MFG - THE MESSAGE 2000
PHONOKOL RECORDS
Track list:
01. 08'20" Have A Nice Day
02. 09'19" Wonderland
03. 09'03" Brainwaves
04. 07'17" Walking On Ice
05. 09'22" Free Like God (New Version)
06. 08'20" Rise And Fall
07. 08'17" Welcome To The Edge
08. 09'06" Dark Waters
09. 09'26" The Message
MFG's first departure from PURE GOA-TRANCE is a very, VERY melodic (with cinematic-esque overtures at times), thoughtful, and unexpectedly solid and beautiful PSYTRANCE album. A part of me does miss the Goa heavy influence. At least something feels missing. Maybe it's that spiritual element that Seraph mentioned. The magic of youth? I don't know. But I love that this is NO ordinary Psytrance album either! It's engagingly emotive at times (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 9), complex (3, 5, 8), and contemplative (2, 9). There are some stand out, powerful moments. But the trip this time around lacks the playfulness, eager energy, and complexity of their previous albums. They've matured in some ways. Their sound is smoother than ever. Production values are excellent. It's just not PURE GOA anymore.This is a melodic Psytrance album with touches of Goa/Goa influence. The emotive (warmer, more euphoric at times) factor beginning with Have A Nice Day is excellent. I just have to be in the mood to appreciate MFG's psytrance over Goa approach with this album. In enjoying it for what it is, I think many will enjoy it, and if I were to rate the song's, it would look something like this--
01. Have A Nice Day - B+
02. Wonderland - A-
03. Brainwaves - B+
04. Walking On Ice - B+ / A-
05. Free Like God (New Version) - A-
06. 08'20" Rise And Fall - B+
07. 08'17" Welcome To The Edge - B+
08. 09'06" Dark Waters - A-
09. 09'26" The Message - A
CONCLUSION
This is a great PSYTRANCE album. MFG started out in the shadow of Astral Projection, but they broke out with their second and most definitely their radical third album. This is a mature, emotive, and passionately produced release. It's unique and has aged well since 2000. I do agree that it lacks a certain magnetic, playful energy. The album feels a little more digital at times, and that may be their shift from Goa to Psy. I simply hope others can enjoy this for what it is, not expecting a Goa follow up to the style of Project Genesis, let alone any of their past three classics. MFG didn't lower their standards to produce a conventional full on trance album. In stead they created a Psytrance hybrid of sorts and the result is a melodic, unique, trance-y, and engaging album with some exciting surprises, great usage of samples and musical TUNES, buildups, and climaxes. Oh, and there IS Goa influence regarding some of the mixing and synths incorporated into the Psytrance. And the last track is excellent!
Favorite tracks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9 A-