Altom - Groove Control (Neurobiotic, 2004)

[Guest Templar]

Altom - Groove Control

 

Neurobiotic, 2004

 

1. Appetizer 2:11 / 120 bpm

2. Not For Children 8:27 / 145 bpm

3. Spray 9:16 / 145 bpm

4. Groove Control 8:01 / 138 > 145 bpm

5. Interactive 7:58 / 145 bpm

6. Serotonine 8:03 / 150 bpm

7. Hologram Rmx 9:20 / 142 bpm

8. Regulate 8:59 / 145 bpm

9. The Code 8:32 / 145 bpm

10. Beat Breakers 6:40 / 120 bpm

 

http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/neu/neu1cd011.html

 

There were times when I though that France is good only at surrendering to the enemy and making goooood wine. These times and thoughts are far far away from me as I discover step by step the world of trance / chillout music made by French artists. One has to admit that France has got loads of talented people in this field, take for instance two important labels: 3D Vision (though it has recently moved with Absolum to Ibiza right?) and Neurobiotic. Yes... Neurobiotic...

 

Altom's debiut album called "Hologram" released back in 2002 (also on Neurobiotic) was one of my favourite CD's of that year and I still think of it as of a top notch work, even though there are people who consider it to be very repetitive recycled music (usage of the same sounds over and over again) and boring. There is some grain of truth in it, I dno't deny it, nevertheless Altom has done it for me back then... and now the duo of Alexis Cornet and Thomas Dubreuil managed to impress me once more.

 

If You're looking for something that is in the vein of the "Hologram" album I have to say that this is something new. I was very disappointed when I downloaded the samples of "Groove Control" from Neurobiotics. Where has the spirit and the vibe of "Hologram" gone? - I asked myself then. Sniff... This is just another full-on release... Fortunately it all changed after Altom's show on Fullmoon Festival when I instantly bought this CD and dropped it in a car player on my way home. Never trust the samples ! ... The material contained on "Groove Control" is Altom's regenerated and faster sound. Which is not a bad thing of course. The French guys managed to capture the spirit of Altom's previous album, adding a new approach to their unique music and a nice tempo to it. As You can see above most of the tracks oscilate around 145 bpm, making it a good dancefloor stomper. In my review of Talamasca's "Made In Trance" I've mentioned my sun-burned face. Guess what? It was the show of the Altom guys that made me forget all about the negative aspect of the Sun. But it was worth it, I've danced and travelled with Altom's music on FMF 2004 like hypnotised... Thank U guys! The album starts with a nice intro (great name of this track btw.) with a crowd sample shouting, which teleports us to a field on some open-air party (in my case it's back to Fullmoon Festival again... mmmm ), after a while it morphs beautifully into the second track - and this is where the Altom's groovy dancefloor magic starts... We get a rise of serotonine here and there, a pinch of groove and something to regulate our dance code. Throughout the whole CD we ae able to take a deep breath of their previour album with a remix to "Hologram". An instant "banana" on one's face I say. The whole CD ends with a nice downtempo-ish track, which is miles ahead from the "Plasma" track from "Hologram" CD as far as the vibes of this musical beauty is concerned. A true masterpiece and a good finish to a nice journey.

 

This CD contains some of the finest French sound around. Though at times it may seem repetitive, if you are into Altom / French psy' / good music (!) then buy it. Definately a MUST HAVE.

 

 

www.psytrance.pl

[Guest Templar]

A little ERRATA:

 

Neurobiotic is from Italy not from France. I've always though it is a French label. Guess it's because of the fact that the acts they are releasing are from France (Altom, Tikal...). Well, nobody's perfect. =]