Goa Bill Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 1. 1987 (8:25) 2. Zebra Beat (6:57) 3. Models On Cocaine (7:40) 4. Weekend Warriors (6:25) 5. Spitfire (8:10) 6. In The Box (7:08) 7. We're Shining (7:41) 8. 2 Am (7:06) 9. Less Is More (8:17) The Swedish duo Filip Mårdberg and Fredrik Gilenholt are back with a 4th album on their regular Digital Structures label. It's been over 2 years since their previous hit release "Zero Six After" and the anticipation (by me anyway) was pretty immense. In this period the guys didn't release any new material besides one track under their NDSA alias with Emok in 2006 (Harbour Candy) which was quite a big hit and received a fat remix by Solead. So is this one any good you ask? The answers right after the commercials... 1987 Starts the album with big epic a-la Jean Michel Jarre feeling all over. This is a track that will light up many sunrises for a few good parties in the near future. Very high on the cheese factor, true, but sounds like it was made with pure intentions. So I'll let it slide, with the knobs all the way right. Zebra Beat takes into somewhat minimal'ish territory with some corny male chanting in the background "This is in your noise, this in your sound". Sounds a bit like what Ticon would do if Trentemoller was around the block. Fat crunchy tune. Another sure hit. Models on Cocaine I first heard almost a year ago when the guys performed live in Israel. Already there it sounded like a sure hit. A bit like Beckers' Switch but with Kraftwerk influenced computer vocals. This one I try to listen as less as possible so it won't hunt me too much at parties when the season returns. "Sniffing at the Catwalk"! Weekend Warriors is this album's heavyweight champion in my opinion. It has some of that "In the dirt" vibe from their previous album with precise circular layer upon layer buildup that just makes deep holes in the dancefloors. In my opinion, and I've heard it only around 50 times so far it's almost as nearly as great as Extrawelt's Soopertrack and that's says plenty. Best track of the album. Spitfire goes further into the dirty minimal techno regions. Very German sound in this one. Almost D-Nox & Beckers like in the beginning but towards the end it becomes a bit insane with some crazy scratchy sounds. Demented tune. In the Box is the first letdown of this album. It's downright cheese-fest powered by uber silly female vocals that just don't pass the test. Skip We're Shining is another vocals heavy tune. Although this time it's almost bearable and the distorted Bass Guitar sounds so fucking great. The climax is going to be probably the biggest hands in the air point of this album but hell it's not that bad. 2 AM, the title track is slow building tribal electro number with deep and subtle melodies. The track has a very special atmosphere that reminds me a bit some old Sasha and Digweed material for some unknown reason. Very nice set filler i guess. Less is More, the closing number reminds me a lot the first track. Although not nearly as big but has that same positivity charge. A great example of a track with a rolling bassline that just does the job without falling into all sorts of genre cliches. Perfect way to close the album. Conclusion: All in all the Swedish boys has done it again, for the 4th time. Although this time they let inside what is arguably their worst track ever (in the box) but also some of their best ever. If you loved their previous work and if you love melodic morning sound and don't get rash from words like electro and minimal techno than get this ASAP. Favorites: 1!!!, 2!!!, 3!, 4!!!!, 5!!!, 8!, 9!!! Score: 9/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melancholyman Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Great album, very melodic, great production and it feels to me very original. I think In the box is a nice funky track, so I would state there are no bad tracks on this album. There is some kind of "retro feel" over the tracks and being an old fan of 80's music that is a great thing.I think that this album will keep growing and show itself as one of the best of 2008. Also thx for a great review. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buzzman Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Great album, very melodic, great production and it feels to me very original. I think In the box is a nice funky track, so I would state there are no bad tracks on this album. There is some kind of "retro feel" over the tracks and being an old fan of 80's music that is a great thing.I think that this album will keep growing and show itself as one of the best of 2008. Also thx for a great review. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pawelek Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 I thinks its so far the worsest album out this year. Bssides excelent "1987" i dislike all other tracks which stinks gayish electrohouse ;x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riton Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 I thinks its so far the worsest album out this year. Bssides excelent "1987" i dislike all other tracks which stinks gayish electrohouse ;xWell if you listen to it hoping for uberpsy then no doubt that's how you'll feel. Personally, i find it pleasant ot listen to, but not my party preference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEMO.BOFH Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 I am not going to write a review about this release, as I simply can not express with words how much I like this excellent release from my fellow skaanian musicians. This album at first gave me a good feeling, and after a few listens I realized that this is one of the most awesome productions to date from a former psy/progressive band. Sure, it is not psychedelic in the sense of what Full on or whatever you want to call "Dark" is today, but it sure gives you a good trancey feeling and for sure makes you want to dance. It is a shame that this album is not embraced with open an open mind! A job very well done Ticon, you surely know how to do this, and you truly have won my "Best genre change of the year" award (That does not mean I would not like to hear some awesome "Oldschool" Ticon sound in the future again) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nurbs Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 different from their past releases , cannot say that is bad nor that i enjoy it as their last album . Nothing special but maybe its to early to judge it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pawelek Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 ... It is a shame that this album is not embraced with open an open mind! ... I knew it wont be a follow up to Zero Six After. But i wasnt expecting exactly what i heard on this album. I'm PSYTRANCE dude. If artist starts to follow house trends i say bye bye, no thx! Maybe they did great job, but from psytrancer point of view this fucking terrible And it's not realy that i dont like electro influences in psytrance. If they are properly aplicated (Neelix) they are awesome then.! But when psytrance act (Ticon) totaly changes his style i cant make myself like it, sorry It seriously annoys me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sawfly Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 But when psytrance act (Ticon) totaly changes his style i cant make myself like it, sorry It seriously annoys me. Now that is weird. Why does it annoy you if someone decides to take a different path? They are artists who make music as they see fit. Should they just stick to doing the same old thing over and over again because that's the way you like it? Should they not be true to themselves and just please totally random people who liked the style they use to make the music? Perhaps they have grown and thought they'd do something else for a change. I have only heard 1987 and it's a magnificent tune and can't wait to hear the rest of the album because I am a MUSIC dude and openminded with it, good music is good music no matter the genre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pawelek Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I'm sorry. I didn't exactly mean that. I wanted to say that electro sounds annoy me, of course not the path artists chose. They can do whatever they want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riton Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 This is just not stuff I'd wanna hear at a psy nature party. I think that's what Pawelek wanted to share with us, and it's also my opinion. (Correct me if i'm wrong) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeller Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 ticon is my favorite progressive (and one of the only ones I really 100% like), just because of the nice minimal and electro influences (some people here look very narrowminded about crossovers here ) Their last album Zero Six After was fucking amazing and according to the review it must be very good High exceptions to the track that is allmost as good as Soopertrack! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeller Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 I thinks its so far the worsest album out this year. Bssides excelent "1987" i dislike all other tracks which stinks gayish electrohouse ;xlol so far i think this is the worst track still have to listen to 2,5 and 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grimoire Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 I knew it wont be a follow up to Zero Six After. But i wasnt expecting exactly what i heard on this album. I'm PSYTRANCE dude. If artist starts to follow house trends i say bye bye, no thx! Maybe they did great job, but from psytrancer point of view this fucking terrible But when psytrance act (Ticon) totaly changes his style i cant make myself like it, sorry It seriously annoys me. helloooo tunnelvision Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sideffect... Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 I like the album, it's very melodic progressive but with a lot's of different influences... the electro and funky stuff is nice, as said above there are no bad tracks, indeed a good concept through the entire release is created... to be honest I never enjoyed the typical ticon kick, well the one he always uses but 2AM has nice structure and a floating kick... well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeller Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 well been listening to the album a lot now!! I don't know if I think it is better than the zero six after album, it is more commercial (some tracks) but still very nice!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euchkuh Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 just finished hearing the album. another great album from a great duo. (actually i liked this one better then zero six after) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEMO.BOFH Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 Please keep the offtopic stuff to the off topic section. I removed some of the posts of this review, cause they just dont have ANYTHING to do with this album. Comon guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxime999 Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 I just listened to the album and it's amazing! I agree that it's not psytrance anymore but for what it is (electro-house?), it's great. They are clearly following the same path as son kite/minilogue. Great album! I Recommend it for people who don't dislike electro-house/minimal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackal Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 It is not a psytrance really, but i like it tho. I like the 80ish-like feel. keep the reviews coming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qa2pir Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 It hasn't got an eighties feel. Stop saying that. That's like saying drum'n'bass is eighties. Or saying black metal is fifties. Or saying psytrance is seventies. Just stop. Stop. Please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riton Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 It hasn't got an eighties feel. Stop saying that. That's like saying drum'n'bass is eighties. Or saying black metal is fifties. Or saying psytrance is seventies. Just stop. Stop. Please. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sawfly Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 I didn't really like this album much. There were some cool parts in it but the only track that I really enjoyed was 1987 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goa Bill Posted February 17, 2008 Author Share Posted February 17, 2008 It hasn't got an eighties feel. Stop saying that. That's like saying drum'n'bass is eighties. Or saying black metal is fifties. Or saying psytrance is seventies. Just stop. Stop. Please. Your avatar is not Psychedelic. It's vomit inducing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anoebis Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Another big mistake... I though to check this one out together with Solar Fields - Earthshine... Just to have a look where progressive is going these days, as everyone was talking about it as if it was pure gold... Unfortunately I can not say I like this at all, it is pure minimal electro with house influences... not even worthy to be on a psychedelic trance forum... It is just because they used to make this kind of music, but today, they grew to something totally different, something I dislike with a passion... not 1 single track I liked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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