V/A - Wireless - Plusquam Records

[GaySatanicHippie]

1. V-Tunes - G-Con

2. Buzzmonx - All You Can Eat

3. Fusi & Jonson - Trouble Galaxy

4. Liquidsoul - Open Mind

5. Paste - Down On The Streets

6. Nyquist - Flatline

7. Ryan Halifax - The Beauty And The Beat

8. Varoman - Kickin And Drummin

 

 

The new compilation from Plusquam records is out, and what a positive surprise it is. I have always been a fan of Plusquam ever since Laureth took it over, but lately their releases have been somewhat uninspired, not bad, but a clear pattern was beginning to emerge of a typical Plusquam sound. There are still hints of that present here, but it is a lot more varied and exciting. Maybe its because of the "Swiss Connection", there are I think 4 tracks from Switzerland here, I dont know.

 

One thing that really turns me off however is the ugly ass cover. If I didnt know plusquam and just saw this sitting on the shelf somewhere, I sure as hell would not pick this one up. I mean its not even tacky-cool, like the inspirazzia cover for example, its just plain ugly. Its like a colourblind monkey used a drawing programm.

Anyways, I digress, lets get to the tunes:

 

1. V-Tunes - G-Con: A very nice opener, typical Plusquam Style, with that I mean housey reverb trance for the mornings, but very well done with a cool little synth hook and nice overall atmosphere. Imagine sitting on the beach with a cool corona in your hand watching the ladies back sides wiggle by. Solid.

 

2. Buzzmonx - All You Can Eat: If this one would have been on the Buzzmonx album, it probably would have been the best track. As usual flawless production, but where on Toms and Jerrys the production was so flawless that it was almost dead, here it has a lot more bite. The typical housey reverb thing is done to outmost perfection, but there a quirky synths and hooks thrown to spice things up. Like all Buzzmonx tracks it gets better with time, this track is a real winner that you can listen to over and over again. Great!!!

 

3. Fusi & Jonson - Trouble Galaxy: This track reminds me a lot of old Bitmonx tracks, the galopping beat, the dark growling riffs, then throw on top of that some nice percussion and memorable sounds. A very good track, especially for those that are still waiting for that first Bitmonx album.

 

4. Liquidsoul - Open Mind: Progressive Party Morning trance is the word here, pretty fast and driving yet groovy with quirky synths, cool repeating samples and tribal percussion. I'm sure it works really well on the floor, but for home listening I dont like it too much, I dont know why.

 

5. Paste - Down On The Streets: The best track of the compilation, one of the best tracks in recent months for that matter. When Paste first started, their stuff was always too minimal and "oompa-oompa" for me. Their album, "Blowout" I think it was called was already a huge improvement, but everything they have released afterwards (which is not much, as far as I know)has been incredible, for example "Smash it" on another Plusquam comp. A unique, yet driving tough bassline that will really get you moving, twisted dark synths, a spoken sample placed at just the right time and haunting pads in the end make for a track that will rock any floor and that you will not forget. After hearing this track I cannot wait to hear more from them, they seem to have developed a very unique sound that I think has a big crossover appeal to the prog. house crowd as well. To quote the 17 year old Skazi afficianado who vomitted all over me last weekend: "KIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLAAAAARGGGGHHHHHHH!!"

 

6. Nyquist - Flatline: Freq in disguise, I wouldnt have noticed had I not read the production notes, but now that I do know I can hear his signature. Flatline is a good name here, because this track sounds kinda flat and dry, especially compared Freqs juicy other productions, but its still a great track. Long melodic pads are added to the dry beat, along with tribal percussion, not much else happening, but it doesnt have to, the track works really well and gets better with time but its a little short in my opinion. A lot more sublime than his productions as Freq.

 

7. Ryan Halifax - The Beauty And The Beat: It should have been called the beauty and the bassline, because it is the bassline that makes this track stand out. Its very hard to describe, so soft and smooth yet so very massive at the same time. Ryan Halifax has been displaying his talent for basslines a couple of times already, but this one is the undisputed king. Anyways, the percussion is top-notch as well, some housey reverbing sounds are layered on top in a very trippy-trancey way, then some twisted wandering sound, all in all a very housey and very psychedelic track that just doesnt stop. Progressive House Trance at its best. Oh, and did I mention that bassline already...

 

8. Varoman - Kickin And Drummin: at the end we get a real progressive house track that I think was released on vynil already. Very well produced, like the track name says with a phat kick and cool drums, but also with a piano-like lead that moves the track along nicely. Nothing groundbreaking, but it works.

 

In conclusion, a very good compilation that I recommend. The best tracks are 5 ("KKKIIILLLAAARRGHHHH"),7(!!),2(!!),6(!) and 1, the rest are strong solid tracks as well, no fillers. The flow works and its very good for home listening in one sitting, no annoying tracks to skip through. Oh, and those who just want that amazing Paste track for example, you can buy each track for 99cents on the plusquam site ( www.plusquam-records.de) or the whole thing for 6.99. Good deal I think, at least you wont have to look at that ugly-ass cover

[Tox]

Well; I haven't heard tihs yet but as I was really impressed with Progression, Widescreen & Revive, I should probably really love this?

[GaySatanicHippie]

yes, you'd really like it, its as good as the other plusquam compilations.

[lumpi]

yes, you'd really like it, its as good as the other plusquam compilations.

240564[/snapback]

 

No way, it´s even better.

[furthur]

No way, it´s even better. 

240642[/snapback]

really?

because revive and widescreen are some of my fave compilations

revive for the tracks and widescreen for the overall effort (the progression is sublime on that one imo)

also dug irresistible 3, but not as much the other two.

if a friend buys rewire, i will check it out, otherwise, can't afford trance anymore, too much good chill coming out.

[DeathPosture]

V/A - Wireless

 

 

Artist: Various

Title: Wireless

Format: CD (digipack)

Label: Plusquam Records (Germany)

Cat. #: PQR 108 CD

Distribution: Cosmophilia/Wakyo

Date: March 2005

 

Track listing:

 

01. 08’24” V-Tunes – G-Con

02. 08’47” Buzzmonx – All You Can Eat

03. 08’20” Fusi & Johnson – Trouble Galaxy

04. 07’47” Liquid Soul – Open Mind

05. 07’10” Paste – Down On The Street

06. 06’12” Nyquist - Flatline

07. 09’27” Ryan Halifax – The Beauty And The Beat

08. 08’36” Varoman – Kickin’ & Drummin’

 

Review:

 

Reeeeeeeeeverb!

 

Plusquam Records from Germany have released loads and loads of progressive gems and especially since DJ Laureth took control they’ve spit out high-quality progressive releases in a steady stream… I like their narrow spectre – focussing at what they do best. I still enjoy the Buzzmonx album Toms'n Jerry released last summer – and I’m hoping Laureth have compiled some groovy stuff here… Let’s find out…

 

Let me take you thru the tracks…

 

#01: V-Tunes – G-Con

V-Tunes are Sandro Kulka & Hans Muster from Switzerland and so far everything I’ve heard from these guys was above average standard… I particularly enjoyed their track on the Inspirazzia compilation released by VP Records earlier this year… That track was on the trancier side of progressive trance… So it this, though to a lesser extent… This is über-cool, smooth progressive summer-trance – with big phat FREqqy reverbs… Works great both at home and on the dancefloor… Would blend in perfectly with most FREq or Kooler… Sweet track!

 

#02: Buzzmonx – All You Can Eat

As mentioned above, I thoroughly enjoyed the debut album Toms’n Jerry released by Buzzmonx last summer… Sascha Haske & Sebastian Plehn from Germany hasn’t lost their touch and still creates magic once they combine forces… I mean – just check the fucking intro… Not since Krüger & Coyle’s 'Love Juice' have I heard such a horny chick in a tune… Musically this track is also drenched in massive reverb-bass mayhem… I’m a reverb-sucker, so this is sweet nectar to my ears… Very housey – very smooth – very progressive – and deeply infectious! The explosion @ 5’44 sends shivers down my spine every time I hear it… A perfect track!

 

#03: Fusi & Johnson – Trouble Galaxy

Fusi & Johnson are Thomas Johanshon and Fabio Fusco from Hamburg – also know as Mapusa Mapusa and the track ‘Beachball’ on Irresistible Meltdown Vol. 3 … Anyway, this is much deeper progressive trance now – we’re diving deeper into the darker realms of progressive night-trance now… The bassline is blunt and repetitive – and again soaked in reverb… The entire rhythm section with tribal percussion is also very nice… This track will work wonders on the trancefloor… Very nice!

 

#04: Liquid Soul – Open Mind

Liquid Soul is the creative outlet of one Nicola Capoblanco – and I have absolutely no idea whatsoever who he/she is… But I’m gonna keep and eye out as this is really nice… We stay in the deeper realms of progressive trance here and there is a distinct metallic quality to this track… The tribal percussion goes hand in hand with the pounding, hard-hitting bassline creating a very danceable track… Sprinkled around are a handful of psychedelic twists and voice samples, but they seem oddly out of place… They do not ruin an otherwise great, driving track though… Trancefloor fodder!

 

#05: Paste – Down On The Street

Patrick Sonderegger & Stefan Keller have been progressive players for years and their experience really shines through on this jewel… Super-cool surprise intro - reminiscent of some of their older, more minimal stuff… The bassline is ultra-deep, monotonous and downright mean – crude Boshke fodder! The pads are huuuge – orchestral – majestic even… Impressive! Great if you’re dancing on chemicals, but for home listening this is a little too rough for my tastes… However – this is pure napalm for any dancefloor!

 

#06: Nyquist – Flatline

Nyquist is an Aran “FREq” Gallagher moniker…It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of the FREq-sound – but I’m glad he didn’t release this a FREq-track as it is notably different… This is a much darker, more introvert track… It’s still progressive trance, but we’re still rummaging around in the darker realms of prog… Gone are the most obvious house-elements, and we’re left with a stripped-down, subtle night-track… It’s kinda minimal, though there are uplifting elements such as melodic background pads to balance things out a little… But – in all honesty I like Aran as FREq much better than this track…

 

#07: Ryan Halifax – The Beauty And The Beat

Ryan Halifax should need no further introduction… I was really impressed with the track he did with Marc Vision on the Back To The Future compilation released on Groove Zone earlier this year… This is less funky though – in fact its one tribal, bass-blasting motherfucker! Very driving and at the same time very monotonous... It’s very hard to describe – but there is something hypnotizing about this… Thick housey elements and a bassline from the planet Bounce… I can’t decide whether I like this track or not… Weird!

 

#08: Varoman – Kickin’ & Drummin’

This track by Björn Mandry & Frank Savaro was released on a 2004 Plusquam 12”… As the title suggests this is a very percussion-driven track – with emphasis on kicks and drum-programming… It starts out kinda weak – but as soon as the bassline is introduced things starts to shape up… But it’s still a pretty simple, light track – would work best in the beginning of a proggy set… Not bad, but not great either… But the competition is fierce on this compilation! ;o)

 

As you can tell I really, really, REALLY like the first five tracks on this compilation… And especially the first three are among the best progressive stuff I’ve heard this year – if not the best… They are hands down awesome! The last three tracks are not bad at all – they score high on the experimental scale - they just pale in comparison with the first five… But generally speaking this compilation is phat! The quality level is very high and most of these tracks deserve to be blockbusting summer-anthems… Very well done Laureth – you rock!

 

Nuff said! Fans of rich, funky progressive trance needs this compilation! Go get it! Enjoy!

 

Favourites: 1(!), 2(!!!), 3(!), 4, 5,

 

DeathPosture

 

External links:

Plusquam Records: http://www.plusquam-records.net

Psyshop: http://tinyurl.com/7fynz

Saiko Sounds: http://tinyurl.com/awp7m

Wakyo: http://tinyurl.com/cp3wo

Chaos: http://tinyurl.com/bsv3n

Musicdock: http://tinyurl.com/8pry3

RecRec: http://tinyurl.com/e2ta9

[Basilisk]

.

[Tox]

Got this one for 9€ in sales somewhere.

Very decent comp!

 

For me it's absolutely the Paste-track that takes the cake!

Think the first track of Laureth's Widescreen is al so theirs.

Fresh sounds & buildibng tension: great stuff!

Looking forward to hearing a lot more of them in the near future.

[Guest]

Hi Guys, Im new here but i think this is a great website with quality information. Im from Brazil so i will apologize for my bad english, but i'll do my best I promise.

Well about Wireless it's a great comp, great prog with a litlle dark touch in some trax, I recomend, in my opinion it is one of best prog comp of the year.

I like to invite you guys to check my website about the psytrance scene in Brazil, South Brazil, but it is in potuguese, sorry

 

Thanks

 

Rudi - GrooveTrip Team

GrooveTrip