Lemmiwinks Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 1. Uplifter 2. Cycles of life 3. Rising High 4. Fuel On 5. The Rezwalker 6. Trashish 7. Master and Servant (Wiplash rmx) 8. Land of freedom 9. Organic YAY so finally after years and years of waiting the much anticipated "Transwave IV" album with all new material is FINALLY here!!! Hmm now when I say "new material", a quick look at the tracklist will show you that this is only a half-truth cause most Transwave fans will recognize many of their classics in there. Basically it goes like this: most of the tracks are simply full-on remixes of their well-known former glories and I guess this will put off most oldschool fans like myself. But anyway I'll make a track-by-track commentary since I guess a lot of you have been looking forward to listen to this. Uplifter is one of the handfull of 100% new tracks here and well it doesn't sound very promising. It is basically starts out as an Absolum track and then continues like a Deedrah track, and add to this a trademark full-on rolling bassline... Cycles of Life is a dumbed-down full-on remix of the classic, I suppose that most purists like myself will frown when listening to this. If there's something I absolutely hate in this scene is tampering with much cherished classics. That said, that main melody is still present and still makes miracles after all those years. Rising High is another all-new track but brings nothing exciting, this one sounds exactly like any other generic full-on track out there, although the melody in the end is quite good. Fuel On is a remix of another oldschool god Koxbox. Not being a big Koxbox fan I must admit that I've never listened to the original so I can't really say how it compares, but it is full-on that's for sure The Rezwalker is my personal favorite from Transwave (the original, I mean) so I was REALLY suspicious before pressing that play button... well, as you'd expect it is a dumbed-down full-on remix of the original although I must admit it has its moments. Again, that main melody is just timeless and I admit I'd have a blast on the dancefloor if I heard this in a morning set But this version doesn't hold a candle to the original, and even compared to most mixes like the Wizzy Noise mix they made a while ago. Trashish is yet anther remix of a classic, although I didn't like the original much so I guess it bothers me less to hear a remix of this. The first thing that comes to mind is that there are some guitar riffs in here, but they have little to do with the ones in the original version, it sounds more like 1200 Mics Acid for Nothing. Master and Servant is actually a Transwave remix of Deedrah's remix of Depeche Mode... it is basically a full-on track that uses the sample from Master and Servant we all know. Again, nothing to really get your hopes up... Land of Freedom is... you guesed it... another remix of a classic... It has its moments although even the Deedrah 2001 remix sounded better IMO. Then the album concludes with Organic which is new material AFAIK and is the one that comes closest to a modern Transwave sound, I mean not Absolum meets Deedrah but a distinct feeling that this is a continuation of their old sound bought to new standards. Although it isn't great either... THE GOOD: I guess the biggest merit of this album is bringing those classic melodies to a new audience and making it possible to hear them in a "modern" full-on set. THE BAD: making dumbed-down full-on remixes of oldschool classics is sacrilege in the minds of many old fans so I guess that Transwave will completely lose their respect for some. Conclusion: The ONLY reason that some tracks sound good is because they use the already familiar main hooks of the old versions, otherwise this would simply be generic full-on crap... It reminds of the craze not long ago to do dance remixes of well-known 70s and 80s tracks: people didn't really like the songs themselves but they enjoyed them anyway because they reminded them of the originals. The exact same thing is happening here. Personally I'm VERY dissapointed to see this after all the years of waiting for an album with new material, and some might wonder whether it's not a scam since it isn't really new material after all. That said, I admit that in spite everything I'm happy to hear new versions of some classics for the reasons I just mentioned, so it's not all bad. 5/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Time_Trap Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 Well I will most definitely not even bother to dload it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Cocco Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 If you're going to make a new Transwave album, why make it adverse to the essence, spirit, and fire of what you're capable of? What's to fear? Frontfire (with few exceptions) is more of a Full On Remix album as opposed to the wonderful (all new and original tracks) Transwave comeback that Transwave fans were looking forward to. Each one of their previous albums were innovative, imaginative, and visionary. This is the least of all three. Making Full On versions of classics wasn't a bad idea I suppose if the intent was $$$ ... but how else is it supposed to look? What about the hearts of your fans. We adore Transwave! Where is the gorgeous, spiritual, vibrationally raising album? Transwave are pioneers. They are so creative and imaginative! Always inventing and being one step ahead and never putting $$$ or being formulaic first. So the approach to appear to do exactly that and exploit beloved classics feels lazy, exploitive, and uninspired. If you didn't make this solely for $$$, why did you make it? It's clearly not for the fans. Transwave has a HUGE fan base (much bigger than they know since 1996). If anything, this is an opportunity to re-connect with them and show us what you're capable of creating NOW in the heart and essence of Transwave, of Goa-Trance! We are not a bunch of druggies who don't care. We are your supporters, your fans, you inspire are works, creations, influences, movies, music, artwork, etc. We have been looking forward to your next wonderful release for well over a decade. So if you're going to make a new album, why not make the wonderful release your fans who appreciate you have been looking forward to? Why toss this out there as if the full on (formula) scene isn't saturated enough? I should be honored and shut up since Transwave did give us Backfire. I was just excited to see what they could create now and believe it is eons beyond Frontfire, even though Frontfire does have it's decent/good elements and creative touches. I can't say it's bad, just not what myself (and probably many of you) were imagining, hoping for, looking forward to hearing as a whole.Rising High, Organic, and parts of Rezwalker and Phototropic II sound nice and/or feel newer and pretty good. Rising High is emotive, filled with feeling and movement, rhythm. Organic is darker, catchy. There are catchy moments here and there before the next segment of exploitation arrives. I simply wish Transwave avoided this and came up with new, catchy material, even if on a full on album which I'd still not prefer since these artists are so ridiculously inventive. A downtempo album would have been more excited in retrospect.I'm all for change. Believe me. I never expected Transwave to release an old-school styled Goa-Trance album in 2009, but can it at least be filled with fire, heart, and spirit and not be so "playing it safe" sounding. Can it not water down our favorite classic songs (or tunes) for a wider appeal for short term gain? While Frontfire is probably a level or two above relative to the general full on (more mainstream sounding) albums releasing every week, it is a far cry from what made Transwave Transwave, and in doing so, what made us connect with one of the greatest pioneers of electronic music in the world, the spirit or rather the FIRE just isn't there anymore. And I know it IS in the artists. You can influence their delectable style and influence at times here. For this reason I know they CAN create magic again if they choose to. Stream the full album https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn7IbAyPiQU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frozen dream Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 that dado guy is a real bum! however i can still enjoy the land of freedom remake, what we could call uplifting cheesy full on trance, but it works wonder well in this track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kathmandu Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 I agree with Lemmiwinks. 5/10 for me or may be 6/10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ormion Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 For a Full On album is not that bad. I mean hide the word Transwave from the cover and it will sound much better. Some of the new tracks are good. Uplifter is very good IMO, energetic and powerful. Organic has the old Transwave feel to it, with some great old school melodies, although it would be even better with a faster bpm. But the remixes of the old tracks are all lame. Just a full on bass, some sounds and the classic melodies all over it. I agree with Frozen Dream that the Land Of Freedom remix is very good for a clubby track and the Fuel On remix is pretty psychedelic, but way worse than the original. What bumps me the most though is that they decided to keep the original names of the tracks instead of Rezwalker 2009 or Cycles Of Life (2009 remix) etc. Why do such a thing? It's confusing. Anyway as an album I'll give it 7/10, as a Transwave album 3/10 and that mostly for Organic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew05 Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 those Cycles of Life and Land of Freedom 'updates' were officially released on compilations at least 5 years ago *thumbs down* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraydoG Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 If you like full on then you would probably like the release. I reckon its pretty good but as usual since they are previously GOA its obvious not many people will like there new work. If you ignore that fact and listen its some good stuff. I heard some tracks from '08 before this album release and they sounded like sh!t so I was supprised when listening to samples then the album how good it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest antic Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Ok, so what's the correct tracklisting here? My copy is like this (and there's no other version on discogs, saikosounds.com & goastore.ch show the same), but psyshop (and Lemmi) gives another tracklist. Are there really two versions, or was it just a preliminary version that they changed for actual print? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ormion Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Ok, so what's the correct tracklisting here? My copy is like this (and there's no other version on discogs, saikosounds.com & goastore.ch show the same), but psyshop (and Lemmi) gives another tracklist. Are there really two versions, or was it just a preliminary version that they changed for actual print? That's my copy too. AFAIK there's two versions. The one we have and the Japanese one that Lemmi posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest antic Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 That's my copy too. AFAIK there's two versions. The one we have and the Japanese one that Lemmi posted. Well, on mine I had obi strip, so I'd say my version is Japanese Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goa-Head Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 Someone should contact Lemmi and ask him from where ge got it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemmiwinks Posted April 18, 2009 Author Share Posted April 18, 2009 Someone should contact Lemmi and ask him from where ge got it. psyshop, obviously Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goa-Head Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 psyshop, obviously OK, the question becomes: Ormion & Antic, from where did you get your copy ? Lemmi, what's the label of your version ? It has a different tracklist - submit it on discogs. PM me for help if you want Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest antic Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 OK, the question becomes: Ormion & Antic, from where did you get your copy ? Lemmi, what's the label of your version ? It has a different tracklist - submit it on discogs. PM me for help if you want Mine is exactly like the one on discogs. And I got it from nobient.pl - it's a local polish internet shop for ambient & psy music and I suspect they get their stock directly from the distributors (I think arabesque.co.uk). Weirg thing is, that psyshop says the cat. number is FIN1CD008, instead of FINEP-008, which might suggest that it is indeed a different version. Also, the sample of Master and Servant is from a tune missing from 'my' version (but, my version has 2 more tracks - "Coming Soon (with Dimitri Nakov)" and "Phototropic Part II"). Weird thing is, that is only Psyshop that has this 'other' version - Saiko, Goastore, Beatspace, Wirikuta; all stock 'my' version... Lemmi, would it be possible for you to post a scan or photo of your release (especially the back cover)? Might be you have some rare, pre-release version? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goa-Head Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 As a general rule, odds are that mistaken online tracklists are those on psyshop, these errors though might often be due to advance promotional material which changes by the time the final CD is finalised. What's bad is that psyshop don't care fixing anything on their site. Regarding the catalog, psyshop tend to screw it up a bit sometimes. But given the circumstances there's surely something weird here. Lemmi: pictures please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qa2pir Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 Rising High sounds a LOT like Malaka Dance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ormion Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 I got mine from a local store. Man this two versions situation is turning into a mess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goa-Head Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 A quick search on these warez and mp3 sites all reveal the same tracklist - the one different from psyshop's and lemmiwinks ! Is it possible that no-oner else who bought this from psyshop reads and replies here ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemmiwinks Posted April 19, 2009 Author Share Posted April 19, 2009 actually I was so dissapointed by this album that I sold it last week so I can't help you more than that... BUT I can tell you that the tracklist that you guys have and on discogs is the promo that is going around p2p sites. AFAIK the official version was barely released last month in Japan, I don't think there's a European version out yet. But anyway, who cares about all these details when the album is crap anyway? lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goa-Head Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 So the discogs tracklist is incorrect, submitter hadn't release in hand and after a month and a half no-one has yet noticed/corrected it ? This story is making water from all parts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest antic Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 If anything, I'd say Lemmi's version (if he ever had one, that is) is some kind of promo. If I had bought it, Ormion did and all the other shops stock it, then that must be the explanation. Also, no one said there are going to be two versions. I'll post scans of my copy on Monday, because I still have it at work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goa-Head Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 If anything, I'd say Lemmi's version (if he ever had one, that is) is some kind of promo. He said he bought it from psyshop. Psyshop selling promos ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psytones Posted April 19, 2009 Share Posted April 19, 2009 making water jesus there is a lot of miscontentment in this thread about the music. Guess this is a classic DL instead of buy album. A new Deedrah album would be kool for the fluffy soul. And maybe a new Synthetic with some full-on techno with psychedelic landscape vibes? 2002, it's been a while. dadoOodad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goa-Head Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Let's finish off this saga! I mailed psyshop and asked them why only and exclusively on their site they have a different tracklist. In a short reply, Rolf (the usual guy to reply very quickly to all my queries) said "Its the same CD! We published the wrong Tracklist!" So we now know that there's only 1 version of this. So, this thread needs to be cleaned from all these non-review but inevitable posts and another review thread with the correct tracklist started. That's all from me. Edit: psyshop fixed the tracklist finally! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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