Trance2MoveU Posted June 14, 2008 Share Posted June 14, 2008 Title: Deeper Into Man Artist: U-recken Label: Dooflex Release: April, 2008 1. Let It Rain (8:25) 2. Elements (7:42) 3. D.I.M (8:28) 4. Eye Of The Beholder (8:23) 5. The Lucid Dream (8:17) 6. Blue Planetary Hand (7:18) 7. Whale Song (7:40) 8. Heart-Quest (7:57) 9. Absolute (8:55) 10. As The Flower Withers (4:28) This is Yaniv Ben-Ari releasing his 2nd album. I missed out on his first Aquatic Serenade, because the cover screamed terrible to me. Just goes to show you, you can't judge a book by it's cover. This is being released by the Dooflex label in Israel who have brought you Enemies and Allies and Soul Anatomy. There was a lot of hype surrounding this release and I want to see if it was warranted. Let's talk cover. Infinitely better than the 1st album, with giant hands pushing the DJ into the sky. It gives me the Matrix feel when Neo looks out and sees all the fields of humans. The factories in the background are billowing smoke, creating a dark cloudscape. This tells me that the music is not going to be a happy love fest. Good. Let's get to it! Let It Rain- As thunder rolls, as soft, forlorn violin cries out. Plucked strings, ever so delicate twinkle over a deliberate bass line. You can immediately tell that this man knows how to build a track. Synth lines dance tentatively to a break and speak of love lost. A bouncing lead captivates your ears as the pads float heavenward. When the dainty percussion arrives it melds with all aspects of the track. At the last break a synth struggles to be heard and then a new lead sets the stage. Everything is brought to bear at the end, synths joining strings in a wonderful, startlingly melancholy track. What have I stumbled into? Elements- "Earth, Air, Fire Water!" After a brief warm-up the bass line commands, as glass like synths and ominous pads roll on. The lead gurgles and dodges, as the pad in the background keeps you on your toes. I look up and the track is over. Where did the time go? D.I.M. - "Deeper into Man. The magical world of the ones that live in the ocean. The world of man...separated. Through the centuries their world and all the inhabitants in it...stopped trying. The world of man became...violent. War upon war played out.." The synth line here crosses back and forth as if not sure it should show itself. At the break, sounds trickle into nothingness. A sad lead with portamento mopes along until it's replaced by yet another lead. You would think this sadness would drag the track down, but it it exactly the opposite. As the track recovers from the break, piano melodies sing of a gentler time. The sad lead returns for those who would forget. Eye of the Beholder- "Well done William. Very well done. C'mon Randolph, we're going to be late!" Sounds from another world close in upon a relentless bass line. Pads and leads clear way for a soft voice singing "Better have somebody to love. Better have somebody to hold onto." In another track this would sound very cheesy, but not here. It fits. Creatures skitter from the darkness and give way to shining leads. "Meta essence is the life force of wonderland. That of your enemies is especially potent. Collect what you can. Use it wisely." This track has so many moods that fit together like a lock and key. Out.Freaking.Standing. Somebody watched some old Eddie Murphy movies The Lucid Dream- "Cryonization. A journey of re-awakening after the preservation of the human body at extremely low temperatures. I don't think God would disapprove." punchy percussive lead hovers over a chopped up voice and rumbling bass line. Wide pads open up a new world as synth lines dance a dance of purpose. Eerie chimes herald the above sample to the next. "What if there was a mistake. What if the dream became a nightmare." The samples are awesome, and transport you into the situation of Mr. U-recken's wishing. More synths fly above as the track rises towards its final climax. Damn. Just damn. Blue Planetary Hand- "Where are you from? The blue world. Ever feel like pins and needles? Do you feel an awakening? It is not you. It's like...you really ..shouldn't be here. Why am I not stuttering? What?" The lead skips across your brow, brazen in its movement. The bass line is its backbone, giving it the strength to dangle just out of reach. Pads delineate boundaries, that evaporate with new structure. When the melody comes in at around 4 minutes, prepare to be swept off your feet. The piano is soft, even caressing in its spiderweb complexity. Whale Song- The jungle swallows synth stabs as strings struggle to be freed. Whale cries fill the air as the break arrives. Delicate synth touches defy the pads and show a possibility of breaking through the clouds. Jungle sounds return amidst a slight break-beat and synth wash. I would say this was the weakest track on the album, and that is saying something. It is still beautiful. Heart-Quest- "I love you daddy. Can you teach me to run faster, because all the kids in my class run faster than me. Look. k-keep you knees up. Like that. See you're a natural runner. Gotta keep running!" A woman's song is foreign to me as it is chopped, giving way to a groove that is underneath sparkling leads. The break allows us to appreciate the beauty of her song before being launched right back into the fray. The lead swirls around you, leaving you spinning. I can't tell up from down until it drops me to the Earth. Pads flow freely allowing the sample to show its face. The sing voice returns only to be supplanted by several leads, none of which are overbearing. I don't know how much more of this I can take. Absolute- "The more you begin to investigate. What we think we understand, where we came from, what we think we're doing. The more you begin to see we've been lied to. Lied to by every institution. What makes you think for one minute that the religious institution is the only one that's never been touched? The religious institutions in this world.. are put there by the same people who gave you your government, your corrupt education who set up you international baking cartels. Because our masters don't give a damn about you or your family. All they care about is what they have always cared about and that's controlling the whole damn world." As a male voice sings about facing the truth, the track continues to unfold. Leads tumble over the bass line as an innocent piano melody chimes from above. It brings hope, or at least the promise of it. Perhaps an awakening of sorts. "One bank. One army. One center of power. And if we have learned anything from history, it is that power corrupts. And absolute power corrupts absolutely. " Heavenly leads from an angry God rain down in blow after blow as the powers that be futilely attempt to stay their execution at the hands of the one true force. As the Flower Withers- "Welcome to the world of man. So beautiful, so strong, so eager." Tribal drums announce glassy pads and a crying violin. Plucked strings and a piano melody intertwine with a synth line, hearkening back to better times. Singing brings us to the break, where maybe, just maybe... it is not too late for us. Conclusion:- Ho. Lee. Crap! Ladies and gentlemen, we have a classic on our hands. This guy has deftly twisted and combined sounds to create an atmosphere that is so hauntingly beautiful that one cannot ignore. This is a melancholy album that is gorgeous at the same time. The flow is fantastic and he drops in and out of breaks with the command of an fighter pilot. Do not sleep on this release as it is destined to be a blueprint of how large in scale psytrance can be. The only other release that reminds me of this is Mr. Peculiar's Infinite Evolution. Do yourself a favor and get this immediately. 10/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pandemonium Posted June 15, 2008 Share Posted June 15, 2008 This is correct, this is one of the best full on albums I have ever heard in my life. And thats alot for me to say. I didnt think that anything could be better than the latest Digicult, but with every listen this album magically grows on me and surpasses every expectation I thought immaginable for fullon. This album is the new defininition of the genre. Way to go Yaniv Ben-Ari!!!!!!!!!! :clapping: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sideffect... Posted June 15, 2008 Share Posted June 15, 2008 it's good fullon, better then their first album, I like their first album but some sound really didn't work for me, in the second all those are gone good work, it's less u-recken style compared to the debut but more quality... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEMO.BOFH Posted June 15, 2008 Share Posted June 15, 2008 Hey, sounds good, thanks for the review, gonna give this one a try. ALSO I really want to know how deep into a man you can go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neuro_reactor Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 I loved Aquatic Serenade & I love this one even more. Great album! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frozen dream Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 had a quick listen and didn't like it one bit. standard unimaginative fullon. i remember this track on the debut with flutes and one massive end synth, i really liked that track... lost paradise i think it was called... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sideffect... Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 had a quick listen and didn't like it one bit. standard unimaginative fullon. i remember this track on the debut with flutes and one massive end synth, i really liked that track... lost paradise i think it was called...true that's not the case anymore in this album, the track you mentioned was the best one @ their debut release... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psygnus Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Finally some decent full-on. Compared to a lot of crap that's being released this is amazing... I general it is a nice piece of music to listen to but imho a little less imaginative than his first one. Cheers p.s. The track Aquatic Serenede from his first album is so f***ing massive! but i never understood why he kept it that short... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pandemonium Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 had a quick listen and didn't like it one bit. standard unimaginative fullon. i remember this track on the debut with flutes and one massive end synth, i really liked that track... lost paradise i think it was called... Listen to it again, unimaginative? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pr0fane Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 I agree. People keep talking about depth and uniqueness in this album, but I can't find it anywhere. It has actually come to the point where I have pushed myself to listen to it fully three times - that's how much I want to like it. But still, totally empty feeling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
healium Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 I agree about the track "Aquatic Serenade" being massive (and too short)! - I got this one from a compil - I would like to hear an 8 minute version - the climax of that track is insane, blows me away every time... I don't have his first album as a whole, though I did just order this one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pemster Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 hi there i thoroughly enjoyed "aquatic serenade", a polished little gem (despite several cringe-worthy cheesy moments mostly related to the female vocals) that stayed in my CD player for months ... and I was truly excited to see how this artist had developed his style on his second release... .... and, sadly, i have to say it was a letdown.. to me it sounds like a batch of songs that didnt make the cut for aquatic serenade... it feels that he just didnt put half as much creativity or imagination into this effort.. sure its exceptionally well produced, as expected, but there are zero 'wow' moments for me.. just boring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doof Records Posted June 24, 2008 Share Posted June 24, 2008 Thank you for the review, we really enjoy reading it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
advance Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 You know how you feel you hear greatness in Talpa, Artifakt, old Infected Mushroom, whatever? How you feel that something is just right with the tracks? I've heard the album a few times... up until now, it hasn't popped up as "great" - but maybe I just haven't "got it" yet. One single track, however, did pop up more than the other tracks, and I've heard it - perhaps, 15 times. "Absolute" is simply beautiful, touching, incredible. I think the album is worth its price for that track alone. I've had many many chances to see U-Recken perform live, and haven't gone to any of the parties where he played. I only know Aquatic Serenade, which is fabulous. I'm going to change this - in the next few days. I hope I'll discover I've been an idiot all along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feedyourhead Posted July 21, 2008 Share Posted July 21, 2008 I would have to agree that this album is very good. Most definitely the best release i have heard this year. As far as it being a classic, the remains to be seen for quite sometime. The opening track "Let it rain" has the same soft, melancholic, yet energetic vibe that the beginning of Scorb's 'Ipso Fvcto' Album also possesses. The Lucid Dream is just brilliant and the middle section of 'Absolute', the minute and a half section before the second break has some amazing leads piled upon amazing leads until you just have to close your eyes and start hallucinating . I'm going to keep listening to this album since it seems to have so much potential to it that maybe I should be listening more before giving a full opinion haha I guess what intrigues me the most is that there are some really cheesy moments in here, but for some reason I do not care at all! Just listening to the final section of "heart quest" quite tasty and fuckin brilliant! I am impressed by the seemingly easy and enduring control that U-reckon displays on this album. nothing sounds forced and most of it sounds genuine. very cool :clapping: 8/10 for now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUL/)CO Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 Nice review! A Stunning display of how psytrance should sound IMO :posford: I am deeply impressed by this guys music! WELL DONE & THANKS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GusSarcoffa Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 This is pleasant-sounding morning full-on. The production quality is high. It's clear that a lot of skill and care went into producing it. But. It's not very trippy, which is a big strike against in my book. Psytrance needs some psy in it, after all. And it has some cheesy moments with the vocals. For me it is background noise. Not particularly memorable. I've been listening to it while working and I repeatedly find that 2 or 3 tracks have gone by without anything grabbing my attention. EDIT: I've listened several more times. I want to like it, because I admire the skill that went into it. There are some very nice musical ideas and the whole thing flows together very organically. But it's just too trancey for me. Tracks 3-5 and 9 are very good though. EDIT #2: I did eventually buy this. It's rich & smooth & creamy. Not the trippiest CD in my collection but then, not everything can be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trance2MoveU Posted September 28, 2010 Author Share Posted September 28, 2010 I had to bump this. Listening to it 2 years later, it still has that flow and that richness that doesn't get boring to my ears. Even the vocals don't perturb me and I usually hate that crap. Awesome. Mdk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exotic Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Awesome album!!! Didn't think too much of it and notice the subtleties when i got this way back.. dunno why...but just today i decided to give it another try (i dont know how u-recken came to my mind anyways) ; I was blown by The lucid dream and then i played it from the start and everything just fell into place. the thing that really stands out is that elements melt into one another instead of each one sounding distinct and removed from each other. The beauty comes through over with all elements coming together unanimously as one whole and the distinct effect of bass kick and effects isnt discernible separately . A superb display of very sound music engineering for psychedelic predicaments that is tweaked to exactly whats required to get in into a state of ear orgasm. 10/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exotic Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Just listening to the final section of "heart quest" quite tasty and fuckin brilliant! I am impressed by the seemingly easy and enduring control that U-reckon displays on this album. nothing sounds forced and most of it sounds genuine. YES! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.