Trance2MoveU

Artist: Various Title: Spectrum Analyzer: Analyzed by DJ Dede Label: Spectrum Music Date: May, 2002 1. Cakes & Pieces - Echotek 2. Activity - Atomic Pulse 3. Made Contact - Spectrum 4. Shaffeling - Shift 5. I'm Real - Atomic Pulse Vs. DJ Dede 6. Monster DNA (Remix) - Safi Connection 7. Gringos - Shift 8. Ilucid Dream - Atomic Pulse 9. Enable To Construct - Spectrum I paid for this. I actually paid money for it. Back when I was just discovering psytrance and gobbled up all the stuff I could find. I was routinely spending $300 bucks a month at Saikosounds for at least a year. So much so that with each $100 spent they let me have a free CD of my choice. Listening to this right now is like comparing XBox Live with...f*ck I dunno...pong. This was when minimal was king and the full-on wave had yet to crest. There is just nothing here. Nothing. It's a desert devoid of changes in direction and layers. Recall back to a time when over 32 measures there were just incremental changes. A hi-hat there. A slight synth riff there. Maybe a small drum pattern change. Sure there's a cool K-Pax sample in Made Contact, but how long is that gonna hold you? Maybe to the Vanilla Sky sample in I'm Real? The stuttering Stanley sample from the Sixth Sense featured in Safi's Monster DNA remix? The fun back then was trying to remember what movie the sample was from. And most of the tracks have movie samples in them and they're used very well. But musically? All of the artists have grown in 11 years as you would expect and have composed much more detailed and interesting tracks. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Amarasya Vol. 2 Label: Blue Tunes Recordings Date: February, 2006 1. Run away ODISEO VS JAKA 2. Tane (XV Killist Rmx) ANTIX VS BITMONX 3. Laughing guys with titts HUMAN TRAFFIC 4. Confused LIQUID SOUL 5. Rebirth ACE VENTURA 6. Born in a new world (Symphonix rmx) LIQUID SOUL 7. Electro express FABIO AND DAY-DIN 8. Default TRUE LIES "Listen to me...what are we talking about really? We're talking about a journey...a subconscious safari." Let's get ready to rumbleeeeeeee!!!!! You guessed it! In the quest to go through music I haven't listened to in awhile, we have the next installment of Montagu Vs. Golkonda in the Amarasya series. And immediately I attempted to run away from the first track. Boring with a house feel. Spirits dashed I'm then dragged kicking and screaming into an 11 minute XV Kilist remix. Hold up...this is gonna take a little medication. Nope...need more drugs. Oy. The same loop over and over and I wasn't even halfway through. Laughing Guys With Tits is a great title but all I remember is the sample of Vincent Price laughing. Yep, the same one in Michael Jackson's Thriller. Jeez, what a snoozefest so far. The Liquid Soul track was a little better. Subtle with good effects, yet still managed to be boring. Ace Ventura wields a pretty cool sample and aside from a few boring bits it was by far the best yet. Good usage of effects I must say. Symphonix (which includes Mr. Golkonda) slows things down with a track that makes me feel I'm in a far away dream. It's atmospheric with a less is more take on progressive. Effective. With Electro Express you can actually sing YMCA to its rhythm. It totally works. Electro hits give it a percussive funkiness that has some appeal. "Young man...there's no need to feel down..." It got better as it went along, but it felt like work. Like I had to work to get into it and really like it. There is too much good music out there where that isn't necessary. And never forget...I'm pretty lazy. Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

I've dumped on Wild Things Records before because they don't seem to think that any melody is needed. Not this time. Going through a lot of my old stuff I came across this and while not melodic in the usual sense, Antic was right...there is a melodic quality to their musicality. There will be no twirling here, but that's not what they do. This is pumping take over your body rhythms that set the mood with some dark atmosphere. I didn't even notice track one ended and track two began because they are ridiculously similar. That's not to say I didn't like it cause I just kept on grooving. Acid squelches and thumping bass lines are their trademark. Throw in the cyber heavy feeling during the breaks and we've got something good going here. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Advanced Options Label: YoYo Records Date: July, 2006 1. Fluffy Puppy ATOMIC CULTURE 2. Basic BASIC 3. Insight ONYX, PTX 4. TNT TIMELOCK 5. Droid save da queen (X-Noize rmx) SUB6 6. Iron Man ECHOTEK 7. Limit Air DOUBLE IMPACT 8. Breakdown QUANTUM 9. 2nd episode FATALI 10. Shellshocks BWICKED If you had to pick a compilation that encompassed total full-on immersion in its hey day this would be it. Look at that track list. It's like the FBI most wanted list. Every artist on there screams full-on. Now it's easy for me to sit here and snipe them seven years later, but in 2006 this was the state of psytrance. Ibiza wave your hands in the air give me a glow stick trance. Like the dark times of minimal the sunny happy times of full-on didn't leave much for trancers to chew on. Sorta like a pop tart for dinner. The title of the compilation is a misnomer. It is neither advanced nor is it an option. From the awful vocoded vocals of Sync to the repetitive and unimaginative bass lines of...well, all of the tracks this is a rocket ship to the bottom of a port a potty. Only it's not the bottom apparently because they made parts 2 and 3. I'll link to it, but only because I'm supposed to. Psyshop Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Trancelvania Label: Pukka Music Date: 2005 1. No Complication Z MACHINE 2. Out of the Chaos BLISS 3. Harlequin's Guard PARRKET 4. New Mecca UNNATURAL 5. The other Side of the Scale ALTERNATIVE CONTROL feat. DJ AQUAPIPE 6. Alcohol 220V VS INTERACTIVE 7. Restricted Files INNER ACTION 8. Ambush ELEC3 9. After Hours ESKIMO First off I love the artwork. Very beautiful that has me finding new stuff in it the longer I stare at it. Second I know what you're gonna say. So much music and you choose to review something right smack dab in the middle of the full on tsunami? Yes, because I'm trying to clean out the hard drive. But news flash this ain't going. After you get through the disappointing Z-machine and Eskimo effort, this compilation takes a ride on an all black bullet train. Eerie atmosphere and twilight textures rule as movie samples tumble down causing me to smile in recognition. There is good layering here with punchy bass lines and rhythmic leads. A few buildups but nothing like the crap that comes out today. Very enjoyable and holds up well some 8 years later. I have it in sh*tty quality and a part of me wants to buy it again. But another part of me says if I do, it should come with a punch in the face. GoaStore Mdk

Artist: Radical Distortion / Mendark Title: Purple Energy Label: Unicorn Music Date: November, 2005 1. Equilibrium - Radical Distortion 2. 3 On A Tree - Mendark Vs. Sunhize 3. Skunk Pack - Radical Distortion 4. It Came Up The Mind - Mendark 5. Purple Energy - Radical Distortion Vs. Mendark 6. The Halloween Project - Radical Distortion 7. The Only Way - Mendark 8. Inspiration - Radical Distortion 9. Psycho Filler - Mendark "Sometimes you have to close one door to open another..." HA HA HA HA!!! I hate cats. Looks like the Greeks saddled up a poor stable boy and rode that kid to the recording studio. Radical Distortion are Nikolaos Politaridis & Spanos Ioannis and their success has been well documented culminating with but not being limited to their 2009 release Psychedelic Dreams on Suntrip Records. Of course I'm overlooking the uber disappointing Re-Genesis that started off gangbusters and then promptly crashed quicker than a drunk pilot. Mendark? Not so much, but his Side Liner project is going strong. Equilibrium- "Now let's play basketball, shirts versus skins...the winner gets pancakes!" I don't think this would have flown at Suntrip. Except right out the window. Not their finest work. 3 On A Tree- This was a fairly decent progressive trance track with nice effects. Ahead of its time I would say, but the ending was a little weak. Skunk Pack- "It's bad Mikey, real bad! They wanna kill me...if they catch me." Yep, it's pretty bad. A full-on track that beats that poor sample into the ground. I used to like this? What the f*ck was wrong with me? It Came Up The Mind- Annnnnnd....it came out the other end. That's not fair...I would've also accepted Purple Energy- So far this was the best one. While that isn't saying a whole lot, it had some very nice goa moments. The Halloween Project- Is nothing sacred? Nothing? How much lower can humanity go? This was one of the two tracks that made me keep the disc. Goa through and through. Why couldn't you do this on the whole album? The Only Way- This was the best track from Mendark for me. It was a good mix of goa and progressive atmosphere with a thumping beat. Sparkling synths and dark tone...the whole nine yards. Sinister even. For some reason when I first heard it I didn't like it, but now it's f*cking kick ass. Inspiration- And this was the other one. Pure stomping goa that unfurls at its leisure. So that makes 3 quality goa tracks. Psycho Filler- He did put filler in the title didn't he? It wasn't bad though. People said that the first four tracks were solid and then the album took a nosedive after that. I disagree. For me the strongest tracks were the final four. I think this album shows just how starved we were as a people clamoring for goa. Even with the hint of melodies from the golden age we we only too willing to accept this. It's subpar and cannot even get mentioned in the same breath as the stuff we have today. It's not really fair for me to criticize and judge so harshly something from almost 7 years ago I suppose. I'm sure I did some things 7 years ago that I wouldn't be very proud of. Then I think of course it is, otherwise what the hell am I doing here? But I'm sure if you asked the fine gents of Radical Distortion if this holds up today I'm sure they would tell you to tell me to go f*ck myself. I mean...I still bought it when it came out because I'm a collector and I throw money around like Asian businessmen at a strip club. If I had money I mean. Favorites: 6,7,8. Psyshop Goastore Mdk

Artist: Eternal Bliss Title: Pyramids Label: Clubware Date: 1996 1. Hallucinate 2. Indiamagic 3. I Am I 4. Get Wired (Album Remix) 5. Pyramids 6. Phoenix 7. The Doors of Perception "Yeah baby, you are the new star. The new "it" project. We're gonna knock those amateurs from Etnica and Dimension 5 right outta the charts. All the elements are here for a classic album. Let's see, we've got a spir itual artist name with equally otherworldly track names. Multicolored cover that hints at previous alien visitation. The music? Why you gotta bring that up?" "Skip the first track, it's pure filler. If you're gonna title the track Hallucinate you might wanna, I dunno, make the listener hallucinate. Aw f*ck it leave it in there, it costs too much to clean it up. It shows that you're edgy. Besides I spent your studio money at the track. How the hell a dog named Flash could finish last is beyond me. Don't worry, don't worry...Trust me bubbala, I know what I'm doing." Indiamagic- "This is a delightful tribal goa romp with long evolving pads that seem so exotic to the gullible American audience. Can you just picture the Indian non union equivalent of Eddie Van Halen tearing it up on guitar with ridiculous faces for the camera? The kids'll eat it up I tell ya! I'm sorry did I say guitar? How stupid...I meant sitar!" "So whattya think the teacher's gonna look like this year?" I Am I- "Hey...make sure you get that monotonous I AM I chant in there. Nah, I don't give a f*ck how many times the sheeple will eat it up. C'mon they're so whacked out on drugs they won't care. Almost 12 minutes? Perfect! It'll be like a personal conversation with Vishnu or Allah or whoever the f*ck they pray to." God help me I didn't hate it. I should've. Really should've...but I didn't. Get Wired (Album Remix)- "I've got this riff I've been working on." "Can you milk it for 8 minutes?" "What? I mean...I guess I could...sure I'll try." This was a remix? How f*cking bad was the original? Pyramids- The intro and the breaks are vivid symphonic phrases that are in constant motion. Almost makes you forget that nothing else is going on. At all. Zero. Although the Top-Gun esque guitar made me smile. Phoenix- "I said relax, I didn't say stop producing. Bad news...I blew the rest of your per diem on a new venture. Grandmasluts.com...it's gonna be big...HUGE! And wipe that white sh*t off your nose you're gonna get us both arrested. No problem...we'll clean it up in post production. Oh for f*cks sake don't give me the sad puppy dog eyes...everyone does it. How do you think we made Kesha a star? You better start wising up.." It's more lower tier goa with some very good string work. And that's what keeps happening with this release. On the whole the tracks aren't very good or interesting, but there are parts that are nice that make it easier to overlook the obvious deficiencies. Doors of Perception- "I dunno what you should call the last one. Who gives a f*ck? They all sound the same anyway. Call it wrinkly ball sac for all I care. Here, let's go to the net. Here's a good one...Doors of Perception. Ha! I knew it, gold! Cosmosis already has this track name so we can just piggy back off of them! Hippies are stupid, all you gotta do is throw them a carrot and they'll follow it." Aside from the juicy bass line, this track is just wandering around the desert. I was poised to rip this a new one, but the more I listened to it, the more I found some actual musicality here. It's still goa on that lower level , but as I mentioned before there were instances in the tracks that were very appealing. Essential? Far, far from it. Unless you really like colorful triangles. But I think it's better than a lot of the generic psy coming out these days. Which brings me to their next album released a mere 15 years later called...wait for it...Full Om. Where the hell were you on this one Draeke. Huh? Where.Were.You. Could've had unreleased Eternal Bliss for probably a tenth of what it cost to release Etnica. You need to speak to my promoter. Mdk

Artist: Dimension 5 Title: TransAddendum Label: Suntrip Records Date: February, 2013 1. Altair 2. Zarkon 3. Strange Phenomena 4. Return To The Source 5. Caprica 6. Symphonic Switch 7. Alpha Particles 8. Deep Space 5D (Thai Remix) de·vi·ant - deviating especially from some accepted norm : characterized by deviation (as from a standard of conduct) <socially deviant behavior> I think I'm a deviant. Me peeking into Joske's window seeing what he's got up his sleeve. I mean, what he's listening to. Yeah, what he's listening to. What did you think I meant? Whoa, whoa hold on...he's way older than me. It's not like I comb the elementary schools for unsuspecting prepubescent boys in hopes to lure them away from the twisty slide and ask them if they will fart on this sandwich I've got in my bag. That's messed up. And a waste of a perfectly good sandwich. Suntrip: "What the f*ck? We asked him for this?" Ok, so I'm not a deviant, not even close. But you will see why I might be exhibiting deviant behavior. Here we have a release by one of if not the greatest Goa Trance acts in history full of stuff you've never heard before. Their album Transdimensional was one of the most superb goa trance albums of all time with more melodies than you can shake a stick at. All wrapped up in some thick deep space atmosphere. Now I'm still not over my man crush on the Mindsphere and Etnica releases and Suntrip goes and drops this gem on me? Oh well, like a dutiful Mormon I just smile and say the more the merrier. But carrying on a relationship with three people may cause some to label me a deviant. Moving on from one album to the next like the goa whores we are can be signs of deviant behavior. Or the greatest party of all time. Said every single guy ever. Now I believe that with Patience From Heaven and Live in Athens 1996 the bar has been set in the modern era. Again. Ok first things first the artwork (by Fabián Arturo Jiménez Gally) is light and beautiful. Nice enough in fact that I would love a poster of it on my wall. Except my wife would probably tell me to take my hippy sh*t to the basement cause it clashes with whatever motif she's currently got going on. I swear all my sh*t is down there, it looks like a hoarder lives there. Secondly there are going to be comparisons to Etnica's Live in Athens 1996 and that's understandable. Both artists are legends and two great labels are releasing tracks that have never been heard or are ridiculously rare. The difference is that this is a single disc of unreleased tracks. To be followed by another disc of rare tracks that were only on obscure vinyls. Pretty smart too cause the minds at Suntrip know that some people already have those tracks so why jack them for some stuff they don't need and make 'em buy a double album? But you know you're gonna get it, so just set aside the 20 euro from your part time job as a fluffer and don't think about it. Look it up. So how is it? The most important label in today's goa trance has an incredible track record consistently releasing quality album after quality album. For some perspective, in the big leagues if a player hits .400 he is phenomenal. I think only one player in the history of baseball (not sure, I hate baseball...so f*cking boring) has ever had a batting average like that during his career. Well this player averages near 1000 over their 9 year run. Melodic goa trance is what they do and they do it better than anyone else. Now I could be the fanboy that I am and just tell you that this is their greatest release to date, and everything else pales in comparison. But that's not how I write. This is a great album with 8 tracks that you've never heard before. Melodic and old school to the bone with more of their trademarked atmosphere you crave. At times it hits hard and during others track lengths are measured in trippy light years not minutes. It sounds great which is another feather in the cap of Tim Schuldt. And there is no question that if you're a fan of D5 or goa trance than you should most definitely buy this. Maybe I got spoiled by the Etnica release, but I missed having an insert detailing what the story was behind the tracks. But that has nothing to do with the quality music so who cares? But it's not Transdimensional 2. How could it be? When you've reached the mountain top how much higher can you go? There's a reason these were unreleased and the ones on Transdimensional made it to the album. That album is an absolute classic. So much so that Suntrip (damn these guys are good) already re-released it. They knew. But they also knew that we as fans of goa trance have a hunger for unreleased stuff. If there is a possibility of good tunes out there that we haven't experienced then why not let them see the light of day? But please don't call these b-sides, because I think that title demeans what they are. Whether they made it on the album or not, we wanted them. We needed them. Good on you Suntrip, this is a fantastic release. Suntrip Psyshop Beatspace GoaStore Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Party Outlaw Trance Label: Black Flame Date: 1997 1. Neurobic - KoxBox 2. Zoa (Remix) - K.U.R.O. 3. Full On - Etnica 4. Levitation - Mr. Beam 5. Shape The Future - MFG 6. Space Train - Phoenix 7. Gecko Ecko - Psy Phy 6 8. Flight of The Phoenix - Phoenix Once I handle my responsibilities, I'll review whatever catches my fancy. All over the map sometimes. I look at this track list and say, "All right, MFG, KURO, KoxBox, and Etnica...that's pretty good." Black Flame is a division of Blue Flame which I assume is just 2 guys lighting their farts on fire. If you know of a better way to light a candle I'm listening... I don't really know, but I do know that they are also all over the map with what they release. From downtempo and chill to Euro House. If you study the cover one will notice is the word I-B-I-Z-A on the cover. No matter how "outlaw" you portend to be, it's kinda like riding a motorcycle with Hello Kitty on it. Bad Ass! 127 more payments and it's all mine. You probably didn't need me to tell you that this is pretty benign as far as goa goes. The tracks by the well known names are good, but you probably already have those. On top of that it's mixed and poorly at that. Abrupt transitions like over enthusiastic dancing guy keeps hitting my f*cking table. The rest of the tracks are subpar. I tell you whom I am most disappointed by. Draeke. Etnica unreleaseds? Whatever. Where the hell were you with the lost tracks from Phoenix? Talk about dropping the ball... Mdk

That is exactly what I did the fourth time I listened to it. And I fell asleep. So if that was his objective, mission accomplished. Mdk

Just got it two days ago....halfway finished. Mdk

Artist: Jupiter 8000 Title: Twisted Bliss Label: Avatar Records Date: February, 2004 1. Cylent Storm 2. 101 And Still Alive 3. Dust to Dawn 4. Atem rmx 5. The Memory 6. Inside 7. Break The Law 8. Bit Fire 9. New Moon 10. Rubber Dub "The purpose of this hearing is to determine if you are likely to break the law again." I am very surprised that this has not been reviewed. 2004 was a time when this place was crowded like an Indian commuter train. This is the second album from the Boris Blenn project Jupiter 8000 and I like it a whole lot better than his first one. It's straight psytrance, but before we were sick to death of full-on and it's maudlin predictability. Never one to go against the way the wind blows, Boris hopped right on this full-on wave, but he also dropped a little goa flavor in there. If I were to say a few words... Cylent Storm is innovative and solid. Know why? Cause since it came out I've heard this melody lifted numerous times by other artists. Part goa and part psy it's all good. 101 and Still Alive has some good acid lines as he twists that filter cutoff. Dust to Dawn bubbles like a hot cauldron of mismatched goa wear, but also growls with ferocity. Oh he knows how to party. "Where da white women at?" Atem Remix has the goa ripples as well along with the acid that apparently never left him. He's just gonna let that lead keep playing isn't he?. Don't wanna any interruptions when your trying to nail that chick with the nice ta-ta's. Got a sister you say? The Memory is darker with some of that Indian? vocal that screams exotic to a kid from New Jersey. You know once you leave the turnpike it's f*cking Deliverance out there. Inside thumps along and makes me remember when I first discovered psytrance. With a nice break and a rising lead that surges like a phoenix I'm all smiles. Break the Law? C'mon Boris. Won't someone please think of the children? Sure this track has the liquid bass and danceable lead, but it always leads to sitting on a curb with your hands behind your back in some tired Nikes and a Santa suit. Always. Bit Fire is creative and chunky. Once the low growl subsides he scorches with a guitar riff that we've all heard before. Some say guitars and psy don't mix and that somethings don't really belong together. Sounds like making the most of an opportunity to me. I dunno, I really liked it. It f*cking rocked. New Moon is progressive filler and Rubber Dub makes me think of one thing: Hooray beer! I know it's not Red Stripe, but f*ck that chick for not wanting to hook up on kiss cam. Man back then he really could craft a track. I mean he can still do it, but now he needs a wingman (aka Space Tribe). I like his albums and he is a true legend, but he's been putting out the same album for half a decade now. This one is quality psytrance. Is there a way we can go back in time and bring this Boris back? Imagine two Boris-es! While one is being uber creative he can also act as the shut down relay when the other starts to go in a silly direction. Win win I say. Avatar Records Mdk

Artist: Ishq Title: Bloom Label: Virtual Date: October, 2012 1. Blue Wave 2. Evergreen 3. Iao 4. Ancient Lands 5. Opal Aqua 6. Bioluminessence 7. Clover 8. Amaryllis Dreams 9. Summerland Beatless Ambient is an acquired taste. You have to hold the listener's attention in other ways when you treat the kick drum as if it were a pedophile otherwise you stray into drone territory. And that is a whole nother level of catatonia. Ishq is Matt Hillier and this is one of his numerous albums. Very prolific he is. This one is kind of like a compilation of some of the tracks he made from 2001 to 2012. Are they unreleased? I dunno, it's not like I would remember if they were. The title is perfect as it moves slowly (sometimes excruciatingly) like the opening of a spring flower. It is extremely relaxing with slow attack rates and long pads amidst the sounds of nature. Stop me if you've heard him do that before. As someone who is go go all the time this forces me to slow down and let it unfold at it's own pace. Iao is 15 minutes of said beatless ambient that had me contemplating the universe as well as hurry the f*ck up I gotta make dinner for my kids. So I'm of two minds with this release. Obviously it can be super relaxing as he keeps to the theme with slow moving textures and makes you feel at one with the planet. On the other hand do you know how much I can get done in 15 minutes? I often found myself trying to get behind the track and push it along. Maybe I cannot relax or get that deep into meditation to delve into a track that takes forever to get where it's going. Then there are a few tracks of very short length that are just a pad with a slow attack and a long delay. That's not a song...that's a note. I suppose if you've finished your honey do list and needed something to help you to sleep, this would work. Mdk

Artist: Transwave Title: Backfire Label: 3D Vision Date: January, 2007 1. Adoration To The Aum 2. Hypersphere 3. Anahata 4. Arsonik 5. Cycles Of Life 6. Code S9 7. Flamicogyre 8. Bombay Night 9. Ulysse Voyage 2 Is there anything that can put a smile on the faces of Goa Heads than masters back in the day releasing unreleased stuff or super hard to find tracks? Well, maybe a gallon of patchouli and incense. And free food. Transwave are Absolum (Christophe Drouillet) and Deedrah (Frederic Holyszewski) and they put out 3 great albums before this one so there was great anticipation for this release. Believe the hype. It's chock full of shimmery layered goa true to their style. Take a step back to the middle of the 90's when these tracks were created. Storming they are and a worthy addition to any collection. Good luck finding the disc though. With a quick net search I found it, but the price ranged from 30 bucks all the way up to $150! That better come with a string of young and busty groupies. Meh I wouldn't trust either seller as far as I could throw them. And with my bad back I shouldn't be throwing anyone. Mdk

Artist: Cosmosis Title: Synergy Label: Transient Records Date: 1998 01. 08'51" The Ultimate Sin 02. 07'43" Intergalactic Fluoro Funkster 03. 09'34" Spores From Space? (A Microscopic Trace) 04. 09'31" Moonshine 05. 10'06" Higher Access 06. 09'25" Turn On, Tune In... 07. 09'06" Down At The Crossroad 08. 09'23" The Big Bang Boogie Their first album Cosmology is unarguably one of the greatest goa trance albums of all time. So is I.F.O. So is Trans Dimensional. This is their 2nd effort and like a lot of other artists it suffers from a slight sophomore slump. Family of Light, Second Phaze, and Synergy while super albums in their own right don't shine as brightly as their predecessors. Part of that is due to changing times, the first album being so mind blowingly superb, as well as the artists wanting to explore. Please don't think I'm saying this isn't a great album. It most surely is, but it's different and those expecting Cosmology 2 will be disappointed. Rather than say what it isn't, I'll say what it is. Acidic as hell with layers stacked higher than my wedding cake. Soaked in psychedelia with a wonderful crunchy appeal. It's taken a turn from pure melodic goa to a form that is deeper and more psychedelic in feel. Man is it deep. Moonshine is my favorite, but Spores From Space, Higher Access, and Turn On make for a delightful trip and I think they knew that because they are all in a row. The only thing keeping me from giving it that classic status are the last two tracks. You will either love their experimental side or drive your fingernails into your temples and rip the skin from your skull. That's how Down At The Crossroad affects me. If I wanted to hear a bad hillbilly southern accent I would walk down the street. I don't associate psychedelic music with the toothless ramble of a redneck. Big Bang Boogie has a throaty growl coupled with some metallic leads that is good, but maybe just a wee bit too long. So, for me a great album that I wouldn't hesitate to buy. But when I compare it with their first... Mdk

Artist: Cyan Title: Braindance Label: Discobole Records Date: November, 1999 01. 07'57" Menace 02. 07'37" Freeze 03. 07'46" A New Galaxy 04. 09'34" CQ 05. 06'36" Toxic Threat 06. 08'22" Macedonia 07. 09'06" Hinou 08. 09'03" Thriller 09. 09'08" Alien (Peaceful Mix) "Do you think there's people on other planets?" "I don't know Sparks. But I'd guess I'd say...if it is just us...it seems like an awful waste of space." *doof doof doof* Did you hear something? *doof doof doof* What the f*ck was that? Did you fart? *DOOF DOOF DOOF* It's baaaaaaaack! Cyan is Mike Dee and Nikos Chrisoulakis and they were one of the projects who took Nitzhonot out of the cheese factory and created something more formidable that Goa heads like me can chew on. It still has that Nitzho sound that artists like Agneton and Goalien produce today with high speed frenetic melodies along with the darker vibe. Kinda like a Terminator 2 thing where the machines will kill you if you let them, but don't be too scared because a kid is the star of the movie and Hollywood doesn't kill kids. It thumps to be sure with some driving beats and melodies so even if you're not a fan of nitzho you could still find some joy in this. And that's where I find myself. Sometimes I love the way they combine the two genres and other times that lead annoys me and I have to shut it off. There are portions where it gets a little too hmmm....upliftey. Plenty of changes of direction, but also some cornball moments. I bet Elias loves it. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Suncokreti Label: Ultiva Records Date: May, 2009 1. Where Have We Been - California Sunshine 2. Icon - Ra 3. Metempsychosis - E-Mantra 4. Serbia - Chemical Products 5. Sunrise Zone - Radical Distortion 6. Abandoned Souls - California Sunshine 7. Tesla - Travma 8. Bruxism - Amanians 9. Rumble Fish - Jikooha Ultiva Records came out with this very attractive lineup in 2009. Never heard of this lavel, but even Suntrip had to start somewhere right? I guess they're legit, they have a FB page and everything. "Hey f*cknut, my dog has a FB page it's no big deal." My answer to that is you need to get laid because I'm pretty sure that your dog didn't agree to the terms of service. There wasn't a review only info in the label announcement forum on this site. And it uh, well...it wasn't very kind. The cover is beautiful (who doesn't like sunflowers?) but if you read that thread apparently Suncokreti which was written in cyrillic means get your sh*t together and fix that mastering problem. This point having been driven home by RA himself (calling his track unrecognizable) and one of the gents from Radical Distortion gave his own account. Not a good sign if the artists on the comp don't have very flattering things to say. Or to put it another way. After completing his masterpiece the Venus De Milo the museum curator says, "Yeah that's great, but where are the f*cking arms you hack? Nah don't worry about it, I'll get my guy to finish it. Beat it." Where Have We Been- Ah the answer to the question nobody has been asking. This is a horribly boring track that only sever as a placeholder. Why would you start with this weak sh*t? The object is to draw the audience in. "I found him! Yeah that won't get the stink off, you knew it was weak." Icon- This one gets regular plays from me today. It's massively powerful, melodic and the essence of a big track. Metempsychosis- The Polish Prince delivers one of his signature dreamy and trippy tracks. Picture the cosmic ballet unfolding all around you as you attempt to take it all in. Even with the sh*tty mastering this is spectacular and a window into what he had in store. Serbia- I think you have had enough chemical products. While not terrible the leads themselves were annoying like the buzz of a mosquito. Still not as bad as California Sunshine. Sunrise Zone- This project was so pissed off at the lack of mastering quality that they put their track on the net for free download. Good on them. Fairly standard as far as new school goes, but it'll get your heart moving. Abandoned Souls- CS again? Fear not this is much better. It's amazing how good a track can be when you plug your equipment in. There is some real bite with the leads here. Like a 303 food fight. He's dead. Tesla- This is a bruising track from the Turkish mastermind. Loud leads and an unrelenting pace characterize this bomb. You sort it out. Bruxism- "Hey babe you won't believe who I bumped into today. My ex girlfriend of 6 years! I know right? We're going to the movies later to catch up. What's that grinding noise?" Bruxism- habitual grinding of teeth usually during sleep. Something must've pissed this guy off to name the track like this. Cell phone company? Girlfriend? Ending of the Office? All acceptable. Not the most complex, but stunningly effective and moving with its growly lead taking center stage. Rumblefish- Have you checked out his new album Sirius Rising? Me neither, but I will. Ultiva obviously couldn't figure out the math of mastering so what do you do? You get an Asian. Problem solved. That's such a bullsh*t stereotype. I had an Asian friend in Calculus class in college and all he wanted to do was get high. This was a good one to end on. Not overly powerful or full of twirling melodies just sturdy goa. And since I'm already on the fast track to hell... It's painful to see a Serbian label have such a problem mastering tracks. A sh*tload of today's goa artists are from the Balkans so it would make sense to figure this out. I haven't gotten any of their other releases so I can't say whether they've handled this issue. But it doesn't sound great. Shame because there are several good tracks here. Mdk I don't feel right linking to it.

One of the best releases for goa trance in the modern age. It's a chunky acid ridden stormer that brings a smile to my face each time I listen to it. Get it while you can for it surely will be a classic. Mdk

I had to bump this because right now I'm seriously bumping this. If you haven't purchased this quit being a b*tch and get it. It'll change your life. I'm gonna try and see if I can get my wife to have sex to this. Mdk

Artist: Hiyarant Title: This is Only A Game Label: Disasterpeace Records Date: August, 2011 1. Osaka Remix 2. Something Else 3. Chaos Resolved 4. Last Possible Solution 5. Yojimbo (Hiyarant Remix) - Frozen Ghost 6. Hall of The Mountain Clown (Hiyarant Remix) - Rubix Qube 7. In Hindsight 8. Power To The People 9. Triple 7 "You people have been chosen...to reveal our existence to the world!" Whew. This is intense. Hiyarant is Stuart Vermaak from South Africa and he drops a migraine inducing blend of hard bass lines, ominous samples, and ear piercing leads right into your living room. As you would expect from the artist behind Collision the mood is dark and unrelenting. One does not just sit and listen to this. Oh no, you put this on right before your first Muay Thai fight. It's brick hurling twilight madness that people not familiar with our music might associate with animal cruelty. Severely detuned leads that sound like they're weeping are everywhere and there is a lo-fi rawness to its production. The low end rumbles and the highs screech like an eagle. It might be a lot to take in one sitting, but if you need a blast of energy before you go all hostel on someone...have I got something for you. "Let's get to work..." Beatport Mdk

Artist: Jupiter 8000 Title: Jupiter 8000 Label: Liquid audio Sounds Date: September, 1999 01. Technon 02. Saturn 03. Jupiter 8000 04. Orbit 05. Shuffle 06. Tahi 07. Vocoderflash 08. Kryptone Square 09. Music Junk 10. Aural Spacelift 11. Way Out One of the aliases of psy-goa legend Boris Blenn, this is his debut as Jupiter 8000. And man is it different. Different like that creepy uncle your parents never left you alone with. "No, no, no, don't worry about it. Really I don't want to bother you with watching our kids. We'll just take them with us on the skydiving trip." "Dad why can't I stay with Uncle Fester?" "Trust me, you're much safer plummeting from 15,000 feet than being around creepy uncle wrinkle sac." We all know what Boris made back in the goa days and for good or bad we know what he produces today. Goa trance was well on its way out at this time and scaled back production was about to take hold. This sounds quite minimal with an almost absence of melodic layering that made goa so enjoyable. Minimalistic production can be effective when used sparingly, but when you get 7 or 8 minutes of the same phrase I wanna punch grandmas. As previously mentioned there is a heavy techno presence and I think of this album as him exploring other areas and just rolling with the times. His next album is totally different than this. Some good beats, but kinda like what I'm doing right now this was his notepad to throw some sh*t against the wall and see what stuck. BTW, Boris was never in the Oh Yeah Yellow Project. That was Boris Blank. Did you know that Tom Cruise is also the CEO of Hoveround? Yeah, not the same guy. Mdk

Artist: Cosmic Tone Title: Uniting Forces Label: Planet B.E.N. Records Date: August, 2011 1. Dance Time (with Noga) 2. Are u ready 3. Pink (with Noga) 4. Modulator (Edit) 5. Toxic 6. Rhythm is the power 7. Open your mind 8. Give me sound 9. Maniac Yep, that's an E that is literally attempting to jump off the keyboard in protest. Roei Nissan is out with the 6th album from Cosmic Tone and you'll never guess what style he pursues. That's right Pancake Trance. Fluffy light and oh so easily digestible. I'm thinking about sending him the bill from my dentist because after hearing this sugary sweet confection I collected 3 cavities. Full on is his game and boy has he become mediocre at it. Boring and predictable this is just like all the rest with a different project name. And oh the buildups...Once again the always reliable Discogs score is right on the money with a solid 4/5. Sigh. Another quality artist swallowed up by the voracious commercial full-on monster. Some of you may be wondering why I subject myself to subpar music and then spend colossal amounts of time writing a review. Hey I have to live up to my Family of Light title, but think of it like this. I do it...so you don't have to. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Artist: Atma Title: Music Revolution Label: BMSS Records Date: November, 2011 1. The outer limits 2. Freedom 3. Forbidden Paradise 4. Music Revolution 5. Disturbing Silence 6. Into the void 7. Space Conquest 8. It's time 9. When we dream 10. The Guide "You have been propelled into the void." Shame on you Atma. Shame on you for entitling your album Music Revolution when it's barely music and shall cause no revolution. Revulsion surely, but no revolution for you! This is full-on to.the.bone. Absolutely nothing to write home about. 6 years ago I would've rolled my eyes at such cheese. The album takes on a darker tone with the 4th track and gets better but once the whole is dug it's very difficult to climb out of it. Shame on Atma's friends who certainly voted 5/5 on Discogs to give this the ridiculously unwarranted score of 4.89. We stop friend s from driving drunk all the time. Couldn't someone maybe pull him aside and talk to him? That's higher than Etnica's Live in Athens for God's sake. Really? Can anyone say with a straight face that this is in the same class? "Smells like my dead husband!" Yes, it smells that badly. Adverbs motherf*cker...they're making a comeback. BTW, is that doubly racist, putting and Asian cartoon face on a black guy? Shame on promo guy who wrote this gem without even listening to the CD: "Atma leads us into a completely new perspective of electronic music." How the f*ck do you figure that? What happened bro? Who hurt you? Hurt you so bad that with this release you are potentially undoing any good that your previous albums have done. It's not Audiotec or DNA bad, but he is definitely running in the same race. Life is too short for mediocrity. Think of this as a cautionary tale to people who might not know any better. Put the Atma down and walk away. Walk away. Not linking to disappointment. Mdk

Artist: Audiomatic Title: Weekend Society Label: Spintwist Records Date: March, 2011 1. Asprovalta Calling 2. Windows of our soul 3. Give them free (Audiomatic rmx) - NEELIX 4. Deep and pumping sound 5. Exchange - AUDIOMATIC AND VAISHIYAS 6. Flipping Switches 7. The city in the city - AUDIOMATIC AND PHAXE 8. Twin Peak (Audiomatic rmx) - DAY.DIN AND ALFREDO GARCIA 9. Synthesized 10. Q-Factor I've seen some dumb sh*t in my time. Wow, that's pretty stupid. Thought you were gonna win a million instead of going home with a year's supply of Kraft Mac and Cheese. There's tax on that you know. "Dreams...are windows of our soul. Every human being dreams. If you think you're not dreaming, you just forgot your dreams." Say hello to the dumbest sample I've ever heard. This was in the second track and with it's modulated sound during a break which I assume was meant to be poignant and deep, came off as some moldy cheese. Oy, give me a break. The real shame is that the track itself was pretty awesome until that verbal diarrhea splattered my ear canal. The third album from Benjamin Halfmann has some pretty good moments in it. Smooth progressive textures are easily found and a lot of the melodies are quite dreamy. The Twin Peak Remix is a fine example. Good floaty music. Unfortunately it seems to be relegated to a bench player only coming on in extra time when the game is well in hand. There are stretches where it could've used some more sounds to thicken things up a bit. I've heard all this before and there ain't nothing new under the hood. This could just be the "Spintwist" style, but compared to a lot of other progressive out there this gets boring rather quickly. Bright spot? The final track Q-Factor is a liquid space downtempo effort with some real world instruments that sounds very nice. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

For 2006 I suppose this wasn't bad. It's full-on ish, and is best listened to in a vacuum, because it's nowhere representative of their past. But now that Etnica, Dimension 5, and Crop Circles have all released old school tracks that never saw the light of day, expectations have been raised. The next time I want to hear from this project is when Draeke tells us that he has an old-school double album of stuff that needs to be heard. Mdk