'd all talk about goatrance, now its pretty much psytrance, full-on, sphongle stuff, etc... and almost everything related to goa is usually someone talking about an album, track, or time that was from 1996-1999. So I too have gotten this impression because when I first heard my first goa songs, I didn't even know it was goatrance! I live in the USA, so who would have freekin known in 1997 unless you read up on the history of goa, goatrance, forums like these, and reviews? It wasn't until like 1999-2000 that I first startiing posting in these forums, but I've been writing reviews ever since 1998 or 1999 in the old reviews section! The energy back then was different han it is now, mainly I think because the music was. Goatrance seemed far more celebrated and special back then even if over the years more people obviously have learned about goatrance. You are not alone. Even with all my goatrance albums, I have never felt really satisfied because I want to get out and be at those places! I've always been drawn to this music since the first day I heard it. From what I've read about online, I feel so drawn to and love the culture, the music, colors, free spirited joy and beautiful and interesting places, people, etc... part of me has always felt so alone when it comes to this because I wasn't aware of where to go back then or I was too young and aware regarding traveling. Its kind of hard when it isn't in your backyard and you're a teenager or in your young twenties. For me I was a teenager! I now feel like fucking Perter Pan, all grown up and I haven't even yet gone to Wonderland. Heck, the only thing I hear about Wonderland is Michael Jacksons trial for maybe molesting another boy, so yeah, shits all fucked up. heh... (Sorry I got off track there.) But anyway, I too want to experience these things and not just go to some night club that has "psytrance" night. I don't want to feel restricted to walls and a ceiling and a bunch of horny guys who smother girls and are only there to try to get laid and drink and be fucking stupid to ruin it for those who want to have fun. I want to go to that land that seems so far away, now than ever before. I agree with all of this. And why do people call goatrance the same thing as psytrance? They are not the same thing, although psytrance basically became what was once goa, but with a more synthetic human-ish sound, (I mean some stuff from goatrance seems to not even be made by humans, the feeling you get, the way the music takes you away, the visuals, feelings, places, things you notice, etc...) while goatrance did have this organic sounds and something about it seemed to pull your mind into a trance where everything is possible. There was something more "real" and "special" and spiritual about goatrance, where as its rarely existent for psytrance to evoke such strong feelings, emotions, possibilities I feel. Time and money. I think as time went by, time changes things. It was gradual; this change didn't happen over night. When something is new, like a person, like when goatrance was more new, its more interesting because we can explore its unknown; a mystery, and we're drawn to explore this for ourselves. There are lots of things to explore and realize, but as time goes by, things change and people change too. As labels starting getting bank-rupt, and as trance got bigger than ever toward the last several years of the 90's, the so-called evolution was probably happening all along. I think some of those artists modified (not all for the better) their sound to stay with the times, and other artists around them for whatever reason were not making goatrance anymore, releaseing something other another name, or doing nothing. So it was like a chain reation, and now at least there are recent albums like Chi-A.D. and Filteria which seem to keep the spirit alive, even if Filteria is more of that "new goa sound" you hear being mentioned every so often. Certain labels began to realize that other styles associated to goatrance and trance in general just made more money than these ellaborate, non-linear, beautiful projects. Although there are still some great, imaginative psytrance albums, (one or two great albums can't revive the past obviously) I think many people started working less to make more. Like why would you spend five or ten thousand hours when you can cut out an album within several months in under 500 hours and make twice the money simple making it more basic? I watched this happen with all of us, mostly the majority off this site, the ones that occasionally sit at home on the cpu, typing in their own country to people they've never met. And like many of you, I remember what happened with Sandman, Talamasca, Astral Projection, etc... these groups either changed their sound to more basic clubtrance stuff or just stopped making music altogether. Its kind of sad, but I'd prefer to remember someone like Hallucinogen, MFG, Pleadians etc... as amazing than had they changed their sound to something more basic, thus taking away the beauty and luster that has given them such a special, flawless and nostalgic place in our hearts. Goatrance was never fully realized by the mainstream. It was always underrated. If goatrance wasn't underrated, it would have never been as special as it is now. Would you rather goatrance got mainsteam or psytrance? Because once something and those someone(s) creating it is fully realized for the potential, money etc... there are instantly tons of people rushing to run in and make a buck off it, ruining it with their generic imitation groups and flashy suits and haircuts; thus ruining the innocense of something so beautiful and, because its not corrupted ... vulnerable to corruption. I can't imagine how mad I'd be if I heard a Britney Spears Remix to a beautiful goatrance song. And why would I be so mad? Because I know that the intentions of something once so amazing is now being ruined because of someone else's agenda to milk just to fill their own pockets. The spirit of goatrance is priceless beyond anything because its made with passion and love for the music those artists aspired to create. Good luck finding your dream vancbc. Maybe you'll realize someday that it was goatrance that inspired you to find different and also very special experiences for your time, our time now. Until then I too hope that goatrance is revived by the individuals that helped start it and those who want to keep it real, not ruined. I have this feeling that in certain countries there are such special places that still have goa parties. But these forums are like a window for that ouside world. If the flow or "feel" here suggests that goatrance has faded, well unlike the news, I'm more likely to believe it. Great thread by the way. I rarely write THIS much unless I feel very passionate and strong about it.

Oh my fucking God. Best track... worst track, and now most average track? Whats next? Most retarded track?!! Most amazing track to fuck in a bathtub full of cocaine on? Best or worst track to get drunk, jerk off, throw up, or how about kill yourself? I think that last ones a good one, because if everyone killed themselves, there would be no one left alive to write a pointless thread on it. heh, I'm kiddin, or not. Anyway, I can somewhat understand the point of the best or worst psytrance tracks, because it gives information on what to seek out or avoid, but most average??? These threads are just silly now; they've been silly. I can't answer these anymore, and thats is my answer.

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!

I can't imagine one definite worst psytrance track, as there are probably thousands of ones I don't care for and dozens that I really don't like or consider them some of the worst. But I think its even more effective for us, me atleast, to chose tracks that maybe aren't the worst ever, but are the biggest disappointments from artists you'd expect so much from of. Asking what the worst track is ... is like asking the best track. Its rediculously general; too general. The opening track self-titled track on IM the Supervisor is pretty bad once that annoying, whiney, singing begins. I can't stand that... (!!!) It completely ruins the song and starts the album off in a bay way, especially when argaubly all the other tracks except for one ... are better. Pleiadians are awesome, but for all theikr amazing work on I.F.O., what they've accomplished, and what we've come to expect, when they released on their follow-up album FOL ... I've always considered the song, Universe 13 like a giant time waster compared to the other songs. I was always a bit startling at how unimaginative, boring and dull it is. Most minimal stuff I don't like and consider pretty bad at how unimaginative and repetitive it is.

Well thats at least one of the greatest songs I agree... but I too find it impossible to list a specific favorite, or even a list; I'll be here all day and night. There is no best psy trance track ever? Thats like asking someone their most favorite scene ever. Its merely one bit of something else, in a quantity with literally hundreds of thousands. Yes, there are over 100,000 psytrance / goatrance / trance songs, maybe over a million!

You could have stated that without quoting me.

Exactly. I like all of Miranda's main albums. Phenomena is great, and Asynja. Northern Lights had several really good songs as does Real Rush. I read some where in these forums a year ago, that due to weaker, disappointing sales, Miranda hasn't been interested in making albums anymore. To the contrary, 2001's Asynja was great. It was one of her best albums and of the year. Maybe she needs to play outdoor festivals, bigger events more and sell her albums there? Rerecorded isn't bad. Subtropical Forest is interesting as Lemmiwinks said. Also, it should be mentioned that the remix of the song Phenomena is pretty good, but like most of the other remixes here, sometimes sounds so different from the originals that the titles may as be called something different, as if they're new songs even though they're remixes. I actually like track 7, Keep Calm, with the spanish style because I find the guitars catchy. I don't think most people would notice that they're remixes. They sound new! Yet I found it more fun when she released a main album with all new tracks. Maybe sales aren't the best, and maybe they were disappointing at times before. Whatever the reason for Miranda's first full length remix album after a decade of main albums aside ... I really hope she sooner or later puts out another full-length main album with all new tracks. I think it would be awesome if she returns to her earlier, old-skool, goatrance roots from Phenomena and puts out something so stunning to all her fans from over the past 5-10 years, or if not, if she puts out something innovative and captivating for out time, not more remixes, but I prefer the first thought rather than the latter. This Rerecorded is loud, cool but mindless (just what I feel) pumping psytrance; not close to the imgination of her earlier tracks, probably in part because they're remixes. If freekin X-Dream can sell thousands and thousands of copies world-wide, there should be no reason for Miranda to not be able to do really well if she signs on to a strong, powerful record label who really promotes it! I mean, c'mon its the 21st century! Lots of people love her music but it needs far better songs, and Miranda needs and deserves far more exposure, and marketing than she has gotten.

Dark Soho was once great. I liked Combustion more than Sunspot, but they were both great albums for their times and I wouldn't say the second was better than the first, just for me anyways. Their time has come and gone. Their last effort, since someone left the group, is nothing short of disappointing, especially for those who really liked their original, dark-gothic style. I miss those strong, menacing layers of melodies. The only track on their last album that I considered "pretty good" was Long Way Home. Too bad many of the other tracks were so dull, basic, and unimaginative. As far as I'm concerned, its over... for now at least.

THE MUSES RAPT - YOU 2005 I really enjoyed 1998's rare self-titled track The Muses Rapt - Spiritual Healing. I mean, this had some of the best sensitive sounding tunes I've ever heard, especially in this genra of trance or melodic psytrance or whatever you call it. Some called it fluffy or cheesy but for me much of it was more uplifting, happy, peaceful, and sensitive sounding. Its not something I'd run out and show to many friends because I don't think people in groups would generally appreciate it. Lets face it, this is more personal, from the inside not from the outside-type music, than it is something to show people in groups, they almost always lose part of "self" and don't look at the deeper meaning of something because the last thing they're usually thinking of is having a personal experience with a song, when they're around a bunch of their friends! So like the first album, I listened to this by myself, without any outside distractions. Anyway, I look at something for what it is and compare it to others in its genra or class. Cheesy or sensitive or both ... the first album was great for what it was. It had many really good or great songs and the entire album was well done, no bad tracks I don't think! This follow-up I strongly feel, is unquestionably not better than the first, nor even close! However, it isn't bad if you enjoy this sensitive style, sensitive melodies, or even the first album. Overall, the tracks and melodies on this long released follow-up just doesn't have that strong sensitive feeling to the degree of the first. There are still some good songs if you can tolerate the boom, boom, BOOM, ahhhhhhhhhh!!! Why was this finalized and released like this? The loud, and for me *TOO LOUD* thus potentially making it very annoying KICKDRUM, makes it very difficult for me to enjoy the lucious, nice melodies to the degree I think I'd enjoy them had the kickdrum been less heavy as it was on Spiritual Healing, as there are many of them. I mentioned this before; the kickdrum is much louder; more obvious than it was on the first Muses Rapt album, and I feel this is very unnecessary because this style is more for listening too, rather than something I can imagine being played in any club; such as dancing while listening too! Its kickdrum is so turned up that I have to write two paragraphs! Its kickdrum is so annoying and with such great emphasis that I try to TUNE the car, discman, sterio options to lesson the loud thudding, so I can better hear those melodies louder without my ears getting hit like I'm in a night club. But by taking away bass I take away the emphasis on the nice melodies too. Its very frusterating. You'd think the purpose of this album was intended for the club, but with melodies this sensitive, gental and pleasent are rarely ever spun in clubs to my knowledge. So yes, my biggest gripe, complaint, whatever you want to call it ... is the overly louder than ever before kickdrum. I think some others will have this same problem and question the point like I do, but like everything, its all a matter of preference. You may have NO PROBLEM with this. Thats you, and I wouldn't complain about something usually so minimal, if I really didn't feel it wasn't such an issue for some people. Anyway, other than the KICKDRUM, which literally contributed to making me shut off the album more than once on the first day getting it ... the kickdrum that over-powers every; any of the beautiful melodies ... if you enjoyed Spiritual Healing, there is a decent chance that you'll enjoy this too. Just don't expect it to be better than the debut and you may enjoy it. Its a nice follow-up, (decent or fairly good I'd say) especially if you like sensitive melodies. Overall I was expecting more and I hope this album better grows on me, but for now I feel more disappointed than not, simply because I have the first one to compare it to. After 6 or 7 years, standards change, and maybe if this was released several years before the debut it would have been great, but it wasn't. It sounds as nice and as "same" as the sound we heard 6 years ago, but overall not as sensitive, engaging, complex, beautiful, impressive, unique, innovative, (actually there is no innovation) etc... Best or most distinct tracks (my favorite in bold) I like are 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7. The first song sounds so much like some classic Nintendo tune when that melody comes in at 1:50, you know?!?! And I still totally like the song, but at one point I felt sick at how nice it sounded. I suppose this is what some of you mean when you say, "so cheesy I almost vomited." heh Overall Score: Muses Rapt - You ... C+ I felt Spiritual Healing truly deserved a B or B+

Good interview! I enjoyed reading it and completely agree with what Jannis said about full-on in general. And I totally agree with what he said about the lack of emotion in todays (lets say the majority of todays) music; how the scene today is more than ever about looking and being cool, rather than the music, the greatness, quailty of the music, truly being there to enjoy the music, being individual, getting in touch with yourself and really feeling strong emotions to strong, beeautiful music that is or was not only so much fun and imaginative, but something that to help bring out whats is inside you all along. Those great things are arely existent in todays music as they used to be, which just sucks because with most artists now, its mostly about money and IMAGE well over everything else, and yes, sure there was just money intentions and image back than too, but the picture the music painted was more about self. Thankfully there still are artists who really love the music and know whats awesome, keeping it alive!, (you know who you are) but its rare; the industries so corrupted and over-run that unless you avoid certain things by going through an independent label, you're basically fucked. Many people have forgotten what goatrance is all about, but thankfully there are enough who still remember; who know and contribute to keeping it alive. I live in the USA and I have never met any of you thus far in this life time. Sometimes I think some of you guys are the only ones on the same page as myself when it comes to certain topics addressed in the interview above. I wish more people would wake up, but I guess if everyone wanted the best, the best would become less appreciated and special because there would be too much of it from the demand. And to the few people who say all the tracks on Filteria sound the same, oh good lord, hahaha, plllleeeease!, there are people who will always say something negative about anything. I mean, look at Jesus for example. He was probably, at his time, the most positive, peaceful, and aware human being on the planet, and I realize thats a heavy and not the best analogy, but my point is that if even Jesus couldn't satisfy everyone! I think they just don't get it, thats all. (had to keep that ending general, heh) ... But don't ever let those few discourage you, as its just pointless and draining, and thats just for the record. I realized when I used to mix over my cpu, (sound waves, my friends did the Korg Triton keyboard mixing stuff, I revised, altered, mixed, I like layers, etc...) anyway, I realized that the best time for me to work is late at night or early in the morning. Thats when it seems there is the least distractions, and you come back to who you really are; the higher level of focus, one can get toally lost in his own creation and basically become it. The body, mind, and spirit is less caught up at certain times and you can focus more of your energy, thus far surpassing the results you may achieve during most other times, such as for me, during the day. Its interesting, and I believe you know exactly what I mean Jannis and maybe several others reading this too! I'm really looking forward to the next main album by Filteria! To Jannis: It could come out in 2006 if it takes you that long, but wheneve its finished its finished of course! Take your time and make it absolutely stunning, amazing, better than the first one! ... just go insane, please.

I agree.

This was a pretty good album overall. Btw why are we reviewing this album again? There is another thread that was opened in this same review section, when this album first came out in 2004. That's the problem with having no organized database; the reviews get pushed back from the new threads and people forget about the other threads or don't feel like searching through hundreds to find them. One can google them though. I really miss the old section. Now its like, you write a review and people access it for a couple weeks until it gets old and moves down. Then, unless someone looks for it and posts to update it, it basically becomes forgotten in the history.

Really?!!! That would be awesome Seraph! Thanks for the positive news!

I totally agree with both those things. I was expecting so much more with this album, wondering where all the great tracks were that people had talked about. When I heard Ant Invasion, I figured that its tracks like this one that made Planet B.E.N. more known, but by that point I was almost totally turned-off. I felt that this track had the most character; it was unquestionably the most interesting and fun, and my favorite song on the album. The last one is just too long and plain repetitive and boring for me. (22 minutes) Overall a decent album I find it now, with one really good or great track. It was probably great or one of the best in its time however. I suppose that because this came out in 1995 I think, thats one of the reasons why some people love it so much, the several hundred people in the entire world who heard it back then ... when there was little else, this was quite innovative and creative, but unlike the Hallucinogen, AP, Pleadian, Cosmosis albums, this has got that really "outdated" feel and sound to it. Too bad he doesn't produce great psytrance anymore. I think the side-project, Vacuum Tub was his last kickass, well done album.

Cool. We'll have to wait and see how it turns out. I'm looking forward to hearing the samples! I think this thread should also be put in the general (other than promos) reviews section, because thats where virtually everyone goes the most. Anyway, I almost opened this post by saying WHOA... because thats what I thought for about three seconds. But then I realized that like many other once AWESOME ARTISTS, Cosmosis - Cosmology - The first album. Excellent, great debut album! No further words. Cosmology - Synergy - The second album. Great follow-up, some very impressive work, actually lots! This is arguably his best album, and the first was more groundbreaking or innovative for its time. Cosmosis - Intergalactic - The 3rd album. I almost bought this album, but after reading that according to most listeners, it was less complex and involved than the first two; a step down from the previous great albums, I didn't. I never heard this entire album, so I won't say much more, but according to most reviews from off the old goatrance reviews section, it seems that this album was not bad at all, but there were basically no super-songs, and few people REALLY liked Intergalactic, when compared to the crazy, wild, complex, beautiful, fun, really layered, with lots of catchy layers of sounds and melodies -- first two. Cosmosis - Contact - His 4th album. It seems that more people liked this one than the third. This is not a bad album at all, but I absolutely hate that track that sounds like Homer Simpson saying, "Weird, sick, crazy, twisted." The sample is so cheesy and annoying; the song so boring and repetitive I feel! Many of the tracks are decent or pretty good though, and when I say "pretty good" I mean "fairly" good, and I feel that there was one really good, if not GREAT track with a very catchy melody or melodies on this 4th album, called Inner Space. The opening track is quite clever and catchy as well; an interesting beginning, but I wish this album was more powerful, ellaborate, imaginative, with a higher level of those magical melodies and lots of layers and innovation, complex, detailed style!, big lift-off's, etc... that made the first two albums so great and according to most people, classic! In conclusion, Cosmosis has released lots of great work, but his last two albums it seems just don't have those amazing super-songs like his first two albums. Although his last album was not close to bad or half decent, but well above that ... it was overall a far cry from the more challenging, IMPRESSIVE, intricate goatrance of his first two incredible albums, so I'm a bit hesitant with this fifth release. Has Cosmosis actually returned after seveal years with something absolutely awesome; excellent finally, or will this be some more pretty good and decent, more inferior to his earlier work stuff? I suppose this album will be the judge. I pray its not some more mainstream, full-on sound like so many artists seem to be doing these days, and for his sake, and all the thousands of fans, I hope its really over-the-top, melodic, catchy, inventive, and really special, great if not excellent album, but I don't want to hope too much. When I heard the track Inner Space on Contact, those cool, sensitive melodies ... I felt that he still has it in him to make really good, great, catchy songs, and I wondered if he could ever make an album with all tracks as good and even greater than Inner Space, tracks that are just excellent and complex and catchy like back in the day, but new, original, and fresh...

Yes, I heard their stuff is great! Too bad they never released a main album. They should have done it through Dragonfly Records like the other Pleiadians albums.

Yes, AmithabaBuddha beat me to it. Simon Postford; Hallucinogen is one of the best artists for several reasons. Why you may ask, is Hallucinogen ranked so high?, like you always hear positive, never negative things about Hallucinogen, ya know? And on top of that, its been 7 years since the last album! People still talk about Hallucinogen like crazy! Like Hallucinogen, the same has gone for, generally speaking: *Astral Projection *X-Dream *Pleiadians *Transwave One big reason is the times when they released their work. When I hear several Pink Floyd songs I may like now for example, I really don't see the big deal. I think, man if this was released 10-15 years ago, I'd probably think it was great or much better than just pretty good stuff, but in actuality, Pink Floyd was around in the 60's-70's I think, which would have made his music groundbreaking! Differences aside (styles, genra's) however, the goa scene just really began to get slightly known in the early-mid 90's. Those several artists above (especially AP and Hallucinogen) are maybe the few of just several of the first biggest, considered groundbreaking (for their unique styles) goa artists to produce groundbreaking goatrance, whether you like the style or not. Another BIG reason for Hallucinogen to still be so popular and regarded so highly is because of how the music developed, in short it didn't after 1998. His last album was a masterpiece; it went out in glory in stead of releasing something inferior. Think about it. X-Dream basically PEEKED with their huge hit XD's - Radio and side project, The Delta. Granted, their style was never as ellaborate and layered as Hallucinogen, but if they stopped making music at their best, their greatest times, do you think they'd be loved more or not? With X-Dream and Astral Projection, they continued to make music past their primes and biggest successes, which overall, wasn't as great and impressive / innovative as it used to be. I think when you reach your peek and start to come down, its sometimes best to take a break and re-evaluate the situation so you don't start putting out crap or rehashing your own stuff. In the middle of the 90's, when goatrance seemed to be at its highest, ONE very unique, groundbreaking artist just stopped. Some others stopped too of course, but none overall more impressive overall than Simon Postford. So people remembered back to those first two excellent albums and how they felt in those times because like Starwars, NOTHING ELSE came close to it visually. But UNLIKE STARWARS, the visuals in goa faded away and overall lessoned into the wave of more minimal and mainstream projects, leaving just two albums by Hallucinogen (and several others, but others who have tainted their image more than Hallucinogen overall) ...absolutely priceless. If The Matrix ended without the flawed, not REALLY necessary or great sequels, would your impression of The Matrix be higher or lower? I know the answer. For most people, if The Matrix ended with the first one, you'd obvoiusly be hearing much more positive things than not, but because of the sequels, people's minds associates to the last thing they remember, which is the inferior Matrix Revolutions, because thats the last thing that came from The Matrix. The luster has warn off this once ellaborate masterpiece because of how not well done, deeper, innovative, and ellaborate as the first, the story ended. Same goes for music... Hallucinogen could potentially never have another main album again, but just because people "THINK" it could be amazing, (because of his first two albums) thats reason enough why some people do consider him the best, and overall most people like myself are realistic; we have other groundbreaking albums to compare him to, and so we consider him as one of the best. As the saying goes: "Less is more. Hallucinogen is by definition, quality over quantity.

Yes!, I totally forgot! Talamasca - Beyond The Mask is so dark. I always really liked that album and I think you made a really good list. The new stuff by Talamasca just makes me cringe! He sold out for an ordinary, full-on sound, just like Sandman did when Izik became Green House Effect, which never released an album since. I don't get it?; its pathetic! Anyway, I basically agree with the others, but Chi-A.D dark? I think thats a hard one because he has seveal dark tracks but the main album? The only thing I would have added is Xenomorph - Qlippoth, and why has no one mentioned Dark Soho? Also, I've never heard UX - Ultimate Experience, or Menis either, but UX doesn't seem to exist anywhere! I've read positive reviews I think in these old goatrance reviews section, but this thing isn't even on saiko sounds or psyshop I think. Weird... Is there such a thing as hard goa? I have never heard the term hard-psychedelic used before. Just curious, but what makes COP - Urban Alien goa and not hard psychedelic? Do you say this because of the lack of melodies or epic melodies? And I just found an album I never knew existed. I've heard them on comps but was never impressed. The artist and album that seems to be pretty good, based on the samples, and have a darker tone, (I really like the melodies in the first song!!) is Rastaliens - Freestyle. Link to samples is below, but I'm sure many of you knew about this album long before I did. http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/bal/bal1cd003.html

Interesting, I was listening to Twin Sharkfins by Battle of Future Buddhas earlier and I don't think they're all that dark, but they're totally not uplifting, heh... I find much of their music very noisy and not melodic, just beats with lots of psychedelic sounds swirling around them, and the direction of the tracks seem to go nowhere on their one main album. And yet this album seems to have gotten many really good reviews for some reason. Oh well, not my style I suppose. There are three tracks I find really good though, (4, 8, 9). Wish they released a second album with all great tracks because when they're good, they're great! Sandman - Witchcraft is a great dark goatrance album, but its more dark-evil DARK, than just "dark," like say, the tone, as in some of Miranda's stuff. Darshan - Awakening is a really good dark but NOT evil-dark goa album. Darshan - Spectra is unfortunately NOTHING nothing like Awakening! Its minimal, repetitive, boring, and very disappointing! Don't even bother with this one! MFG - Project Genesis is a great, dark goa album!

Why is this the poll limited to just 4 tracks? There are many other ones that are as good and even better! I know that one of my favaorite tracks by MFG is WHY!!! Man I wish they'd release a follow-up to Project Genisis or a new album thats really great like their OLDER stuff, but even better!

Thats sucks if this album really is as disappointing as some of you say. I should be getting it in shortly so I'll post something when I've heard it. I don't know why this artist would mess it up, I mean, some earlier posts on this thread talk about how this album is exactly like the first, so if you liked the first one, etc... Anyway, more reviews from people who have heard this entire album would be nice. I've only heard several samples, which to me if you like Muses Rapt, sounded decent-good (didn't want to spoil every track) so I can't decide how this is until I hear it from beginning to end. I actually really liked Spiritual Healing very much, and I feel that just because something is sensitive sounding, that doesn't automatically make it cheesy, ya know? Like whatever happened to catchy, sensitive melodies that aren't cheesy? It seems that everytime someones comes out with these emotional, sensitive sounding melody driven songs, i.e: Lani, Emuna, Muses Rapt - Spiratual Healing, etc... its super-cheesy. Sometimes I agree and "get" what you mean, like with that Greek track on 1200 Mics 2004 album, but other times I'm like, huh? Anyway I'll be comparing this follow-up to the first. I'd hope that it would be much better or at least as good as the first, after all its been 6 or 7 years!, what has this artist been doing all this time?!?!, ... but I'm not expecting it. When I read Rains review, I get a bit concerned... I hope this isn't as bad as he says... need...........more..........reviews!