Guest Daniel Posted January 5, 2003 Share Posted January 5, 2003 ....for several months now (as some of you may or may not remember) I have been exploring psytrance. I started out with Paul Oakenfolds Compil: "A Voyage Into Trance"....after becommign interested I found this place where I asked for guidance in choosing some GOA artists to check out.....after aquiring 10 Albums this holiday season allow me to go over my thoughts on the artists which I have listened to... 1. PSYCRAFT I picked up "Gravitech" and listened to it all the way through. I notcied, at least on this album that it was more bits and peices of music instead of a flowing musical symphony...it seemed kinda tame and more relaxing (like chill-out, but not as soft) than exciting. Overall they are good to listen after the hight of your partying has run it's course. 2. ASTRAL PROJECTION I selected "In The Mix" because it had all of their hits so I figured it was a good start. They are VERY energetic. Their style seems somewhat repetitive or something like that I just can't put my finger on it. They do make really good music however. Not so psychedelic in my opinion, more energy full of sound stuff, ya know what I mean. Overall I can understand why Astral Projection has appealed to the masses they seem like they are the gap bridging Psytrance and Epic Club Trance, get what I mean? 3. KOX BOX After picking up "The Great Unknown" I was pretty excited, but ended up disapointed. The first song i heard by them I downloaded off the interned it was called "Stratofearless"...I like that song's style so I was expecting more of that and what I got was more of a Psycraft feel....a more chopy sound less musical and more relaxing and after partyish, don't get me wrong they have some energy but it wasn't what I was expecting. Maybe their other albums reflect more on what Stratofearless embodied. Overall I like Kox Box but they still didn't rub me the way I wanted. 4. ETNICA They remind me of Astral Projection in a way with there energetic pulasting sound. I got their "Alien Protien" album and I liked what I heard. It sounded more psychedelic to me that Astral Projection because they kinda separated their sounds where I felt Astral Projection sometimes put too many sounds into one song. Also, as with Astral Projection they have a very space themed sound...both groups sound like they should be DJing for some spaceship thats flying through the universe, ya know what I mean? Ovrerall I think they are damn good. 5. YAHEL I was interested in hearing Yahels stuff because I heard he had very melodic kind of stuff, so I picked up his album "Waves of Sound". I got exactly what I was expecting. His music reminds me of Astral Projection and Etnica but he separates from them in the way that his stuff could fit in a Rave atmosphere with a ton of people rolling balls. He has very dancey stuff. I like his style, spacey like Etnica yet club trancey. 6. HALLUCIONGEN After hearing the song "LSD" on the "Voyage Into Trance" album I fell in love with Hallucinogen. I ordered "The Lone Deranger" and was really excited to hear it. They are definetly more psychedelic than Etnica, Astral P., and Yahel....they also dive into the darker more synical sounds with their strange effects and strong basslines, which have alot more "bang" than other artists songs. They kinda have a psychotic sound much like Infected Mushroom. After hearing this album I look forward to getting "Twisted"....Hallucinogen is pretty damn cool. 7. SUN PROJECT I got intersted in these guys because I heard they had an album called "Guitar Trax" and I am a fan of songs with Electric Guitar sounds....so I bought that specific Album. They stray away from the "spacey" stuff and go more on the rock/psy stuff, which makes them seem "hard", meaning there stuff is hard hitting. They have good beats and do well with their guitars, I would definetly like to hear more of them...they slip into the same category as Halluciogen and Infected Mushroom in the sense that they are kinda dark (by dark I don't mean scarey and moody like it sounds like the theme to someones murder, but rather not airy and spacey/energetic like Astral Projection). Overall Sun Project is on my list for best rock/psytrance that I've heard thus far. 8. INFECTED MUSHROOM I'm saving my favorite for last. After hearing "Symphonatic" I had to buy everything they have made, just something about that song makes me feel soooo good. I went out and Bought "The Gathering" and "B.P. Empire"....I wasn't able to find "Classical Mushroom" but I have found it online and will order it soon, until then I made myself a copy by Downloading all the songs, but I want the real thing. Infected has such a great style they are sooo psychedlic and definetly have a psychotic feel to them. Each song feels really different and they always end up surprising me. They have a very unique style that appeals me to me and I can see why they are the leading Isreali PsyTrance act. I was however disapointed with "B.P. Empire" because it felt VERY different from the previous LP's....this one seemed more Bass oriented, focusing on Beats rather than psychotic craziness, anyone else share the same feeling? So far in my exploration these guys take my #1 spot. So thats my overall review of who I have heard thus far. I got 2 compilation albums "Dragonfly Classix 2" and "Retro 2" both good compils even though the Dragonfly one kinda disapointed me A LOT, and the 2nd disc of Retro 2 wasn't as good as the 1st disc, but oh well. Anyway, I was just letting you know where my head was at on this topic. I felt like posting something so I felt like I should blab on and on about my Psytrance Discovery. I'm trying to broaden my horizons by investigating the world of Ambient, however the transition is hard going from hardcore bass thumping psychotic head turning psytrance to the soft, distorted, freaky and chilling sounds of ambient. I've looked into Sphongle, but for some reason I'm not fully understanding them yet....I have turned my ears towards Autechre, but still that style hasn't fully grabbed my attention. I think I should let my new found psytrance love settle with me and get myself absorbed in it and then wait until I grow tired of that sytle and want to slip into something a little less dramatic. Anyway thanx for listening. Tell me what you think of what I think. Thanx. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpha Posted January 5, 2003 Share Posted January 5, 2003 that's nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest roopak@procyonrecords.com Posted January 5, 2003 Share Posted January 5, 2003 Oh, you'll wait a looooong time if you're waiting to get sick of psytrance. I suggest you listen to a few other albums/comps of different styles here and there...let me start by giving you a few... - Psysex: Expressions of Rage - GMS vs Systembusters - One of the 3D Vision compilations: Program Change or Ultra-High Frequencies - Lunar Civilizations (Moon Spirits) - Divi:nations (TIP World) - X-Dream: We Created our own Happiness - Freaks in a Frenzy (Procyon Records)...I really tried not to be biased...honest! - The Mystery of the 13 Crystal Skulls...psychedelic ambient & trance in one This is in no way a comprehensive road to understanding trance. Just a few signposts worth noting along the way...and relatively new stuff...all around 2000. The X-Dream one is from 2001 I think but has some of their older classic tracks. ENJOY THE RIDE!! ps- Which Shpongle did you listen to? Try the first album, ARE YOU SHPONGLED?...way better than the second one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest roopak@procyonrecords.com Posted January 5, 2003 Share Posted January 5, 2003 Oh and I think what you think of the albums you've listened to sums it up pretty well, broadly speaking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lunar Posted January 5, 2003 Share Posted January 5, 2003 Defenetly check out everything made by Pleiadians..both cd's, family of Light and I.F.O. they are the same guys as in etnica but more psychedelic.. Lunar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Buttwax Posted January 5, 2003 Share Posted January 5, 2003 Try older Koxbox albums: Forever After Dragon Tales Psychopod - Headlines EP (same guys) or maybe Cosmosis - Synergy Prana - Cyclone Shakta - Silicon Trip Orichalcum & The Deviant - Orichalcum & The Deviant Masaray - Cosmic Trancer (Goa trance, from 1995 ) Juno Reactor - Transmissions (classic from 1993) Juno Reactor - Beyond the infinite Total Eclipse - Delta Aquarids Total Eclipse - Violent Relaxation Logic Bomb - Headware ...oldies but goldies (most of) Too many come to my mind. Start with these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Järsimähäiriö Posted January 5, 2003 Share Posted January 5, 2003 Sounds like sound advice, the only minor hitch being that most of those albums are impossible to get these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatsu Posted January 5, 2003 Share Posted January 5, 2003 i like the reviews you post, you should immediately ask for a passwort and login so you can start to post in the revies section (if you haven't allready)! if you want to check out some newer stuff i advise you to get astrix: eye to eye, spacetribe: Heartbeat and the unusual suspects compilation. all albums are from this year. the unusual suspects is full of tracks from simon posfort from hallucinogen, especially the younger brother tracks are great. the other two albums are melodic but also full on. the space tribe one is a bit more psychedelic but on the astrix album there is a remix from the infected track wider, a very good remix... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest roopak@procyonrecords.com Posted January 5, 2003 Share Posted January 5, 2003 oh...and Biodegradable: Phaser (IntiRaimy Records) and take Tatsu's advice and get a password for reviews...you do have a talent to critique it seems. and Tatsu, yes that Wider RMX is da bomb...all the way until the guitar kicks in and then I'm like...WHY??? WHY??? WHY ruin a perfectly good track with that???? you know how it is...you either love a guitar part or you hate it (I'm a hater more often than not)...I find this one just too over the top hard rock/metal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zoltar Posted January 5, 2003 Share Posted January 5, 2003 Seems you prefer melodic psy and old school stuff... Here are my suggestions for you! Chi-A.D. - Infinitism Blue Planet Corp. - Blue Planet Electron Wave - The Uncertainty Principle Jaïa - Blue Synergy RA - To Sirius Hallucinogen - Twisted Toï Doï - Technological Cosmosis - Cosmology Dimension 5 - Second Phaze If you got Blue Room's release of Alien Protein (Etnica), you're one lucky guy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FBI Posted January 5, 2003 Share Posted January 5, 2003 Let me say that im not too shure that those are good statements for reviewing trance....i mean, those are very honest and natural opinions but them tells absolutely nothing of what the CD really contains. Ok. but thats what reviewing is all about finally, a personal review. and i would agree with some of ur opinions about those albums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Daniel Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 Tatsu...thanx for the comment. I really do like reviewing. I used to be a moderator at a gaming forum and used to do comprehensive reviews there, however the information I posted above wasn't nearly a review more a general opinion, but you all knew that. When I review things I sit down with whatever it is I am reviewing (in this case it would be albums) and I absorb everything about the topic. In the case of music I would go over all the tracks individually and anylize them for meaning, emotion, effort, style, ect. then after going through the whole album I gather an overall synopsis of the album. To correctly review something you have to be biast. Maybe I shall review these albums...how do I go about this here? Anyway, I definetly am going to check out all of your suggestions...your suggestions in the past have guided me to my psytrance love so I will definetly check out your new ones....I definelty want to check out more artists because I'm not fully satisfied with everything that I have heard thus far, I want to find my nack in this genre ya know? I just wanted to add that you guys that post here are pretty damn cool, and I didn't expect this kind of response (I exprected more of....wow that was really long and kinda pointless...) but instead you guys through out opinions and more suggestions...just wanted to say that you guys kick ass.....got to go do some psytrance research now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeathPosture Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 Dan => Yeah, we want you as a reviewer... You write with great insights and emotions - very cool!... To obtain a login/password simply mail our webmaster Children at children01@free.fr and ask for a login/password and he'll arrange it for you... It might take a while, 'cause he's a busy man... But dont let that put you off... DeathPosture Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Slidingtrancer Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 Check both Dark Soho-albums if you like dark with guitars... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest psycle Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 check out the newTip comp "6 stringadelica." I head it a few dayz ago with a friend....it really kicks ass...and as u might expect...its a total guitar album that will keep u on ur feet for hours!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatsu Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 cool, a new reviewer for the site! :-) i hope you will stay with psy for a long time and you'll never stop enjoying it. i like this site a lot and the more people start to do reviews again the better it gets. a lot of the cds i own i just got because i've read the reviews here. cool, i also like gaming and i used to have a small site on geocities where i'd put my game-reviews. funny stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Daniel Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 I just e-mailed him DeathPosture, thanx. I just went to go check-out Dark Soho....I downloaded some 1:00 samples of their songs but the samples sucked because they were low quality and only showcased the beginnings of the songs and from what I've learned the middle-end of a psytrance song is 10 times better than the beginning....in most cases. So I really didn't get a chance to truly hear what they have to offer but regardless of which, what I heard was pretty interesting and from peoples opinions and descriptions they sound pretty awesome. I've been looking for some good dark sounding psytrance so I think I'll order their albums...I'll probably start with Combustion. Anyway got to go to my birthday dinner with my family, I turned 19 on the 5th. C-Ya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest maxijazz Posted January 7, 2003 Share Posted January 7, 2003 hehe. and i turned 20 on the 5th. and my name is also daniel. iih :6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest brent Posted January 7, 2003 Share Posted January 7, 2003 hey there- I'd say my "journey" has been pretty similar to yours- right down to not digging shpongle, because I was so blown away by hallucinogen.. but wait a few months and try it again, I love shpongle and all sorts of downtempo stuff now. I'd recommend stuff from teh L.S.D. label for downtempo/dub/chill stuff-- they're a "sub label" from dragonfly, which even as a fledgling psytrancer you've probably noticed puts out lotsa good stuf.. I'd second the opinion that you should def. check out pleiaidians. they're better than etnica, imho (well, same guys, but I like them as "pleaidians" rather than etnica"-- esp cuz if you liked alien protein, that is just a hint of the greatness that is to come in either of the pleiadians CDs. honestly.. anyway.. thats all I have to say about that. hasta; Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest marcos Posted January 7, 2003 Share Posted January 7, 2003 ASTRAL PROJECTION, ETNICA, HALLUCINOGEN? You are only hearing to trance shit, all that psy sounds they made, to me is just noise, i really HATE their sounds, you have to be full on drugs to enjoy their noises. IF you want to enjoy psy for a long time you will have to change your taste, try some israeliens full on artists, or some portuguese progressive artists stop listening to this english-freak-fag-nonsense-irritant-old sounds to all astral-etnica-halluciunogen freaks, stop doing lsd!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest psycle Posted January 7, 2003 Share Posted January 7, 2003 i think YOU need to get off whatever the hell it is ur on before u start talkin' shit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest .:::EP Posted January 7, 2003 Share Posted January 7, 2003 Let people listen to what they want and stop your idiotic rampling !!!! Get of whatever you're on and start to enjoy life again...then you'll see that there's many better things to do that telling people that they have a bad taste !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest >--<SenstatuX>-- Posted January 7, 2003 Share Posted January 7, 2003 marcos have a point to... there is lots of good "new" artist that really kicks ass.. but i dont mean that hallucinogen and others are bad thu, but if he can check out the new school, and get a taste of it that would bee cool, and we'll hear what he think of that... personal i love all new tunes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PSYBORG Posted January 10, 2003 Share Posted January 10, 2003 get Spirallianz - Blast Food They really kick ass by breacking the gender with a kind of psy-neomental tech-trance with a little bit of industrial and dark powerfull sounds. i have to mention that this sound doesnt not enter in what artists you have mentioned (they are old school pure goa) and it exist a lot of genders. it is really good to start with the old school so try to get Hux Flux - Cryptic Crunch FULL ON FULL ON. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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