traveller Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 01 Welcome 06:50 02 Gipsy 0836 03 Chers Amis 08:43 04 Shell Rmx 08:09 05 Overdrive 08:13 06 Sweet Child 08:15 07 Interlude 04:03 08 Tequila 06:30 09 Wave After Wave 08:36 10 La Bonne Etoile 08:32 Just a few words.. Tikal’s first album “Ritual Cycle” is in my opinion one of the very few interesting full on releases since the whole full on boom thingy started. Proof enough for me is that I keep on going back to it every now and then. Sure it wasn’t a 10/10 release. Hardly any psytrance albums are, but still it had some very strong moments. Come to think of it I don’t think it had any filler tracks as in that the skip button would have been needed nor used. No, I think I’ve pretty much always listened to whole thing in thru a row. And then another few words, only this time about the artwork.. Now colour wise the artwork is rather similar to the first one. What makes the real difference is that this times there are computer generated images instead of hand drawn ones. The theme is once again Mayan/Aztec/Inca. As usual with Neurobiotic a paper slip is included for the cd book thingies, or what ever you call them again. Very professional looking so thumbs up for that. And then a flock of words about the thing that’s important.. The mastering is done by Avi Algranati who is better known as Space Cat so that side of things should be alright to say the least. Track 1 - Welcome The listener is guided to the elements of the track by a voice. He says stuff like: “There are many elements to a track”, “We’re gonna start here with a kick and the bass”, “Do you like the bass, it’s filtered..”. So yeah it might sound rather “not that brilliant” of an idea but in my opinion at least it works. I’m sure it would sound better with a monster sound system. My 62€ Logitech 5.1 surround setup might not do it any justice to it. If you’ve heard the first album, well its structure and the sound world are rather similar here. Then around 03:00 there’s the non 4x4 kick drum parts that really starts the track. Very Tikal like. This is the part where everyone is supposed to go crazy and dance funny until they have no more power and they return to the energy saving dance mode. You know what I’m talking about don’t you? The funny thing is that this stuff is complicated and layered. Not something I would personally expect from the average Israeli full on. Then again this is made in the EU by our new French connection It all fits and some parts even remind me of the good old Goa style so it’s all good. Track 2 - Gipsy It’s about a minute of funny noises before the track reaches the danceable mode. I know we’ve heard similar basslines in over a thousand tunes, and maybe I’m a bit biased or then again perhaps not but still in my opinion Tikal has a unique way to do it. Again around 03:00 we get to the “dance crazy” part and it’s very good. No cheesy uplifting 4 key synthlines here. It’s very uh, fat. Snarling for sure. Then there’s a spoken sample and then the “dance even crazier” part starts with a serious hillbilly melody. It’s the dominant force. Fun rules, right? Some things here remind me of old (as in old!) Infected Mushroom techniques. So that’s just great. This track will be played again and again at all the big European summer festivals for sure. Atleast I hope so for the listeners sake . It’s tracks like these that keep full on interesting. If it only wasn’t so damn hard to find the pearls from the huge pile of garbage. Track 3 – Chers Amis The coolest spoken samples are the ones you don’t understand. In my opinion anyways. Here’s one of those. Doesn’t take that long and we’re back in the bpm driven madness. Okay so yeah it’s not madness, but it’s not serious either. There’s a melody. But yet somehow I keep on concentrating on the stuff that’s going on in the background. That stuff by the way would be non existent if it didn’t say “Tikal” on the cover. Then a female voice sort of like sings. Ah indeed she sings. Hypnotic . I bet she’s hot. Don’t know what language that is, if any. Certainly not Germanic. Or hell I don’t know. Do read on. Fuck I don’t know, I just like Tikal. They’re the heavy weight champions of the full on world. Again for audience’s sake I hope this tune is played often enough at the big euro festies. There’s a piano. And there are also horns (which the first album had plenty off..) But horns are cool. This is starting to sound like hyping but I can’t help myself. I like it too much, too much.. Track 4 – Shell remix So it’s originally a Silicon Sound track. I would have not known that but it says so in the “booklet” so I’ll believe it. I’ve never heard the original so I can’t tell which is more killargh. And that melody is the break part is for sure from some old Infected Mushroom track, is it not? Okay the bassline is groovy. And when I say groovy I mean it. It goes very well with the drums. Okay even with out hearing the orginal I can swear by my distant future grave that this one is better. It’s incredible how much heart Tikal guys can put to a track. This goes well even as home listening (as do the previous tunes, but this even more). Oh there are some guitars too. And that “melody” is so god damn familiar! Tikal has a very unique way of making things bouncy. They’re the bouncing masters. And then suddenly it sounds like that one tune from the first album. Sun Shine Middle east perhaps (just throwing names here..)? Track 5 – Overdrive Around 01:30 the drums start. It definitely sneaks in with the “whatever you call that effect”. Surely there’s a name for it. Here the emphasis is a bit more on the drums perhaps. Well no. Things change. Somehow I’m not that much into this one. Not yet atleast. Then again 4 more minutes to go. You never know. Somehow things are a bit more straight forward. Then again it might just be my lo-fi sound system. We all know how much a good sound system contributes to a track. Okay, a little before 6 minute mark we go to a Goaish synthline. And yeah I like it. See they just don’t know how to let one down. There’s a voice of woman. Flangered in the end.. Track 6 – Sweet Child A spoken sample is the beginning. Something a bit theatrical to all this. Ah he’s talking about the ancient ones and time that has come again and entering of things. Cool! And what a fucking massive it’s as it kicks in with full power. And fuck that synthline is familiar! Or eh maybe not? Don’t know but it fits here purrfect. Some serious playing with effects going on. And tone changing synths. And and and.. very mushroomish . Okay then there’s one of those fairy tale synthlines with everything else quiet. Sort of like in Shamanix! WoooO! Yes there’s playing going around with the drums too. I’m smiling :D It’s very happy, but not cheesy. Should I go as far as saying that it’s the best full on tune I’ve heard this far? Don’t know. But I most certainly love this and give it the “psychedelic as fuck” stamp. There’s some sort of like vocoder thingy going on for a while. Only it sort of blends to the drum work. And then the synth from the beginning. It’s almost like an anthem. Eh, it’s, but not in a cheesy way. No the psychedelicness levels take care of that. If you’re a dj who’s playing in the big ass places this ummer you better have this on you . Most certainly the tune that should get even proggies to the floor. Certainly smiles all around. Beautiful people ..approved by teh traveler This tune pwns the dancefloor for sure. Track 7 – Interlude Some serious latin America stuff going on in the beginning. Bongos, shponglish horns and melodies. You know like tales of the inexpressible. Then some guy yells something and the bassline kicks in with the eh, kicks. The bongo drums remain. Then a “melody” which could be find in some early 80’s police series. And then something from the previous album again. Yes from that track horn travel. Only it doesn’t stay long. Only a reminder of a great track . Then at 03:00 things go a step more electronic with a synth. Track 8 – Tequila This will be the last “high” bpm track on the album. This time it’s a mixed transfer. It’s the guitar riff that puts things in motion again. Horns are apparently here to stay. There’s also a rather interesting synth thingy at 01:00 but it doesn’t stay for long. The guitar riff is still going strong. Only it changed a bit. So along comes a synth that joins the play. The bass is very warm and fat sounding. Snarling synths going on again. There’s also electronic guitar on the background. Yes I totally see why they named this child tequila. 03:00 starts one of those Infected Mushroom glory reminders. Yes there are multiple melodies going on at any given time. There are probably more things going on in this track alone than the whole catalogue of some full on labels.. Track 9 – Wave after wave The transfer is a bit odd but lets not let that disturb the experience. You know the last track on Spaceships of Imagination? Or the “opening” track in that movie “Ghosts of Mars”? Well this seems to be something in that fashion. Only it’s roasted with some eastern instruments. Also reminds of an ambient classic: Saikopod’s Go Fly A Kite. Job well done. I don’t know what to say other than this: There’s nothing to criticize and much to worship, only I’m a lazy bastard so that will not happen. Track 10 – La bonne Etoile There’s something Café Del Marish to the beginning. If you’ve heard any of those compilations I’m sure you’ll agree. There are some strings here. Other than that only certain flickering synths and a beat. But it’s about to change and indeed now there’s a bass too. Sort of saw that one coming But that I didn’t. It’s another synth that travels around my room from left to the right and right to the left and so on. Also a spoken muted sample and something I assume to be originating of a female. Somewhere around a corner a flute joins in. And the beats goes a little downbeatish/drum n bassish. There are some voices. I’m feeling too calm to write any more. Just enjoy. It’s all good, it’s all good Some words again (will it ever end huh?).. It feels to me like Tikal is filling the gap Infected Mushroom left in all of us. If they can only stray a bit more away from the general full on it’ll be a fucking jackpot of psychedelic trance. Now if you’re a dj this is very good news cos you can just pop this album in and play it thru and after that everyone will call you a master. And eh. I don’t know. Yesterday I watched this movie called “Life aquatic with Steve Zissou”, althou I knew absolutely nothing about the movie before hand, other than that it was sort of like a movie about Custoe I had decided that I would love it. And guess what, it instantly made it to my “best movies I’ve ever seen list”. Certainly to me personally the best movie of this millennia. The best movie since Fear & Loathing. Seriously recommended. So anyways. Even before hearing this album I had already decided that I was going to love it, (due to a great experience with the first album) and what do you know. I do 5/5 Seriously, not 10/10 thou cos I’m too biased about certain UK label but nevertheless this is the good shit But what’s up with the crappy grammar and spelling and a billion smilies? I’d love to spend a few more hours on this but see time is a bit of luxury for me at a moment and I’ve seriously worked way too much this/these last week(s) so I let myself go now and enjoy the summer. If you want to file a complaint feel free to do so at travellandthentheemailsigngmaildotcom. Also remember to pass me a cheque of 100 (one hundred) € and I will mail you the book version with all corrections. Thank you for the time. And if you still didn’t get it: I FUCKING LOVE THIS Now really thank you for your time. Go buy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAH Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 is there anything remotely close to jazzistique? (i don't remember how it is spelled) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveller Posted July 15, 2005 Author Share Posted July 15, 2005 is there anything remotely close to jazzistique? (i don't remember how it is spelled) 298018[/snapback] yes. it's all in all similar to the 1st album. only it's more technical/layered.. or smth like that eh just like the artwork here be the samples Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveller Posted July 15, 2005 Author Share Posted July 15, 2005 well it's always nice to see some anonymous cowards vote 1. seriously.. comment or burn in hell biiiatch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisk Posted July 18, 2005 Share Posted July 18, 2005 Sweet Child isn't cheesy? What kind of crack are you smoking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveller Posted July 19, 2005 Author Share Posted July 19, 2005 No I don't find it cheesy, just brilliant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trolsk Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 All reviews should be made as polls, very smart! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveller Posted July 19, 2005 Author Share Posted July 19, 2005 All reviews should be made as polls, very smart! 300022[/snapback] Well yeah, it only sucks that most people haven't even heard the album and only do piss votes.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pr0fane Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 The first Tikal album "Ritual Cycle" was quite an unusual experience for me. First I didn't understand the hype, but I eventually started too really like it (mainly boosted by their liveact at Full Moon last year), and now I consider it one of the freshest full on albums released last year. The second album "Carnaval" continue the formula from "Ritual Cycle" with fun-filled festival full on, but where "Ritual Cycle" had a more eastern-influenced theme, "Carnaval" has more focus on Brazilian samba-rhythms. This works especially well in the short "Interlude", and elements of "Tequila" are very good as well. The overall highlight must be the remix of Silicon Sounds "The Shell" though – the vocals from the originals are simply amazing, and it will surely be played again and again this summer. Despite the highlights "Carnaval" isn't as good as its predecessor though. This formula just isn't as new and fresh as it was last year, and a few times the album is downright annoying. Especially the opening track was so disturbing that it made a huge impact on my impression of the rest of the album. Those "this is how you build a track" samples sounded like something coming straight out of a hardstyle track. I'd have to strongly disagree with traveller by the way: "Carnaval" is a very cheesy album, and definitely music for the psytrance masses. Not that it's necessarily a bad thing though – we all need a good dose of fun, blasting summer dance-music sometimes, and Tikal are better at this than most other full on acts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manuser Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 certainly entertaining album and not monotonous, but cheesy indeed, and certainly not solid at all, boring after a few listens i guess. But i put my 3/5 : ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisk Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 Well yeah, it only sucks that most people haven't even heard the album and only do piss votes.. 300041[/snapback] How arrogant of you. Perhaps this really is a cheezy bunch of crap. I like the cover though - it's really cute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benf52 Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 sweet child is sooooooooo cheezy... arck... ear bleed... same for tequila... cheeeezy... overall i think tikal knows how to make full on better than most producers... there r some great sounds.. and u can tell they have a sense of melody and of how to make music... but i never got into their groove.. kick is too flat, and the groove just doesn't do it for me... i am surprised that traveller u r raving about this, when u always say most full-on is shit... this is better than most full-on structure wise like i said, but nothing spectacular... i would give this 2.5 out of 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveller Posted July 20, 2005 Author Share Posted July 20, 2005 How arrogant of you. Perhaps this really is a cheezy bunch of crap. I like the cover though - it's really cute. 300394[/snapback] eh 1/5 is strictly for skazi and skazi equilevant.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oopie Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 How arrogant of you. Perhaps this really is a cheezy bunch of crap. 300394[/snapback] No no, just a piss vote mmmkay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisk Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 eh 1/5 is strictly for skazi and skazi equilevant.. 300581[/snapback] Guns n Roses rock ballad remixes surely qualify for that ultra-low crap strata. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveller Posted July 20, 2005 Author Share Posted July 20, 2005 Guns n Roses rock ballad remixes surely qualify for that ultra-low crap strata. 300939[/snapback] Oh it's a remix cos there's one similar guitar riff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benf52 Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 they did rip off the whole melody.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveller Posted July 20, 2005 Author Share Posted July 20, 2005 they did rip off the whole melody.... 301013[/snapback] the whole 5 seconds of it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benf52 Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 well it's true they did not do it for the wholle track, and calling a remix i dunno it's hard to say... all i know is that melody doesn't fit the track... unnecessary imo... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveller Posted July 21, 2005 Author Share Posted July 21, 2005 well it's true they did not do it for the wholle track, and calling a remix i dunno it's hard to say... all i know is that melody doesn't fit the track... unnecessary imo... 301049[/snapback] yes and i find it bloody awesome.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benf52 Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 good for u... to each their own taste Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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