Trance2MoveU

I hate to be that guy (no I don't), but this Ep is not great. It's good, but if the above reviewer found it, ahem...BitCHiN' well then good for him. It sounds a lot like most other goa trance produced these days. 4/4 time with a galloping bass line that isn't very deep. He's been doing this a long time and you can tell his production has gotten better, but none of the tracks here made me want to hit the repeat button. It filled my goa jones for a few seconds and then I was fiending again. I found his album to be better, and I look forward to his next one.

Current goa trance music: This album: This album is most certainly different. This is the Unikitty of goa trance. SUPER POSITIVE. Elysian Fields sounded like it had samples from Cotton Eyed Joe and then took a darker turn! Sirs, you aren't following the rules. Passing Spirits and it's key changes put me off, but The Fool and Tantric Tweak got things back on track. You know what else it is? All over the f*cking place. It's like a toddler running on pixie sticks six deep with a can of silly string. There is certainly something to be said about not creating paint by numbers goa trance, but to me this seems like...well, kinda like, uh... Do I like it? I don't really know. I love when things are different than the norm whether it's movies, music, or other art. There should never be boundaries on creativity. Keep pushing, keep exploring. I will say this: For me it's not instantly digestible. It's not the style of goa trance I normally embrace. It certainly will take many listens to appreciate (more than what I have currently given) which is a task I will may undertake. Nothing good comes easy, but on the other hand listening to music is a leisure activity. Do I want to work hard to enjoy music? This is certainly not your run of the mill goa. And it is definitely like nothing I've ever heard before.

Artist: Xprompt Title: Generator Label: Pureuphoria Records Date: April, 2018 1. Intergalactic 2. Pole Position 3. Silent Prophecy 4. Hypnotic Bridge 5. Birth of Impulse I've got a lot of music on the hard drive from Ekto before they took a powder and just picked this at random. Well, that's not true. I really liked the cover art. This is the side project of a project called Neon. Which means nothing to me because I haven't heard of them either. What I like about this is its straight ahead nature. But it's also what makes all the tracks sound so similar. It is dark and rumbly, high tempo trance that doesn't deviate much from what you hear in the beginning of the track. Scary sounds and thumping beats abound without it devolving into noise. Melodies are just a light touch, but it's enough to pull it together. Can't say I would reach for this over and over, but hell, I enjoyed it. Free at Ektoplazm

Artist: Pleiadians Title: Pyramid Label: EtnicaNet Date: November, 2019 1. New Dimension 2. Virtual Reality 3. Pyramid 4. Alien Artifact 5. X-Files (Pleiadians Remix) 6. Magnetic Fields 7. Spacecrafts 8. Cosmic Trigger Oh come on. Why would you do this? Why? You guys are f*cking legends of old school goa trance. There's you at the top and then... the rest. You could spend your life playing the old stuff for hippie burn outs at any club you want. Knee deep in 20 year old girls with daddy issues and an insatiable will to please. Live on the beach and be drunk all day and eventually become a shaman. I mean I get it. You're artists. You like to create and you still feel you have more to offer. So who the hell am I to tell you to stop making new stuff. Just because I don't like it I'm sure there are some psytrance fans can look past the tepid full-on bass lines and weak melodies. Surely there will be people out there that will buy it just cause you slapped your moniker on it. Legendary artists like these are always in a sh*tty no win position. Keep doing what made you a sensation and they'll say you can't evolve. Do something different and people will say, "Damnit, the old stuff was better." But...wasn't the old stuff better than this? It's like you jumped in a time machine and instead of going back to 1997 you said, "Aw f*ck it, 2004 had the Incredibles and Martha Stewart went to jail, it was lit!" I even tried to pretend it wasn't you. Like maybe if I take them out of the equation the music could stand on its own mer- F*CK NO IT CAN"T! This is snoozetown. Simple, uninteresting full-on. But hey, I will never stop thanking you for IFO. 15E for a digital album. You're joking right?

Artist: Menog Title: Party Animal Farm Label: Nano Records Date: October, 2019 1. Party Animal Farm 2. Kikkarapyllyt 3. Time Travel (With Mad Maxx) 4. Drunk On Milk 5. Heartbeat 6. Shakahama (feat. Sonic Species and KIN) 7. Computer Simulation 8. Radio 9. Mimosa Dosa (Menog Remix) "You're going on a trip now. It's going to be rough. It's gonna feel like it's going on for a long time, so it's going to be hard to stay alert. It's going to be even harder to stay quiet. But you have to do both." If you keep including samples that describe your CD there isn't going to be a lot of work left for me. I have always been a fan of Daniel Bernardo's work, but unfortunately it is no longer 2010. Back in its heyday night-time full-on was a beast combining minor key eerieness with full power. Labels like Timecode, Nexus Media, and Yabai brought some serious heat. The music was so intense you had to catch your breath. I even remember some crackers from Nano Records. But times change. People's tastes in music change. It is inevitable. I still love this type of music, but if you're going to do it, you have to be all in. While I enjoyed the power in some of these tracks, there isn't anything I haven't heard 10 years ago. From Daniel himself. Gone are the symphonic vastness, the storytelling, the industrial bent...The days of a kick and a galloping bassline for 32 measures are over. I'm routing for you Daniel. I am. But you gotta come harder than this. Psyshop Menog Bandcamp

Artist: M-Run Title: Live Session Album Label: Cronomi Records Date: March, 2020 1. Live Session 1 - A Trip to Andromeda 2. Live Session 2 - Technosonic 3. Live Session 3 - Spiral Cloud 4. Live Session 4 - Chronos (Live Version) 5. Live Session 5 - The Magic Mug 6. Live Session 6 - The Redeemer 7. Live Session 7 - Hexagon 8. Live Session 8 - Oxigenated Seal What's this? A new M-run album? Sure, I'll dig into this. Let me get a cup of coffee first to keep focused. Hold my calls. Ahhh...that's the stuff. Now let's see...M-run for those that don't know is Mario Matakovic from Croatia and this is his second album. His first Some Run Just For Fun was a revelation in the goa trance scene. Easily a classic chock full of butt shaking grooves that took goa into directions never before seen. If you're a fan of goa trance it is mandatory listening. So with his second album for the Cronomi label he embarked on a very ambitious project, giving us a behind the scene look how he creates his music in the studio. So he created his tracks, practiced and rehearsed shooting for a recording in one take. Do you realize how difficult and extraordinary that is? Easy? Sure, maybe for an octopus. But to control an entire track and play it flawlessly in one take? And each track had a different hardware setup? I wonder how much F word was uttered during those takes. How many cats were kicked because he messed up one little bit and had to start all over again? I wouldn't be surprised if he was sick to death of playing these tracks. If I were you Mario I would be looking over my shoulder for PETA. They don't take kindly to cat kicking. "Ok Mario...take 76. F*cking hell." So what's the music like? First I'll say this is not Some Run II. Yes there are plenty of grooves and his production is second to none. Each track is its own tale and it is super easy to get lost inside. While his first album was an atom bomb with one jaw dropping moment after another this one is more laid back. It's not so much a "get on the dancefloor album" (although you could certainly dance to it), but more of a cerebral relaxed vibe. There are plenty of head bobbing beats and space age sound effects and even some times where it is powerful (Spiral Cloud, Hexagon). His production is second to none (love me some kicks without hi-hats to start a track) and I can honestly say it grows on me with each repeated listen. The all important first track sets the tone, bringing an organic and mysterious allure. Technosonic with its vocoded speech brings a down and dirty groove. The Magic Mug is like sitting in a groovy cauldron during an Egyptian summer. The Redeemer carries such a funky swagger while continuously building on its foundation that it is instantly one of my favorites. I would say this is another triumph for Mario. His two albums are distinctly different, but share equally impressive music. I heartily recommend this album. Cronomi Bandcamp

Artist: Lifeforms Title: Into The Wild Label: Iboga Records Date: September, 2019 1. Into The WIld 2. Eden 3. Mellow 4. Ahead of Us 5. Lost Behind 6. Raw 7. One of A Kind 8. Away From Here Man I had forgotten about this Israeli project! They made the type of music that refused to be shoe horned into a box. Psytrance, progressive, goa...all with delicate and symphonic touches. It's deep music and is great for those looking for more than just 4/4 beats. And they jump right in with the title track that is a combination of all three. Starts of with a growing progressive vibe, slowly morphs into a psytrance track and then BAM!!...goa trance. What I really like about the tracks is the way they seamlessly slip into a break and expand in a new direction. They go in like a lamb and out like a lion. Also impressed with their samples and the sample placement. When done correctly it really adds to the track. It's not a perfect album and sometimes it falls prey to the cliche's of trance music, but those moments are few. While not as heavily layered as the Nertum album (by far my favorite) this is still a solid offering for those who still want to love psytrance. Psyshop

Aritst: Mystica Title: Single Collection Label: Classic Goa Trax Date: November, 2019 1. Expose 2. Orly's Remix 3. Ever Rest 4. Jamiroquai 5. African Horizon 6. Yellow Pearl 7. Kalimenjaro 8. Ethnic Treasures 9. Bliss With DAT Records and Suntrip creating sub-labels that offer digital releases from old school artists that have mostly gone unheard we have a nice window into some nice music. Mystica (also known as One Man Game) was an Israeli project that was never on my must hear list. Aside from Expose and Orly's Remix (both very good tracks) I am not an avid fan. This digital collection therefore is great for those that aren't familiar with most of their work. And I gotta tell you it was a pleasant surprise. First thing I noticed is its steeped in the Israeli sound. Very upbeat and danceable. These tracks were on some EP's and compilations that people might have missed. I know I did. The sound palette is limited (nothing like the infinite layers of today's production), but they do a great job with what they have. It's always in motion and constantly evolving. Unmistakably goa trance. And good goa trance at that. Ethnic Treasures blew me away! Great job Suntrip and I look forward to more releases! Classic Goa Trax Bandcamp

Artist: The Maniac Title: A Treatise On Acid Label: Timewarp Records Date: February, 2019 1. Praise the Acid 2. Computer Controlled 3. MK Ultra 4. Losing Sanity 5. Hypnogogic 6. Back To Psychosis 7. Acid In The Circuit 8. Corrosion 9. Overdose 10. A Treatise On Acid Goa trance from India? You mean the actual birthplace of the whole she banga bang? What a novel concept. I have been aware of this artist for awhile, but nothing he has yet done really stuck with me. Until now. This is an acid tsunami with screaming 303 sounds that move from growling to screeching in every track. It's thumping beat is the framework for the dance party. This is not a storytelling album so much as a cardiovascular exercise and I'll be the first to admit it is so frenetic and intense you might have to take periodic breaks. Do some housework, play with your kids, then come back to it. Timewarp is a digital label that produces so much material that it's easy to get buried, but don't sleep on this gem if you love acid. Timewarp Bandcamp

The first track is a marvelous introduction to good, old fashioned, danceable goa trance. My head was bobbing the whole way through. Bot is more floaty, trance, but it has multiple levels to enjoy. Floating Orbit twists and turns in a seemingly never ending spiral. The melody in Forever After hits just right without pause and harkens back to the day of Etnica. I didn't care for the rambling Hey! with its up and down key changes, but Freaky Fungus reminds me of Bypass Unit with it's bouncing melody. The album closes with the almost obligatory downtempo goa track and it was everything you could hope for. Dark, mysterious, lush... I applaud what Draeke is doing with this sublabel allowing obscure artists and tracks we've maybe never heard of see the light of day. It's true that the sound quality is not up to today's standards, but recall when the music was made and what equipment they had to work with. Overall it's pretty solid and an enjoyable listen.

Same. Aggressive, melodic, and layered.

I mean, I know I'm supposed to like it and I really want it to be a stunning release, but... Let's be honest unless your have a Trump supporter-esque level of sycophancy this release isn't gonna make it on most people's top ten. Hell it's not even the best in their own catalog. It's good, but not Etnica out of retirement good. Or D5 good. IMHO it lacks depth, doesn't have the explosive power that a lot of releases today have, and it really seems to be a stripped down version of what they used to do. Good, but not great. I definitely expected more.

The detailed and lush breaks make this a worthwhile listen as does the rich instrumentality.

I tried listening to this on headphones when I first received it. Mistake. This ain't the type of music to keep to yourself. It must be shared if only to blunt its concussive force. If I had to describe it in one word... Intense. My ears feel like they need a me too movement based on that aural assault. The bass line hammers the tympanic membrane like a uh, bass drum. All the sounds (did he try and choose only the most abrasive leads?) seem to have the same volume. Loud. Imagine baking a cake with bunches of layers then force feeding someone until they pop. Disgusting, but apt. Once you get past the volume of material presented here you can then break it down and see how he builds his works. Some of it is so lush and detailed that I couldn't come close to appreciating this on the first or second listen. Once I took the headphones off to mitigate the damage things began to fall into place. Multiple layers at high speed with zero respite. High speed goa trance that is intended to overwhelm. Ever have those times when you're so juiced up that all you wanted to do was break stuff? Allow me to introduce you to the soundtrack. "Eat that sh*t Porky!"

I didn't set out to write a review. It just happened. You know, those words were said to me many years ago, but...replace the words "write a review" with "f*ck this guy while you're thousands of miles away" and... the rest stands on its own. We've all been there, good times! Rudy gets it. Anyhoo... Loved the aggressive remix of the Chi-A.D. classic. The problem with the original was the overkill on the sample which was fixed here. Like the original reviewer said, it's a bit too short, but what a great start! In typical Global Sect fashion it's a cosmos rending supernova, leaving mass destruction in it's wake. Loads of power, twisting goa leads, and in the case of the team up with Alienapia soul crunching guitar riffs being less strummed and more pounded out on the fret board. The title track blisters and has about as must subtlety as a fart in the doctor's office. Acid Mantra combines the depths of space along with the spirituality of searching for a higher power. His take on Phenomena is a mellow re-imagining, sort of stripped down that I felt was the weakest track on the entire album. Inner Energy closes it out with a slower, if not gentler approach, but remains distinctly goa. This is not an album that is exploring new territory. It's traveling over well trod terrain, but does it well. A sign of a good album is how fast it seems to go by and before I knew it the last track was over. Hats off to Global Sect, they've been consistently releasing quality material.

The whole thing a treasure of goa trance music that should be in everyone's collection. But that Live Cd...brilliant.

Artist: Nertum Title: Consciousness Awakened Label: Sourcecode Transmissions Date: December, 2018 1. Cosmic Field 2. Metaphysical Energy 3. Infinite Voyage 4. Magic Forces 5. Transcending Dimension 6. Universal Code 7. Consciousness Awakened 8. Fractal Geometry 9. Equilibrium Temple I haven't done one of these in a while so please bear with me as I try and figure it out. This project is the collaboration between Serbian powerhouses Lyktum and Nerso. Each are progressive superstars in their own right having mastered the prog-psy genre, but put them together and you get a Voltron like warrior beast. Now they do what they do, creating cosmic soundscapes with epic melodies and breaks that ooze with lush layers and intrigue. The production is top notch bursting with power and listening to this on headphones makes this the perfect vehicle for a trip into deep space. Some of the metrics that are often used to judge an album say that this should be forgotten. Original? Nope, we've heard this style many times before. Varied tracks throughout the album? Uh, negative. But this works. And it works super well. As Padmapani mentioned in this thread it has a very Ovnimoon or E-Clip style and I have been enjoying it immensely. Sourcecode Transmissions Bandcamp Psyshop Psyshop Digital Beatspace

Still the most funky and rhythmic goa trance album ever.