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Artist: Morphic Resonance Title: Chromatic World EP Label: Neogoa Date: January, 2014 01. Telekinesis 02. Epsilon Aurigae 03. Chromatic World 04. Psychoactive Landscape 05. Outro "Hold on bro...I'm just...I can't even begin to get my mind around...Lemme get this straight. You want me to...read the script. Actually read it? Am I on Punk'd? Ashton! Ashton you sonofab*tch, get out here!" *make mind blown hands around head* Obviously he has yet to take my advice, but the look on his face well, let's just say it was similar to the one he had when I caught him trying to understand the speaker phone. Dim witted Ryan aside, big thanks to Ivan for delivering this treat. This is like finding a Picasso for 5 bucks at a yard sale. Christian Fernandez is from Spain and with his cover that looks like Pinhead went disco he just put that country on the goa map with a hard hitting acidic bomb. Mixing the old school and new school styles the melodies are hypnotic and swirling. Hell the first track just kept evolving, I thought it would never end. But in a good way. The acidic bad assery is at a premium with melodies from the Pleiadians playbook. Screeching and thick Epsilon Aurigae is a wet dream Astral wishes they could do. Just relentless. Chromatic World continues the serial unwinding of melodies with a lush and dark atmosphere. I haven't wanted to fornicate with music since M-Run, but... call me, maybe we can work something out. If he puts out an album of tunes like this he will rocket to the top of the goa pyramid. It growls, it screams, and it's a powerful door smasher. Not to mention the teaser of a downtempo track at the end. Futuristic and dark it speaks of evil lurking around the corner. This fool just put E-Mantra, Crossing Mind, and Filteria on notice. Free at Ektoplazm! Mdk

Artist: Psy-H Project Title: Dance of Distant Worlds Label: Global Sect Music Date: January, 2013 1. In A Shade Of Dadrrount'got 2. Second Coming 3. Boloto Trip 4. Infernal Candyflip 5. Active Meditation 6. Chatlane 7. Ramayana 8. Infinite Freedom 9. Spiritual Experience First things first...look at that spectacular cover. LOOK AT IT! F*cking gorgeous. I can't stop staring at it. There have been times where I have bought an album without knowing how it was going to sound just because the cover was so kick a**. Of course that was before the interwebz when I didn't feel like dragging my a** to the listening station. It was done by Ahankara (real name surely) who also did the cover for the Tabula Rasa compilation. This is one of those cases where you should judge an album by its cover. Psy-H Project is Igor Kititsky from St. Petersburg Russia (yes I'm aware you cannot spell Kititsky without tits) and this is his debut. And what a f*cking debut it is. Cosmic goa trance is contained within people and should be purchased post haste. I haven't wanted to have sex with an album since M-run, but I'm getting all oiled up as we speak. Let that image sit with you for a bit. This is a deeply atmospheric journey into the cosmos with alien textures and exquisitely layered melodies. A goa album that in the beginning has some darkpsy elements. And let's face it it doesn't get any darker than Emily Rose reciting the multiple names of Lucifer on Infernal Candyflip. But it's not all dark. Hell, in the same track you have distinctive goa melodies as well as Buddhist chants. It's also not afraid to poke fun at itself evidenced by the growls and I presume Brad Pitt laughter in Boloto Trip. While the entire album is full of lush and detailed goa trance, the second half is brimming with stormers. Active Meditation shimmers and coalesces like melody quicksand while Chatlane sparkles like my toddler just threw glitter in the air. Maximum twirling potential, I'm telling you. And what did you think would happen when he teamed up with fellow Soviets Alienapia? Total bedlam ensues with more layers than an onion. So good I wanted to cry. I'm not one to tell you what to do, just a guy with an opinion. But buy this f*cking CD. Own it. Stare longlingly at it. Love it. Damnit, I'm outta baby oil. Goastore Beatspace Psyshop GlobalSectMusic

Artist: Ascent Title: I Will Fly Again Label: Goa Records Date: January, 2013 1. Purple Moon 2. Himalayas 3. Sense of Touch 4. Mystical Forest 5. Tear Drops (feat. Sideeffected) 6. When The Night Comes I don't have my finger on the pulse of the psytrance scene. I've never attended a party or met an artist or DJ. I have read Mushroom Magazine a couple of times, but there was a lot of words and half of it was in Dutch and I got bored. I prefer to let the music speak to me. This is after all "trance" in various forms so it should capture my attention and take me to another place. And this guy continues to do this. Ascent is Bojan Stojiljkovic abd he has released a bunch of EP's that I am sorting through as well as numerous albums. And so far everything I've heard has been magical. Transformative. Conscious raising. Whether it's progressive trance or downtempo and ambient with his brother Argus the detail captivates. Lush is an understatement and he does so much with simple bass lines. The melodies are gentle and comforting and can be uplifting or ominous. And a surefire way to hook me? Give your music a bit of goa flavor. I imagine progressive is approaching the saturation point where it becomes a punch line much the same way full-on did. Where so much of it was being produced that it all began to sound the same. Eyes would roll and groans would sound. Maybe. Like I said I don't have the word on the street, but as long as beautiful music like this is being created I'm still gonna listen. Go ahead...make fun of me and roll your eyes. I can take it. Psyshop Beatport Mdk

Artist: Kamainanda Title: Ancestors & Guardians Label: Merkaba Music Date: January, 2013 01 - Alchemy Resonance (88 BPM) 02 - The Portal (107 BPM) 03 - Panther Dreams (100 BPM) 04 - Moonlight Tango (100 BPM) 05 - Liberation (97 BPM) 06 - Time Travellers (97 BPM) 07 - Liquid Sunrise (85 BPM) 08 - Sadhu (85 BPM) 09 - Optimal Trajectstasy (83 BPM) 10 - Guardians Of Virtue (78 BPM) 11 - The Great Alignment (0 BPM) "We release...and let go. And something seems to take place." California Love! This guy based on the left coast invites you to shake your groove thing with his 2013 effort that is a mix of hip-hop beats, downtempo glitch, and dub. It's head nodding fun that manages to be smooth as an afternoon at the beach with an infinite amount of twists and turns. Gangster...yet stoner. The beats take center stage, but the melodies are nothing to sleep on either on tracks like Moonlight Tango. He closes with an epic ambient journey in The Great Alignment; full of tribal sounds, long pads, mysterious vocals and real world instruments. The production is so superbly clear it feels like your own private concert. After listening to trance music so intently it's good to shift gears and get a little funky. Free at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Rob Vector Title: The Future Songs of Old Label: Self-Released Date: January, 2013 01 - The Triumph Of Saint Lucy (86 BPM) 02 - Bastardized Beat Soup (105 BPM) 03 - Real Church (93 BPM) 04 - Tundra Sunrise (86 BPM) 05 - Nameless Gnosis (90 BPM) 06 - All I Got (101 BPM) 07 - Wizidry (93 BPM) 08 - Tundra Sunrise (DeeperNET's Nomadic Remix) (86 BPM) If you like lots of ethnic instruments with head nodding trip-hop beats and chants then look no further. But instead of weighing heavily on your sinning soul, this is good time music. If I close my eyes it could sound like an outreach by Moby. The tracks are real short giving you a taste without becoming bored. A nice mixture of electronica and real world instruments. The title suits it perfectly. This guy has got funk in his veins and uses choirs better than Enigma ever did. An interesting and solid release. Free at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Evolving Freedom Label: Enig'Matik Records Date: January, 2013 01 - Sensient - Mitford Stories (120 BPM) 02 - Itsu - Drizzle (95 BPM) 03 - Mindbuffer - The Grid (125 BPM) 04 - Quanta - Recept (144 BPM) 05 - RHCP - Walkabout (Kalya Scintilla Remix) (90 BPM) 06 - Organikismness - Life Beyond You (85 BPM) 07 - Sun In Aquarius - Wytaliba The Girl By The River (90 BPM) 08 - Zunzagi - Glitched Night (130 BPM) "13.7 billion years ago...from nothing...came everything." Part of me really wants to go to Australia. But a bigger part of me is scared sh*tless. Do you know how many things can kill you there? Snakes, spiders, scorpions, ants, sharks, hormonal koalas...I mean what the f*ck? No wonder that's where Britain sent all of its criminals. This Australian label has assembled a hodge podge of chill music for our enjoyment. Mitford Stories- A slow, earthy opener complete with nature sounds and warm pads. But it just feels like jumbled noise lacking direction. Drizzle- Glitchy and atmospheric Itsu delivers a breakbeat track that has motion. Melancholic guitars wail as effects twinkle. Short, but satisfying. The Grid- This sounds like music from a video game menu. Part militaristic, part Jason Bourne. Then the dubstep arrives, but it's well done. Percussion enthusiasts will wet their pants over this one. Slow and nasty. Recept- Deep, juicy bass sounds combine with a dubby beat for some good old fashioned head nodding. This makes me want to spark up on the beach as I watch the waves crash. Thank you. Walkabout- Channeling the Red Hot Chilli Peppers this is a funky live band jam session. Funny and cheesy at the same time, but definitely smile inducing. And no Aussie production would be complete without a didgeridoo. Life Beyond You- Drum n Bass tripped down to...well, the drum and bass. Some futuristic sounding pads and echoing effects make this interesting, but sometimes boring. Mainly boring. Wytaliba- This has a bubbling reminiscent of what the inside of your stomach might sound like after a late night taco bell binge. A little too...what's the word...sh*t your pantsy for me. When the sample comes in and says, "And down it goes!" that was pretty much it for me. Glitched Night- The final track is all about the piano melody. For me anyway. Not really relaxing though. The sounds backing the piano came across as white noise. I'm glad I listened to this. It's a pretty average compilation with a couple of stand outs, but there are several styles of chill music represented. Should be something here most people can enjoy. Free at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Cyan Clouds Label: Cyan Music Date: January, 2013 Side 1 01 - Fortadelis - Groovytational Pull (125 BPM) 02 - Saftronic - Lørdags (132 BPM) 03 - Low Orbit Satellite - Synchrotation MKII (125 BPM) 04 - Ross McLean - Subterrane (136 BPM) 05 - Paranal - E-System (125 BPM) 06 - Paranal - Binary Interaction (125 BPM) 07 - Arkadelphia - Fluidity (118 BPM) 08 - Arkadelphia - Lunar (112 BPM) 09 - OuD!n13 - Alteration (100 BPM) Side 2 10 - Low Orbit Satellite - Supersonic Traveller (95 BPM) 11 - Blatancy - A Cup Of Tea In The Twilight (Original Mix) (105 BPM) 12 - D-Echo Project - Subtle Change (110 BPM) 13 - Smooth - Nachtwerk (104 BPM) 14 - The Mixing Chef - Phases Of Chill (90 BPM) 15 - Tenonaki - Raumklang Mars (125 BPM) 16 - Bandarlog - Excerpt (100 BPM) 17 - Jaja - Riga (EBE Mix) 18 - Yagya - Old And Slow 4 The promo here pretty much nailed it (shocker). Side 1 gives you short tracks of various branches of techno. Some were floaty and hey! They repeat sh*t over and over like we do. Some of them sounded unfinished like they had an idea and then went to look at some porn. What stood out to me the most was the absolute lack of samples. Our music seems to thrive on them so to not hear any was very noticeable. Not saying that's a good thing or a bad thing, just a thing. The second half sees longer tracks as well as the first sample that gives me the knowledge about thunder and lightning I obviously lacked. The track by The Mixing Chef was great and had tremendous cosmic appeal. And there are a couple like that here (Excerpt is a moody sumb*tch). In the beginning there is more of a lounge and beer on the beach feel so if that's what awaits after alien abduction sign me up. Honorable mentions; tracks by Yagya and Jaja have some HUGE nebula watching pads. It's nice to get a break from trance once in a while. In that spirit, the next album I plan to review will be Wu-Massacre featuring Method Man. I think there might be a lot of f word in that one. Free at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Ioon Title: The Ioonfinite Loop Label: Psyderweb Records Date: January, 2013 01 - Totally Let It Go (100 BPM) 02 - Ayamm (Innuendo Number 104) (104 BPM) 03 - Change The Nadi Flow (Guitars by DvZ) (100 BPM) 04 - Aes Drama (95 BPM) 05 - The Ioonfinite Loop (100 BPM) What a crazy name. On my screen it looks like Loon. How do you even pronounce it? Maybe you don't. Maybe it's like Prince and that stupid f*cking symbol. Probably not as flamboyantly gay as that. This is Johnny Gallucio from Italy with a deep trance EP. It's not downtempo or ambient and it isn't progressive, but simply music that does all those things without being put in box. While the title track was Ioonfinitely annoying, I really enjoyed Aes Drama? History here? Rejected demo? Stolen girlfriend? Tricked into going to a timeshare presentation? All we (and by we I mean me) can do is speculate. Nonetheless I liked the track with it's dreamy vibe and unfurling synths. If you told me Aes Dana did it I would easily believe you. He even has the tempo increase later in the track. Change the Nadi Flow is another track that makes you take notice as it unwinds layers of electronica amidst guitar riffs. Peaceful and reflective. For some reason it makes me think of Miami Vice where dramatic music was inserted with slow motion video for the most mundane actions. Definitely worth a listen. Free at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Loud / Loud & Domestic Title: Pipeworm / 303 Tool EP Label: TIP Records Date: January, 2013 1. Pipeworm (Loud &Domestic Remix) 2. 303 Tool - Loud "The words mana from heaven actually means mushrooms from heaven." Mushrooms make everything better. Ahh...the first review of a new year. It's like virgin snow or, well...a virgin. Thanks to the Artist News and Labels Announcements forum this caught my attention. And what we have here is something quite psychedelic. Loud (Israeli duo Eitan Reiter & Kobi Toledano) & Domestic (Ido Ophir) take on a track from the legendary Simon Posford that first appeared on the 2006 compilation God Save the Machine. Beatport says it was made in 2009, but how could that be if it's on a compilation from 3 years earlier? Unless they were on some Marty McFly sh*t. It's pumping with deep bass drops and oscillating synth waves. Sonic manipulation and tempo changes that makes you question just what was in that teacup that guy with the stupid f*cking hat gave you. 303 Tool features the revered instrument of the Gods, growling to life with a house like hi-hat and soul clap. It scratches that itch that seems to be just out of reach. Nice EP to start off the year. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Lyctum Title: Cinematic Perspective EP Label: Digital Freedom Records Date: January, 2013 Dejan is back with his latest EP release that does not disappoint. They Are Here - a massive track that has a progressive swagger but like the name of the EP a cinematic style. Like a battle that scorches the land this one reminds me of Xerox from the Battleship days. It's even got lasers. You like lasers. Forgotten Lifeforms- More soundtrack grandeur as he continues with his impressive break work. Catch that one? You might as well be in the forests in the Avatar movie. Sure he's still playing around with the galloping bass lines, but so what? The Catalyzer (KIN Remix)- This is one of his tracks getting remixed by KIN. An up and coming artist as they say. Never heard the original, but this track didn't move me. The predictable tempo change in the middle of the track did it in. This guy knows melodic and effect driven progressive. Right up there with Mr. E-Clip. Recommended. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Photophobia Title: Crossing the Abyss EP Label: Enlight Records Date: January, 2013 01 - Merry Crisis And A Happy New Fear (vs Xarope) (136 BPM) 02 - Fearless Metanoia (141 BPM) 03 - Nocturnal Seeing (144 BPM) Who's ready for a little forest? From Rio De Janiero comes the debut of some dark and twisted sh*t. Twisted like a 27 car pile up on a snowy Nebraska interstate. Deep rumbling bass lines and that darkpsy lead that sounds like modulated acid. It's everywhere in this dark mess. Zero light with lots of sounds to keep you in the dark. I've heard good forest. For me this isn't it. No tale to tell (and of course no melodies) it just drops you down the hole and lets you fend for yourself. All culminating in a nightmare of sound with Nocturnal Seeing being the noisiest of the EP. The one thing that stands out is that it was mastered by none other than Electrypnose. So if you like your noise to be crystal clear, you've got that going for you. Only for the dark lovers, satanists, and other soulless monsters like members of Congress. Anyone else see the irony of Photophobia (light fearing) being released on Enlight Records? "She keeps on passing me by..." Free at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Wolfen Technologies Title: Foreign Frequencies EP Label: None Date: January, 2013 1. Ancient Feelings 2. Keep on Flowing 3. Senses Because I'm voluntarily throwing money at Elias Gits, Anoebis, Psyshop, and Avatar I'm taking a look at our good friends over at Ektoplazm. Add to that my wife has discovered that bras from England fit better than from the US, I'm trying to save a few bucks. I decided to check this out because aside from the very interesting cover art this guy (Tom Chant) is from Wales. I spent a year attending the College of Swansea in which studying was not a priority. I mean it was, just not for me. This is a downtempo glitch menagerie that seems to move a lot faster than the bpm's dictate. Soft melodies over cool breakbeats while effects wreck shop as the beat goes on. The bass is deep and makes a chest shudder, but the synths are light and airy. Because the tracks are fairly short it is a nice digestible piece of electronica. Recommended. Free at Ektoplazm Mdk