Jon Cocco

Isn't this supposed to be released this month? Could you please inform us if this arrives in the next week of October and if it will be available on www.psyshop.com to purchase? Thanks!

The Art of Being Non is one of the best albums of 2004, period! Track 2 is very impressive. It is just wild, crazy, energetic, catchy, amped-up, once again CATCHY.... the key here is catchy, and I am so hooked on some of the melodies on this album. There is not ONE BAD or HALF-DECENT track on this whole, entire album; not even close! I can unquestionably tell that lots of work went into each and every track. This is a very UNCOMMON, sometimes even RARE case. Now I am NOT, at least not right now... going to throw this into the group of awesome albums that have earned their classic status, not just for their enormous, ambitious, and MASTERFUL work but with TIME as well... However I will say that basically... not since the first several albums of Hallucinogen, Infected Mushroom, Astral Projection, Pleiadians I.F.O. and FEW OTHERS, have I really, REALLY liked every track on an album, and considered each and every track for sure well above average. That is saying something very meaningful. This Talpa album has KILLER tracks on it, like tracks 2 and 8 are really, REALLY up there. That MELODY is just so fucking great in track 2! I actually really like how this album starts out, with the actual chill/ down tempo in the beginning, because it does NOT rush to impress; it BUILD'S UP to whats coming! I hate how albums start off with the 303 kick or whatever and never build up, the albums that put their best track(s) in the beginning, FUCK THAT!!! You'd think those albums are meant for the clubs ONLY because every track starts with that, bum, bum, bum, bum... but this one is versatile...! This album was one of the biggest surprises of 2004 for me. . Talpa has some VERY catchy melodies. Thank you Talpa for this cool, impressive release.

Well I'm always open-minded to listening to new or different stuff. I just sampled this album here at psyshop's old samples. http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/pha/pha1cd045.html Unfortunately, the samples are VERY low-fi sound, which is annoying, because I know it does the album close to NO justice, but... I already see how unqiue, strange, dark, melodic, and different this album is. I want to listen to it in full quality. I may even buy it for my collection if its available to order somewhere. But it ISN'T AVAILABLE on to order PSYSHOP!!!

My Favorites; Top 10 ... and some of the BEST Psytrance albums of 2004!!! Filteria - Sky Imput - Well, several albums really impressed me in 2004, but if I had to choose one, this would be it. The work, mixing, melodies, sounds, climaxes ... are so intricate, so catchy, so many! The worst thing I can say about ihis album is that it doesn't revolutionize because Pleiadians - I.F.O came first. Other than that, this is a very well done album with all good, great, and excellent tracks! A- Talpa - Art of Being Non - Really wild, imaginative, aggressive, dark, sometimes edgy, melodic psytrance, with some IM influences, and many good tracks, but several KILLER (great) ones! B+ Four Carry Nuts - Mechanical Age - Dark, industrial, melodic, full-on (At most times) psytrance at its best with several monster tracks. Lots of layers of sounds, some guitars and obvious rock and industrial-metal influence! (Track 1 and 7, just for starters) Can anyone say... ambitious? B+ Ypsilon5 - Binary Sky - Yes! This album has GOA written all over it! Well, not literally but.. I think this is the most GOA sounding, 2004 album I've heard all year, and its good, real good! This album reminds me of those lush waves of beautiful sounds and melodies from some of the earlier and final days of really good, great GOA music! If you liked Astral Projections earlier work in the mid-late 90's, RA - To Series, and this years very well done Electronic Universe album, I think it would be pretty difficult to not like this one! B+ Space Monkey - Wow! Yes, this is a kickass album! This has many great, dark, catchy, pumped-up tracks! Easily one of the most underrated albums of the year. Just listen to it if you're into catchy, aggressive dark psytrance! Its REALLY GOOD! B Electronic Universe - Cosmic Experiences - Very good, melodic psytrance! B Psycraft - New Moves - Very good release, dark and melodic, crazy, catchy and totally underrated! B Lemurians: Secret Message - Hell yes! Cool alien space psytrance! Some really catchy songs! One of the actually coolest, better full-on albums of 2004. This album probably rocks on the dance floor, and its the occasional eerie melodies and lift-off parts, and other catchy tunes that really get my attention! This is not great I feel, but certainly way above the majority of full-on releases. B- Synsun: Symphonic adventure - One of the most melodic '04 albums! There are several very, VERY catchy songs which remind me of some of the goa-ish layers of melodies that seem to be so lacking or less epic in todays psytrance music. The second and last track especially I consider something very cool and special sounding. B Juno Reactor - Labyrinth - Ahhh... yes. Its here! JR's first main album since their last album, Shango came out in 2000! Here's group that has always managed to juggle multiple types of electronic and non-electronic music, while just about always sounding totally catchy, involving tribal beats, drums, female voices, chants, etc. I like most of the tracks on this new album, although like most people, I've heard two of the nine tracks before on The Matrix sequels & soundtracks and I was originally hoping for all new songs since its been so long since JR's last release. The Mono Lisa Overdrive track on Labyrinth has more sound layers and actual, multiple female voices, as opposed to the version on the Matrix Reloaded soundtrack. I appreciate both versions for different reasons. This album starts off really well too. Although I've heard Nevras on the Matrix Revolutions soundtrack, it truly is one hell of a very cool, epic track! Also, the darker songs really compliment the lighter songs, such as the opening track; very peaceful, very calm... then bang! It begins! B Misted Muppet - From the Legend - Kickass melodies! Opening track is great; has IM influences. However, this album is nothing ground breaking, innovative, or truly great when you consider the fact that Infected Mushroom existed at least 6 years before. Nevertheless, fans of IM's style will really like Misted Muppet, while other fans find it lame for attempting to use someone else's revolutionary, and yes, at one point, incredible style. Regardless, this album has some very catchy, melodic tracks, but for the record, it is heavily influenced by Infected Mushroom. B- Follow ups and honorable mentions: Happy Frood Abakus - That Much Closer to the Sun Space Cat - Mechanical Dream Bio-Tonic - Divina Blue Vortex - Mirage Prometheus - Robot-O-Chan Psypilot - Destination Future Lani - Our Way To The Sun X-Dream - Jesus Christ? This is it? Hahahahaha! How long have they been working on this? Shit, I don't know where to begin! Okay, well first of all, don't bash this album for X-Dream changing their sound, yet again. Review it for what it is, a tech-trance album by X-Dream! Now, if I wanted to sound shallow but honest in a very unaware way, I'd say this is somewhere in between a great album and a piece of shit. But I have enough respect for X-Dream to put in in this list, so let me ellaborate. This album is so well done for its inventive direction, and its several really original and catchy tracks, pushing the bounderies in tech-trance, although probably more techno than trance. I really enjoy several tracks (track 1 still being my favorite) but other tracks just seem too uninspired and fairly minimal and lacking. With certain tracks I'm wondering what the heck were they thinking here. I really feel as though some tracks are so boring and unimaginative. But certain tracks have this charisma that is just full of color and character. Others are pretty shallow and dare I say... plastic? Like the purpose of the song and sometimes the lyrics seem pointless and just there to sound cool with more style than substance. It just wasn't as impressive as I thought it would be; its still rather entertaining for its several really catchy tracks. Worth the trip but not really worth the wait so to speak, or something like that. C+ Infected Mushroom's - IM the Supervisor - I'd like to know something. When IM says they tested this album before releasing it, did they mean they tested the commercial club scene or does that apply to something else? Since when has IM announced that they "tested" their songs to see what will make the final cut? The mainstream audiance in general has a very similar, general appeal for what they like and dislike. It seems that IM tested this album out to get the most club-friendly, mainstream feedback, thus discarding some of the ellaborate experimentation that has made some of earlier work so masterful and acclaimed. This album DOES have some VERY GOOD tracks (2, 3, and especially 6) are very well done) but its the weakest main album ever put out by Infected Mushroom to date!, and now I'm CONVINCED of that! This album is decent or fairly good at best I feel. When its good its great, but when its not, well... And I think the last track is very weak and disappointing, why did they end the 2004 album with such a weak, more clubby, generic track? Lastly, it seems that the sound takes less risks, thus to remain more generally appealing. There is greatness in this album, but the price of greatness comes with several "all-too-mainstream" intendeing, and surprisingly dissapointing tracks. C+ My favorite comp of 2004 is: There is No Tomorrow, Yes! Finally a dark psytrance album with mostly good, interesting, catchy, imaginative, and sometimes evil and I mean well-done evil ... tracks! Honorable mention comp: Pure Planet for its goa and old-skool influences.

Okay, I get it. The group may have split up. Man, thats really ashame if thats what happened, but I'd rather have two classics than a new style album by Pleadians thats inferior when compared to both albums. Now when I think of Pleadians I think of greatness because they never put out a dud or a bad album like so many artists that rush an album once every year. I can't stand those artists. Anyway, Pleadians rock. Maybe one day they'll get together again. I wonder why people left the group... Those Italians made some unforgettable music. Now it may be over for eternity.

What do you mean you say Andrea and Carlo were responsible for the music Pleiadians produced, and it was condemned from that day they left??? Did someone copy or steal someone else's idea's? Could you please ellaborate? I ABSOLUTELY find I.F.O. AWESOME! You will rarely ever hear me say that word with psytrance and goa albums. I reserve that word for the few most amazing albums that I've ever heard - ever made! Family of Light has taken about 4 years to grow on me. I hated this album once and said that I.F.O. was so much better. (I still find I.F.O. better personally) One day in 2004, several years later, I had an urge to own F.O.L. I don't know why but I searched and searched and finally found and ordered a copy... put on my headphones, and the opening track... Headspin is just INCREDIBLE! I mean, WOW!!! I love how intricate, twisting, complex, melodic, catchy, crazy, vivid, insane, beautiful, amped-up, and ambitious and CREATIVE and IMAGINATIVE it is! Also, the last track is really good and several in the middle are extremely creative and catchy. Even the once-hated UNIVERSE 13, though I find it the least tasteful, is unique like all the other tracks in its own way. I once hated this whole album except for Headspin, but ever since my very harsh reviews on this site, in the old review section on Pleiadians - Family of Light, I've come to appreciate both of these albums. I finally "got" it. Pleadians are RIGHT NOW better than 99% of all psytrance artists' albums EVER MADE to date! Like Hallucinogen and some of AP's earlier tracks, these people are some of the most rare and talented artists and creators in the world! Think about it. And I WISH THAT THEY'D RELEASE ANOTHER ALBUM! This music is incredible, how layered it is, it must have taken thousands of hours to finish BOTH ALBUMS, even though I REALIZE that the second album was less liked when compared to the first! I wish they'd make another one... Why not, they are talented as hell. This is what they do best, right? Why not make another masterpiece???!!! Can someone address my question above, have a nice day!

Great! I will be one of the first people to order this album, as long as its available on psyshop... period! Also, I don't give a shit what anyone says. I LIKE THE FIRST TRACK SOOOO MUCH! Although it sounds NOTHING like X-dreams IRRITANT or the twisting-dark style of Radio, some songs sound really catchy. The sound altered voices and melodies are really cool too, like in Bio-Tonic's new 2004 album, which has several super catchy songs with altered female voices. I recently made a thread in the general forum on Bio-Tonic, asking what you ppl thought, and I posted the link to psyshops samples... but like no one responded. For the record, this X-Dream album is VERY DIFFERENT from every X-D album before it... and it appears to have some REALLY GOOD, if not GREAT tracks from the samples I've streamed off psyshop. Fans who expect ANYTHING close to "Radio" will be disappointed. This style is different and there are female voices and probably some full-on psy songs too I'd hope, but this album seems like its leaning more toward tech-trance with some cool melodies and some psy-influence here and there. Whether its considered tech-trance now, or whatever X-Dream has become, it is VERY COOL that they've finally released a new album! I've always enjoyed their music. I think some people will really like and dislike this newer style, which may sound more minimal, but there are melodies and voices, some of its just "different" and I think some of the samples / songs are actually very cool. I think a sequel to Radio or We Created Our Own Happiness would be unnecessary because those albums are classics that should be left alone in glory, to continue to appreciate! There is a more contemporary sound and unique style I feel in their new album. Its not crazy and stomping, dark like Radio or crazy-full-on dark-wicked like The Delta's first and only GOOD album. I AM SURE that some people will totally not agree with my positive impressions because they too really dig X-Dreams earlier styles, or style and may find this album less strong compared to heavier more full-on stuff, but its a different style and time now. I hope it turns out to be really good and I think this album might be a surprise... however, I truly hope it turns out to be a good or great album with more than just two or three great tracks and innovation!

Hard to find??? Try TRANSWAVE - Hypnorhythm HP Hux Flux - Cryptic Crunch Electric Universe - One Love Etnica - Juggling Alchemist Kox Box - Dragon Tales Cosma - Nonstop and the Juno reactor - luciana is quite a bitch to locate. I've e-mailed their (JR's) site several times in the past two years about locating Luciana. I was informed it might be re-released sometime in 2004 / 2005, but everytime I e-mailed them back they say they don't know. Same thing when I e-mail many of the other main sites, like Phantasm records said they've been sold out of copies of Double Dragon - Continuum, and the distributer doesn't know if they'll get in anymore copies any time soon. Now how the hell does the distributer have problems obtaining the album? What, do they stop manufacturing copies all of a sudden? You'd think in order to obtain these rare albums, you simply contact the label, but many seem to go out of business. Regardless, if they're good albums that people want, the artists should get another label to distribute their album. Example: CHI AD - Earth Crossing!!! Its annoying as fuck when the damn artist won't even sell their album off their own site, ya know? Anyway, if I get those albums mentioned above, I will have nearly completed my collection of Best goa/psytrance albums ever! MY ADVICE: Don't hesitate to buy a copy when you find one, because you never know when it might not be there any longer!!!

WOW, Good thread! I made a list about 6 months back on the best psytrance/goa albums ever made... it would be impossible for me to list only 5, but I know that this handful truly has several of the highest, most TOP, Most AWESOME albums!!! These are WAAAAAAAY at the top, some of the best of the VERY BEST! I tried to focus on psytrance for the most part, not goa. (Not in any certain order) Hallucinogen - Twisted, The Lone Deranger Pleiadians - IFO and Family of Light Infected Mushroom - Classical Mushroom X-Dream - Radio Cydonia - In Fear of a Red Planet and many more.

What? ... Cheesy? Ummm... No. I don't think you've heard this full album or all the samples. I found several tracks a bit, err.. strange or "different" at first listen but later I found it more appealing and cool for its own style. Whatever this album is, it is NOT cheesy... Some tracks are fucking so damn kickass and those Saiko sounds aren't two-thirds as clear as the actual albums quality. I've listed a handful of quality 2004 psytrance albums above just to show the types of psytrance music I find good. Does anyone consider any of those cheesy? No, cause I fucking hate cheesy stuff, and Bio-Tunic does have some experimental sound and voice parts, maybe one or two bits could come off as too clubby or whatever, but the majority of this album is not club-trance, its very cool, melodic stuff, and there are some really good tracks, good samples, and the female voices are so simple yet fucking great! Plus, I fucking HATE club-trance!!! I bought the entire album and have already listened to it twice and overall, it rocks. Track 2 is fucking great! I think tracks 4 and 6 are the dark tracks and they both fucking rock! There are NO bad tracks on this album. Of course not everyone likes everything. The world would suck if that was so. I'd like to here some other peoples opinions.

Bio-tonic - Divina - Has anyone heard of these guys? I never knew about them before I sampled this album. Its a very melodic, cool release with several really good tracks, at least I consider it so! You can stream samples off psyshop.com! Just listen to track 2, 3, 5, 6, , and 9. I've listened to this twice, and I really think that Bio-Tonic - Divina is one of the best, albeit maybe not on the top ten, but for what it is... one of the best albums of 2004! The link to the samples is below. I find the female voices and singing so very COOL, SEXY, and CATCHY! This is night time music for those who may have liked the different styles with cool female echoe's like those in Analog Pussy - Trance n' Roll. There are some dark parts in this new, third Bio-Tunic album and its full of fresh melodies and a different style with some very cool female voice, samples, and a some really good songs! http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/sol/sol1cd012.html

Okay I have listened to Talpa on psyshop, and the verdict is... This album, like Misted Muppets, ROCKS!!! Are there IM influences? YES, but it has taken those influences and modified it into some very, VERY intricate, melodic, CATCHY songs that have their own direction and unexpected sounds and rhythm! Is it the best album of 2004? Ya know what? Fuck the sun and the moon. Who really knows. I like this album and I'm usually the critical asshole with the asshole. Sometimes people even call me an asshole, but so what?! At least I look good as one. Oh, and although this Talpa release (I think its only realistic to agree) is NOTHING GROUND BREAKING, and it is INSPIRED from IM like Misted Muppets, (Cut-off strings, some sounds, random melodic stuff, etc...) I like this album. If you like it, great. If you don't, great. But it is a cool release with some VERY kickass, wild, amped-up, melodic layered tracks. ...Can't wait for X-Dream and Dark Soho's new releases this year!

Without a doubt, Electronic Universe. I bought Jupiter 8000 and Cosmic Experiences by EU this year and I don't even have to think which one is MUCH BETTER. Jupiter 8000 had one or two pretty good tracks, but its too freekin repetitive and most of the tracks are just.. mediocre, nothing all that catchy or stand out. Electronic Universe hit a home run this year, this is Boris's best album since... well, Unify in 2001 or 2002, and one of the top ten best albums of 2004 for sure!!!

hanks a lot on the comments! I recently noticed the review section is finally up and I now know where to go for reviews. I really like all Spaced Cats main albums before, including the second which seems to be both loved and hated from his releases the most. peace all

oh, and "PEOPLE CAN FLY" (REMIX) is just terrible. BORING and annoyingly repetitive AS HELL!!! I'm surprised AP actually allowed this track on the final "TEN" cut of remixes. The original was beautiful. Why do they go upon letting other cooks spoil the broth. Is it money? Can't they see the light they helped create throughout their time on this planet.

Oh Jesus Christ. The best thing about this album is the cover. I have always been a fan of AP. The FIRST goatrance song I ever heard was by AP. I LOVE and ADMIRE their older work. This album I bought because of how much I love and miss their magic. Of course, its all remixes and none of them are GREAT. I don't even think one is really good. Many are just repetitive, typical Full On dance stuff that feels dated and uninspired, unlike the inspired originals they're intended to be based upon. Okay, WHY did AP pick these certain artists to remix such great songs???? What about a remix by Hallucinogen, MFG, Infected Muchroom maybe, etc?? Most of these tracks could have been so much more interesting and exciting after all these years. I find this album disappointing from someone who has heard EVERY AP ALBUM EVER RELEASED AND I OWN EVERY ONE OF THEM. Astral Files is infinitely and this is true because AP remixed thier own songs. AP will always have a place in my heart, but I was hoping for something more impressive after all these years. Of course, none of these remixes are by AP themselves, so a stunning new album as a real NEW-SKOOL goatrance follow-up to their peek albums of the 96-99 would be amazzzing. Is this not possible? I thought anything was possible.

First off, we've heard this before, which wouldn't be a negative thing if there were more substance and depth, imagination and passion put into the songs with that classic IM flavor. When their first (which I did NOT love) album, and second (which I loved) album came out, it was different, risky, constantly impressing in detail and where the song took you. I wouldn't say that this is a complete bad album. There are some very well done tracks, (4 and 9 and maybe one other one) but also some tracks with lyrics that stress the obvious; Infected Muchroom are trying to be too appealing to mainstream audiences, and in part they are alienating much of their loving, original fanbase. Some track(s) may annoy hardcore, general fans. For example, the singing in first track RUINS the song for me and I seem far from alone in this. Although I encourage innovation and taking risks, I'm not as much complaining that their style isn't as fresh or original as it used to be. The problem is that the biggest encouragement IM is doing is SINGING, which is the way you DO NOT DO IT in the opening track here. Singing however sometimes WORKS, like in track one on "The Other Side" of Converting Vegaterians," and track 3, Muse Breaks, on this album with the female voices.

Welcome back... Jon Cocco here: I recently noticed on psyshop that Space Cat released a new album in Augest called Mechanical Dream. I agree with most people who say Space Cats first album was really good. His second album was more commerical and aimed for clubs, not as good as the first. And his third album was pretty good, like a cross between both styles from the ƒirst and second album, but not as good as the first, BEAM ME UP. So how is this new new album? Is it any good. Does it suck? What do you think? Comments are welcome... Thanks. http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/viq/viq1cd025.html

Actually, Zwara has the "Matrix Reloadeds" Mona lisa Overdrive song influence, which is still cool. But I am surprised JUNO REACTOR put on two tracks that already have been released on the soundtrack to Matrix Reloaded. Couldn't they have come up with all new songs for their next main album instead of songs we've already heard??? Oh well... 7 new tracks I suppose is still a cool thing.

Wow!!!!! I want this album! Will it be available to listen to and buy off psyshop???

I've always loved AP, but this isn't nearly as impressive as their other main albums. AP has always been known for their beautiful, catchy, intricate layers of melody-rhythm, and their several AMAZING tracks. They continue their style here, (sort-of) however it seems less visionary, harmonious (emotive), more linear, synthetic, and club-influenced. IMO Dancing Galaxy was their best album, their peek. Both TNT and Another World are great as well. Some tracks are too repetitive here, such as the opening Amen song. You can make them danceable without being so predictable and linear. It seems AP wanted to make a variety of danceable trance that includes psy/goa, full on, psy-influenced club and techno-trance. I feel that the album lacks magic and memorable tunes that made their first three so memorable. There's some good work here, different, interesting. The album lacks inventiveness however and sounds somewhat lifeless.

THIS IS THE TRUTH OF THIS ALBUM: I have spent more time ANALYZING this album. I don't listen to the minimal, cheap bullshit. Just because this is not as deep (melody/psychedelic-wise) as maybe RA or Hallucinogen, does not mean it is bad or even half decent! This actually "IS" the most melodic X-Dream album to date since "We Created Our Own Happiness." (hear me out) It does not have lots of melody, but it has more melodic rhythm, as opposed to The Delta and COP, which was purely hard, powerful, dark riffs, beats, sounds, etc. This album is a true X-Dream album, not a should-have-been side project. I agree that parts of certain tracks, especially the last track called "All Rights Reserved," sounds pretty fucking technoish! It could have been better. But over-all, this album is not techno at all, and anyone who says that is being ignorant. This is like a follow-up sequel to RADIO, because X-Dream has not made an X-Dream "titled" album this dark since RADIO! As far as movies go, the sequal are usually not better. It is like that in this case, it is not better than the original. (Radio) Regardless, this album is fresh and different. It is dark, powerful, and (at times) relentless, like Radio was. It is NOT that psychedelic. It has less character and insane sounds, like Radio did. It will not revolutionize like Radio did, because this is taking the formula that we ALL asked for, and making new music with it. If you want something really dark on this album, listen to Universal Chaos. If you want a track that is extremely stomping, throbbing, and powerful, listen to track 5. Tracks 1-4 and 6-9 are all kick ass in one way or another. Some kick ass much more then others. Track 6 starts off decent, builds up and fucking rocks! There is one track that involves some really cool, short, up-lifting melody. It adds character to the track and makes it very memorable. I don't care for "Peters Hoover" because it is all crazy, throbbing bass and hard, repetitive beats. But for those who loved or even liked The Delta....the majority will really like Peters Hoover! Anyway, this album is not excellent, but it is good. If you like X-Dream, you should get this album for your collection. It took two full listens for me to agree to write what I have just wrote. Don't over-analyze everything or you won't enjoy it, but this album DOES KICK ASS!

This album is alright, as some tracks are very cool. It is not exactly Radio. If you expect that, then your in for a big dissapointment. The influence of Irratint in relation to Radio is obvious. This album is more minimal then their previous main albums, but not very minimal. For the record, this is not their best album. Regarding all the mixed reviews above: I don't know what you people expect after all these years. What did you think this album was going to be like? I mean, Radio is impossible to top, so don't get your hopes up too high. I have heard the track "Intercorporal stimulator" on some comp before, so I was not impressed, unless it is a remix. However, several of the tracks here are pretty cool, although nothing here is revolutionary. This should have had atleast some innovation after all these years of experience. Some tracks on this album seem a little too thick and repetitive. They could have been better. More psychedelic stuff and melody would have been nice. I have to admitt that I am not that impressed with this new album, but it is still X-Dream, and it is still cool. This album is influenced from both their main project (Radio), and side one (Delta). However, Irritant is much closer to their side project, then Radio. Unfortunately, The Delta is arguably better then this album, if not literally better. It would have been nice if X-Dream came out with something incredible like they used to. In conclusion, I need to listen to this album more, but its cool for now.