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Artist: Etnica Title: Live In Athens 1996 Label: DAT Records Date: December, 2012 1. Intro 2. Plastic 3. Floating Universe 4. Antidote (Etnica rmx) - Blue Planet Corporation 5. Nice Toys 6. Vimana 7. Lunar Civilization (Etnica rmx) - Crop Circles 8. Time Dilation (Etnica Morning mix) - Pleiadians 9. Mankind 10. Electric Shower 11. Rotating Fields 12. Fluorophilia Camps Bay 13. Blinded Moon 14. Jungle Trax (Etnica rmx) - Pleiadians 15. Mental Puzzle 16. Phthalic Vibes You said Key. Where do I start with this one? This is a release that thanks to label head Draeke had every goa trance fan salivating. Whether you call them Etnica, Pleiadians, or Crop Circles these Italians are legendary in this genre and arguably responsible for the greatest goa trance tracks ever. I.F.O...classic. Alien Protein...classic. Tetrahedron...you guessed it, classic. So thanks to an act of theft (some guy actually recorded their live set to DAT) we have one CD of their performance in Athens. So what do you get? You have one disc with the recording of their live set in Athens in 1996 and another of unreleased goodies. The booklet contains a bunch of cool info about how this release came about and also the stories of the unreleased tracks. Highlights? They had to carry all their equipment with them to every show. Everything. What a pain in the ass. Now a pimply faced kid only needs to bring his Sony Vaio loaded with ProTools and he thinks he's Paul Van Dyk. Oh how the times have changed. As far as the artwork goes, I can take it or leave it, but one things for certain...you know it's Etnica when you see it. Live In Athens 1996 Intro- This monumental release begins with an intro that they played during all their sets. Maybe to set the mood or to f*ck with the seriously stoned, I cannot say. It is what it is...a slow percussive intro. Now on to the good stuff. Plastic- Plastic... Ewww. I wonder if silicone comes out when she blows her nose. First thing I noticed when comparing it with the EP is that this version is almost 2 and a half minutes shorter. Seeing how this disc is partially mixed perhaps they took out the bits that might've slowed the momentum. Again, I wasn't in the room, but you've got that signature melody that builds like a tsunami so no worries. With a constant thump the sparkling acid flickers like they were using a blowtorch. I wasn't a fan of the transition into Floating Universe, but that's minor. Floating Universe- Just an absolute stormer. Leads that are searching like the dendrites of an axon with lightning fingertips. There is no respite as it backs down in places and then regroups. You get the entire track that sounds great with the energy of a live wire. Antidote (Etnica Remix)- We've all heard the Pleiadians remix of the BPC classic, but I've never heard this one before. It's got a nice bottom end complete with a growl that's just waiting to erupt. Let the knob twisting commence! And boy do they. Guttural and squelchy at times this one leaves scorch marks when the leads aren't getting all twisted up like a nasty DNA strand. At almost 11 minutes this one is quite the ride. Nice Toys- This is another one I've never heard before. There is a reason this was released in time for the holidays. Ouch. Santa needs another AA meeting. Rest assured mine made it in time, so that above must've been the afterparty. More cloud bursting leads that twist and turn making the people below look like ants. Feel like the Silver Surfer as that bass growl is my surfboard. I wouldn't recognize the melody, but I sure do love the ride. Vimana- Oh boy we're in the meat of things now aren't we? And that melody is like getting wrapped with barbed wire. So sparkly and spacious, my twisting controls have been on auto pilot for a good while now. Lunar Civilization (Etnica Remix)- With a smooth transition we're onto the Etnica remix of a classic Crop Circles track and it doesn't take long for the twirling to begin again. THE melody comes in at 4 and a half minutes and the smile that you had to start has just been widened. A happy smile doofus. Not like somebody just cornholed you. It's a cluster of melodies from space thrown together in a shower of stardust. This is the holy grail people, this is what goa heads have been searching for. Time Dilation (Etnica Morning Mix)- According to the booklet this track was built around a beautiful sample and you hear it right from the get go. At over 15 minutes I don't have to tell you this is the longer version and it's worth every second. That voice is heavenly and makes me think of an ethereal Lord of the Rings wispy vocal. But in space. It's a softer track (their words) and was only played during morning sets. Takes a while to get going and it builds along the way. Like the booklet said even though this one is not as aggressive, you can tell it is form the minds of Etnica. Best of Unreleased Mankind- The bass and pads make this seem other worldy and like all their tracks it builds with each measure. Halfway through Mankind takes a storming posture as if daring you to look at it. The shimmering wall of color is there, probing, showing you the way. I like this one because while it's also big, it reveals the guts in places. Know what I mean? Like that drum n bass rhythm? So did they because they built the track around that. Electric Shower- That would electrocute you...right? Might as well throw a toaster in the bathtub. Whoa whoa...don't do it yet. You gonna eat those pop tarts? From 1998 this track marked a time when the way they made music had changed. They took a bunch of samples (From the first ever sample CDs) and put them together and well, manipulated the hell out of them. Hence, electric shower. It's noisy and not their usual layers of melody and probably my least favorite of both discs. Rotating Fields- "Ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight? I ask that of all my prey?" Made entirely by Maurizio in Milan in 1998 after their first trip together in Brazil it's an acidic chunky b*tch. Groovy with lots of effects he dedicated it to someone special at the time. Very psychedelic with the six million dollar man effect when he does something bionic. Remember that? Remember, remember when that was... *sigh* you kids weren't even alive. It started off strongly, but lost steam on the way down. He mentioned that he wanted to make some changes but never got around to it. Fluorophilia Camps Bay- Made in 1997 by Carlo and Maurizio in South Africa after they released I.F.O. it bubbles with intensity and finds its legs halfway through. Forest sounds or effects made to sound like the forest are present throughout. There is a lot going on while it surges and recedes. Pretty good track with numerous melody changes. Blinded Moon- Well no wonder it's a blinded moon, there's a f*cking muppet dancing on it. Based on a techno track (Trans Pact) back in 1997 this one is of a darker nature. But that said, it's very melodic to my ears with several leads and a true outer space vibe. This is great Etnica stuff with more shimmering synths and unfriendly extra terrestrial life. If this was on Alien Protein it wouldn't be out of place in my opinion. Jungle Trax (Etnica Remix)- Ah a remix of the Pleiadians classic. According to the insert they used to make a bunch of different versions of a track (which probably means there is more gold in them thar hills!) and the main thing I notice about this one is that it doesn't have that key change found on the original. Which is good cause I didn't like that. Otherwise it's a churning track that seems to go on for awhile, wrapping you up in its spin. Sparks fly after 5 minutes culminating with a solid finish. Mental Puzzle- Quite possibly the rarest of the rare this track was heavily damaged and required some serious restoration. Like if you peed all over the Mona Lisa I guess. Not quite, but kid's got a future. Made back in 95 it crushes the competition with its relentless pace and varied melodies while keeping true to the bubbling goa sound. 15 minutes. That's f*cking insane. Do you have any idea how many galaxies you can visit at light speed in 15 minutes? Like...3 I guess. Sparkling, intense, and an old school gem to be sure. It seems unending with it's many spirals of sound and if I had to put it in layman's terms. This track is a Labrador retriever plowing a kid over in a flooded field. What? Phthalic Vibes- Ah the final track in this unbelievable journey. And what a f*cking track it is. The last one composed by Etnica as a quartet it was meant to be released on a Fluorophilia album that never was. It's a killer with more bounce than a chick with double D's. Forceful and a fabulous way to end this trip. Holy f*cking Cow. That was something else. I imagine this review is going to read more like a promo with correct English than a review, but what do you expect? It's Etnica from their golden goa period. Did you think Draeke was gonna waste his time uncovering turds? Work his ass off for something mediocre? I could've written this review in one word. Awesome. The vast majority of the tracks are stellar and what goa trance should be. Melodic, driving, trip inducing...It sounds great and a perfect way to close a chapter in goa history. Unless they have even more gems that they are waiting to release at a later date. Congratulations to these pioneers of the genre and congratulations to Draeke and his label for bringing these wonderful tracks to light. DAT Records Psyshop Beatspace Saikosounds GoaStore Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Dimensional Gateway III Label: Neogoa Date: December, 2012 1. PharaOm - Space Outpost Titan V [142 BPM] (07:40) 2. Trinodia - 7th Ace [139 BPM] (09:02) 3. Screw Loose - So Much To See [145 BPM] (08:10) 4. Astrancer - Fenomena [146 BPM] (09:41) 5. Decadent Sympozium - Lux Invictus [144 BPM] (08:20) 6. Nova Fractal - Redemption [146 BPM] (10:08) 7. Lunar Dawn - Future Of Mankind (Waiting The Dark Years) [147 BPM] (09:22) 8. BlackStarrFinale - Sagittarius A* [145 BPM] (10:59) 9. Menkalian & GoaHuman - Spirit Of Life [120 BPM] (06:34) Creator of the Neogoa label (and now Graviton Records head) Ivan Richpa presents the third installment of the phenomenally successful Dimensional Gateway series. Not only did he compile all the tracks (which I can only assume meant going door to door with the requisite begging and threatening) but he's also responsible for the impressive artwork. A gateway should be ornate, impressive...making you feel like you are about to enter something substantial. To what dimension does this lead? Richard Gere's hamster could not be reached for comment. Gateway drug? I don't think so...unless it's a gateway to laughter and a bag of Doritos. 2. 2 bags of Doritos. And some funions. Crackers. Ritz crackers with some cream cheese. And do you still have those pork rinds? "I tell you B...why doesn't he get some help? Why? I'm tired of tip-toeing around this, he has to know he sounds like this. It's been over 70 years and I still can't understand a f*cking thing Donald says!" So here we go on the journey through the 3rd and presumably final gateway with the usual cast of characters as well as a couple of fresh faces. Space Outpost Titan V- I don't like it. I'm sorry I don't. Oswald Pfeiffer recently released his debut Tesseract (for free) and I found it to be a great album, but this sounds nothing like it. The problem I have with it is that it relies too heavily on samples. In fact it sounds as if the track was built around them instead of using them as an enhancement. It also doesn't help that the samples themselves are quite cheesy. But one thing I did like was that he experimented with a different style. While I might not like it, I definitely respect it. 7th Ace- Daniel Eldström is no stranger to the scene having released Human History (also for free) and Stargazing on Ovnimoon Records. This one is a combination of spiritual goa meets outer space goa. Twirling melodies as you would expect, but when that 303 growls to the surface I take notice like teenager at a Hooters. You can tell he is a storyteller as his break is vast and the launching pad for more snakey leads and a nice full climax. And I think that a nice full climax is something we can all agree on. So Much Too See- "This is one corner...of one country on one continent on one planet that's a corner of a galaxy that is a corner of a universe that is forever growing, shrinking, creating, destroying, never remaining the same for a single milisecond and there is so much, so much to see." Yeah...take it all in. So. Much. To. See. Proof that the Balkans not only dominate progressive trance they have goa trance square in their sights and Sasa Dukic lays a rumbly goa smack down on you. That 303 bounces like it's dancing on a hot stove and did you check the way he slid that sample in there without giving you a chance to catch your breath? It catches you up without strangling you with melody, but you don't have to ponder whether it's goa as he layers nicely. Great track. Fenomena- Like a lot of you Bruno first came to my attention with the Dzog Chen track on the Pyramidal Trancendence comp back in 2006 and it's been high expectations ever since. I mean how do you top that? Well he didn't do it here, but he nonetheless made a ok track. It has power, but not much evolution. Even with that shortcoming it still sounded full and very spacey to my ears. Lux Invictus- Here is the first of the fresh faces with a very shiny and shimmery lead melody line. It's another track that smacks you right in the beginning without many twists and turns, but it's still good. Methinks Ivan may have stumbled upon a gem here. It will be interesting to hear more stuff from this project. Redemption- we all have all done things that we weren't proud of or maybe wish we could've done better. "Ok, so you missed the question on the contents of a twinkie, I dunno I thought you were gonna nail that one, but, but let's move forward. All you gotta do is get clear of this last test and we win the million dollars. You can do it, redeem yourself. That's it, wait for it wait for it...Oh c'mon!! Damnit, you had this!" More Croatian dominance as Renato Brnić delivers another long goa tale. The beginning and break resembles Filteria's Filtertraces and he has a great Shawshank sample with Morgan Freeman speaking about...you guessed it redemption. That guy's voice is legendary. I'd be riveted listening to him read the terms of my mortgage. Besides Morgan's awesomeness it's a goa track that doesn't sound like a goa track. Sure the elements are there, but none of the cliche stuff that some are sick of hearing. Great track. Future Of Mankind (Waiting The Dark Years)- Lunar Dawn owns the Chuck Norris of tracks on this compilation. Overtly aggressive with searing leads and 1970's power. I really don't know what that last part means. "B*tch, don't touch Chuck Norris's steering wheel!" With a nice calm before the storm intro you can tell right away this isn't your daddy's buddhist monk goa trance. He layers sounds like my kid stacks leggos. Which reminds me: When Chuck Norris steps on leggos, leggos cry. The pace is brisk with only short breaks and it travels like a tsunami adding to it's destruction total. One if my favorites surely! Sagittarius A- Luis Pabon seems to believe that you have nothing better to do with your time because he offers an 11 minute track. AND YOU WILL LISTEN TO IT! It's got lasers in it. You like lasers. And that lead that sounds like the one in Blade when they walked into the "club" and the showers came on. Only it wasn't water. Oh no it was blood. That's how you do a vampire movie Twilight b*tches. Powerrrrrr. Sorry about that I was leaning on the r. Spirit of Life- And to close things out we get some fresh blood here with a downtempo-ish type track. I like that it's not a true downtempo track. After the previous tracks that would be like going through the windshield at 65 miles an hour. I think that's like 476 kilometers for the Euros. But you might want to check my math. The sound of this one is more melancholy and Lord of the Rings than Event Horizon if you get my meaning. Still nicely drifting and a great way to close it out. So there you have it. Ivan has done it again with the 3 volume of this series. Plenty of goa with a heavy dose of psychedelia to see you through. As with the previous albums this one is also free and I think will be available December 1st. Congratulations to him and all the artists that continue to make this series something to look forward to. Coming Very. Very. Very. Soon. Mdk

Artist: Hypnoxock Title: Moving In Trance (The Collection) Label: Astronautic Records Date: December, 2012 01 - Logic Evolution (138 BPM) 02 - Reflex (138 BPM) 03 - Viped 1 (138 BPM) 04 - Next World (140 BPM) 05 - Camouflage (130 BPM) 06 - Dimensio Desconeguda (138 BPM) 07 - Electroxock (145 BPM) 08 - Progresion Ecliptica (144 BPM) 09 - Ecstassy (145 BPM) 10 - Vibrations (Cosmic Remix) (147 BPM) 11 - Emotions (140 BPM) 12 - Rare Planet (147 BPM) What was once the best kept secret in psytrance is now one of the projects that restores faith in a genre that has seen its ups and downs. Hailing from Spain we are freshly basking in the afterglow of his latest album Eurythmia where he continues to develop his hybrid of goa, psy, and progressive trance. What makes this project so special is the attention to detail without sacrificing power or atmosphere. Total package. This release (which I guess is a collection of b-sides or unreleaseds?) is six years old as of this writing and like the rest of the catalog it is extremely solid. 12 digital tracks where they (at the time I think they were a duo) go up and down the genre with super results. Reflex and Viped 1 straddle that psychedelic progressive line while Camouflage will keep your toe tapping in a euphoric style with a progressive bpm. Even the tracks that aren't superlatives (full-on) still reek of quality and detail. If you like their lush and powerful style this one won't disappoint. Free at Ektoplazm

Artist: Pineal Title: Cauda Pavonis Label: Blue Hour Sounds Date: December, 2012 1. Squaring the Circle 2. Cauda Pavonis 3. Pantalika 4. Stregatto 5. Nostoc 6. Zeta Landscape 7. Prime Numbers 8. Gravity Waves 9. Yonisphere 10. Induction 11. Moonbase Alpha This reminds me a lot of the Kaaya Project sound with its tablas and worldly vibe. You'll hear dubby basses melded with guitar painting a dreamy naturescape. Pineal is Domenico Canzoniero from *spoiler alert* Italy and his debut is a combination of real world instruments as well as some dissonant sounds which give the tracks an irregular feel. Certainly is interesting. Sometimes it plods slowly along (Stregatto) or it gets a little busy (Zeta Landscape). The whole thing is a little odd and can be difficult to fully embrace. There isn't an absence of melodies as much as there is a collection of sounds. Soundwise it's great and crystal clear thanks to your boy Aes Dana who did the mastering. Not for me, but if you're in the mood for something different give it a go! Psyshop

Artist: Amygdala Title: Modus Operandi Label: Ektoplazm Date: December, 2012 01 - Yeheuan Filters (73 BPM) 02 - Ridden By The Loa (66 BPM) 03 - The Construct (Oxylerator III) (136 BPM) 04 - Modus Operandi (140 BPM) 05 - Mindsweeper (142 BPM) 06 - Wintermute (140 BPM) 07 - Business End (134 BPM) 08 - Made Up Mind (130 BPM) 09 - MetaMusic (Reified Mix) (132 BPM) 10 - Simstim (65 BPM) 11 - Enlightenment Cut (60 BPM) 12 - ConunDrum (110 BPM) Wow, where did this come from? This is Andreas Riemer Christensen (is everyone from Denmark named Christensen?) with his debut full length album and it is a futuristic cyber world with incredible atmosphere. Booming drums, dark effects, and an all around eerie feel with crackling electric energy. The first two tracks are downtempo creepy pieces designed to thrust you into this bleak future. Part Matrix part Frontline Assembly. Once The Construct appears it's a scorching goa melody that fits right in with the metallic and cyber heavy world of his making. He's got a great skill of heightening the atmosphere when he goes into the breaks which keeps the listener firmly in his storytelling grasp. What he lacks in melodies he more than makes up for in lush effects and layering. And just when you think you have the track figured out he surprises you. My mind was made up on Made Up Mind as a somewhat groovy minimalistic progressive track when he unleashed the melodies that danced in step with the beat. While not "goa" by today's description it certainly contains goa elements that are fairly easy to pick out. I found that the middle of the album strayed a little from the theme originally presented (Business End was a little too happy & bright) this is still an album that is easy to enjoy. The beginning and ending to me are the most vivid and lush parts of the whole shabang and I would love to hear a low bpm release from him. One of the comments on Ektoplazm about this release hits the nail right on the head: "I can almost see the movie behind the soundtrack" Bingo. Sci-fi fans rejoice! Free at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Zebbler Encanti Experience Title: Psychic Projections Label: Gravitas Recordings Date: December, 2012 01 - Psychic Projections (feat. Dante Bucci) (140 BPM) 02 - Quetzalcoatl (101 BPM) 03 - Totem (140 BPM) 04 - Temple (feat. Jason Hann) (140 BPM) 05 - Data Mind (110 BPM) 06 - Prophetic Interlude (feat. Hannah Thiem) (140 BPM) 07 - Exploding Glowstick (110 BPM) 08 - Quetzalcoatl (Willy Whompa Remix) (150 BPM) 09 - ZEEDM (145 BPM) 10 - Quetzalcoatl (Woulg Remix) (137 BPM) 11 - Profit (140 BPM) 12 - Profit (Ishe Remix) (140 BPM) Don't let this slip by you without giving it a listen. Zebbler is a Boston based duo with their debut album and their style is slow and juicy. Well, sometimes. Taking elements of dub and glitch and marrying them with tribal like melodies in an unholy union of interesting stuff. Keeping the tracks brief is smart and doesn't let you get bored with what they're doing. Some of this sh*t is as funky as a Radioactive Sandwich. See what I did there? It can move at a snail's pace or it can be rapid fire, oftentimes in the same track. Quetzalcoatl sets you up with with some funky downtempo before it erupts in a gigantic crunchy electronic orgy. And then there's the dubstep. Oh the dubstep. And there is a lot of it. Dubstep has been called many things, but I describe it like putting a robot penis through a pencil sharpener. Because I don't listen to it regularly I don't mind the dubstep. I find it fairly fresh and unpredictable. But let's be honest...tracks like the Willy Whompa remix are a heading waiting to happen. Just know if you hat dubstep this release won't be for you. There is still way more to enjoy as it is a great mix of melancholic melodies as well as polar opposites in sonic texture. It comes off sounding rich and lush when they bend sounds to their will. The Woulg remix is like when the terminators legs break off and he has to move in slow and sometimes fast motion. Terminator 2 reference. Score. The harsh and abrasive sounds in Exploding Glowstick hide the gentle ambient like someone getting screamed over. And that's where I think they excel when they combine genres. A whole album of electronic gang rape is exhausting and painful. That's not for me. That's for India. Free at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: The Riddler Title: From Myst to Twist Label: TesseracTstudio Date: December, 2012 1. Never heard of it 2. Christmas Burglary 3. Randomizer 4. Eleven 5. Slumber Party (The Riddler rmx) - Talpa 6. Blue 7. Hunted 8. A pocket full of smiles 9. Popularity Contest 10. You R my star Questions. I haz dem. How did the US let Mexico surpass us in adult obesity? That was our thing man! Where else can you get a fried coke but in America? We need to start thinking outside the box to get our mojo back. I say let's put underperforming students in the deep fryer. Nothing motivates like the threat of extra crispy. Why are Egyptians so good at protesting yet so sh*tty at democracy? Jim Carey. What the hell does the queen of England actually do? Besides putting a dent in the royal budget with Depends undergarment purchases? But mainly the debut album from Goran as The Riddler. Setting the progressive trance world on fire with his mixture of eerie melodies and funky beats he's right back at it with his second release. Which leads me to my next two questions. Where the hell was the publicity on this one and could he strike gold yet again? The answer to that is a resounding yes. This is The Art of Non on Friday night looking to get lucky. The spooky movie melodies continue to flow over hypnotic grooves that force the toe to keep tapping. Part of the appeal is that he keeps it fresh with short tracks. Only two are over six minutes which doesn't allow for boredom to set in. I've mentioned this before, but the mood is Tim Burtonesque...on ecstasy. Like Stella Goran got his groove back with basses that will punish a subwoofer. Perhaps this is more closely related to progressive house without the cheese, it still excels in making the music fun. He even goes a little disco on you in a couple of tracks. That said it doesn't rival the feeling I got when I heard Questions. Some of the tracks are a little weaker and seem like filler. I could see where some might call it Questions Vol. 2 with tracks that didn't make the cut for the debut. But there is surely enough here for a good time. Recommended. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Voyager: First Plateau Label: Hado Records Date: December, 2012 1. Order to chaos ALIENAPIA 2. Psychotria Viridis HYPNOTIC SIGNAL 3. Beyond the clouds CELESTIAL INTELLIGENCE 4. Cosmic Voyage ELEUSYN 5. Hyphneone SKARMA 6. Dansul Ielelor (Artifact303 rmx) E-MANTRA 7. Distorted Visions SOUL KONTAKT 8. Amnesia Reaction FILTERIA 9. Path to Sychelia ASIRION 10. Daydreamer ARTIFACT303 Who are you Hado Records? Who are you really? I think we need to get a close up look at what's going on here. Whoa Whoa! Too f*cking close! Yikes, I think a dentist is in order. Hado Records is a label that is quickly making a name for itself. Their first re-release was the highly underrated classic Lost in Time by Zirrex which is one of the all time classics in goa trance. But they didn't just re release it...oh no they gave it the 3 CD treatment with new mastering and some new tracks. Awesome stuff. So here is their second release: a compilation of some of the best new school goa artists the genre has to offer as well as some names you might not be familiar with. This is modern goa trance with an infinite number of melodic spirals. Bomb after bomb of pumping stuff beginning with the first we've heard from Alienapia since their blistering Goapoca...however the f*ck you spell it way back in 2010. You can always pick out the floating E-mantra style which continues to be awesome, but we also get the first release from Skarma who shows a lot of promise. Artifact303 is back with a real treat as he tackles Danseul Ielelor and makes it as massive as the original. Then the compilation takes a turn beginning with Distorted Visions towards a less aggressive posture. Filteria's track while beautiful is more sunshine and soft edges and less stacks of melody threatening to crush the life out of you (I like that by the way). Me thinks he's stretching his creative muscles and besides that when was the last time you heard a Filteria track that was just 6 and a half minutes? I'll tell you, never. Asirion delivers a progressive style goa effort that is beautiful and flowing as the Hungarian heavyweight closes things out as if to remind you that he's still a boss in this here goa thing. And he is. Beautiful melodies and bursting with layers and depth. You da man Zsolt. This one kinda got lost in the shuffle. You know Christmas time, life gets a little crazy. Another great goa trance release that gets more friendly for those who may find that goa can get too heavy and in your face. All the tracks were very good and I recommend this highly. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Artist: Atman Construction Title: Elysian Terraform Label: Liquid Seed Recordings Date: December, 2012 01 - Aventurescence (143 BPM) 02 - Parallax View (143 BPM) 03 - Solipsysm (135 BPM) Three things I know: One, the striking artwork is done by Paul Sargent Two, it's mastered by Colin Oood Bennun. And three, I have no idea who is the mind behind this project. So I can only assume it is aliens who are not ready to reveal themselves to us as of yet. And it sounds like what aliens might make. They take everything that they hear and put it into a track. Downtempo with glitchy effects as well as sounds that aren't from this planet. It can be aggressive and relaxing often within the same track. But don't think you're gonna take a nap with this one. It is outstandingly lush with layers of sonic goodness that can be noisy and then float worthy. Recommended. What the hell you got going over there Basilisk? Free at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Saikozaurus Title: Demiurgent Agent Label: Moon Station Records Date: December, 2012 01 - Saikozaurus - Demiurgent Agent (148 BPM) 02 - Saikozaurus - Aliens Are Here (148 BPM) 03 - Saikozaurus - Fractal Omlet (148 BPM) 04 - Face Of Space - Per Aspera Ad Astra (148 BPM) Daniil Lebedyntsev from the Ukraine while not freezing his nuts off likes to make forest trance. And this one comes with a story. "To prevent contamination of the world’s water supply, the Chosen One comes. This demiurgent agent is an unhuman entity that rapidly creates new worlds with its mind, plunging the whole planet into alternative realities. He is high on Earth’s atmosphere and consequently doesn’t care about the consequences of its actions. His consciousness determines the future of the world, but suddenly he turned towards the psychedelic culture. The dark and light forces are trying to influence his decisions by giving signs. However, The One has flipped out and overcome the duality, so we will face the future without borders and conceptions in the rhythm of psychedelic trance!" I guess he has a lot of free time to come up with a mind bending scenario such as this one. And lots of Vodka. The pads on Aliens Are Here seem to say yes, they are here. Bow down. But other than that it's a lot of twinkling and bubbling that doesn't lead anywhere. Very samey. Free at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Integer Title: Ventilation EP Label: Golden Orb Records Date: December, 2012 01 - Ventilation (100 BPM) 02 - Gurgle Dub (140 BPM) 03 - Knife & Spoon Dub (112 BPM) 04 - South & West (0 BPM) 05 - Ventilation (Operon Remix) (85 BPM) You can not be in a hurry listening to this. If you've got things to do, put on something fast paced. This is slow. Verrrrrry slow. Nod your head dubby stuff that I imagine if you were high would seem like 40 minute tracks. Ashley Hanson from Australia puts you under his spell with his 2nd release. Rumbly basses, beach front percussion, and soft synths make this perfect for a relaxing afternoon. The reverb is on high as it echoes far into the distance. And those basses....whew, window rattlers. There was one what the f*ck moment however. Exhibit A: South & West. Experimentally ambient sounds of a truck carrying sheep revving it's engine was wholly unnecessary and that sh*t went on for 9 minutes. But thank you I wondered what a 0 bpm track sounded like. Other than that waste of time, you've got some nice dub. Free at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Aes Dana Title: Pollen Label: Ultimae Date: December, 2012 1. Jetlag Corporation 2. Borderline 3. Conditioned (Album Edit) 4. Tree.Some 5. A carmine day 6. 101 Clouds 7. Riven 8. The meeting point 9. Horizontal Rain 10. Low tide explorations "I am, for the first time...optimistic." Some people just know how to get it right. Consistently. Vincent Villuis is the mind behind this project and he has left a string of superb albums in his wake. Dude's like King Midas. Founding member of Asura, part of H.U.V.A. Network...the guy just pumps out quality. I wonder when he pees in the toilet if you hear the sound of gold ingots sprinkling the bowl. I think he runs his software through a solid gold laptop. I've seen it. His latest effort deals with pollen, a decidedly springtime endeavor, but right now it's freezing outside with snow on the ground. And that works perfectly. He starts with Jetlag Corporation which drops the dub bass as it slogs through quicksand. Perfect for a walk in the snow. Borderline is a cold, dark track with dubby bass and industrial sounds that weeps with regret. The fact that he can maintain that when the kick comes in is remarkable. Conditioned is a thumping progressive house track that is like watching traffic go by in a perpetual drizzle. Gloomy with pulsing electronica the ending pads gleam like foreign ice fields. I told you it was cold. You would think you couldn't be disappointed with a Tree Some, but here we are. It's another moody progressive trance track that felt kind of empty to me. So yes I wasn't thrilled with this Tree Some. But at least I ain't that guy. It's like Shallow Hal but with grandmothers. Where the hell was the wingman on this one? A Carmine Day has frequent knocking percussion and a hard kick and if there was any filler it would be this track. But because the whole is greater than the individual parts it kinda works. He gets back on track with the wide open 101 Clouds. They float slowly by taking their time, forming and reforming countless shapes, speaking just to me. "God what does this mean? So...am I gay now? Or are you telling me to stop playing with myself?" Riven has a bass that reverberates through your chest as the world slowly loses itself. Long pads stretch across an unforgiving sky as I watch the snow continue to fall, wrapped tightly in my heavy jacket. The Meeting Point bubbles and slowly makes it's sad melody known. It's not the deepest track, but it serves as a guide to some Horizontal Rain. And n*gga if you see horizontal rain you're standing in a hurricane. But this doesn't have the force of a hurricane...more of a soft drizzle. It's the type of rain that will force you to look back on a maybe questionable decision. The glitchy melody fits like a glove with the freezing pads. Oh look...it's snowing again. The final track Low Tide Explorations is a long story that moves through ambient textures and dubby breakbeats. Like a lot of fans I was prepared to give this the rubber stamp of approval. I mean, it's Aes Dana. But after several listens I didn't think it was as good as Leylines or Perimeters. So I went for a walk in the snow at dusk. And I began to smile. This is a wonderful album with perpetually overcast skies. There is a foot of snow on the ground with no end in sight. The music is cold and dark with sounds that wouldn't be out of place on a Depeche Mode or NIN album. He traverses boundaries frequently, often within the same track, but never loses his melancholic flow. Glacial pads hover above glitchy electronica as a kick thunders below. So do you have to go out into the elements to enjoy this? Nah, but it certainly helped me. It's a glorious journey of mournful tones that is best appreciated listening all the way through. Congratulations you magnificent bastard, you've done it again. Mood altered. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Smashed - Remix - Ed Pt. 2 EP Label: Dropland Recordings Date: December, 2012 1. Damage (A-Mush Remix) 2. Physical Matters (Magneto Remix) 3. Physical Matters (Brain Driver Remix) So this is part 2 eh? Smashed gets other twilight artists to remix his tracks and puts them on an EP. The first one was outstanding so the bar is pretty high for number two. Let's see...Damage was on the Synthetic Alchemy and Another Dimension compilations whilst Physical Matters...hell I don't know where that track came from, but the two remixes here make a total of three that I know of. The A-Mush remix is such a bad ass acid banger that I don't even mind the very cliched build up. C'mon man, use your imagination. You were this close to detonation. Magneto had an album called Scope that was another acid ripper and he continues that trend. Layer upon layer of the sticky icky whilst the bass line pounds away like a relentless migraine. Brain Driver tackles Physical Matters as well with a good break and sounds that make you think you're walking through a hallucination. Good acid monkey poo flinging with thumping bass lines. Couple that with dark atmospheres and you've got a nice EP on your hands. Yes I used whilst twice in this short review. I don't know if it's correct English. I'm not from England. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Electric Universe Title: Solstice EP Label: Electric Universe Records Date: December, 2012 1.Cosmic Network 2. Spacetime Continuum 3. Psystep (Psychedelic Edit) "Breakthroughs in physics have forced and continue to force dramatic revisions to our conception of the cosmos." I've always had a soft spot for Electric Universe even when he was releasing crap like Higher Modes. I keep hoping that he will rediscover his ability to craft masterpieces like Cosmic Experience, but lo that was almost 9 years ago so...yep hopes are dimming. But I love a good comeback story. And it is with that spirit that I decided to listen to his latest EP. It's got lots of lasers with tight production he's known for as well as buckets of acid. So he's got that going for him. Cosmic Network was typical EU full on that wasn't bad until that God awful build up. Spacetime was a treat harkening back to his glory days when he wielded a mighty 303 hammer and perhaps my dreams were soon to be realized. Alas the goa energy couldn't (or wouldn't) be maintained as it devolved into adequate full-on. The Psychedelic Edit of Psystep is a moderately short blast of acid only marred by the inevitable build up. So again I'm only able to give a grade of incomplete. He showed flashes of his former brilliance, but unfortunately it was mired in the full-on style he finds himself in. Don't get me wrong, his brand of full-on isn't terrible, but we've heard the same thing for the past 4 or 5 albums now. And you want to charge $7.50 for this? I don't think so. Time for a refresher methinks. Beatport Mdk