Rasalom Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 (edited) Ultimate Xperience (U.X.) is not a prolific producer. Their original CD was released in 1997 on Dragonfly Records. That CD, "Ultimate Experience", was something above and beyond the bog standards of the time. The Pleiadians also released I.F.O. during that same time. It was an exciting time to be alive, turned on, and plugged into the global psychedelic music scene. U.X.'s "Ultimate Experience" was, and is, such an incredibly powerful album. It has earned its place in a very special category of Goa... sci-fi, gothic, industrial, dark, cyberpunk, hard... that few other artists share. Juno Reactor & Mandra Gora are in this place... It is now March of 2019, and we have now been blessed with Kris Kylven's "magnum opus". The Realm Of A New Dawn is not just another release. This is something to be experienced many times over, with different levels of consciousness. The release is in two parts, Lazarus Rizing & Ad Vitam Aeternam. Disc One : Lazarus Rizing 1. Andromeda. 145 BPM : Opening track of the Lazarus Rising disc. Beautiful, sweeping pads open up a lush soundscape. A voice enters, then the beat. This is UX sound, but much more refined. The mastering is done very well, all of the synths sounds clear, crisp, and beautiful. As the track progresses with more layers and complexity, Kris slides in some of his magic at the 9 minute mark opening the soundspace up even more. Very cool effect. Excellent opening track. 2. Kingdom Of Heaven (Invictus Mix) 145 BPM : Voices open up this one. And then a very aggressive, driving trance explodes. This is sci-fi/gothic Goa done right. There is a mysterious and hauntingly beautiful quality to the way everything is put together, and then we are pulled into space.... with this orchestral sounding section. The build up to the coda is great, everything is on point, another solid track. 3. Across Thee Universe (Space Time Continuum) 145 BPM : The deadly secrets of a place we call, the Universe. There are a lot of haunting voices in this one, a close listen is required to pick up on what is being said. The trance itself is great, the melting synth lines... this is dark music, but absolutely beautiful. Very refined UX. Great track. 4. Lazarus (Sanctum) (Mix XIII) 145 BPM : This track is epic. NOW RISE! 5. High Energy Protons (Deus Ex-Machina Mix) 142 BPM : This is definitely the best remix of High Energy Protons I've ever heard. While it definitely is High Energy Protons, it's brought to a higher level. Nearly 12 minutes long, and none of it dull. Absolutely solid music. 6. Radio-Activity (eXtinction 13) 120 BPM : This is the first downtempo track of the album. It fits very well within this Gothic space opera. Like so many tracks on the album, this one is stellar. 7. Genesis 120 BPM : Back to trance,but with a more gentle tempo. This track has a very optimistic feel, the pads and other synth sounds are sweeping and lush. The lady's voice is most excellent and her message is interesting. The strange rhythms of the trance are so good... Disc Two : Ad Vitam Aeternam 1. Jezebel (From Here To Eternity) 145 BPM : Personal favorite track. This is just... magic for my ears and mind. Very powerful. Dare I say, perfect track? The breakdown, and rise before the coda is pure sorcery. 2. The Night Ceatures (Mix XIII) 147 BPM : Another monster track. Very cinematic. Beautiful voices, electric synth lines driving a pounding trance right through you. 3. Prophecy (Thou Shall Not Fear) 145 BPM : Haunting opening pads, and choir, along with a VERY UXian synth line. It has a wicked sound. There is something Kris Kylven does with synths that I adore... a clear example is from his track "Morphogenesis" (as Syb Unity Nettwerk Experience). A wicked vibration. 4. Temple Of Love 147 BPM : A classic Gothic dance track from the late 80's re-imagined. Kris Kylven's voice has an ethereal quality over the pounding trance, and sounds so close to the original I assumed it was Mr. Eldritch himself singing. Outstanding remix. 5. Blaze Of Glory 157 BPM : Following Temple of Love, this track is just perfect. industrial, Gothic Goa. The guitar is done very tastefully. This is not "Butt Rock" Goa, this is refined. 6. Lux Aeterna 140 BPM : The beat on this one is delicious. All of the voices, the strings... another outstanding track with Middle Eastern sounds throughout. 7. The Ark Of The Convenant 134 BPM : Middle Eastern sounds throughout. Excellent down tempo track that feels like a coda to this most excellent album... but it isn't as that honor goes to Children Of The New Dawn (Farewell). 8. Children Of The New Dawn (Farewell) 64/128 BPM : The album comes to a conclusion with this down tempo piece. Again, we have optimism here, as our journey through the darkness ends in peace. Perfect ending to an incredible album. There is nothing weak here. Every track has something to say, and says it well. Jezebel is my personal choice for "best track", but this is a very close competition. I will listen to this over the weekend with very enhanced ears and provide a more detailed analysis, but as it stands, this is a must buy. It is the perfection of UX, it is a cybernetic, cinematic journey through sci-fi hyperspace. If you're a fan of UX, Juno Reactor, Mandra Gora, Johann Bley, Transwave, Syb Unity Nettwerk, X-Dream... or just really amazing psychedelic soundscapes in general... buy this album. It is the album of the year. After multiple listens, this is my favorite album of all time. The mastering is so good, all of the sounds are in their respective places, everything compliments everything. Damn sexy! Ultimate Xperience did not disappoint in the least. 11/10 Kris Kylven is a genius Buy it here Edited March 14, 2019 by Rasalom Added cover art, included details of each track after multiple listens. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightforce Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 UX is definitely the new Juno Reactor ! It's already a lengendary album for me ! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richpa Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 Storyboard, concept and design by Kris Kylven 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rasalom Posted March 10, 2019 Author Share Posted March 10, 2019 41 minutes ago, Richpa said: Storyboard, concept and design by Kris Kylven I just came here to edit my post and add that. Thankfully you had already posted it. Love this concept! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richpa Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 Thanks for the review, I tought it would be good to have it here in reviews as well to understand better the story behind the music. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rasalom Posted March 13, 2019 Author Share Posted March 13, 2019 On 3/10/2019 at 8:03 AM, Richpa said: Thanks for the review, I tought it would be good to have it here in reviews as well to understand better the story behind the music. I listened to it a lot over the weekend (and throughout Monday). Gave more detailed analysis of the tracks in my review. This is my favorite album. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richpa Posted March 14, 2019 Share Posted March 14, 2019 On 3/9/2019 at 5:54 AM, Rasalom said: 4. Temple Of Love 147 BPM : A classic Gothic dance track from the late 80's re-imagined. Andrew Eldritch's voice has an ethereal quality over the pounding trance. Outstanding remix. Thanks for the review from Kris as well, but we need to correct you here. "Temple of Love" it is not Andrew Eldritch singing but Kris himself, as he was a singer in a Gothic band in his teens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rasalom Posted March 14, 2019 Author Share Posted March 14, 2019 3 hours ago, Richpa said: Thanks for the review from Kris as well, but we need to correct you here. "Temple of Love" it is not Andrew Eldritch singing but Kris himself, as he was a singer in a Gothic band in his teens Impressive! I had no idea as it sounded so close to the original. Edited first post to reflect that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prana4ever Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 It's a well composed album, musically clever, it's just a shame to hear a similar commercial bassline in many of the tracks, ended up being a big turnoff for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richpa Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 3 hours ago, Prana4ever said: It's a well composed album, musically clever, it's just a shame to hear a similar commercial bassline in many of the tracks, ended up being a big turnoff for me. Hey, thanks for your comment and input regarding the album. I'm just curious to see which tracks you're reffering to as the ones having the commercial bassline. Since there are many, you can list few of them and if possible dig some examples in commercial psytrance music. Cheers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starkraver Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 High energy protons mix got me jumping up and down! And I usually hate remixes. Woah this was sooo so unexpected and soooo gooood! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Cocco Posted April 6, 2019 Share Posted April 6, 2019 Question, On this Re-Remastering of the Lazarus Rising (2019) album, Track 7 is Genesis. But on the original Lazarus Rising album released in 2016, Track 7 is Thee Audssey [Continues] [The Faithealers Remix]. What happened to the original Track 7 ? Did it not fit with the epic vision they had in mind, or did something not correlate? Any ideas? I'm excited to hear Ad Vitam Aeternam since Lazarus Rising was/is amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thanosp81 Posted April 6, 2019 Share Posted April 6, 2019 Anyone else got a Juno Reactor feeling? Still great album though 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Padmapani Posted April 6, 2019 Share Posted April 6, 2019 a very strong contender for the album of the year 2019. and that's true even when you don't count the tracks previously released as lazarus rising. there is nothing standard about this album, it's not just a psytrance release, it is a piece of art. while i don't like everything (temple of love with the singing is too much gothic and too little psy for me), this is a matter of taste and not of quality. the only downside i see is that the way this album is mixed makes it sound better on speakers (even cheaper ones) than on my headphones. it's the exact opposite for 99% of the music i ever listen to. i guess it'd sound great on a festival rig tough. i'd love to hear jezebel at the dancefloor on a big system. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rasalom Posted April 7, 2019 Author Share Posted April 7, 2019 19 hours ago, Padmapani said: a very strong contender for the album of the year 2019. and that's true even when you don't count the tracks previously released as lazarus rising. there is nothing standard about this album, it's not just a psytrance release, it is a piece of art. while i don't like everything (temple of love with the singing is too much gothic and too little psy for me), this is a matter of taste and not of quality. the only downside i see is that the way this album is mixed makes it sound better on speakers (even cheaper ones) than on my headphones. it's the exact opposite for 99% of the music i ever listen to. i guess it'd sound great on a festival rig tough. i'd love to hear jezebel at the dancefloor on a big system. I was a fan of Gothic music since I was 10 and heard Bauhaus' "Bela Lugosi's Dead" in the opening scenes of the movie "The Hunger". That changed my taste in music forever. I started listening to Bauhaus, followed soon after by Sisters Of Mercy (and many others). So, for me, I really loved the "Temple Of Love" remix. I do agree that it absolutely is a matter of taste, Gothic music is not every trancer's cup o' chai. As for the sound, I tend to listen on speakers. Either on my main stereo, my computer workstation's speakers, or my car. I did listen on headphones as well, but I do prefer it on speakers. And yes, Jezebel blasting out on a big system would be divine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rasalom Posted April 7, 2019 Author Share Posted April 7, 2019 22 hours ago, Jon Cocco said: Question, On this Re-Remastering of the Lazarus Rising (2019) album, Track 7 is Genesis. But on the original Lazarus Rising album released in 2016, Track 7 is Thee Audssey [Continues] [The Faithealers Remix]. What happened to the original Track 7 ? Did it not fit with the epic vision they had in mind, or did something not correlate? Any ideas? I'm excited to hear Ad Vitam Aeternam since Lazarus Rising was/is amazing! My assumption is that Genesis simply fits better. While I do enjoy the Faithhealer's remix from the original Lazarus Rising, the addition of Genesis fits the overarching theme of this album better. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Padmapani Posted April 7, 2019 Share Posted April 7, 2019 2 hours ago, Rasalom said: My assumption is that Genesis simply fits better. While I do enjoy the Faithhealer's remix from the original Lazarus Rising, the addition of Genesis fits the overarching theme of this album better. agreed. and while i find the faithhealer's remix so-so, genesis is really good. so i cannot complain at all here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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