Psynews "Best of 2016" poll

[Rotwang]

You know the drill: it's time to vote for your favourite uptempo and downtempo psy albums of 2016. You can vote for up to 10 releases (including albums, compilations, EP's and singles) in each category; your first will be awarded 10 points, your second 9, and so on. Cast your vote by replying to this thread with your votes written in the following format (the label is optional, but if you can be bothered to put it in it will make counting votes easier):

 

Uptempo:

1: Artist - Title (label)

2: Artist - Title (label)

3: Artist - Title (label)

4: Artist - Title (label)

5: Artist - Title (label)

6: Artist - Title (label)

7: Artist - Title (label)

8: Artist - Title (label)

9: Artist - Title (label)

10: Artist - Title (label)

 

Downtempo:

1: Artist - Title (label)

2: Artist - Title (label)

3: Artist - Title (label)

4: Artist - Title (label)

5: Artist - Title (label)

6: Artist - Title (label)

7: Artist - Title (label)

8: Artist - Title (label)

9: Artist - Title (label)

10: Artist - Title (label)

 

The voting will be open until the end of February, or rather when I get round to locking the thread (hopefully I won't go awol for another four months). If you change your mind after voting, don't make a new post - just edit your existing post. Also, if you reply to a post in this thread then please remove any votes from the quoted material (I will be copying and pasting the thread into an automatic vote-counting doohickey, so if votes appear twice they may be counted twice).

[MrAnarchy]

Uptempo:

1) Chi-A.D. - Earth Crossing (Amakusa Records)

2) Virtuart - Virtuart & Friends (DAT Records)

3)Proxeeus - Weird Tales (Goa Madness Records)

4) Ultimate Xperience - Lazarus Rising (Neogoa Records)

5) Morphic Resonance - City of Moons (Suntrip Records)

6)  Nervasystem - Brain Radio (Phantasm Records)

7) Veasna - Energy (Neogoa Records)

8) Negans - Danse Macabre (Neogoa Records) 

9) Sab Kuch Milegator - Kauas Aikan Taa (Ektoplazm)

10) Artha - Dream Telepathy (Cronomi Records)

 

 

***edited, added Virtuart - Virtuart & Friends to 2nd place

[Padmapani]

we're a bit early this year, aren't we?

i'll need a few more weeks to listen properly to a few releases, so it's good to see that the voting stops at the usual time.

 

 

 **** Not sure if it counts as an album since its mostly made out of remixes. Tell me if it doesnt

the general rule has always been: if you think it fits here, it does.

we've had albums with uncertain release dates turn up in two years, rereleases turning up again or iirc downtempo releases listed in uptempo. so being mostly made out of releases should not be a problem at all.

[Rotwang]

the general rule has always been: if you think it fits here, it does.

Yep, it's much easier if I just let people categorise stuff how they see fit.

[Paul Eye]

Uptempo:

1: Morphic Resonance - The City Of Moons (Suntrip Records)

2: Chi-A.D. - Earth Crossing (Amakusa Records)

3: Veasna - Energy (Neogoa Records)

4: Proxeeus - Weird Tales (Goa Madness Records)

5: Stereofeld - Soul Mirror (Sun Station)

6: Ultimate Xperience - Lazarus Rising (Neogoa Records)

7: Nervasystem - Brainradio (Phantasm Records)

8: Crossing Mind - Beyond Duality (Suntrip Records)

9: Xamanist - 7 (Ektoplazm)

10: Imba - Impossible Astronaut (Neogoa)

 

Downtempo:

1: Wakhan - Mystical Encounter With Yourself (Liquid Seed Recordings)

2: Globular - Holobiont (Self Released)

3: HuuHaa - Starizona (GreenTree Records)

4: Various - Smörgåsbord Vol. 2: Psiarrhea (Omnitropic & Maia Brasil Records)

5: Scann-Tec - Unyt (Ultimae Records)

6: Banco de Gaia - The 9th Of Nine Hearts (Disco Gecko Recordings)

7: Kausemus - Aer Absurdum (Self Released)

8: Dub Trees - Celtic Vedic (Liquid Sound Design)

9: Aes Dana feat. Miktek - Far & Off (Ultimae Records)

10: Perfect Blind - Wanderers (Ae Records)

[Maden]

Uptempo :

 

01 - Morphic Resonance - The City Of Moons (Suntrip Records)

02 - Ephedra - Flying Over The Universe (Goa Madness Records)

03 - Imba - First Encounter (Suntrip Records)

04 - Proxeeus - Weird Tales (Goa Madness Records)

05 - Static Movement - Sian (Iono Music)

06 - Ticon - Mirage (Iboga Records)

07 - Nostromosis - Flight Of The Navigator (Timewarp Records)

08 - Tripswitch - Vagabond (Iboga Records)

09 - Ra - Earthcall (Suntrip Records)

10 - Ultimate Xperience - Lazarus Rising (Neogoa Records)

 

Downtempo :

01 - Motion Drive - Chill Out Realms (Iono Music)

02 - Suduaya - Venus (Altar Records)

03 - Keemiyo - A Mystical Journey (Altar Records)

04 - Abakus - Departure (Modus Recording)

05 - Siebzehn - Starship Signals (Hadra)

06 - Koan - Placidity (Blue Tunes Chillout)

07 - Sky Technology - Spirituality (Timewarp Records)

08 - Chronos - Keep In Your Heart (Mystic Sound Records)

09 - Amos - Illusions of Tomorrow (Ovnimoon Records)

10 - Scann Tec - Unyt (Ultimae Records)

[mars]

Uptempo:
1: Crossing Mind - Beyond Duality (Suntrip Records)

2: Morphic Resonance - The City of Moons (Suntrip Records)

3: Mindsphere - Mental Triplex: Presence (Suntrip Records)
4: RA - Earthcall (Suntrip Records)
5: Imba - First Encounter (Suntrip Records)
6: Norma Project - Creative Minds (Ovnimoon Records)
7: Artha - Dream Telepathy (Cronomi Records)
8: VA - Mind Rewind³ (DAT MAfia Recordings)

9: VA - Goa Trance Revolution 2 - Retrofuturism (Goa Trance Music)

10: Virtuart - Virtuart and Friends (DAT Records)

 

Downtempo:

1: Aes Dana feat. Miktek - Far & Off (Ultimae Records)

2: James Murray - Eyes To The Height (Ultimae Records)

3: Suduaya - Venus (Altar Records)

4: Max Million - Monogramma (Audiomodern)

5: Profindita - Ciel (Altar)

6: Scann-Tec - Unyt (Ultimae Records)

7: The Bhaktas - Manipulated (Altar)

8: Globular - Holobiont (Self Released)

9: Perfect Blind - Wanderers (Ae Records / Neogoa Records)

10: ELEA - Oniros

[pdinklag]

Uptempo: not easy, I found the year to be very sparse for my liking.

 

1: Chi-A.D. - Earth Crossing (Amakusa Records)

2: VA - Goa Trance Revolution 2 - Retrofuturism (Goa Trance Music)

3: Praktika - Playing The Presets (Trance Bum Productions)

4: Toï Doï - Synaptic Electrophoresis (Suntrip Records)

5: GoaD - Galactic Aviator (Neogoa Records)

6: Ephedra - Flying Over The Universe (Goa Madness Records)

7: Morphic Resonance - City of Moons (Suntrip Records)

8: Veasna - Energy (Neogoa Records)

9: Negans - Danse Macabre (Neogoa Records)

10: Sab Kuch Milegator – Kauas Aikain Taa (Ektoplazm)

 

Downtempo: never easy, because usually I just stumble on everything I know. Only managed to list a few for now.

 

1: Bioscape - Shaping Seasons (no label)

2: Globular - Holobiont (no label)

3: Arkeyetexture - Lago De Sonhos (Big Wave Records)

4: VA - Smörgåsbord Vol. 2- Psiarrhea (Maia Brasil Records & Omnitropic)

5: Perfect Blind - Wanderers (Neogoa Records)

6: transient - ebb & flow (no label)

7: -

8: -

9: -

10: -

[IronSun]

Placeholder for me as well... still need to hear some stuff... Edit: man this year is hard to choose a top ten... so many good releases also beyond strictly Goa Trance like the new Oforia, Nervasystem & Ticon albums...

 

Uptempo:

 

Chi-A.D. - Earth Crossing (Amakusa Records)

Morphic Resonance - The City Of Moons (Suntrip Records)

VA - Mind Rewind 3 (DAT Records)

Crossing Mind - Beyond Duality (Suntrip Records)

Mindsphere - Mental Triplex - Presence (Suntrip Records)

Oforia - Read More...(Zion 604 Records)

Ultimate Xperience - Lazarus Rising (Neogoa Records)

Virtuart - Virtuart & Friends (DAT Records)

Artha - Dream Telepathy (Cronomi Records)

Ephedra - Flying Over The Universe (Goa Madness Records)

[mars]

Damn, I forgot about the compilations! I will have to edit my vote.

[Padmapani]

Damn, I forgot about the compilations! I will have to edit my vote.

i just realised that suntrip curiously has not put out a single compilation this past year. what happened? have you reached the limit of possible releases for a year with all the other stuff you put out in 2016? can we expect the usual compilation (that easily makes it into the top 10) in 2017?

 

the only compliations that come to my mind for this poll are svemirski hod and cascades of life. but i'm not sure what to do with the latter. it has a few really good uptempo and a few very good psybreaks/downtempo tracks... it fits into neither category

[Mental Explorer]

i just realised that suntrip curiously has not put out a single compilation this past year. what happened? have you reached the limit of possible releases for a year with all the other stuff you put out in 2016? can we expect the usual compilation (that easily makes it into the top 10) in 2017?

 

the only compliations that come to my mind for this poll are svemirski hod and cascades of life. but i'm not sure what to do with the latter. it has a few really good uptempo and a few very good psybreaks/downtempo tracks... it fits into neither category

You forgot Mind Rewind 3 (DAT Mafia) and Analog Trips (DAT) - All released in 2016.

[pdinklag]

the only compliations that come to my mind for this poll are svemirski hod and cascades of life. but i'm not sure what to do with the latter. it has a few really good uptempo and a few very good psybreaks/downtempo tracks... it fits into neither category

 

Reading this strengthens my feeling that people haven't quite digested that we released a compilation in December with quite a line-up:

Goa Trance Revolution 2 - Retrofuturism (Discogs) (forum thread)

 

Guess we need way better promo.

[Mental Explorer]

Reading this strengthens my feeling that people haven't quite digested that we released a compilation in December with quite a line-up:

Goa Trance Revolution 2 - Retrofuturism (Discogs) (forum thread)

 

Guess we need way better promo.

Actually, there are even more complilations missing, like:

- Zion 604 - Acid Disco (was open for preorders in Dec 2015 but released only in Feb 2016)

- Matsuri Digital - Matsuri Tribe

 

I am sure, there will be some more...

[psytones]

Uptempo:
1: Sab Kuch Milegator – Kauas Aikain Taa (Ektoplazm)
2: Overdream ‎– Miracles On Schedule (Avatar Records)
3: Dark Whisper - Realms Of Unseen (Alice-D Records)
4: Transdriver - Secondary Presence (Impulse Audio Records)
5: v/a - Kampu (Random Records, The Cure)
6: RA - Earthcall (Suntrip Records)
7: Ultimate Xperience - Lazarus Rising EP (Neogoa Records)
8: v/a ‎– Cascades Of Life (Psynews)
9: Ozmali - Transitions EP (Ozmali Records)
10: Digitalis - Collected Vinyl Breaks (Tribal Shift Records)

11(bonus): Duppeditt - Skumring EP (Alfheimr Records)
https://alfheimr-records.bandcamp.com/

Downtempo:
1: Aes Dana Feat. Miktek ‎– Far & Off (Ultimae Records)
2: Globular - Holobiont (Not On Label - Globular Self-released)
3: Kalya Scintilla - Listen to the Trees EP (Merkaba Music)
4. v/a ‎– Cascades Of Life (Psynews)
4: Ultimate Xperience - Lazarus Rising EP (Neogoa Records)
5. RA - Earthcall (Suntrip Records)

Edited March 4, 2017 by psytones

[gfp1]

i realize it's still early but so far less than 40 unique uptempo albums have been listed

 

the past two years saw almost 80 different uptempo releases mentioned, so hopefully we get a bit more submissions by the time the results are tallied up

[Manuser]

1: Loud - 5 billion stars (Nano records)

2: Oforia - Read more... (MDMA music)

3: Ultimate Xperience - Lazarus rising (Neogoa records)

4: Shivattva - The tales of Harvia (Treetrolla records)

5: Vanderson - Visions of tomorrow (Grooveproject)

6: VA - Let there be light (Zenon records)

7: Crossing mind - Beyond duality (Suntrip records)

8: Morphic resonance - The city of moons (Suntrip records)

9: Nervasystem - Brainradio (Phantasm records)

10: Sensient - The end of all things (Zenon records)

[Padmapani]

Uptempo:
1: Artha - Dream Telepathy (Cronomi)

2: Ra - Earthcall (Suntrip)
3: Oforia - Read More... (MDMA Music)
4: UX - Lazarus Rising (Neogoa)
5: Ticon - Mirage (Iboga)
6: Mindsphere - Mentral Triplex: Presence (Suntrip)
7: Robert Elster - Still Breathing (J00F Mantra)
8: Morphic Resonance - City of Moons (Suntrip)
9: Imba - First Encounter (Suntrip)
10: Nervasystem - Brainradio (Phantasm)


Downtempo:

1: Globular - Holobiont (self-released)

2: Profondita - Ciel (Altar)

3: Astral Travel Agency - Digital Spirits (self-released)

4: Dub Trees - Celtic Vedic (Liquid Sound Design)

5: Suduaya - Venus (Altar)

6: The Flying Mars - Vibradimensional Experience (Altar)

7: Astronaut Ape - Unknown Sector (Microcosmos)

8: Androcell - Creatures (self-released)

9: Kaminanda  - The Infinite Breath(Merkaba)

10: Seamoon - Crystal Language (Merkaba)

 

edit: so finally i've updated the downtempo section. it turns out the first five albums, while being quite different are equally excellent and very hard to put in order.

[Penzoline]

Uptempo:
1: Mindsphere - Mental Triplex: Presence (Suntrip Records)
2: UX - Lazarus Rising (Neogoa Records)
3: Morphic Resonance - City of Moons (Suntrip)
4: Oforia - Read More... (MDMA Music)
5: Artha - Dream Telepathy (Cronomi)
6: Proxeeus - Weird Tales (Goa Madness Records)
7: Ephedra - Flying Over The Universe (Goa Madness Records)
8: Virtuart - Virtuart & Friends (Dat Records)
9: VA - Goa Meditation Vol. 1 (Timewarp Records)
10: VA -  Mind Rewind Vol. 3 (Dat Mafia Records)

 

Downtempo:
1: Perfect Blind - Wanderers (Ae Records / Neogoa Records)
2: Scann-Tec - Unit
3: Sky Technology - Spirituality (Timewarp Records)
4: Globular - Holobiont (Self Released)

Subject to Changeeeeee

I'm a tad disapointed none of the albums this year really came out and said to me "IM THE ONE WHO KNOCKS". However Mindsphere is the one I played the most by far.

[Richpa]

Uptempo:

01. Ultimate Xperience - Lazarus Rising (Neogoa Records)

02. Artha - Dream Telepathy (Cronomi Records)

03. Morphic Resonance - The City Of Moons (Suntrip Records)

04. Veasna - Energy (Neogoa Records)

05. Proxeeus - Weird Tales (Goa Madness Records)

06. GoaD - Galactic Aviator (Neogoa Records)

07. Ra - Earthcall (Suntrip Records)

08. Lunar Dawn - Triglav (Neogoa Records)

09. Praktika - Playing The Presets (Trance Bum Productions)
10. V/A - Svemirski Hod (Neogoa Records)

Downtempo:

01. Perfect Blind - Wanderers (Ae Records / Neogoa Records)
02. V/A - Transmigration (Silent Existence)
03. Shamanizm Parallelii - Tales From Colored Tepee (Ae Records / Neogoa Records)

04. Sky Technology - Spirituality (Timewarp Records)
 

[LunarDawn]

Just a placeholder until I summarize

 

Uptempo:

 

01. Ultimate Xperience - Lazarus Rising (Neogoa Records)

02. Oforia - Read More... (MDMA Music)

03. GoaD - Galactic Aviator (Neogoa Records)

04. Veasna - Energy (Neogoa Records)

05. V/A - Svemirski Hod (Neogoa Records)

06. LOUD - 5 Bilion Stars (Nano Records)

07. LSD - Full Fractal Vision (Neogoa Records)

08. Nebula Meltdown - Urban Renaissance (Sangoma Records)

09.

10.

 

Downtempo:

 

01. Perfect Blind - Wanderers (Ae Records / Neogoa Records)

02. Sky Technology - Spirituality (Timewarp Records)

03. Shamanizm Parallelii - Tales From Colored Tepee (Ae Records / Neogoa Records)

04.

05.

[BogzBinny]

Downtempo:

 

 

03. E-Mantra - Raining Lights (Altar Records)

 Raining lights is from 2015

[Jon Cocco]

Uptempo
1. Ultimate Xperience - Lazarus Rising (Neogoa) ......................................... An UNEXPECTED surprise
2. Morphic Resonance - The City of Moons (Suntrip Records) ..................... My FAVOURITE Suntrip release in YEARS
3. Artha - Dream Telepathy (Cronomi Records) ............................................ EXCELLENT (few nitpicks aside)
4. RA - Earthcall (Suntrip Records) ............................................................... Would've loved more songs but GREAT release
5. Crossing Mind - Beyond Duality (Suntrip Records) ................................... Complex, ultra-melodic Goa with INGENUITY
6. VA - Mind Rewind 3 (DAT Records) ........................................................... DESERVES to be on more lists IMO
7. Chi-A.D. - Earth Crossing (Amakusa Records) .......................................... Hard to place this Re-Released CLASSIC 

8. Proxeeus - Weird Tales (Goa Madness Records) ...................................... UNDERRATED Goa album
9. VA - Analog Trips (DAT Records) ............................................................... Unreleased songs from old-school GOA artists
10. Ephedra - Flying Over The Universe (Goa Madness Records) ................ LOVE some of the work (tracks) here
 
Honorable mentions: 
Mindsphere - Mental Triplex: Presence (Suntrip Records) ............................. Ultra melodic Goa
Oforia - Read More (MDMA Music) ................................................................ Good comeback album
Virtuart ‎– Virtuart & Friends (DAT Records) .................................................... Some great Goa tracks on this double album!

Agnetivax - Achieving Mokesha ...................................................................... Ethnic influenced Goa gets tastier as album progresses
Ticon - Mirage (Iboga Records) ...................................................................... One of the best Progressive Trance album's in years
 
Downtempo
1. Perfect Blind - Wanderers (Ae Records / Neogoa Records) ....................... GREAT album though track 2 is too repetitive
2. VA - Goa Meditation Vol. 1 (Timewarp Records) ......................................... Finally found another EXCELLENT albeit double album
3. Aes Dana feat. Miktek - Far & Off (Ultimae Records) .................................. Crisp, Atmospheric.. I LOVE about 4-5 tracks
4. The Bhaktas - MODIFIED (Altar Records) ................................................... Includes a beautiful new song by ASURA   
5. Scann-Tec - Unyt (Ultimae Records) ........................................................... Fairly subdued psychill, yet more or less gripping, great
6. Suduaya - Venus (Altar Records) ................................................................. Some great and melodic mid-tempo work.
7. Shamanizm Parallelii - Tales From Colored Tepee (Ae Records / Neogoa Records) ..... The "Temple Of Buddha High" song is magical.
Wish more of the album was on that sexy, romantic, dreamy and euphoric level!!!
 
NOTE:  I haven't been that impressed with downtempo this year. Perfect Blind released a GREAT album, though the second track is too repetitive. Everyone check out VA - Goa Meditation Vol. 1 by Timewarp Records. The Asura Remix called Pitr Purusebhyo Namah on The Bhaktas compilation by Alter Records is so beautiful. Same with Chronos' song Keep In Your Heart; the album though is not on the same level of that track IMO. I don't mind that Suntrip didn't release a compilation. IMHO their artist albums were worth it. Best GOA comp for me is VA - Mind Rewind 3 (DAT Records) followed by V/A - Analog Trips though I really like (and don't like) a few on Analog Trips. Can't wait to hear Virtuart and Friends!

[Richpa]

 Raining lights is from 2015

Edited.

 

Thanks

[recursion loop]

Rough draft, subject to change, will search for labels when the list reaches its final state.

 

UP

1. E-Mov - Jasmine 

2. Makida - The Fractal Fenomena

3. Sideform - Momentum

4. VA - Uncharted Vol. 3

5. Oforia - Read More

6. Robert Elster - Still Breathe

7. Ra - Earthcall

8. Ticon - Mirage

9. Voyager - The Source

10. Mindsphere - Mental Triplex/Presence

 

 

DOWN

1. Max Million - Monogramma

2. Scann-Tec - Unit

3. Mystic Crock - Addicted

4. Androcell - Creatures

5. Noraus - Type 1 Civilization

6. Organic Dreamers - The Timeless Machine

7 . Pefect Blind - Wanderers

8-10 will fill in later