traveller Posted April 12, 2004 Share Posted April 12, 2004 Artist: Tikal Album: Ritual Cycle Label: Neurobiotic Cat: NBRCD09 Genre: Psytrance Playtime: 72:46 Tracklist: 01 Equinox 08:17 02 Sunshine Middle East 08:21 03 Time Is Running Out 07:14 04 Breath Remix 07:46 05 Jazzistique 07:53 06 Mr Pink 10:15 07 Aura Remix 07:52 08 Horn Travel 07:01 09 Canicule 08:07 No lack of fish in the ocean of full on. Sometimes it seems as if nine out of ten released psytrance albums are full on, might for real be that its cut is even bigger. The genre’s growth has been exponential for quite some time. So no sortage of fish, but unfortunately atleast I find the ocean rather homogeneous. It's tuna all the freaking way down. But alas! Here comes Tikal. Tikal, to me anyways is that odd lil tuna with a queer eye on its forehead. I think it might have even grown wings. Yes, it doesn't have fins any longer. This bizarre creature is airborne and will spread its genes, take my word for it. Gun on my head, I still say I absolutely love Ritual Cycle and I for one am one of the biggest full on bashers. Ritual Cycle wasn't my most anticipated release. To tell the truth I almost didn't bother answering Neorobiotic's contacts when they asked me to review the album. Obviously, I'm pretty fucking glad I did. Let’s jump about a month back in time. There I was, wondering wether or not I should bother opening that packet with stamps saying Rome on it. I knew what was inside. Well here goes nothing. Me and my attitudes make it almost impossible to find new decent acts. So what will it be? Yet another GMS clone? Something slightly more Israeli sounding? But wait, that guitar in the beginning of “Equinox”! It sounds mystical, very promising. Then that 80's computer game like spooky melodic thingy. Rolling bassline and the kick, hi-hat & snare combo appears. Uuuh! That's how I felt. Especially since I heard the stuff on top of it all. Sure was bloody good music. And then that singing, I felt as if I was in the middle of some art war movie thingy. The scene; it's black and white, blood has spilled more than enough, the brutality of man, ah the horror. Some don't bear to watch. Everything is still, remaining black & white, then we get that bright red blood slowly mixing to the black and white water, it's not cheesy for it's made way before Schindler’s list. Took me like a week or two just to realize that the woman is actually singing in English, that's how deep emotions, or some other sentimental crap like that it brought up in me. It goes something like this; “I once had a true love, and I loved him so.. I loved him for...." Soon, so soon the rolling pounding bouncing bassline, hi-hat, kick etc combo enters. Was I ever to hear this tune at a party this would mark the part from which on I'd dance like a maniac my moves going beyond unsanity. So that was pretty intense I thought. Wanting to listen to the tune again, but no, I'm in no habbit of skipping tracks. After all, it can't be all bad, the album I mean, not if they can create a tune like that. There's not much fucking around in the beginning of “Sunshine Middle East” for it gets straight down to brass tacks. And then some chanting. And uuuh, we get the extra flavour on top of everything in this baby aswell. You'll know what I mean once you hear it. And the melodies, praise the melodies! Well anyways, the peak comes at the five minute mark along with the guitar. It’s so elegant. Ah, so elegant! Reminds me of the good old times when it was Goa. So it was time for “Time Is Running Out”. I recall how the tune sneaked in while I was making coffee in the kitchen. That must have been the first time I really took a look at the album's artwork. And I saw it was good. Then I noticed that the next tune was called “Breath Remix”, but more about that real soon. Ah well, I can't say a bad thing about “Time Is Running Out”, It's from time to time very heretic with its uplifting “let’s start again from whispers” buildups. The magic enters once it’s complete and built again. This was the second time I was dissapointed to realize that it really isn't a remix of the Prodigy's Breathe. That's when I realized that it's a remix to Bamboo Forest's “Breath”. Can't really recall what the original is like. I do remember that I happen to dig it and was bouncing like a madman to it at Samothraki. All-in-all what I can say is that Tikal takes the best part of Bamboo Forest's original, the singing that is and makes the tune, in my opinion, superiour to its predecessor with all the fancy tricks, noises and sounds. (Note! I checked the original.) If anything, “Jazzistique” makes it clear that also the Tikal guys have heard of that “Voices Of Istanbul” soundbank cd thingy. “Ommmmm mokshaaaaaaaaa”. Don’t know if this is the first time that chant has been used in a full on tune, nevertheless it sure works. Jazzistique is a continuum to the four previous tunes, ethnic chants, electric kicks, lots of percussions and intelligent melodies/structures, maybe just a tiny dash of good old goa spirit can be found within its realm aswell. “Mr Pink” starts with a great sample, which if I’m not totally mistaken has been taken from that movie “Reservoir Dogs”. I don’t feel like repeating myself too much but the melodies and the build ups! 01:55! Just listen to it and fall in love. Here is the most dramatic difference between Tikal and most other full on acts; Tikal has understood that it’s more than basslines. And you can hear it loud and clear. Actually I’d file this under psytrance. That’s how good it is. I fooled you a bit in the beginning of my review for I did listen to the first fifteen to thirty second bits of all the tunes before I started listening to the album as an whole. “Aura Remix” is the tune that got me most exited. Is french one spooky/psychedelic language or what! Wherever that sample has been taken from, whatever the man actually says, well anyways it makes an ultra kewl intro. Groovy is alltogether great word to describe what Aura sounds like. Can’t feel bad while listening to this shit. That female chorus fits in so well. I wish I had more time to tell you what this tune is like and all but time is the one thing I really don’t have at the moment. Anyways, one of the highlights of the album for me for sure! The groove is brazilian, the mood is cheerful and the name of the tune is “Horn Travel”. You’ll get the name quite fast for the tune is packed with travelling horns. Is it just me or do they sometimes remind you aswell of “My Head Feels Like A Frisbee”? These horns know how to travel, everything in between porn movie music and brazilian carneval can be found here. “Yentoooo” Isn’t that from some Shpongle tune? I love the way the organic horns mix in with the electric beeps and almighty growly basses, the drums aren’t bad either. It says on the backcover that this tune is 120BPM. Tikal is quite good at this for I really don’t notice the regulator at all. Canicule goes for more chilled approach with its long wave synths and peacuful flutes. It’s real chill out. To this one could actually chill to, even mentally. Those damn horns in the previous sure wiped this option. Then again, what do you prefer? 9/10 for this album has no weak points. Don’t take my word for it? Have you seen a single negative review of this album? I sure haven’t.. not that that necessarily means anything.. however I stick to my opinion.. thanks Neorobiotic and Tikal !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dr. Cheroot Posted April 12, 2004 Share Posted April 12, 2004 Nice review, Thanks. I was really looking forward to this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urban Posted October 28, 2022 Share Posted October 28, 2022 Sunshine Middle East <3 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.