pdinklag

Like the three albums before, masterpiece and probably instant classic. Gosh, this guy is out of this world!

Aw man... have a look at Submoon Record's Facebook (hint: pics like these). Submoon, Felipe, whoever you are... can't you just make music (it is good!) and cut the bullshit? You just lost my support for sure.

Definitely nothing too special these days, but from the snippet I heard now, you might like the old Absolum stuff (album "Wild", also TIP), though it's a little slower I think (especially the first track). Warning: most tracks from that album are mislabeled all over the internet and don't match the CD, probably some ripper team confused track titles... the one above is actually "Drumatrix Rmx", not "Orange".

As it looks now, I'm going by car with GoaPal and others, I think. Let's definitely set up a camp together! If I remember right, Anoebis is booked somewhere (Israel?) and can't come.

Crystal.

Doesn't sound much louder, really. Seems that it's just what the release is meant to be.

Nice! Is there going to be a Psynews camp?

What a shame, but these are usually just phases. Even though they can last quite a while, good things come to those who wait. Pressure is no option of course, and rushing a release, just because the tracks exist, shouldn't be either. I'd rather have a full Ra album in 2017 or 18 than a few "lost" tracks on an EP. If it's legally possible and it fits the style, I'd consider putting "Icon" on a next release. That track has been released (http://www.discogs.com/Various-Cy%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%BE%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B8/release/1780667), but it deserves better mastering. Judging by the style, it sounds like it should have been part of 9th, but didn't fit on it anymore? If it's possible and it's not yet planned anyway, you'd have 6 tracks already.

Nice to see a Squaremeant fan here! Squaremeat is the artist I have the most music of... the 4 albums, quite some website freebies that came with "Astronomical Coffee Break", and if you want to call "Flat Foot" a Squaremeat release (as I do), it's another wicked album right there. Very enjoyable stuff. Reason it's not in my "top 10" is because my favorite tracks are distributed across the albums. Squaremeat would be one of my top 10 overall artists, though. (new thread, anyone? ) Might be in my future top 10. I only discovered it in a second hand shop last year. Wicked stuff here, man!

Hence why I put "goa" in quotes, very tough to call. They most definitely produced Nitzho (Void Indigo), and at least "Where is S?" (Destination Goa 7) can probably be considered goa trance. I usually put it like Imba, they're everything, their own genre. You might be on to something here. I remember finding loads of their music via Kazaa back in the early 00s. Probably gained them a lot of publicity. Aw, don't remind me of the sad MP3.com story... quite some losses there. Interesting read, anyway! Analog Pussy were also among the first psy/goa artists I knew. Never tried to compare them to IM, interesting. They also went full weirdo, but in quite a different direction than IM. Not sure if anybody still cared for them after they released "Trance N Roll" ...

Oh it will be! The news is out now, BGF #2 will see the first ever Veasna set!

I think killing the vibe is the point of that spot, as awkward as that sounds. The spot kills everything with that second of silence, and it comes pretty unexpected. I can see your point, it's very abrupt, but to me it's genius and the "what the f*** just happened!?" moment is part of the experience. Now that you say it, the end of Cosmic Illusion is actually comparable! It's a pretty strange ending, but I think I can see what he was up to there. Eight minutes into the track, after a STORM of a climax, he builds up another killer melody. After that, many ways how he could have ended it. I guess a simple builddown just wasn't good enough for him, so he picked the odd way out with those dissonant variations of the melody, adding drama and tension just before the rather abrupt end. Well, I love it. Seems like it's a matter of taste. I also produce music, and I've been into similar situations where I could have done this or that for a smooth transition, but then go all out for the unlikeliest of possibilities. Some people like it, some don't. That's music.

I have one premise: A release needs to sink in for some years after first hearing it before I can consider it a "favorite". That said, these are my picks, each of them means a lot to me in different ways (alphabetical order, because ranking them would be too much asked): Art of Trance - Wildlife on One Biot - Synthetic Organic Color Box - Train to Chroma City Electric Universe - One Love Jaïa - Blue Energy KhetzaL - Corolle Miraculix - The Arrival Ra - To Sirius X-Dream - We Created Our Own Happiness Zirrex - Lost in Time

Good question here, it's really amazing how they got that popular. Infected Mushroom were one of the first "goa" artists (to me, they are their own category) I knew back then. Must have been around 2003, because IM The Supervisor was not released yet. I somehow got my hands on Classical Mushroom, and that album played a huge role in me seeking out more goa trance and waking interest for the genre. Their music is pure quality, the arrangements and melodies are extremely intelligent, the production almost flawless. And even though they changed genres, their music stayed quality. After Supervisor and Vicious Delicious I gave up on them, I didn't like the music at all. Then out of nowhere, in 2012, they released Army of Mushrooms, and that album proved to me that they still had it (to pick two: The Rat and that DnB remix of Foo Fighters' Pretender). I still don't like that style too much, but damn, the music is good. And probably that's how they became famous indeed, by providing quality, whatever they do. I'd really like to see a live performance by these guys at some point - their actual act as well as an oldschool set (which they still seem to do regularly).

This is one of the few releases that are possible life-changers. I read mesmerizing above, as in hypnotic, it's that. Really. Hard to give a review, because reviewing also means describing. abasio gave a good description above. School of Fish is nothing short of beautiful and very melodic. Hymn, wow. I don't share the feeling that I want to listen to Hymn over and over again. Yet, it does not get boring or anything like that, and that's very strange for a near half hour track, with a simple melody as that one. In my opinion, the duration is perfect. The journey is packed with emotions, and there is one spot I call a climax, which can be overwhelming really. If you've ever done gong meditation, the feeling is similar. In Fishology, there's a melody to the bassline that's pretty catchy, once you realize it's even there. Took me a bunch of listens to perceive it, you might require a somewhat decent subwoofer to hear it, because it plays at pretty low frequencies. Under Water might not even be music to some people. Crudely said, it's playing around with a sample for 15 minutes, but there's more to it. Very deep atmosphere, and in my opinion, there is a structure - although I might also be imagining one. In conclusion, I disagree with people (and there seem to be many) saying that the first two tracks are the better two. I can see where they are coming from, but I prefer viewing this album as a whole. From my experience, you do need something to come down after Hymn, and Fishology is that. I definitely recommend this album. As a little tip of sorts: I found that Aural Planet's album Lightflow (it's freely available in the depths of the internet, but legally so) fits very well, played after this one. It took me some time to find a smooth transition into other music, does anybody else have any hints here? And by the way, I have the Avatar reissue (AVA 007) and it's indeed pretty quiet. Not too much of a problem, but annoying at times when you put other music after it in a playlist (I often do so for naps). Are the other releases louder?

So there are gamers here, good. Good to know! I still feel a little screwed though. Got the GOG version of Postal 2, and Paradise Lost is not on there yet. Anway, anybody into Kerbal Space Program? It's strangely addictive...

Very well possible, there were so many people to meet even though it was so small. Family festival! I gather the location will not be the same this year? It was very nice and easy to reach (I walked from the Zagreb arena along the Sava), I love how the place transitioned from the first night's mudpit (with that cheap-ass rain cover that almost crashed down on people many times) to goa paradise, with hammocks and nice little places everywhere. Anyway, I'll be there, you can count on that!

Thanks! And yes, I was there last year, and I will be there this year...

Hehe, I really just joined the forum yesterday and wondered how people thought of Zirrex here. To my surprise, barely any buzz at all. Or as you put it, underrated (with emphasis)!

After the reissue of Lost in Time in early 2010, you cannot imagine how excited I was when I learned that there would be another Zirrex album. What to expect from a new album from the guy who - in my view - made the best goa album ever, with nothing quite close to it? No doubt there was a little overhype, and indeed this one does not live up to Lost in Time. It's still one hell of a ride (I second Paul's 5/5) and I recommend it for anybody who loves electronic music... ...because that's what Zirrex does. This is not a pure goa or psy trance album. He experiments, he tries, he mixes styles, and this album contains results. Ritual Dance goes right at it. It kicks off as tribal trance, pretty much. Strong bassline, somewhat mysterious soundscape, almost generic sounding psytrance layers. It all changes after about the first third. Suddenly it goes melodic, a clash of goa trance and early 00s uplifting trance. Saw synth melodies like in the good days. Changes in base notes! Why doesn't anybody do that anymore? The vocals used in the second half could not have been used better, the climax about two thirds into the track is breathtaking and will take you off. Electro Nation hits you unexpected. We're just off a trance storm, and experience a smooth transition into... house? Yeah, pretty much. If psychedelic funky house exists, this is it. If you know Haltya, imagine a slower and smoother variant. If you ever throw a party with non-goa people, don't be afraid to pitch this one in, it fits every occasion! In the transition to the next track (it's a mixed album, yep), there's a little flashback to the Lost in Time album. I won't spoil it, it had me smile all over the place. Extremist is yet another experiment. A most successful one. Zirrex mashes up goa trance and electronic dubstep. Somebody tell Infected Mushroom to do more like this... the funny thing about it all is that it works. I'm not a fan of dubst- no wait, I f'in hate dubstep. But I never heard a goa buildup on a dubstep scene. Wickedly awesome. This track comes with happy morning goa melodies, 303 background lines and a modern-day produced beat and bassline. In the last quarter he goes all experimental again, with very strange vocal work. There's really a hell of a lot going on in this track, it's impossible to describe. A real experience! Nuclear Fusion is psytrance, but not the full-on sort. It's psytrance how I want it to be. No dull hands-up buildups. Instead, very trippy soundscapes and subtle melodies, all in one flow. I like to compare the style to Logic Bomb's album Unlimited, only with much more acidic touches throughout the track. Magic Colors takes the speed out of it all. This is a very slow feel-good goa track, again comparable to Logic Bomb (Normalised), but with more acoustic work. Zirrex seems to like guitars a lot. Again, so much in here. A supersaw line followed by an electric guitar solo, fitting vocals pitched in at times. You will feel better after listening to this one. Solar System can be considered one huge concept track. He split it into two parts, I'd describe Part 1 as the psytrance part and Part 2 as the goa part. Style-wise, Part 1 reflects Nuclear Fusion and Part 2 reflects Ritual Dance, but both parts share a theme, an atmosphere, and even a bassline. The bassline is the key to this track really, it's very memorable and leads you through the very trippy soundscapes from Part 1 to extremely beautiful melodies in Part 2. What happens at about 2 minutes into part 2 is magic. From here on out, Zirrex proves that he can do Suntrip-style newschool goa just as well. Rock Box is the track I was waiting for with this album. I heard a preview years before the release and just wanted to have it. We're downtempo now, broken beats, and so much going on, this track is creating a world of its own. As the name suggests, it sounds like every bit of this track is acoustic. The bassline, without a doubt, is not a snythetic one. Lots of guitar work in here, from the rhytmic one to the various solos. Music at its best, pure listening pleasure.

Reviewing the first two CDs (the original album) is unnecessary. This is the best goa there is. I might not be listening to goa anymore if this album didn't pull me back into it when it was released. You like memorable and iconic melodies, ecstasic moments and acid sounds in general? This album is for you. Enough said. I won't even try to pick a favorite. If you don't know this album: GET IT!!! Trivia: there's a little "bug" in Power Bass (at 3:19) where it sounds like a beat skips. Pretty bad timing because it's on a switch of scenes. According to the man himself, it was a problem with the DAT he recovered it from (which this album practically is - a DAT recovery). He posted a "fixed version" in his forum once, but I don't have it anymore and the forum is gone. CD3 is indeed a special kind of thing. Cosmic Illusion and Energy are probably just not on the first CDs because they didn't fit anymore. The style is the same and it's pure ecstasy. When people ask me what goa trance sounds like, I show them Cosmic Illusion. The track Energy is a secret acid weapon. The following are different, very strange, dark, but very deep. More for listening, less for dancing. Saratoga Trip has a very dark feel to it and is very noisy with considerably less melody work. I'd label it progressive forest goa. I don't know a lot of music like this, probably because it usually isn't my genre. It's a very trippy track, though, and I like it. Simple Machine sounds like a concept track. It has a dark, spooky, cyberpunk feel to it. Again, not a lot of melody work, but a purely psychedelic trip. Sounds like a mix of psytrance and industrial somewhat. This track contains a scene that is like nothing I've ever heard, a sudden break with a most beautiful guitar run, going into an epic (!!!) climax and outro. It's like Zirrex shows you what's possible with music, you wouldn't think it was. This track is a piece of art. Red Dragon is an interlude, not more. It's practically a simple tribal drum solo with some mysterious layers on it. Never paid a lot of attention to it, I have to admit. Not that it draws much. DeCompression is hard to describe. Again a very mysterious and dark theme to it. The way too happy melody that introduces the second half could be cynicism, I don't know. Very interesting track, not really outstanding, but still worth the time and memorable. LSDance I consider the weakest track of CD3. But even that one comes with a memorable melody and quite some depth. The dark-ish feel is kinda gone, the track actually gives you that feeling "OK, the album is over soon", almost like a lack of creativity - but I'd never accuse Zirrex of that (just listen to his Ritual Dance album...). Maybe there's a message in here and I don't get it.

Thanks everyone! Yeah, I dunno, I created this account in January. Seem to have forgotten about it until I tried to register yesterday. Doof, yeah, now that you call it! I've never known a lot from Doof until the DAT release, it's a shame I missed it for such a long time. I actually had Electric Universe in mind creating these newer tracks, but the style has already drifted off again. That's a good thing, I suppose.

Well, now you do. People underestimate how danceable Slayer and Anthrax are or how deep Dimmu Borgir is. Big fan of the old albums of Hatesphere and Chimaira, too. Often, there are some strange parallels to goa... I might try some remixes in the future, but it's not an easy job. Cool you're a Children of Bodom fan, they do a really cool combination of thrash and death metal in my view, Hate Crew Deathroll is a masterpiece of an album! And geez, I hope I can take the fangirling... (had a g-string thrown at me on a gig once... it was a friend's joke, but nothing will ever beat that) Hey! Yeah, Hadra seems to have taken over France, eh? I live in the western part of Germany. Same situation there: full-on, prog and darkpsy/dark hi-tech ruling the scene beyond repair (the rare actual goa parties are badly promoted and empty, Anoebis and Imba will remember...). Luckily, Belgium isn't very far.

Seconded! Documentaries in general are a great source. Sometimes they have a little background music, but that can also be used to your advantage! One thing I found useful is this little tool: http://www.bfxr.net/ It's a sound generator, designed to make retro-ish sounds for video games. However, it has many cool options that make it very powerful. I use it to create laser effects and rhytmic elements / percussion. There's a standalone (offline) version, too. It has WAV export, so it's compatible to all and everything.

Guess I'd say hello everyone! Patrick from Germany here, music addict. Mainly downtempo and goa trance, but I'm fine with practically anything from uplifting trance, techno, oldschool hip-hop, 90s eurotrash, freeform, dub, heck I even like a lot German schlager music. Big fan of death and thrash metal, too, been playing in a band a bunch of years back. I have a big love for producing music. Any style, I've been to a lot of places with that. The latest development is Veasna, my attempt at goa trance - with many twists and turns. I started a thread in the free music forum about that one. Other projects are mostly inactive, but definitely not dead. Of interest for this board may be Inti, experimental downtempo, partially up to 10 years old. The later works are more psychedelic than the old stuff. Maybe I'll go somewhere with it in the future. Oh well, I'm not the most frequent forum poster, but I guess I'll have a few words here every now and then. My goal here? Find even more music.