E-mantra - Arcana
Suntrip Records
2009
01. Praying Forest (Short)
02. Shamanistic Rituals
03. Last Encounter
04. War of The Hierophants
05. Approaching Nibiru
06. Dansul Ielelor
07. Ninive Under The Stars
08. Beyond The Boreas
Arcana is one of the rare, darker Suntrip releases since Ka-Sol's Fairy Tales released in 2006. Darker however in the spacey, thick atmosphere, floating sense. Not the devilish darkness or horror type. With Arcana, E-mantra seems more interested in creating an atmospheric world rather than individualizing melodic leads amongst layered backdrops. The final result is unlike anything I have ever heard. A full review ensues.
1. Praying Forest (Short Version) starts the album off with heavy, interesting atmospheric. The voice sample around 0:43 sounds like a super villain from a strong horror or Sci-Fi film, creating an evil vibe not present to this extent, anywhere else on the album. A beat appears within the first minute and occasional sounds arrive, repeat. Little seems to stand out in the first several minutes, until a clashing sound enters. It's fairly catchy, and remains in the background as more twisting sounds arrive. Unlike Pleiadian's and most space Goa however, which released strong leads into the swirling, elegant atmosphere, this song lacks a main melody. The reoccurring bass line and beat soon grow tiresome. A transition takes place around the third minute; breaking up the monotonous beat a little. But when it returns around 3:47, not much has changed musically, save for little tweaks, certain sounds rise up like little waves. But unlike artist Ethereal, who is known for creating elegantly flowing (rising up/down) Goa sounds like waves around an oceanic atmosphere, the sounds here are not so capturing, primarily because they seldom develop like melodies. Several minutes go by and at 5:34, the beat fades to accommodate a spacey transition. This area, from 5:40 to 6:10 is pretty good, catchy. The sounds are more alive, animated, more of what the song needs as opposed to relying on heavy atmosphere and textures with an often repetitive beat and bass line. Yet another artist who created a hypnotic vibe around a fairly repetitive beat and bass line is Filteria with the massive Earthrise track from 2009's Daze Of Our Lives album. This song however is too repetitive, uninteresting; it lacks the magic often built on a foundation, though several good ideas arrive later on when the song is almost over. I'm not why the E-mantra released this number as the first impression opening, let alone the album. It's mediocre. C+
02. Shamanistic Rituals begins with a voice sample in space. It sounds a bit awkward, considering the atmosphere (we're in space). With all of the alien backdrops, I thought we were on another planet or galaxy void of people. Aside from the otherwise cool (minus suspect voice) opening, the beat picks up and is enhanced with numerous details. Again, the atmosphere is great. The song introduces some decent sound fusions within the first several minutes, upping the intensity, but they don't develop much. A howling dog or wolf appears at 3:50 which takes away from the track in my opinion. Again, the general music was producing this other-worldly feel until the sound effect arrived. Directly after the howl is a gripping synth, and another. Unfortunately, the howling dog appears several more times; it's distracting, and just as the song's heating up. The melodic elements, sound work is catchier than the opening. Various, attractive sound fusions build atmospheric Goa islands, thicker sound spaces without the fun of a soaring Psy-rhythm lead often present in Psy/Goa albums. Around 6:25 introduces an aggressively enhancing sound, a transition, and a sweet little build up. From 6:45 to 7:39, I'm hooked in anticipation. Suddenly the beat returns, not a climactic rush, but similarly to before, and here is the problem. The artists had a chance to evolve the track, but they basically continued it, thus producing the buildup as a short lift rather than a fun transition into something more interesting, exciting. That said, the song does improve to some degree; it has some really nice elements, sounds that enhance the more open rhythm and textures, but the last third is basically a rearrangement of the first two. I can only imagine how magical this song could have been if the Goa work was even a third as developed and present as the wonderful atmosphere. Good track. B
03. Last Encounter has a short introduction, which is fine. The crisp and metallic melodic elements stand out; they're gripping. A voice sample around 1:57 is catchy too, making us feel as if we're in or around a space ship. Suddenly at 2:16, a sweet Goa melody/sound sentence appears. It's great. Two delicious sound/melody sentences take place here, a fast, tasty one, and a core, intensely supporting one. Both are complimented by creatively great drum work, adding strength, variety, and sound diversity to an album in need of it after the first two tracks. The drums leave around 4:25, and we reach a less intense zone in space. At this point, the core beat changes up, and one of the album's greatest strengths arrives, it's mid-tempo work. From around 4:40 to 5:30, the entire track shifts from atmospheric up-tempo, to smart and gripping Psy/Goa mid-tempo. This part is contagious; it's so catchy! I would love to hear more of it, developed. At around 5:40, the beat picks up, returning the music to its up-tempo opening with more energy and refreshment than at least before the solid transition. An elegant melody arrives towards the end. The sound is similar to Goasia's beautiful Sunrise track, but the execution involves less notes and support, so it feels less a leading current than a stand out melodic element. Nonetheless, a strong harmony is produced, elevating the album to higher ground in Goa space, similar in concept to what I've heard from artist Cybernetica on his spacey, tasty Nanospheric album. I wish that the album began on this track because it's great, and a clean slate relief after the first two nearly lifeless numbers. Great work! B+
04. War of The Hierophants starts out similarly to old school Pleiadians, sound- not melody wise. Not much takes place past the load of sounds, atmosphere in the first several minutes. I don't want to say they're filler, but they're nothing to build a portfolio around. From 3:58 to 5:00 however, is one of the most unpredictable and tasty music evolutions I have heard all year. The song's up-tempo speed shifts to mid-tempo. The result is a psychedelically irresistible and engaging treat, both sleekness and futuristic- that outdoes mid-tempo elements on the album to date. Both the tempo change and sound/alteration in this middle section is excellent. So why can't the uptempo work be this catchy, delectable, and gripping? The song's music returns to its up-tempo formula, but its few Pleiadians-inspired whistles lack the leads and dynamic progressions that made Pleiadians (and later Filteria's) Psy/Goa work so infectious. The final third of the track is okay, basically filler compared to the substantial and stylish mid-tempo treat. This is a pretty good due to an awesome sound and tempo metamorphosis that infects the middle third. B+
05. Approaching Nibiru increases the intensity. The beat releases right away. Hi-hats enhance alien sounds, backdrop. The song enters a fairly interesting transition around 1:30. The atmosphere is generally eerie, cool, as if wind is moving through a funnel or filter. The effect's good. Some Goa sound enter within the first third too, though they seem to develop more around 3:15. The song improves when an echoed, psychedelic, rising up tune at 3:35 gains status, followed by another around 3:50. Other sounds in the distance are effective, and the rough tune/sound enhances the track for several minutes. Also catchy is distant cheering (without the sound of people per say) around 2:49, earlier on. Tweaked details like these are cool, unlike the obvious, howling dogs in the less stellar second track. I'm more engaged by the work here. The song basks in background textures and atmosphere until 5:44, when an inspirational melody lead (to some degree) enters. Thick atmosphere enriches this driving tune, soon supported by others. The rhythm is quite hypnotic and effective in this number, but it seems to lack something to make it stand out more among all the strong backdrop. This is a pretty good song, but nothing spectacular. B-
06. Dansul Ielelor is one of, if not, the best uptempo track on the album. This is due to strong melody/sound work that develops with numerous supports, and an occasionally revisiting rhythm, like a chorus. Both compliment the atmosphere. The emotive tune early on is gripping, soon coming together by psychedelic and catchy, melodic synth work. The melody that enters around 3:00 is good too, if a bit simple, but quickly altered, arranged with newer sounds, and strengthened by even more melodic supports. The first two thirds of the song are interesting; they build nicely, but the last is terrific. The energy really picks up, enhancing the song. New sounds enter; they're great and confirm the amount of time and work invested in the song, with more addictive results I might add (the arriving Psy-melody around 5:50 is just one example). I wish that the uptempo tracks on this album had more sound/melody work invested around the great atmosphere/backdrops as they have on this song, for instance. Great work! A-
07. Ninive Under The Stars has a continuously hooking, addictive sound, movement, and rhythm. The number is built on a strong foundation, surrounded in moving atmospheric elements. The beat is joined with catchy, metallic sounds, and soon supported by powerful drum work. The interlude in the middle is perfectly timed and mixed. For instance, it enhances the song by letting the music return with _more interesting elements of support, aggression, and substance. The song goes in one direction, like Radical Distortion's Dying Earth (mid-tempo) gem on 2009's Psychedelic Dreams. This number is extremely well done throughout. The sounds are creatively used, however they were selected, put together around drums and atmospheric elements. The end result is powerful. Background melody work around 1:40 sounds inspired by the wonderful Corolle album by Khetzal; it's ethnic, Indian influenced possible, and deliciously crafted nonetheless. The atmospheric interlude from around 4:07 to 5:00 is effective too, letting the song chill before arresting our consciousness. This song further develops with determination and fluidity; showcasing an entire higher level of greatness that E-mantra is capable of producing. The song is darkly rich, determined, powerful, and engaging from beginning to end. A-
08. Beyond The Boreas ends the album with a second mid-tempo number. Personally I enjoyed the previous track more and feel that the album may have sounded even better had this come before Ninive Under The Stars. But it's great, refreshing nonetheless. Think of the psychedelic work in Filteria's Float Away and Disappear track, only without the elegant, arguably offbeat opening and closing. This is more in tune with its alien instincts. The song maintains a spacey atmosphere, subtle harmony, the triggering thoughts of contemplation, and visuals via soundscapes of alien landscapes. E-mantra's mid-tempo work is musical and great from what I've heard throughout Arcana. I simply wish there was more of it. As shown both here and on Ninive Under The Stars, melody/sound work is given time to develop, complimented by ambient notes. The song tells a story and is more focused on its musical element than atmosphere. The sounds selected here are catchy, enhanced around 5:12. The psychedelic rhythm is coupled with numerous, altered, and echoed sound sentences. The ambient notes in the last minute are very well done too. This is a smart and enjoyable mid-tempo number. Great work. B+
In Conclusion, Arcana has some incredible strengths that sneak up when least expected at times, but its weaknesses leave much to be desired. I love the mid-tempo work, and the atmospheric element throughout the album. But I miss such songs having melody synth leads, tunes that brought to success virtually all known Goa artist groups today. Moreover, Arcana has a general bass line, beat that grows repetitive at times, especially in the first two, and possibly more tracks. As if intended to emphasize hypnosis, this approach generally works best when interesting vehicles (sound work) are driving on the foundations. There is some memorable melody/sound work, but not enough to recommend the album for its melodies. That said, some will really like the cranked up, atmospherically detailed worlds here, but on the first two tracks, I can't help but feel an emptiness, one in need of life, I.e: stronger sound and/or melody work/leads, and some listeners may be put off for this very reason. Arcana is possibly the most unconventional release by Suntrip Records since Ka-Sol - Fairy Tales, and in that sense, it is bound to draw mixed reactions. Personally, I find that all of the atmosphere and floating textures in the world cannot replace what the album lacks, and that is main melodies, awesome leads to make the trip more fun than abstract, at times gripping. If melody leads were as well accomplished as the atmosphere, mid-tempo work, and floating backgrounds (often support in Goa/Psy-Trance), Arcana could have been a masterpiece. The up-tempo work (roughly two thirds the album) could have used more energy (buildups, climax, unpredictable moments, focal melodies) as well, but some of it's pretty good, and the mid-tempo transitions compliment. To date, this is one of my least favorite Suntrip Record's releases, but it also, at times, one of the most interesting due to its unconventional approach and potential. I give the artists and label credit for releasing something different. Fortunately, the album does improve as it progresses. It ends with two solid, mid-tempo gems. To sum up the album, melody (synth) leads take a backseat to good atmosphere, heavy floating textures, and great mid-tempo work.
Suntrip Records released a handful of Psychedelic Goa-Trance albums in 2009, and I would listen to Filteria - Daze of Our Lives and/or Radical Distortion - Psychedelic Dreams albums almost any day of the week over E-mantra - Arcana. But to be fair, atmospheric and abstract lovers of Psy/Goa-Trance may love (or at least parts of) this release. It would be wonderful if next time, E-mantra produces an album that is as strong on the Psy/Goa melody/sound work (don't forget some amazing leads that are drenched in psychedelia, but also breath at times) as they are on atmosphere and mid-tempo elements, which are very well done. Think Pleiadian's I.F.O. meets Tandu - Multimoods in concept, but through the inventive sound, atmosphere, and labyrinthine vision of E-Mantra. That has potential to be groundbreaking via sequel if they keep their wonderful atmospheric, floating textures, and soundscapes approach, and add some infectious synth leads here and there. Not always, but at times to really enhance the album as on amazing works like IFO, Multimoods, etc.
Favorite tracks - 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
B+
Samples / Order
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