Trance2MoveU

Artist: Flowertz Title: Avocado EP Label: Ektoplazm Date: March, 2014 1. Avocado 2. FreeForm 3. Psychedelic Dance I don't like avocados. They have a very rich green color and look like they should taste sweet like a fruit. But they don't. F*ck you Subway it's not a super food. It's a super villain food. I even came up with a cool super villain name. The Chameleon. This three track EP is from Italian Gianpiero Fiorelli (like I needed to tell you he was Italian) and it's got some strong bas and head nodding goodness. There are plenty of sounds to enjoy, but it's a little light on evolution. The last track Psychedelic Dance is more of a mid-tempo piece, but it also suffers from the same pitfall. Pretty good EP, but nothing extraordinary. The mastering was done by Colin Oood giving it a rich, warm quality. Still don't like avocados though. Free at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Flight 604 Chapter II Label: Zion 604 Date: June, 2014 1. Sykespico - Travelling Fullmoonlight 2. Cymatics - Out of the Blue 3. New Born - A Fairy In a World of Machines 4. Nexus Plexus - Born To The Purple 5. Inner Zone - Disco Valley 6. Libra - Spectradelic 7. OctaPulse - Night Vision 8. Skizologic - Maya 9. Art of Trance Vs. Loud & Domestic - Moroccan Roll (Original Mix) Even better than purple drapes. This is like getting a supermodel to be your after school tutor. And five minutes into the first calculus problem you find out she just broke up with her boyfriend, always thought you were cute, and really doesn't want to be alone tonight. Good bye calculus hello anatomy! I really did not see this coming. The first Flight 604 was fine, but this...Every label has a release that puts them on the map and cements their reputation as major players. DAT had Etnica. Cronomi had Portamento. Suntrip had...well, everything. This is the watershed moment for the gentlemen over at Zion604. After their Phoenix compilation and The Green Room album from Deviant Electronics these guys have definitely hit their stride. Like a three point shooter in a rhythm they're heating up. Nah, f*ck it they're on fire! Classic arcade game shout out! Every track is a stomping good journey down goa trance avenue. It's an amazing display of melodies and twirling opportunities. New school? Old school? Hell no this is summer school where class is in session on the beaches of India. It's magical trance that you can't help but get swept up in. I don't recognize who most of the artists are, but it's like going to a new school and finding out everyone is cool. Even the last track which is more progressive than goa. I thoroughly enjoyed dancing to this release and tip my hat to Mr. Perpler for the mastering. The whole ablum sounds fantastic and should be listened to from start to finish. Don't know much about DJs (except that now apparently Paris Hilton is one meaning your profession just dropped in cool points to about the level of Rosie O Donnell sex tape), but even she could rock a party just by pushing play and pretending to twist some knobs. Top notch work people and a leading candidate for release of the year. Zion604 Bandcamp Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Cosmic Guide Label: Goalogique Records & Ezel-Ebed Records Date: December, 2013 01. Guide's intro - Burak Malçok - Didgerdo & Ney 02. Travma - Son Nefes 03. Imba vs K.U.R.O. - Uchu-Jin Deaimasu 04. Somnesia - Pyrotechnical Project 05. Shidartha - Tetalidrocanabinol 06. Ephedra & Goarama - Spiritual Sunday 07. Mindsphere - Chosen One 08. Astrancer - Hercolubus 09. Ogo - Kobejada 10. GoaTree - Goaliens "Since I was a child I've seen some very strange things in the sky..." "It's still good, it's still good!" When a friend tells you that he struck out with the head cheerleader it means two things. One, there will be no awkward fondling in the back seat of mom's minivan and two your friend has no game. Strikes are bad. Garbage man goes on strike and you're knee deep in banana peels and disposable diapers. I suppose a strike in bowling is good, but then again you're a bowler so you've obviously failed at all the sports that actually matter. Having reviewed this label's previous two releases I was less than impressed and gave them two strikes. One more and they'll be having lunch at the chess club table. The powers that be have clearly consulted the Cosmic Guide for answers because this is the best thing to come out of Goalogique Records since...well, ever. You can debate the cover art quality (no you can't even though this was clearly their best effort), but the music is head an shoulders above Up to Next Step and Astronot. Now they joined forces with Turkish label Ezel-Ebed Records so at the very least those guys deserve an assist. The Goalogique sound is characterized by an amateurish, raw feel and some of that is still here. But nothing like the previous compilations. You have good tracks like Son Nefes, Tetalidrocanabinol, Hercolubus and Chosen One. It's a very good compilation, but it still doesn't tell me if Goalogique has turned a corner or just relied on Ezel-Ebed to do the heavy lifting. Beatspace Psyshop Mdk

Artist: Passenger Title: For All Mankind Label: Phonokol Date: 1999 01. Reborn (MFG Rmx) 02. Hit And Run 03. Sundance 04. Tempo 05. Mankind 06. Xstar 07. Reflexion 08. Uplifting 09. Optimist Half. Meaning not whole or something is missing. Chocolate milk. If you remove the chocolate it becomes less of a tasty treat and becomes just a bland beverage that you drink because it's good for you. I hate milk. Don't tell me what to drink, you're not the boss of me. Dinner and a movie. I love a good meal, but if you don't make it to a dark theater how are you gonna try and get to second base? They frown on that behavior at restaurants. Unless you're at an Olive Garden. Mid week. Speaking of boobs that's why God made each woman with two of them. To be honest it probably wouldn't make a difference to the penis, but yeah two is better. The only time half works out is when you're dealing with chocolate and peanut butter. That's win win. Passenger is Guy Zurkel which most of you will recognize as half of the legendary goa trance project MFG. Half. Something is clearly missing from most of these tracks and I think we all know what it is. Well obviously it's the other guy doofus. But so what? The tracks might be different that what you'd find on an MFG album, but then again maybe not. Sounds that you've heard from previous MFG albums show up and that might put some people off. Perhaps they are less goa centric and lean towards the more psychedelic. And he obviously discovered his unimaginative full on touch with a couple of tracks. Ok now that the obvious is out of the way this is still a very good album and showcases Guy's vision. I didn't find it minimal in the slightest. Quite the contrary the depth and detail were impressive. The tracks became more involving the longer they went on. Someone commented that there were no melodies. Don't know what the hell that individual was listening to but I recommend a do over. This is quality psychedelic goa trance and I for one don't believe his partners absence is a detriment. I mean did you listen to Mankind? Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Pag Asa Label: Phonix Records Date: February, 2014 1. Glitch - Karma Bonus 2. Brain Driver - The Box 3. Remove - Be Water 4. Catarsis - Twisted 5. Sonic Assault - Edge of Sanity 6. Hysteria - Just One Cap 7. Distant Touch Vs. Fright Rate - Hilbilly Stripper (Distant Touch Edit) 8. Disco Volante - Finders Keepers 9. System Sequence - Pag Asa "The only thing that is karmically potent...is intention." Everyone loves the underdog. Especially ones you don't have to follow around with a pooper scooper. "Damnit Underdog, really? You couldn't do that before we left the house?" Hard not to root for them. Disney built a dynasty betting that you'd do just that. Rudy, Finding Nemo, and somehow they wrung three movies out of the annoying kids playing sh*tty hockey. Point is everyone likes the underdog. Phonix Records shares that mantra although with probably a lot less nazi imagery. This compilation Pag Asa (Filipino for hope) is a charity album for the victims of the recent typhoon Hiayaan. The artists generously donated their tracks and ll the proceeds go to World Vision, an international children's charity. The best thing you can do is something for others so when they contacted me and asked if I wouldn't mind throwing a review their way it was the least I could do. "Wrong herr Mike! Zee least you could do iz nussink!" True. But I'm not a dick like you. You know what hitler means these days? When someone smears sh*t below your nose to imitate your wittle mustache. Karma really is a b*tch isn't it? So here comes Phonix records about to dive into the deep end where the big boys play. Big Boys like Nexus Media and Timecode. Well those big boys better begin looking over their shoulder cause this underdog just laid the hammer down. Blisteringly good tracks like The Box, Be Water, and Twisted make the ground rumble and will have you running for cover. Just One Cap is another bruising track loaded with Futurama samples and brings to mind the work of Frozen Ghost. And if that wasn't enough they end with an acid barrage of a title track that could've come from Alienn or Ex-Gen. It's a really good compilation that is very light on filler. Add to the fact that it's for an excellent cause this is win win. I don't know anyone who couldn't use a little karmic balance. So get your wallets out and do a good deed instead of wasting it on yet another Alien Jesus album. When I say whoa...I...mean...whoa! Phonix Records Mdk

what a great review! I'm going to have to give this a listen. Mdk

Artist: CoaGoa Title: Transcendental Consciousness EP Label: Timewarp Records Date: July, 2014 1. Everything Is Conscious 2. Transcendental Consciousness (Tribute to Nova Fractal) 3. Frozen Love "If you have a golf ball sized consciousness, when you read a book you'll have a golf ball sized understanding. When you look out a golf ball sized awareness. And when you wake up in the morning a golf ball sized wakefullness." Not to mention a sh*tload of golf balls. Coagoa is Alexandar Popovic and this is his debut ep. The first track is smooth and subtle. The title track is more aggressive yet equally layered. Very tasty. The last track...hmmm. For those of you who doubt that inspiration could come from a visit to a sperm back I give you...Frozen Love! That title brings to mind hair metal power ballads and the mother daughter teams that throw their panties on stage. Cheesy right? And make no mistake the cheesy title is followed by cheesy and cliched downtempo music. Aside from the last track this is a fairly good ep. The goa is multi layered warmth, floating and melodic. It sounds great thanks to the production as well as the mastering by Deimos. These days it's not enough to just make goa trance. You have to also be quite a good artist in other aspects which Alexandar did with he being the one behind the attractive cover art. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Electric Universe Title: One Love Label: Spirit Zone Recordings Date: 1995 1. One Love 2. Out of Time 3. Orange Night 4. Galaxia 5. Equilibrio 6. Electronic Pulsation 7. Virtual Landscape 8. Visiting Venus 9. Nexus If you're only knowledge of Boris Blenn is the limp dicked psytrance that he's been peddling lately allow me to further your education. Almost 20 years old now his debut album set the bar so ridiculously high that he himself has failed to reach it. The entire album is a dreamy and floating experience highlighted by the epic and transformative title track. This was his drop the mic moment. So fluid with melodies that linger and meander sending the listener to the highest of highs on a trail of psychedelic bubble wrap. Out of Time was nice, but it unfortunately followed the opener. The last quarter though is a great journey through space filled with loop de loops! Orange Night picks up the pace (it seems) and throws you back into twirling and hypnotic territory. Galaxia is another strong goa effort replete with a bubbling 303, but my complaint has always been with it's brevity. And if you think 5 and a half minutes for a goa trance track is short Equilibrio slices a minute off of that time! The final cherry on the cake of this masterpiece is the almost equally epic Electronic Pulsation. Set cruiser to auto pilot and enter the dream chamber as the nebulae and innumberable stars cascade by. Virtual Landscape has some nice bounce to it with very clear tones where Boris shows his mastery over the 303. And Visiting Venus is another quality track. Nexus is like a tuxedo at a nudist colony...just doesn't belong. This was the absolute best thing to come from the Electric Universe project. He never matched it or even came close with the exception of Cosmic Universe. Perhaps he knew this was the pinnacle. He reached it and maybe decided that goa bored him. Time to experiment. Oh well, at least we as fans have this release. A reissue though with perhaps a second disc where goa artists of today remix the tracks would pretty much make everything in the world unlistenable. "I'm sorry I can't hear anything over the sound of f*cking awesome!", is what I would say. Mdk

Artist: E-Mantra Title: Nemesis Label: Suntrip Records Date: 1. The Entity 2. Wrath of the Nomads (Rmx) 3. Fall of Icarus 4. Gebeleizis 5. Xibalba 6. Ayahuasca 7. Mission Aborted 8. Orphic Hymn 9. Shae Nab It takes a lot to be a champion. To be number one or the absolute best at your chosen profession. I was never the best at anything. Emmanuel is though. And he has been for quite a while now. He is the alpha male ibex at the top of goa trance mountain. Let's look at the definition of trance. Trance: noun: trance; plural noun: trances a half-conscious state characterized by an absence of response to external stimuli, typically as induced by hypnosis or entered by a medium. Yep. That's what he does. Well what his music does. Maybe he has trouble talking to women, I dunno. Perhaps he is a sh*tty coworker. But his music? If the object of trance is to open your mind and get caught up in the swirling layered vortex of beauty and darkness then welcome to dream town. He opened the door to another universe in his distinct style where the portrait is so vivid and immersive you can feel it on your skin. His music is seamless and has the best flow of any artist out there in my opinion. If I'm E-mantra I drop the mic and say, "Suck it bitches!" "E-mantra Nemesis! Goa Trance 2014! What!?!" Jon's right, the whole album is a lush soundscape with palpable atmospheres. He's painting a picture not with a brush like mere mortals, but with a diamond tipped scalpel. Dark and layered the music is steeped in mystery and magic. It's in a constant state of flux rising and falling, twisting and turning. Entrancing and hopelessly hypnotic with breaks that defy description. Isn't this what we want from our goa trance? This album has everything you could hope for and in my opinion is the pinnacle of his career thus far. Taking all that was great from Arcana and Pathfinder and combining them into a journey like no other. And I'll go one step further. I believe it to be one of the greatest goa trance releases of the modern era. E. F*cking. Sential. Suntrip Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Twilight Title: Space of Time Label: Airglow Records Date: July, 2013 1. Higher Mind 2. Dopamine feat Biotouch 3. Feel the Music 4. Space of Time feat. Double Tech 5. Silent Hill - That's Too Much (Twilight Rmx) 6. Designer Dreams 7. Electroholics - Plutonic Universe (Twilight rmx) 8. Bass Walk 9. Undergroove feat Shake 10. Raindrops Falling "Substances, drugs affect the way your body works." Really? Chick does nothing for me. Nothing. Might as well ask me to stick my dick in a cactus. This is Javier Martinez from Mexico who also has a progressive trance project called Unseen Dimensions. As Unseen Dimensions he released an EP called Airglow, which just happens to be the name of his own label. So it's all connected in a six degrees of Kevin Bacon kinda way. To find out more about this release do yourself a favor and don't read the promo. It will make you dumber by the sentence. Don't they proofread these things? Putting a native English speaker on the payroll wouldn't be the worst idea. I know a guy if you're interested. As Twilight he released Angels Calling back in 2009 which was way better than what I was expecting. Nope, not fair. It was damn good. So with this album he combines the lush soundscapes he perfected as Unseen Dimensions and blends it with full on and Tiesto trance. Yep the floodgates are open, prepare for the cheese. But it never* came *Oh yes the hell it did! I mean I got a little wet, but not drenched, If I'm honest I wanted to hate this. Really I did. But you know what? I couldn't.* *Until a few seconds went by. Sure there are some cheesy moments but it's nowhere near the sh*tstorm I thought it was going to be.* *Yes it was. The full on isn't bad and his penchant for elaborate productions jam packed with sounds creates a sort of enjoyable balance. I liked the percussive interludes he put in the tracks like on his remix of That's Too Much or the beginning of Plutonic Universe. It's actually a refreshing change of pace album after being submerged in awesome goa trance and all the deep and mystical crap that goes with it. And boy does it sound great. Crystal clear. That said the novelty wears off after a few and then I'm looking at myself like I just had two big macs instead of working out. "Little did Angela Merkel know that cameras had been installed in all diplomat hotel rooms since the touchy feely years of the Bush Presidency." Yep it goes downhill fast. Sucked into a vortex of stops and starts, annoying samples, autotune, and full on malaise. So take it with a grain of salt. He didn't redefine the genre (far from it, he just added another shiny slimy coating to the sh*t pile) and most of the samples were eye rollers. This isn't going to be in anyone's top...100. But it was also filled with enough good tricks to make it... fun. Yeah it's kinda fun. If only for a little while. A very. Little. While. Now if you'll excuse me I have a date with a cactus. Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Panayota Title: Butterfly Effect Label: Kaos Krew Records Date: June, 2014 1. The Wizard Spell 2. Dream feat. Skazi 3. Heaven In My Hands 4. Take With Love 5. Butterfly Effect 6. Liquid Crystals feat. Alienn 7. The Atmosphere feat. Stereopanic 8. New Civilization 9. Zoodana 10. D'R Rudy Yeah...it's one of those. This is way you expect a sh*tty boxer to feel. Or those that suffer from migraines. When I was a kid I had those. Got so bac I would wander around the house in my underwear moaning, moving from room to room. Only to find sweet relief in sleep and total darkness. That is after puking into the terlet until I all but passed out. Which is exactly what happened when I listened to this. Panayota succeeds in bringing those horrible memories flooding back to the forefront. Thanks a lot dick. It's loud with more stops and starts than a teacher that likes to go off on tangents. Get to the f*cking point already. Problem is there is no point. The leads are abrasive and there is zero flow to the album or even individual tracks. And don't get me started on the build ups. It's like he was shooting for the world record. This is the type of commercial full on that is a recipe for a migraine. Maybe I'm too old, but music that inflicts pain isn't something I'm into. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Analog Dreams Label: DAT Records Date: August, 2014 1 Hallucinogen - LSD '93 2 Space Tribe - The Great Spirit (Original Mix) 3 Doof - We Are Free (Desk Mix) 4 Slinky Wizard - Funkus Munkus (Original Mix) 5 Green Nuns Of The Revolution - Ring Of Fire (Extended Mix) 6 Total Eclipse - Free Lemonade (Live in Paris 1995) 7 Etnica - Full On (Original Mix) 8 Prana - Voyager 2 9 Nervasystem - Whirling Dervish (Kaleidoscope Mix) "Let me show you something. That'll make you feel young as when the world was new." DAT Records is back with its latest compilation and the hype levels were off the charts. And why wouldn't they be? Look at that tracklist. Ain't seen that sh*t since Destination Goa. Draeke takes what is old and makes it new again, building it better. Faster. Stronger. Yeah that 55 Chevy looks great, but it's stunning with a new coat of paint and a souped up intake valve. As a special bonus the album comes with an 8 page booklet that provides welcome insight to the tracks. Love that. LSD '93- This is one of the greatest goa trance songs. Ever. It's full of power and mystical possibilities. Blows my mind that this was made 21 years ago. This version however is weaker and loses some of its gravitas. Think of the track as the elder statesman of the goa trance age. Don't take away his Viagara. The Great Spirit (Original Mix)- Olli's brand of goa always felt lacking and incomplete to me. Let's face it he ain't in the top ten when you discuss the masters of the genre. I remember album covers more than tracks. But I liked this one. Not a stormer, but a subtle guide with good attention to detail. It weaves hypnotically with a tribal feel. We Are Free (Desk Mix)- Not a fan of the repeated samples, but the crunchy lead synth running through its cycle is delicious and juicy. Funkus Munkus (Original Mix)- Very acidic with dark, tribal overtones. Ring of Fire (Extended Mix)- Kitty like original better. Free Lemonade (Live In Paris 1995)- I've never liked this song to begin with so the fact that it was recorded live in Paris is not going to change my mind. Unless it includes round trip airfare tickets then of course I'm on board. Full On (Original Mix)- Say what you want about this track but I really liked it. The sounds were crystal clear and all the layers were nice and bubbly. Voyager 2- You hear how sneaky that lead is? Dancing. Mandatory. This is what old school goa trance was all about. Foreign and exotic, opening up doors with magical possibilities. Trance state achieved. Whirling Dervish (Kaleidoscope Mix)- The album closes with a mysterious almost downtempo goa song heavy with ancient shaman sensibilities. At first there was euphoria with climax inducing praise. As you got farther into the release thread you would've thought this was a dud. Wrong. With regards to criticism about the mastering let me tell you for home listening this doesn't appear to be an issue for me. Sounds great on headphones or my speakers. I will say that on some tracks the kick sounds muted and others it's right in front in the mix. But guess what? These tracks are old. Some older than you. I imagine that they weren't in the greatest condition and a balance had to be struck when mastering the album. Didn't take any enjoyment away from me. I like hearing different versions of well known tracks. They're not all going to be hits, that's why the famous ones are the famous ones and the other aren't. Prana ain't Prana because they released Kollage. Someone said that we are reluctant to criticize our favorite labels and that may be true to some degree. But not because of some blind loyalty. Maybe we're afraid that they'll stop doing what they do. And we enjoy goa trance way too much to have it goaway. (See what I did there?) Making an album and releasing a CD seems like hard work. Harder work than I want to do. Especially if it's trying to resurrect older material. You're not going to please everyone. Sometimes you hit a home run and sometimes you put your uniform on backwards. While nowhere near as epic as Live in Athens this album is a worthy addition to your collection. Why? It's like listening to a piece of history that has only recently been discovered. Sometimes history ain't pretty and can leave you with more questions than answers. Sometimes you might not like what you find. Like you I love what DAT Records does and hope they keep doing it as long as the passion is still there. They have my full support and I will continue buying their music. Having missed out on this great era once I have no intention of repeating that mistake. DAT Records Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Fill Your Head With Phantasm - Psychedelic Trance Label: Phantasm Records Date: June, 1995 1. Akasha - Beings From Another World 2. Interlect 3000 - Gravitation (Sundog Remix) 3. Quartermass - Kali 4. Mindfield - Sphynx 5. Synasthesiacs - Channel 9 6. Mindfield Vs. Sundog - Ghosts On The Highway 7. Temple of Dreams - Oscillation 8. Sundog - Brain Capers 9. Synthasy - Spiral Journey 10. Taufactor - Red Shift 11. Mojo - Bass Driver 12. Silver & Steel - Dreaming of Disco Valley "Beings from another world have visited Earth before." Regardless of your political preference, this would ah...hmmm...this would explain a lot. The first in the series this compilation had some potential, but not unlike a two day old bottle of coke lost it's fizz near the end. The first few tracks were not spectacular, but solid efforts with the means to sweep you up and prepare you for takeoff with their deep goa sensibilities. Then it got a little too happy and trancey as if the compilers followed the pot luck method of track selection. "Yeah, f*ck it just throw it in there! It's a stew man! Everyone loves a good stew!" The quality and depth found in the first few were noticeably absent in later tracks. Phantasm was a label started by John Ford (Mindfield) and the late Simon Carman and you will find a lot of the tracks by Mindfield, Sundog (John Ford and Simon Carman) and various other side projects of Mindfield. The best thing I can say about this compilation was that while some of the tracks were unimpressive it's a mixed CD and it is mixed well. Hardly essential and I imagine if it didn't have sequels that were far superior this would have faded into obscurity. Mdk

Artist: Brain Accent Title: Orange Acid EP Label: Cyrex Technologies Date: 1996 1. Orange Acid 2. Anno Domini 3. Broken Dreams One and done. That's what this project was. And normally it would be destined to languish at the bottom of the bargain bin with the rest of the one hit wonders. Snuggled nicely in between Men Without Hats Safety Dance and that song by Big Country. But the guy behind this project is one of the cornerstones of the genre. Tim Schuldt aka Mr. Everything. Sure he is a mastering guy now, but back in the goa heyday he took the music into places you didn't think it could go. Dark places. Uncomfortable places. "Like the backseat of a 68 Beetle?" Precisely. This three track EP has two pretty hypnotic goa tracks in Orange Acid and Anno Domini. Not on the level of Pleiadians, but damn fine in their own right. The track Broken Dreams is pure filler, but don't let that stop you from enjoying the other two. Mdk

One part Jean Michel Jarre, one part new age style reminiscent of Enigma, and one part dreamy soundscapes. Actually there is a sh*tload of the latter. The sophomore effort of Asura is a floating one where the project even manages to make a track full of house vocal affects (Raindust) sound trippy. Sounds of melancholy are everywhere as is the attention to detail. Requiem From Nowhere is probably my favorite with it's head nodding beat and pads of sad. Even the short track Incoming has a heavy thud of a kick and a goa "ish" melody that is hard not to love. A very, very solid album. I think this guy might have a future. Mdk

I agree with Jon about a quality blend of ambient and trance on Asura's debut. Much more trancey than Life^2. Throw in the goa touches and there is a lot to like about this album. If I had one gripe I felt the opening two tracks could've shown a little more evolution. You've got a lot of chalkboard to write on when the tracks are over 10 minutes. Other than that the melodies and melancholy went hand in hand like porn and the internet. Mdk

I absolutely adore this album. It's never too fast or too slow. Just when you might be drifting too far away, he brings you back with 4/4 beats. Repeat. Being partially mixed helps it be ultra cohesive and makes for a dreamy and vivid journey. There are moments where I was working while listening and became hopelessly lost. Ever walk into a room and immediately wonder what the hell you were doing there? Lush and magical. Great job. Mdk

Just moved to my new home and am taking a break from unpacking. So many boxes it seems like it shall never end. Need to relax and the slow dreamy pace of this album hits the spot. I like what Abasio said, "It's never in a hurry to do anything." Just like I wanna be. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: If I Wasn't Human, I'd Be a Trance Track Label: Cronomi Date: December, 2013 1. Intro 2. New-Born - Unidentified 3. Temporal - Flying In A Trance 4. Portamento - Flying & Falling 5. Psysutra - Free And Independent 6. Artha - Faith 7. Dragon Twins - The Acid Man 8. Vila Nova - Genesis 9. M-Run Spirit - Implosion "What would you like to do if money were no object? How would you really enjoy spending your life?" Give me a minute! It's hard to concentrate while I'm sitting on top of all this uncomfortable money! Probably spend my days listening to music and then writing funny jokes telling people what I think about it. It's a slave master relationship though, you know? Always trying to write that next review. Make it funnier than the last one. Am I writing the reviews or are they writing me? Probably would be a lot easier if I decreased the volume of the reviews I did, but what can I say...I'm a giver. The latest from Cronomi (that other label not named Suntrip, DAT, or Neogoa) is a compilation of goa designed to make you think. It's been in the works for almost a year and you figure that's plenty of time to get it right. And I'd say they came pretty close. This isn't the blasting style of Erta Ale or the Portamento album, but one with more of an organic texture. It eases you into the vibe and invites you to explore its depth. There are some groovy tracks, some floating smoothness, and some haunting in an x-files way. I found a palpable old school vibe around these tracks with some rich detail in which I could lose myself. But that's not to say there aren't and that will lay the smack down. Artha, The Dragon Twins, and M-run rattle some windows and probably some fillings as well. So it's a good mix of several types of goa. A few gripes...one was with the overly long and repetitive Flying Into A Trance. Cut a few minutes off that puppy and no one knows the difference. Also I was a little disappointed in the Portamento track. Rather weak and lacking the intensity I was expecting from him. Good job Cronomi, happy to have this in the collection. Cronomi Mdk

No sir...thank you for your reply. You're awesome. *cue Jimmy Dean breakfast music* Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Under The Moss Vol. 3 Label: Forest Freaks Date: June, 2014 01 - Re-Horakhty - Ravebros (148 BPM) 02 - Tom Noise - Double Trip Tip (150 BPM) 03 - C.Monster - How Do You Know (148 BPM) 04 - Schizoid Bears - Rhythm Of My Life (148 BPM) 05 - Cenotes - Dive (152 BPM) 06 - CTO Gram - Marshmallows, Monkeys, and Mortality (152 BPM) 07 - DoHm - Moss Party (152 BPM) 08 - P.Tale - Ypsilon (152 BPM) 09 - FungPung - Anthill (150 BPM) "How do you know?" Cause I'm American and we know everything. Where the hell have you been? Anyone who didn't think the series sporting foliage with eyes on the cover wouldn't have a LOTR sample is kidding themselves. This type of music just lends itself to fairytale creatures and magical realms. If I studied geography solely by listening to forest trance I would assume all of Scandinavia was like this. The cool parts anyway. Having reviewed the previous two volumes I would say this one is more accessible to those not indoctrinated in the rituals of forest trance. More Wizack Twizack night time mischief than supernatural there's no way out we're all going to die dread. Oh it's still psychedelic as hell so underestimate it at your peril. Full of hallucinogenic atmospheres, bubbly sounds and screechy leads. Just not as heavy. Get more fish with a wider net don't you know. That said aside from the dirge sung at the beginning of Ypsilon and the insanely twisting Anthill (f*cking awesome by the way) nothing stood out. And that's ok. Because with forest trance it is most assuredly about the journey and atmosphere and this compilation has loads of it. A deep eeriness and mystical whimsy. Oaks older than man and moss retaking all that he in is arrogance has built. Structures are temporary, but the forest...the forest is eternal. Creatures that were the stuff of legend appear and we realize that they didn't just appear. They were here all along. Free at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: X-Dream Title: Trip To Trancesylvania Label: Tunnel Records Date: 1993 1. Trancesylvania X-press 2. Automatic X 3. The 5th Dimension (Live In Paris) 4. It 5. Live Fast - Die Young (Dedicated to BH) 6. Children of the Last Generation 7. C.O.T.L.G. (Triplet Mix) 8. Time Begins Tomorrow (Orbit Fly) What you see above you is the 1993 original release by Tunnel Records with the original track order. In 1997 they did a re-release as an enhanced CD with different artwork and track order. 1993. Yep the Rough and Rush guys have been doing their thing for over two decades. What that thing is these days I'm not entirely certain. But you know...they've been doing it. Now we all know their album We Created Our Own Happiness and how that zebra album is one of the all time goa trance classics. Well this paved the way for that and predates it by 4 years. 1993...what a year. Michael Jackson was investigated for child abuse for the first time. The world was asked how much money would it take to whore out your wife, and we were all introduced to a doberman faced string bean of a gangster named Snoop. For shizzle. This album could've easily been called Welcome to Technovania or Welcome to Ambientville. It's quite diverse. Children of the Last Generation is the most goa track followed by It and its funky rhythms, but they all have something to offer. The X-Press is soft trance with the shiny rays of goa peeking through while the nearly 17 minute opus 5th Dimension boasts a very detailed opening that eventually morphs into a trance track. Live Fast cranks up the noise and the techno factor while the last two are decent ambient pieces. It's old. It's dated. Some of the tracks go on too long. But it's still good and as I mentioned it gives the listener a glimpse as to where X-dream were headed with their next album. Recommended for lovers of trance or X-dream or one of the albums showcasing the beginnings of goa. However don't expect to just walk into a record shop (are they even around anymore?) and walk out with a copy. Apparently this has become quite the collectors item. An expensive collectors item. Mdk

Artist: Omnivox Title: Fragments of Evolution Label: Spacedock Records Date: June, 2013 1. Helios 2. Modus Operandi 3. What Happens Next 4. Liquid Fire 5. Eternity Speedway 6. Essentia 7. Moonwalk 8. No More Illusions 9. Nephandi 10. Weapon of Mass Enlightenment Ok that's just ridiculous. You'll be the first one to complain when a guy can't stare you in the face. Our cup truly runneth over people. 2014 has been an...It's just been an...excuse me... *runs over to model in gif and squeezes boobs screaming "honka honka!"* 2014 has been an exceptional year for goa trance. Rarely has so much quantity intersected with quality and for that we should be eternally grateful. And by grateful I mean reaching into your pocket and actually purchasing the hard work of the artists. The list of superb releases this year is too long to mention (the guy from listology seems to have thrown in the towel), but every label has contributed to this bounty. Suntrip, DAT, Cronomi, Timewarp, Neogoa...they all seem to be at the top of their game. So the sneaky f*cks at Spacedock tried to slide this under the radar, but I got ya. Wait a minute...You think I don't know what's going on here? Ok a little background...This is the debut album of Omnivox aka Tomislav Crncic. "That's your name? What's your real name? What was it before you changed it?" Tomislav Crncic. Really? Look at all those f*cking consonants! Ever heard of a vowel? Allright. That checks out. But did you know that Tomislav has "neighbors?" Several of them in fact. Does M-run ring a bell? How about Liquid Flow? I know this is off topic and no offense to Mr. Flow, but...that project name always makes me think of a chicks period. Gross. Change it. Now where was I? Oh, it gets better. Guess who else is his neighbor? Goasia. That's right, the same Goasia that started up a little label called Spacedock Records! They share internet connections. Calm down. It's in Croatia so that means that there is one tired as f*ck hamster on the hamster wheel. But having the stars of goa trance as neighbors? This would be like Kanye being my neighbor. "Hey Kanye can jump on some of that broadband?" "Yo Kanye, can I squeeze Kimmies sweater puppies?" "Yo Heezy, can I borrow a f*ckin' cup of sugar?" You see! Do. You. See? This confirms my theory that goa trance is the language of aliens and for whatever reason they landed in the Balkans. They hang out in groups, they use each other's communication devices...they are trying to take over and you guys are acting like everything's fine! *sniff sniff* Why do I smell alcohol? Aha! Right outta the playbook. What's the first things aliens do when someone discovers them? Douse them with alcohol! So the guy sounds like a lunatic! *Voice from the kitchen* "No it's because you're on your seventh beer you lazy f*ck! Now go take out the garbage like I asked you to an hour ago!" So back to Omnivox, he released an album back in the day called Inner Polarity as Vox. But Vox didn't sound anything like this. Well more than his name has changed. He's grown and I don't mean that in an eat your f*cking vegetables or you're not getting up from the table kinda way. He's gotten better as a producer (which is easy to do when you have one of your alien friends teach you the intricacies of Cubase) and found that hidden sweet spot where great melodies and danceability meet power. His Alien Humanity EP was the first hint of that change back in 2012 and it blew me away. Fast forward to 2014 and he's put together an entire album full of cosmic goa trance replete with atmospheric breaks and bludgeoning force. Right from the start Helios sets the tone with a great intro. This is straight forward pumping goa trance that will move you as it evolves continuously. It screams, growls with liquid sounds, and scorches. I can see the similarities with M-Run's style. The fact that it's another Balkan doing goa trance pretty much necessitates a drug test doesn't it? Babies in my country come outta the womb screaming and crying, over there they're booting up Soundforge. This is one goa trance release that has it all. Melodies, power, you name it. A great time. I haven't wanted to fornicate with an album like this since...since... "Honey they're doing it to me again!!!" Spacedock Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Bingo. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Snuff Label: Terror Lab Industries Date: July, 2011 1. Brain Hunters - Snuff 2. Ironstein Vs. Dani Filth - Dr. Stein 3. Absense - Litt Avskum 4. Sub-Zero - Antichristvs 5. Dani Filth - The Harvesting V2 6. Ironstein Vs. Excell - Tripple Distilled 7. Damage - Blowing Up Your Speakers 8. Hiyamyzo - Pussy Power 9. Zinx - Articulator 10. Stereopanic - Viper 11. NRS - Evil Men "Hit me...hit me so it hurts." Good...God this terrible. Why do I keep doing this to myself? Forget the fact that the subject matter is reprehensible. The music itself is one buildup and d-list horror move sample after another. For those that don't know a snuff film is a film that shows an actual murder of a human being. Now Terrorlab Industries has made it a business model to shock. All you have to do is look at their album covers. At some point (um, we are way f*cking past that point) the shock value wears off and now you have to stand on the quality of the music. Well, see...now we've got a problem. The atmosphere as you may have guessed is dark with hammering bass lines. Incessant build ups and a structure that manages to crawl in that fetid dank space between darkpsy and night time full-on. Usually I can find a few tracks on their compilations that make the misery a little more bearable. Not here. This album reminds me of the goth kid in high school who dressed in black and wore trench coats. He always gave you a hateful look and was into some pretty twisted sh*t. Well he secretly had a crush on the head cheerleader and built it up in his mind that he was just misunderstood. If he could only explain to her and show her his true heart, she would see he was in pain and that all of "this" was just an elaborate act. Naturally she's horrified by this guy and spurns his advances. Next thing you know she and the whole squad are found in pieces in this psycho's fridge. I think these guys need a sabbatical to find some inner peace. Right now their music is all the same just with different album covers. You know what might be cool? If they did a dark ambient album...Yeah, that would work. Same vibe without the brutality. Because this world cannot afford to lose any more cheerleaders. Psyshop Beatspace Mdk