Cover: Front + Back

Label: Demon Tea Recordings

Catalog#: DMTCD16

Format: CD, Album

Released: January 2008

Distribution: Wirikuta

Artwork: Sara Forsberg, Mathias Eriksson

Mastereing: Hakan Kristofferson

Tracklisting:

1. 08:12 Grow To Become A Child (135 bpm)

2. 08:52 Loads Of Laughter (145 bpm)

3. 08:53 Ball Of Gum (140 bpm)

4. 08:47 Lowrider Mono To Phono (140 bpm)

5. 08:38 Dumble My Humble (138 bpm)

6. 08:30 Mandelbitter (143 bpm)

7. 07:33 Recorde De La Tisco (145 bpm)

8. 07:37 Not As Animal As An Animal (140 bpm)

9. 08:46 Everyone Is Looking

Review:

M.E.E.O.? Never heard this guy before and never would. Fortunately, artwork and the magical “Demon Tea” next to this release caught my attention, and after listening to the samples, which I seldom do these days, I decided to give it a try. M.E.E.O. stands for Mathias Eriksson Electronic Orchestra, after searching the web, it looks like he had never released anything before. Demon Tea’s latest album came out in 2007, it was a triple CD by Tea Chairs (Tim Thick), before that they looked dead for a few years (Benza, 2003), only their sub-labels, Killah Tea and SunDance, were releasing, but then again, after Talpa in 2004 and Nystagmus in 2005, some may also add Planum to the list, their releases were generic in my opinion. So what has Demon Tea baked for us this time?

Let me take you through the tracks... © DP

#1. Grow To Become A Child

We start off with a pretty slow tune. Bass+kick reminds something Simon Posford did about 10 years ago. Also if you look at everything else, seems like Mathias likes Hallucinogen and some other Simon’s project. I’m not saying he is copying, no. This track evolves slowly, he’s in no rush. A soft break in the first part and it starts all over again. Filtered female vocals are present, but they don’t cut your ears with the cheesiness, and a melody! Yepp – it’s a melodic album This melody is built on the vocals and is a continuation to them. I liked the start to this album, interesting how the story goes after this.

#2. Loads Of Laughter

Not only is this track 145bpm compared to 135 of the first track, that wasn’t any kind of an intro, it starts with banging beats after the first seconds. That’s probably the most annoying thing in this album. There are places this track could fit better. I like it smoooooth and accurate, this one just hits you out of balance. After a couple of minutes you forget you were hit off to the ground and start trying to follow the storyline. The track itself is intense and hard, it builds up right to the end with a major break. Kaboom! And there it goes. It feels like someone wants to tell you something very important and very fast with drops of spit almost falling out. It would fit someone sets, but it’s efficiency on this album in this position is in question.

#3. Ball Of Gum

Interesting, you can find this track under “Gumball 2000” name on his myspace. We start with a funky disco-vibe, normal 140, he’s in no hurry again. Distorted sounds in and out. I enjoyed this album because it’s totally unpredictable. You’re always like “What was that?” and “Where did it come from?” I’m not sure what are these sounds, but I get a certain association with crows, filtered this time. Disco feel turns melancholic in the middle and omg these crows are back again. And they are not alone this time – they brought an acid-line with them. It suit’s perfectly, right time, right moment. Thank you.

#4. Lowrider Mono To Phono

Every artist has special relationship with his track names, Mathias is no exception. He’s playing with them just like he’s like he’s playing with sounds and samples. You can get a slight idea of what going on just by looking at the track name. He always reaches the point when titles make no sense. Maybe they do and I don’t get it, but you have to agree there’s tons of releases where track name makes more sense than the music itself This one is a piece of uplifting psytrance with a message from aliens @ 1:22. All in all – a pretty balanced melodic morning tune that blooms in the second part.

#5. Dumble My Humble

That’s probably not a good thing to say again and it won’t give more credit to Mathias, but I get the feeling of God’s presence. Yes, I’m talking about Simon Posford. I have to say I’m always sarcastic about all this “Simon the God”. Looks like psychedelic trance hit the point where its damn hard to sound original and unique, lack of ideas (in general) maybe. On the other hand, who wouldn’t want to hear that his work reminds Hallucinogen? And I’m talking about his latest tracks, of course. Humble Dumbled. It changes sound and direction with every break, a lovely diverse tune. You should hear it!

#6. Mandelbitter

MEEO absorbed and chewed lots of music – many influences in his work. Demon Tea wouldn’t release generic psytrance, considering their discography, right? They are Australian, so aussie craziness guaranteed. You can hear, as I said, something Twisted here and there, Mathias is Swedish, so he’s got Finnish friends for sure – souminess is also present. The melody reminds me of Aavepyora or James Reipas, Finnish flavor anyway

#7. Recorde De La Tisco

Broken beats lead us to 4/4, this is fast, flat and I like. You even start knocking your head in way you do to dancefloor-oriented psytrance. Well, maybe you didn’t, but I just did that There’s a break and it goes a bit more colorful from there. Then it turns a bit boring, frankly speaking, but a break saves it again. He always puts the desert in the end. You knock your head and all of a sudden elfs, trolls or whatever with colorful clothes, glow-sticks and music instruments pop up and you’re in the centre of a festival. Surprise-surprise! I would have thought it’s my birthday, is it was summer

#8. Not As Animal As An Animal

This is the perfect continuation to the previous track, it’s got the same mood, only calmer. Just like you woke up after you birthday party. I’d love to hear this that day, so if you know me and you’ll get invited –put MEEO in the cd player and press “8”. And don’t forget about the desert. Acid for desert by chef Mathias. Lovely.

#9. Everyone Is Looking

We finish up with a downtempo tune. Hard to describe, but imagine Outolintu was his younger and much crazier brother. Not that twisted, but chilling. It brings you exactly to where you started when you pressed “Play”.

Bottom line:

Style-wise it’s difficult to put it under any category and for sure it doesn’t suit today’s prog/fullon/dark concept. It’s just different. M.E.E.O. is the project to watch for all psytrance lovers out there, personally I will and I’m happy to have discovered this album so early, though it's not the best thing Sweden gave us after vikings, but it's definitely worth a listen to everyone trapped in the psytrance stream. This is the kind of music that keeps me listening to psytrance and reminds me what it’s all about.

Favourites: 3, 4, 5!, 7, 8, 9

Related links:

Demon Tea Recordings: http://www.demontea.com/

M.E.E.O.: http://www.meeo.se/, http://www.myspace.com/electronicorchestra

Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/release/1214021

Shops:

PsyShop: http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/dem/dem1cd016.html

SaikoSounds: http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=7017

Juno: http://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/296649-01.htm

Evan Marc + Steve Hillage

Dreamtime Submersible

Somnia

2008

Ambient Dub

Tracklist

1 Intention Craft (10:56)

2 Hypnagogue (8:49)

3 Alpha Phase (9:34)

4 Theta Phase (8:48)

5 Delta Phase (8:04)

6 Hypnopomp (10:04)

7 Resurface (10:43)

This is one of those albums that can easily slip by unnoticed. For me at least it was not instantly accessible. My first few listens were too casual & it came across as boring & monotonous to me. I am glad I blindly bought it as probably the samples would have put me off. After more listens though & giving each listen more time & focus, getting rid of any distractions helped, the beauty of this album really unfolded & I was enraptured.

1. Intention Craft

Straight in with a spacey atmosphere powerful yet mellow bass melody and light funky beats. For such a light bouncy track it manages to keep its aura of deep spacey ambient very well. Such contrasting moods play well on the senses and while the elements that make the head bob remain pretty constant, the brain stuff evolves nicely with melodies that are light and sharp over the deep drones and the bassline complementing them brilliantly. Lots of nice little touches in the background like the soft stabs of synth near the end that only became noticeable to me when I really focused on the music.

2. Hypnagogue

A more cluttered track is Hypnagogue. The bass once again sounds really funky like the chill out room at an underground 70's club but the atmosphere seems tighter, less spacey and more chaotic. Ordered chaos mind you because it never descends into unbearable noise nor does it even get annoying. It just seems busy in a relaxed way. Like when you look at someone who should be really hectic but they seem to glide around serenely and wonder how they cope so easily with so much to do. Cool stuff all round, I especially like the relaxed alarm sound that sounds through the latter part of the track.

3. Alpha Phase

So smoothly into this track that it could almost be a continuation of the previous offering. The slightly danceable rhythms are a little quicker, the atmosphere is less cluttered and more scratchy like old worn vinyl. Quarter of the way in the beats become sharper and more involved giving us a more acidic feel, the emergence of a bubbly sound actually puts me in mind of a science lab experiment with beakers full of boiling acid. A strange but powerful image that melts back into my darkened lounge with people slumped on sofas involuntarily tapping their feet and nodding their heads.

4. Theta Phase

The beat doesn't let up on the transition to Theta Phase but the sharper sub beats have receded only to be replaced my lighter, quicker and stabbier ones. More of a spacey atmosphere now with some long drawn out sci-fi sounds that start in the foreground but then oscillate further and further into the background. I find myself losing my conscious thought listening to these, following them as they disappear and just as I lose them they appear back in the front in a slightly different form. This is one of the trippiest tracks I've heard in a while. The way the sounds move around, grab my mind and slowly pull it away from me is great. It makes me feel like I've smoked too much weed and I'm kind of losing the plot. Very impressive for just a piece of music to achieve. Definitely one of the best tracks this year.

5. Delta Phase

For me it seems like the trippy subtlety of the Theta Phase has become more obvious and up front in Delta Phase. It is not without its own subtlety though and while the foreground has a lot of sharp acidic synth drones scything down and down, the background has subtle versions of what has been up front in previous tracks. Little plodding bass and tiny rings of treble. Semi melodious drones and ore electronic. I think this fluid changeover is so well done that it speaks volumes of just how well made this album is.

6. Hypnopomp

The bass deepens and the synths are soft and warm. I'm reminded of Disco Suns by Bus and they add an almost summery quality to the music. Not scorching temperatures on the beach summer but more 6am in the morning, already light and already pretty warm. The rest of the track tries its best to keep this feeling with warm melodies and warm little sounds coming in and out. It is at once different from the rest of the album and most definitely an integrated part of the whole story.

7. Resurface

Resurface starts with a sound that climbs and falls like its running up and down stairs. The ambience underneath it gives me an impression once again of being in space and I'm left with this odd image of stairs running up and down the cosmos. Much more ambient with no beat but running rhythms and playful melodies. Its a nice way to round off such an intricate album with a really intricate ambient track that accumulates energy throughout without letting it build up to any point where you think it might blow. A perfect example of this whole album, smooth and unclogged.

This is a really impressive release. The strength and depth of every track is amazing as is the variety of the music that all fits into to the puzzle perfectly. The intricate soundscapes that lie underneath funky rhythms is fantastically done. On the surface this may even appear dull, monotonous and boring but once delved into it is in fact one of the most varied and interesting albums I have. Fantastic work by these two guys I urge anyone who has ever thought about maybe getting this to do so and to anyone that got it and dismissed it as dull to give it more time and more focus.

Colourform

Visions of Surya

Virtual Musical Reality

2008

Tracklist

1. Kaleidoscope (16:24)

2. Nubien Sunset (6:12)

3. Flying Carpet (6:47)

4. Monkey Puzzle (9:59)

5. Diving Into Sun (8:46)

6. Dissolution (8:36)

7. As Stars We Are (9:15)

The third release on Matt Hillier’s record label Virtual Musical Reality is by Matt Hillier himself and the Jake Stephenson who passed away in 2005. As I have loved just about everything that Matt Hillier has put out & also Jake Stephenson’s output as Shamanic Tribes on Acid great trippy acidic music I had sky high hopes for this. I was expecting a soft ambient journey through magical lands & meditative states. I was not only not disappointed but this album blew my expectations out the window, surpassing them all.

1. Kaleidoscope

The sounds of a busy street somewhere between New Delhi & the outer Pleiades set up a soft dreamy feel edged with adventure & discovery. The sounds of the street vanish & we’re left with wet spacey sounds like enjoying the morning mist below a purple sky in a field of blue & red. There is a strange energy to the music, almost percussive sounds oscillate back & forth in the air as long warm drones breeze through my relaxed mind. At times the air becomes thick with the sounds like the colourful air is pouring with sonic rain. Sometimes it’s a fine mist sometimes it’s a downpour but it’s always falling down around us. This is such a peaceful, relaxed piece of music that takes my mind away to an alien world where I can just lie & relax, wondering at the strange beauty around me. A kaleidoscopic world full of bright shining colours for a kaleidoscopic mind.

2. Nubien Sunset

Nubient Sunset starts off again with sounds of life, what could be a tractor in another dimension, the bleat of a goat in a different life but as with the opener these sounds fade away into the distance as we climb higher into the strangely glistening sky. This is even more ambient than Kaleidoscope with very little but drones, blips of light electronica & melody so drawn out it’s hard to remember it even as you’re listening. A voice creeps into the soundscape as we go higher among the clouds & the wind, the voice is beautiful, ethereal & fills the heart & the mind with visions of joy.

3. Flying Carpet

Flying Carpet starts with an electronic voice like that of distorted computer from the 1970’s future. The message is unclear to me. Whether or not I’m supposed to understand I’m not sure but my failure to comprehend has opened my head enabling the music, suddenly with a beat & audible melody to seep in & be soaked up by the grey matter. I don’t quite get the feeling of flying so much from this track as I did from the last one but I do get a sense of travelling & coming across something spectacular. Like walking through the jungle, climbing & hill & then seeing a long lost city of gold hidden away from society.

4. Monkey Puzzle

Monkey Puzzle takes us back to the kaleidoscopic world but this time it’s darker, not dark in anyway but the colours all seem to be a deeper shade than they were before. They seem to have taken on an early evening hue punctuated by the glitchy sounds in the air like small harmless bugs that come out in the evening to feast on our blood but these ones are just floating around never bothering but with the faint threat that they might. I can hear the sound of spirits rushing about just beyond my visual perception. Out of the corner of my eye they appear but when I turned to look they are gone, yet they are still there. A very strange, ambient track full of unnatural nature & otherworldly entities. The end sounds like an alien Zen Garden pool with the sounds of infants at play and the return of the distant street noise.

5. Diving Into Sun

The quite & peaceful yet busy & bustling street is there again & from this comes our first real beat. This feels dreamy & adventurous like exploring strange new worlds from the comfort of your bed as you dream the impossible & live the indescribable. The beats lift us up high into the sky again & the almost voices that are carried on the wind seem to whisper sweet nothingness. As the beats stop we plummet to the ground, down on to a flowing river but before impact the beats start again & lift us up, spiralling in a twist of sound & colour, of melody & rhythm, of excitement & contentment. This is a stunningly beautiful track, it’s bright & lovely and warms the heart & eases the tired mind.

6. Dissolution

Dissolution is an aptly named track as I feel like my Musical reality is dissolving around me. The walls of my consciousness are ripped down & another dimension starts to slip slowly in. Sliding over the broken ruins of my barriers & picking up pace until the new reality is pulsating in my brain. The transition is nerve-wracking yet the anticipation of what it’s bringing is enough to keep my sanity. What we are left with after the pulsating has died down is a colder, darker soundscape with the twinkling of musical stars overhead. A cold wind blows around me but does not chill me, instead I feel enchanted & if not warm then at least content with the coldness. The night becomes big & deep with big almost orchestral sounds boom out like a warning before sounds like an approaching spacecraft dispel l the feeling & bring us full circle into a bright spiral of colour.

7. As Stars We Are

The only track that is disconnected from the others is spacier than the rest with melody played on some strange strings. The spacey feeling is no more like floating through outer space rather than any alien world. Like we have left our temporary home on some distant planet in a galaxy far away from here, the music feels like we are floating serenely in no hurry but with a specific destination. Like returning home from a wonderful journey but with the expectation that your house will be cold & empty so giving you no reason to rush & every reason to hold back & extend the trip if only for a very brief time.

Out of all the albums released in this series, Ishvara – Magik Square of the Sun & Elve – Infinite Garden, this is definitely my favourite. Those were great albums for me but this one is even better. So peaceful, relaxed & extremely psychedelic this takes me on a journey so effortlessly & each time the journey is a colourful brilliance that stuns my senses & soothes my mind. A perfect album for relaxing, meditating or just to fly away to. Any fan of Matt Hillier will be very pleased with this work with Jake Stephenson and any fan of Jake Stephenson will be happy with this as the trippiness is on a par with his other works. A great tribute, may he rest in peace.

Gus Till - Stillness

Aquana

2008

Ambient

Tracklist

1 Overland (11:19)

2 Sayan (7:39)

3 Bower (8:40)

4 Bermuda (4:44)

5 Batublan (4:38)

6 Morning (8:57)

7 Uluwatu (9:22)

8 [Return To] Nothing Atoll (10:03)

9 Valley/Amber (5:20)

Gus Till, one of my favourite all time favourite producers has brought out a new album, this time it is all ambient. Not down tempo, not chill but completely ambient. As you can imagine from the beautiful cover it is warm natural ambient. As with most ambient albums it is not just a collection of tracks but more of one coherent journey starting with Overland which takes us through sleepy meadows, hand in hand with your love through a flower garden and walking through the park on a beautiful summer's day. It's very melodic throughout with melodies that just chime through the air like blue bells blowing in the wind. There is slight rhythms but they are created using melodic sounds not beats or bass.

The softer Sayan takes me from walking pace to lying down. I imagine being on my back in a field of flowers watching the clouds in the sky as they slowly move by. Bower takes us into a slighlty darker territory, like while lying down in the field, you doze off to awaken and find that the scattered clouds and blue sky have turned into dark grey storm clouds. No rain but the menacing threat of rain that accompanies them.

Bermuda is back to a more melodic feel, but the meldoy is slower and sparser, what I love in this track is the cold feel to the it, not like the menacing clouds of Bower but more like a chill wind accompanied by a melancholic feeling brough on by the wonderful meldious sounds and the thrilling drones. Very nice track, if a little short. Batubulan is another short track with slightly more rhythm to it. The are beats of a sort very soft & very short, kind of tribal but blink and you'll miss it sorts. With a more spacey feeling than the rest I can imagine a UFO terrorising the hapless inhabitants of some tiny hamlet somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

Morning is probably my second favourite on the album, the melodies are strong and punchy in that they are almost rhythmical, there need be nothing else as they act as every element. The inclusion of the wind whistling through is a nice addition as it is quite long and it adds a colder dimension to the track.

Uluwatu is definitely my favourite here. It is so deep, so spacey yet amazingly well earthed. The synth drones carry a lot of weight here and these just run up & down my spine in a tingling fashion. The melody is simple and beautiful and the little plops of water in the background make one ultra trippy track. Also the progression through the track keeps it not just interesting but enthralling despite being close to 10 minutes of pure ambience.

[Return To] Nothing Atoll is another punchy ambient track. The sort of track that after listening to a lot of uber chilled tracks seems heavy but when listening to straight away seems so chilled. Just what I like near the end of an ambient album, something that comes and just feels a little more intense without letting go of the ultra chilled out feeling.

Finally we end with either Valley or Amber I'm not sure which as the back of the CD lists 10 tracks whereas there are only 9 tracks on the album. It could be that one of the other tracks is the wrong name but I am going of the discogs entry (click the pic) which lists both amber & valley as 5:20 which is the length of the final track. Whatever it is called it's a very soft ending to a very soft album, nicely summing up the whole journey and punctuating it's conclusion. A little glitchy but still bright and warm and natural. Natural glitch

A lovely journey crafted by Gus Till here, this is called Gus Till - Aquana Vol.1 - Stillness. With a title like that and the high quality of this great ambient release I am very much looking forward to volumes 2,3,4.....N very much. Thanks Gus for another top notch release

Tracklisting:

1 Dune Oscillator (7:50)

2 Blue Lotus (5:07)

3 Passage (7:05)

4 Departure (5:38)

5 Protostar (6:04)

6 Incense (3:45)

7 Dark Energy (8:11)

8 Expansions (4:37)

9 Lava Tubes (4:50)

10 Holographic Rain (6:08)

11 Sanctuarium (3:54)

I was reading this topic the other day, about why there aren't more American psy-producers. We do have a few downtempo producers as Androcell, Bluetech and Mystical Sun. Which the latter seems to have surpassed most people. Mystical Sun aka Richard Plom. Richard released his first album Primordial Atmosphere's in 1994!! This was just at the dawn of psychedelic trance/downtempo as we know it today. A wonderful album in it's own respect, though the last 30 min track Journey To Samadhi is only for the real yoga freaks I would say. The album was reissued in 2005, and after having discovered Mystical Sun way after 94 I was glad to be able to pick up a copy of this tasteful rarity.

My first contact with Richard Plom was when I was just going through all the downtempo music I could find, being new to the genre and wanting to listen to everything. I stumbled upon Deeper Worlds where the track Pure just blew my mind. The album was great, though it lacked a sense of cohesiveness, and this shouldn't come as a surprise since most of the tracks on it were put together from random compilation stuff.

Some artists just have that very unique touch, you can hear it at once. It's not explainable but it's very hearable. This is just what Mystical Sun got. I immediately fell in love with the sound, the originality. When listening to his first album I always imagined how great it would be, with the sound of Deeper Worlds combined with the cohesiveness of Primordial Atmpshperes. Well, look no further because Richard was kind enough to give us Energy Mind Consciousness, his third full length album. You can't give him credit for releasing tremendous amounts of music, but the quality is top notch.

My favorite track on the whole album is without a doubt Protostar. A throbbing, pulsating, slowly moving yet powerful and mellow track. Very beautiful stuff, when listening to this I get that unmistakable feeling of why I am so fond of this genre. Throughout the album I get periodically a great sense eastern cultures, India, Buddhism, traditions and religion. This somehow reproduces itself very strongly, just to move further into more futuristic and scientific type of places. It's a great feat and creates a journey where if you let it, will take you from the caressing nature of our planet, to deep deep space. What is also confusing in a good way, is how all these elements of nature, religion, space, technology just finally merges towards the end of the album. It is as a statement of our current state of mind from the big bang in the form of musical pleasure. Someone please bring out the champagne, we must celebrate!

The album is very slow overall and never have any faster tracks, this is great because I often find myself being irritaded when an album starts of good preparing you for a deep emotional jorney just to crush it with some uptempo track in the middle of it. This is a pitfall that I am happy Richard evaded. The direction of the album is stated instantly, and never does it stray away from this path. It's obvious Richard must have put down alot of thought into this album, and worked very hard to finalize it. Actually I think this is one of the most cohesive musical jorneys that I've ever had.

Recommendation:

This is a great, slow, mellow journey from bliss to more darker areas. It's great stuff, anyone even slightly interested in the downtempo side of psy should give this a listen. It's calming, soothing and very powerful in a soft way. Don't miss out and be sure to check out Primordial Atmospheres aswell.

This is the unedited review originally posted on Isratrance

Title: Psionic Entity

Artist: Various

Label: Digital Psionics

Release: May, 2008

1. Human Nature - Abomination (7:08)

2. Imaginations End - UFO & Xatrik (7:12)

3. F-Five - Manifold (7:41)

4. Aleda - Concept (8:30)

5. Harder - Digital Talk (8:10)

6. Rogue Star - Slug (6:23)

7. Make or Quake - Electrypnose (8:09)

8. Face the Music - Kluster (10:20)

9. Multiple Realities - Scatterbrain (7:38)

This is the latest installment in the Psionic series. This label has produced numerous albums solely intended for the dance floor. I'm not quite sure what the cover art is, but it does evoke the idea of energy. The track list looks quite tasty so let's get to it!

Human Nature - Abomination - Hot on the heels of their 2nd album release Planet X Saar Davidov & Eyal Gershon bring us a sample from the TV show "Heroes." As the synth climbs, it joins the thunderous bass and causes my head to nod. That beat travels all the way through the track and loses none of its grooviness! Delicious! :posford:

Imaginations End - UFO & Xatrik- I really liked Xatrik's last disc Inside Information and felt it should've gotten more recognition than it did. Here he is with UFO (too lazy to go through all the UFO listings at Discogs) and they offer a pretty good groove. The break slows only momentarily and we are right back into the beat. The sample sounds cool, but as the guy has an accent, I cannot really understand him. Pretty good track.

F-Five - Manifold- "I'm a neuroscientist! I'm kosher! I don't sleep with strange men!" Holy crap, look who crawled out from the abyss! I've been waiting on a 2nd album from you my friend. A nice slow start with a relentless bass and effects and then I am told I am full of crap by the sample. 3.5 minutes in we start picking up groove points as more synths join the party. At the break the track catabolizes and then builds itself up. Pretty good track!

Aleda - Concept- Here is another guy that can do no wrong for me. I loved his two albums, and I don't think I've heard a bad track from this guy. He continues the streak, creating "dark full-on" with an ominous atmosphere. The slight lead at the 4:15 mark screams help me. Time signature change right into the break. While not as heavy duty as his usual, he still manages to create an eerie feeling with this one. Me diggs it! :clapping:

Harder - Digital Talk - Julien and Luc are back with something...harder. The sample is stuttered which provides a really cool effect.

I am bouncing to this. I've noticed that these 2 have the ability to make a lot out of few sounds. The sounds that are here are used to maximal effect. Very impressive. Metallic leads, lasers, and a nice groove. You know, a 2nd album from you guys wouldn't hurt. Great track!

Rogue Star - Slug - Liam is all over the place and has released all kinds of tracks. With some thick bass and sweet leads the track really stomps. Just when you get used to one lead dominating, uh-uh he switches it up on you...like a Rogue Star. That doesn't really fit, but I put it there anyway. The end of the track is very powerful. Groovy track!

Make or Quake - Electrypnose- Talk about lots of tracks, this guy could fill an external drive with all of his. Vince has made darkpsy albums as well as ambient tracks and all in between. This starts of with some delicate "plucked" synths. The bass is unique with a pull me type of feel. Funk.EE! The soft synths bring an ethereal quality that balances out the bass line. Good track.

Face the Music - Kluster - Over 10 minutes!?! Wow, better pack a lunch. Michael Petterson brings his brand of psy to the table with a driving bass and various whirs and bleeps. The groove here is dirty, like and oil spill and the wailing lead puts you into a dream like state. As you listen to it, you hear the lesser lead crawling underneath, evoking a hopeless feeling. Hear me when I say this, you don't feel the 10 minutes go by. Nice!

Multiple Realities - Scatterbrain - "Welcome to Oblivion." I wasn't a big fan of his album "Infernal Angel", but maybe I just need to give it another spin. This one was one of the slower tracks on the album but still provided the wary feeling. Good synth leads and mechanical sounds. Not bad at all.

Conclusion: I really enjoyed this ride. Digital Psionics to me has always meant quality. If they are releasing full on, it is well produced night time full on. There are no bad tracks here. You can easily tell where there is a shift from twilight full-on to the darker side. It is well done and worth the price. None of the artists fail to disappoint. This is a quality compilation that I am proud to own. Great job Luna and Luke! 8.5/10

Artist: Electrypnose

Album: Funked up

Style/influences: Psychedelic, progressive, electro, minimal(track 5 is break beat)

First of, i wasn't a big Electrypnose fan before, the fast stuff he makes fall out of my taste, even though i usually like fast, darkish psytrance But when that has been said, this album is really something ells! Forget all about what you know about Electrypnoses previous albums. This is Psychedelic minimal progressive electro trance, and i simply can't stop loving it! In this album the production reaches perfection, every little sound effect seems to be in total control, all the way down to the smallest effects and reverb tales. The different sounds is filtering and evolving perfectly into eachother, the groove is so funky and cool, that it's impossible not to start bouncing around to it... It has alot of electro dance influences, but it remains far from cheesy! It's build in the same way as electro in some parts, but with a psychedelic pinch, and the tracks and melodies evolves in a way that i have never heard before! It has some rather dark atmospheres, but in the same time it's very funky, the sound is crisp and it's alot of fun IMO. The bassline goes from electro to progressive trance, the melodic arrangement is very simple in places(like electro) but he fucks the sounds up so good that you won't regognize anything, its just so beautifully produced, the sound is crystal clear! In some parts the melodies reminds me of the old IM(I can't put a finger on why, caus it's not that it sounds the same, but more like the feelings i get from them) In parts it reminds me of krumelurs 2006 album, but not as minimal, yet the same funky, wicked groove(IMO)

Not all tracks on the album is equally good, but when i play the whole album from track one, theres not a single time on the album where im even thinking about changing track. I especially like tracks 1,2(!),3,4,6,,8(!),9,10(!)

This is a strong contender for album of the year, together with Kino Oko. Not as beautifull as kino oko, but more roar, groovy, funky AND funny IMO. They are both influenced by other electronic genres, but in completely different ways.

I am carefull about rating it, when i only have had the album for about a month(caus i know it will change with time), but if you force me to put a grade on it right now, i will give it a 9/10 for the totally innovative ideas, and the perfect production! Don't miss this album!

Samples provided by Psyshop: CLICK ME! (don't know why it's unavailable though )

Artist: Various

Title: New Blood II

Label: Timecode Records

Date: October, 2008

1. Principles of Flight - Oblivion

2. Artifakt Vs. Lost & Found - Checkmate

3. Rubix Qube - Enter the Dojo

4. Phyx - Freejack

5. Cybernetix - Root Complex

6. Tryambaka - Evil Mistress

7. EMP - Attack of the Moose

8. Tickets - Harpsicheek

9. Pitch Hikers - 40 Days

Oh Timecode...why have you forsaken us?  What is this new land we find ourselves in?  It is in truth perplexing.  Either we have been submerged into a cesspool of commercialism where the next buildup and drum fill is more epic than the last.  Or we have descended into madness where once again melody is treated like the clap and atmosphere has all but evaporated.  In truth I don't blame you Timecode, the once mighty label that forced imitators to their knees and rumbled the very Earth upon which they trod.  I miss the post apocalyptic atmospheres, the rumbling bass, and the sinister melodies of what seems long ago.  The label has now morphed into Sangoma Records and doesn't hold the same appeal.  Shame.

Rest assured that the window panes of my ample dwelling reverberate with furious anger from your releases.  This is one such compilation. 

Oblivion- The mood is dark and eerie with a great POF track to open.  Not a lot of melody, but power and fear can go a long way.  

Checkmate-  Can a track be both funky and foreboding?  

*Alex Trebek enters*

"A horse, sounds of torture, and a chess match play by play."

What is the break room of my former employer on a Friday?  This is a delectable groove and demands movement.  Crazy dynamic collaboration between these two great artists.

Enter the Dojo- more big beats and acid.  This was more of a straight ahead beating rather than a track that attempts to tell a story.  Use it accordingly.

Freejack- This is another great, groovy track that will raise the blood pressure.  Easy to get caught up in the swirl of acid.  The only thing keeping it from legendary status was the buildup at the end. 

Root Complex- Machine humming sci-fi psychedelia that could've been more.  Good, but left me wanting.

Evil Mistress- Pounding soundtrack to a bad trip.  Lovely.

Attack of the Moose- is more high tempo, minor key madness.  Quite the mover.

Harpsicheek- This is Tickets taking psytrance to a place that it was won't to go.  More involved full-on, but still heavy with the acid.  Good stuff.

40 Days- I was getting ready to hit you with the meh shoulders, but then the 2nd half of the track happened.

Man I miss the good old days of Timecode.  Back when they and Nexus Media were at the forefront of dark melodic music.  This is super stuff with power, acid, and moody atmospheres.  Unfortunately they don't make 'em like this no more.   Can't go wrong with this trip down memory lane.

Timecode Bandcamp

Beatspace Digital

1 Inca Steppa (7:45)

2 Tokyo Dub (7:08)

3 Las Vegas Future Past (5:59)

4 Mind Of The Free (6:13)

5 Immaculate Cruxifiction (7:38)

6 City Of The Sinful (4:43)

7 Tanta Pena (5:51)

8 Perfect Crime (6:24)

9 Pretty Girl (5:28)

So Juno Reactor is at it again. As one would expect, this album is yet another step away from "convetional" psytrance, actually I wouldn't call this psytrance at all, rather "music released by a former psytrance artist" It is also a clear sequel to Labyrinth so if you didn't like the turn in Juno's career since the Matrix sountrack you probably won't like this one either... I should also mention that this album (like most "out of the norm" stuff) really sounds good only after a LOT of listens. At first you'll pop this album and think "WTF???", only after about a dozen listens does it all start making sense.

Inca Steppa makes you realize that this will be a sequel to the Labyrinth album, only more commerical (you have a woman voice saying "Mexico Arise!"). At first I was like "ok, Ben Watkins really screwed up this time!" but after a few more listens the singing didn't bother me as much and I realized it wasn't that bad a track, actually pretty good.

Tokyo Dub in case you were wondering, it doesn't have anything to do with dub, don't know why he called it that but anyway... Again the track starts with some pretty annoying singing "Tokyo Out of My Head You Flow". Interestingly enough the singing is almost a copy of the main synth hook from Sash! - Primavera... WTF??? But once again, listen to the track a certain number of times and it will all start falling into place. For example, Juno manages to take the "Kbbb Kbbb" bassline formula that has been used and abused by the psytrance genre for years now and makes it original by using it in a DOWNTEMPO track! Now how come noone has thought of this before? Also that little japanese melody mixes in nicely with the rest. This has actually become one of my favorite tracks on the album.

Las Vegas Future Past is kindof a fusion between jazz and "juno reactor psytrance". Personally I think this is one of the weakest tracks from the album (probably because I HATE jazz...)

Mind of the Free souds very much like a downtempo Sci-Fi movie soundtrack. Simple and unsurprising but I like this one a lot... proof that you don't need complexity to make something sound good

Immaculate Cruxifiction this is THEEEE best track on the album!!! There is a guitar riff (well actually I'm not sure if it's an actual guitar or a synth sounding like a guitar). Anyway, it starts out as a whisper, then some trademark Juno Reactor arabic violins and then again a VERY creative use of the psytrance Kbbb Kbbb bassline formula, starts slowly, then the tension builds up and then WHAM at 3:45 the track just explodes in your face! The guitar riff that was there from the start is acompanied by other riffs, the Kbbb bassline is there but there is also a REAL drum percussion on top! The way Ben Watkins manages to fuse the synths with real instruments is just AMAZING!!! It really feels like listening to a psytrance track AND a 60s psychedellic rock track rolled into one and it sounds GOOD!!! Also the "Matrix soundtrack" feeling is present inside, the first time I've listened to this track in my car, it made me want to jump on the roof with a sword in my hands ready to fight the bad guys lol Anyway, this is a true masterpiece, I've listened to it HUNDREDS of times since I bought the album and it just gets better and better

City Of The Sinful is a downtempo track and kindof a mix between EBM, electro and reggae... again, it might sound a bit wierd at first but after a few listens it all starts falling into place. This one actually has rapping inside (yes, you've heard me right, I said RAPPING). But again, Juno is clearly trying out new stuff here like putting a ragga voice on top of a "Kraftwerk-style" vocoder voice, I like it

Tanta Pena (which translates as "Aunt Punishment"... ) starts with a woman screaming on the top of her lungs "TANTA PENAAAAA". The first reaction will be to turn down the volume lol But again once you pay closer attention to the track you notice that Juno is trying out new things and mastering with grace the fusion between acoustic elements and electronic synths. Like for example between 0:40 and 0:50 there is some arabic singing and a synthline... nothing new here. But at a moment the voice "drops" to a lower key and the synthline and bassline "drop" in exactly the same way as the voice does. It is little "details" like this that make Juno's work on this album amazing.

Now come the last 2 track Perfect Crime and Pretty Girl which kindof sound like filler material. You can hear Ben Watkins singing on top of a pretty conventional acoustic country-like arrangement (made me think of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds...). The synths are kept to a strict minimum, just a few atmorpheric pads. I don't quite understand why these tracks were put here, except that Ben Watkins wanted the world to hear him sing, they are clearly out of context...

Conclusion Some Juno fans will be put off by the singing which is present in almost all tracks and most will probably say that he's obviously catering for a larger audience to sell more albums (after all this one is sold on amazon.com for Pete's sake!). Yet other people will argue that Juno is just too creative to limit his art to the narrow boundaries of psytrance. Personally I believe that both arguments are valid That said the man clearly does someting that very few artists do: he isn't afraid to try out new things! Granted, sometimes it sounds pretty corny but other times it is GREAT! And for this I give him 9/10

favortie tracks: 2, 4, 5(!!!), 6

Artist: Atmos

Title: Tour De Trance

Label: Spiral Trax

Format: CD/MP3/Compactstick (CompactStick features 6 extra tracks)

Released: December 2008

Review:

Without exaggerating I can safely say, that "Tour De Trance" is one of the most eagerly-awaited releases this year. A new Atmos-album was announced well over a year ago - first planned to come out on Digital Structures, but after a long while without any news, it was suddenly announced a few months ago that the resurrected Swedish label Spiral Trax was the new home for this long-awaited new album.

So Tomasz Balicki aka Atmos is back with the same label who released his first two albums (not including the Atmos/Echö-Lab release "Overlap" from 2001): The landmark release "Headcleaner" from 2000, which I personally consider one of the best albums in the history of trance-music, and the amazingly positive follow-up "2nd Brigade" from 2004. Both albums today are classics, just as tracks like "The Only Process" and "Klein Aber Doctor", and therefore expectations for his new output are enormous. Get ready for a "Tour De Trance".

01. Stay Awake [126 BPM]

As on the first two Atmos-albums, "Tour De Trance" starts out slow and atmospheric. "Stay Awake" is over 9 minutes long and starts out quite deep, but slowly evolves into a more positive mood, including synth-pads which remind me of some of his pre-2000 stuff, and a long, hypnotizing male voice-sample. Great, laidback opener, which even gives slight associations to the amazing opener on "Headcleaner", "Fill The Hat".

02. Skintrade [128 BPM]

In "Skintrade" there are also some oldschool scando-trance elements present, and with some really cool, laidback grooves we're certainly in no hurry to get to the dancefloor. Although the rhythm is underplayed, the sublime, quite moody atmosphere still puts this tune in the trance-category, and the soothing female vocals are the icing on the cake. Beautiful.

03. 46 DAZ [128 BPM]

Things get a little more pumping with the strangely titled "46 DAZ". We're still not going throttle though, but "46 DAZ" has more dancefloor appeal than the previous two tracks, due to the more full and distinct and full bassline. Again there are some great female voice-samples, and even a bit of soothing singing. Sweet tune.

04. ToWhatMyMindAttend [128 BPM]

"ToWhatMyMindAttend" starts out rather calm with some gloomy pads, a groovy rhythm and some deep male vocals, but that all changes after three minutes, when the rolling bassline the dancefloor has been craving for, is finally introduced. At first it's rather minimal, but over the next couple of minutes it slowly progresses even more and when the high hats kick in, it's full power morning trance. Sublime.

05. Ride The Flow [128 BPM]

We're halfway through the album with "Ride The Flow" - a track which I have quite ambivalent feelings about, as the track is somewhat impaired by some very dominant male voice-samples which are quite over the top cheesy for my liking. Apart from that, it features some beautiful strings and uplifting pads, and if it hadn't been for the voice-samples, this would probably have been my favorite track on the album.

06. Nick Of Time [130 BPM]

The tempo is raised a bit with "Nick Of Time" - one of the fastest tracks on the album. The groove is still reserved though, and it fits the mood of the track perfectly. At first slightly moody, but after the middle breakdown we're introduced to a beautiful melodic section, moving into deeper territories again, before we finish with a hint of the uplifting melodies once again. Class!

07. Power ON [130 BPM]

"Power ON" is a small, 4-minute breakbeat interlude. An interesting little tune with elements of robotic voice-effects, oldschool house synths and some elements I associate with old demo-scene music. Cool intermission from the 4/4 stuff.

08. Into The Groove [130 BPM]

After the small interlude, Tomasz puts us back into dance-mode once again with "Into The Groove" - undoubtedly one of the most dancefriendly tunes on the album due to the addictive rolling bassline and groove. On "Tour De Trance", this is probably the tune that reminds me the most of "2nd Brigade", and with the optimistic melodies I predict this tune will be one of the DJ-favorites from this release. Great morning trance.

09. Jellybean [126 BPM]

On the final track, "Jellybean", we're back in the starting tempo, 126 BPM. It features a very electro-influenced offbeat bassline, some pristine, crystal clear sounds, some very distinct, almost naive melodies and some bass-heavy breaks. Generally an ok track, but doesn't match some of the best on the album.

Bottom line:

These are interesting times for the psychedelic trance-scene. Where many dark psy and full on artists seems to be competing who can produce the most intense and obnoxious music, some progressive producers have gone the other way; slowing things down below 130 BPM while still keeping it trancy. Perfect Stranger recently took the techno-route on his "Free Cloud", and now Atmos has taken a mellower direction with "Tour De Trance", slowing things down even more than on "2nd Brigade".

Despite some minor flaws, "Tour De Trance" is a sophisticated, classy album with elements of both oldschool Atmos-trademark sounds and newer progressive house sounds, and an album which proves that progressive trance can be both very melodic and subtle at the same time. Also, despite being low BPM and a reinvention of his old sound, Atmos doesn't try to blindly follow the trends of electro and techno, and that deserves some credit in book.

My guess is that many people will initially disappointed with this release, and I doubt it will have the same dancefloor-impact as, lets say "Headcleaner", but that doesn't really bother me. To me, "Tour De Trance" is more of a trance-journey with the home listeners in mind and when given some time, I am sure a lot of people will appreciate it in the end. Also - in the right time and setting, most of the tunes here, can create magic on the dancefloor. Great album.

Favorites:

1, 2, 3, 4 (!!), 6, 8 (!!)

Verdict:

8/10

Links:

Spiral Trax website: http://www.spiraltrax.com/

Spiral Trax Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/spiraltrax

Atmos website: http://www.atmotech.com

Atmos Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/atmotech

CD at Psyshop: http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/spt/spt1cd026.html

CompactStick at Psyshop: http://www.psyshop.com/shop/Sticks/spt/spt1cs026.html

1. Bad Mojo

2. Angel Wrath

3. Sectoid

4. Waves from the crypt

5. Gyroball

6. Death Monsture

7. Scratches

8. Intoxicated

9. Aries Madness

Samples

That’s the third album by Psyfactor and the second dance one.

Here we have a very nice atmospheric dark album that really stays away from the stereotypical dark sound of the last two years.

All then tracks are powerful and energetic, but I would call this ‘’a gentle powerful album’’.

There’s no random madness, or over-the-top heavy beats, instead the tracks build very nice with some scary gothic-ish pads and nice melodic lines floating over the kick and the bassline.

The high filtered, chainsaw styled synths are here again, giving to the album a schizofrenic attitude.

All tracks are top notch, but my favorite is Sectoid, a really scary fairytale reminds me a bit of the LOS-Otherside.

Other great tracks are Scratches a dark track filled with eerie sounds and very haunted pads, Waves From The Crypt and Intoxicated.

The production/mastering is AAA and don't be confused by the cover there's no satanistic samples inside

Overall that’s a great album, one of the best dark psy of 2008.

It’s highly recommended to anyone interested in dark psytrance with a melodic touch and some chilling moments.

8/10

Artist: Menog
Title: Musically Speaking

Label: Spectral Records

Date: November, 2008

1. Musically Speaking

2. Matacanha

3. Basic Survival Instinct (feat Absolum)

4. Frequency Notes

5. Banzai

6. We Are Dust

7. Gravitation Field (feat. Space Tribe)

8. Spirits Rmx

9. We Ask Better Questions (feat. Probe)

"If you change your focus you can feel good...instantly."

"First you get the Quaaludes, then the women get all sleepy sleepy...then it's all HEY, HEY, HEY!"

This whole situation confounds me. Like a lot of you I grew up with Bill Cosby first on Fat Albert then as America's dad on the Cosby show. He's spent a lifetime in the spotlight and has done so much good, but apparently done an equal if not greater amount of really terrible things. The confusing part is...you're f*cking Bill Cosby. Rich, successful, famous...you could have any woman you wanted why the need to drug and rape thereby destroying people's lives? Which once again reinforces the fact that rape isn't about sex it's about power and this is one sick f*ckstick.

Ok, rant over.

If acid is the dirty, sticky icky then this is cleaning windows with a mud pie. Filthy. Acid washes are all over this and if that's your thing then you should enjoy Daniel's work and find several tracks of worth here. It's powerful and will get the blood moving. with Basic Survival Instinct (with Absolum) at the top of the list. While the boom factor is surely there one could argue that an entire album of very similar tracks will get old quickly. For me he is beginning to stray perilously close to that line that a lot of artists seem willing to cross where there is less insanity in the night time music and more of a commercial, watered down feel.

Let's hope that's not the case.

Psyshop

01. Headroom - I Don't Tech No For An Answer

02. Headroom - Stereotype Writer

03. Headroom - The Vaab Rater (Recharged)

04. Headroom vs. Danalog - Snap, Crackle & Poppers

05. Headroom - Artelligent

06. Headroom - 3-4 To The Floor

07. Headroom - Deadroom

08. Headroom - Mr. T. Nitis

09. Headroom - Will Never End

One of the most anticipated albums for the last year, from one of the freshest acts on the planet...

 

...Headroom's 'Artelligent' is set to be a classic album for years to come. Stomping-Psychedelic party tunes of the highest order, that move through a range of acid drenched grooves, emotions and atmospheres. Every tune an effortless rollercoaster ride that shakes your very foundations to the core, and demands that you get up and Trance!

 

With a production quality which far surpasses anything someone may expect from a debut album, 'Artlligent' looks set to firmly establish the already highly in demand Headroom as a major force on the global Psy circuit, and will surely inspire a fresh batch of new approaches by producers everywhere trying to match his brilliant dancefloor flavour.

I didn't see a review of this brilliant album here, so i had to go forward. It's the best modern Psytrance album i ever listened to. It's not recommended to people who prefer melodic Full On, but everybody who likes quality acid influenced PsyTrance that isn't too aggressive should definitely check this out. All tracks are close to be called 'perfect'. Not overloaded with sounds, but not too minimal either. Funky arrangements all over, and also some small mysterious sounding melodies. The basslines are bouncy, but not too aggressive like they are in most modern Psytrance productions. Excellent music!

Favorites: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7

:posford:

Artist: Psywalker

Title: Inverted Vertigo

Label: Digital Psionics

Release: February, 2008

1. Psywalker - The Dark Side (7:31)

2. Psywalker - Kong (7:16)

3. Psywalker - Inverted Vertigo (8:01)

4. Psywalker - Dreamweaver Rmx (8:58)

5. Psywalker vs. Dark Nebula - Some Kind Of Spaceship (9:10)

6. Psywalker vs. Space Tribe - Twitch (Psywalker Re-Visited) (7:19)

7. Psywalker - Chemical Tranceformation (8:04)

8. Psywalker - Mind Expansion (7:30)

9. Psywalker vs. Space Tribe - The Prophecy (7:47)

Digital Psionics is an Australian label formed in 1998 by Luna Orbit and Luke Psywalker. This has been one of the most productive labels in our scene, releasing numerous artist albums and compilations. They specialize in high energy psy, with lots of acid. This isn't a label that delivers the happy Ibiza crap that unfortunately is trying to take over. Luke has collaborated with Aussie Space Tribe frequently as well as Dark Nebula. This release should be packed full of powerful rhythms and drenched in delicious acid. At least that is my hope. Let's get to it!

The Dark Side- "The Dark side of the force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural." In no time a twisted lead twirls above a bass line. Metallic synths clash up to a break as eerie stings make themselves known. As promised, acid splatters my ears, as I try to know the dark side of the force. Acid leads dance the dance of evil and keeps my head ringing. Very good start!

Kong- Acid stabs detuned strike from the corners of the darkness as a bass line rumbles underneath. Slowly, a slimy lead twists from its dark prison right into a woman's scream. Green acid swirls around my lungs threatening to asphyxiate me. Lofty synths mock me from above as another acid leads clouds the sky turning everything a nuclear green. Awesome! :posford:

Inverted Vertigo- Chopped up synths float tantalizingly close, as others drag their fetid stench across my ears. Cascading tones rain down as another synth gears up for its assault. Even though parts of this track sounded great,I didn't care for this as much as it didn't seem to have any direction. Which I think is sad for a title track.

Dreamweaver (Rmx)- Melancholy pads set the tone as a bass line jumps forward. An acid line flies with abandon, as a soft angelic choir pierces the senses. Another break brings back the pads and choir voice. I think that is a LOTR sample, with some nice orchestral backing. The leads come back driving the track further down the rabbit hole. The only thing I didn't like about this track (and I am nitpicking) was one part where he broke the flow into a buildup. Other than that, pretty good track! :clapping:

Some Kind of Spaceship- "I hate these fucking robots!" Mr. Nebula jumps aboard to lend a hand on this track. Insert hammering bass line, add moody pad, pepper with slight orchestral sounds, and dash with sample and you have this track. The lead takes control and guides me on a trip. As everything combines to an ear shattering crescendo, it all just stops. Briefly, and then right back into the fray! Great track!

Twitch Revisited- This is apparently a remix of the collaboration Luke did with Space Tribe on the Psionic Tales compilation. If I recall, that track kicked ass! A climbing lead becomes disemboweled as another descends upon it. Perhaps sensing weakness. The slight synth flutter jogs my memory of the original, and after a somewhat frustrating break, the original melody comes out to play. The end sees more acid pummeling me as I reel in recovery. Great track!

Chemical Trance- "Whatever the actual intensity of the experience...call it religious." A metallic synth grates over a bass line as short bursts of acid sprinkle the scene. The acid melody rips the track apart and is moving full throttle. The break gives the above sample and the next lead almost sounds...joyful?!? What the hell is that doing in there? Aside from that seemingly misplaced melody, pretty good track!

Mind Expansion- "LSD is one of the strangest and most controversial substances. A dose smaller than a grain of salt precipitates a hazardous mental journey into a universe of hallucination, intense emotion and some believe...mystic revelation." Man that makes me wish I had tried acid. More acid bombardment (God help me, I never tire of it) in full on mode. The melody at 3:20 is sweet, and puts this track on another level. The next sample is of "the man" sounding befuddled as to the effects of acid. The track then spirals into an acid deluge where you don't know note from note. I likey! :posford:

The Prophecy- "I say again what is needed on your planet is a massive shift in consciousness. A change in your awareness. A renewed respect for all life. And a deeper understanding of the inter relatedness of everything." Mr. Tribe comes back on board and it isn't long before these two titans of acidity give me all I can handle. The groove is ripe and my head is bobbing to the beat. Just as one acid melody fades there is a new one to take its place. The final one is truly epic! Great track.

Conclusion: Well, if you were looking for an album with a nice relaxing downtempo number at the end, this ain't it. If you were searching for a run of the mill, clubby, house inspired piece of crap, this ain't it either. This is in your face, powerful, acid heavy psytrance. Any fan of Electric Universe, Space Tribe, or Shift should love this. This was the album Brethren should've made their second time around. While some may say it sounds samey, I shall never tire of the acid melodies. Digital Psionics once again proves that it knows how to bring it when it comes to psytrance. Kudos you Australian wonders and as long as you keep releasing stuff like this, I will keep buying it. 9/10

Mdk

hq pictures:

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http://img167.images...97/opus2hn8.jpg

http://img246.images...23/opus5ef3.jpg

http://img509.images...90/opus4fy4.jpg

CD1 - Uptempo

1. E-Mantra - Voyager II | 10:26

2. Shakta - Ten Times Around The Sun | 6:32

3. Filteria - Birds Lingva Franca | 9:32

4. Artifact303 - Feelings | 9:24

5. Ajna - The Art of Happiness | 9:12

6. Radical Distortion - The Dreamer | 7:37

7. Afgin - From The Heart (Tribute to Wonderboy) | 10:17

8. Ethereal - Moondawn | 11:02

CD2 - Downtempo

1. Mindsphere - Frozen Sleep | 8:03

2. Solar Fields - Confusion Illusion Remix | 7:27

3. Electrypnose - ChillinBerlin | 10:59

4. E-Mantra - Secret Prophecy | 7:12

5. Aes Dana - Lysistrata | 7:57

6. Asura - Altered State | 7:26

7. SiebZehn - Bongalore and Beyond | 8:11

8. Astral Waves - Contemplation | 9:36

9. Ra - Road To Shiraz | 6:06

CD1 - Uptempo

E-Mantra - Voyager II

Intro with a bang, deep space voyage with ecstatic melodies, sometimes restrained, but one massive track for an opener. It sounds like you're taking off with a space shuttle to an unknown destination in space without a return date.

Shakta - Ten Times Around Then Sun

Hasty uptempo track! This track needs to grow on you for a while to fully appreciate it! A real classic! Pulsating background synths and funky melodies give it a very groovy and catchy feel. No crazy sounds here, nice and laidback playful goa trance. This track won't go out of your head easily!

Filteria - Birds Lingva Franca

Nice uplifting track by Jannis Filteria! Some intense build-ups and melodic swirls make this a very enjoyable journey! A very catchy main lead also.

Artifact303 - Feelings

This is it! This is what it's all about! I got this CD for this track only and was very curious to hear how it turned out in mastering.

This is such a killer melodic track, especially the middle part! The whole feel of this track is very coherent, it's a real beautiful and intense story to go through every time!

Ajna - The Art Of Happiness

Like the 2nd track, hasty uptempo, but laidback melodies, nothing too hectic or ecstatic. A very nice one! Classic sounds and ambiance!

Radical Distortion - The Dreamer

Probably the best track on the album judging on content & mastering. A very crystal clear sounding piece and what kind of!!

This track is the true definition of goa trance itself; fat bass riff, evil atmosphere, ecstatic sounds and organic background soundscapes. Excellent build-ups and the tempo is rather on the slower side which makes it even better!!! This will be remembered longtime!!

Afgin - From The Heart

Wow what's this?? Can it get anymore beautiful??!! It's starts so soft and delicate much like Tribute To the Sun, and it just unfolds and unfolds into the most moving and heartwarming trance song with lush melodic touches and sweeps...

This track is truly very, very special and is worth getting the whole (double)CD for!!! You'll have to hear it to believe it!!!

Ethereal - Moondawn

Soft ending piece, gentle spacey atmosphere and nice strings in the end! Beautiful closure!

so far uptempo, expect downtempo review soon! so far: 9/10 !

CD2 - Downtempo

Mindsphere - Frozen Sleep

Wow, what a beginning! Comes on slow, so gentle, so beautiful... the strings make this a really special one! The atmosphere is very heavenly and celestial and everything seems to bath in morning light. The magical freshness of dawn itself. Beatwork is very good in the second part and the song rolls out perfectly! Absolutely stunning track!

Solar Fields - Confusion Illusion Remix

Next is something slightly similar, though in its own distinct solar fields-style. Vocals float around, keeps on building and opening up until the wave breaks and rolls slowly off.

Electrypnose - ChillinBerlin

Next is another favorite!!! Strong melodic work and soft breaks by Vince! The ending is very, very beautiful!

E-Mantra - Secret Prophecy

Mysterious vocals set the mood, floats on until finding itself in a steady beat and beautiful piano and synth riffs! Reminds a bit of the previous song!

Aes Dana - Lysistrata

Then we have something different! Strings take us to strong beats and sharded vocals, a track for those moments you want a dancing tune in the chill out! Very emotional track.

Asura - Altered State

IDM-ish percussions, strong kicks and moving pads in this one! Again a dancing tune but with more power in the pads and synth lines!

SiebZehn - Bongalore And Beyond

Subtle bassriffs and instrumental touches give this a very groovy touch! The break in the middle with the samples is extremely nice and enchanting! Fat saw stabs top it off!

Astral Waves - Contemplation

More grooviness! Though in a very different way! This song feels like walking through the jungle! Very rhythmic driven ethnic percussions and subtle sample use really make the track feel like a vivid safari.

Ra - Road To Shiraz

Very instrumental and slow track! Pure eastern cinematics all the way! Feels like staring into an endless desert somewhere in the Middle East! Asilah!

Stunning finisher!

favs:

CD1: 2,4,6,7

CD2: 1,3,4,7,9

All together a very special and varied double-album! A true must-have! If you're into newschool or into getting into it, get this album!

This album scores a phat 9/10 and is a real gem! Artwork included!

Thank You Suntrip Records!!!

Press Release:

At a certain point, trance music might mistakenly be interpreted to a formula. Well, this is not the case when it comes to Overdream. This Ukrainian based duo have managed to generate a style unique to them. Although their music mainly aimes for the dancefloor, much charm and imagination can be felt in their music. Makus and Dana Do come with 'Wonderwise', after various tracks on compilations and a role in SkyGravity. A rejuvenating breeze of fresh ideas that deal with the aspects of our developing society, and in the wider angle, we can say 'A declaration of intent' Soundwise, 'Wonderwise' is a blend of rolling grooves and atmospheric whirlpools. Designed for 'all seasons', a measured amount of thought and hard work stand behind this album. A presentation of technical abilities with tracks like 'Fiji Island' or the exciting 'Sacrosanct Toucan', it is clear that Overdream have a lot to say and offer...

Listen to 'Wonderwise'

The claim that Overdream have "a style unique to them" could easily be taken from any one of the wildly flattering press releases that typically accompany psytrance albums, so let's cut through that and say what style of music this is: it's darkpsy. Although not 2008 darkpsy, but rather the kind of darkpsy that people were making two or three years ago, before the Horror Place basslines, before the mechanical screeching and before Kindzadza went all jangly and clockwork. And that's good, because, as much as I like the fact that the genre is evolving, there's still plenty of gold to be mined from the old sound. Wonderwise also differs from most of what's being released at the moment in that it's designed to get your feet moving as much as your brain.

But, and this is a big but, it's not just darkpsy. There are some strong melodic elements here too. And, unlike most attempts to fuse dark with light, it really works. Read on...

Tracks (click titles for Saiko Sounds sample):

1) Wonderwise 7:38

This track starts out with some textbook spooky darkpsy - unsurprising enough, though it quickly builds into a very nice wall of sound, a bit reminiscent of Tits on Fire. But it's after the four minute mark that things start to get really exciting - what starts out as a faint hint of an actual key signature gradually builds into a sweet trancey climax. A brilliant opener, and one of the finest examples on this album of just what it is that Overdream do well.

2) Sunrise Mind Trick 7:46

This one opens with a slightly daft tribal chanting sample, which thankfully soon gives way to some very nice Naked Tourist-style bleeps and clicks. Unfortunately the last few minutes are dominated by a string melody which sounds a lot like the intro to the Star Trek: TNG title sequence, which I find just grating enough to be relieved when the chanting sample comes back. This track has some nice moments but is not one of the better ones in my opinion.

3) Fiji Island 8:13

This is great. It's the first track on the album to follow a formula which will be used a number of times, namely the darkpsy-melody-darkpsy structure (henceforth referred to as DMD). After starting out with some echoey, alien noise, the beat stops and a scary melody jumps out of the shadows. Then it gets gradually dismantled by tone control and gating before mutating completely into the kind of atonal noise that every darkpsy fan loves.

4) Extraterrestrial Travellers 8:34

Another DMD number, though with a different flavour to the others on the album - after an intro that sounds like the buzzing of an electronic brain followed by some lovely abstract robotic shouting, there's a slow, Eastern-European or perhaps Mediterranian-sounding guitar melody which would not have sounded out of place on The Art of Being Non. Almost needless to say, it builds back up into a very danceable climax of angry noise and confusing bleeps.

5) Mista Twista 8:00

Silly name, awesome tune. This is similar in style to the opening track, except that this one starts with an anxious-sounding melody already present. The first half builds up to one of those climactic rising-then-falling hissing sounds that are a standard device in darkpsy, though this is one of the best examples I've ever heard. Then the second half builds up to another stripped-down melodic section in which the opening theme returns to take centre stage.

6) Aqua Boga Djerba 8:25

Aqua Boga Djerba is much closer to standard tuneless noisy territory than what's come before, and is probably the track with the least evidence of a recognisable musical mode on this CD. There's not much by the way of progression or climax either, and as such this could fool you into thinking it's simplistic, if you don't notice how much depth there is to the individual sounds - but every crunch and hiss has so much going on.

7) Daisy Lemonade 7:50

Along with the previous track, this has very little trace of conventional melody. But don't let that put you off. It starts out with some swirly electronic buzzing that's just fantastic (think of Kindzdza's KamaKazi and you're not far off). After a while it descends into a rather chaotic mass of seemingly random bleeps and squeeks and dizzying pitch bend, but redeems itself with a wonderfully psychotic, discordant climax. I would be surprised if it's possible for an able-bodied man to listen to this without dancing.

8) Animated Mess 8:09

DMD again, and very similar in structure to Fiji Island: it starts out with a messy darkpsy section full of high-pitched squeeks, which reminds me a bit of The Nommos' Mountains of the Moon, and then relaxes into an atmospheric beatless break before being torn apart by a frightening trance melody.

9) Sacrosanct Toucan 7:53

The album ends with something of a contrast; Sacrosanct Toucan is less agressive than the rest of the album, and is probably the most consistently melodic piece, as well as the most emotional. It's got haunting vocals and chimes and ethereal soundscapes. And it pushes all the right buttons, but somehow it just doesn't get my juices flowing as much as the rest of the CD.

Overall: Bloody heck, I like this a lot. There are no truly original ideas here at all, but what there is is a vast legacy of psytrance rolled into a coherent whole. Listen to Wonderwise. 9.5/10

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

Artist: Human Blue
Title: Base Basket Buffet
Label: Transient Records
Date: February, 2009

1. Lone Ranger
2. Imperial Mind
3. Dessert Desert
4. Dragonflingz
5. Hide and Seek
6. Party Deluxe
7. Pacific Run
8. Gravity Affair

Progressive trance from Sweden?  Sign me up.  The churning beats, the deep bass sounds that growl from the ether, and lush pads make this one a keeper.  The opening track is a lesson on how to open an album combining power and layers to blur the line between psytrance and progressive.  That trend continues throughout the album with long tracks which I believe mostly hold up well some ten years on.   

Psyshop
 

Landed in the mailbox this morning, been listening since then while skipping turns with preparing my tracks for my own first live set this saturday.

Another significant release so it seems, the return of the old masters.

Well, I have my own preference in style 'n stuff, but i always try to keep it objective enough.

So let's go for RA - 9th, a fluid psychedelic trip.

1 Intro 1:21

Sets a dark mood, bulking voice, very cinematic, egyptian and impressive!!

2 Octagon 7:48

Here we are! Slowly we fade into this mysterious piece of trance with all the RA elements, feels good. Fat textures and crunchy pads.

The song keeps it's distinguished oriental feel down to the end.

3 Predator 7:58

This one I remember from the previews. Didn't think much of it but it surely isn't a bad track in any way. Happy times, a bit too happy maybe. Light on the digest. Still good melodywork but a bit too instantly forgetable maybe. Apart of the somewhat overfluffed bits, a very good track.

4 Other Self 8:54

The first one for me to breath the old Ra 100%. Lots of layers, oriental, mysterious. The strings. This one rolls on to become a very deep and mesmerizing tune. Deep space drones and floating pads make up the scene here. The typical Ra sound!!

5 Ultima Energica 7:41

More trippyness. Fast bassriff skids on, pads twirl. Excellent dancefloor stuff. Again the typical Ra sound and feel. Egyptian and oriental. Fast atmo and many crazy vibes. Indeedy Ultima Energica, the strongest dance track on this album.

6 Time Current 8:13

A lighter intro is welcome after Ultima Energica, and even better, a whole lighter track. Lucid melodies, even clubby even. This track has definitely a clubby edge. But a good one! Uplifting squares dance around and there's that signature sound. This will surely become the key track on this album. The melody is instantly recognisable and very sticky. A kind of goa/trance/club spin-off and still nice to listen. Good work! If i'm not mistaken this was the piece called 'Sytrus' no?

7 Spirit Complex 9:04

Another sweeping oriental mover. Comes on slower and more cinematic. Nice eastern synthsounds. Great how these guys build such a complete atmosphere with so little sounds. Steadily trances on to the break, and then some fat great synth riff. Love it how it keeps going higher and higher! No crazy layers here, but the simple essence of beautiful goa trance!

8 Transcendent 9:13

Gently slides in, deep bassriff, scary pads, mysterious and trippy atmo. Solid engineering. Strings change the feel. A short break, rebuilds itself to a steady piece of trippy goa trance. Very full, magical atmo. Then a repetitive riff. Hypnosis begins. Very entrancing but then an unsuspected key change. Interesting to hear. Moves around a bit, light, dark. Can't decide on an atmo and then comes the beat. Takes back it's flow into oriental strings and trippy synth pads. Light melodies and a deep, entrancing bassline. Builds and builds, grows and grows, Trance goes deeper and wider, then the wave breaks and slows down... hmm not too fond of this tempo fade outro... kinda weirda.. still good track!

9 Expand Consciousness 7:04

More Egyptian-ness. This time we're in the sarcophagus of Tutanchamon! :drama: Great portamento on the first main synth. Love how it glides. Slower tempo, same trippyness! Excellent riffs. It's hard to call this morning since it always tends to be egyptian/oriental but the feel it gives is combined for me. Makes me think of morning trance, makes me think of ethnical influenced music. It's the perfect fusion of both! Various short breaks give rests in between the massive egyptian melodies. Sweet, beautiful and entrancing!

10 Light Receiver 8:20

Voices haunt the air, typical eastern string pad. Breakbeats and shimmering melodies. Like a sad song for the forgotten souls, tip-toeing on the edge of happiness and sadness. Then more chilled breaks play. Flutes, voices, synths, it all molds to one here. Nice touches everywhere. Real storytelling. Very beautiful evolution in this track.

Then a very special ending piece with vocals. Great ambience!!! Like an old movie or something. Something you remember from somewhere but can't determine it exactly. Always Trust.

There we are. A scorching sun, endless dunes and desert plains and countless tombes later, we arrive in the oasis of the aftertaste of this album. Not so varied in general, but very varied within their own style! A very coherent album with a solid concept. Another timeless masterpiece to become!

Look into the light and see All that is RA!

favs: 1,2,4,5,7,8,9

8/10

Hol Baumann

Human

Ultimae Records

February 2008

Tracklist

1. Hours

2. Breathe

3. Radio Bombay

4. Benares (Vârânaçî Edit)

5. Endless Park

6. [Human]

7. One Step Behind

8. We Are Analogue

9. A Forgotten Ritual

10. Tiny Hidden Track

The long awaited album from Hol Baumann came with a quiet plop. I had no real build up for this album. I had a lot going on in my life while this was in the pre-order & promotion stage so all the hype passed me by. So I didn’t have my expectations super sky high, which is a good thing as they were already high enough just finding it in my mailbox one morning. The first time I heard this I found it absolutely mind blowing. Ultimae albums usually grow & grow on me so how did this one do.

1. Hours

A nice start to the album, the beats are very intricate & at times delicately alluring. The melody chimes nicely in a non committal way and the bassline really drives the track giving it a lot of energy for a chill out track. In the background as well as some broken sounds that feel like scratches is a very subtle vocal. I missed it before I gave this a listen on headphones but there they are throughout most the latter part of the track. Pretty ethnic but very minimal, they go very well with the rough acoustic guitar at the end.

2. Breathe

Starts with more on the guitar before a spoken sample comes in. I really like the way it seems to scratch off at the end of each sentence like it is coming through a transistor radio. The bassline & beat come in, the beat is a nice steady plod but the bassline moves up & down very nicely. The beat kicks in properly & is really damn cool. Very crisp, crunchy & well worked. I was put in mind of the beats in Secede vs Kettel – Lerraine. There is a melody but for most of the track it takes a back seat until really coming into it’s own later in the track. When it does makes itself known though it’s a really really beautiful one with a great melancholic edge. A shame it’s not a little longer as I could listen to that melody all day.

3. Radio Bombay

A very familiar track, I loved this one as the final track of Ultimae’s Fahrenheit Part 6 compilation. It seemed the best way to finish that comp. It’s very much an end of the night track for me. The deep moody bassline, the sharp beats, the female vocal is all very melancholic & when it all breaks down just to have the ethnic voice comes in just before the beat kicks in is very atmospheric. Many a time have I loved that pseudo ending. It is like it’s going to stop but then you get treated to all the same ingredients but a little more intense. Not sure how to explain why they are more intense but somehow the atmosphere is stronger & deeper and drives me into my seat, slumped and happily relaxed.

4. Benares (Vârânaçî Edit)

This was a brilliant track on the best in the Fahrenheit Project series (in my opinion) Fahrenheit Project 2, the vocals are very well used have an upbeat melancholy to them & seem heartfelt. The way they are used, the timing of them is exceptional & they fit very well round the acoustic instruments’ sounds and the delights of the atmospheric electronica. I think that this version sounds deeper than the one on FP2, maybe there has been re-mastering, maybe a slightly new take on the sounds or maybe it’s the positioning or the totally unmixed version but the beats seem clearer & the long synth sounds draw me in much more.

5. Endless Park

This is where this album starts to get seriously good. The melody right from the start is a pants wetting melody. Beautifully played & as the beats come in and the bassline too you get the feeling of majesty. Very intense, important stuff going on somewhere that you are getting a chance to be privy to. It’s so deep, so beautiful & draws my mind in so much that I can hardly focus on anything else. It’s so sad that it is so god damn short.

6. Human

As heard on the Albedo compilation, one of my favourites on that comp. It instantly kicks in with strong crisp beats & never really lets up. It’s Intense in a chillout kind of way. The machine like feel runs through the entire track. The workman like melody than lathes back and forth from beginning to end is joined in the second half of the track by more fancy melodies but the slow & steady ones win the race, sticking it out till the end whereas the more cosmetic ones filtered out quite quickly.

7. One Step Beyond

Here is another well done melody that chimes along beautifully & draws the listener in. It evolves ever so subtly but you can really feel the progression. When the bassline comes in too you really feel like the music has taken over at last. Very nice use of slide on the guitar to compliment the bassline as if it’s part of it. The breakdown is followed by the same sounds mixed in a much more moody fashion. Everything just works to bring your mind down to it’s metaphorical knees & pray that it can last just that little bit longer. Fortunately this track is over 7 minutes so it really gives you the chance to enjoy it.

8. We Are Analogue

A softer approach with this track. Amazingly manages to take an even deeper line. The melody is very intricate & melancholic in a nostalgic way. Imagine dreaming of old flames, reliving past triumphs yet still happy with the present. This is the sort of melancholy I like, the longing for the past is intense yet it’s accompanied by hope for the future. Only at the end do the beats really kick in & it manages to take the atmosphere down into a sad look back at old albums late at night on the sofa feel.

9. A Forgotten Ritual

Spacey melodies & a hard dark bassline start us off here, the beat kicks in and takes the spacey feel away slightly but the re-emergence of the hard bassline & sci-fi melody come back in & fills the atmosphere with black skies & bright sparks. The whole atmosphere seems to me like a 60’s sci-fi show and when the beats kick in much harder it’s like that 60’s show has been dragged screaming into the 3rd millennium. I’m put in mind of Doctor Who! An old show ridiculously out of date brought & remade in the modern era. Old fashioned ideas with a modern touch.

4 minutes of silence and then

10. Hidden Track

Sounds from the album put together in a more experimental way than any of the official tracks. Pretty much pointless to be honest, less than 2 minutes long with nothing really to say for itself.

Well there are both very good and bad things about this album. The good things are most importantly the music, which is top notch. The ethnic element is not hammed up to painful degrees. The samples are not ones I’ve heard a million times before on someone else’s record, the beats are clear, crisp & very enjoyable & the structure of each track is fantastic.

On the flip side though there are a lot of tracks (3/9) that have been on previous releases, this is something I’m not used to seeing on Ultimae where almost every release has completely new material. I feel also that the album is a little short. What would have been my favourite track, Endless Park, ends just as I’m getting lost in it. The hidden track is pointless. I don’t see the point in putting a tiny bit of music after a load of silence. Why not just put another track on the tracklist?

At the end of the day though, for all it’s faults it is still quality music through & through and that more than makes up for everything. It’s not my favourite Ultimae release but it’s a very worthwhile addition to my collection.

Title: Ministry of Chaos

Artist: Various

Label: Yabai

Release: January, 2008

1. Digital Talk - Acid Test (8:12)

2. Outer Signal - Focus Pokus (7:17)

3. Multistate - Roberta Sparrow Remix (8:09)

4. Phyx - Fall Of Babylon (Lost & Found Remix) (8:46)

5. Twisted System - Necessary Evil (8:06)

6. Phatmatix - Malediction (8:48)

7. Mindcore - Ministry Of Chaos (8:45)

8. Materia - Help Me (Khopat Remix) (6:30)

9. Principles Of Flight - Inferno (8:08)

This is a compilation by the Japanese label Yabai. They have given us several floor stomping records including Frozen Ghost's Edible Technique, Samurai, and the Phatmatix Disc Sorcery. This was compiled by Mindcore who is Digital Talk and Phatmatix. The cover is of a futuristic city, which reminds me of Blade Runner. I like it and look forward to diving into this one. Let's get to it!

Acid Test - Digital Talk- "They..collect data and run tests. All kinds of tests. Testing..chemical..biological...visual, brain activity, most of it I don't understand." Julien and Luc are at it again, with yet another release. The percussive start to this track is very imaginative. The bass shoots in and out with effects lurking in the background. The bass line is palpable, I can feel it. The lead is like a thin wash, deftly carving up the track like it was Thanksgiving turkey. Maximal groove with plenty of sounds to keep me focused. At the break when that bass slides in on its descent, is just wicked. I didn't like the end of the break where the track goes on a run. After the break, some funkiness ensues, with a lead that goes up and down the scale. Pretty good track!

Focus Pokus - Outer Signal - "Just what is LSD and what does it do?" Gil Stoler & Lior Yosha have released some quality tracks on numerous labels. This one starts off with a chopped up sample talking about the effects of LSD. Stop me if you have heard that one before. The track starts ripping at around 3 minutes with a solid groove and spiderweb thin synths that trickle just out of reach. The last part of the track descends into a noisy albeit very groovy rhythm. Pretty good track, but some of the build-ups out of the break could've been better.

Roberta Sparrow Rmx - Multistate- Gerhard Olivier & Greg Hamber (Lost & Found + Xatrik) remix a track off their 2006 album Collaborating With Machines. Like I said before, it takes balls to do a remix of a track that already kicked ass. Sparkling synths fall against a backdrop of an emerging bass line. Industrial percussive elements abound, short and sweet, setting the tone. The break shows the power of a wailing electric guitar with feedback. It is strangely melodic with a sadness of a life lost. The crunch of the guitar stabs drape menacingly over the nimble synths. When the beat fully drops it is aural bliss. :posford: Such madness is perfect, a heavy beat with great effects. Superb track! :clapping:

Fall Of Babylon (Lost & Found Rmx) - Phyx- Gerhard remixes one of Ian's tracks and it starts of with an ominous pad and plunges into a bass line with intent. The computer effects are a nice touch, as this is probably not a good time in the world. Great groove with acid stabs promising more to come. It's sticky and it's hot here, the lead sears the ears moving from corner to corner. This is most definitely not a good time for the world as minor-key melodies scream of what has been lost. The breaks are telling and the rhythms and leads coming out of them make me stand up and get out of the way. Awesome track! :posford:

Necessary Evil - Twisten System- "You call me evil...but unfortunately for you...I'm a necessary evil." Shift + Phyx +Rabdom L mean business. And sometimes doing the dirty work is a necessary evil. Futuristic echoes bounce of a bass line, as leads tease the soul. In typical Twisted System style, I am confronted with an insurmountable wall of melodic noise. As metallic lead begets metallic lead, the cilia on my ears, begin to smoke. The synth arpeggio out of the sweet break rambles on a mission, fighting against the rising tide of acid. A battle, fortunately, lost in the very first few seconds. Very sweet track! :clapping:

Malediction - Phatmatix- "We haven't much time." Stephane has yet to disappoint me with any track he has released. He has been on a lot of comps, and his album Sorcery, is a classic for me. A scary tone is set, as someone...tries to escape their bonds. A lead gurgles it's final gasp, making it count. It weaves from front to back, battling with another lead for supremacy. All the while a renegade bass line watches it all. As another lead screams to be heard, the tempo is abruptly changed. It is short lived, and soon enough I am back on the path to madness. Shots are fired during the break, as the lead that would not be denied returns. The lasers force all to duck for cover as this track has power and is not afraid to use it. Damaging! :posford:

Ministry of Chaos - Mindcore- "What the fuck is that?!?" Mindcore are Digital Talk and Phatmatix (I can't think of a better partnership). With a child screaming against an eerie pad I am immersed in a future like world. The groove grows, I begin to become aware as computer effects bounce of a lead that follows me. Playfully at first, but then joined by its brethren, much like a cat toys with the mouse. When the large cat arrives, it goes for the jugular. The others step aside as I flee, finding sanctuary in the break. With the respite ever so brief, I am forced to continue the journey. Claws rake, blood is spilled. I take the opportunity to retaliate and hurt the beast. The lead regroups and continues pursuit. I am soon overwhelmed by more madness and realize escape is impossible. Oh yeah, this one's a keeper. :posford: :clapping: :posford:

Help Me (Khopat Rmx) - Materia- Delicate tones soothe, but only for a short while. The tormentor from Portugal has other ideas. The tones lull me into a false state of security, as the leads threaten to smother. The track stops and starts, making me think it's weakening. The sample grows tiresome, but the beat is heavy with rhythm. There are some wash like leads keeping pace, as the tones continue to mock me. Not a bad track at all, although not as good as some of its predecessors.

Inferno - Principles of Flight- Pierre Delort & Remy Maurin bring us this track. The melancholy strings weep for the loss of something.

As they trail off gently, the beat kicks in. There are various percussive pops and a sticky lead that lingers right into the break. Another sad melody hangs back, barely there amongst all the effects flying about. Wailing pads make me apprehensive, but the beat shows me the way. The break confirms that I am no longer in Kansas. Very frightening. The track is not bad. Not the hyper trance from before, but more of the "day after" the carnage kind of track.

Conclusion:- This was a great compilation. There was some great power trance with top notch production. One of the things I particularly liked was that the artists for the most part did not rely on the cliched kick or snare rolls when coming in and out of a break. To me, that shows imagination. This label has consistently put out some great discs. These artists know how to reallt set a mood and immerse the listener in their world. I look forward to Macao. 8.9/10

Artist: Morphonix
Title: Off the Grid
Label: Vaporvent
Date: March, 2008

1. Fur Bot
2. Off the Grid
3. Dig Deep
4. Kismet Kabob
5. Bright Destinations
6. Island Sanctuary
7. Hasp Clasp
8. Fuzz Machine

"Can you dig it?"

I think you know that I can.

This is the same mind behind the psytrance project Chromatone.  It's one of my favorite psychill releases and I wonder why he only made one album under this alias.  Breakbeat and glitchy it is replete with juicy basses and funk by the trunkload.  Dubby basses and well placed transitions abound as he even displays some house-like swagger on Kismet Kabob.  The only way this could get better for me is if he incorporated some 303 into it.  But then it would be Hardfloor.  This isn't music you can zone out too and I would expect nothing less from a guy like Chromatone.  The only negative would be that it's no longer sold in the usual go to shops.  But if you can find it, I highly recommend purchasing it.   Your booty will thank you.

1. Perspective

2. Release

3. Switch

4. Catalysk

5. Contrastion

6. Playtime Adventure

7. Psychedelic Exp

8. Nowhere Fast

9. Somewhirl

10. Pax Nostra

11. Bonus (Turrican remake)

Get samples here, I recommend you check out track 2 to begin with

Mostly venting my excitement about this wonderful release and encouraging more skilled reviewers to type a few words.

Tamlin has several tracks released on compilations from Vertigo, Faerie Dragon and GI'IWA. This is his debut full length.

The style is set to finnish madness combined with old school goa vibes, which I suppose is becoming the new school goa,

with so many quality releases. Tamlin combines high speed dancefloor abilities with interesting and highly psychedelic

experiences, such as the excellent track 2, Release, which rougly, much in accordance with its name, is one great build up.

Also, the Turrican remake bonus track is much better than the half-hearted attempt by Tea Chairs.

4.5/5

Artist: Various

Title: Freak the Tune

Label: Blue Tunes Recordings

Date: June, 2008

1. Midimal - Secrets of Beauty

2. Dualnok - Wave Out

3. Earsugar - Womanizer (Quantize Remix)

4. Martin - Intoxicated

5. Infinity & Meander - Rollercoaster

6. Liquid Soul - 6.15 am (Jay Selway Remix)

7. Progenitor - Visions

8. Manuel Duego - Deception (Symphonix Remix)

9. Dream Donor - Dancing Knobs

"People think they came here to take over the planet."

This German progressive trance label has been around for a very long time releasing a lot of great music.  I tend to like the progressive trance that paints a lush picture with tons of layers rather than the more minimal, bare boned approach.  With their 19th CD this was an enjoyable, smooth progressive ride.  Most of the songs had layers to get lost in as well as being head nodding bounce worthy.  This is almost a decade old, but it holds up surprisingly well. They didn't reinvent the wheel (to be honest I really don't know what that would look like at this point), but if you're in the mood for some groovy tunes that put a smile on your face, this will do nicely. 

Psyshop

Tracklisting:

1. Paranoid Life (7:38)

2. Sensitive Strings (7:32)

3. Atari Days (9:40)

4. Angels Of Light (8:30)

5. Cosmos (9:21)

6. Trip To The Infinite (8:16)

7. Cold Computer (9:16)

8. High Templar (8:37)

9. Trancing In The Center Of Earth (7:35)

Zybex is Roberto Tello, born in the South of Chile. In 1999 he began to experiment with virtual synths, but only as a hobby. In 2003 he met his friends; Hector (Ovnimoon) and Luciano (Psypsiq Jicuri) who had began to compose at the same time, but in differents cities. In this way he was able to share ideas and learn so that in the future he could define his own style of psytrance music. Zybex has worked with labels like Magma Records (Italy), Synergetic Records (Austria), Moonsun Records (Greece), Goa (Geomagnetic) Records (USA), Kagdila Records (USA) and Freeze Magazine (Greece).

(taken from http://www.myspace.com/zybex)

1) Paranoid Life

Soft melody and slow rhythm launches the album. The synth line comes in and brings darker tones. The middle part is very beautiful combining percussion, voices and atmospheric melody. Actually this track is really deep and emotional but not cheesy in any way.

2) Sensitive Strings

This one sounds much like typical full-on in the beginning. But later it expands into much more interesting form. Nice driving rhythm and sensitive melody are very well balanced and makes this track very pleasant to my ears. Backing guitar a little bit softens the whole drive. Nice one too.

3) Atari Days

Very different from the prevoius tracks. If the first two were melancholic this seems even agressive in some way. But then the flute in the middle part is much brighter and changes the mood of the whole track nicely. The last two minutes are filled with deep and positive energy. The last 30 seconds reminds you of the atari a little bit, bit, bit... :-)

4) Angels of Light

Again rhythm is kinda rushed but the synthline is astonishing. Melodic part becomes more tense with every minute. All in all it sounds really psychedelic by the end. Not a bad track but could be better.

5) Cosmos

Electric bassline takes off to the cosmos. Dark and cold samples layering one on each other gives the feeling of venture in galactic corners. Zybex invites to a dangerous trip here. I like this track a lot. The finish of the journey is trippy indeed, just listen to the synth.

6) Trip To The infinite

After the countdown beat lifts off. Expertly used sounds create some amazing feeling. This track is really special. The middle part opens the heart of the creator and the listener. But that's not all, you'll hear some amazing psychedelic samples later sending your brain to far out space. I could easily lose myself hearing this one on the dancefloor. As for me the best track on the whole album.

7) Cold Computer

Computer madness. It's not as cold as the title says. I'd say it's more electric and repetitive. The darkest track on the album. Here Zybex denies soul and passion of human instead fills space with alien army of programmed droids. Chaotic structures by the end destroy everything on its way.

8) High templar

Another hard stomper. But here i don't like the samples. They seem uninventive and uninspiring. This one is proclaimed the worst track on the album by me. I skip this one everytime i listen to "Surreal Energy". But that's just me.

9) Trancing In The Centre Of Earth

What can i say, this one is not lighter then the previous one. But much better in terms of creativity. Still i'd like to have the last track to be more expressive so the final feeling of the album was as deep as in the beginning. But that's not a problem at all.;-)

"Surreal Energy" took all my attention when i first heard it. After a couple of more listens i found tracks that i liked more than others and found only one track that i really disliked so my rate would be 8/10. Favourites are "Paranoid Life", "Cosmos" and "Trip to the Infinite" (which is the winner). The art of the cover is also great and it perfectly fits the mood of the album.

Boom.


This is the 3rd installment of the Midnight Storm series. The previous two have been outstanding forays into the hyper intensity that is South African psytrance. I make no apologies for saying that this is my absolute favorite type of psy. It is very energetic with "minor key" atmosphere that forces you to get out of your seat and dance like nobody is watching. Well, for me anyway. I suppose you would call this twilight full-on, but I think it goes beyond labels as it takes from many different genres. I cannot explain why I like the cover, I just do. The track list is a who's who of pumping night trance so let's check it out!


Absolum - Hadracadabra (Shift Remix)-- "This one is an example of go home and do it again."

This is Chris Hoy's remix of Christof Drouillet's track Hadracadabra. I recall that track being a very good one. Right out of the gate we have a strong beat with related percussion. A nice touch is the shifting of the bass line. I'm already moving, when the lead sweeps in and plays a game of tag. The acid is dirty, and I feel I have gotten it all over me. This will never come out. The sample from Men in Black brings a smile to my face, as the track continues to crush with a new lead. Absolutely bestial!


Shift - Synesthesia- Chris's latest track here with a quiet synth worming it's way forward. Before you can say cool, the bass line is here and you can already feel the dread. Chris knows how to direct a track, it is a formula he has used with great success. This is no exception. The lead screams to be heard above the heavy beat, as new leads pop up. Out of that 2nd break is an undeniable groove. Suck it up and feel the goodness! Quality!


Lost and Found - Octane- This is Gerhard Olivier and I have really become a fan of his music. His tracks Ultimatum and Jet Black on Twilight Vision were outstanding. This one jumps right into the beat with some cool percussion. The lasers give it a spacey feel as the track rises into the first break. The leads swarm over me and guide me this way and that. I'm out of my seat moving to this, when he brings the next break. And boom, we are right into the aggressive groove. Full power all the way. Super!


Multistate - Nefarious (Shift Remix)- "Hey, now we're even!" This is a track by Multistate (Lost & Found and Xatrik) given Chris Hoy's special touch. Once again there is no delay getting to the bass heavy beat. The lead mimics the bass as lasers flit about. When another lead comes in it dominates. Nice filtering brings the track ever higher. Jeez, does this guy ever make a crappy track. I haven't heard it yet. The next break brings another lead and the sounds combine to form a juicy melange. Sweet!


Hydraglyph - To Lie And Wait - Andrew Morgan & Mark Ackermann have released 2 good albums and scores of compilation tracks.
This one growls, with screaming leads from above. They shimmer, as lots of background sounds fill out the track. When the beat gets going again, there are plenty of effects to keep your ears company. This one becomes a very powerful wall of sound. Where as the other tracks were quite intricate, this one was pound you in the face with a sledgehammer. Very nice!


Mantis - Self Deception- The only other track from this guy (guys?) is on the Future Cuts compilation. It seems like Mantis has taken a page from his fellow South Africans in that he has the same heavy bass and industrial leads. The sample is computer generated and long winded. I don't care for it, even though I an sure it is relevant. It just goes on too long. The bass line just creeps up on you, like it's stalking you as the leads weave their way around your cerebellum. Another winner.



Twisted System - Use Of Weapons- Shift + Phyx + Rabdom L = P.O.W.E.R. With a short outburst, we then get a scratchy sound as it makes its way. The lead bobs up and down amongst more leads as the beat plows forward. The scratchy lead returns and at the end of the track, there is so much going on, that you have to marvel at the detail. Great track!



Ctrl Alt Del vs Shift - Twists And Turns And 3rd Degree Burns- "They told me...and uh...that you had gone totally insane."

Chris Teams up with whoever this is and brings us swirling leads with a metallic feel. The beat brings a cool melody that slams into the break with percussion. If possible, the beat comes back with an even richer sound, and as with most sHift tracks, they really fill out in the end. Super, super job!


Deliriant - Fusion- We are being introduced to the new breed of South African artists I see. This one starts slowly but at the 2:15 mark we get a sense of groove that infects. Nasty lead. Add new lead and simmer. Sprinkle of laser for effect and get baked. This was a very groovy track and a great start for this individual. We will be watching you.



Slug - Zombie- Bringing up the rear is Mr. Slug whose 3rd album is on the way if you are to believe the Nexus Media site. The sample speaks of zombies in New Haven. This track starts to grow with very acidic leads before it hits a short break. Pads float by, get filtered, and reveal some percussion. When the lasers dance with the bass line, it is infectious. The lead above holds time, and gives way to another that goes from one side to the other in my headphones. Very good track!


Conclusion:- Sold. As long as this series is made, I will buy each and every installment. It is that good. The producers are very competent, and know how to build and flesh out a track. The beats are heavy, the acid is plentiful and every track makes me want to dance. If you are a fan of South African psytrance, then this is a can't miss blind buy. There is no way I can pick a favorite, they are all good. If the 2nd generation of S.A. artists is as good as the 1st, we are in for a treat. Keep it up Nexus Media. 9.5/10

Artist: Phatmatix

Title: The Divine Comedy

Label: Yabai Records

Date: December, 2008

1. Babylon Circus

2. Labyrinth

3. The Punishment

4. Beyond Reality (Live Mix)

5. The Void

6. Dominator

7. Hominus Nocturna

8. Melodreams

9. In Tenebris

Ah I miss music like this.  Unfortunately I don't believe he is making music any longer (same with the label sadly) and that is a great loss.  Dark, evil, and hard hitting this is what nighttime psytrance should aspire to be.  Phatmatix is Stephane Rault and his music is similar to another Frenchman called Concept. This is serial killer clown atmosphere with futuristic implications.  That opening downtempo introduction drips with fear.  He then launches into minor key acidic madness that continues the pervasive eerieness.  This music lives and breathes and like a vengeful spirit it hunts.  Grand and thematic in its depravity.  I didn't care for his third and ultimately final album Eternalis, but this one and his debut Sorcery nailed it.

I'd link to it, but since the label disappeared any of their releases have become quite difficult to locate, leaving one to the Discogs market. 

Artist: Madnetic

Title: Magnetic Fields

Label: Nutek Records

Date: February, 2008

1. Dejavoo

2. Click The Red

3. Subliminal

4. No Way

5. Afro Samurai

6. Todo Bien

7. On Time

8. Playground (feat. Painkiller & Mekkanikka)

9. Got To Be Funky (feat. Pure Pressure)

10. Magnetic Fields

"Got to be funky!"

Funky, not insipid.

I severely underestimated how much sh*tty psytrance was out there.  Madnetic falls into line with his one and only album under the Nutek label.  A label which has brought us such turd burgers as Discodelic and Eat It by former psytrance artist CPU, the last 12 carbon copy nonsense records from Mekkanikka, and an artist album by an a project called Punchline.  I am not making this up.  The label has been prodigious in producing full-on music with zero depth and an unhealthy affinity for build-ups and snare manipulation.  And this factory has been busy.

Like previous offers from this label Madnetic isn't so much as involving you in his music as much as he wants to bludgeon you with it.  Build-ups galore, silly samples, and headache inducing loudness.  With the subtlety of the Jersey shore he aims to have the masses fist pumping as he wages war on any dynamics the music may have foolish notions of containing.  The whole thing is a cringe-worthy cheesefest that will have the girls laughing at you and pointing at your small penis whilst you pump this up in your red IROC. 

Todo no esta bien.

Psyshop

Digicult:

Out of this world (CD)

1. Star Travel

2. Days in space (vs. U-Recken)

3. Out of this world

4. Red Planet

5. Cosmic Company

6. Awaken the dream

7. Magic

8. Icarus One

9. The Return (vs. Fatali)

http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/dac/dac1cd005.html

This is modern morning fullon, crystal clear mastered and produced.

Considering their debut album where Digicult created their own sounds and produced some encouraging fullon track, like "all balls"

Out in out of this world you can expect more typical morning fullon as we know it...

A more subtle concept is used here and the variety of sounds is is highly present.

Digicult has chosen to go in a less aggressive melodic way, more emo tuned sounds, although the previous and remarkable

digicult sound comes around to once & while off course...

The baseline and kick is more floating, subtle and influenced by the actual morning spirit.

The vocal samples being used, non singing, don't get me wrong, are not emo-indian-spiritual element.

It's more like a combination of sending messages together with some psytrance foundation.

The eye for detail from the beginning tot the last creates nice intro's and very nice outro's...

Not like ordinary fullon digicult build up to a climax and then let it fade all the way...

Somehow there new pattern just keeps the mind busy and not overloaded so it doesn't become annoying...

Not only the psy-sounds, waves contain variety but also the baseline isn't a continue of the same pattern...

Breaks, combined with samples, announcing

climaxes create the opportunity for changing/switching patterns of baselines what can only be seen as a plus for this album.

Well it's good start for the summer.

The contrast is nice between the debut album

and this one for those who have followed a bit...

Morning fullon lovers will appreciate it

and this album isn't inferior to some good fullon releases in 2008,

for example new loud ...

Progressive lovers who like a taste morning fullon once & while

but don't want to get overhyped by melodies,

this might be a good try...

good release with a good vibe...

Good accessible for those who like psychedelic trance in general…

grtz and enjoy :-)

koen

Artist: Sesto Sento

Title: Key To The Universe

Label: Com.Pact Records

Date: 2008

1. Sesto Sento Vs. Systemic - Human Nation

2. Key To The Universe

3. Sub6 Vs. Pixel - Teder Beseder (Sesto Sento Remix)

4. Sesto Sento Vs. Electro Sun - Connecting Minds

5. Moby - Lift Me Up (Sesto Sento Cover / Remix)

6. Funk-A-Delic

7. Mysterious Ways

8. My Trip To Fantasy

9. Lost Key

Ho. Lee.  Sh*t.

I could swear that I just did a review of what I thought at that time had to be the absolute worst psytrance release I've ever heard.  But less than a month later this album tops it.  Which begs the question...how many flaming pieces of sh*t are out there?  This album is a full-on disaster, but there are a lot of those.  What makes this extra special sh*t sandwich is that for whatever reason these rocket scientists went all Infected Mushroom and decided that singing was the thing missing that would put it over the top.  

Look I get it that there are actual Israeli artists that can sing (probably), but no amount of auto-tune can save these guys.  And as the album goes on it's one nut shot after another.  The creme de la creme?  If you weren't happy enough slamming your d*ck in the car door, a DVD is included which has the video of their remix of the Moby track.   

Key to the universe?  I don't think this could be the key to the port-a-sh*tter. 

There was actually a sample that said the word moonbow.  Just let that pretentious horsesh*t sink in.

  Psyshop

Artist: Dirty Motion

Title: Dirt Emotion

Label: Yabai

Date: 2008

1. Beautiful Fungus

2. Artistic Temperment

3. Out of Place

4. Dogs of War

5. Man Alone

6. Disaster Management

7. Howard Church

8. Control Freak Remix

9. Life Support Technology

Blazing son!

Ohhh, they don't make 'em like this no more.  This is a nasty good bit o business here.  A blazing collaboration between Frozen Ghost and Hiyarant and it's a f*cking shame they only made one album.  That cover tells you what you are getting into.  Dark and melodic with eerie movie samples from the great label Yabai.  These guys keep the groove jumping and the kicks pounding.  There are leads here that may punish your ears with their metallic leanings and the acid content is off the charts, but isn't that what we love about this music?  Deliciously twisted.  Unfortunately the label has disappeared and taken all their stock with them.  Discogs might be the only route to ownership now.

Shame.  Every nighttime music fan should own this.

Artist: V/A

Title: Sharp

Label: 3D Vision

Format: CD

Release: December, 2008.

1. Basic Survival Instincts - Absolum, Menog (8:25)

2. Resolution - Lost And Found (7:39)

3. The Ultimate (Reconstructed By Absolum) -Digital Talk (7:26)

4. Hypnotized - Painkiller, Naked Tourist (8:17)

5. Roller Toaster - CPU, Neko (7:55)

6. One Way Ticket – Earworm (6:55)

7. Maniac Music (Edited By Absolum) - Outer Signal (6:53)

8. High In Chicago - Ex-Gen, Absolum (7:37)

9. What's Wrong – Synergy (8:14)

When I discovered psytrance, everything released on 3D Vision was a gem. Then something happened to psytrance in general and 3D Vision became risky business. There are releases like Sound Syndicate that still blow my mind. Then we have releases like Killers Inc. that simply hurt my ears and give a headache. And then there are, IMO, unmemorable compilations like Hardfloor.

On this occasion, we have Sharp. Unlike most recent 3DV releases I don’t care much for, this was compiled by Absolum himself. The cover follows the oldschool 3D Vision artwork while still looking up to date. I like that. Now, lets check the music.

1. Basic Survival Instinct (Absolum vs. Menog). What a way to start! It has the best of both producers in the perfect amount. It has enough of Absolum’s chaotic peaks, but without the risk of nausea or a headache, and just the right amount of Menog’s melodies and atmospheres, but without sounding like a darkpsy baroque fugue. This is what collaborations should be all about: highlighting strengths and limiting flaws.

2. Resolution (Lost and Found). Some random loops used at the beginning give it an industrial feel and a South African trance trademark. More and more layers are added, incorporating simplistic melodies with metallic leads. Plenty of drops and subsequent build-ups and the final run is intense in a frightening way. More metallic leads, elastic sounds, industrial loops, everything concentrates in the same space and I’m feeling lost and confused (in a good way). Lost and Found’s most innovative track? Not at all. Is it worth it? Yes!

3. The Ultimae (Digital Talk reconstructed by Absolum). First thing that strikes me is the production quality. It hasn’t even been a minute and I’m already pounding my fist in the air. Everywhere I direct my attention I find an assemblage of dynamic sounds. Ok, here’s the break. Rolling Kick-drum build up; I know this trick, yet it manages to trick me. Then the final run left me speechless. I never saw that coming and it was amazing. Absolum’s artillery at its finest with Digital Talk’s audio quality. Word’s can’t describe how great this track is.

4. Hypnotized (Painkiller vs. Naked Tourist). I’ve never cared much for Painkiller. He has some good tricks under the sleeve, but tries to sound heavier than he should. Naked Tourist has several releases on labels such as Parvati and Temple Twisters, so we can expect something dense. Plenty of loops and loud high-hats, an awesome riff around 3:20, and then the track takes on a different direction. More generic and repetitive riffs and I’m wondering if Naked Tourist only contributed with loud noises because all I can hear is Painkiller’s corny obstinatos. Why do I even bother? Now, if Painkiller’s your thing, you will get a lot of it in this track.

5. Roller Toaster (CPU vs. Neko). After Discodelic and Eat it!, I don’t trust CPU. As for Neko, I’ve never heard of the guy. At first, I’m not excited about this one. The track picks up quite quickly and it evolves into ethereal noises rhythmically scaling and a ravey laser lead. The rolling bass has a darkpsy feel, seasoned with techy elements. What a fun track! It’s almost impossible to get distracted while listening to it. Either CPU is trying to recover his street cred or this Neko guy is a genius. The key changes in the bass work incredibly. I absolutely recommend this one. I’d like to note that this track was previously released on the Digital Drugs 3 (Digital Drugs Coalition) compilation. If the track wasn’t so good, I would have felt ripped off.

6. One Way Ticket (Earworm). I can see why this track is in the album, but I don’t see what’s special about it. Don’t get me wrong, the production quality is very good. It’s just that it lacks personality. The style could even be called “generic 3D Vision”. But judging by the production quality, this guy could have a future in nighttime high tech trance. Maybe he’ll find that personal touch after doing a few collaborations. Or maybe he’s just plain, who knows.

7. Maniac Music (Outer Signal edited by Absolum). Starts off pretty aggressive, but with nothing special to offer. Eventually I see what the deal with this track is, as it displays some nice tricks. Around 4:20 everything explodes in nighttime laser madness. Things keep on building up as the bass line and melodies make me feel hunted. This is the kind of stuff that I want to listen to in an open-air party at 3am.

8. High in Chicago (Ex-Gen vs Absolum). Ok, what the hell is up with the voice sample? “It was about 6:15 in the morning. I’m drunk and I’m high and I’m in Chicago…”. An OK track. The highlights have to do more with production than the track’s narrative. Some pretty interesting sounds, screeches, beams, atmospheres, and filters. As for the song, it sounds like a water-downed Absolum track next to some of the stuff in this album.

9. What’s Wrong? (Synergy). I’ll tell you what’s wrong: this track. Something doesn’t feel right. It could be the flow, the repetitive riffs for the intense effect, or both. Could it be that they are trying to hard? I think they are; it feels forced in. I am not satisfied with this. Absolum and CPU have individually disappointed me in the past; I don’t see what could keep them from doing so together. The sad thing is that I am not surprised to be disappointed.

Overall: Considering the amount of crapy releases out there, this is a rather solid album. Absolum, who has also been guilty of contributing to the psytrance crap pool, did a very good job cleaning his name and coming up with a compilation that actually reflects the label’s direction instead of just trying to and failing along the way. Yes, there are a few fillers, but just “a few” is an accomplishment these days. I love that that it is 100% 3D Vision, yet I can hear some Spectral, Nutek, and MMD in the album. In other words, it is a must have for high-tech trance aficionados.

Favorites: 1(!), 2, 3 (!!!), 5 , 7.

Artist: Amithaba Buddha

Title: Psyramid EP

Label: Phototropic Records

Date: March, 2008

1. Psyramid

2. Mental Maze

So if it seems like I am reviewing a lot of goa trance these days you're right. I have a lot of stuff here and am trying to provide some info for people who might not know about certain projects. Also, when I find something I like, I compliment the artist by 1.) buying their music and 2.) writing a review. Now I don't recall if I bought this release (was it ever for sale?) or I downloaded it, but I thought I would share my views on it. This also allows me to describe how the music makes me feel. I've gone through a lot of Filipe Santos work and this is one of my favorite projects. The "Goa Gate" album was a high energy journey through goa that I adored. This is the EP that came out beforehand on the label he helped create. The cover is beautiful; an ancient pyramid radiating power from its tip amidst a body of water.

"Psyramid"- Bouncing bassline that is aggressive as ever. In no time a smooth melody descends from the heavens and then gives way to another, carrying me along on breezes of Jasmine and lilac. The break (short as always) allows enough time to take a quick look around before being thrust back into the dreamy superhighway. The colors are rich and sticky, clinging to me with transparent intent. Carried higher into the glaring sunlight, twisting and turning until I no longer know up from down. Damn you Filipe you have me writing like a stoned out hippie. Super work!

"Mental Maze"- Screw you and you need for an intro! Right into the mix with melody layered ontop of melody. All the while keeping the beat churning methodically underneath. The break is pretty limited as he really likes his kick. The leads during the short intermission are less interesting to me on their own, but when presented as a whole, they really work. This type of music keeps me dancing like nobody is watching. Another triumph!

So there you have it. This guy knows how to make goa trance that speaks to me. It's intensely melodic, it's relentless and it takes me to that place where I can close my eyes an drift away. I don't know if this is still available, but if it is...get it. You'll be in for a trippy experience.

Mdk

Jikkenteki

Flights of Infinity

Par-2 Productions

2008

Tracklist

1 Symplicity (31:04)

2 A Bowl Gruel World (11:23)

3 The End Of The End (9:20)

4 Another Kick In The Head (9:41)

5 Running Start (11:02)

Jikkenteki is out with his second album. This was meant to be the 3rd CD to his debut The Long Walk Home but was not ready in time. There was a long wait as this took some time after being finished to actually make it out. The poor sales of Par-2 Records’ albums & comps amazes me as it is by far and away the best uptempo music in the scene today in the humble opinion of this reviewer. Better even than Gi’iwa, way better than Twisted & up there with Ultimae as one of the best labels around albeit a completely different style from Ultimae but you must get my point.

After The Long Walk Home there was a huge chance that I could be disappointed in this album. I was not expecting however for this to be so much better even than that album, which completely blew my mind. This album has not only blown my mind but my soul, spirit & even the wall of my very reality.

1. Symplicity

We kick off the album with a monster track over half an hour long. That’s longer than some albums. I have said many times that an artist with the talent to make long tracks and keep them interesting throughout the whole duration is pretty rare but when they do it it’s always something special. I was talking about 10-15 minute tracks but I was never expecting a trance track of over 30 minutes to be this good. I was sure it would get boring at some point but incredibly this track is the real deal. It is engrossing throughout. Maybe one of my favourites ever from Jikkenteki and I’m a fan.

It starts of with a nice downbeat intro for a few minutes, strings & orchestral sounds fill my senses for about the length of a track & then the beat kicks in with the bass & synths. The bass has a bit of a hiss when the beat is the main focal point but when the synths are flying they produce a clear crisp sound like a scythe cutting through my brain. The way the synths & the melody progresses in the early running is great & at times manages to sound like voices crying out from the void, from behind some invisible barrier yet sharp & piercing.

The atmosphere in this track is something else, the ambience in the background is floaty in really driving way, led by the beats & synths it gets under my skin & seeps into the inner reaches of my mind driving me slowly & deliciously insane.

Halfway through it breaks down with a melody more eastern in it feel yet glitch without the glitch. The beat kicks in a little darker with the melody continuing & the bass tearing through everything. Great synths once again scythe through everything like a hot knife through the butter that is the mind. The track with 10 minutes to go has another breakdown this time with a really spacey, meteor shower kind of feel to it. The beat gradually comes back in to a slipstream pace where everything just seems like it’s whizzing by at the speed of light. The beats, the synths, the melodies & the whole atmosphere of the track seems to me like a race in hyperspace with the wall s of reality rushing passed me tinged with a touch of sadness. I think it’s the melody at the end (I say the end but around 6 minutes to go) that puts me in mind of some of the losses I’ve had in my life. I’m not sure how it does this as it seems quite an upbeat one but it seems to have a melancholic edge that speaks to me. The ending really drives a stake into my already fragile heart.

I’m going to stick my neck out & say this is the best track of 2008. I really don’t see anything else beating it. It could possibly be one of the greatest tracks I’ve ever heard. It will need the test of time before I can commit myself to that but oh my god this is such amazing stuff.

2. A Bowl Gruel World

Starting off with my favourite sound, that of rain before the tune kicks in with a solid bass & chimes leading into a beat & more synths that cut my mind up like sushi chef. It was always going to be a hard act to follow coming straight after the insanely good Symplicity. But like Johnny Depp taking on Gene Wilder’s character of Willie Wonker in the remake of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory it doesn’t try too hard to imitate the role but instead makes itself a completely different story with the same seductive style. This track for me is a little more introspective, more melancholic & punches from the right whereas the previous music punched from the left. It feels more ethereal in it’s overall feel, with other dimensionally sounds & pitches coming from every direction & none at once. The build up & trance moments are great for the energy of the room. Not only is this a beautifully psychedelic ride that can be enjoyed alone at home but would be amazing at a party either 15 years ago or 100 years in the future. Really. Fucking. Good!

3. The End of the End

The growls linking the 2 tracks are almost scary & the atmosphere set by the drones & dark chords is well...dark. The orchestral feeling that follows on is great as the beat kicks in & the electronic sounds take over but the feeling is left in the auditorium with a huge open space to work with. The synth work is among the best I’ve heard form Rennis & that is saying quite a lot from the guy I hold up there with Technossomy as the best synth player I’ve ever heard. To be honest with this album I think Rennis may have even surpassed Technossomy not just in terms of output but in terms of brain cutting slices of acid that manage to cut deeper & deeper with every note. This is really really good, the pace the psychedelia, the energy so effortlessly released at every turn is so mind-blowing I struggle to fathom why other artists aren’t this good.

4. Another Kick In The Head

An effortlessly seamless drift into this track it seems like part of the same journey with a new companion to accompany me with. Once again the synths are in depth, playing a melody more engrossing than the trippy main melody. The floating ambience in this track surpasses everything I’ve heard before in upbeat trance. As journey like as any ambient I’ve heard yet as energetic as the most powerful rave tracks from back in the day. The psychedelic level is as high as it can be and I am left absolutely stunned that I am still totally enraptured by this amazing piece of audio art. The melodies seem to come out of nowhere from any direction each time catching me off guard in the most fantastic way. Bliss

5. Running Start

Our final chapter has a hell of a lot to do to close off such an amazing album & it starts it off in a dark way with strong sci-fi ambient bolts shooting down from the top. By the time the beat kicks in to break the ambience I am already completely lost. The glitch sci-fi noise has taken my brain into places it may never return. I’ve never been a fan of glitch static but this really floats my boat, sets it’s sail & then carries it out in the deepest parts of the ocean, moors it on an island of bronzed warrior women who make me their god & compel me to make love to them every night for the rest of my long happy life, interspersing these sessions with feasts & other musical & delightful entertainment. Sound good? Well it does to me & this track gives me the same vibe like I’m experiencing delight in aural form. Brilliant stuff to round off a brilliant album and I love the natural ending with the birdsong & the weird sounds of someone doing something very ordinary that manages to give a very very earthy feel.

I am completely amazed again by the brilliance of this album. I must say again that I am a big fan of Par-2 Production’s sound. I do feel like this label is just catering to me & me alone in that each release just brings me music that I wish everyone could make but so few do. I feel great knowing that other people out there have the exact same aural passions as me & the talent to create the music that does it justice. I am astounded as to how Jikkenteki is not a bigger name, people harp on about music not being psychedelic these days or how everything was better in the golden era of Goa & Psy but to my ears this album outshines most of the music even from the olden golden days of Dragonfly Records & the Flying Rhino boys.

Anyone complaining about the state of modern music really needs to hear this if not on original CD then at least on some lossless format. Anyone who listens to this on CD & doesn’t like it can feel free to never recommend me anything again as I am sure your taste is so far from my own that I would call it shit & never want to visit your house & hear your crap.

I am 95% sure that this album is going to be my top choice for top 2008 album. I’d love to be proved wrong & hear something even better but I will be amazed if it actually happens

Title: The Price of Prophecy

Artist: Brethren

Label: Spectral Records

Release: May, 2008

1. Interval (2:21)

2. Spartan Soul (6:00)

3. Two Thones (8:42)

4. Dark Arts (8:23)

5. Chaos Regeneration (8:28)

6. Ultimatum (8:11)

7. Sirens (7:36)

8. Betrayal Of Sound (8:42)

9. Allende (8:31)

This is the 2nd album by the brothers based in South Africa Phyx and Tickets. Phyx released his album Kiss the Blade in 2006 and Tickets released his album Time Lapse, also in 2006. Both were high power, South African hyper trance that I love so much. As the duo Brethren, their last album Legend of Cane also released in 2006, was a smash. :posford: The hype machine has said they have added a classical edge to their music so here is to hoping these 2 can keep up their winning ways.

The cover, as you can see has a very medieval, alchemy like feel to it. Pretty cool.

Interval- This is an interlude, pretty corny if you ask me, :wank: but it sets the tone of what's to come. I get the feeling as if I am about to witness a great ritual or a sacrifice. Musically it is disposable as it is very short, with um...not that much music.

Spartan Soul- This track picks up right where the interlude left off. That tension is maintained, as leads flick in and out of earshot.

You can hear some brass, plucked instruments in the background giving that classical feel. Kinda like Talpa. Nothing really elaborate here, but it seems as if they are setting the table.

Two Thrones - We start off with an ominous piano hinting that war is afoot. At 2:40, acid licks the back of your neck, but you turn around and no one is there. The synth arpeggio assaults your senses, as the piano returns, perhaps informing you of a poor choice. Classical strings are present above a gurgling synth as the track fills out. Pretty good track!

Dark Arts - "Life...and death. Space...and time. Fate...and chance. These are the forces of the universe. Tonight ladies and gentlemen I present you a man who has unlocked these mysteries. From the furthest corners of the world where the dark arts still hold sway." A minor key melody tinkles across a flangerized lead as the previous statement is uttered. The bass combines with a dirty synth creating a juicy groove. Leads whip across the track, as if in an attack and then a parry. The dust settles and the tinkling melody is back. The lead that follows bruises the ear with a frenetic pace as the track puts it all together at the end. Great track! :clapping:

Chaos Regeneration- "They say that man only uses a tenth of his brain power. Another percent and we may actually be worthy of God's..." The Heroes sample is followed by a rambling piano and various effects. A chopped up synth rises out of the break with alien sounds skittering by. When the wobbly lead comes in we are well into the track. The piano returns during the 2nd break, and the influence of Talpa here is palpable. Pretty good track!

Ultimatum - More delicate tinkling over orchestral sounds. As the bass churns and metallic leads chime, synths blast you with wariness. The melody is careful. It draws you out as it pumps. The orchestral samples fit well in this track giving you just the amount of historical feel. I enjoyed this. :posford:

Sirens- The beginning of this track has someone making noise with their mouth, and it comes of like old cheddar. The rolling synth that follows takes over, and then we get a "goaish" melody which sounds really good. A bottled lead peaks in from the background and keeps the mood tense. All the synhs combine at the end and produce a super groove! Nice flow to this one.

Betrayal Of Sound- More orchestral samples and large drums. The brass is there along with the strings and it feels like a soundtrack. The beat is heavy with stabs jostling for position. Halfway through the groove is tight and keeps my head bouncing. Once again the end of the track is outstanding Brethren production with phat beats and head clogging groove. Awesome!

Allende V2- This is the 2nd version to Allende from the Wild Spirits Strong Medicine compilation of 2004. That familiar high pitched melody starts off and then gives way to a crawling arpeggio. The melody comes back and evolves into different leads carrying the tune. Pretty good track, but I would have to hear the previous version to tell if it is that different.

Conclusion: You can definitely hear the classical edge here. :drama: It works well for me. They still have their powerful sound to go along with it but they also created a feel that runs through the whole album. As I mentioned before Talpa (and definitely The Misted Muppet) must have influenced these guys. I think this is an example of setting the bar so high on their first album though that they were doomed to fall a little short. While not as much of a smash as their Legend of Cane, this is a nice complement to it. It's a good album and way better than a lot of other crap nowadays. Twilight music with a medieval slant. Nice! 8.2/10

Mdk

Artist: Tickets

Title: Dreaming of Places

Label: Timecode Records

Date: December, 2008

1. Intro

2. Dark Fears

3. City In Japan

4. Harpsicheek

5. Finish What You Started

6. Aurora Borealis

7. The Quest Rmx

8. Circumstances

9. Massive Attack - Heat Miser (Tickets Remix)

10. Sympathise and Mesmerize

Karma-karma-karma-karma-karma...

Bringing back a classic!

I mean...well, I didn't, uh...I didn't think it was a classic when it came out. But, like celebrities doing community service you pick up a few things. After his album Timelapse I was expecting more of the same and was a little disappointed he didn't deliver. No, you know what, disappointed wasn't the right word.

I wasn't ready.

This is a different direction yet he still hangs on to the signature Timecode rawness and brutality. The thump and acid are still there, but it's a deeper work. No longer is it just four on the floor power. It's rooted in cinematic grandeur not unlike Talpa's The Art of Being Non. Layers invite dark minor key exploration with a focus on atmosphere. Creativity abounds and it also brings that danceable Timecode swagger. It's like when the Beasties Paul's Boutique came out. I didn't get it, and thought those guys were done.

I wasn't ready. And they f*cking kept on till that one guy died.

But just feast on that Circumstances climax. Quality work that I can now appreciate. Looking forward to his next album. Now...can someone tell me what the f*ck Harpsicheek is?

Beatspace

Timecode Bandcamp

Artist: Various

Title: Conundrum

Label: Reckless Rhythm Records

Date: February, 2008

1. Seroxat - The Game Rmx

2. Shift Vs. Menog - Activate The Spiral

3. Damage - Accidental Rmx

4. Shift - Overdrive

5. Psychotic Micro - Shadow

6. Seroxat - Out of Time

7. Toxic Vs. Toast3d - Voices

8. Tube - Chaos

9. Twisted Reaction - I'm Hypnotic

Ok...let's get this over with...

The Game Rmx-

Oh...God....Oh God....*several more minutes of painful vomiting and dry heaving interspersed with half hearted prayer*

All right, cool... We got that out of the way. What's next? Ooooh...I think I sh*t myself with all that pushing...

Activate the Spiral- This is Shift and Menog at their acid laced finest. Well...not finest, but after that opener you would think this was some Mozart next level sh*t.

Accidental Rmx- Stops and starts with egregious sample overuse. Otherwise known as a Damage track. Oh God...here come the dry heaves...

Putting a good track in between two terrible ones...that's cruel and unusual.

Overdrive- Shift comes back (thankfully) with another good one. Now this is Chris at this South African night time psy best. But alternating between the good and the horrific...It's like they're daring me to get through this.

Strap up motherf*cker I'm in for the long haul!

Shadow- Ok enough already. Is this guy ever going to produce a good track?

Out of Time- Wishful thinking. This wasn't as bad as I was prepared for, however one must realize that the bar was set ridiculously low. Or to put it another way...

Still better than the WNBA.

Voices- Good Lord the sh*tstorm continues. You have to work really hard to suck this badly.

Chaos- "Took pills to stay awake."

Take more.

I'm Hypnotic- Etnica could play Alien Protein three times in a row here and it wouldn't save this sinking ship.

There's a reason the cover has question marks all over it. It forces you to ask those tough questions. Like what the hell were the compilers thinking when selecting most of these tracks? How is it possible for Seroxat to blow as much as he does, and how many sweatshop workers had to die for this to be made? I haven't heard a compilation this bad in a long, long time. If I was Chris Hoy I would set this sh*t on fire and briskly walk away.

"See you in hell!"

Psyshop

Artist: Chromosome

Title: DMT Cowboys

Label: Dream Vision cd001

Format: CD

Packaging: Jewel Case

Release Date: Dec. 2008

Track List:

01. Tales From The Otherworld

02. The Spirit Molecule

03. Reality Engineer

04. Vaporized And Confused

05. Am I in the Matrix?

06. Human Structures (with Ibojima)

07. Talpa- The Moon (Chromosome Rmx)

08. Daydreaming

09. Lucid Illusion

10. Valmorphication

Links:

http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=7710

http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/dvm/dvm1cd001.html

Short Review:

Most might be dissapointed upon opening this thread to find that it is not a full review, but I have only had this album for a week and it is so great that I thought that rather than wait to do a full review, why not at least post this album on psynews. It deserves all of the attention, and maybe someone will do a full review on it soon. I have been listening to this album like an addict on heroin ever since I have opened it. My other cds that came in the mail with it have been deprived of a good listen because I have never heard any psytrance quite like it. It is music that trancends. It is dreamy and full of magic just like any psychedelic music should be. The production, quality, and ideas here are absolutely breath taking, and each track has variation while consistently flowing together at the same time. I would reccomend this album to people who appreciate intelligent music along with the kind of music that keeps the mind occupied. This album is my minds perfect escape from reality.

Evan Bartholomew

Secret Entries Into Darkness

Somnia

2008

Tracklist

1 Secret Entries Into Darkness (9:53)

2 Cracks In The Fabric Of The Known (6:32)

3 Soft Spots In The Tyranny Of Matter (11:10)

4 Where Forgotten Days Slumber (9:11)

5 And Ancient Hurts Dwell (8:34)

6 Light Reflecting Black In Shadow (6:54)

7 Freedom Found In Surrender (3:23)

Evan Bartholomew (Bluetech) is out with his second release on his sub label Somnia. It's his second release in quick succession & alarm bells should be ringing that someone with such a high production rate is probably sacrificing quality for quantity. But as Caverns of Time was so good, I had to get this as soon as I could.

So how did it turn out? Well it's a very descriptive piece of ambient. It's dark, paranoid & very trippy. Let me share with you my journey.

1. Secret Entries Into Darkness

A cold night wind moves silently through the soundscape. The feeling of soft paranoia & a sense that I am somewhere I shouldn't be flow through me. I imagine standing in a construction yard at night, the large machines looming ominously in the shadows. (P)sirens wail from out of the shadows adding more to the sense of danger. The machines although completely stationary seem to come alive, they stare at me menacingly. I must know they are inanimate but I can't help but feel they are plotting to do me wrong. A very paranoid state of mind.

2. Cracks In The Fabric Of The Known

From my mild paranoia in the construction yard I fall deeper into my own insanity as the walls of my reality come crumbling down. Every shadow has a presence, every building has teeth and everyone I see on the street has a motive. I run through the dark streets, I cross the road to avoid others, I run down the back alleys to be alone but always there are presences. The doors here have eyes, they are staring at me. I crouch in the corner so they don't see me. The trash on the ground though, I think it wants to attack me. Why me? Why do I have to suffer the wrath of the night? The wind rushes around me, it is the wind of lost souls trying to take me down I know. I can't let them, I can't let them take me. I must be strong.

3. Soft Spots In The Tyranny Of Matter

I fail in my attempt and the trash souls grab my hair & drag me down, under the concrete of the pavement, deep down passed the soil, passed the fossils & the packed layers of history into the realm of the lost. Here I stay, crouched, cornered, alone. There are things all around me, moving and paying me no attention. Occasionally one will come in contact with me but it's cold. So cold. This whole place is cold, strange, I thought it would be hot. Funny how preconceptions are usually completely wrong. Swarms of locusts engulf my senses, all around me. My brain panics but my body does not respond. I sit there with the swarm engulfing me in it's blackness. All I can see for a while is the moving nothingness of the swarm. As the swarm dissipates my body moves. I don't direct it but it seems curious as to the soft light in the distance. I slowly crawl towards the light, scared of what I might find in these depths that could cast such a light but unable to slow my progression. The light casts dirty shadows on the walls beside me, each one has a mind, a face an ill intent. From the light I can here the sounds of birds being dishonoured & suddenly a light melodious voice bleeps out. Then I see her, standing there, surrounded by the suffering game.

4. Where Forgotten Days Slumber

She turns to me & her smile makes me forget myself. Where I am, who I am what I do or ever did has become like a dream. I want to remember everything but mind is now filled with only one thing and as my lust grows I can feel the wall of my existence being pushed until bursting point. I can't quite grasp what's happening & despite my overwhelming desire to retreat inwards I can't help but push out. The speed with which my new reality is removed surprises me & the percussive sounds I hear only drive my mind further & further into an abyss of nothingness. My memory blank, my cognitive reasoning deactivated all I am left with are primal feelings & instinct. My feelings are based around fear, paranoia & malevolence. My instinct tells me to seek asylum from the darkness. I dream of light, I dream of the light that used to fill the sky, of the light that used to keep me company at night & the light that was so recently taken away. Or was it recent? Was it not a different lifetime ago?

5. And Ancient Hurts Dwell

As music drives me further into the centre of the world I see myself across from me. I am standing tall looking back at me looking over at myself. How do I see me? Do I look as tall as I do? This place has lots of living things. I can hear them milling about musically. The buzz here and there & each one makes a sound that connects to another sound making music they are unaware of. I know it though, I can detect there secret song. They can not keep their ancient secrets from me. Trains sing as they go round corners. Demons laugh as they rise up through your heart. Psirens are here, they call to me and so deeper I go. I see their loathsome beauty & I itch for it, their song has bewitched me with it's gruesome melody & the simplicity of it is imprisonment of my mind, body but not my soul. My soul has gone AWOL & I hope it is safe somewhere far from this desperate ancient abode of the damned.

6. Light Reflecting Black In Shadow

After years, if not minutes, of wandering I finally find myself somewhere else. The light has gone but everything is clear. I cannot see yet everything casts a shadow. The shadows lift & as my eyes follow them I can see the pinpoints of light in the night sky. When did I come outside? My only memories in life have been underground but now those are fading away & I'm over come with the openness of the celestial sphere. Huge metal creatures hang in the sky, there reverberating statement bearing down on me as I stare up bewildered. Wondering how the black can look so different from the black. A shadow on a black canvas I realise is as perceptible as on a white wall.

7. Freedom Found In Surrender

As my world crashes in, the demons desert me, leaving me isolated & alone. the fear of my solitude is fierce until I give into it. As soon as I give myself over my soul rejoices. I can hear a beautiful melody played on an Earthly instrument. I think it's called a piano. It calls to me & as I open my eyes I find myself on a deep set sofa, I look around and people glance at me, I don't like how they are staring but the human contact after so many years alone in the darkness of the Terran Abyss is comforting. Nice trip they ask! What?

Quite a trip I think. What was only around an hour managed to feel like an eternity. In a good way! This has a little more rhythm that his first album but this is just as descriptive & manages to tell more of a story. It's a dark story however you tell it. how dark I suppose depends on your state of mind & mood when you listen to it. However it's always a dark journey into the depths of my soul. A fantastic feeling of death without having to die. To sink deep into the bowels of the world without having to leave your own physical body, or even your living room.

Like ambient? Get this!

Like journeys? Get this!

Like instantly gratifying shallow music? Get away from this!

I hope other people enjoy this as much as I do.

Distant System

Spiral Empire

Celestial Dragon Records

2008

Tracklist

1. Astropolis

2. Equidistant

3. Light Echoes

4. Gravitational Vortices

5. Time Circles (Distant System Remix)

6. Outer Rim

7. Cloud Nebula

8. Astromech Starport

Tyler Smith better known maybe as Androcell has changed the moniker & is out with a new album. I was expecting as the artist name had changed that style would have changed. For some reason I was expecting a completely beatless album which this is not. Instead it's a Ketamine laced trance album. Slow steady kicks, lot's of spacey atmospheres & beautiful beautiful melodies. I was not disappointed that I got the wrong idea about this album at all, I was in fact pleasantly surprised at the strength of Tyler's ideas, production & execution.

1. Astropolis

Instantly we are treated to a long intro filled with spacey sounds, atmospheric drones & wet rushes. I can't tell if I'm by the sea or in the ocean of interplanetary space. When the melodious jabs come in it definitely feels like the latter. I feel like I'm taking off into the cosmos & the deep rushing I can hear is like the roar of the rocket engines in the distance behind me. The more bassy sounds take the journey deeper & further into the cold outer reaches. The beat kicks in & it's quite a strong kick drum but nicely layered in the track to give it a steady but relaxed push. The melody really adds a nice warm feel & the little wet acidic sounds scattered top off the spacey alien feel to it.

A great start to the album, it's over 10 minutes long but it's over before you know it. the progression is great with the sounds & atmosphere being built up throughout & by the end it's almost rapturous.

2. Equidistant

Deep drones in the background like solar wind & cascading little melodic noises falling all around really sets this track, for me, in hyperspace. Not the quick Star Wars jump to light speed kind of hyperspace but the Immaterium kind of hyperspace. A different dimension, a dimension of pure energy, where your mind drips off the walls of reality as your heart races into a slow pulse. The melody, the spacey ambience, the steady but relaxed beats all send my mind out into this warp where distance has no meaning. The atmospheric synth, long & deep adds an incredible atmosphere here & when the oldschool synth line comes in towards the end I'm agape with amazement. Truly amazing track. Fresh & Nostalgic at the same time.

3. Light Echoes

A long intro builds up an atmosphere filled with suspense, & I am left feeling that the music is just going to kick of at any moment. The long spacey drones build and build the tension until suddenly you realise the beat has been in for some time. There was no kicking off as I felt but still the energy has managed to have been injected into it. The kick is pretty heavy again but layered nicely as to not dominate proceedings even on headphones. Different parts appear as if by magic & leave you wondering when they were introduced. The melody is one of these, suddenly it's just there inside my head, filling the music & breathing life into the spaces in between the sounds.

4. Gravitational Vortices

First up you'll notice that this is much colder sounding. The wind has picked up in the drone work & it sounds like a very cold deep space wind, filled with nothing but space dust. The tiny melodies that permeate slightly before & just after the beat kicks in as well as the beat itself which is the heaviest so far add to the cold feeling of this track. The beat, the structure & even the sounds really remind me of Aes Dana on his last album Memory Shell but with enough of Tyler's touch to make it individual.

Although the melody becomes the focal point and twisting & turning along it's journey, the whole atmosphere remains cold & distant. Very nice.

5. Time Circles (Distant System Remix)

The original H.U .V.A Network track was on the album Distances & I will admit that I didn't really get it on that album. It wasn't bad but I feel like I missed the point. It was a bit to weird, and I like weird music believe me. This remix though makes much more sense for me. A rare case where the remix is better than the original & seeing as the original was by Solar Fields & Aes Dana you can take that as a good thing. This remix has more structure to it. More rhythm & more feeling. To be honest I can barely hear the original in it, if at all. It has more in common with the opening track of that album (Distances) in terms of the soft floaty dreaminess of it.

6. Outer Rim

This is great. Way to mix it up while staying with the same feel. Although it's still definitely got that sci fi feel that present through the rest of the album, the music seems to have a more orchestral & a more glitchy feel to it. The beats are gravely as they crunch on the soundscape & the big string rushes sound like a space odyssey in their grandness. The lighter melody is one that just seems to ping out of the darkness. Really nice stuff,both different & very fitting.

7. Cloud Nebula

As we enter the final part of this trip through space we finally get to what I was expecting. The real ambient parts where the kick is gone & we are left just with the atmospheric ambience of the spacial drones, the solar wind and very light, high pitch acidity in minor places. A very nice if too short track that expands the space we've been travelling to into a wider, emptier void!

8. Astromech Starport

The space is empty of all objects. No stars, no planets, no cosmic dust. All that is here is the radio waves, sent from spaceports millenia ago but travelling ceaselessly carrying their message. The message of not requiring disk space or CPU power comes across in my mind as one of peace. Like trying to communicate that this message will not take over your system but in fact requires no space at all, if you'll take a look. This is a deceitful track though, as even though every time I feel like it's going to be a beatless finish, as soon as the message has been received, the crunchy beats kick in like a virus spreading the beautiful melody through the whole system bringing peace & harmony to my addled mind. If I was an alien computer system I might feel a little saddened that I had been duped but overall overjoyed by the joy that this had brought me. Fantastic track to end a great album.

This album I think could easily have been released on Ultimae. The sounds is there (maybe due to the mastering by ultimae guys but probably due to Tyler's skill) it's soft, it's got some light/heavy kicks & a hell of a lot of atmosphere. It puts me in mind of Asura's last album Life² but this has more of a journey to it. A Journey through space & a lush one at that. One of the best releases of 2008 so far & I'll stick my neck out & say it will be at the end of the year. Definitely one to get believe me.

Tyler (Quasga/Androcell) also did the artwork for this album which in my opinion fits the music very well www.quasga.info

Discogs says this was released in 2007, the record label says February 2008. I couldn't get my hands on it until then so I'm going to believe that. Maybe the promos were released late 2007?

Artist: Slum

Title: Sunflowers of Today

Label: Sunflowers of Today Records. (Really?)

Date: May, 2008

1. Deprive of It

2. It's Luckylife

3. Don't Miss the Aimed Loot

4. I Don't Think That We Are Defeated

5. My Turn, Again

6. Get Close Behind Men Only of Pretense

7. Season of Counter Attack

8. Go and Go, Anyway Go

9. We Must Choose

10. It Expands Toward The Sun

What in the holy f*ck? Look I try not to stereotype Japanese entertainment, but they make it so f*cking hard. Chubby dude in a diaper and a knee brace rubbing his belly whilst tentacles wave on his arms. For God's sake the machine gun out of the chick's ass is the least unusual thing here! Japanese people must be aliens.

Ahem. I like sunflowers. Not sure which is cooler the album cover or the poorly translated Ingrish track titles. This is Shuji Ichimura who is apparently the James Brown of Japanese psytrance. Actually I made that up. Maybe he's the James Woods of Japanese psy. Now that doesn't even make sense.

Anyhoo...this is his 2nd album and like all things Japanese it's a little out there. But since we're dealing with full-on it's a welcome change from the tired crap we've been force fe over the years. Take sounds that would be unpleasant by themselves and put it with a bass line and a hi hat and that's where we are. The power is there without most of the annoying things full-on hoists upon the ears. As this unfolds and I get wrapped up in images of smiley Japanese high school girls in ultra short uniforms engaging in ridiculous cosplay against a backdrop of intense colorful flashing lights while sumo wrestlers perform an awkwardly choreographed dance routines. I suppose this happens on the streets of Japan everyday. I don't know I've never been there.

The album is a loud and pumping barrage that makes no apologies for its straight forward approach. It's more in your face than melodic, but it will get you moving. Sometimes it gets a little too heavy, but don't discount the havoc his dissonant style could wreak on the dance floor. Acid, guitars, funky last track...there's a bit of everything in here.

Psyshop

Artist: Han Solo

Title: Hyper Reality

Label: AP Records

Date: October, 2008

1. Numbers

2. Delysid

3. Mutants

4. Hyper Reality

5. Lamat - Fenix (Han Solo Remix)

6. Infrasound

7. Smoke It

8. Wild Humans

"One of the things you learn after years of dealing with drug people...is that you can turn your back on a person. But never...turn your back on a drug."

What about a person on drugs? I ain't turnin' my back on this guy either. Hey wait a minute! I know this guy.

Man he hasn't aged a day! He actually looks younger! Weird Science...classic 80s movie.

In the spirit of the sh*t sandwich that was the new Star Wars movie I decided to tackle the album from a much younger and more Mexican Han Solo. I mean did you see Harrison Ford limping about on the set? I think they CGI'ed his walker out of the shot. Anyway this is Jose Mauricio Fernandez Galvez whose parents were apparently afraid all the good names would be taken so they loaded him up. Well all his names created a pretty good full-on album. Now I know it hasn't been cool to like full-on since 2002 and I've even piled on like the rest of you. And let's face it the genre has deserved it. But with this album there's a lot of development. Whether that translates into the "good" type of full-on I'll leave up to you, but I sure enjoyed it.

It's not just straight ahead stuff (other than the machine gun bass line), but the kind of up-tempo cheese that is light hearted. There are samples in every track (many of them drug related) and if you're on the hunt for some darkness, turn away. This sh*t burns vampires. But it's supposed to, and it fulfills its mission of good time music. Layers abound and the whole production is very shiny. I will say that listening to this all the way through was exhausting. But I suppose if you ate like a fat f*ck over the holidays you need to have this on repeat. If that wasn't enough to satisfy your guilty pleasure you filthy animal, it asks the important questions.

"Are there a lot of Dutch people in Amsterdam?"

I dunno dude. I dunno.

Beatspace

Psyshop

Artist: Tryon

Title: The Twilight Solution

Label: Hypergate Records

Date: September, 2008

1. Frame Intro

2. Skyline

3. Reward of Mind

4. Freak Stuff

5. Magic Cooler

6. Out of Time

7. Paranormal

8. Twilight Solution

9. Sidhartha - The Sleepwalker (Tryon remix)

10. Atmos On Fire

Ah it's that time of year again here in the states, where we consume more food in a day than most families in the third world get in a month. Obscene really. Our national holiday celebrates the extermination of a native people and outright theft of their land. What better way to commemorate that by doing what we here do best.

Overeating. We actually shove a chicken inside a duck and then shove that inside a turkey and cook it. That's actually a thing. Bow down to the Turducken! So much food I wouldn't normally eat, but how do you say no to carmelized pecan and marshmallow sweet potatoes? You don't. You just become their b*tch and welcome them as your new starchy overlords. And as gluttonous as this sounds (and it is) this all day foodguzzle is just a tolerated evil so the retailers can shove a commercial Christmas up or ass.

What are you laughing at Halloween? Don't think they wouldn't f*ck you and start celebrating Christmas in July. Syrian refugees are fleeing for their lives and we're doing carnal things to birds. Welcome to the United States.

Now...since you'll be issued a firearm (welcome to Murrica!) and the requisite 15 lbs of added weight if you're lucky enough to emigrate here you will need some high tempo night time music to help melt away the flab. Tryon is our good friend tickle me Telmo and he lays a brutal acid smack down with his debut. High speed dance music with dark atmospheres that also incorporate a little forest growl. The bass lines are out of control and he uses acid as his weapon of choice. This isn't pseudo twilight music. It's four on the floor controlled chaos that makes no apologies. Does it sound the same? Sure, but acid doesn't care who it burns. Very good stuff.

Now could you pass me some more gravy, I seemed to have gotten my second wind.

Psyshop

Artist: Psyboriginal

Title: Unleashed

Label: PsyPneumatix

Date: July, 2008

1. Surprize Reaction (feat. Chromatone)

2. Pinche Paola

3. Mind Reader

4. Chicago Style (Feat. Electrypnose)

5. Haul & Oats

6. Direct Flight (Feat. Daheen)

7. Unleashed

8. Out of Ur Mind (Feat. Combinations)

9. Reality

Psyboriginal? Hardly. More like Psyboring.

Look if you were looking for a Surprize Reaction, you ain't getting it from me. I'm no Mind Reader, but this is run of the mill full-on. And when you say Chicago Style do you mean sending one of his to the morgue? Or deep dish pizza. Cause...I'm on board for that last one. Here's what I can tell you. I'm cranking up the Haul & Oats, catching a Direct Flight to let you know that my disappointment has been Unleashed. You are Out of Ur Mind if you think this is hard hitting night time psytrance. Time for a Reality check.

Oh...Pinche Paola...I uh, don't know what the f*ck that is.

Artist: Various

Title: Bounce

Label: Materia Records

Date: November, 2008

1. Voyager (Aka Altom) - Dangerous

2. Mad Maxx Vs. Mad Hatter Vs. Audio-X Vs. Cosmonet - Deep Down

3. Audio Hijack - Subconscious

4. Kali - Deep Space

5. Vibraddict - Don't Stop

6. Ignition - Horse Race

7. Bio Genesis - Close Encounters

8. Speedball Vs. Psykid - Out of Control

9. Brainbokka feat. Varun - Blazer

10. Delysid Vs. Brain Hunters - Sensations

11. Audialize - East X-Press

Can I make it any clearer?

This is the perfect gif to summarize the full-on sh*tfest onslaught that was the psytrance scene in the mid to late 2000's. Every full-on release was a carbon copy of a carbon copy. Imagine swimming in a sewer underneath a Taco Bell where all you encounter is one rented taco after another. There is absolutely nothing special about this release. No standout moments, no twists and turns. Just 75 minutes of throwing up in a toilet. After awhile you're just numb and don't feel anything. Congratulations Materia you've just written the soundtrack to apathy.

Psyshop

I'd call this morning full-on probably, although it's not fluffy/proggy/trancey like a lot of morning material. But it's not super dark and twisted either. It reminds me a bit of the '02-'03 era when artists like Wizzy Noise were at the top of their game (not to say that it sounds *like* Wizzy all that much).

It's hard to say specifically what I like so much about Passing Clouds. It has the right mix of ingredients to evoke that trippy dancefloor vibe that I crave. No cheese, no lame vocals, no fricken electro. Just the right mix of beats, melodies, sounds, effects and samples. Absolute quality in every track.

If it had just a little more originality and a little more novelty it would be perfect. But as it is I highly recommend it to full-on fans. Very good!

EDIT: Sigh. I jumped the gun a bit on this review. After repeated listenings I'd say it's good, but definitely not great. There are a lot of nice elements but it's lacking a bit of melody and definitely needs some more originality to truly break out of the pack. There are no surprises, nothing to really get the adrenaline going.

Tracks 1, 2 (with Cosmosis), 5 and 9 are the best.

Ephedrix: Far Away (CD)

1. Astral Ignition

2. 10 miles out (vs. Aquila)

3. Firsthand experience

4. Frontiers

5. Far Away

6. Lost in velocity

7. On the road (vs. Alpha)

8. Evolving Moods

9. Prototype (Album Edit)

http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/dac/dac1cd006.html

Ephedrix are Jochem Peeters and Joris Marckx from Belgium.

They have been producing and performing for many years, but now the time has come to present their long awaited debut full album. 'Far Away' is all about looking beyond the sky, expanding boundaries and borders, seeking for the unknown. Their unique melodic style is bound to bring fresh energy and enjoyment to your homes and the dancefloor. Psytrance with uplifting melodies, groovy percussion, crystal clear bass lines and a pumping sound, a mesmerizing experience for body and mind!

Add tasty design and an airtight mastering by Silicon Sound and this album stands for the continuing effort at Dacru records to bring you only quality releases.

review:

The concept you can expect here is morning fullon not only as a category, but it is actual morning fullon, floating from one melody to another ephedrix takes you on an trip of traveling sounds where the sky is not the limit but just a phase of euphoria...

their sound and baseline is nothing new imo, we have heard this types off patterns before

considering baselines and melodies but again they prove the difference between having the gear and actual knowing what to do with it. They managed pretty good for a debut

album... This kind of fullon was the first fullon that created the typical dancefloor killer

style like atomic pulse, Delirious, astrix and etc... after a while most listeners became bored with the non variated baselines and the 6 min waiting for one climax a track... a second generation of artist perfection zed their sound and made it clear that with one main sound you can create variated morning fullon if you put enough effort in it. Artist like audiotec and vibe tribe were able to create such albums and more followed. Ephedrix is one of them... A good combination of samples with a major melodic sound that can fade away and

caress your ear but 2 mins later explode into a vast wave and bliss.

Mostly I have favorite parts when it comes to such a releases, remembering reviewing vibe tribe I had the same with their second release. Some elements are always present, long announcement for climaxes or upcoming waves, no actual surprise but you can count on the entire release. Ephedrix created their own sound in the beginning of the tracks, the advancements, reminds me a bit of some earlier rastaliens work. It fits and influences the psychedelic level of this release what is often low when it comes to morning fullon. The baselines are variated within the concept of morning fulllon baselines. The kick is often crystal clear with a more soft bass and ephedrix tries to keep it as variated as possible imo.

The first track is one of my favorite, it has the typical revelation sound power, that

becomes stronger. Consequence is that atmosphere is highly influenced in a positive way.

In the second track I prefer a part in the advancement where one wave floats strong and non dependent from the baseline what is normally not the way it's done in this kind of morning fullon.

Third track just has a very good melody, who we experience in different ways that speaks to

the mind, that's it, but it doesn't have to be more, you can count on it...

very nice...

Fourth track just like the third, Ephedrix are becoming on of the masters of melodies and this track is pure evidence...

In far away, the track contains more trance sounds, but you see it coming in previous tracks,

it's good, lower psychedelic level but atmosphere perfect, some infected mushroom (not for

long) but fits perfectly...

Lost in velocity has the same intelligence level like the first track, the power & strength

combined with good melodies and different sounds.

On the road has a great intro, well done, nice to start a morning fullon set, the baseline

doesn't accept no for an answer

Evolving moods is a good track, more subtle way of using their sound, less overloaded

compared to the others and I like that.

Prototype is a goodbye song, pure melody, the baselines goes along with melodies, surfing on

the waves of sound, again they prove to be genius when it comes to melodies. I recognize a

silicon sound sample from the track "the shell" and fits good...

conclusion:

to keep it short, if you are in a good mood, and you like strong fullon that is perfect for

10u in the morning when the sun is coming @ it's highest peak, this will be yours, no doubt

about it...

grtz k

Artist: Space Tribe & Accomplices

Title: Electro Convulsive Therapy

Label: Space Tribe Music

Date: December, 2008

1. Space Tribe & Mad Maxx - Time Warp
2. ESP - The enlightened hillbilly
3. GMSpacetribe - Alternate alternate future (2012 end of time mix)
4. Space Tibe & Mad Maxx - Electro Convulsive Therapy
5. Space Tribe & Azax Syndrom - Epidemic
6. ESP - Light up the dark
7. Space Tribe & Laughing Buddha - Atom Bomb
8. ESP - Deep purple haze (Star Spangled mix)
9. Space Tribe & Psywalker - Prophecy

"Sometimes you have to lose yourself."

I cannot believe he actually put that in there it makes my point without even trying.

At some point everyone loses their way. It happens to all of us and believe me Olli will tell you that he is no exception. As we get older we tend to lose it a little. Like when I ask my wife where my sunglasses are and she smirks and points to the top of my head. I know she still loves me and doesn't actually think I'm a dumb ass.

This came out in December of 2008 so...merry Christmas? I don't know what kind of mind altering substances he may or may not have been taking at the time, but this album is one of his wandering the forest with no pants moments. Yeah it's not a hot, but the potential for tick bites on the bean bag should make you think twice. From the get go things go wrong and go wrong like big girl on rollerskates. From the radical tempo changes in the opener to the dueling banjos in the Hillbilly track I'm this close to throwing this right in the trash. I get even closer when he f*cks with Alternate Future and polishes it like a shiny full-on turd. Guitars seem to be everywhere as are the terrible full-on cliches. Normally a healthy dose of acid can salvage almost any damage done, but with this...let's just say there is a lot damage being done. None of it in a good way. Just ask Jimi Hendrix who should be turning over in his grave. The lone shining star would have to be Atom Bomb which was a blistering acid explosion.

If I'm being honest other than his first two albums I wasn't a fan of his stuff to begin with and this didn't make me a believer. There is a theory that states whenever you see a Disney movie and that fluorescent green color appears then evil crazy sh*t is about to go down. I think it applies here as well. And while I often root for the villain in most movies, I think I'll be holding out for a hero when it comes to this one.

Ouch.

Album: The Core

Label: Ultimae

Format: Deluxe Digipack

Label release info:

Stockholm based ambient downtempo producer Thomas Huttenlocher aka I AWAKE follows up his digital Ep release [ Birth ] with a full length album [ The Core ] out late April.

Built as a journey of audio neural beauty through organic microcosms, electronic vortexes, deep, tribal beats and vast soundscapes, the album takes us on a pilgrimage of sounds, with scents of parallel lives, glimpses of the future and overlapping, coexisting dimensions.

A superfine blend of psychedelic spurs, groovy bass lines and catchy melodies composed with the collaboration of Krister Linder, Fredrik Lundberg, Tara Avi and Planet Boelex.

As a film soundtrack producer, I AWAKE is one of the key figures of Ghostfriend, a Swedish underground movement of creators with a "peculiar devotion to the present and

strong love for the innermost".

For the first time in Ultimae's history of releases, the artwork was created by famous digital artist and designer David Vineïs aka Sub88.

Tracklisting:

1.Complete Garden (Eternal forest edit)

2.Constellation of the Heart (native edit)

3.Neveritized

4.New Time Nomads (Bass edit)

5.Reclaim

6.Leaving the known (featuring Planet Boelex)

7.Unleashed

8.Rebreath

9.Journey

10.Inferno (featuring Krister Linder)

11.Reflecting Impulses

12.One

13."Hidden track"

Review

The first track “Complete Garden (eternal forest edit)” really lives up to it's name with a lot of animal and insect samples making you feel like

you are sitting in the middle of the forest. This sounds a lot like something Matt Hillier would have produced and I even believe there are some

sounds that he uses in some of his productions. If this track would be played among people not knowing who the artist is, I am sure many would

have guessed Matt Hillier. It's almost like a rip-off but it's so well done that I cannot help but love it. The track name might be intentionally comic or not, but it only adds to the spice

Moving on to “Constellation of the Heart (native edit)” A totally different track that starts off with a majority of electronic sounds only to

later go into more natural sounds with drums and voice samples. The pace is a bit faster than previous track but works well.

Third track “Nevertilized” starts smoothly mixed with the previous sample and adds some stronger (that I find rather annoying) voice samples.

A rather dull, boring and uninspired track that leaves you mostly unaffected.

Heading on to “New Time Nomads (bass edit)” we continue from previous track and smoothly as I hear it a guitar is added, that makes a very catchy sound.

Voice samples are still used but this time heavily mixed to sound more electronic which suits the style of music much better.

These latest three tracks has a rather “earthly” feel about them.

I cannot help but feel that “Reclaim” and “Leaving the known” are just filling out the gap before heading into newer territory.

Good tracks in their own right but they sound too much alike the 2 previous ones. These tracks might sound much better if listened

just on occasion without the others before them.

“Unleashed” is a very pleasant track with guitar though keeping it on the low side so it doesn't take over the track. The guitar still manages to give a very pleasant melody.

This is another of the more outstanding tracks that really keeps it's own style. Just wish there were more tracks like this one. It's also a bit melancholic.

With this track the album also takes on a new course towards a different sounds, the tracks 3-6 were almost identical with smaller variations.

Take a deep breath and then “Rebreath” (fucker) and dive into another uninspired track. Regular downtempo stuff, some beats, small twists,

Some strange voice sample sounding blurry as you are prolly on shrooms or acid when listening The ending of the track is nice though.

Most of you should be familiar with the track “Journey” since it was released for free promoting the album by Ultimae.

A great track indeed with it's very own style though not in the “Ultimae” sound. This track sounds so different from some of the previous

ones and this makes the album not retaining any overall feel. Hopefully the next album will be more focused on these great original tracks and

keeping a sense of the artists soul throughout the album.

“Inferno” sounds somewhat like the earlier tracks but this time it's very well made with engaging voice samples, melodies and sounds.

“Reflecting Impulses” is a nice track with vibrating sounds and a rather spacey feel about it. Great! Original aswell.

"One" that previously was the opening track now has become the ending tracks and works great as such!

These original tracks really shows what this artist is capable off and suits the album name and cover art very well.

We can only hope the next album will be more cohesive and has a more individual touch to it like these few but great tracks.

The “Hidden track” you will have to find out for yourself! Buy the album!

The album has a great opening just to dive into a more dull and boring state and to end magnificently. It's masterfully produced and mastered/mixed

so the feel of high quality is always present. There is a bit too many fillers in the album and also the artist doesn't seem to really know where he want to lead the listener.

It becomes more as a set of nicely together weaved tracks that don't really have that much in common. I awake needs to find his own style and really dive into and experiment there.

As for now he has some great unique tracks. But many of them are way too influenced from other artists in the genre or just tracks with lack of artistic sense.

A lack of individuality as to say.

Having this said this is by no means a bad album, and it has it's rightfull place in any downtempo fanatics collection. Far from essential though.

And by Ultimae's standards we could demand more.

It might sound in the review as a bad album but the great tracks I haven't taken the time to describe so much, find out for yourself!

Title: Planet X

Artist: Abomination

Label: 3D Vision

Release: March, 2008

1. No Comission (6:51)

2. Faceoff (7:10)

3. Medejin (7:46)

4. Hunt Again (7:32)

5. Vortex (7:45)

6. Exploding Man (7:55)

7. Planet X (8:52)

8. Fallen Rmx (7:43)

9. Jekyll And Hyde (7:10)

10. Distorting Substance (8:06)

This is Saar Davidov & Eyal Gershon with their 2nd studio album. Their first, Enemy Within was packed with dance floor bombs. They have released a lot of tracks on different compilations. The cover art looks like a flaming meteor hurtling towards another planet. I guess that's ok. Let's get to it!

No Comission- "The laws of physics as best we know them, don't forbid us from traveling back into the past. And when the laws of physics don't forbid something, and...we want to do it, then we usually end up doing it." The metallic synths take control against a wobbly bass. The bass is thick, and their trademark stuttering of the track is in full swing. This one is all out power and there is nothing ambiguous about that. Nice track!

Faceoff- "You wanna hit me? Go for it." The bass line takes center stage here as synths sit patiently in the background as the track rises. The groove is infectious, and the leads now move to the forefront. "I had to think about what I wanted...and what I needed. And now...I don't know who I'm supposed to be." The acid that comes in later is sticky sweet. Again, another power track that is less concerned with making comples synth structures and more about punching you int he face. And that can be good sometimes. Good track!

Madejin- Pads lay the foundation as spindly synths frolic above. The grumbly lead comes out to play, giving way to a frisky bass line.

More power trance with metallic leads, one after the other each trying to outdo the other. This is very good twilight music. There is a sense of foreboding while not losing the very potent dance element! Great track! :posford:

Hunt Again - "How far does it go down? All the way to the pyramid. I'm telling you there is no machine in the world that can get to that depth in 24 hours." These guys made a track called The Hunt on Midnight Storm II which was an absolute cracker. The familiar melody comes in immediately. Fat kicks, scathing leads, and lasers characterize this trip. The samples are well placed and the beat is strong. It takes a lot of stones to revisit a track that was already blistering, I'll tell you. This is loud, fast and it takes no prisoners. More please! :clapping:

Vortex- "You ever feel there is something wrong with the universe? Yeah sure. Well...you're right. Things like this shouldn't happen." Glassy pads shimmer as leads dance seductively over the hi-hat. The metallic leads are back, but they are not alone. The bass is heavy and this track blows through you like a hurricane. The pads keep the ominous feel as more synths flicker about the track.

Power.Full. Great track! :posford:

Exploding Man - "That man...with the glowing hands...he's the exploding man!" This is a collaboration with Regev (Azax Syndrom), so I'm curious to see how this turns out. The screaming string sets the tone while very sticky bass rumbles. Leads bob and weave as the track rises, and then other leads jump into the fray to thicken the track. I didn't really like the drum and kick rolls, but they were brief so with all the other insanity going on, a minor quibble. Wow. This is crushing my skull. :posford:

Planet X - "At the end of time...a moment will come...and the moment will pass. Man will be gone. There will be nothing to show that we were ever here...but stardust." Title track, so as I am fond of saying, time to step up. More minor key pads drop out to reveal a bouncy bass line. The synth arpeggio flutters down the tunnel, as pads greet it with caution. A scrambling lead tries to crawl from the depths, infecting all who dare to listen. The pads lightly tread on the surface of this planet, not wanting to fall through as the above sample is uttered. A different lead becomes the alpha lead and lays waste to all it surveys. Again, the only problem I have with this track is the build up that is way to...clich'e. Good track though!

Fallen (Rmx)- Obviously this is a remix of the track from their first album. Oooh those pads are so sweet! The percussion allows the base to pound right to the forefront. When the beat drops on the word Fallen, it is bliss. The leads set the tone, they do their thing and the rough percussion grounds out the bottom end. There is a lot going on in this track, but the beat remains very heavy with some glitch thrown in there. But, once again, the kick rolls take what would've been a stellar track and turn it into just a very good track. Stop it. Use your imagination and come up with something better to make a bridge. Others do it, you can too.

Jeckyll and Hyde- "The woman sitting opposite you is Kathryn Rymar. She's a psychiatric nurse with experience in...related areas. She is fully apprised of the situation and yes she can be trusted. If you approve, she's coming to work for us. For both of us. She won't take sides. Please consider it. We can't go on the way we've been going. In the event she decides to release you from the chair, the cameras are on. You know the rules." Very cool sample which makes me feel nervous. Leads pop in and out, with plenty of other sounds to widen the track. The groove is catchy, with me bobbing my head as the lead screeches above. The break brings another sample while another lead stays the course. You can feel the track growing, as the melody gets stronger, and then BAM! right into another break. The leads trade places and bloody hell this one hits hard! Very good track! :posford:

Distorting Substance- "Excuse me sir...stop what you are doing at once!" Wow, what a ride it has been so far. I like this electro/glitch start. The bass is thunderous, and you can feel it in your chest. When the bass line comes in, it rambles, creating a nice feel. Funky laser to stab transfer! One lead starts then is quickly joined by another and then a third creating havoc on the ears. The break has a techno feel with sample manipulation. Some parts of this track were good, and some were slightly annoying.

Conclusion:- Whew. There is no confusing this with the elaborate concept albums like U-recken or Mr. Peculiar. You know what you are going to get when you put this on, and it doesn't deviate from the formula. And that is good, because it works. This is music that kicks you in the nuts, robs you, and then sleeps with your girlfriend. Pure power with very fat kicks, heavy bass and searing leads. These guys are good at what they do. IF I could improve it at all it would be to get rid of those kcik drum rolls to a climax. Some may say that it sounds the same, and to that I would say, when you're dancing around like a maniac, are you really looking for deep complexities? I thought not. Awesome ride. This was a worthy sequel to Enemy Within. 9.2/10

Mdk