pr0fane

Artist: Loopus In Fabula Title: Fat Ladies Bingo Label: Fabula Records Format: CD Released: April, 2006 Cover: http://217.160.138.169/pic_b/fab1cd003_b.jpg Review: Loopus In Fabula is undoubtedly one of the most well-known acts in the more funky direction of psytrance, and so far with 3 full-length albums in their discography. Behind the name we find the two guys from Italy's capital for fashion, Milan, Matteo Stroppa and Jacopo Barbaccia. Their first album, "Loopus In Fabula" was released on Australia's consistently psychedelic label Demon Tea, and their 2nd album, "Astrofunk" was released on their own label, Fabula Records. Personally I've never been a loyal follower of their music, and I haven't heard any of their albums, so when I received the promo of their new album, "Fat Ladies Bingo" I approached it with an open mind. 01. Doofy Duck (feat. Ritchie Mantrix) [140 BPM] The album-opener is "Doofy Duck", a track themed over Looney Tunes' well-known Daffy Duck character. It starts out rather well with a funky, almost progressive grooves with distinct disco-influences, but sadly the whole Daffy Duck theme was over the top. Didn't come out as an amusing concept for me, just slightly annoying. 02. Controversy [142 BPM] After the disappointing album-opener, "Controversy" is a bit more to my liking. The grooves are faster and not quite as funky, the vibe is more serious, but there is still a small dose of funk in the melting-pot. It feels sort of like a funky version of Neelix - without the annoying, repeated voice-samples, that made me dislike his latest album, "No Way To Leave". Quite good track. 03. Dreamschwartz (rmx for Visnudata) [142 BPM] Next up is a remix of "Dreamschwartz" by the Finnish artist Visnudata. The wacky, funky sounds from the first two tracks are in more the background in this blasting remix - it's even more serious than the predecessor, slightly more on the dark side, and very intense and psychedelic. Very pumping dancefloor tune, but still with very fun grooves. Definitely my favourite so far. 04. YSD [140 BPM] With "YSD" the psychedelia is toned down a notch. It starts out sounding like the Scandinavian forest-minimal style from some few years back, but it slowly gets wackier and wackier, ending with some delightful and very bouncy psydisco-elements. Doesn't stand out as much as the Visnudata remix, but is among the better tunes on the album. 05. Fat Old Ladies (feat. Paul Kearney) [137 BPM] The title-track (almost) "Fat Old Ladies" starts out with some demented voice-samples and a hard slapbass before it incorporates some truly corny sounds that make it sound like an 80's version of the Eurovision Contest on acid - and I mean that in the best possible way. Feels a bit too messy overall to me though. 06. Funky Express [138 BPM] Next up is "Funky Express" which, oddly enough, is the least funky track on the album in my opinion. Apart from the "Funky Express" voice-samples it seems rather dull compared to some of the earlier tracks, and it doesn't really seem to develop either. 07. Feel Again [136 BPM] Things rapidly improve with "Feel Again", which is one of the strongest points on the album, and undoubtedly is heavily influenced by Donna Summers' "I Feel Love". The electro-influences are back, and although it doesn't provide as many surprising twists and turns as some of the earlier tracks, I think I can best describe it as a psychedelic version of Beckers. Really good stuff. 08. Rockit [135 BPM] The retro electro and disco-elements are left out in "Rockit", and it does feel rather nice for a change. It's deeper and more pumping than the earlier tracks, but the Loopus-guys still have a few clever, amusing tricks up their sleeves. Think a funky, twisted and not quite as pretentious version of Sentient, add a little bit of breakbeat and you have "Rockit". Another cool tune. 09. Lets Dance [134 BPM] Last but not least is a remix of David Bowie's timeless classic "Let's Dance". The elements from the original are distinct and will definitely cause loads of smiles on the dancefloor, but this remix is definitely a very original and interesting interpretation, and not among those "original + killer bassline" remixes that has been flooding the scene in later years. Let's Dance! Bottom line: As I mentioned in the beginning of the review, I'm not among Loopus In Fabulas most loyal followers, so I approached "Fat Ladies Bingo" with a quite open mind. It was way more progressive-psytrance than I was expecting from my few earlier encounters with Loopus In Fabulas' music, and overall it was a pleasant surprise. Think psychedelic and twisted, but not as dark and hardcore as the overly popular "dark psy". Amusing and funky, but not as mind-bending as the innovative Suomi guys. More on the progressive side, but not as sophisticated as Kino Oko. Like your psytrance good'n'funky? Then "Fat Ladies Bingo" is what you're looking for. Favourites: 2, 3 (!!), 4, 7, 8, 9 (!!) Verdict: 7/10 Links: Fabula Records: http://www.fabularecords.com Loopus In Fabula: http://www.loopusinfabula.com

Creamy - Creamy. Sublime electronic music from Denmark by the two girls from Creamy. Insane beats, high quality melodies and deep clever vocals make out one of the most groundbreaking albums in modern music. Also check out the "Æblemand" single!

Vibrasphere - Elephant (Lish Remix) Pixel & Wrecked Machines - R.P.N.G.C. (Silicon Sound Remix) FREq - Strange Attractor (Liquid Soul Remix) Vibrasphere - Purple Floating (Cosma Remix)

Probably also my favourite Slinky Wizard tune

You were right Charlie.

Yawn, it's really getting tiring to read your completely prejudiced opinions about full on. There is excellently produced full on out there - and also full on with a high level of musical content. Look beyond your killar oldschool spirtual bom shankar goa psychadelik, and see that there is much more to full on than Astrix and Skazi.

Not totally unknown acts One of the guys in Katayama was Anti from Spiral Trax, and Hyperion later on changed name to Domestic.

Been signed up for Psyreviews for some time now. Damion rawks

Artist: Various Title: Kwarup - compiled by Lennox & Nadi Label: Tupan Records (Ear Peaks Music Group) Format: CD Released: April, 2006 Cover: http://217.160.138.169/pic_b/epe1cd001_b.jpg Review: Ear Peaks Music Group is the new overhead project by the people behind the highly respected Israeli progressive label Domo Records. Ear Peaks Music Group contains 3 labels: Domo Records, the original label, releasing progressive psytrance. Gat Music, a new downbeat label, and finally Tupan Records, concentrated on the tribal and clubby trance/house sounds. The debut from Tupan Records, compiled by the two label-DJ's Lennox and Nadi has just been released, and the title is "Kwarup". On the tracklist we find a bunch of tracks by both new and old artists - mostly unreleased, but also with a few 12"-rereleases. 01. Leo - New York Vibes [126 BPM] First track is by Leo, who some might remember from his track "Music Design Revolution", which was on Tribal Visions "Lime Light" compilation. "New York Vibes" doesn't impress me as much as my first encounter with his sound - it's less trancy, more tribal and housey, and has a slightly gloomy atmosphere. An ok opening-tune. 02. Space Safari - I Should Have Known [130 BPM] Next up is man of the moment Frank Beckers with the track "I Should Have Known", released under his Space Safari project, and a re-release of a 12" from Vertikal Records. Although Beckers/Space Safari does have a lot of hits lately, I feel his productions are either hit or miss - and this one is a big miss. It does have some positive, smilebringing grooves and naïve melodies, but the male vocals are simply atrocious in my ears. 03. Shuma - Illektro Music (Sonic Lizard Remix) [130 BPM] "Illektro Music" by the Croatian act Shuma was originally released on Tribal Visions "Lime Light" compilation, and here we have a remix by Sonic Lizard, which is the musical project of DJ Lennox, the A&R of Tupan Records, who also compiled this compilation. Sonic Lizards remix has toned down the energetic electro-drive from the original, and made it a much funkier tune with strong progressive beats and very positive grooves. Good remix. 04. Chris Cargo - You R [128 BPM] UK's Chris Cargo, known for releases on big progressive labels like Renaissance and Choo Choo is up next with "You R". This is a re-release of a 12" from Kumquat Records, and it's a strong tune, that certainly has Cargos quality tribal progressive beats, but doesn't excel as one of his absolute best creations. A good track overall though. 05. Absolut & Blade - Crash [130 BPM] The swiss producer-duo Absolut & Blade have really made their mark on the progressive trance/house scene in the last couple of years, and I personally consider André Absolut one of my absolute favourite producers at the moment - everything he touches seem to turn into gold. "Crash" is another re-release from a 12" from Kumquat Records, and it's a dirtier, more electro-driven tune than the standard melodic trance/house from Absolut. It's simply packed with techy energy, and it's been a big dancefloor hit since it's initial release. Great, great stuff. 06. Mirowsky & Thomas Penton - Deep (Mirowsky Remix) [130 BPM] Thomas Penton is one of the most well-established names in the tribal/progressive house circles, and "Deep" is a collaboration with the relatively new Swiss project Mirowsky - in a remix by Mirowky. Knowing that Penton was involved in this, I must say it was a disappointment - bland, uninteresting, without any real development through the track, and lacking Pentons trademark power. 07. Audio Factory - I Am [130 BPM] Up next is the debut-release for the new Brazilian project Audio Factory consisting of no more than 4 members. "I Am" is a deep and slightly gloomy tune with very heavy tribal elements, a haunting male voice-sample and some slightly dark pads here and there. Nothing really groundbreaking here, but this new duo certainly know what they're doing - a strong debut. 08. Jokke Ilsoe - Static [130 BPM] Jokke Ilsoe from Denmark, also known for his involvement in the duo True To Nature, is up next with "Static". I love most of his productions, and this one has an understated electro-feel, tight percussion that stands out from the more tribal theme on the rest of the compilation, and subtle melodies and effects, but sadly maybe also too subtle - it didn't really grab me as much as I had hoped for. 09. Sonic Lizard - Flower Of Pain [133 BPM] The last track on the compilation is "Power Of Pain" by DJ Lennox' progressive project Sonic Lizard. It's an upbeat progressive house track, which combines the dominant tribal elements from the rest of the compilation, with electro-powered leads, which gives it a great drive. Not extremely exciting, and as good as his first appearance on the compilation, but certainly worth the bucks. Bottom line: With "Kwarup", Tupan Records have really marketed themselves as a label with a strong focus for tribal and progressive house. "Kwarup" doesn't bring much new into the scene, but even though it's not among the very best compilations in its style, and although there are a few misses on the tracklist, it's probably a compilation that'll be a small hit among progressive fans looking for tribal beats with a hint of electro. Favourites: 3, 4, 5 (!!), 7 Verdict: 7/10 Link: Tupan Records: http://www.tupan-records.com

Updated with the complete lineup.

Not the best deco I've seen, but certainly very impressive. I remember his decos being used in the chillout at VooV, and you could really be there for hours, looking for all the small details.

Cool with Absolut and Blades "Crash", and the track starting around 15" was really nice as well, but overall I wasn't very impressed with the set. Maybe it's because that whole dirty electro-house craze is starting to bore me to death. Thanks for the link though

Boom Jinx - Come Play Perfect W-O-W!

Thank you very much darling.

Space Manoeuvres - Zone Two (Terje Bakke Remix)

While I was living in Copenhagen a few years back, Rene from Bypass Unit and Color Box actually had a small studio in the same apartment as me. I didn't have much contact with him though, but did hear some small sneak peaks of his music at the time, and it was surely on the progressive side. I don't know what have happened since then (over 1½ years has passed), but I think his new project was called Haze, and he's played at a couple of parties up here under that name. As I recall, there was also a party with a Color Box liveset a while back, but I haven't been to any of those parties myself.

I have also bought my ticket already. Can't wait!

WTF!? WTF!?!? WTF!?!?!?!?

LOL

Jay Lumen - Perpetual Drifting. An artist I discovered on Beatport - excellent emotional, melodic progressive house/progressive trance crossover material. Also check out the new "Lima" release, containing a equally stunning remix by Snake Sedrick.

You are wrong

I heard plenty. I sadly bought the album without checking out samples or downloading mp3's beforehand - big mistake. When the original poster said he didn't want too many vocals, I just think the latest Neelix-album wasn't the best suggestion, since it's so heavy on very distinct vocals. But of course it's all a matter of taste. Again it's all a matter of taste, so I can't really respond to any of your comments. One thing about the Vatos Locos album though - it's indeed a mix of progressive and full on, but apart from one track running at 145 BPM ("Acid Maria") it's actually SLOWER than your beloved Neelix

For progressive with lots of melodies check out: 12 Moons - Solid State Vibrasphere - Lime Structure Vibrasphere - Archipelago Vibrasphere - Echo Human Blue - Electrolüx Human Blue - Electric Roundabout Ticon - Aero Ticon - Zero Six After Jaïa - Fiction Andromeda - Sensations Andromeda - Temptations Yotopia - Point Blank Lish - Free Fall S>Range - 2001 S>Range - Space Vatos Locos - Attack And Release

Couldn't disagree more. In my opinion the worst use of vocals on a progressive album in 2005.

Sorry