Trance2MoveU

Artist: Green Nuns of the Revolution Title: Green Nuns Remix EP Label: Phantasm Records Date: 1999 1. Tufaan - Tufaan (Green Nuns Flakey '99 mix) 2. Mindfield - Sphynx (Green Nuns Remix) "I can't get that song out of my head!" GNOTR and Tufaan are almost the same people so their cross track remixes make sense. On this EP the Nuns also tackle a Mindfield track. What you get is lots of effects with a decided lean towards the techno side of things. It wins as a remix ep because it's very different from the originals. It gets added bonus points for remaining true to the goa sound picture. If you like the stuff Anjuna is putting out these days than you'll love this. Mdk

Artist: ManMadeMan Title: Hex EP Label: Matsuri Productions Date: 1996 1. Hex 2. Elevator 3. Trancesiva Another ManMadeMan ep and another instance where I'm wondering where's the f*cking chocolate? It's not like they threw together a garlic sundae, but this continual mediocrity is frustrating. It's as if they do just enough to call it goa and leave you to sort it out. Hex had zero twists and zero turns. Elevator was better, but they seem to get to a point and then set the cruise control. Where's the detail? Where's the complexity? Hello? Hey people! You left the sequencer running! I've held back comparing them to other goa trance producers from the past, but there's a reason why this project can't crack my top twenty. Get that deity off the record. You don't deserve that. Mdk

Never heard of this gentleman. The title track is a frenetic bit of scratchy goa that appeals to me. The break is good and it reorganizes for another go. The synth lick in Drums of the Temple is mysterious. See what I did there? But, and call me out on this one, shouldn't a track with drums in the title have a wee bit more than a kick drum? We get some more percussion at the 6 minute mark, but that repetitive synth riff and heavy exhalation wore me out. I'm tired. Mdk

This is a psychedelic wet dream. A mixture of goa and psytrance this compilation is detailed and for lack of a better word...noisy. I found I appreciated it more when isolated so I could concentrate on the copious amount of effects. Simon Posford and his brand of controlled entropy are all over this where all the tracks are riddled with constantly evolving subplots. Tie a rope around your waist and dive into this vivid journey. Mdk

Artist: Space Tribe Title: Time S-T-R-E-T-C-H Label: Spirit Zone Recordings Date: February, 2004 1. Infinity and Beyond 2. All reality is virtual 3. Timestretch 4. Giants 5. See the light remix 6. Reverse time 7. Alternate Future remix 8. Nothing is impossible "You know your own future...which means you can change it!" I'm tired of picking on Boris Blenn. Too easy. So let's take a look at his chiral non-superimposable mirror image Olli Wisdom. He was also active in the goa era though I would argue more well known for his album covers than his music. Everyone remembers the pope rocking out with some headphones. But he's also a businessman. Need fluffy lime green camouflage pants? He's your guy. Good God that sh*t is hideous. But like Boris he moved towards a full on style with an acidic edge. Darker with a science fiction atmosphere. And with this album you can hear the heavy acid use. It's now ten years old and some of the shine has come off. Indeed other artists and even he himself have taken the night time twilight sound to more aggressive and chaotic levels. This sounds rather tame today without a lot of the bombast that you might find from artists like Ex-Gen or Alienn. Now I want to say that even though it's getting a little long in the tooth, it's still a good album. Acid aplenty and good samples make this a good one for the dancefloor. I throw this on at home and it still rattles the windows. Recommended for lovers of this sound. Psyshop Mdk

"Everything is spiritual, everything...has a spirit." Jikooha have always been those Asian guys who make goa trance. Not part of the mainstream group of artists that we all know their sound is a little left of center. Kind of like Japanese game shows. Seriously, what the f*ck? They are an acquired taste that is more Kuro than E-mantra. With their fourth album they continue that trend. Sounding old school it's still like nothing out there today. At times it seems discordant (at times, bullsh*t, a lot of the time) where leads compete for dominance. Right off the bat Visionaries sounds like there are two different tracks playing at the same time. But just before it becomes too much for the ear they bring you back and make you realize what a great f*cking ride that was. So now I'm standing here asking myself did that just happen? This sounds like I was dragged into the Tokyo underground, partied all night with hot chicks dressed as school girls, hung out with octopi and dragons with a British accent, only to be escorted back to the surface by anime characters when the sun came up. Relentlessly melodic and trance inducing with screeching leads. Domo you glorious bastards. Bandcamp Mdk

X-dream? Total false advertising. My X-dreams usually result in immediate shame and an increase in laundry. This duo has achieved legendary status in the goa realm and rightly so. Panic In Paradise is billed as a collection of B-sides, but when your b-sides are better than a lot of artists a-sides, then...well you're doing something right. On this album Rough and Rush showcase the progressive side of goa trance. Lacking in blistering power it more than makes up for it by easing the listener into their universe. Once there the hypnotic layering and mostly dark vibe make escape impossible. The tracks are juicy and bubbly and at times perhaps a bit overlong. You might not remember the names of some of the tracks, but the melodies will bring it all back. People seem to get their panties in a twist over Rain, but even though I don't care for its cheesiness, its sum is greater than its parts and becomes a very deep excursion into trance and goa. There are some misses like that of Eleven (make it stop) and the annoying vocal whispers on Parent Plant which kinda destroys an otherwise devious alien sounding track. This album is definitely a solid effort and belongs in your collection. Their sound is distinctly goa and recognizable before they got all We Interfacey.

Almost playa. Almost. Oh what coulda been. Had some good goa parts, parts I really liked, but it seemed to be tarnished by the clumsy guitar leads in some tracks. Also it wasn't very deep and lacked complexity, sounding rather simple and repetitive. And what's with the animal noises? This is like taking brownies out of the oven before they're ready. Looks great on the outside, but the inside is an unfinished mess. This puppy needed more oven time. Still if I was stranded on a desert island it would be essential because the back side of the disc could be used to flag down an air rescue. Mdk

To appreciate Boris's debut album as Galaxy I believe it necessary to slay the preconceived demons of what it isn't. Not goa? Ok, cool. His goa wasn't that great most of the time anyway. Not psy? Well all right. No big deal especially if you had the misfortune to suffer through Higher Modes. The album is a free flowing mixed homage to the techno and electro sounds of the early 90's. Sometimes upbeat and loaded with cool percussion it's always clear. It further cements the notion that he is more creative when the bpm's are low. Some of the beats are so old school (track 4) you might want to lay the cardboard on the corner and dust off that backspin. Some might not like it pointing to it's simplicity, but isn't the idea of a side project the freedom to explore different avenues on which you might not normally tread? I take shots at Boris for lots of things, but I cannot do so because he moves in different directions. Believe me, he's made several albums that leave one scratching his head. Someone called this house? House? I'm sorry have you ever f*cking heard house? Consider this a nice change of pace from Boris. An escape from what you expect him to deliver. Hardly essential and not even his best downtempo stuff, but a fairly nice shot across the bow of the electronic genre. BTW, hated the last two tracks. It's like he just said ah, f*ck it. 20 minutes, really? Mdk

Maybe. But the morass of green surrounding seems like the perfect hiding place for aliens with tentacles and very sharp teeth. Hell you can see a vortex opening. Don't know if I'd risk it. Besides it doesn't appear to have the necessary hand and footholds to keep one on the mountain. The album on the other hand is super solid and only it's track similarities keep it from being an outright classic. Highly recommended. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Anairam Label: Replicant Records Date: December, 2013 1. Armagetlam - D_Maniac 2. Psykodeliak - Rabdom L 3. Exploding - Shuumat 4. Criminal Phenomenon - A-Mush 5. Bedtime Story (Iliuchina Remix) - Orca Hey baby, how you doin'? Guapa Lee you say? That's a nice maxi ep you compiled there. I'd offer you some assistance, but you seem more than capable of some heavy lifting. This is an outstanding ep that began horribly. Imagine picking up a ridiculously hot chick (or, dude I suppose...whatever you're into...I don't judge.) and right when she gets in the car she rips a lengthy, wet, and obnoxious fart. Roll down your windows nasty. Awkward. But don't get hung up on that smelly turd from d_maniac because you'll be richly rewarded. The rest is thumping nighttime psy with huge amounts of apsi. Acid per square inch. Some of the tracks have too much stopping and starting, but they're good enough to let it slide. A-mush rarely disappoints, but the Iliuchina remix steals the show. Dark and eerie with danceability set to maximum. Great job by most involved and here's hoping for a second date and an attempt at second base. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Battlestar Label: TesseracT Studio Date: July, 2013 1. Atmospheric (The Riddler rmx) L-XIR 2. Voyager One COPYCAT 3. Gypsy Magic MOLOK, SUBLIMINAL CODES 4. Unravel FLEGMA 5. Highly Addictive LYCTUM 6. Rabbit Hole AQUALIZE 7. Flux (Lyctum rmx) ZEN MECHANICS, FLEGMA AND NERSO 8. Full Moon MIDDLE MODE, NERSO VS ZYCE 9. Unimation (Micky Noise rmx) ZYCE AND NERSO 10. Tune In SIDEFORM "I don't know who I am. I don't know who I am...becoming." You're Phil. And you work in accounting. Tesseract...my Serbian homies. Always ready to deliver some quality progressive trance. I would call this a solid release. Not my favorite, but it's peppered with good tracks and a few great ones. Nothing was bad and I was pleasantly surprised by the Mickey Noise remix which also happened to be my favorite track. Floating and melodic with a pinch of groove. Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Sundial Aeon Title: Apotheosis Label: Flow Records Date: July, 2007 1. Sacred Plants 2. Iced-Melancholy Spectacle 3. Pleasure Impact 4. Hybrydisy 5. Mysanthia (Chaser Remix) 6. Snail's Home 7. Love Shelter 8. Freestar's Trip In Aerospace 9. Together, We Are... (Remix) 10. Dark Breaker 11. Hydroponics Easily one of my favorite chill releases of all time. It's ancient and futuristic. Cosmic yet grounded. This album is partially mixed so it produces a steady and continuous flow. And that flow is comprised of melodies, various effects, and plenty of breakbeats. It sounds hopeful and mysterious with lush electronics and vocal tacets that give it an epic feel. It works on every level. Mdk

Artist: Ovnimoon Title: Camanchaca Label: Synergetic Records Date: March, 2006 1. Arcoirs 2. Viaje l sur 3. La India 4. Shamanic Dance on Ayahuaska 5. El arbol arauacano 6. Todos (ovnimoon vs Trancemission vs Mandulk) 7. I love you 8. High nrg (Divinidad rmx) 9. Camanchaca (Reike Pacha mama rmx) Hector's debut album is about as far as you could get from where he is now. His latest Trancemutation of the Mind is melodic and ever changing, but this effort is average at best in my opinion. It's a mixture of downtempo and minimalistic progressive that isn't very memorable. He maintains an air of mystery as well as a tribal feel, but with the exception of the last track it sounds as though he's trying to find a direction for his music. Mdk

Artist: Elysium Title: Various Works 1994 - 2005 Label: Self Released Date: March, 2011 Discogs I'm too lazy to list them...there's over twenty. F*cking hell, is everyone named Andersen in Denmark? Denmark's own Kristian Thinning Andersen is a polarizing figure that was the subject of several lively threads here on the forum. Like him or not he's responsible for a big part of our scene's music and was quite prolific. This was released by the artist a few years ago on Ektoplazm, but has since been removed. It's a collection of his work over 10 or so years with music that is tough to box in. Is it goa? Tribal? Downtempo? Yes, all of the above. A digital only release there is a 21 track edition from 2011 and a remastered (what the hell?) 15 track version that came out a year later. One was in wav form and the other in mp3, but most were found on his previous albums. Personally I've never been a huge fan of his style as I think it goes on far too long without sufficient evolution. There are great parts on most of his tracks that unfortunately don't fulfill their potential. But that's just me. If you're a fan than you probably already have a lot of this. If you don't then this is certainly a treat. Even though I didn't like all of it he didn't have to give sh*t away so I would just thank him and stop being an ungrateful b*tch. By the way, I'm super keen on hearing his newest album that is on the way. Mdk

"I don't have to prove anything to you!" Well, maybe you have to prove the water is drinkable. And that you can make a decent halfpipe. I mean what the f*ck didn't anybody track the weather in this Sochi place to see if it gets cold? Pretty sure that one of the criterion of the Winter Olympics is that it at least resembles winter. In honor of the Olympics being hosted by Russia, let's talk about this release from a past incarnation of the Russian duo Synsun. When this first hit the net, it was like Christmas. First it was the Zelur Project, then Full Power of Goa, and lastly this beast. I didn't care for their brand of full-on. Sounded like a lot of other stuff around. But their goa...that's a different story. First I like the old cover better. Yeah that one. Second, ptn's assessment of the album is quite accurate. There is a lack of dynamism in the sounds where it does sound lumped together. Maybe if they had Tim Schuldt or Colin Oood in charge of mastering it would be different, but as is it certainly isn't a deal breaker. There are some ripping tracks here that sound great on the headphones. It's loud and screaming with layers of melody. Gagarinz Trip and Quazar lead the way, but I don't believe there to be any filler to be found. Good stuff. Mdk

Thank you Jason for stating the obvious ;-). I have MR 2 (haven't listened yet)and can understand the arguments for a repress or no. Perhaps do it like Avatar does with classics? Mdk

I haz sad. Sure I could find it on the net, but I really,really try never to do that. Classics that are long out of print I'm a little more lenient. Here's to hoping there will be a reprint. Mdk

For starters I'm happy to see you back making music. Your presence was sorely missed. The track is pretty good and sounded completely different from the original. Therefore, win. Mdk

Artist: Dynamo (Eskimo + Dynamic) Title: The Acid Daze Label: Phantasm Records Date: May, 2005 1. Here they come 2. In the igloo 3. Wildstyle 4. Dyn-E-Motion 5. Into the magic 6. Maniac Saiko 7. Spun dry 8. The acid daze 9. Say you love me "When you dream there are no rules." After just a few years of full-on, 2005 appeared to be the tipping point. Full-on gets sh*t on a lot and rightly so. The genre has earned it with it's repetitive cut and paste style and cliche's. Think of a whirlpool where creativity goes to die. Dynamic, Perplex, DNA,...f*ck me the list of artists producing ass tacular releases is endless. But every once in a while a release comes along that is refreshing. 2005 saw us right smack dab in the middle of some sorry sh*t. Instead of saturating our lungs with oxygen we were forced to breathe stupid samples, inane build ups, and cheese that clogs arteries. That's why the team up (expected) of Eskimo and Dynamic was so unexpectedly...good. Sure the disc has samples that make you cringe (Wildstyle) and there are stops and starts that kill momentum. But there is also some pretty solid groove and melodies to be found here. Even tracks I didn't want to like had a sou con of goa that made them palatable (In The Igloo). Some tracks began with an eye roll and then developed into something likeable (Maniac Psycho, Say You Love Me). It's almost as if one artist began poorly and the then the other picked up the slack. I can't say (Dynamic) which artist was probably responsible (Dynamic) for the derivative crap that helped form the death vortex of full-on (Dynamic), but I have my suspicions. And I absolutely loved the creative borrow of the Astral Projection and Transwave melody in The Acid Daze. Lemmiwinks spotted the other classics they used so points to that guy. Bottom line this is a good full on album. It's melodic as hell without too much cheese and will get the feet tapping. Guilty pleasure? Maybe, but I'm not so proud that I care that I like listening to this. Mdk

"How much knowledge can the human mind stand...before it freaks out?" What comes after third grade? Seriously I can pinpoint the exact moment in time it happened to me. When the alphabet infiltrated mathematics. Cats and dogs, democrats and republicans, pluses and minuses...put these things together and you're just asking for a rip in the time space continuum. Which Olli "the wizard of Oz" Wisdom would no doubt have a sample for. This album is one of my favorites from him as it is that acidic high tech full-on with loads of samples on technology, spiritualism, and science. Power and melody go hand in hand as he leaves an acid trail on everything he touches. Sometimes it gets a little dull and samey, but for the most part it's a ripping good time. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Graham Label: Equinox Date: March, 1997 1. The Infinity Project - Intro 2. Mystery of the Yeti - Part 4 3. Woodski - Woodski 4. Excess Head - Hopscotch 5. The Infinity Project - Noises From The Darkness (Dub) 6. Excess Head - Strange Thing 7. The Infinity Project - Mystical Experiences 8. Excess Head - Subcurrents 9. The Flippidy Dippidy Project - The Outro "You're going to be able to meet these people, talk to them." Graham Wood (half of The Infinity Project) brought his TIP buddies together to make a very odd album. It's downtempo and ambient with a goa flair. Graham is featured on every track under various aliases. My favorite was Part 4 by Mystery of the Yeti as it was the most musically interesting and complex. Some weird sh*t going on here though. How high did you have to be to make Woodski? Hopscotch? Noises From the Darkness? When those three tracks ended did the stock price of Doritos tumble? The whole middle of this album is lost in a green haze of cannabis smoke. Very trippy. Strange Thing still sounds like I'm caught in a hippies disjointed dream, but at least I can follow it. Mystical Experiences is a great slice of ambient found on the Infinity Project album of the same name. Full of sounds that continue with the floating. Sub Currents churns with juicy bass for almost its entire length. Even the outro aims to conjure and shape your hallucinations. If you're searching for that album that you can zone out to look no further. Set hallucinogens to maximum wood. Mdk

Artist: Sienis Title: Personal Space Invaders Label: None Date: October, 2013 01 - Move Accordingly (145 BPM) 02 - Creation & Destruction (145 BPM) 03 - I Of The Storm (147 BPM) 04 - Party Groove (145 BPM) 05 - Solitaire (145 BPM) 06 - Human De-Evolution (145 BPM) 07 - iRock (145 BPM) 08 - Cosmic Comedy (145 BPM) "Sometimes a man decides that life is just too much...and all he wants is peace and quiet." This artist is one of those that is difficult to put in a box. Eki is from Sweden, but his crazy style borrows from his penis shaped neighbors from Finland. I'm not saying that people from Finland look like dicks, but their country sure does. Had a friend from Lahti and I couldn't understand a thing he said. Eki combines the symphonic with the eerie and delivers a healthy dose of samples and full-on. And a lot of that full-on is of the eye rolling and nauseating guitar variety (i of the storm). But in that same track is an amazing and dreamy break. What a paradox! Highlight? The funky and deliciously K-Pax ridden Human De-evolution. But in the end the cheese and annoying repetitive slicing of samples make this a subpar effort. Too full-on and corny. What I would love is if he would attempt a dark and serious sci-fi ambient album with horror movie samples. Something tells me he'd be really good at it. Free at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Music From Heaven - The Remixes Label: Blue Tunes Recordings Date: November, 2010 1. Music From Heaven (original mix) 2-8. Sh*tty copycat progressive mixes Blood...f*cking boiling... Why in the hell does this continue to occur? A remix album with multiple versions of the same track. Although that is misleading because versions implies that there is something different. It's the same. F*cking. Track. Let's start with the original which sucked in its own right, but that's ok. It's better that way because a talented artist can turn water into wine. Worked out well for Jesus. But I guess all these people are happy drinking from the toilet because it's nothing but boring clones, using the same tricks that have been beaten to death. This isn't a remix album... It's a professional low point. At least I hope it is. I left the room whilst this was in full swing just to see if I missed anything. I did not. Ritmo is Dubi Dagan, a gentleman who has shown he has awesome ability in the progressive trance genre, but unless he's a total Nazi demanding all the remixes sound just like the original, the artists who participated should be ashamed of themselves. I'm no lawyer, but I think with the word remixes in the title this may be a test case for fraud. The awesome sauce was clearly left off this sh*t sandwich. Seven almost identical mixes plus the original or explosive diarrhea? What a choice, it's like a f*cking Chinese finger trap. Do yourself a favor and avoid this limp dicked effort at all costs. Music from Heaven? Think you're going the wrong way pal. Beatport Mdk

Man I miss this project. There's plenty of great progressive trance these days, but this duo created some of the most emotionally stirring music around. Tierra Azul is a superb downtempo track that is like surveying the world and it's beauty from a mile high. Sweet September constantly evolves with the addition of delicate synth textures. The simplistic Resevoir though slightly minimal dances along the line between progressive trance and progressive house showing how big a track can be without overloading it. Landmark showcases a slight goa element (one of the guys was in Subcouds after all) and the warm melodies break through the frigid cold of Seven Days. Morning Breath sounds so simple, but comes across as lush. The production on this album is fabulous. Hearing each sound echoing across the frozen tundra envelops the listener. The progressive trance is smooth and is more concerned with holding you aloft than packing the eardrums. It's hypnotic and a perfect vehicle for that mental getaway. Mdk