Vibrasphere - Exploring the Tributaries

Holy devil in hell, what a slick album to go with that chick cover. Straight on the curly line that lies between tastyness and fuzzyness, Vibrasphere from the cold winters of Sweden has created an unresistable full length with melodies so appealing and basslines so fulfilling, surely you will twirl on your toes in utter delight. Lets start exploring.

1. Heading North. Like a shrimp sandwich aperitif, we start off unexcitingly; its almost beatless, somewhat boring but beautiful ambient; setting the stage for something greater, much like the tender caress of young inexperienced lovers before the final act initates. This would have worked better as an intro, cutting a minute or two. But certainly, Im grasping at straws here.

2. Erosion. Ah, how the name tempts another erotic analogy; but I'll avoid them (until I forget that I should.) We get our first 4/4 kick, albeit a soft one, accompanied by a near to shapeless bass. Higher frequencies consist of partly a moaning/flutelike sound giving the song a distinct feeling, and partly an arp-based melody joining the beat rougly halfway in. This is a very charming tune and the melody evolves nicely, once it begins, into a satisifying climax (shame on me already?). I am captivated, but not yet caught. Lets move on.

3. Isolation. 4/4 again, this time harder altough far from annoying; in fact, it contributes to a very hypnotic atmosphere together with a nicely repetitive arp and an equally repetitive mid frequency fuzzy synth hit. This feels dark. Now, however, I am sucked in, like a doomed bird into a giant turbine awaiting its final destiny; its struggle against the fierce winds lasts into the sixth minute when a new melody, a new hope if you will, is introduced. I would have prefered it climaxed into something darker; like that poor bird, at last in peace with its gloomy fate, altough this is more in line with the feel of the album. The best track on the album, in my opinion.

4. Vertical. Sparingly melodious, I find this somewhat boring, its major appeal being great windy drops giving the song a fine exploratory feeling. This is a paranthese to me, and being that I'll move on.

5. In Control. This is too much disco for my poor soul. I find the melody somewhat obnoxious and the singing (talking) does not make matters better. However, it is nevertheless a highly acceptable tune.

6. 102 Miles from Here. A funky bassline, now thats a surprise; it is in reality what gives the song its entire character. This is in fact as funky as the album gets. Again we have these windy pads that pass by; their level of perfection is, I find, what gives Vibrasphere their unique sound this time around. Anyway, the song climaxes into one part fast pace low freq, one part slow paced high freq melody. Very enjoyable.

7. Wasteland. Into darker territories again, as the name suggest. We are treated to an IDMish intermezzo, or two. The bassline follows the main melody like a dog strapped to rolling boulder into the nordic night and we have these siren/banshee howls in the far. Funky and atmospherish, this is nice but not exceptional.

8. Forever Imaginary. Now this is something else. A dreamlike scenario is painted with multiple layers of melodies and a very deep and long bassline. A beautiful track, in lines with the dreams I imagine inhabits the mountain climber's mind on his last night before the summit.

9. Ensueño. Another track lacking the good old 4/4; what we have here is a pleasant ride with occasional and intensive deep padlike swirls of melody which make the tune distinct. Relaxing and positivizing, should there be such a word, setting the stage for a grand exit.

10. Mountain Lake. This is the lake of some lost childhood, sprinkled with melancholy and the insight of what will never be again. It has all the beauty of the summer and the winter, expressed through a piano line; the essential part of the song and it cannot, I am sure, be disliked, in fact disloved. It does not get much better.

11. Yaku. An outro, it does the job, whatever the job is.

What a sweet ride, if you have not aquired the taste for Vibrasphere yet, do it now. If you have, enjoy.

4.5/5

1 Unoccupied - Everyday Life (4:26)

2 Cord - Zodiac (6:25)

3 Krill.Minima - Wie Die Wolken Zieht Auch Der Tag Vorbei (6:18)

4 Hibernation - Melt (5:17)

5 Cosmic Fools - Bohemian Atmosphere (6:00)

6 Anahata - Prana (6:29)

7 Vataff Project - Plasticine Bird (10:40)

8 Omnimotion - Embrace (4:47)

9 Ishq & Shulman - Mother Nature (6:45)

10 Elve - Cyantium Flower (9:35)

11 Bluetech - Snow Drift (4:32)

12 Rena Jones - A Curious Unraveling (4:32)

Aleph Zero. A label that really has a quality filter on their music. Almost every track released on the label is at least very good and this time they have put together a very nice night time chill compilation. The cover is very reflective of the music inside smoky urban night time grooves. A lot the earlier tracks put me in mind of an underground lounge club with the atmospheres whereas the latter tracks remind me more of the end of a night.

Lets take a closer look at the tracks

1. Unoccupied - Everyday Life

I don't know what I was expecting from this the first time I put it in my CD player. It's closer to massive attack than your conventional psy chill. A nice trip hoppy track. Starts with a long heavy drone which stays throughout the track in the background, a melancholic melody, rather depressing 'shut in' lyrics & slow electric guitar makes for a rather melancholic opener

2. Cord - Zodiac

Another kinda trip hop track, at least with the beats. This one though is much funkier. Quite random in parts with a lot of sounds not seemingly doing anything but when the really funky baseline kicks in it all seems to come together nicely. It's more atmospheric & better in the second half of the track for sure.

3. Krill.Minima - Wie Die Wolken Zieht Auch Der Tag Vorbei

Crackly analogue sounds mixed with sounds of nature is a strange intro. A minute in and the dark night time atmosphere is back. Think of a cool, dark, underground lounge in New York, Paris or Tokyo and you'll get the smoky atmosphere of this track. Soft pads, jazzy melody & water sounds mix surprisingly well. The melody morphs into a more relaxed keybord one towards the end. It's nice & leaves me wanting to listen to it more & more

4. Hibernation - Melt

Think weird ambient with a flavour like the previous track. That is the 1st half of this one. The second half sees some beats come in and a soft female vocal (sounds quite alluring). I again get the feeling of sitting in some poorly lit back street bar in the basement with big comfortable sofas & very few customers & a sultry singing waitress

5. Cosmic Fools - Bohemian Atmosphere

I think this track & title sums up the CD so far. Urban bohemian lifestyle. Nice beats, dark night atmosphere. Trippy twisted melody. Cool track very reflective of it's title.

6. Anahata - Prana

Interesting track, what sounds like sitar (?) but actually played well is the main focus. Slight yet prominent beats & some electronic sounds surround it but still the strings take all the spotlight. When it's not there though the music sounds flat which leads to a really disappointing end to the track. It feels like a transition track (which it is)

7. Vataff Project - Plasticine Bird

Love this track. The longest on the comp at over 10 minutes & we've made the transition from downbeat to more ambient sounds. There are still a few beats but they are very minimal & the ambient drone is at the forefront of the track. A minimal melody is very nice and interspersed with little 'plop' sounds. A very nice track. I especially like the waaaaahhhh drones later on

8. Omnimotion - Embrace

Great intro & follow on from the previous track, very majestic. A slow operatic song seems to fill an entire auditorium while a slight yet heavy beat pounds in the background. The beats become a little more involved but the atmosphere remains the same, dark, slow urban nights. Lots of random glitchy sounds permeate adding to the feeling of a slowed down busy city at night

9. Ishq & Shulman - Mother Nature

I must admit I was probably expecting too much from this collaboration between these two heavyweights of chill. It's a good track though much more in ishq's style than Shulman's. In fact I can't hear Shulman's influence at all. Completely ambient & very dark & natural sounding. Think forest at night, beatless & could have been better given more time to evolve. A really nice vocal comes here & there but the track is just a little too short. This gets me looking forward to ishq's forthcoming albums but gives me no insight into what shulman's might be like.

10. Elve - Cyantium Flower

This track only highlights that Shulman's influence in the collaboration can only have been a distraction from the dreamy floatiness of what ishq can do alone. Here we can see what he's capable of by himself. A better vocal wail & much more ethereal. My only gripe is that it's not new. I already had this track on the Elve album

11. Bluetech - Snow Drift

Think Bluetech collaborating with ishq & that's what you get here. Sounds a lot like his Sines & Singularities album but chilled out even more. Ishq is not actually present on this track which shows that it is Bluetech's evolution, taking his beautiful sounds and turning it into even more chilled out bliss.

12. Rena Jones - A Curious Unraveling

A curious end to the compilation. After the last 5 tracks completely chilling me out along comes this one with more energy. Enough to make you open your eyes anyway. Not a lot of energy mind but it seems more after the preceding tracks. It's in the style of her album, Driftwood. Very nice floating ambient with a smattering of beats & strings.

Well, a great compilation again from Aleph Zero. The first half sounds like night time urban lounge music & the second half sounds like end of the night ambient like you've come home sat in the garden & watched the sky.

It's perfect for a sunday night after a heavy weekend. Put this on & let the music do it's work.

Favourites 3,7,8,10,11

Khooman

Is a flexible liquid

Ajana Records

April 2007

Tracklist

1 Slide! (9:36)

2 Helpless (8:02)

3 Below The River Flows (6:08)

4 Let Me Out (9:26)

5 Fly (5:35)

6 A New View (7:24)

7 It's Only Dust On The Road (9:05)

8 Shaman Desert (10:35

I must admit I bought this just because of the cover art. It looked fun with a (slightly) dark edge, which I thought would be right up my alley. After many listens I'm quite impressed without having my mind blown. It's steady & enjoyable without causing any liquid pants explosions!

1. Slide

We start off with an intro promising a lot of energy & atmosphere. The beat breaks in like a false promise, it starts & you think it's going to go crazy but it waits & gives us a nice little baseline with the beat teasing slowly before finally kicking in, in a nice relaxed tone. The sounds build & it ends up sounding like a Sci-Fi lounge track. Fat beats & sofa appeal, I can just imagine myself on a big purple sofa in the near future listening to this. The atmosphere gets denser while retaining it's spaciness towards the end.

2. Helpless

Still spacey yet a little more grounded. The string like sounds in the melody give us a more earthy atmosphere but everything else in the track tries to make it fly. The result is a positive confusion or blend of 2 opposites. It's quick & energetic while still being relaxed & atmospheric.

3. Below the River Flows

Strange strings & synths in the intro, would be a nice ambient drone but it shifts & changes & when accompanied by the beat it has a lot of energy & driving force yet manages to stay peaceful & zen. It makes your body move but also your brain shift. It's nice and it tweaks at your brains receptors but it never quite blows them away despite feeling that potential.

4. Let Me Out

A dense ambient intro drone builds a glitchy atmosphere before the strings melody in & the baseline pushes the track into a head nodder. I sit here nodding my head in time to the slow beats & enjoy the ambience & glitch behind them. The track seems to have no direction bu tit is moving, an interesting feeling like I'm trapped but I don't mind being so. Still, who wants to be trapped?

5. Fly

A nice melody right away, closely followed by a chilled baseline & some ethnic sounding human wails. Cool trippy beat work is very impressive & really adds oomph to a track that would be fine without it but is so much better for it. The strings reappear to give us a sense of continuity but they are much more involved than in previous tracks. The underlying beats, which lie under a 4-4 beat once again give us a head nodder of a track.

6. A New View

A very spacey atmosphere, a similar baseline & beat but added floatiness. The melody undulates & a sub melody flickers in & out beneath everything. As a spacey track it's a little pedestrian which is a little weird but not necessarily bad. The track never goes anywhere or evolves but manages to stay interesting enough through it's 7.5 minutes to make you want to listen to it again.

7. It's only dust on the Road

A much slower intro but we a fed back into familiar territory soon as a soft baseline then some intricate tribal beats & some dark ambient sounds whirl around. These things seem to contrast each other but it doesn't sound bad. They seem to work but you're left with a sense of confusion that isn't trippy, just odd! I'm left wondering if I like the track or not & whether or no this is a good thing.

8. Shaman Desert

A quality track to finish. The best of the bunch. More ethnic than any of the previous tracks but with a similar feel with it's beats & atmosphere, just more grounded & more eastern. Ethnic vocals & an soft muttered sample give this an almost crowded feeling when they are in but apart from them the track is very serene which once again presents us with a nice contrast that works well!

In conclusion then, I'm happy that I bought this album but not ecstatic. All the tracks are good & stand alone well but it's main weakness is that all the tracks are a little too similar. There is enough variation to keep one interested through the entire album but I can't really tell which track is which and apart from the last track it's difficult to pick out any favourites. It works as an album because each track is obviously from this album but from a chillout album I feel that there needs to be more story.

False Mirror

Chronostatic Scenes

DataObscura

2007

Tracklist

1 Plato's Last Dream (10:48)

2 A Divine Passage (4:52)

3 Beyond The White Plainscapes (8:26)

4 The Tower Of Deception (11:23)

5 Drift Towards Zero (8:17)

6 The Subterranean Border (6:11)

7 Instant Drowning (4:01)

8 Caught In A Spray Of Time (9:01)

DataObscura is the CDr wing of Databloem, a label I have fallen head over heels in love with. The deep journeys the soundscapes take me on are awe inspiring. I must admit, I can't really tell the difference in sound quality between these CDrs & the properly pressed CDs. This is deep dark ambient & I can tell the difference when it comes to mp3s but not with these CDrs.

I had never heard of False Mirror before but I took a risk buying this after quite liking the cover. So was the music!

1. Plato's Last Dream

Sounds of a stream trickling through the night. A cold dark night. Somewhere in the distance I can hear the tolling of a bell. A long dark oppressive drone cuts the tension like a knife scything through a paranoid mind. Voices of the lost seem to wail from all around me yet I can not see them. The stream though is now lit up by the moon as the clouds have broken enough to let the cold light through. The moon only manages to cast eerie shadows around me and the atmosphere becomes more menacing as I sit here on the river bank in the dead of night. Eventually the menacing presence passes on by and leaves just the sound of the water and the night.

2. A Divine Passage

A high pitch sound floats on the airwaves like a voice on the breeze calling out to be heard, disappearing out of earshot only to return with more vigour once the wind changes direction. I imagine myself on the shore of a large lake with the wind to my back but a breeze coming off the water into my face also. A lone boat sails the lake and as it nears me I can make out the emptiness on board. Not a soul to stop it running aground.

3. Beyond The White Plainscapes

Curiosity killed the cat, a phrase I completely ignore as I venture on the the derelict. Climbing over the hull I see the debris scattered on the deck. Nothing sinister as such, just leaves, bits of branches, stones and bird droppings. In the centre of all this is a lone fish carcass, the long dead creature's flesh has all but rotted and the empty eye sockets stare and empty hatred for my life that I still hang on to. My curiosity gets the better of me when I see the door half off It's hinges. I walk over to it but hesitate as I draw near as the sound emanating from within is a cold, wet, pulsating sound like that of insects swarming.

4. The Tower of Deception

I open the door and it falls to the floor with a slow crash followed by the creaking groans of the wood.

As I peer inside I can see a staircase leading up. I follow the wooden stairs up as they turn into stone steps covered with slime and mold. The walls now are stone and there is an odd substance made of sound running down them. Every now and then there is a small window but when I look out of them I can see only darkness without any form. I can feel the wind biting through them as I make my way up. For what seems like hours I climb that cold lonely stair. At times I feel like there is going to be no end to the climb but I cannot head back down as when I turn back round there is nothing. No stairs, no wall, no darkness, just void. So onwards up the creaky stairs I go. The wind pushes past me and I can hear the swarm I felt at the bottom. Finally I reach the pinnacle of the staircase, I feel like I must be at the top of the world's tallest tower but as I look out I am a mere 20m up, looking out over a forest I barely pass the treetops. The insects buzz around the trunks as they creak and threaten to fall.

5. Drift Towards Zero

My mind cannot cope with what it the senses are telling it. What happened to the boat? Where did the tower start? Now what happened to the physical body I once inhabited? My consciousness now just rises slowly higher and higher towards the vast emptiness of space. Through the clouds passed the atmosphere away from the Earth's gravitational pull. Out passed the gas giants beyond the tiny rocks, faster and slower I go. My pace is more relaxed but the further away from everything I go in less and less time. Beyond the outer stars until I can see the Milky Way, Andromeda and a sombrero of stars. Passed even the reach of any sun's light into what is truly nothing. All I'm left with is the breaking of my mind.

6. The Subterranean Border

As the darkness of the nothing engulfs me I feel hard stone on my back and water on my feet. I look down at my feet and see waves slowly moving between my toes. I look ahead and see the cavernous roof of this underground fortress of solitude. The cold water at my feet gives me goosebumps and I try to move backwards but the wall to my back stops me. I try to move forward but some unstoppable force pins me to wall. A dark oppressive force I come to understand as gravity.

7. Instant Drowning

As I conquer gravity I am thrown upwards through the roof of one reality on to the seabed of another. This far under the sea it strange to see tides but in front of me there is and underwater lake. The waves are audible as nothing else is until a school of rebellious fish swim round my head in metallic fashion.

8. Caught In A Spray Of Time

Back on the shore, I've been washed up and dumped on the cold sand. The waves come in and cover my ankles then retreat oly to come back and cover a little further up. I lie with my face up to the sky watching the outlines of the clouds as they distort to starlight. The water reaches my waist now each time and the wind picks up. Although the water is cold when it covers me it feels warm and when it retreats the wind attacks my wet skin. The water comes up to my neck now but I am paralysed by the sky. As the waves reach my mouth I swallow the fetid sea water in huge quantities. Each time they recede I gasp for air but slowly the recession time decreases and I am plunged back into a wet world of dark nothingness.

Well, what a bizarre journey. It feels like a trippy trippy dream through a semi nightmarish world. Everything is confusing. I lack control of both my body and my mind.

There is a lot of dark sounds, lots of yet sounds and a lot is made out of nothingness.

A Fantastic album and journey, will be enjoyed by fans of dark ambient I'm sure.

Gus Till

Best of the Rhino Years Vol.1

Sonic Dragon

2007

Tracklist

1 Slinky Wizard - Beautiful People (Bus Remix) (8:24)

2 Bus - Bullett (Correct Mix) (8:51)

3 Bus vs. Venom - Bugged (8:34)

4 Slinky Wizard - Fistful Of Mutants (8:53)

5 Stoop & Fidget - Mefisto (8:51)

6 Bus - N By NW6 (Correct Unreleased Mix) (9:11)

7 Bus - Something's Always Out There (8:50)

8 Busted - Uncontrollable Substance (9:28)

9 Bus - Finissimo (7:55)

The Rhino Years! We all must remember Flying Rhino Records, they continued to push the boat releasing different, interesting & quality music up until the time they closed there doors. Gus Till had a lot of tracks under the name Bus as well as with Slinky Wizard (w/ George Barker), Bugged (w/ Theo Butt) Stoop & Fidget (w/ James Munro). For the 1st time these tracks have been released together on this disc as well as vol.2 (released later in the year). As you'd expect it's quality stuff. Let's take a look.

1. Slinky Wizard - Beautiful People (Bus Remix)

This starts with the unmistakable sample Please Hold Me & It's beautiful, You're Beautiful! which echo, well beautifully. This track really needs no introduction. A classic from a golden era of trance remixed by the man who's style the original track was most like anyway. From the samples to the long dropping sounds to the beat that adds an extra one at seemingly sporadic intervals, it all twists my brain in nice psychedelic ways. The main difference I can tell from the original I remember is the ending though.

2. Bus - Bullet (Correct Mix)

Brilliant orchestral sounds mixed with a soft beat in the intro. The beat kicks off with really lush ambient sounds floating around. What could be described as ethereal lost souls come out of the sky. The sounds slowly get added with some synth layers giving a more metallic edge & the orchestral sounds coming back in along with the lost souls give a darker feel.

3. Bus vs Venom - Bugged

The beat builds up with a few crazy sounds but all in all a very minimal intro. Not atmosphere until the squelchy bassline comes in adding an extra 3 dimensions with just the one sound. Without noticing they manage to add more & more layers & I get lost until the sample They Sucked His Brains Out comes in & I suddenly notice where I am. A very atmospheric track in the end. Dark & subtle yet dreamy & it has a lot of whacked out sounds in there for good measure.

4. Slinky Wizard - Fistfull of Mutants

You must have heard this one before. I first heard it on Black Rhino, a compilation of Flying Rhino's darker more twisted trance. This fit very well with that theme, it's hard dark an full on (in the true classic sense of the word). The beats are really driving and the sounds manage to come out of everywhere at once menacing & comfortable. The track manages to build even more energy throughout & ends with a crescendo of dark sounds assaulting the aural gateways.

5. Stoop & Fidget - Mefisto

A steady driving track with a lot of atmosphere. It's a tricky one to describe. It's not a great track but it is bloody fantastic. A bit paradoxical but there you are. On the surface it seems like a bog standard driving dancefloor track but given time it opens itself up & shows you it's inner beauty but given more time it seems to get bored of your attention & clams up again. Each time I hear the track it sounds different & I can never remember anything about the track. When it clams up it's nice enough but those times when it's open to me it's really damn good. Maybe there are just things in there that appeal to a certain kind of mood & not others.

6. Bus - N by NWG (Correct Unreleased Mix)

Originally on the TIP compilation Halluci-Nations but that mix was apparently unfinished. Here we have the finished article, polished up nicely too. Produced with Raja Ran, the beat & pace are very similar to the last track but there is more melodious sounds that wouldn't be out of place in a 1960's suspense movie when something unfortunate is about to happen. Some samples sound like RR but the synth work is definitely our man here. It's a nice track, a few over the top sounds/samples but nothing that ruins it.

7. Bus - Something's Always Out there

A strange mid range reverberating sound runs through this track, scything it's way through the brain, opening it up for the subtle attack from the synths which change from acidy sounding to squelchy to metallic acid again once they are inside the brain. Everything here seems more subtle. The beats are more reserved the sounds plop a little more casually & it creates an atmosphere of isolation in a cabin in the forest but knowing that outside the door are all manner of plants & animals awaiting you.

8. Busted - Uncontrollable Substance

We pick up the pace slightly here with a more forceful track. There is still the subtlety that I've come to expect from all of Gus's work but the beats are stronger & nearer the front & the sounds are on different levels. Those in the foreground covering those in the back but you can still make out the foundations of the track nicely. There is a sound that almost sounds like an elephant before the breakdown. The breakdown shows off it's atmospheric side with light little drips of sound & that elephant noise again over some dark ambience. The beauty of this track though is when it kicks back in, the acidic line that traces the beat is fantastic as are all the different forms it takes there on. These sounds take a good track & make it great

9. Bus - Finissimo

Possibly the most atmospheric on the album. the drones in the background the noises the decelerated beat all build a nice sleek feeling of flying around the above or among the clouds on a nice bright day. The metallic sounds remind me of flying machines & there are a lot of other really trippy sounds that seem to be coming from the cosmos. Very nice track, a lush way to finish off this collection.

So there are a lot of Great Gus Till tracks here people. If you don't know who Gus Till is or have never heard his music then this will be a great place for you to start enjoying his music. For those that are already familiar with his music & maybe even own a lot of it, there is still enough on this to make it worth while. Just having them all together is nice but they also seem to have an extra shine when they were remastered. Definitely worth the cash

Krill.Minima

Nautica

Native State Records

2007

Tracklist

1 Submarine Poetry (7:34)

2 Nautica (7:08)

3 Octopus And Sextant (6:59)

4 The Escargot's Dream (5:32)

5 Princess Of The Undersea Gardens (8:33)

6 Kalmar (5:47)

7 The Sea Horse And The Soft Coral (7:04)

8 Surface From The Groundless Oceans (8:25)

I'd never heard of Krill.Minima until recently with this album described as a deep and dubby ambient journey into sub aquatic worlds and atmospheres, released on Native State Records, the label that brought me one of my all time favourite albums Rena Jones - Driftwood so I was obviously intrigued especially when I saw the beautiful cover. I had heard some reports that it was boring but I took a gamble that I'd find it deep & meaningful & I'm glad I did.

1. Submarine Poetry

A cold bleak start, with the sounds of the ocean, seemingly on a cold winter's night, hitting the shore. Hints of melody in the peripheral before some chimes hum a soft haunting melody. This definitely hits the spot with me as I've always loved the sound of the sea & when it used so sublimely in music it just makes me melt inside. The melody slowly evolves but it all generally follows the same theme. Nice as it is, the track is of perfect length.

2. Nautica

Slight, random percussion manages to sound like the sonic equivalent of flotsam & jetsam, the mood again is desolate & cold. A magnificent synth slices through the track like a cold dark bassline making it's way menacingly across the ocean. That synth becomes the focal point of the track & evolves into a melody of sorts, the percussion still randomly floating above the sea and the melody deep in the depths of the ocean where the light can not penetrate yet music can bring to life. A very nice track, one of the best on the album.

3. Octopus & Sextant

Much more minimal here with an intro that seems to lack, anything but random bleak noise. A slow pounding comes in but doesn't really create any rhythm just adds to the nothingness that emanates from the music thus far. About half way in, the beat is accompanied by a bassline that matches it exactly & this manages somehow to create a bit of rhythm & movement in the track making the nothingness seem like a tangible substance. A bit abstract but good abstract none-the-less.

4. The Escargots Dream

A more rhythmic, leisurely & melodic track is up next. Much more music with a steady beat, intricate sub beats & a much warmer feeling than any of the first three tracks. More energy too with the sounds seemingly like they are building to something. That something is a nicely structured melody that makes me feel like riding on the back of a large fish as it rides just under the surface of the sea, close enough to see the glistening sunlight shining through the exterior & into the expanse we are travelling.

5. Princess Of The Undersea Gardens

This kinda starts off as a mix between the last two tracks. Random desolation but rhythmical enough to be called musical. The whole track continues in similar fashion with there just being enough melodic input to breathe a beam of light onto an otherwise, dark, cold, desolate atmosphere. The main melody comes in around the halfway mark & instead of driving the atmosphere upwards, manages to plunge it further into the depths of the ocean. Down passed the influence of the sun, where the only light comes from phosphorescent life down that far. Very nice second half of the track, well led into by the first half.

6. Kalmar

Melody as if from the sea bed, rushes up like a deep sea vent. Unexpected warmth in the midst of all this cold aquatic wilderness. Little random clicky sounds, feel like inconsequential life summoned to the warmth, feeding off it, here at the bottom of the world. A very nice piece of ambient, descriptive and very welcome, perfectly placed in the album.

7. The Sea Horse & The Soft Coral

Stronger beats sound almost dubby, but imagine dub at the bottom of the ocean & you get the atmosphere represented here. Bass synths rise up & disappear, then more rise up & disappear again into the black water overhead. Halfway through the percussion & the glitch gets out of control, unstructured & very whirly, like a school of fish swimming round & round & round in what looks like it should be out of control but that always manages to fix itself before spinning wildly out of sight. As does the music, this chaos restructures itself into a somewhat cohesive unit.

Weird stuff.

8. Surface From The Groundless Oceans

A very well titled track, this to me really feels like I am resurfacing from my underwater adventure. The sounds of the ocean lapping against the shore can be heard in the distance & the melody is the nicest on the CD yet. Cold yet hopeful, melancholic but encouraging. A very nice way to round of the album, coming out of the depths to the surface, sunlight on our face again, even if I can't feel it's warmth, I can feel it's optimism, it's assurance of life. After the cold lifeless life at the bottom of the ocean, it's a cheery surprise.

Well, what a journey. Krill.Minima has managed to create a very nice ambient adventure under, on & around the oceans. Starting out by the shore, diving deep into the depths of the huge expanse of water, riding close to the surface, almost seeing the light, plunging down deeper that we though possible, finding the dark scary life that dwells on the sea bed & the warmth of the deep sea vents that gives life to so many. Finally to resurface to our world, where the sun beats down furiously upon us & everything is easy to comprehend.

Krill.Minima has done a great job with a concept I'm always fond of. The sea.

You might feel a little bored on this if you give it a casual listen but stick with it, it's definitely a grower.

Tea Chairs - Tea Chairs

Demon Tea Records DMTCD13/14/15

http://www.demontea.com/

Discogs Entry

Samples at Juno

Tracklist: (From Franny's post)

Disc 1

1 MentalMetalSnakeSnack

2 O Kiinni

3 Light Utility Vehicle

4 Chillingham Cheese

5 Lankey Love Herz

6 Mondo Suzuki Omnigod

7 Eye Shit On Acid

8 MondoSuzuki Omnigod

(TazManiac Rmx)

9 Mt. Wellington Rock

10 Aishtemas

Disc 2

1 Demon Tree

2 Pandanus Spiralis

3 Fuckin’ Alien

4 Playing With Colour

5 Beverages

6 Silver Wasp

7 BUST (find the drugz)

8 Bargrynder

9 Tzump-In (Chairs Rmx) [Originally by Weird Alchemy]

10 Cruise Wide Open

11 Friend Til’ The End

12 Chapora Sunrise

13 The Spice Deep-end-dance

14 20000 Camel Bride

Disc 3

1 Microscopic Retails

2 Tube U Want Tube U Get

3 Returnofthepalu

4 Type Of Cheese in Your Bum

5 Weak Structures

6 Daves JewJew

7 Perhosiamaksassa

8 Listen Tomy Hooves

9 Sorry Reptoid

10 Weather Control

11 Turrikaner

12 Aamutakki [With the Flying Scorpians]

13 Tri You Oli

14 Heavenly Fruits

Mini-Review: This is amazing, blows your psy perceptions wide open. Covers every possible side of psytrance that it's possible to cover, and makes a load of new ones up at the same time. The production isn't overblown, over-mastered full-on Sytrus/Nord/Virus wankage, there are lots of unique sounds and leads that sound psy but are not the overused tat hundreds of other producers use. Nice to hear some Ozric-ian spacey big-beat type tunes such as Aishtemas, as well. And bonus points for the Dune sample on Chapora Sunrise. :clapping: I don't think I'll ever be able to write anything more coherent about this monstrous triple album. Just GET IT. (Chillingham Cheese is particularly outstanding, though.) If you like Classical Mushroom or Pog-o-matic Pogomen, you must hear this. :clapping:

Note: On the real discs there are 13 tracks on disc 2, and 15 on disc 3. As opposed to 14 on both, as the tracklist suggests. Hopefully someone from Tea Chairs or DmT Recs can clarify what happened here?

P.S. Turrikaner = jawsome.

Pan Electric

Conscious Pilot

Absolute Ambient.com

2007

Tracklist

1 Orbital Overture (4:31)

2 Sheshamani Shuffle (4:41)

3 Rising Slowly (6:17)

4 Zumaware (7:24)

5 Sky Circles (1:23)

6 Always (0:38)

7 When You Are Loved (5:07)

8 A Winters Walk (4:08)

9 April (7:14)

10 Always A Way (0:32)

11 A Moment Of Grace (4:56)

12 Always A Way Back Up (5:17)

I think this album really swooped in under the radar of releases. I didn't know anything about it until I found it on discogs after looking through other releases on labels I have CDs I own. There seemed to be know hype, no buzz but there should have been. This is really good stuff, more people should know about it.

1. Orbital Overture

This starts off sounding like a William Orbit track. Each time I listen to it I expect a familiar sample to come in. Of course it never does, in it's place comes a hard dark synth & a funky little melody. When the voices & the acoustic guitar come in the darkness given by the synth fades away & we are left with a bright, warm track. Sounds like the coming of the dawn accentuated by the strings which manage to feel like the rays of light slowly & then more quickly covering everything with it's warmth. The even warmer melody at the end capping it off. Daytime has arrived.

2. Sheshamamnai Shuffle

Seamless into this track, it's really just a continuation so as you can imagine the mood is again a little warmer & there is more energy. The little electronic sounds jab at the senses like the awakening of life & the melody is an incredibly naive sounding one. Very simple, pure & with a child like joy to it. Very nice are the tribal chants at the end. The world has woken up.

3. Rising Slowly

A man's voice says Rising Slowly managing to sound like a documentary commentator. Electric guitars play a little riff before the warm bass & soft beats come in. It feels not just like you are flying through the sky but like you are tracking the Sun's ascent into the morning sky. Male chorus chants as it smoothly rises higher & higher. A very nice representation in my mind of a natural morning.

4. Zumaware

Tribal flutes give this a more mystical feel. Like the music is not just tracking the day but following it's progression west. We've seen the break of day over the furthest eastern islands of Polynesia & now we are headed into the continents. Asian probably as the feeling is hot but wet. The acoustic guitar is back to give it a very beach feel. Like sitting on the beach in Bali guitar in hand watching the day become hotter & hotter & no care in the world. People chant the title over & over in a very calming way & I really get the feeling of a summer holiday from this track. Very nice.

5. Sky Circles

A French woman speaks seductively (at least in my ears ) at the start. A light oriental melody plays on some rather tuneless instrument. Very short track.

6. Always

Not as short as this little vocal number. Always a way back up again, always a change of love again it's only 38 seconds & that's it.

7. When You Are Loved

The world is in full swing now. Lots of melodies, strong but gentle beats & lots of energy. Very warm beautiful music, like midday in early spring & all is right with the world. You know that someone must love you because how could a day be so beautiful. I'm really looking forward to spring coming here so I can listen to this outside with fantastic views. I'm sure this would be a great accompaniment.

8. A Winter's Walk

When it's summer somewhere it'll be winter elsewhere. Not that this track is particularly cold but it does have a chilly feel to it like a cold wind interrupting your warm spring day. As often happens with the seasons, it fools you into thinking you are in for warm weather from now on, you leave your jacket at home & it's bloody freezing. This track makes me feel like one of those moments

9. April

As usual here it's seamless into April. The cold wind has died down & it's got a warmer melody again. It's nice again but it errs a little too much on the poppish side for my liking. It puts me in mind too much off some Spanish lounge act. The piano, the shuffling beats and the other retro sounds all add to this feeling. It's not bad but it's the weakest on the album. Just a bit too cheesy although the ending with the strong bassline is pretty funky. Cheesy but funky.

10. Always a Way

The track title is a little longer than track 6. Always but it's the same vocal repeated for roughly the same time.

11. A Moment of Grace

This track is just fantastic. Best on the album & for me worth the purchase alone. Nicely led into by Always a Way. The same sample as rising slowly is touched upon a little more subtly. The guitars are soft & warm & beautiful, the melody soft a warm like a summers day. The vocals ethereal a love you don't want to ever leave. The samples feel like they are happy holiday voices and are always very far in the background. Very nice track.

12. Always a Way Back Up

A few of the short tracks earlier were just building up to this. It is a nice idea putting short snippets throughout the earlier parts of the album. It's almost like a tease. The track it's self is actually a song. The lyrics are very warm pop lyrics. The vocals are very well done & nice to listen to. The trick to the lyrics that makes them not annoying after hearing the track a few times is to make them interesting but ignorable. The vocals here are just another instrument if you want & easy to ignore the words. Well done. It's pretty pop like but I quite like it. A nice warm way to finish off the album.

When playing this people have told me it's nothing like what they think I like. I guess that means they like it more than the usual trance or abstract ambient I usually play. It is indeed a very accessible album. Your friends who don't really like all that techno & stuff will probably like it. But most importantly I think if you are a fan of electronic chill, the likes we've seen from the Psy scene you will probably like this. There are a lot of acoustic elements in it but the production is fantastic like you'd expect from Matt Coldrick & remember Matt Hillier of Ishq fame is here as a synthesist & ambient architect. Whatever that means but I know it's usually a good sign & this is a really good album.

Artist: Hydraglyph
Title: Euphonics
Label: Nexus Media
Date: June, 2007

1. Red Tide
2. Nowhere Near (Shady Mix)
3. Somebody Else
4. Piece By Piece
5. Nightmare
6. Evenflow
7. Astraction
8. Venus
9. Tetris Bender
10. Ultrasound (Rmx)

It's raining/sleeting/snowing right now and for some reason I decided to say a few words about this release.  We are all familiar with the quality of Nexus Media at the time who were on the forefront of powerful, sinister South African psytrance.    This was the second release from Andrew Morgan & Mark Ackermann.  Aside from the Condition Black remix I found their debut Kinetic to be a steaming bowl of meh.  So....low bar everyone.

Now normally Ormion and I are simpatico when it comes to the blessing that is this type of psytrance.  He didn't care for it, but I liked its punishing, dark vibe,  It was bruising, mechanical, and came at you with a sense of foreboding that still sounds pretty good  today.  Parts sound dirty...like discarded, corroded metal and I like that apocalyptic atmosphere.  Now let's be clear it is not without its flaws.  Some empty stretches and questionable sound choices and samples can make the eyes roll a bit.  South African Full-on is still full-on.  And certainly some projects have done it waaay better.  But 12 years old...things tend to get a little stale after that amount of time and I felt this still had some freshness.  Far from a classic, but I also don't think it is remotely close to a flop.   

Psyshop

Artist: Various

Title: Future Cuts

Label: Timecode

Date: October, 2007

1. Twisted System - Psychopath

2. Concept & Scorb - Dissident Factions

3. Phyx - Kansas City Shuffle

4. Multistate - HQ Part 2

5. Mantis - Blood Red

6. Xatrik Vs. Kid X - Wild Card

7. Lost & Found - ScannerV2.0

8. Outer Signal Vs. B-55 - Unstoppable

9. Hydraglyph - Cigarettes & Silver Bullets (Multistate Remix)

10. Artifakt - The Pole

To say that Timecode was the king of South African psytrance during the last decade is like taking swim lessons in Mississippi.

26 people drowned last year which is down from 45 the year before the sign was posted.

Timecode delivered the whole package with dark melodies and booming power. But it was more than the king. King doesn't adequately describe them here. Let's see... Ah, got it. Timecode was like the Godzilla of South African psytrance. Brutal force and acidic fire he doesn't care about your city

your house

whatever this thing is

and well...

Your car is a bucket anyway. It's one of their best and captures the label at the height of their game. I highly recommend it.

Timecode Bandcamp

Mdk

Artist.....: Blisargon Demogorgon

Album......: Book Of Magic

Label......: InPsy Media

Url........: www.inpsyde-media.com

Rls.Date...: Feb-23-2007

Tracks.....: 09

Playtime...: 70:43 min

Track List:

01. Samara Is Back [07:34]

02. Toxic Soul [07:18]

03. Legend Of The Past [07:41]

04. Shadows On The Road [07:49]

05. Book Of Magic [08:01]

06. Fear Of Hell [07:30]

07. Illusion Of Death [07:59]

08. Black Zodiac [08:15]

09. Magical Portal [08:36]

Blisargon Demogorgon (AKA DJ Montezuma) behind which stands Valentino Trencev (Macedonia) presents us with his first creation called “Book Of Magic”. As the title of the album says this creation will take you through a magical journey from the ages of alchemist, strange rituals, old temples, dragons and magicians a journey that will take you into deep and dark state of trance. It will make you ask you the essential questions who prevail through centuries Who am I ? Do I belong here? While your mind will kick, scream and manifest the insanity that has been lying dormant within you. I’ll finish this introduction with By no means think of this as a game – wise men elate and drop everyday for the use and abuse of this arcane science. Dare to risk the insanity in these chapters?

#1. Samara Is Back [146 bmp]

This is the introduction track of the album and surely it has that taste that leaves behind it. It begins with great mysticism like your expecting somebody to come, and somebody is coming – Samara. The kick drum and bassline give you that feeling. They are calm and when you just expect they go in a full explosion they bring back that expectation moment back. The FX are great they give that dose of mysticism to the track that take you centuries in the past and you get a picture of an old oltar, cold fog on the ground and a full moon in the sky.

#2. Toxic Soul [148bmp]

Toxic Soul you can look on it like the continue of the first track, the drum kick and bassline are almost the same (148bmp a little bit faster) with more aggressive FX or let’s just say toxic and twists that squeeze your brain like a lemon. So toxic soul it might describe the soul of the expected one.

#3. Legend Of The Past [150bmp]

Now here begins the part of the album I love (well I have noticed the tracks I very like vary from 150bmp to 155bmp). And what a beginning that spite bassline followed by very intense mystique FX and those twisting sounds characteristic for Valentino. The drum kick will kick your brain inside your skull and stir it like an alchemist stirs some of his potions in a big pot. The track in a same way is deep so deep it will take you on a journey into the past.

#4. Shadows On The Road [152bmp]

You guess it more spite and darkly deep bassline (the bassline trough the whole album goes into progression of deepness and spiteness more and more until the end when it returns to the beginnings) that give this track a real atmospheric feeling that you’re in abandon dark place surrounded with shadows. Somewhere on the beginning of the end of the track Valentino plays with the bmp’s that will make you feel like time goes faster and slows down so you can see all that fast moving shadows and the end is a killer.

#5. Book Of Magic [154bmp]

The title track of the album. Like all the energy from the album is concentrated in this track the origin of the magic, the mystique elements.. the source. The FX that follow the very spite bassline and kick drum are so mind twisting the sound characteristic for Valentin (and he gave the best) which all of his fans and the ones familiar with his work will recognize that makes this track his signature on the album.

#6. Fear Of Hell [152bmp]

This definitively is my favourite track from the album. With more darkness from the previous but non-less spite bassline and kick drum and I’ll say it is the most dark and spite track from them all (from my stand) and the FX and the conversations in the track (there are few more here, but … I like it) give it even more dark feeling and all you can think of is red skys fire and lava around you… the fear(picture) of hell that is put in us from the day we are born. I won’t say anything else for this track I leave it to you.

#7. Illusion Of Death [150bmp]

With this track ends the culmination of the album witch started from track 3 (those magical 150-155 bmp’s  ). So now we decent with the illusions of death everybody has(had) that moment when he thinks about his death, this is one of those with the bassline pumping your heart while you’re lieing on you’re bed and you’re mind is so far away in another part of the universe, the darkest parts, travelling with light speed trying to explain the unexplained. Excellent track.

#8. Black Zodiac [148bmp]

“…you see these they represent the black zodiac…”. Track with great darkness inside with not so dark kick drum and bassline but very spite FX! So spite you get the feeling the want to bite your brain, and did I say not so dark bassline ehehehe wait for the start of 2/3 from the tack and the track is completed, average but excellent average.

#9. Magic Portal [146bmp]

So this concludes our journey trough the mystical and old and what greater name then “Magical Portal” the way out, the exit. Exiting this world trough a portal something like warp drive trough space followed by the flashes from the visit of that magical world (the blurry voices) called “Book Of Magic”.

At the end what can I say a great work from Valentino. I had this album for a longer period but didn’t have the time to listen to it and when I did … what can I say then “you recognize a great work from the start of the first notes, the vibe of the bassline. Overall it’s typical work for Blisargon Demogorgon who has listened his tracks from the many VA’s he is featured on will get the general idea and have in mind that Valentino put his heart and soul in this album (firstborn) so if you have heard his track this is *100 times. I rate it 9/10

Favourites:3,4!,5!,6!!,7!,8

Don't forget to support artists by buying their CD'a and 12" visiting 'em on parties and festivals

Artist..............Penta

Album............Horn Please

Genre.............Psychedelic

Label..............Auraquake

Hyperlink.......http://www.auraquake.com

Catalog..........AQCD004

Release.Date..2007-03-30

Tracks............09

Playtime.........72:38 min

01. Perfect Sunday…..08:30

02. Aerobica…………08:02

03. Stag Party……….07:50

04. Foggy……………08:56

05. Olympia…………08:19

06. Take Two………..07:16

07. Non-Profit ………06:31

08. Why Not?.............09:46

09. Here We Come….07:28

For intro I’ll leave the publishers words put on paper because I think there can’t be no better introduction of Penta’s new album “Horn Please” (off course there will be some comments from me  ) “Endless travelling, constant noise of the parties, life in hotels, as well as a considerable dose......of couch-surfing, has accumulated in Penta's head into something that resembles the chaos of Indian street traffic. Horn Please - the message that is written on the back of the sub-continent's trucks in India (who has been in India or watched the documentary “The Last Hippie Standing” knows why  ) could never been more appropriate to describe the desire to bring order to trance musician's life. This album, executed in the style of a Mumbai taxi, is a dedication to the crazy party life in the form of a collection of morning and night psytrance tracks, sometimes written in headphones in different parts of the globe, and already successfully tested on the biggest dance floors of the planet. Faster BPMs than in his previous albums, as well as the use of the latest technologies, makes 'Horn Please' one of Nikita's most psychedelic works to date.” . Soo our story begins… as I said before the introduction of the album is it mirror… Nikkita tried to bring us closer to a part of his life share it with us, which makes this album even more unique … because I don’t know there may be other but this is a first time for me that an psy artist shows his intimate, inner looks on the world

#1 Perfect Sunday

It’s a Sunday morning and you are wakening up there are some unclear voices coming from the TV you left on the previous night…after that crude awakening the real thing begins the spite bassline with the twisted FX bring you the fast morning life (getting up, shaving, getting dressed) but from moments you get the flashes from the previous night.. and start to wonder “what happened?” … You continue get out take a walk on the fresh morning sun and everything goes so fast around you, you’re heart starts to pump faster and faster, those strange, twisting FX start again to f**k you’re brain up and the bassline won’t stop pumping blood to your heart and brain.

#2 Aerobica

The day has started and you face again the great world around you. Here we have even more spite bassline then the previous track but and even more mind twisting FX’s, the new technology is working damn I never encountered such trippy and twisting FX … you can’t even hear yourself.. as a fact no one can.

#3 Stag Party

You’re back home the sun starts to set and the only thing you want to do is flush that tension in your brain. Your thoughts travel to a distant place, a place of happiness …. You turn to the TV and see Marge and Homer talking “Is this is some kind of stag party? No Marge it is going to be a classy party” …And you recall the party, it comes to you in a blurry vision from the bassline it’s in a way calm and blurry and with no so aggressive FX that were attacking your brain previously

#4 Foggy

So you are still foggy in your mind lifts and you’re back there, where? On the dance floor. From here on stars the dark, strange voices and FX, are those monkeys I hear? What the f**k? The bassline is so dark and when I say dark I mean very dark, no spite but pure darkness coming from it building up the tension preparing you for the next level, the next step.

#5 Olympia

Now this is it the ultimate pleasure. Something so psychedelic the dark bassline from the previous track builds up some spiteness the FX are more consistent and the bloops and blips are so deep and trippy. This is definitely my favourite track from the album. The psychedelia Is building up and you’re hitting the dance floor hard and you are starting to loose your self, it fills you up with energy and you can’t stop moving even if you want to … soo don’t stop, don’t ever stop.

#6 Take Two

So you’re so worked up till now and suddenly here she comes like an angel from the fog … she is offering something to you and says: “Take two”. It almost morning it’s about 2-3 a.m. the early birds star to sing you hear their singing. The track continues where the last stopped with almost the same bassline and combined FX, trippy sounds from the previous tracks it’s the cream of the night the point where you start to melt .

#7 Non-Profit

And now the party is over you are not at the same place anymore there is a very mean, spite bass line followed by a drum sound. I personally don’t like drums in a psy-track but this is something different, they give a special colour to the track when you hear them the adrenalin starts too pump. From Nikkita’s point of view “The night is hot as hell, it’s a lousy room in a lousy part in a lousy town” it’s all about love for psy-trance.

#8 Why Not?

As you plunder on the bad and the momories form last night overvelm you the fillings are coming back to you more intense, clearer. Again with a very deep and dark bassline Nikkita strikes your nerve system. You are awake but still dreaming or are you awake in the dream all the pictures of the past pass by you all the things you did even the things you gonna do and you say to you’re self “Why not?”. It’s a great track when you want to soak up every moment of the sunrise.

#9 Here We Come

This track ends it all or does it.. do you get the feeling you’re spinning around and around, the bassline and the FX in this one sure make you feel like that. And you star to wonder did I experienced all that or am I going to experience all that. The circle can never be broken “Here we go” again

What can I say I did my talking travelling throgh the tracks, it’s a master peace from Nikkita and could we expected anything less from him. For me personaly the experience was a story like the life of one person was put in one day, and in that day, in that life we find our selfs or some of us do, some more, some less … ok I think it’s time for me to stop and rate this beaty and I give it 10 out of 10 the best peace of art a heard so far in 2007

Favourites: All!!!

Don't forget to support artists by buying their CD'a and 12" visiting 'em on parties and festivals

So heres Penta's new album, quickly released after "Horn please" earlier this year! I was a little afraid that it was to early released, that he didn't put as much work in the album that it has deserved. Anyways, i have high expectations and im Hoping for the same trip to Pentaland, i have gotten from hes earlier releases.

Vegetarian ballad:

"All obsessed... All obsessed with the taste of flesh" is being said in between the crazy madnezz of multiple dark pads and evil strings, the typical pitched synthesizers, wierd perc. and the pumping bassline, creating the typical "Penta" experience.. A great track that evolves in the typical Penta way, always changing in a very unpredictable way... But i miss some surprises in it though, nothing new here, just a really good track.

BBQ:

Starts off quick, with some wierd ideas and cool tricks. The penta crazyness continous with dark atmospheres, wierd effects that will totally dissorientate you(in the good way of course:) And the part with all the videogame samples, it takes you straight into funland! Dont know if everyone will enjoy this track, but i shure as hell did!

Time Jump:

Don't really understand all the lyrics in the tracks here but i got so far with the male voice: "You see, i was visiting the 2030, when i sensed a disturbance in the time continoue. I realized now that what i felt was your touch on the time machine!" Anyways, this is more what i had expected from this album, stomping dancefloor madness with lots of cool fun breaks, twists and turns..

And that pianolike synth(3:05) really gets my attention, creating a feeling i can not explane... This is as i expected another very good track.

Andes:

This is more controlled than the past tracks, a bit deeper and not so stuffed with chaos, but still he keeps on going with tons of energy and crazy twists for the dancefloor! Still with the dark pentadelic atmosphere i just can't get enough of

Mendozed:

Im not to happy about the sound in the beginning, sounds like someone saying: duddeli, duddli duddli dudli.. But it stops again quckly, thank good, and we are on the road to pentaland again. He keeps surprising with his innovative sound, and outa space tricks... Sometimes i get the visions of aliens speaking the sounds to me(it might be the drugs) but i haven't experienced that with any other music... Like the tracks are alive

Piscotech:

Can't say much about this track, except im saving it for my next mushroom trip It just sounds so much fun and very psychedelic!

No more evil:

"Plunch the world into darkness" This track sounds more of something from funraiser, the same creepy atmospheres with the creepy voc samples, and i regognize alot of the elements to.. It's a great track, but nothing groundbreaking.

Magic balls:

Ahahaha, this is good... Sounds like someone is farting with a baloon or something, very laughable stuff. I would love to here this live. Would go completely nuts from all the joy and happiness!What a great humor in this track.

Neo cheesy:

Bah, nah nah nah nah, bah, nah nah nah nah, baaah nah naah naah naah naah naah!

Do i have to say more? Hate this track to death.

Well, all in all this was a great journey to pentaland.. The production is outstanding, and the energy of the album is extreme! But it is maybe a bit more tough to swallow for homelistening than te past albums he've made, but im shure that's not what mr. Penta had in mind about this album! Dancefloor madness in highest possible quality! The one thing that i am a little dissapointed about is the similarities to Horn Please, you can here it has not been long since it was released... Ohh and the last track of course, that is just BAD!

So it's a 9/10 from me

This starts like a lot of full on tracks, but there is great production value to be found. Nice synth lines dart alongside the bass line, as the pads give a soft warm feeling. High tones spiral into distortion over the bass. It seems like these sounds are expertly placed, forcing your mind to be aware. Metallic leads are filtered back and forth as the previous tones join in. Great track!

Inferno- This track moves from one phase to the other without the hint of being disjointed. There are several leads that vie for supremacy without sounding dissonant. With choirs, ambient noises that seem to come from all angles, and a bass line that won't quit, this track makes its way. By the time the final arpeggio arrives, the smile on my face is permanent. This is a perfect example of the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Great track!

Hero- Wow, a long one clocking in at almost 10 minutes! The quirky acoustic guitar over the rumbling bass line is interesting. The pads here are really emotive, very spacey. Twirling leads spin and echo, making me feel at ease. That lead at 5'34" has a waddling character to it, and then the lasers appear. I have to tell you, I didn't even see the 9+ minutes go by. Very good track.

Re-entry (by Hyperception)- The Electric Universe quiet lead appears and joins a hurried bass line. This is done with his partner Minja Thomas, for their project called Hyperception. I really liked the filtered lead at that slowly evolves into the break. Another lead comes in a short time later and blends moves very well. Great track!

The Forgotten- I do love the deep bass hits! They make you stand up and say, "What the hell was that?" Stark leads growl as rich pads cruise around this track. The title of this track is well suited, as the melody is truly melancholy. Did he just mix in some steel drums? Sa-weet! The final synth melody is a great compliment to the feel of this track. Just under the surface, but not in your face. This one is my favorite so far. Awesome track!

Cracker- Polly wanna...ah forget it. This bits wasted on you. Skittish leads attack right up to a short break. Juicy synths make my mouth water and this track has plenty of them, especially the Darkpsy scraping lead. You know what I'm talking about? Anyway, this one was pretty good, but not as good as the previous ones.

Hi-Fly (peculiar Rmx)- I don't know if this is someone else's track or one of his own that he remixed. It has spacey pads and nimble leads that keep pace with the energetic bass line. The pace is good and I enjoyed the melodies, but this is pretty standard full-on. The difference here is the way in which it's put together. Good track.

Other Species- Last track. This has been a great ride, but I'm hungry and need to eat. With some metallic banging about, the track rises to a simple melody. A short break thrusts us onto the back of the bass line as somebody talks about other species. This is another well-put together track, with the leads, umm...leading the way. I said I was hungry. Cut me some slack! Pretty good track.

In Summary: I really enjoyed this disc. This is the kind of trance that I would term beautiful, because it paints such a rich tapestry. As I mentioned before the sounds are placed so well that they force your brain to take notice of each of them, but not at the cost of missing others. It seems like he has a sense of how to put a track together that keeps you interested all the way through. That is really well done. I wasn't sure he could improve upon his 2nd album, but he sure did. Great job Dustin! Highly recommended release and one of my favorites for 2007. 8.5/10.

Favorites: 6(!!), 1(!), 3(!), 2,5

1. Prognosis

2. Capitalist Infiltration

3. Enslavement by consumption

4. Totalitarian Democracy

5. Secret satanic hierarchy

6. Harbingers of extinction

7. Economic Sabotage

8. Cataclysmic Downfall

9. World War 3

11. Nuclear Winter

Review:

Prognosis

1776 .. What hits me first is the techy baseline with loads of snares thrown here and there .. it doesn't take too long before the guitar starts riffing and the track plunges into an atmosphere charged with ebm and heavy Gothic rhythms and bass ; an imagery of terrible doom and arid wasteland is inevitable .. awesome track to start off the album with.

Capitalist Infiltration

Kicks off with a sample about capitalism .. its obvious from here on that mark is building an album with a message , whether or not it comes across as cheezy is entirely up to the listener to decide. The atmospherics in the track are splendidly crafted with weird fx's filtering in and out between a tight bassline.. the ebm and industrial elements come forth and there's plenty of variation to keep the listener engrossed while maintaining that gothic dark mood. Quite dig this track! im indifferent to the samples as long as the musical content is kept up.

Enslavement by Consumption

EbC is heavily loaded in terms of bassline , sick twisted melodies and effects ..those howling voices and effects creep the hell out of me ..'we're losing autonomy and we're replacing autonomy with civil rights' and then another sample about the U.S and how they've created all these things which .. im not going too much into the samples, so you can look them up in your documentaries concerning those subjects when you do hear them.

Totalitarian Democracy

Guitars!! what separates skazi and xenomorph is that xenomorph is a much better guitarist .. it doesn't in any way sound bad or over done..again loads of variety and guttural vocals amidst samples of totalitarian democracy , military and government.. maybe those samples are getting in the way of appreciating the music. But this is apparently the main feature if the album so if we like it or hate we can definitely not ignore it. The overall sound is cutting edge which is what matters

Secret satanic hierarchy

The mood is a tad melancholic and there's a soothing melody softly appearing through the din , gaining momentum , the bass is not to dark. the psychedelic synth riffs along with the haunting melody provides a compelling atmosphere. What is god ? Is he/she/it both the embodiment of good and evil at different times to different people? makes me wonder . Another cool track imo.

Harbingers Of Extinction

A nice hypnotic baseline, good effects , equally good work on the synths. This is totally dancy material, the lack of too many samples which disturbs the listener between good musical moments actually brings out what xeno is best at.. maybe the samples should appear in places when there's nothing much going on like in this case.

Economic Sabotage

Cool intro , again the appearance of samples sorta detracts from the main theme and I cant help being reminded about vegetal's album where a similar situation ensued. This is weird totally dark trippy and disturbing all at the same time. There's lots going on here: the oldskoolish touches are sublime - acid!!!! One of the better tracks of the album , music wise. The sample here makes me larf because it is much more coherent then the rest of the samples and its true of course "International bankers deal not with the general public but with the industrial giants of the world, with other financial institutions and especially with governments. the key to their success has been to control and manipulate the money system of the nation while appearing to be controlled by the government. but another fact is to create money out of nothing : lend it to the government and then collect interest on it." and another one towards the end about low interest rates having an adverse affect on the investment and economy at large. Interesting but seriously coming back to the question whether such long drawn out are really necessary in a genre where people are there to enjoy the beats than being educated.

Cataclysmic Downfall

I like the fact that we're not really being bombarded by big samples straight up . This sounds like it'll do well in a forest party , derango would be proud . Xeno sticks to what he does best and im really happy with the non- appearance of samples and as soon as i say that a long Armageddon sample finds its way in. Phew! Im bordering now on whether I should take this as a serious education or try and ignore the teachery being hurled at me and concentrate on the music. A decent track nonetheless.

World War 3

Noyce start to things .. a juicy baseline and some good base guitaring makes for a solid combination. World war 3 - something on the scale of a nuclear holocaust with weapons of mass destruction( biological &chemical)- is it upon us ? who's going to be responsible in bringing this about ? No points for guessing who's already in the main frame!

Nuclear Winter

A very gloomy end to a bold album. Such a sad end to the world will be horrible. Images from the movie day after tomorrow appear in my head with the only difference being that nuclear war will cause such upheaval , bringing in the perceivable end before really threating global weather changes can cause any damage. Hope this will not be the case.

This is not your typical dark full power heavy metal influenced brain busting music. Xenomorph has put an emphasis on musical composition with soulful melodies to give the songs a special emotional moments surrounded by scratchy, psychedelic synthesizer riffs unique to the artist that will equally excite melody trance and dark trance listeners. Maybe not ideal for dance floors , it's good for home listening. If not anything else this album makes you sit up and think and take note of certain issues that maybe haven't crossed our minds before and even if they have to dwell upon them and reiterate them just in your own head. Those samples might tire you out in parts , but i'll give a two thumbs up to mark aka xenomorph for putting out an album that couldnt be more in sync in the global context. Give it a try and you might find yourself engaging in a worthwhile conversation about the topics that this album deals with. It did that for me, atleast.

Favorites: 1!,3, 5, 7!!, 8

http://www.myspace.com/xenomorphmusic

Get the album here :

http://saikosounds.com/english/display_release.asp?id=6858

http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/gno/gno1cd002.html

Total time : 78:02

Style : Melodic Goa Trance

Label: Suntrip Record

Format: CD

Cat no : SUNCD09

Release Date : November 12th 2007

01. Intro : 02:50

02. Love & Peace : 08:19

03. Space Travellers : 07:49

04. From Other Spaces : 08:48

05. Octagon : 09:10

06. Liquid Soul : 08:05

07. Taboo : 08:32

08. Per Aspera ad Astra : 08:40

09. Sunrise : 09:12

10. Pray for Rain : 06:43

After the purple energy vol 2, the great collaboration with omegahertz and few track on compilation, Suntrip (no need to present them here) embodying the coming back to the good vibe from goa trance music, present us the awaited Goasia album, From Outer Spaces, with this nice cover. We couldn't wait christmas smile.gif

Let see ... or listen .. as you wish

01. Intro

Let’s entering here with a short introduction with voice and guitar and some liquid atmosphere, break beat arrangment, something cool to prepare for the travel.

02. Love & Peace

Let’s go with this famous old unreleased track, here is a running inside happyness, the goasia work is back there with melodies and emotion ... the begining is nostalgic and grow slowly in a fat but old school bass and kick and then quickly introduce repetitive melody, remind me the yin and yang old track on purple energy vol2, pretty simple melodies but very enjoying. Pure bliss. The childish track but in good way.

Very good track

03. Space Travellers

Still very melodic but dark backgound in bassline, more intricate sound, good work and building of the idéea there, wich need several listening for integrate. Here we find back the goa environment with dark and inligthed crazyness mixed togheter. Very mature and energic track. Great ! !

04. From Other Spaces

Another great anthem in melodic new school goa, with sweet melodic line perfectly assembly. Fantastic second part of the track, with nice climax ... a real pleasure for ears open smile.gif) Nice work in the emotion and climax side. Very good track

05. Octagon

Here we find something different, with different rythmic element, more energetic and hypnotic.

Maybe the track which own the most complex logic to catch for the first listen but will evolve listening after listening.

Very danceable complex goa, lot of different ideas and nice variation in the sound landscape.

Good good one yeahh.

06. Liquid Soul

Liquid Soul is lighty, energic, and something liquid with bubble everywhere as inside a soda drink. Very nice middle of the track. There we are !!! Goa trance getting your ears, anyone to say the opposite ? no ? thanx smile.gif) I miss word to describe this emotion.

Great track

07. Taboo

Big bass, and good groove here, for something more trippy, and danceable. Very nice and cool track, always multiple napping, lot of sound everywhere, what a deep enjoyment smile.gif The melody developped in the middle of the track (3:50) make me totally crazy, jumping as a mad, and give here the main theme in Taboo, and this one very well relayed with another fluid melody. The structure is nicely elaborate. AMAZING !!! from the first second, to the last. Good for forest exploration and troll adventures. waooo dance4.gif

Very good track

08. Per Aspera ad Astra

Ok, i talked about this one with my friend Job for a long day, and maybe he can write its opinion there, Ok ! Per Aspera is a THE trancey oriented track to the album, trance synthetic line, simple melody, and mixed with some trance voice following the melody. Perceptible and easy, i love it since the first playing smile.gif and more i listen more i love it. Let check to the end, if you don't like this, you don't like trance, and neither goasia touch in the spirit.

Good Track and personnal happyness with it smile.gif

09. Sunrise

Here we have the master showing us what he is able to create in drawing pure emotion in melodies and sound. There, a kind orchestral bring at 4:10 a fantastic melody which perfectly define the morning emotion in goa trance music (this one remind me the talamasca - time simulation main melody), subtle transitions, repetitive, hypnotizing and emotional melodies, a real nostalgic touch in it and brilliant work. dance4.gif

Already a classic for me, and the MASTERPIECE of the album. Climax and fantastic track!!!

10. Pray for Rain

Track to return back to earth, something very atmospheric with nice floating sound in back ground, break beat arrangement and the main theme played with nice female voice singing. Relaxed ambience to cool down the jumping maddness. Wonderfull melody piano playing. This track is growing on me. Very nice track for the soul.

Conclusion

Personnal best track for the moment .. Sunrise, Love and Peace, Taboo, From Other Spaces, Liquid Soul and ... every track !!!

Can't rate this one because of my absolute love for this music .. for me a highlitgh of the year. Don't search any bad track here, there is not, there are all solid, each one have own identity and the whole listening album is light and fantastic thank you!! rolleyes.gif

No more useless word, listen this jewel if you like emotion melodie joyness and complex work with lighty line. Goa is not dead !

_____________

http://www.saikosounds.com/english/show_ar...?artist_id=4656

http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/sut/sut1cd009.html

http://www.beatspace.com/dettagli/dettaglio.asp?id=3803

http://www.goasia-project.com/

http://www.suntriprecords.com/blog/news.php

Tracklist:

1- Regeneration 8'13

2- Embryo 7'31

Coverart by *-licia- (deviantart.com)

Additional artwork by Filipe Santos

Mastered by Dave Hook (Infinite Dimensions)

Lost Buddha Regeneration Ep (Metapsychic) 2007

Embryo => Will surely reminds many good memories to all old schoolers due to its identifiable Transwave influence. Especially the Helium album period ; indeed it's kinda alchemy of My Dear Medical Assurance, Zero Density& Hypnorhythm with other fresh sounds & ideas, all in one track .

Regeneration => This second tune is more into the Israeli Goa vibe (Astral Projection, Indoor, Phreaky) with an extra oriental touch. The piano sounds a bit strange (not to say a bit cheesy sounding, i'm sure there's better piano tones available ) in the middle of this powerful flood that's probably my only regret on this stuff

Both tracks are effective in their style nevertheless i've got a slight preference for Embryo.

available here:

http://www.beatbiz.net/album/Metapsychic%2...(MP3%20version)

Big Up to Vassilis (Cosmogenesis)/Metapsychic if he still surfes on the forum.

Hi-res cover: front + back

Artist: Various

Title: Twist Dreams

Format: CD (jewel case)

Label: Suntrip Records (France/Belgium)

Cat. #: SUNCD06

Distribution: Arabesque

Date: 26 January 2007

Track listing:

01. 08'01" Cosmic Silence – Psy Spirit

02. 09'04" Aerosis - Contorsion

03. 07'28" Red Gravity – Momentary 29

04. 07'52" Talpa – Till We Meet Again

05. 07'54" Merr0w – Utopian Society

06. 08'32" Khetzal - Trancefuzion

07. 07'08" K.O.B. feat. Klara Steiner – Weight Of Oblivion

08. 08'48" Afgin - Dimensional

09. 06'04" Ra – Gates Of Triphareth

.m3u-playlist: http://tinyurl.com/2vujeg (all tracks!)

Review:

Celebrating the marriage of the moon with the sun…

Twist Dreams is the 6th release by Psynews.org spawned nu-school goa trance label Suntrip Records. Operated from Ghent, Belgium (Anoebis) and Paris, France (Mars) this dedicated label has graced us with magnificent albums by Filteria, Ka-Sol and Khetzal. This is the second compilation, following the lush Apsara from 2005. Once again the guys have scoured the underground goa trance communities in their quest to bring high quality trance to the masses. Let's find out what they hand-picked for us this time…

Let me take you thru the tracks…

#01: Cosmic Silence – Psy Spirit [140 BPM]

First up is a track up from upcoming German producer Michael Nadj. In essence, this is melodic morning trance in the shape of deeply melodic and progressive goa trance… Cascading synth melodies fused with galloping arpeggios and floating, atmospheric pads… The sheer magnitude, the tempo and the lush rhythm section steers the track clear of the most obvious cheese-pitfalls – and without being revolutionary in any way, this track accomplishes exactly what it set out to do: Delivers a psychedelic spirit. The build-up/break part is pure bliss and I'm totally digging the layered melodies + the subtle vox. Great.

#02: Aerosis – Contorsion [146 BPM]

The Aerosis outfit is the goa trance moniker of young Americans Bobby Ognyanov (Synogen) and Jeremy Green (Tempestuous G). These guys have been causing quite a stir on the internet with their infectious sound. Suntrip acted on that – and here is their first commercial release. This is fast-paced, complex-melodic, multi-layered goa trance with a frantic feel to it… Rich in pounding SST-like basslines and flaring, twirling melodies… Maybe a tad too fast for home listening, but for the floor this is pure napalm… I can't help shake the feeling though, that this track lacks something that I can't quite put my finger on. It's nice for sure – it even grabs me, but it doesn't catapult me nearly as much as I could have wished for.

#03: Red Gravity – Momentary 29 [143 BPM]

Remember the Speech Module track off Filteria's second album Heliopolis? On that track Jannis was joined by Leo Petrus aka. Red Gravity. This track is very similar and immediately sends your mind wandering back to epic goa trance moments by the likes of Transwave, Prana and Astral Projection… Hugely melodic, hard-hitting and totally psychedelic trance with tons and tons of layering, flaring 303s and of course the ever-important acid-lines… All that + much more is present in this amazing track which is literally a walk down memory lane for a nostalgic old trancer as me… Amazing track!

#04: Talpa – Till We Meet Again [145 BPM]

After Serbian producer Goran Juric released his brilliant debut album The Art Of Being Non (Sundance Records/2004) we have only heard a couple of scattered tracks from his hand. But what he lacks in release frequency, he makes up for in sheer production talent. Everything he touches turns into gold and he has yet to disappoint me with his hypnotic style. This new track is no exception. What we get here is über well-produced psychedelic trance which crosses over into both spugeadelic and full-on… The violins and the high-pitched synth explorations fit each other perfectly and help Goran paint a very lovely sound picture… Very different from everything else here, but equally entrancing… Go go Goran!

#05: Merr0w – Utopian Society [146 BPM]

Merr0w is Brice Fruyt from France – another talented upcoming producer. Once again, we're galloping away at an incredible pace, but unlike the previous 146 BPM track this one really hits the spot… This is mesmerizing, pulverizing, mind-expanding, Mad Hatter goa trance… Constantly spiralling melodies seasoned with tons of trippy twists, turns and quirks… I'm very impressed by the energy level which never seems to fade – as well as the progression which is up to par with some of the legendary goa trance tracks of the past… Stellar track!

#06: Khetzal – Trancefuzion [143 BPM]

"Our next guest has been called Uncle Tim, the guru of psychedelic utopia!" French old-school producer Matthieu Chamoux released his debut album Corolle on Suntrip in 2005. A very uplifting and highly Eastern-influenced morning trance album. This track has some of the same uplifting qualities, though it has enough edge to stand out from the crowd. That's right, Chamoux' sound has evolved into something even better than what he gave us on the album… This is a tightly-knitted, refined piece of dancefloor-friendly goa trance… I totally love the squelching sounds and the advanced melodies… This track has soul and it's one of the best Khetzal tracks I've heard thus far. Brilliant.

#07: K.O.B. feat. Klara Steiner – Weight Of Oblivion [144 BPM]

KOB is an alias for Greek-born, Sweden-based producer Jannis Tzakis. Under his Filteria moniker he has released the amazing and genre-defining nu-school goa trance albums Sky Input (2004) and Heliopolis (2006). Both albums spearheaded and helped define the sound of Suntrip Records in at the time of their release. K.O.B. is different from Filteria in several ways. This is more psychedelic, less in-your-face climactic… This is full-on psytrance bordering on goa trance. Don't get me wrong, this is still miles beyond your usual formulated neo full-on. This is super-ripe, bursting with energy, twirling stuff… Spiralling synths, analogue pads and some real funky percussion thrown in for good measure. Very Hallucinogen-like really – oh yes! The angelic voice of Klara Steiner fits nicely and all in all, this is a very lush piece of melodic psytrance.

#08: Afgin – Dimensional [135 BPM]

Elad Afgin from Israel had his first commercial release on the digital Pyramidal Trancendence (Metapsychic Records 2006) release… His Israeli roots does not go by unnoticed on this epic goa trance track which has evident similarities to those amazing Israeli morning trance tracks echoing in the past… What we get here is 100% pure, unfiltered morning trance from the Holy Land not unlike California Sunshine, Indoor or MFG… Add some 2007 know-how and studio trickery and you've got a pretty good idea how this track sounds… Totally danceable, despite a couple of somewhat fluffy passages. But all in all, this is tasty stuff!

#09: Ra – Gates Of Triphareth [112 BPM]

The final track marks the biggest surprise on the compilation. I'll be damned if Suntrip didn't manage to dig up and dust off legendary goa trance act Ra. Christer Borge-Lunde of Dimension 5 fame has resurrected the old project and is joined by Christian V. Arvesen. This is a trippy downbeat track lingering somewhere in between melodic morning goa trance and atmospheric ambient. Floating, epic stuff which instantly sends your mind wandering off… Dreamy, lush and totally trippy. What a great way to end another fine Suntrip journey.

Once again the Suntrippers have outdone themselves. This is a fantastic compilation – even better than the already classic Apsara released in 2005. There are no bad tracks here, and with the exception of one single track, I was taken in by every single track… It's one sure-fit blast after another - which is getting rarer nowadays. Hats off to Mars and Anoebis for their never-ending, arduous task of bringing high-quality goa trance to the hungry masses… This is a lush, plush and totally twisted dream come true.

The dot-paint art by Margot Schaefer (Anoebis' mother) is breath-taking and everything about this release just reeks quality. A very important release in the resurrection of goa trance – and an essential purchase for any dedicated follower of melodic trance. Go get it and a prepare yourself to be blown away… Enjoy!

Favourites: 1, 3(!!), 4(!), 5(!!), 6(!), 7, 8, 9

DeathPosture

External links:

Suntrip Records: http://www.suntriprecords.com

Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/release/893665

Tower Records Japan: http://tinyurl.com/2t9yqd

Saiko Sounds: http://tinyurl.com/2q29bu

Beatspace: http://tinyurl.com/2kp72o

Discobole: http://tinyurl.com/2qvf7v

Psyshop: http://tinyurl.com/36avzc

Juno: http://tinyurl.com/3b6edy

http://www.suntriprecords.com/blog/news.php

http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/sut/sut1cd008.html

http://www.beatspace.com/dettagli/dettaglio.asp?id=3543

Artist: Ocelot

Title: 9 Lives

Format: CD

Label: Zaikadelic Records

Cat. #: ZAICD05

Track listing:

1. Ride the WAV [preview]

2. Dream Waves [preview]

3. Bananas [preview]

4. Instinctual Logic [preview]

5. Future Communication [preview]

6. X-drive [preview]

7. Toy Boat [preview]

8. Carrier Wave [preview]

9. Thoughts per Second [preview]

Review by Ilse (Mushroom Magazine / Parvati Records):

Mr. Aaron Peacock, the world traveller in the psy cosmos should be a wellknown artist, as this multi productive participant of our scene uses to bring us so much different views of his idea in electronic sound creations. his already fourth solo album "9 lives", on rising label Zaikadelic in Israel, is just another example of Aarons versatility and yet another tripped out state of the art of tribalistic mayhem for the daytime.

as i know him for he does not loose any time with an introduction or something to start this cd. a wobbling beat carries me through this track which becomes more and more complicated and even a housy hint i noticed, which i usually would complain about, but his funky way of turn it into the trippy side of electronics fascinates me once more .. he goes on with the tweaky sounds i like so much .. and after "ah, lets go crazy!" he has me fully catched and guides me to the other eight track of a tribalistic mad monsteralbum always with the helmet of the tripped out wearing! weird lines creeping out of the backround and rippling ahead. sparkling spirals take me by their hand to hijack me into a world of hypnotics and strange happenings.

he always knows the right moment for a change, a kick or a turn into a different direction, implements samples where they fit brilliant and even puts edges of melodics into it. i dont miss sharp leads biting me as well as morphed and modulated lines making it so squeezy sometimes that it bleeds. the acid seem to drop out of it while a forcing beat, sometimes smoother others are dirty, catches my attention again and again. his arrangements became more patience in the build ups and are more tidy now, what makes it even more hypnotic recently. it seems to be strange produced sometimes, but the settings of the gears he uses are also quit special, and if you ever heard him live playing, you know it has to be like this. and dudes, this is no sound for the nighttime anyway!! nevertheless here are so many different tracks always producing absorbing moments fitting so damn great together as one serious trip.

if there are moments i thought "there a change might fit good, its getting monotonous", he brought it in a surprising manner by adding something energetic, catchy or even a naiv melody. beside penta he is one of those rare artist usually pull off the feat to add such melody parts without being nervy. lovely!!! filtered loops of an weird state of mind garnished by gleepy bubbles. this is the shit! i didnt noticed any break he didnt managed to keep attention as he just dont loose time in trying to build up what he constantly holds in his hands. there are pure oldschool parts which were killed by a damn cool funkiness using a twisted treat of recent technologics.

in the whole duration, and i cant mention it enough, he tripps me from one to the other with so much different bases, kicks, percussions and sounds make me laugh, smile and grin. the atmoshphere ranges from scary to weird, twisted even darkish here or there with upward spirals coming down again in subtle way of a mad or harsh manner in the face, everything i find in here. i cant point on any track in special which i like the most. i tasted this album many times, and i know Aarons stuff is something you have to take attention to. i did, and damn, i am happy that i made it on headphones, a proper set up for my neighbours and enjoyed it more and more each listening. i have to say the first two tracks are possibly my favourites here, but in fact i cant say this as the following set up is more intelligent and complicated to understand. usually this is the way i appreciate it the most. if i imagine each of the tracks is one live, i am looking forward to what might will happen in the future, as this seems to be damn funny shit to expect. it's for sure not for everybodies taste, but if you like to have it trippy at the daytime but not boring, kicking your ass and maybe you want to surprise a crowd, this most definitely is a perfect tool for every dj too. congratulations to zaikadelic in israel as well, who seem to make a very nice job.

thx for the music

b00m

TRACKLIST:

Frozen Ghost - Ned’s Mental

Frozen Ghost - Frozen Toast V2

Frozen Ghost - Multiprey

Frozen Ghost - Deranger

Dirty Motion - Control Freak

Hiyarant - Red Coat (Frozen Ghost remix)

Frozen Ghost - E=Mentally Squared

Frozen Ghost - Icey Binge Of The Bio Shrimp

Frozen Ghost – Edible Technique

Style: South African Full On

Artwork: Matt Mills

Mastering: Smugg Juggler

Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/release/1101992

Samples: http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=6838

----------

This is the second album of South African producer Barry Wynne. Expect nothing less than funky, stomping psytrance!

Ned’s Mental

There’s nothing better to start your day with the best breakfast. And Ned’s Mental is as tasty as a track can be. If you’re not familiar with Frozen Ghosts’ sound this is the track to start with. Frozen Ghost means power, funky mood, a dose of darkness, techno rhythms, trancey melodies and a lot of dancing. And there’s not other track out there that will shake your body more than Ned’s Mental. The first half is filled with a groovy feeling and crazy sounds. You can’t keep your feet on the ground listening to his uncanny bassline, it’s powerful yet not annoying. All the melodies of the first half just prepare you for what is coming. And what is coming in the second part is a superb melody, so simple yet psychedelic, so serious yet funny! You can hear it building and building and the kick starts again with half the power. The melody dissapears and the madness starts again. But you know that the melody will return, you can feel it. And when it does you fly. Seriously, this track can’t be called dancefloor killer. Find a new word for that. The minute from 04:51 to 05:44 will raise the dead. One of the best tracks of 2007. 10/10

Frozen Toast V2

If anyone has listened to the original Frozen Toast knows what kind of superb track it is. The remix continues the journey. Although not better than the original version (the known remixes law=A remix is rarely better) its more than great. Just like the original Frozen Toast this is propably one the darkest tracks of the album. Don’t expect spooky pads or horror samples, but a good old school-ish dark atmosphere. The melodies are simply amazing, They're coming from the void before they return to it and a acidic layer follows the trip. For the second version Barry plays a lot with the melodies. He breaks them, before they blast you again. It’s way too psychedelic and again a track that you must dance at. Not better than the original, but simply amazing. 9/10

Multiprey

Here we get another great track. There is a very nice snare pattern and the track is phat just like I want it. In this one we get even more acidic stuff. They used how 303 used to be used in the old days. The follow the lead and participate to the madness. Soon the powerful leads start and fly all over your speakers. The leading melody has this special feeling of Frozen Ghost. Is it too serious or something I can smile with? Actually it’s both. Beautiful track. 8/10

Deranger

Damn that’s all of phat acid! This one takes the schizoprenic jumping noises of the previous tracks and multiplies them. There’s something haunted about this track. There’s a dark cloud that flows like a pad, while the phat madness underneath becomes more and more intense. Sometimes the track becoming insanely phat and too much in your face, but that’s the good thing. What? You like a more whispering kind of psy? Stay away from this track! Damn again! 8/10

Control Freak

By Dirty Motion aka Frozen Ghost and Hiyarant. Ok, this one is crazy. Nothing less to expect by those two guys. This track takes a more serious direction. It’s less funky, but thankfully still pumping. Very pumping actually! The techno tempo works fantastic and the place of the more clear leads of the previous tracks takes here a combination of sounds that create a wall of power. It’s more Frozey than Hiyarant style, it’s his album after all, but you can recognize Stuart’s style too. Very good! 8/10

Red Coat (Frozen Ghost remix)

Here is the story. Frozen Ghost remixes a Hiyarant track in his album and Hiyarant a Frozen Ghost’s in his. (BTW it’s called Collison and you must check it, it’s awesome too). You can hear something different. There’s a melody that plays through the entire track and has a tragic feeling in it. Now, Barry takes the metallic madness of Hiyarant and add phatness. Go figure! This track has no humour like the rest, but still has a funkyness. It’s also the track with the more industrial feeling and gives me the image of an abandoned warehouse. Why? Dunno. Anyway it’s amazing an track. 8.5/10

E=Mentally Squared

Wow! What an anthem! Just listen how he plays with the percussion. Kick ass. The first melody is filled with humour. It reminds me of Bugs Bunny, seriously. But after some seconds the main lead enters. This is trancey!!! After a while the lead vanishes, but you know that Barry just saves his bullets for the final round. A big atmospheric break just to relax a bit, before the dance starts again. Oh and yes, the lead is back, slightly different with a few note changes that make it even more ecstatic. I wanted more to be honest, but still got a big dose. 10/10

Icey Binge Of The Bio Shrimp

This track reminds me of the summer. Maybe it’s because of the shrimp. The first two minutes are basically an easygoing breakbeat intro with the first sample for what will come. Soon, the melodic bassline hits the floor and you don't have to be Nicola Tesla to realize that the lead will be the same with the bass’ melody. It is and works. Just like the first and the previous track this one is really focused in the melodies and I love it. It’s energetic and powerful, just like good full on must be. The melodic ending stands as one of the highlights of the album. 9/10

Edible Technique

Let’s end with another stomper, right? Wrong! Let’s end with an amaaazing midtempo track. This one proves the true talent of Barry, When you thought that his dance tracks are basically layer over layer of madness, Edible Technique comes to show you the ability of Barry in pure writing and arranging. Do you remember the fantastic MFG track Metamorphosis from the Project Genesis album? Well Edible Technique is te closest I can think of Metamorphosis 2007. It even has some sounds coming straight from the old MFG days. It has a great ‘green’ colour. The melodies are mind expanding, probably the best of the whole album and the pads are combined so good with them that makes you fly. And it’s phat! Just check those blasting snares! Totally amazing, we need a full power version of this track. 10/10

OVERALL

If you need a psychedelic album that it’s filled with true power it's an one way street. Buy this one! It takes the phatness of the South African psy in higher levels. It keeps the more techno roots of the early Frozen Ghost works, but adds a strong dose of pure psytrance and much more power. It’s essential. And it’s amazing how much Barry perfected his music. One of the best albums of 2007. 8.94/10

Why purchase: If you like phat South African psy this one is a must!

Why skip: If you don’t like in-your-face, non-stop-stomping psytrance, stay away.

Hi-res cover: front + DJ slip

Artist: Various

Title: Vapour

Format: MP3 (320 kpbs) / WAV

Label: Element Of Time Media (Dominican Republic)

Cat. #: ETM001

Distribution: elementoftime.net

Date: 14 January 2007

Track listing:

01. 07'42" Lemurians – Input Flip (Procs Remix)

02. 07'33" Mubali vs. Infinitesimal – Exciting World Of Hip

03. 08'40" Halava – Soma Rasa

04. 06'26" Ocelot – Under The Table

05. 08'27" Aldus B – Match In The Dark

06. 09'32" Ghreg On Earth – Metafictional Quagmire

07. 07'20" Encephalopaticys vs. Kulu - Esopotron

08. 08'44" Bodhisattva 13:30 & Devic – Confused Perception

09. 07'05" Kerosene Club – Haunted Civilizations

10. 07'03" Triptonics – NL3

11. 06'54" Electrypnose - Vapour

Samples: http://tinyurl.com/yo7tor (all tracks!)

Review:

Rumours Of Vapour…

Element Of Time Media, is a newly established psytrance net-label set up by esteemed reviewer Guillermo aka. RAH from the Dominican Republic. This guy is one of the most articulate and most respected 'darkpsy' reviewers – and thru his hard work, he got in touch with lots of producers from around the world… The next logical step was to sign them himself – and distribute the music from an internet label platform, cutting out the physical format. Element Of Time Media was born. Vapour is the debut release and the tracklist reveals a balanced mix of well-established artists + a couple of rising talents. Let's inhale and get vaporized.

Let me take you thru the tracks…

#01: Lemurians – Input Flip (Procs Remix) [145 BPM]

This track, originally w&p by German/Norwegian producers Andreas Kuchenbauer and Jan Osh Riemann, was first released on their second album Secret Message (Shiva Space Technology/2004). Three years later it gets the Procs treatment. Mikael Stegman from Sweden has always been one of my fav'e shroom-trance producers – though his debut album Stuck In The Oven With Me (Trishula Records/2005) wasn't quite up to par with his amazing previously released compilation tracks. Aaaaaanyway, this Procs remix is much darker and much more interesting that the original. What we get here is something-eerie-lurking-in-the-dark, wobbly psytrance with the distinct Procs shroomy trademark. Not dark for the sake of being dark, just very murky and forest-like… In the exact style that made me fall in love with Procs' sound back in 2000. Lovely track.

#02: Mubali vs. Infinitesimal – Exciting World Of Hip [145 BPM]

"Hello there and welcome to the exciting world of hip!" American producer Mubali (Greg Farley) released his nocturnal debut album Cats @ Play on Trishula Records in 2006. The best tracks off that album were the ones where Greg collaborated with other people, so I'm thrilled to see he's joined by George Kirstein here. This is a hard-hitting, yet funky piece of night trance – rich in oddball flavour, tons of quirky acid-lines and trippy little frills, thrills and jazz-pills! The sampling from one of Disney's old Goofy-cartoons is spot on – and I'm surprised no-one ever thought about sampling those humorous lines before. All in all a great track. Dark yes, but not over the top… It's just plain good. Bonafide dope!

#03: Halava – Soma Rasa [147 BPM]

Halava is a new moniker for Macedonian nutjobs Atriohm (Leonid & Aleksandar Golcev), Encephalopaticys (Vasko Velikovski) and Yudhisthira (Ognen Zafirovski). This track takes on a different approach than the previous two – in which it fuses lighter morning vibes with darker, murkier harmonies… Something as rare as uplifting night-trance performed at 147 BPMs. Usually I'm somewhat reluctant when things gets too dark – so you'd think this track would be right down my alley. And sure, several passages of it rubs me just right, but somehow I can't help shake the feeling that there is something unbeknownst missing here. It's good, but it's not OMG-god.

#04: Ocelot – Under The Table [148 BPM]

"Spirit, spirit, spirit…" American producer Aaron Peacock still ranks high in my cool-book – despite his somewhat disappointing third album Dream Selector (Vertigo/2006). This track however, is all about going back to Aaron's roots – and encapsulates the anti-fluff Ocelot sound I've praised so often in the past… Flaring metallic riffs, spacy synth notes and crackling, pounding percussion. Kinda minimal without getting introvert or boring… Subtle, wholesome psytrance.

#05: Aldus B – Match In The Dark [148 BPM]

Despite a couple of previously released tracks, this is my first encounter with the works of Aldus B aka. Celsung (Matt Freeman currently residing in Thailand). This track marks the turn to the dark side of this compilation. What we get here is dark, haunting psytrance bereft of any kind of uplifting element… Hardcore basslines, IDM-bridges, industrial razor-slashes and an overall pretty grim outlook on things… Definitely not for the faint-hearted. Maybe I'm getting old or something, but this didn't really grab me – especially the middle part seems to lack direction.

#06: Ghreg On Earth – Metafictional Quagmire [148 BPM]

"This place is different. It's special. The others don't want to talk about it because it scares them. But we all know it, and we all feel it! Is your White Rabbit a hallucination? Probably. But... what if everything that happened here happened for a reason?" Greg Carson from the US has ranked very high with the dark psytrance fans ever since the release of his debut album Sigilweaver (Wirikuta Recordings/2005). I've always admired Greg's ability to fuse the best of industrial teKkno with raw, hypnotic night trance. On this track he does it again – and I'm happy to say that this track is much, much better than the previous one running at the same BPM. This is mysterious, eerie and deeply hypnotic cross-over stuff…The high-pitched acid-lines are frightenly good – and they will cut right thru steel, bone and brain mass or whatever obstacle they might meet. Amazing track.

#07: Encephalopaticys vs. Kulu – Esopotron [148 BPM]

"Music was apostle. A vast and comprehensible mystery which allowed […] a glimpse of the magic world. There were new skills to discover!" Encephalopaticys (Vasko Velikovski) is back for round two – joined by Kulu (Dimitris Kulukouriotis) from Greece. As always these guys don't linger on the cheesy side, but rather present us with an avalanche of night time antics… On this track they manage to keep a somewhat coherent theme throughout the track – and I'm thrilled to see that they are clever enough to incorporate a couple of uplifting elements into the mix. Stuff like that retains my focus – and elevates a track like this from the vast, endless pool of boring 'darkpsy' released by so many labels. Interesting track.

#08: Bodhisattva 13:30 & Devic – Confused Perception [150 BPM]

Bodhisattva 13:30 (an ANV of Bodhisattva 13:20 aka Christopher Martin) from the US is joined by Devang Dedhia from the motherland India…. And as the BPM count suggests, this is where it gets really hardcore. And sure enough, this is blasting away at an almost uncontrollable speed leaving little time to breathe. Usually I would have packed my things and left by now, but there is something appealing about this track. Despite its raging mad tempo, the guys ease the passing by incorporation a healthy dosage of comic relief. Wise decision, as I wouldn't be able to digest this without it. This track actually has some charm – even if it's against all odds.

#09: Kerosene Club – Haunted Civilizations [150 BPM]

Kerosene Club is an alias of Brian 'DJ 26' Fernandes, label manager of Temple Twister Records in India. This track starts out with a mooing cow exposed to a gut-wrenching guitar-riff – and an unsane dose of pounding bass madness…. And from there, all hell brakes loose. This is super-fast, in-your-face pounding-bass-mania… Holy shit, I cannot even begin to describe just how hardcore this is. So I'm not gonna. Let's just say, that this is where it gets too hectic even for me.

#10: Triptonics – NL3 [150 BPM]

"Lysergic acid…" Triptonic aka. TriPPies is a new alias from Kashyyyk (Pablo Valdes Cortes) in cahoots with The Galactic Brain (Chac Pakal & Jolly Jack). And boy, does these Mexican guys know how to stir up a riot. This is claustrophobic, acid-filled horror-trance packed to the rim with inhumane, perverse FX… Highly irrational and totally demented. Stuff that will dodge girlfriends, neighbours and other normally functioning humans far away from you… I trying hard to hate everything about this track… But I can't. I'm drawn to it. I fear to watch, yet I cannot turn away. Like a moth to a flame, knowing it will utterly annihilate my soul. I dunno why, maybe it's because it reminds me of a bad trip I had once. Yikes, what the fuck was that?

#11: Electrypnose – Vapour [151 BPM]

I've been a huge fan of Swizz psytrance juggler Electrypnose (Vince Le Barde) since his very first track released back in 2003. With his three albums Brain Stretching (ResonantEarth.com/2005), Le Tireur De Ficelles (Peak Records/2006) and Subliminal Melancholies (Ajana Records/2006) Vince has refined his sound magically with every single release – and he still manages to wow me with almost every track I hear from him. This title track might look ridiculously fast on paper, but do not despair! Vince knows his shit and never lets us down. This track is no exception. Style wise we're closest to the style of Le Tireur De Ficelles on which Vince successfully fused irregular IDM with growly psytrance… Epic, murky stuff which once again underline how there is no end to the talent that is Electrypnose. This is the best 150+ BPM track I've heard in a LONG time.

Do not adjust your sets! It's supposed to sound like this!

I knew from the get-go that RAH likes his music raw and relentless. Maybe that scared me a little as I often have a hard time enjoying psytrance faster than 145 BPMs. But with only a couple of exceptions, I sat thru all of this and enjoyed it. Sure, some of the faster tracks didn't agree with me, but indeed some of them also surprised me positively. In that sense, this compilation was somewhat of an eye-opener. With only a few exceptions, we get a real cool selection of tracks here – ranging from trippy forest trance to down-right perverted night time terror tracks. Thanks for the heads-up RAH! =)

The digital format slashes the price, but still offers some high-class artwork worthy of a print-out. Lovely. Priced @ only $10.99 for the WAV version or $9.99 for the MP3 version (320 kpbs), there is really no excuse for not getting this. I thoroughly enjoyed most of it – and I'm sure fans of murky, glitchy night trance will too… There are more than a few positive surprises in store here. Enjoy!

Favourites: 1, 2, 4, 6(!!), 7, 8, 10(!), 11

DeathPosture

External links:

Element Of Time Media: http://www.elementoftime.net

Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/release/896906

Sonic Energy: http://www.sonic-energy.net

Artist: Prometheus

Title: Corridor Of Mirrors

Label: Twisted Records

Catalogue Number: TWSCD31

Tracks:

Arcadia Magik

One Cell Short Of A Brain

Drug Sock

The Logic Of The Polyphonic

9th-(The Man Who Swam Through A Speaker)

Soma

Oz

Cherry Pie

(very short) Review:

Compared to the fabulous, often-synthetic sounding debut album, Robot-o-Chan, this is a more organic, aggressive and technically accomplished collection of tracks. At times the album successfully recaptures the spirit of goa although it must be said always fleetingly. As with his debut album, Benji has created a highly stylised and uniquely atmospheric piece of work that is set firmly apart from the lacklustre, indiscernable trance sadly sweeping the scene today.

The album is in no way perfect, indeed a couple of tracks miss the mark, but, all said and done, Corridor of Mirrors is Robot-o-Chan's equal and one of the most welcome releases the genre has seen in a long time. Buy it. Play it. Savour it.

Title : Scienza Nuova

Label : Iboga Records

Style : Horse Trance

Format : CD and MP3

Release date : june 2007

Tracklist :

1. Only Human (a day in forever) (133 bpm)

2. Polarized (135 bpm)

3. Kick me shake me (135 bpm)

4. Scienza Nuova

5. Exubrious (132 bpm)

6. Here comes the titans (136 bpm)

7. Muddlehead.100 (133 bpm)

8. Spines (133)

9. The big mistake of '08 (132 bpm)

A proggy psy album with only about 45 seconds of arpeggiated basslines!

AWESOME!

I feel like I'm 24 again! Where have the days gone where we could live out our equestrian fantasies and gallop freely on the lush meadows along the GoA 24 like the young careless Pony's that we were....

Nostalgia, Nostalgia....

I haven't followed the psy-scene much in a while, but it seems to me all proggy releases featured either arpeggiated basslines or dumb german oompa-oompa sound a la Fabio.

This, however, is a throwback to the good old deep atmospheric prog-psy with those galopping Mustang grooves that would put joy into the heart of every semi demented 10 year-old girl who thinks of nothing else but her little horsey.

When I was middle school, there was a girl in my class who was really into horses. Her name was Manja. She went so far that when we had the 50 meter dash in Sports class, she wouldn't run as fast as she could, she would galopp like a horse. Of course she had a pony-tail, she read the Wendy magazine, and when she wasn't riding horses, she was playing with "My little Pony".

So in the name of Manja, every ten year-old girl on the planet, and useless E-Tards like myself who sometimes like to pretend like we are little horseys too whenever we get to roam a lush meadow at 10 in the morning, I hereby officially award SCS the

GAY SATANIC MY LITTLE PONY AWARD

for the advancement of the horse groove.

Leaving the groove aside, I really dig this album. It sounds awesome, there are dense atmospheres and cool sounds everywhere, it just goes down like water. I basically only listened to minimal techno lately, after listening this album I'm realizing what I have been missing. It really is a whole other listening experience. So nice job SCS, and thanks for refraining from arpeggiated basslines :clapping:

Artist: Various

Title: Dark Side of the Mind

Label: Vision Records

Date: December, 2007

1. NRS Vs. Kode Six - Cluster Duster

2. Rubix Qube - Exhale

3. Kode Six - Cell System Reset

4. Gerasene - Syllable Lottery

5. Zion Linguist - Freakenstein

6. Frozen Ghost - Ghost Meat

7. Hiyarant - Driven

8. Scam - High In Disguise

9. Technodrome - Gate For Hate

10. Tested Extension - Virginity

"I'm sure there's going to be more than one unpleasant surprise before we're done."

I've been listening to the sh*t out of this for the past week.  Gym, laundry, going to pick the kids up from school...doesn't matter.  It always rocks.  South African labels in the 2000's were the absolute top when it came to great psytrance, but with only a few releases in its history you can see why this was overlooked.  10 years on and this night time beast continues to rage.   Bludgeoning kicks, acid, and dark atmosphere make this a great addition to your collection.  It's futuristic and melodic and most of the tracks are not static.  By that I mean they are constantly evolving and don't find a melody and ride it all the way home.  It's like different levels of blistering music. 

I know we used to call this twilight music (can't do that...makes me think of the ridiculous movie), but if you liked Nexus Media or Timecode stuff from the time I referenced above then this should be right in your wheelhouse. 

Psyshop

Artist: Various

Title: Fractal Energy

Label: Fractal Records

Date: February, 2007

1. Electric Universe - Shift

2. Neuromotor Vs. Electrocult - Humamacumadi

3. Outer Signal - Alien Signal

4. Painkiller Vs. Puzzle - Invalid Extension

5. Sidhartha - The Sleepwalker

6. Madnetic - Jungle Groove

7. Kali - Travelizer

8. Chromatone Vs. Random - Lighter Than Light

9. Elec3 - Purple Shrimp

10. Hexagnum - The Poem

What is it with these compilations that just mail it in as the you go deeper down the tracklist?  Seems it was a common practice with a lot of labels, but let's be honest there's a lot wrong with this compilation.  Right from the outset we get a track from legend Boris Blenn that sounds identical to almost every track he's been making for a decade.  Taking a sabbatical might not be the worst thing for him at this point.  Moving on I defy you to make it through Humanacumadi without wanting to trip a toddler.  It's ruthless in its annoyance.  Next we are subjected to "full-on with an edge" clones that don't succeed in either category.  This includes Invalid Extension with it's insipid sample, touch tones, and bass line made me want to dig up Alexander Graham Bell and punch his corpse.  How in the f*ck does that get past quality control?

Somehow I have two physical copies and it's the equivalent of leaving a bag of poo on my doorstep whilst you ring the bell and hide behind a bush.  Often I wonder why I continue to review so many deeply flawed albums when there's porn to be watched and sh*ts to be taken, but I always come back to the same answer.  

I do it for you.

Psyshop

Beatspace

Artist: Various

Title: Deep Into The Nexus

Label: Nexus Media

Date: February, 2007

1. Brethren & Outer Signal - Rock

2. Hydraglyph - Nowhere Near

3. Phyx - Evolver

4. Abomination - Pass Away (Shift Remix)

5. Twisted System - Mad Method (Live Version)

6. Slug & Abomination - Where is Magneto?

7. Shift - Pump

8. Pitch Hikers - Counter Culture

9. Artifakt - Gravity Spine Pt. 1

10. Artifakt - Gravity Spine Pt. 2

"And then suddenly....BOOM!"

Any astrophysicist or rocket scientist worth his salt will tell you that this compilation is devastating.  It's night time psytrance from 10 years ago that holds up very well.  Acid all over the place with the ominous melodies that made Nexus Media one of the premier labels for this type of music.  The first 7 tracks are blisteringly good and don't let up a hair.  It culminates in the techno influenced weirdness that garnered Artifakt a loyal following.  If you're a fan of the South African style of psy from the mid 2000's (and let's be honest you should be) then this is a must have.

Psyshop

Beatspace

Moscow duo Overlap was formed in 2001 by two independent musicians and sound engineers Michael Puchkov (Neogen) and Vyacheslav Bogachev (1/2 Neoris / Breakpoint / Shogo Buzz ). The artists have become acquainted with each other in the internet a year before and after meeting in one of the private parties decided to unite their skills and acquired experience into united band. The work was iniciated as a cooperation of Neoris and Neogen and as a result the name Overlap Project was invented. Later, fop the purpose of conciseness and easier memorizing the word Project was reduced. Overlap is an efficient way to evaluate the discrete convolution between a very long signal with a finite impulse response. According to the words of one of the participants, the name itself came spontaneously in a result of work with one of the algorithms of sequencer. The first tracks of Overlap brought with themselves ideas of night' and progressive techno sound. They were oriented to the actual psy-tech sound. A similar sound that time was developed by X-Dream / The Delta, who invented the term "digital techno". In Russia this style , for the first time ever, was promoted by Overlap and also some other artists (FUZZION, Weird Walker, Cybered). That is to say, they had become forming units of Moscow's dark psychedelic scene.

Album Biosphere, released by German label Planet B.E.N. was recorded in the entirely different manner of the execution comparing to the first album and earlier works of Overlap. In distinction from 6th Sense (Z.M.A. Records) the new album is performed in European neofullon sound with the elements of time-proved old-school psychedelic trance. Harmonic union of tough kick and pumping rubber bass-lines, acid themes, melancholic solos of the primary synthesiser areas, and sampled unearthy phrases from famous horror films create an atmosphere of mainstream dance-thriller. Every track is infiltrated with the ideas of the XX century trance parties and music, which was popular in Goa and was promoted by many famous labels, such as TIP Records, 3D Vision, Spirit Zone Recordings and many others. Biosphere seems to be an embodiment of old ideas with the help of modern hard- and software equipment - liking or disliking of this concept is left to the listener. The main parts of Biosphere, according to the worlds of project participants, are tracks 3, 4 and 7. These works, if to listen it carefully, create proper impression and soundscape of their current music preferences. Dynamic links bass-kick, together with tense themes, interlace curiously with veins of western horror films (Silent Hill, Saw 3, Final Destination 3). As for my own opinion, I also found attractive tracks 1, 5, 8 and 9, where a dashing bass-line is combined efficiently with percussion and neatly elected sound effects. All the details of the album compositions are distinct and pearly throughout. The guys from Overlap are good sound engineers - the sound quality is crystal and highly professional. Biosphere is equally well listened in a small walkman and on a big dancefloors. The last track is worth mentioning in particular. Season of Winds is the only chilling track in the album, and it was written with the help of Shogo Buzz. Shogo Buzz is a band, where Vyacheslav takes part together with another Rissian musician, Denis Spiridonov. They determine their music as "experimental psychedelics". Season of winds is truly experimental and psychedelic: non-trivial break-beat, reasonably twisted themes of ductile melodies, submerging in a rich syrup of dub bass-line, and devices of 8-beat scene perfectly crown the album.

In conclusion one could say that Biosphere is a rare work of Russian artists, especially for the western countries. Russian psy scene is still infirm in this concrete segment and this release is a big event for all lovers of European psychedelic trance music.

Tracklist:

01. Power System

02. Dangerous Jungle

03. Silient Hill

04. Make Your Choice

05. Angry Person

06. Cube

07. Biosphere

08. Take Off

09. Air Brazil

10. Season of Winds (feat. Shogo Buzz)

[c] & [p] 2007 Planet B.E.N. Records

Original russian text.

as we are interested what all the psynews fellows think of our music...we post here a review from Full_on

thx for replays

Rumble Pack – Packed and Ready ( Mahogany & Morphonic, Apr. 2007 )

Track List:

1. Are we Fucking Done?

2. Packed and Ready

3. Kingsize

4. Mental Scope

5. John Steam in the Snailhole

6. Binary Beach

7. Control Unit

8. Back to Basics

9. Tea Time

Rumble Pack is a psytrance project by Andreas Marki and Philip Guillaume from Zurich – Switzerland. This information if not found anywhere on the CD, so I had to resort to their homepage to find this info ( www.rumble-pack.ch ). There I found that these guys have some side projects and even released an album before under another project; if you’re interested on more info about these guys check it out.

My first contacts with Rumble Pack’s music were the tracks Simulated Roadmap and The Sliph released some time ago. It’s been a long time and now two French labels, Mahogany Records and Morphonic Records (M&M Production), joined forces to release this album. Avi aka Space Cat is responsible for the mastering and did a good job. The cover is neat and was designed by Nico at PsyArt studio. It looks like an Air Mail package and the CD shares the same design. Check it here:

http://212.227.206.198/cgi-bin/zoom.cgi?mp...ph1cd004.html:;

There’s no booklet, just the cover with the track names and credits on its back. Also no DJ sleeve or track times or bpms.

The first track is a collaboration with DJ Jackomo (anyone has any info on him?) and begins with the sample:

"Einstein was wrong when he said ‘God does not play dice.’

Consideration of black hole suggests not only that God does play dice, but that he sometimes confuses us by throwing them where they can't be seen."

It turns to be a 145 bpm full on track, on the lines of some Hom-Mega artists. Some people maybe understand this as a compliment, but it has two sides. Well produced, predicable and dance floor directed: that’s how I feel this first track. A lot of people will love it; for me it’s only a proof that the guys know how to produce on today’s standards, which is great as an opening track, but not good enough to stand out in the crowd. Packed and Ready (T2) is even faster and more energetic, but a little less straight forward. It also has a few samples (please help me to ID that "red eclipse ravers" or something ), and it’s good to dance. This is the kind of music that is being played here at Brazil in most parties; once again this compliment is an undeniable proof of its dance floor effectiveness, but also suggest it lacks on the psychedelic side.

Kingsize is the name of the third track, when I notice that this track had 140 bpm I thought I understood the meaning of the track name. A relentless pounding beat and bass creates an introspective feeling and the other elements state that clearly something is going to happen. The tension is in the air, but it does not leave. An unexpected sample:

"Theories predict singularities in two situations: one is in the future when the gravitational collapse starts and other massive bodies. Such singularities will be at end of time..."

A sweet melody and the beat is there again, the music wake up with a well executed change in the bass, changing its direction to the dance floor and there we go… And here we are, riding the 145 bpm of the following track Mental Scope (T4), a danceable track with a nice chanting and good flow, I only miss something that could twist my legs a little more. John Steam in the Snailhole (T5) is a groovier track which arrived at good time, when I listened this album for the first time I was starting to get afraid that the whole album would be "dance floor effective." Here the album takes a turn and with the seeds of diversity everything becomes more interesting. The next track, Binary Beach (T6), is one of my favorites. Its instantaneous success comes from its background atmospheres and the good taste in the choice of the elements. Another relevant aspect is that it is one of the longer tracks here, having time to reach its full potential.

Control Unit (T7) starts as a more held back track, and its bass variations and steadiness reminds me of more serious full on, like the Nano or Alchemy stuff. All in all a nice track. Then we have Back to Basics (T8), another favorite of mine, with a unique bass line signature, twisted synths and an atmosphere that keep suggesting me that things are not the way they look. Suddenly Japanese samples or something else I can’t understand catch my attention and here we go again through these bass lines... Very good work from the Rumble guys here , it’s an excellent track, specially the first 3 minutes. More Japonese samples? It’s Tea Time (T9) the track that comes at 90 bpm to close the album with golden keys. Definitely one of the best tracks here. I tested this one with coffee and it’s better than tea. After a long trip we arrive at a break in the 6th minute, right at the time to order my third espresso, good taste and small details making huge differences, yeah, this track made me smile. This is the happy ending the album needed, and it surely makes it scores higher.

This CD is being the soundtrack of my laboratory experiments in the last week. The second half of the CD really put me to dance , and since I’m doing experiments overnight and everything here in the lab is video recorded, the night security guys now keep making jokes... That’s a fair price to pay for having some fun at work. This is a good album for keeping me up and dancing . As constructive criticism I must say that I missed more info about the project and the artists themselves on the booklet. M&M Production could invest a little more on the this. Also it’s good to keep in mind that not every track must end dance floor friendly. I mean, for a debut album sound quality and "danceability" are very important, however the originality and tweaking (psychedelia) that denotes the artist's peculiarities and personality must also shine through the music. It's difficult to achieve an equilibrium between these variables, this debut is a proof that it can be done, but probably the crowd will be expecting more on the next releases.

Recommendation: This successful debut album is recommended for those after well produced full on with a drop of spice here and there. The album is solid, slowly evolving and getting better with each track, starting with regular full on and finishing with more innovative music. Its effectiveness does not compromise the home listening aspect, which is actually one of its strong points, specially the last half of the album. Give it a chance and will probably get hooked.

Buy it here:

http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=6464

http://www.beatspace.com/dettagli/dettaglio.asp?id=3390

http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/mph/mph1cd004.html

Favorites: 3, 6, 8(!), 9(!!).

Respect!

Artist: Various

Title: Floating Point 4

Label: Sofa Beats

Date: June 2007

Shen - Jagiya

Krusseldorf - Bud Luvin

Fingertwister - I Remember Jah (Ooze Remix)

Koan - Warm Evening In Paris

Excession - Just For You

Sundial Aeon - Mysanthia

Phutureprimitive - Luminous Feat. Alyssa Palmer (Former Self Mix)

Kliment - Planet Dissolver

Rena Jones - Blueshift

Irina Mikhailova - Falling (Omnimotion Remix)

Sofa Beats is the downtempo sub-label of Iboga Records and they hit one out of the park with the Relax Mode compilation. Looking at the tracklist, my mouth starts to water as it is a virtual who's who in the downtempo genre. The covers for the Floating Point series have never been very striking, but this one is spectacular. It is of a brilliantly red sea creature (oceanographers help me out here) against a stark yellow and brown background. It immediately catches the eye. And isn't that what covers are supposed to do?

1. Shen is Noah Pred who has already been on several comps and put out a full length album. The thumping kick hits with the force of a sledgehammer as electronics spiral above. When the bass jumps in, there is an air of mystery supplied. Not a bad way to start an album

2. Krusseldorf drops a reggae-style beat presumably because he loves the "bud." Not a bad track, just a little noisy for my taste in downtempo.

3. Ooze remixes a Fingertwister track in a dubby style. There is a lot of chopped up samples without much in the way of melody until a calming break. After that it's just a mish-mash of sounds to me.

4. Koan delivers a breakbeat number that leans more towards the lounge side than his usual fare. Crystal clear, but not my style.

5. "Just For You" brings us the first singing on this compilation over another breakbeat. More melody and the undercurrent of a 303 gurgling beneath the surface. Not bad.

6. Sundial Aeon's album "Apotheosis" was awesome, so hopes are high for this one. I would say this had a far off, spacey feel with sounds floating over a crunchy breakbeat. It's ok, but not what I would choose.

7. The track by Phutureprimitive has more singing, but it's soulful over a downtempo groove. It's slow and entrancing, but again not for me.

8. "We are symptoms of the kind of system we are living. And our appearance in the system...tells us about the system." Kliment supplies a steady downtempo groove with pensive pads and glass like leads. The variety of sounds increase as the track progresses but it never sounds too busy. When the music gets to the above sample, the track changes direction and really flourishes. My favorite here.

9. This sounds a LOT like something Aes Dana would do. Soft tones above a glitchy percussive element. Unfortunately, I found the beginning to be the most captivating part of the track.

10. Omnimotion remix and Irina Mikhailova track with piano and trip hop sensibilities. Again, there is more singing (that is what Irina does!) but with a breathless, sad quality. This is the shortest track and is a good way to end the compilation.

Well, what can be said, but this was a decent compilation. If you are looking for beatless ambient, keep on walking. If you are looking for middle eastern themed downtempo, also keep walking. However, if you are searching for some singing amidst music that can go from reggae to breakbeat to downtempo to trip-hop, then you have come to the right place. I have heard better compilations and also a LOT worse. Worth a listen, definitely.

Mdk

Track list :

1. Intro

2. The beast within

3. Creature of the night

4. Red handed (XI rmx)

5. Virtual violence

6. No way out

7. Bass safari

8. Turbulence

9. Last stop

10. Head split

Review :

1. Intro

Two minutes of introduction for the long expected journey is best choice :-). Slowly we get in the business...

2. The beast within 145 BPM

The begining of this track suprised me a bit, suddenly enter an electro influenced kick supporting by groovy bass-line...but after two minutes the madness is start. It's contains lots of noisy effects around, which creates the track's story and lead the listener to the main target - diging ! the lovely guitar's playing on the middle is super special and follow the track all over it. Great opening guys.

3. Creature of the night 143 BPM

It's start chilly and comfortable, but when the heavy beats arrives - the rest is over and game is on. The high level of sound is add a lot to the track's feeling. This guys are not relax even for a second, everything is on action all the time and this create a danceable flow in the air. Actually, you will not remmember something special from this track, but as DJ tool - 'Creature of the night' is a gift.

4. Red handed (XI rmx) 143 BPM

X Noise and Domestic are responsible for 'Red Handed' original version and when they gave Moshe & Amir free hand to do what they want with it, we got this result. This version is completly different - more powerful and dynamic, full of jumping moments and XI unique vibes. Simply a dance floor stomper !

5. Virtual violence 145 BPM

Track number five is a special one in my opinion, because the smart developing and the old XI style. Don't look for games or cheesy parts - 'Virtual violence' is a diging only. Somehow, XI always create an anxious atmosphere on their tracks and force the body react permanently.

6. No way out 142 BPM

The title say all - there is no way out from this trip :-). This time, the tempo is going down a bit and give the body option to reload the powers again. I found 'No way out' track kind of boring and avarage, except some specific moments of emotionaly seconds packed with deep melodies. Anyway, we all needed this track as a small brake from the digs routine.

7. Bass safari 145 BPM

I hope you all chilled enough, because the spaceship must keep the journey. Regretfully the come back is not as I expected - 'Bass safari' track is a bit repulsive after several listenings. But, as usual, XI must have at least one glory moment and thats whats happening on 04:30. Lets hope for better continuance.

8. Turbulence 145 BPM

The compensation is come immediately. 'Turbulence' is exactly what I need at this time - no sophistication and tricks, just pure music with Amir & Moshe's touch. The formula is clear - more power, less melodies and the most important...magical flow. Well done.

9. Last stop 140 BPM

Sometimes I wonder why XI don't produce more music on this tempo ? they doing it so good. 'Last stop' is a mature track, which help the listener to keep the legs moving, but the vibes & atmosphere are much more calm on comparing to the previous tracks. Just now, two tracks before the end, we could sense kind of emotionaly feeling inside the music. The heart is come back to the regular pulse .

10. Head split 130 BPM

It's time to collect the all pieces of the body and connect them again after hard trip and thats why XI give us 'Head split' track. A free style tune, downbeat and chilly packed with enjoyable feeling of the end...

To sum it up - 'The Beast Within' is similar to the last album ('XI'), but still contains it's own magic with more variation of music. This album is really help to release the beast inside us :-).

You can get it here :

http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/hom/hom1cd053.html

http://www.hommega.com/hommegaShop.php?cur...p;prdCat=albums

Zero Cult

Ikebana

Cosmic Leaf Records

2007

Tracklist

1 Nitrogen (7:59)

2 Part Of Rapture (7:54)

3 Violet Room (7:05)

4 Echoes (Cydelix Remix) (7:23)

5 Z-51 (7:05)

6 Utopia Train (Side Liner Remix) (5:42)

7 Chemicalove (8:23)

8 Serenity (7:57)

9 Rainspotting (7:33)

10 Monolife (D. Batistatos Remix) (4:41)

I remember someone recommending this to me but I have no idea what it was referred to & after listening to it I can't place my finger on what it was. This is different enough to most chill releases I have heard this year to make it worthwhile. The production is clean & at times cold. Crisp sounds with some melancholic touches. A few tracks err on the side of being too cheesy but somehow work. Some are decent without being mind blowing while others feel like they have been ruined by just one or two elements.

1. Nitrogen

A great opener to this album. It has a kind of dark mechanical feel to the intro but this is overpowered by the beginning of the melody that just seems to come out of the starry sky. Combine that with the little Sci Fi noises floating about gives a really spacey atmosphere. A nice slow beat is very crisp. The sci fi comes to a head when it feels like electronic water floating through my brain. Very nice opener.

2. Part of Rapture

The intro to this track contains a sample done just the way I like it. Distorted enough so I can't make out more than the initial work. For me this always makes it trippier, deeper with more mystery. A little acidic melody just precedes a clear slow beat. The background ambience really makes the melody stand out in a futuristic spacey way. I imagine impossibly tall buildings side my side for miles & miles when I listen to this. The melody that comes in at the end is what escalates this track from good to excellent. With the same atmosphere it creates a more melancholic feel. Really beautiful.

3. Violet Room

This doesn't quite reach the rapture of the last track but it's an enjoyable little number. Interesting beats and a slow bassline that hums through the background. A melody that is subtle & spacey. Strings that come in over a female vocal stabbing in & out. Lots of cool little sounds, very nice for Christmas time (in my twisted little brain at least). Overall it's a pretty good track but just lacks something to make it stand out more.

4. Echoes (Cydelix Remix)

A very cheesy but enjoyable vocal (still) dominates the track. It's fun if not very good. Like a guilty pleasure. I have no idea why I like it, it should by my own reasoning ruin the track which besides from this does everything right without blowing my socks off. Rather than destroying a perfectly nice piece of music it actually fits in well & give it a quirky feeling. I'll see how it holds up after the many listens I plan to give this track.

5. Z-51

This has a military feel to it. The beats & the bass all sound like they are marching forwards in an orderly fashion. The dark voice sample repeats give it an iron curtain air & when the longs synth drones come in the music really feels very cold, dark & soulful. An excellent edge of melancholy mixed in with the sounds of the process.

6. Utopia Train (Side Liner Remix)

This has a very nice bassline. The beats are crisp & clear as well as intricate & the acid line in the beginning is triiiiiiiiipy!!! That makes way for a melody though which to begin with sounds like a mistake but it evolves into a very nice dreamy track. Just when you think it's gone on long enough it changes it's momentum & direction. This doesn't knock my brain out of whack but it's a decent track.

7. Chemicalove

A simple melody stands out from the rushing spaciness of the background. It sounds a bit weird until the bassline comes which compliments it perfectly. Trippy little beats & a more subtle melody which seems to oscillate in and out of this dimension could have made this track great but the later melody is a bit annoying and is so prominent that it can't be ignored. I would have stuck with the subtle melody that feels like it's taking me between realities but he sticks with the other one & while it progresses into a nicer sound I could have been happier.

8. Serenity

A serene sound indeed. Melody coming from piano & electronica twisting round each other perfectly. The beats are quite prominent & while standing out still manage to give this a very relaxed feeling. While very peaceful throughout some of the sounds that fly through it do not sound great when listening in headphones. The final melodic run while led into very well is exactly the same as at the start of the track. It sounds like it's going to be different but isn't. Damn tease.

9. Rainspotting

More good sample work & cool strings, he should try strings more he's good with them. It all sounds very deep & with a slow plodding beat I get the feeling that I'm floating away. The first time I've had that floaty feeling on the album. Nice melodic touches here & there without any real melody. The bassline fills in here to keep it interesting. Not a melodic track but a subtle melody comes in towards the end briefly but fades out pretty quickly. The main problem is that it continues along the same lines for too long. It should either be shorter or change more in the latter stages.

10. Monolife (D. Batistatos Remix)

A short punchy number to end on. The beats are strong & take over the track entirely. The seems to be some good stuff in the background but it's drowned out by the beats & the melody. Takes those out & I think you'd have a great little ambient piece. I wonder which way the remix has gone.

All in all this is about half a great album. There is some good stuff & the tracks Part of Rapture, Z-51 & Nitrogen are excellent tracks but the remixes included are a let down. My main problem with the album is that non of the tracks flow into each other, when one track finishes the start of the next does not sound very good. To sudden, especially the ones that start quickly after an ambient outro. It either needs more space between the tracks ore to have light mixing to make this sound more than just a collection of tracks. It's a nice enough album without being a masterpiece. There is definitely potential for this guy to make a great album in the future.

Artist: Various

Title: Manga

Label: Yabai Records

Date: October, 2007

1. Dirty Motion - Daniel

2. Damage - Flipside

3. B-55 - Manga

4. Phatmatix - Don't Get Me Mad

5. Outer Signal & Dapanji - El Diablo

6. Lost & Found - Reflux

7. Azax Syndrom & Shift - How Do You Stop It (Remix)

8. Toxic - Lost In Osaka Remix

9. Tube - Eraze The System

"I just need to ask you this...how do you stop it?"

This is me racing to the sh*tter after a cup of coffee and a banana.

Oh Yabai, where have you gone? In a world where gay people are murdered by other gay people struggling to come to terms with their own identity you are needed now more than ever before. Yabai was a label that was the Asian ying to the South African Timecode yang. Dark full-on with a f*ckton of eerie melodies. Perhaps if you were still around he could've been dancing to music like this instead of shooting people. I'm not blaming Yabai for the recent Orlando, FL massacre, but the world is hurting and we clearly need more great music. And there are some really good tracks from Phatmatix, Lost & Found, and of course the pairing of Shift with Azax.

That said all is not rainbows and unicorns. Some tracks are full of stops and starts, cheesy samples, and build ups.

I'm looking at you El Diablo and Osaka. Overall a good comp with acidic craziness, but it could've been better. I'd link to it, but Yabai has shut down and the only place to find their stuff is on Discogs for ridiculous prices. Save your money, it ain't worth all that.

v/a Human Hyperactivation (Metapsychic) 2007

Tracklist:

Metapsychic is a net-label held by Lost Buddha & Cosmogenesis. Human Hyperactivation is their second compilation, but their first one commercialized through Internet (the first one was free to download check their website : www.metapsychicrecords.com/ )

Tracklisting:

01. Pan Psychic – In Suspend

02. Mindsphere - Perception

03. Subra - Snel Hest

04. Artifact303 - Trip To The Sun

05. Pandemonium - Pandemonium

06. Liquid Flow - Overdose

07. Alienxxs - Infected Creature

08. Brain Technology - Jungle Hippie

09. Nolax - Pareidolia

Compiled by Filipe Santos (Lost Buddha), Cosmogenesis & Octodur

Mastered by Dave Hook (Infinite Dimensions)

Artwork by Bruno Filizola (Astrancer)

1> I've got a worry with Pan Psychic (Georgy & Ivan Fedorenko) from Russia, his track is too fast to my taste, it doesn't fit well with its content. That's a pity coz with an appropriate tempo, it'd result more attractive; & unfortunately it just gives a headache.

2> Mindsphere (Ali Akgun) from Turkey propulses our ears through the cosmos, the atmosphere is very spatial. The feeling delivered is closed from a goa-anthem like Prana – The Earth which was made with Indoor, that explain too the big Israeli vibe influence here.

3> Subra (Michael Anenburg) from Israel has cooked a more chiselled neo-goa tune which lets a little place for a somehow global melancholic feeling. From a creativity & originality Goa view, it's without doubt the most interesting tune from the compilation; although i'm not convinced by the interest of the acid line's misappropriated.

4> Artifact303 (Zolt Peter) from Romania manages to produce some true happy & powerful Goa sounding & being at the same time quite genuine, i mean this tune doesn't evoke me something already done by the past except an Astral Projection influence in the combo rhythmic-deep bassline.

5> Pandemonium (Filipe Santos) from Portugal comes to rock the place with a hard pumping Goa tune with a massive kick (Miranda or Shiva Shidapu alike). Around 3''00 we benefit from a sweet oriental melody played at the vibraphone & flute, which brings an interesting contrast with the previous ultra-energized acid-rock harmony with the heavy brassy tones option added. From 4''50, the melodic theme is declined another way, focusing on the insane elements to increase the frenzy.

6> Liquid Flow (Tomislav Savic) from Croatia, shows an intense & quite short strong 303 Goa tasty stuff. No, we aren't on a Acid Flash compilation, but really on Human Hyperactivation. Here as you probably already understood, we are in the land of the big smashing sound, pure body music.

7> Alienxxs (Simon Bay) from Switzerland has done an average tune : nothing bad but nothing brain blasting too : it goes fast (too fast), it lacks a lot of contrast (please work a bit more the mix of tune next time, everything is at the same level...) & the sounds are quite common.

8> Brain Technology (Damir Abjanovie) from Croatia brings a more hypnotic goa side that could make your head turned. It could remind slightly Disco Volante with Forbidden (Floorplay remix) but much more thick, powerful & faster.

9> Nolax (Christoph Mitsch) from Austria, decides to employ heavy shrill tones that's a risky choice & i don't share it. For me these kind of sounds are closer to the torture than the entertainment, sorry.

For the old school lovers, this compilation is good choice as the selection permits to range a nice variety of Goa tune from more or less acid to Oriental influenced through hypnotic, shrill, emotional or adrenalistic styles. Furthermore some tracks will certainly remind you some good old goa productions & nice memories.

Highlights: 2,4,5

Good moments:3,6,8

7,5/10

Artist: Various

Title: Stompers Agony

Label: Acidance Records

Date: January, 2007

1. Menog Vs. Audialize - Mental Reproduction

2. Random - Bifurcation

3. Khopat - Come Closer

4. Tryambaka - Stroke of Luck

5. Toxic - Mofos In Da House

6. Sick Addiction - Today's Madness

7. Delsyd - Stompers Agony

8. Wicked Wires Vs. Brain Hunters - Mr. Mars

9. Brain Hunters - Genetic Poison

10. Meta - Boing!

"Instincts play a very important part here so trust them."

You didn't trust your instincts. Needed more Nadia Comaneci and less Kool-Aid Man.

So when I think of melodic night time psytrance I think of labels like Timecode and Nexus Media when they were at their zenith. This collection of tunes is a level below that. There is plenty of acid, but there are also plenty of samples. It's better than full-on, but there are too many breaks in the action for any momentum to accrue. Mental Reproduction is the biggest stormer for me, but I also liked the groove in the 10 and a half minute Today's Madness. But there wasn't enough great stuff in that 10 and a half minutes. I mean, you had 10 and a half minutes...you couldn't make more than one f*cking basket in 10 and a half minutes?

If you're on the hunt for really good dark melodic music I feel you might be let down by this one. A few good tracks, but there are a lot better albums out there.

Psyshop

Beatspace

Artist: Funky Dragon

Title: Massive

Label: Iono Music

Date: 2007

1. Waiting For Something

2. Day After

3. Journey

4. Sunny Day

5. Massive

6. Who's There

7. Last Human

8. Yellow Summer

9. Wake Up

I was Waiting For Something. Anything. Then came the Day After and the day after that and that something never arrived. To say it was an uneventful Journey barely scratches the surface. As I stared out my window at the Sun Day passing me by I realized I had made a Massive mistake. Time seemed to creep by with only mild and sometimes annoying stimulation.

"Who's There?" I asked, knowing full well that like Peter I was probably the Last Human around with no one to hear my plea. Yellow Summer is the color of the day fading into night and also the feeling that my time was stolen from me. If I could float above myself I would scream and plead with my physical form to Wake Up and not make the mistake of letting the very Unfunky Dragon steal precious minutes.

This is a CD of background noise where every track melts into the next with nary a distinguishing characteristic. This isn't progressive. It's minimal masquerading as progressive.

Psyshop

Beatspace

Artist: Various

Title: Cyberdelica Vol. 2

Label: Trancelucent Productions

Date: May, 2007

1. Visual Paradox Vs. System Nipel - Cyberdelica

2. Sesto Sento - Matzo-Brei

3. Krunch - Food

4. Cosmic Tone Vs. Noga - White Sensation

5. Bizzare Contact - The Beach (System Nipel Remix)

6. Insomnia - Light of Shady

7. System Nipel - Flash Dance

8. D.N.A. - New Age (Injection Remix)

9. Tactic Mind Vs. Silent Hill - Mind Tones

"I don't want to go outside, there are things that can kill you!"

Holy monkey balls this is some cream puff full-on. This cd should come with a pair of hot pants and glow sticks. At the very least a huge cracker to handle all the cheese. This is super euphoric happy trancey confection with the depth and gravitas of a puddle. Isn't psytrance supposed to be...I dunno, psychedelic? Far from an elitist or a music snob, I do believe that if you're caught blasting this in your car it may be grounds for a beating. I think listening to this caused me some actual discomfort. Please I was full on face palming and asking, "Why the hell did I buy this?"

The definition of sugar infused candy corn happy trance and why full-on has the reputation it does. Even though I liked The Beach remix, I think my computer gave me a virus out of spite.

Beatspace

Artist: Asura

Title: Life²

Label: Ultimae

Released : July 2007

Tracklist

1 Golgotha (6:12)

2 Back To Light (7:16)

3 Galaxies Part One (Album Edit) (8:15)

4 Celestial Tendencies (9:07)

5 The Prophecy (7:28)

6 Five Lines (9:32)

7 Life² (7:49)

8 Galaxies Part Two (10:34)

9 Butterfly FX (6:27)

10 La Chanson De Carla (4:56)

I built this album up in my mind for months prior to the release so there was a high chance of me being disappointed by this release. I am a big fan of Ultimae Records & Asura, Asura had also been touting this one & I was very excited. Amazingly this not only lived up to my expectations but surpassed them by quite a distance. I was prepared for this to be good but I was prepared for it to be this good! Easily my favourite release by Asura so far. The whole album has a vast spacey feel to it and although all the tracks are very different from each other they all form part of an album that takes you high out of this world.

1 Golgotha

A soft dreamy opening with a lush drone & a drawn out ethnic melody leads into a heavy tribal beat. The melody continues & evolves then around the 3 and a half minute mark a long synth gives this track a vast feel. I feel like this track belongs in the sound track to some epic. I feel as if I'm stood on a hill watching an army charge towards me but safe in the knowledge that I can't be hurt. The melody changes from flute to voice almost noticeably. Great start.

2 Back To Light

This track is more upbeat with a steady plodding beat, glitchy background noises & lots of ambient noises floating around. It all seems rather random for a while but it falls away & kicks back in with drive and purpose. By the time the ambience comes & pushes it forwards it's sounding like another biggie. A tiny melody comes in briefly here and there and slightly distracts from the rest of the track & I could do without it but it's small and not too distracting.

3 Galaxies Part One (Album Edit)

I heard this 1st on Oxycanta released last year. It manages to have an extremely celestial yet earthy feel to it. The vocal wail is powerful & I feel like I am lying in a field late one summer night looking up at the stars & dreaming of floating among them. Very soft slow beats in the background seem to add to the wide open feel of this track as it takes us high into the sky.

4 Celestial Tendencies

A disjointed start with lots of background noises under what sound like a fiddle playing. It all stops once the beat kicks in & it's a big Bom Bom Bom beat. The ambient noises collect themselves into something meaningful, a slow plodding trip around the solar system. Things pick up even more in the latter part of the track when the beat leaves & the ambience picks up, the fiddle comes back & everything whooshes about. The beat comes back & it feels like it's pushing me through the cosmos.

5 The Prophecy

A long slow ambient intro builds suspense somehow for the rest of the track. Without using any beats it builds the intensity bit by bit until the track feels so dense. It all falls away in an instant & is minimal again for a while. A very recognisable (yet I can't put my finger quite on where it is from) ethnic vocal enters before some soft flute. The intensity seems to have built up again without me noticing into a thick muggy night time sky. One of the heaviest beatless tracks I've heard in some time.

6 Five Lines

A drop in intensity some trippy beats joined occasionally by some really wet beats. When the base 1st sounds I can also hear some spacey fluttering in the background. It puts me in mind of standing on some alien cliff top watching a storm in the distance. A curious far away violence with no immediate danger to me. Until it starts moving this way being pushed by the beats. Suddenly it's upon me & I am drenched in a sonic downpour

7 Life²

The title track is a bit of a beast with those big plodding beats that sound like they are on horse tranqualisers. The introduction gives the track a lift of energy and although the beat stays strong it doesn't seem quite as oppressive as when it first came in. The rest of the track has really nice celestial sounds & although a good track I think I'd prefer it with a softer beat.

8 Galaxies Part Two

Ever since Asura said this alum was going to have Galaxies Part One & Galaxies Part Two I have been really looking forward to this track. I have not been disappointed. From the vocal sample of life on mars to the utter floatiness of the track it's just dreamy celestial goodness. The beats are laid back and reserved so fit the feel of the track perfectly. It's the longest track on the album weighing in at 10:34 but it evolves well & stays interesting throughout. A very good second part to a great track in galaxies

9 Butterfly FX

Getting into the tail end of the album now & this track sees us back in heavy territory. The beats are powerful & the sounds are tight yet vast at the same time and lots of energy. It gives the track a close dense feeling like a black hole. Some nice ethnic melodies give this a nice Eastern space vibe.

10 La Chanson De Carla

Love this track! A Beautiful melody & gorgeous vocal. It seems lovely & lonely. It reminds me of nostalgia for an old girlfriends I mistakenly left behind on my journey in life & is now lost to me forever. At the same time it keeps up the celestial atmosphere of the rest of the album & is a great and to a great album

Wow, what a great CD. A fantastic journey through space with a lot of variety between the tracks. Some of the track have beats that are a little heavier than would be ideal for me but that is a minor complaint and doesn't detract too much from the greatness of this album.

One of my favourite albums this year. If I could sum it up with a list of adjectives I would call it Vast, Majestic, Epic, Wide, Tight, Dense & overall celestial! If you liked Asura's first album I'm sure you're going to love this!

Favourites 1!,2,3,4,5,6,8!,10!

Artist: Various

Title: The Dark Side of the Groove

Label: Nutek Records

Date: April, 2007

1. Bio-Genesis - Hemisphere

2. Mad Netic - Transmission

3. Painkiller - Speed of Light

4. CPU & Sirius Isness - Brain Chemistry

5. Bliss - Redemption Bong

6. Mekkanikka - Zowanagor

7. Azax Syndrom - Existence

8. Menog - Never Again Vision

9. Painkiller Vs. Mekkanikka - Time Is Now

10. Atomic Pulse - Strike Twice

No.

No.

Hell no.

As far as I'm concerned Nutek is everything that is wrong with psytrance. They're the frat boy with the popped collar, hat to the side, Abercrombie & Fitch uniform that thinks you yearn to be like him. But I see through your douchebag facade "Brad". They compile music under the pretense that it is dark and involved when it is the same stop and start nonsense that has infected the scene. Puddle deep and sample heavy this is a manual on what not to do. I would insist an apology from the artists, but I understand they got bills to pay and a label like Nutek follows these guys like stressed out dog walker picking up whatever they sh*t out. Insipid titles with build-ups and full on bass lines topped off with tired leads. There was zero groove to be found here and the only part of me that received a workout was my fast forwarding finger. I'm the last guy to claim any moral superiority, but if this is your definition of quality psytrance then we cannot be friends. Just to be safe, stay out of crosswalks also.

Psyshop

Artist: Ailo

Title: Concepts

Label: Iono Music

Date: November, 2007

1. Chronos

2. You

3. Contribution For A Healthier Mind

4. Subculture

5. Value of Life

6. Mrs. Annoying

7. Vibraless

8. Kiwi

9. Dewdrop

10. Yoohoo (l.u.)

11. Equilibria Etheria

This is smoother than that guy. Beautiful soundscapes on a grand scale with ethereal pads, gentle accompanying sounds, and rich layers. What happened to these guys? This Greek duo released this one album and then disappeared. Did they retire to the wine country and live off the brilliance of their one album? It's mellow and relaxing with nature sounds, dubby bass at times, as well as entrancing feminine wailing. I'd call it singing, but I didn't hear any words. At times cinematic like the opening Chronos and other times quirky and glitchy sounding like Subculture. Value of Life sounds like Bladerunner after a bag of weed while Vibraless invites the listener to smile. Kiwi is downright funky breakbeat,

It's not perfect, but a wonderful album well suited for those days when you're looking to drift away. Shame they only made one.

Psyshop

Beatspace

2. Serenity now

3. Psychic Experience

4. Sao Paulo

5. Stimulator

6. Presence

7. M.A.R.S.

8. The Light

9. Exposed

Unless you have been living under the rocks in some Afganistanian cave you should already be familiar with Ace Ventura and with Iboga Records. If you're not, i can only suggest you pressing pause on your Astral Projection mini discs and smell the espresso. This is Ace's debut album and he releases it after a string of pretty successful single tracks on Iboga and Echoes records to name a few. The album consists of 8 tracks and one short intro in the beginning. So what's on the menu? Serenity Now, a small homage to Seinfeld, starts with indeed a quite laidback vibe, a nice taste of what comes next but not much more than that. The 3rd track, Psychic Experience, that was written with Mr. Capo aka Liquid Soul, a core member in the Iboga family with one hit album out. In this track, their second one together they really kick off the album. This is a firm dancefloor killer with catchy sample and strong rhythm. The 4th tune named Sao Paolo is the first barbaric track in this album. It presents Ace's trademark full-on in guise of progressive sound and this tune already causing havoc everywhere it's played. Including in Petach Tikva.

Stimulator, the 5th track was co written with Dani Keinan, aka, Intelabeam. Although this track sports really cool trippy sound it fails to really deliever. Some nice moments there but unfortunatelly nothing more than that. Presence, the 6th track is another barbaric monster. Heavy pounding beats that only towards the end leave some space for a tiny, yet efficient melody. Play it till the neighbours call the police. M.A.R.S is next and it's yet another stormer, fortified with a sample from the cult Total Recall movie and some vitamin 303 to send you back to the happy 90's. You'll dig to this one without asking. The 8th track was co written with Lish and it's probably the biggest hit here and if you've been to a party lately there is no way you could've missed it. This is a long, 10 minutes epic, with some serious hands in the air melodies and rhythmic changes. Killer one. The album is closed with Exposed. It's as expected more laidback tune, can't say it stands out in any way but after the track that came before not many tracks

would.

Bottom line: If you love your trance gentle but pounding. Melodic but not overly cheesy and if you enjoy the Iboga sound this album is a must. I think it tops easily everything they have released this year.

Favorites: 3! 4! 6!! 7!! 8!!!

Trold - Time of Illusion

My last review was of an album released by the guys from Glowing Flame records as well, and I was deeply impressed (VA - The Well of Enchanted Sounds). This time around it's an artist album that's being put under the microscope to see what's been cooking in the Glowing Flame labs. Trold (S.V. Skjoldal & B. Ophein) are no stranger to Glowing Flame, having released on the label before. What I've heard till now from these producers has been impressive to say the least, and get regular playback here. Enough with the chit-chat, on to the tracks....

1. The Big Secret

This is the most haunting astounding opening I've heard in a long time. This, dear people, is uber-hypnotic, spiralling, forest trance. A relentless bassline drives this haunting mist around trees, every one of which has a different story to tell. Acid weaves itself through the track, and starts flowing in all kinds of lovely directions, guiding you to a pure climax. The track gently puts you back down, ending this opening journey into what promises to be something quite different, but oh so special. I'm completely loving this.

2. Teasers.

And we're being dropped in an indian alley, blistering heat, musty smells and dust getting into every fiber of your clothing. The track takes a bit of a darker turn, with a wobbly bassline giving it a playful backbone. Effects start popping up here and there, creating a synergy, which drives the track to its first break, if one could call it that. The track makes it clear, teasers are over, the fun is getting started. Acid starts flowing under a bassline that somehow just turned a bit more menacing. After this first climax, the track folds into itself, taking a deep breath, and slowly getting ready to deliver the ultimate rush. Acid starts building again in the background, subtly accentuated by effects which weave a song of their own in the process. With a knowing grin the track slides into a break, teasing you to dare it to unleash its power. And it delivers. Mental 303's start polluting the ether with their poison, a relentless frenzied energy flowing out. And with a kiss and a wink farewell, the track opens the curtains for the third track. Goodness.

3. Tricky Reality

This one doesn't leave a whole lot of room for floaty intro's, but gets right down and dirty. A twisted atmosphere unfolds, somehow guiding you deeper and deeper in the track. The track slows down on itself, and decides on a new direction. Tricky reality indeed, for over time the track slowly manages to build right back to the twisted atmosphere found in the first part of the track. There's something boiling under the surface. A wild unyielding energy just wanting to get freed and released into the universe. And then a lovely run just pops up, 303's tingling the fringes of the cosmos, like tentacles reaching out into the unknown. The energy feeds into these tentacles over time, making them ever more intricate. And there's where the track starts to pick up the pace. The rhythms just take control, moving you onward, like a gust of wind in the back you just can't deny. It gets a bit darker, claustrofobic-like, after which the track manages its way back to the surface, like a nearly drowning man gasping for air. Impressive stuff.

4. Alchemy of the Sun

The word that comes to mind when hearing the opening, is 'metallic'. Until it takes off its mask when the first beat drops. Morning madness here. This will put a smile on your face. Totally psychedelic and still uplifting. And then a cello like string weaves it's carpet; a misty morning, dewdrops hanging from the grass and collecting in the cobwebs. This is mesmerising music, make no mistake. Then a subtle turn makes the track turn in a bit more focused direction. The dreamy elements evaporated, and the track has found a target: The dancefloor. I can see crowds go absolutely wild on this. Euphoria without ever getting anywhere near cheesy. It just keeps on building and building, and just when you thought the fun was over, you get slapped in the face with another dose of joy. This is pure morning brilliance!

5. Observer

The first half of the album has been nothing but astounding. the quality just drips from the speakers. Let's see if the quality is maintained on the second half. We're still in morning territory, and the intro puts me in mind of Space Tribe's earlier stuff. It takes a full 2 and a half minutes to get the track started, but the subtle droning bassline slides in ever so smoothly. And from there it's forward to the fireworks. Acid starts echoing through the backbone, claiming its place while hypnotising the listener. Some spoken samples give the track some room to find a new way to build up the hypnotism. And soon its off again. The build up here is just to die for. Every element gets its time to develop and move the track onwards. The percussive section, while already impressive by itself, truly is astoundingly used to give the track room to build itself to maturity. A break that shocks you out of your stupor comes from nowhere, seeming totally unrelated and out of place, which actually has its weird charm. The track takes on a bit of weirdness in the last half, with some experimentation with weird stopstarts, and somehow random spoken sampling. Pretty nifty track.

6.It's All About Cycles.

The first minutes are almost uncomfortable. A bassline that just won't get started humps along, leading us to the first true statement the track makes. Acid drops like a bomb, a 303 screeching its fury. Kicking stuff. The bassline finally comes to its senses and starts a furious run, supported by subtle acidic sounds. The track suddenly takes on a very goa-esque melody, after which the acid comes boiling up to drive this track to the next level, taking the old spirit of goa by the hand and helping it back on its pedestal. I guess the cycle has brought us back to the beautiful days of 96-99. The track weaves itself back to present day psychedelia. Acid is sprayed on the walls in a frenzy. Effects take over control to guide you back down, ending this magnificent track.

7. A Way Will Be Made

A nervous bassline doesn't waste time with playfullness and plunges you right in the middle of the track. If I'd had to put a label on it, I'd go for forest trance. Deeply psychedelic, hypnotic, but with just enough room to breathe. I'm a bit lost for words with this one. It simply doesn't really know how to grab me, but still I can't turn my attention away from it. Fascinating.

8. The Path

No chill-out to end this album. This is a four-to-the-floor stomper, building a murky atmosphere, but picking up some patches of light along the road, and kneeding it into an overwhelming monster of a tune. There's energy, with a bit of an aggressive undertone just feeding the track. The track is rather straightforward altogether. No discovering itself, no weaving ways to other levels. It lies down its cards flat on the table, and you know you just got beat by a Full House. Good Stuff.

So, how to sum this up? This is a magnificent artist album. There is not a single bad track to be found here. The first 4 tracks are simply stellar, along with the 6th. Five and eight are stompers as well, with the seventh track being a bit of an oddball, which in this case is not nescesarilly bad. Get this people. This is not for the weak of heart. This is not for raver-fluoro kids. This is for those who like their psy hypnotic, relentless, and unpretentious. This is pure craftsmanship. The highest accolade to Glowing Flame and Trold for bringing this piece of beauty into the world.

http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/gfr/gfr1cd008.html

http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=6683

Can't belive this album hadn't reviewed here... IMO One of the bests albums in 2007...

Artist: Various

Title: Analogue

Label: One Foot Groove

Date: 2007

1. Artifakt - Baal

2. Electric Mirror - Play It From Your Heart

3. Hydraglyph - Totalled

4. Atyss - Atomik Circus

5. Rabdom L - Fire Bird

6. Zion Linguist - Twisted Radio

7. Kut 'N' Paste - Red Dragon Correkt

8. Noise Anomalie - Virus

9. S.C.A.M. - Dirty Trancin'

10. Konchord - Bounty Hunter

"Them Illegals took ur jobs!"

A redneck can be blissfully ignorant about a lot of things but guns, poor hygiene, and f*cking his sister probably aren't one of them. But hey I ain't mad atcha Cleetus, nobody's perfect. I am ignorant about a lot of things too. Middle East politics. Surgery. What I can and can't wear after Labor Day...Just sayin' nobody knows it all.

Take this label for instance. They're from South Africa (which is already good enough for me) and I have only been acquainted with two of their releases. But holy sh*t they were monsters. If you like the night time psytrance you typically get from South Africa do yourself a favor and check out the only album from Kut 'N' Paste and Replenishing Roots from Tryambaka. Scorchers, but finding a copy of the former can be difficult as they went full-on Yabai on a brother.

So this compilation mastered by The Artifakt showcases lots of dark night time goodness. The mood is heavy and the bass lines rumble. It's a solid bit of dark-themed night music and has aged well. I would say there isn't much filler and would be a solid purchase. Who knows if the label is still active cause I've come to realize you cannot rely on Discogs. Kinda like wikipedia a bit. But this label was definitely heading in the right direction.

Beatspace

Artist.....: Para Halu

Album......: Space Rock

Genre......: Dark-Psychedelic

Label......: Zaikadelic Records

Catalogue..: ZAI1CD003

Url........: www.parahalu.com

Rls.Date...: Jan-12-2007

Tracks.....: 10

Playtime...: 78:26 min

Tracks:

01. Flipper 8'17''

02. Popeyote 7'35''

03. Crunchy Christ 8'30''

04. Space Rock 7'57''

05. Matter Of Course 7'57''

06. Karcos Harcos 7'31''

07. Manntraxx 7'00''

08. Cacao Remixed 8'03''

09. Glowing Steel 8'13''

10. Ironiq Iron 7'19''

The new album Space Rock from Para Halu (Hungarians Adam Hohmann and Andras Fekete) was made as a tribute to the golden ages of psychedelia, inspired by such pioneers of the genre as Pink Floyd, Ozric Tentacles or Hawkwind and the style psychedelic space rock itself (if u never listend to Pink Floyd you don't know what psychedelia is all about). As always Para Halu has that deep, wild, hypnotic, brain twisting, mind wraping ...should i go on energetic psychedelic sounds that they developed in years. This is a collection of ten previously unreleased brand spanking new tracks.

#1 Flipper

And our hypnotic travel starts It's like weaking up in an swapm all confused until the baseline hits you and the fear crawl's in your bones so,so,so dark, you start see the glowing frogs and all the swamp creatures all around you... so tripy that you can't stop spining aroung like snake wrapping around a tree. It will bring the stars near you and the deep darkness in you, you'll hear every sound so clear and travel to an another dimension. Great deep-hipnotic psychedelic track and again so deepppppp.

#2 Popeyote

where we stoped we continue with a energetic track. It starts with a very very aggressive baseline with a wild rythm and as the BMP rises you'll want to hit the dance floor and hit it hard. The hypnotic sounds are here too to folow you all the way and that baseline doesn't let you stop dancing simply designed for the dance floor it's so energetic-atmospheric soo "let's hit the dance flour" like. 8:

#3 Crunchy Christ

Wow what a spite baseline with some brain frying FX ans tripy psychedelic sounds.This is my favorite! Twisting hypnotic sounds not so much for dancing. The first part is like preparing you for an mind explosion until you hear "What's happening with me" you will enter a mind vortex it will twist and spin you, make you feel like energy not matter and slowly put you down on the ground at the end. Exellent!

#4 Space Rock

Ok thins one is not by my taste it has a monotony baseline some undefined sounds FX and it doesn't sound at all like Para Halu (not to me) with their deep, hypnotic, energetic psy trance. The hypnotic elements are there but they are so inscrutable like they are ment to scare you not to take you in deep trance,and as mentioned very monotony baseline.Disappointment.

#5 Matter Of Course

Opening with strong hypnotic sounds like imagine youre self in a dark room light upon you and you hear voices and wispers all around you, you can't understand what are they saying....WTF you're on U.F.O. you've been hypnotized and mesmerized, can't move, can't talk you're mind is in high state of consciousness. Nice trippy track not so for the dance floor as for the chill moods.

#6 Karkos Harkos

We are back on track better more spite baseline with focused hipnotic elements that will make you're body move, twist and break. High twisting and trippy FX ans synthetic sounds, like you're brain is a silicon creation and you know how a cyborg feels and thinks all those 0 and 1 are finaly meaning something to you you're brain can recognize them and you're a part of a bigger mechanism, you belong somewhere in the cyber world, in the colective consciousness.

#7 Manntraxx

If the previous track took you into the deep secrets of the cyber world this one will take you even deeper into that world. More deeper feeling, the baseline is not so strong but the deepness...woow like you're falling down 1000km/h (you'we all watched matrix it's just like that falling down and all those 1 and 0 are all around you) simply said very dark and very deep.

#8 Cacao Remixed

Fast and deep base line every track is a story for it self filled with that synthetic sound that will fry youre brain. In about 2'30'' after you play this track, it will reset youre brain waves for something new ..... i leave this experience for you I can't bring closer to you, i just can't describe it with words or write it down you have to hear it. The and is another kick ass perfect finish you'll scream "HELP ME!!!" and knock on the door wanting to go out or is that you're brain who wants to go out of you're body hehehehe.

#9 Glowing Steel

"The human fascination with glowing objects" this sentence should explain it all. It brings you that felling of fascintaion, you know the one when you're focused on something and there is nothing around you but that object "my precious" . Great FX, nice baseline which tend to get more and more impresive as the track concludes for the ending. Another clasical edition from Para Halu.

#10 Ironiq Iron

Another deep edition and as the title of the track says, ironiq. The track is like painted with that feeling of irony (doctor's advice: not to be played on a sunny day ), anyways the track is great and as the previous track it's another clasical Para Halu but both tracks painted with a special feeling, listening to them I think you'll understand me, or maybe you'll get some other feeling

Ok, what to say, bravo Para Halu are deep, hypnotic, portentously wreathing and more complex brain massage sound. i'll give it 8.5/10 i grade it mostly by looking from the Para Halu style and a lil bit looking from the Psy side. The fans of Para Halu, fans of deep and hypnotis psytrance will love this edition and probably give it 9 or 10. To keep it simple Exelent done work!

Favorites 1,2!,3!!,5,6!8!

Don't froget to support artists by buying their CD'a and 12" visiting 'em on parties and festivals

Artist: Prosper

Title: The Speed of Sound

Label: Joof Recordings

Date: October, 2007

1. Atlantis

2. Falls & Rises

3. Future Perfect

4. Nights of Belgra

5. None of Those

6. On The Run

7. On Wheels

8. Purple Fish

9. Untitled Dreams

10. Zero Tolerance

Merry Christmas b*tches.

Man I wanted to dump all over this thing. So badly. Jokes were coming to me while I wasn't even thinking about music. But I couldn't.

Well...maybe a little.

First off this is the third album from Serbian Nikola Vujnovic and it is a digital release. How to describe...a mix of progressive and psy with a little euphoria sprinkled over the top like the sweet confection it is. Think of full-on crack. There is nothing psychedelic about this. You'll find more psychedelia in a Teletubbies episode. It's commercial sounding and cheesy at times. When f*cknut said he was going for the music I almost lost it. Of course you are dinkus, we all are. We just don't feel the need to say it. You're play by play was wholly unnecessary.

That said you will find some ass wiggling tracks here. It's fairly strong on groove. Also some of the tracks began as simple full-on yet continued to develop. This is music that you listen to at the club when you're smashed out of your gourd and think it's the most awesome music that you have ever heard. Loud and shiny you never want the night to end.

But then comes the hangover and you can't believe you did that last night.

Beatport

Most albums that pass through the psyreviews sphincter of taste get played five times if they’re lucky. Direct Influence I’ve been listening to solidly for three days. It sounded so good through the (admittedly, quite modest) stereo at Psyreviews Acres, sounded good on the headphones, and even sounded good in the car. There’s something very special about this indeed, and I’m thoroughly enjoying the fact that I can’t quite put my finger on what that very special thing is.

Shadow FX comes from the Sensient heritage, that postmodern meta-progressive trance. His sound is deeply elastic, baggy-grooved stuff that transports you to a dusty summer dancefloor with a beer in one hand and another beer in the other.

The sheer spaciousness is addictive. Sounds warp around you, leaving you in this dubby vacuum where the slightest change (of which there are many) has a huge effect. It’s like it’s music that you don’t listen to so much as have a relationship with.

The drop at 6:35 on Alkhemist is so effortless, and so micro-subtle, it’s hardly there – yet it is staggeringly effective. The melodies on Full Floyd Rig are weaved together in such a way that you don’t hear them, you feel them.

Comparisons with Sensient are inevitable: Shadow FX is less psychedelic, in the true sense of the word, but the main difference is in the presence. Where Sensient creates this incredible bed of sound that you get drawn into and eventually fall over on, Shadow FX has what appears to be a more tender emotional side – which is not to say that the man is a bit of a softy. The way that he flits between intimate and distant is probably the best way to put it – the music touches you, then shifts back to his addictive, spongy platform. It really is as though you’ve witnessed something a little bit magical.

The best example of this, and my personal standout track on the album, is Woodlander. Organic, flowing, warming stuff with a melodic section that’ll make a grown man cry.

This is something very, very special. I can’t see myself getting bored of it for a while yet, and it’s the best reason in a while to invest in some big fuckoff speakers.

Artist: Various

Title: Psionic Tales Chapter 2

Label: Digital Psionics

Date: August, 2007

1. Artifakt - Doom Doom Doom v1.0

2. Xatrik - Sketchy Bizznizz V1.3

3. Abomination - Lost V1.0

4. Bon - Regulated Power V1.1

5. Kluster - Dark Walker

6. Scatterbrain - Psychological Experiments

7. Safi Connection - Give Me Gitara V2.0

8. Fractal Glider - Only A Lifetime V2.3

9. Menog - End Of Story (Dark Nebula Remix)

10. Space Tribe & Psywalker - Spiritual Nobody

"Yeah, I wanna wreck it, but I think it wrecked itself."

Instead of searching for interesting album covers for this series just use this one. For every album. It really sums up the entire series. I like the series, all the albums have some worthwhile tracks. But read on fellow lover of knowledge!

Digital Psionics is a label that has been around a long while and I believe the Psionic series is the reason why. And also Dark Nebula making the same album like nine f*cking times. But back to the series. I'm attempting to make my way through all of them, but let me tell you their formula. Create a compilation and pack it with a 50/50 ratio of good tracks and utter disappointments. So far this theorem holds true. Take this compilation...The first three tracks are proper night time trance with power and atmosphere. Things get a little darker with the next 3 and if you're into darkpsy and mechanical scraping washes then those might appeal to you.

The WTF moment comes with the "remix" of the Give Me Gitara by Safi Connection. Honestly...is there a more annoying track on the planet? Absolutely abysmal and bears direct responsibility for the creation of ISIS, child sex trafficking, as well as kidney stones. He should have to walk around with this track draped over his neck like a scarlet letter.

Then they close things out with tracks like the last two which make you think, "You know that wasn't bad...I look forward to the next installment."

That's how this album is. It's how they all are. You could halve the amount of albums that have been submitted to the Psionic series if you just took the tracks that were worth a f*ck. Just one man's humble opinion. Of course this coming from a guy that has purchased almost all of them. Ah...the things I do for you guys.

Psyshop

Beatspace

Evan Bartholomew

Caverns of Time

Somnia

2007

Tracklist

1 We Set Out Into The Caverns Of Time (17:42)

2 Leaving Behind Ourselves (9:52)

3 Leaving Behind Our Memories (11:49)

4 Elusive And Effervescent Is Our Destination (13:00)

5 Descending Deeper In Search Of The Timeless (8:56)

6 Reborn, We Fluctuate And Fade (10:40)

Evan Bartholomew, of Bluetech fame is out with a beatless ambient album. Now beatless ambient can often be boring, long winded shite without anything going on & with some pretty lengthy tracks has Evan managed to avoid the pitfalls of yawnbient? Has he managed to create the textures & soundscapes I'm sure he's capable of?

1. We Set Out Into The Caverns Of Time

We start this ambient journey with a long droning synth that initially fluctuates a lot but straightens out with just a few bobbles. These bobbles become more pronounced as the intro goes on. Other synths join in after a while managing to sound like voices crying out. More voices join in what sounds like an angelic choir of Seraphim singing the music of spheres. It's a really beautiful sound if unreal & distant. The angelical feeling passes into a much darker sound though & the cries that sounded angelic before sound more like cries of despair. A much more real sound, the same as it was yet different that it can ever be. As different as it was at first, it changes again. It sounds very much the same yet somehow it has sunk further into the earth, giving it a much more surreal quality. The slightly higher pitch of the cries seem to come through walls & the ever present drone in the background acts as a sounding board for them to echo off of.

A great 18 minute odyssey of beatless wonder through the heavens down passed our imperfect world & into the depths of the underworld. Serene choirs crying out in joy, despair & rapture!

2. Leaving Behind Ourselves

Like wind rushing through a chasm as the first light of dawn tries to make it's way through it also. The light sounds seem to rise up like leaves on the breeze while the heavy sounds seem to sink like shadows on a wall. The ever onward march of the dawn light prevails against the shadows as it always does but it only compliments the cold rush of the wind, never managing to bring it's warmth. This is a bright track, yes, but very cold at the same time.

3. Leaving Behind Our Memories

The start again sounds like vocals coming from hidden places. Vocals that are not vocals yet have a very human yet distorted quality. Both singular & multiple at the same time, the voices sound like a mass of people all shouting through the one voice. Difficult to describe such an incredible sound, one you just have to hear to understand but as best I can that is it. Imagine a hundred people crying through as single hole in the wall & you might come close. The tome of the voice rises & falls like a wave on the sea and I, as the listener must ride the wave to fully understand it. I must let go & be carried away by the current. Floating on a sea of souls, listening to the mourning cries. What memories we leave behind.

4. Elusive And Effervescent Is Our Destination

Water pours down outside, a distant beat pulsates very slowly. From the beatless half hour that has passed before, the very slow rhythm seems to move a lot more than it would if you listened to it separately. Still the rain pours down. One of my favourite sounds in the world is the steady stream of rain. To hear it in music like this is just lush as I can enjoy the sound at any time, not having to wait for mother nature to bless me with a downpour. The distant pulse has changed into more of a bubbly chime but keeping the same rhythm as before. Always with the rain outside. I'm happy, very happy with this track, even when it tries to get a bit glitchy (probably as glitchy as you can at this level of relaxed soundscapes). I'm not usually a fan of glitch but at this relaxed pace it sounds really cool, innovative & a nice change of pace.

5. Descending Deeper In Search Of The Timeless

A long hard synth cascades down again & again as a melody tries to play in the background. Suddenly the melody is the strongest thing to come yet from the caverns of time but as strong as they come they fail to stay as melodies & become one with the cascade. The melodies try to reform in a more structured, centered & calm way but it seems they always want to blast too hard & end up cascading down with the rest of the sounds. After a while it becomes clear that the cascade has become the melody & the other sounds are becoming part of it, the longer it goes on the more sounds enter & the more leave giving us a progression that oozes class & keeps me coming back for more time & time again.

6. Reborn, We Fluctuate And Fade

WOW! I mean, WOW! The vocals (real vocals, not the synths that sounded to me like vocals) in this track are by Sasha Rose & put me in mind of some Celtic movie I've seen at one time or another as the scene rolls over beautiful fields & deserted hills. The real voice seems to be mixed in with the unreal synth voices & at times it's hard to tell which is which. Like the movies I'm put in mind of, this music is very reflective, nostalgic & melancholic in an immortal kind of way. At first it seems almost like a clichéd ambient ending but it turns into so much more. It turns into the best track on the album, it turns into an ending to end time. The sort of track that if played on my death bed would surely take me over to that eternal summer of forgotten memories.

So Evan easily managed to avoid the yawnbient trap. Here he has made a beatless album that not only isn't boring but actually makes me want to listen to it again & again & try to truly understand what he's getting at. I've tried to put down in words where I am with this album after about 15 listens, I feel like I've got a good grasp of where this music is trying to take me. I'm under no delusions that the journey it has taken me on is the same as the journey it will take others on & I'm sure that the journey will change, evolving as I listen to it more.

A great piece of ambient. Just about as beatless as it gets with lots of synths, drones & ambients soundscapes. Limited to 777 copies, it's time to get yours.