Trance2MoveU Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Artist: Various Title: Pangaea Label: Hadra Records Date: July, 2011 1. The Psychedelic Experience - Shotu 2. How's Your Head - Mr. Peculiar 3. Star Born - Atomic Pulse 4. Through the Brain - Painkiller 5. Menotone - Menog & Chromotone 6. Virtuoso - Lost & Found 7. Romp & Stomp - Artsense 8. Life After Death - Occy 9. Maudits Artistes - Lunaroot Remember when the planets were all connected in one big land mass and we were a unified people? Yeah, me neither. Nobody does because it was...wait one second.... *puts finger to earpiece* I just got word that we have exclusive video of two men that do remember that magical and enlightening time. "Jag?? Jag is for pussies! Matlock is the best! Maaaatlocccck!!!!" Hadra records known for the Hadracadabra series and several pretty good compilations are back at it with their latest effort. Compiled by Jimson (aka...who?) it brings together an impressive tracklist but before I get tricked again I shall view this with a skeptical eye. The Psychedelic Experience- "Once upon a time in San Francisco a filmaker and an art teacher poured some colored ink in water to make an experimental film." You ever know someone who never seems to age? No matter how many years go by they still look the same? It's called the Ralph Macchio/Kevin Arnold Syndrome. Well that's this guy's music. David Marmin has never been big on melodies but always waded deep into psychedelia. He's been making the same track for seven years. Scratchy synths and well placed samples over a quick bass line. It's very cold and digital. IMO he is the definition of a one trick pony. But, f*ck I like ponies. C'mon dude, even Twinkle Twinkle has a few notes... How's Your Head- Dustin Saalfield from Australia has long been one of my favorite artists. Full-on gets sh*t on a lot, but he creates the detailed and psychedelic stuff that makes this music great. I like his atmosphere and the effects sound really good. This track is drenched in layers and has a nice spacious break. His leads twirl, ducking and diving as new synths join the fray. Pretty good sir. Star Born- "It all began at the time of the universe...gave birth to the stars." If we're being honest it doesn't get any more full-on than Atomic Pulse. Well maybe Alien Project might fight for the title, but shut the front door the beginning of the track is a cracker! Someone has been vacationing on the shores of goa because there was some ripping goa melodies at the outset. Sure, after that it became what he is known for, but it was well done and he did a nice job. It's like when you're at McDonalds and your expecting the same old Big Mac and then it comes back with loads of special sauce and pickles. What recession? Muy bien hecho! Through The Brain- "When drugs are used many parts of the brain become inactive or....over active." Roy has been hanging out with Nutek too much and let's face it his sound has suffered because of it. His first album was everything you could want in a twilight psy album, but his latest Duty Freak (reviewed here http://www.psynews.o...__fromsearch__1) was a little off the mark. And this is more of the same tame and uninspired stuff. There are numerous drug samples (what do you want the artist name is Painkiller) and the leads weren't that impressive. No chaos or dark tone setting effects just least common denominator full-on. I'm not saying that I'm here ...but I'm not not saying it. Menotone- "The first step in seeking happiness...is learning." Love both of the artists, but I cannot stand the cutesy track names that...sigh, cleverly act as a mix of the two artist names. Both are twilight stalwarts and hell, Daniel (Mr. Spectral Records) practically had a hand in inventing the genre. But you wouldn't know it from this track. I mean it was moving pretty good in the beginning with a distorted synth...Not bad. Not that this was a killer to begin with, but if you want a picture of a flow killer see this track. The sample above? Grinds this track to a halt. Throw in a little build up and see this.... It's my sad panda face. After a f*ckton of ketamine. And pot. And mushrooms. And....funions. Romp & Stomp- This is the first artist I know nothing about but that's cool. Leads switch places amid several mini buildups as the bass line races to finish first. And wouldn't you know it there is a sample about art. Not everything can be art you know...it has to be amazing. Halfway through it begins to layer up right into a break. Not terribly dark or atmospheric, but it doesn't lack power. Virtuoso- "When this all started I thought you might have a little harmless fun. And that you'd be responsible enough to keep it in perspective. I can see now that I was mistaken." His album Decoder was released this year (review here http://www.psynews.o...__fromsearch__1 ) and even though it wasn't as strong as I would've liked he is still my favorite twilight artist. This track begins like almost all his tracks. Heavy beat, acid drenched synths, and a dark ready to kick you in the nuts atmosphere. His groove picks up with leads that sound like they are turntable manipulated as a crunchy break. It's cyber intensive and the best track on the compilation. His best? Nah, but I'll take it. Life After Death- "Do you know who...who you're messing with? I want this man dead. When I say dead, I mean seriously dead. Beaten. Broken. His head mounted on my wall kinda dead!" Wow, there sure are a lot of quotable samples in this disc. 2nd unknown and this project begins with a decidedly alien effects show and the above angry sample. Synths fly like frisbees amid intense samples and the guy is making me nervous. Pretty wild and enjoyable. Maudits Artistes- My French is a little rusty ever since I stopped banging that hot French chick in the 90's but I think the title means cursed or damned artists. For the hat trick, this is the 3rd project I have no clue about. Pretty cool sample in the language of love and the track itself is good. The vibe is dark as leads unravel and pads hum forlornly above. It changes direction which always appeals to me. I always thought the last track in a compilation should leave you with a memorable feeling and this project seemed quite capable of doing that with good atmosphere. Not heavy but it went down nicely. Not a bad compilation. Not surprisingly the Lost & Found and Mr. Peculiar track were the best for me but surprisingly the Atomic Pulse one was also quality. It seemed like a couple of artists just mailed it in though. Far from essential it is more on the lighter side of twilight psytrance if you get my meaning. http://www.psyshop.c.../haa1cd023.html http://www.beatspace...ea+/detail.aspx http://www.goastore....roducts_id=4527 Mdk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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