Trance2MoveU

Artist: Ethereal Title: Anima Mundi Label: Tranceform Records Date: November, 2003 1. All systems are go (expand the system mix) 2. Cosmic lobster 3. Distant lights (2003 mix) 4. Cosmic lobster (dreamweaver's infinite space rmx) 5. Flamedancer 6. Radiator 7. Elysian fields If you played a round of golf and got a hole in one on every hole would you ever pick up a club again? No House you wouldn't. Unless you were going to use it to beat the pharmacist and steal all his Oxycontin. More likely your life would be a downward spiral replete with drugs and booze because, let's face it unless you cure cancer or solve world hunger it's all pretty much downhill from there. Unless you're playing a par 3 course I don't believe that 18 hole in ones is even possible. Hulk Hogan couldn't drive the ball 500 yards and I don't care how many times you've watched Happy Gilmore turning your club into a hockey stick ain't gonna help you. So piss off Canada. The record if you were wondering on an 18 hole course was 3 which is ridiculous if you think about it. The greatest golfer of all time had to be part time Yoko Ono stunt double Kim Jong Ill who claimed to make 11 holes in one the first time he ever picked up a set of clubs. Really? 11? I realize he was part of a propaganda machine, but to not even make it slightly believable is silly. Especially when the clubs were taller than he was. The gifted Swedish duo Carl Larsson & Fredrik Haglund were one of the earliest projects who contributed to the renaissance of goa trance. If you told me that right out of the gate in the beginning of the revolution that there would be a release that would set the standard I would've looked at you like Kim Jong Ill's caddy. But here we are and they have released arguably one of the greatest goa trance albums. Ever. Think about that. Artifact 303. M-Run. Mindsphere. Portamento. This is right up there. Made in 2003. It's melodic at it's core, drifting in long rippling waves illuminating a path across clouds. I can't say there is a great track on this album because they are all f*cking spectacular. Storytelling at its finest. But before you rush to your internet store of choice to scarf this one up, you have a better chance of making those 11 holes in one than finding this disc. It's like Disney opened its vault and said "Get the f*ck back in here!" Rumor has it that these guys are back and making new music so we got that going for us. Maybe they will do a Mindsphere type of thing where they have one disc of all new material and re-release Anima Mundi. That's a two disc package I would get on the golf course for. Of course, I'm more Happy Gilmore than Jack Nicklaus. You know what the price is. Besides...I miss hockey. Mdk

Artist: Deedrah Title: Self Oscillation Label: Distance Date: September, 1997 1. Self Oscillation 2. Blissful Blonde 3. Essential 4. Japonicus Delphinus 5. The Wizard Demo 6. Christiana High Life 7. Funkybootik 8. Alien Dick 9. Warheads 10. Lion Blue? "Let me take you on a trip." This is the debut album from Frédéric Holyszewski aka, Dado. I found this an interesting album. There are several genres represented here and I liked how he mixed it up oftentimes in the same track. The big beat in Blissful Blonde thunders underneath stuttering chopped up strings. I wish the strings in the short Essential had a more prominent role, but the rolling goa line fills the need nicely. The acid lines in Japonicus are tasty indeed and while I used to like the awkwardness of The Wizard Demo now it's just collective noise. I'm guessing Christiana High Life is a nod towards the Danish "Freetown" where you can sell and buy weed legally. There are some nice goa leads, but also a cheesy commercial melody in there as well. Still liked it. Think of it as peeing in his neighbors pool. Funkybootik. I just wanted to write that again. Welcome to gangster goa! Dusting of the 808 and the 303 he gets things hopping. Hmmm...808+303= 1111. Yep, binary tells me it's definitely on. If goa could have a darkpsy it would be Alien Dick. By the time he gets to War Head I think he was just f*cking around and said that sounds good. Lion Blue is the closer and while it has an ominous sound with a thumping beat and dark searching alien elements, there isn't a whole lot going on. But again, in the right mood, it's easy to like. Reading some of the earlier reviews, man there was some hate thrown at this. I never understood how people can get so upset at music. If you don't like it, don't listen. I do it so that I may educate and entertain. This isn't an essential piece of goa history, but there are some good tracks here that refuse to be pigeon-holed into one type of goa. 1997 was apparently a very creative time for goa trance and experimentation. And that's what he's got going for him with Self Oscillation. It's fun and obviously doesn't take itself too seriously. Mdk

Since you like the Space Tribe Mind is God sound, then check out the ESP releases Electric Space Phenomenon (Greatest track in history IMO) (Greatest Psytrance album in history IMO) Those are you tube links. If I knew how to post a video my reviews would then have sound and I don't think you can handle that. Mdk

Artist: Cydonia Title: In Fear of a Red Planet Label: Blue Room Released Date: 1999 1. Haunted World 2. Why? 3. Colombian Necktie 4. Cactus 5. Mindhunter 6. Animal People 7. Freakshow 8. Lightning Rods 9. Narco Nympho Why the hell isn't this exalted right up there with the greats? Some of the previous reviewers complained that this had no power. Must've been an embarrassment of riches in 1999. This thing is f*cking stacked! Imagine UX and FLA together. You'd have to because as far as I know it has never happened. But that's what it sounds like. Industrial goa trance that is psychedelic as hell. Eerie sounds coupled with symphonic textures make this a dark lovers wet dream. This is falling down the Mines of Moria while doing battle with the Bal Roc. Haunted World rips acid lines up and down the night sky and Why? is a crunchy treat that weighs on you like a school bus. Colombian Necktie is one of my all time favorites with all of the ingredients mentioned above. If you like Front Line Assembly, you will love this. Mindhunter displays alien footfalls before it assaults you with a wall of guitars and a tension filled atmosphere. Animal People bubbles with purpose as symphonic strings float above throaty leads. So deep and lush and wickedly dark. It's like if my flash drive turned into a decepticon and stole all my porn. Yeah, there's an app for that you f*cking bastard. And the hits keep coming with Freakshow and I would swear that we never left the nineties. Goa son! Goa! The climax is a bit of electronic nastiness that sears the skin. Lightning rods goes heavy on the cyber tones and I plunge into the Matrix father of two style! "No one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself" So the matrix is f*cking legoland with an admission? Narco Nympho is the techno heavy mid tempo track that wasn't bad as a closer. Man I had forgotten how good this was. I believe this is a classic that fits well with UX and Crop Circles. Highly recommended. Beatspace Digital Download Goa Store Avatar Records Mdk

I just ordered the MP3's (320) for under $10. If you want a code I found PM me, happy to share. Mdk

Yeah, I've never had a problem with Beatport. Different artist names you say? Interesting. Essential? Even more interesting. Mdk

Artist: Cosmoon Title: Flammable Label: BooM! Date: 1998 01. Sticky World 02. Drifting 03. I Am God? 04. Blending Together 05. Rew Fwd 06. Protein Code 07. Leaving Laughing Gas 08. Stratocaster Iz 09. Gravitational Fluctuation "I'm leavin' this Earth tomorrow night!" Rise! Rise long dead topic and throw off your chains of decay and inactivity! Somehow I came across this and decided to give it a listen. I know nothing about this individual except that his name is Ramon Sterman. I'm not going to go through it track by track because that is tiring and I don't have very many f*cks left to give, but also because I'm lazy. Anyone else think Anoebis must have been reeeeeallly high to give this even a semi-thumbs up? Could you see him in him mismatched clothes, eyes barely open, sitting around a fire with his friends? "There are some storming dance-floor killers on it. Just you wait until I start my own label, it's gonna be loaded with killargh stuff like this!" Which would be then followed by "Whatever hippie, are you gonna sit on that joint all night?" If I had to put it into two words...this sucks. If you scolded me and told me to be nice I would wait until your back is turned and give you the finger and then say this is very thin. There is a reason some albums are classics. They sound great, are detailed and hold up well. Whether it's 2013 or 1997 IFO still sounds awesome. This...not so much. It is not very melodic and doesn't hold up well. Also the tracks doesn't seem to evolve, they just...go. Perhaps it is part of what I would like to coin "transitional goa". That goa that is morphing into psytrance. Trademarked. Use it and you'll be hearing from my attorneys. Ok you can use it. See I'm not such a hard ass. Truth be told he is good with the breakbeats and I liked the pumping vibrancy of Protein Code. I even used it to entertain the poor kids at the shelter You know, cause it's all about the kids. Another thing he does well is samples. Not overbearing, but effectively placed. Some producers today could follow his lead. Nothing to see here people. Keep it moving. Mdk

Thanks for the info! Good to know. Since it is at Beatport in wav, that's probably the way I'm gonna go. Mdk

This is just juicy layered alien sky ripping planet hopping rocket fuel wasting dairy free dark and crunchy goa ambrosia. It's a mixture of the layered melodic stuff along with the psychedelic tech-heavy sound. Oftentimes in the same track. Sign of a good release if you can continue to come back to it. They don't make music like dis no mo! Mdk

This is the lost album that is supposed to rival Optimystique. Here is the Amazon link. Psygone Organique I would love to hear peoples opinions of this. Normally I would buy it without thinking, but I'm wary of buying mp3's and even more so when I don't know the bitrate. Mdk

So has anyone want to share their thoughts on this? Here is a link at Amazon. Psygone - Organique I'm nervous about buying Mp3's anyway, but even more so when I don't know what the bitrate is going to be. Mdk

Artist: Asia 2001 Title: Dreamland Label: Avatar Date: October, 2000 01. Orion In Maroc 02. After 2001 (Loren X Rmx) 03. The Last Survivors 04. 1666 (Loren X Rmx) 05. Majestic 12 06. Anafuzz 07. Profetic 08. We Are Not Alone 09. Girl From Acropolis 10. Black Sun 11. Dreamland This is Gilbert's (his momma named him Gilbert I'mma call him Gilbert!) sixth album and it was released at a time when the melodic goa wave had all but receded. But don't tell him that. You like dark and minimal music? Then don't listen to this cause if you don't realize what his style is after six albums then you really don't know what the f*ck you're doing. He makes melodic goa trance. And pretty covers. There are several tracks that just transport you back to those golden days. Anafuzz (whatever the f*ck that means), Profetic, We Are Not Alone, Girl From Acropolis are all very tasty. That being said there are some tracks where he just phoned it in. Even the good ones have some stretches where it seems a little less lush. Thin even. It's not even all goa trance. Maybe he was trying to flex his creative muscles. Maybe he was trying to catch as many buyers as possible with a broad net. The Loren-X remix of 1666 is downright laughing gas happy. It's not his best work and I believe that is something we can all agree on. But I'll take this over uninspired full-on and angry darkpsy anyday of the week and twice on Sunday. Cause Sunday is a day of rest and darkspy can't hurt you on Sunday. Like Vampires. Hey somebody help grandpa up there, it's like he's caught in a Parkinsonian loop. Psyshop Mdk

Is thisthread still active? Mdk

Artist: Space Tribe & Mad Maxx Title: Mind Is God EP Label: Space Tribe Music Date: October, 2012 1. Mind Is God 2. Mysteries of the World "Perception is the key to transformation. The mind is GOD!" Olli Wisdom has been around since the before some of you were born so like Boris Blenn he has earned respect and street cred. Personally I didn't care for his early work and have only started appreciating his music since Time S-T-R-E-T-C-H. He makes great acidic twilight music like Boris does. Or, did. Those two seemed joined at the hip because their collaboration with the ESP project has been quite solid. Olli's latest album of new stuff Peak Experience was enjoyable and seems to have maintained his ability to lay down some stormers. This two track EP is another gem if you are into that type of music. It's hard hitting with loads of acid for the connoisseur. He maintains the feeling of spiritual other worldliness with the samples that enhance the track but don't dominate it. Seems like his collaboration with fellow monkey poo flinger Mad Maxx has paid off. Boris better pick up his game or Olli might replace him. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Electric Universe Title: Solstice EP Label: Electric Universe Records Date: December, 2012 1.Cosmic Network 2. Spacetime Continuum 3. Psystep (Psychedelic Edit) "Breakthroughs in physics have forced and continue to force dramatic revisions to our conception of the cosmos." I've always had a soft spot for Electric Universe even when he was releasing crap like Higher Modes. I keep hoping that he will rediscover his ability to craft masterpieces like Cosmic Experience, but lo that was almost 9 years ago so...yep hopes are dimming. But I love a good comeback story. And it is with that spirit that I decided to listen to his latest EP. It's got lots of lasers with tight production he's known for as well as buckets of acid. So he's got that going for him. Cosmic Network was typical EU full on that wasn't bad until that God awful build up. Spacetime was a treat harkening back to his glory days when he wielded a mighty 303 hammer and perhaps my dreams were soon to be realized. Alas the goa energy couldn't (or wouldn't) be maintained as it devolved into adequate full-on. The Psychedelic Edit of Psystep is a moderately short blast of acid only marred by the inevitable build up. So again I'm only able to give a grade of incomplete. He showed flashes of his former brilliance, but unfortunately it was mired in the full-on style he finds himself in. Don't get me wrong, his brand of full-on isn't terrible, but we've heard the same thing for the past 4 or 5 albums now. And you want to charge $7.50 for this? I don't think so. Time for a refresher methinks. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Yotopia Title: Master Key Label: Plusquam Records Date: September, 2012 1. Master Key - Yotopia 2. Master Key (Time In Motion Remix) 3. Master Key (Rocky Remix) I also liked their Connect the Dots album and would place them in the pretty good section of progressive trance. Their tracks usually have good bounce and they can display some storytelling ability. While less than impressed with the Dark Terminal EP I wanted to see what they've been cooking up lately. Master Key is a wide open track with a floaty science fiction air and almost reaches its full potential. Time In Motion is a Danish trio that has consistently knocked balls out of the park. This is no exception as they keep enough of the original in there, but add enough effects and their distinct style to not make it a carbon copy. I liked the original better though as it had more weight to it. More of a deep, lush quality. Rocky has either been hit or miss for me. And because of that when I see the over 10 minute track length a small groan begins in my throat. I envision extended periods of just kick + bass + hi-hat for my snoring pleasure. And while I may be a bit hyperbolic, his remix leans towards the less melodic side of things. All in all not a bad EP where I felt the original was better than the remixes. And FYI there is also a Synergetic release that has two remixes of Master Key. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Nova Fractal Title: Fractal Landscape Label: Ovnimoon Records Date: December, 2012 1. Trough our senses 2. Autopsy 3. Perplexed 4. Reality of life 5. Back to future (Nova Fractal rmx) - SKY TECHNOLOGY 6. Perception 7. Connect 8. Common Cold 9. Blindsight 10. Cellar Door (Nova Fractal Sunrise rmx) - PHARAOM Ok let's get this out of the way right now. Worst. Apocalypse. Ever. Stupid Mayans. No, you know what? Stupid us. We already have people standing in the street saying that it's the end of days and we think their f*cking crazy. So now we're giving credence to a race that didn't even wear pants? Fine Mexico, the joke's on us. You've had your laugh and now you can go back to tying to hop over my country's border and sell me oranges or blow the leaves out of the local 7-11 parking lot. *feels up and down pants and checks in pockets* Let's see I have it on me somewhere, where did I put it? Ah! There it is. My very own ticket to hell. Window seat b*tches! Nova Fractal is Renato Brnić a very nice Croatian fellow who is part of the dominant force of Balkan goa trance artists that have all but taken over. He asked me to review his debut album weeks ago, but with the Christmas Holiday and the Mayan failure (yet again) I haven't been able to give it the time it deserves. Now I can. Ivan did a great review, but he's not funny. I however, am hilarious. Ask my 1 year old, she'll tell ya. The first thing I want to get across to all potential buyers is that this is a very talented artist. His tracks are melodic and big on the storytelling side of things. Another thing you should know is that the vast majority of these tracks have already been released. For free. Yes, yes I already know what you're gonna ask. For the last time, she looked 18 and now it's a matter for the courts to decide. That wasn't it? Oh. Then, uh...go ahead shoot. "If it's already out there for free, why would I buy it?" That's a good one. And the answer is I can't tell you why you should buy it. But I can tell you why I would. Number one, it is re-mastered with improvements so right off the bat it's going to sound better. Two, it's some quality goa trance that is now localized on one CD. Three, I'm happy to help out artists that produce good music. He opens with Through Our Senses which is a very cosmic track with an other worldly feel thanks to the long intro and break. Where the first track was cruising above the planet Autopsy rockets at ludicrous speed as stars and meteors go by in a blur. When you get to that brief break it's like a super slow motion replay. "Hey he's trying to make it across the border!" The relentless pace continues with Perplexed as chaotic leads scream giving this one a darker tone. Reality of Life is another darker track with sharp edges and the remix of the Sky Technology track is pretty good with pumping beats and frenetic arpeggios. Perception reminds me a bit of E-Mantra with the sounds he uses and that's a good thing. Connect always sticks out to me due to the break beat. Common Cold and Blindsight are good, but a little too full on for my tastes. By the time we get to the final track...well let's see...this is the what? 3rd or 4th remix of this track? Geez, next guy that hands you a remix of this track get your security to handle it. "No problem man, I'll give it a listen." It has a soft appeal and some nice feeling in the breaks, but aside from being beat over the head with this track, it's just full-on in style and the least "goa" of all the tracks. One thing that is readilly apparent is his excellent storytelling during breaks. They're just filled with emotion and a good springboard for his next sonic assault. Renato is in a tough spot here. He makes some very good cosmic goa trance, but I think it's going to be tough to get people to buy this. It's very good and I already gave my reasons why I would get it. But the fact of the matter is that most of the tracks are already freely available. As many labels will tell you though once the cat is out of the bag it's very difficult to shove it back in there. It's going to come down to those people who want to support the scene and whether or not better mastering matters to them. I'm actually surprised that a label agreed to do this knowing that they would probably take a loss. But more power to him. He is a great producer and he deserves all the success he can get. Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Asia 2001 Title: Ama Zone Label: Avatar Records Date: 1998 1. Red Horizones 2. Bais 51 3. Antartica 4. Full Moon Project 5. Ama Zone 6. Super JV 7. Visitors 8. Zeta Reticulli (Jarod Mix) 9. Vertige (Paradiso Mix) "Don't hope too much for something cause you may end up getting it." Martin Cooper is an uber talented music producer that had as many aliases as Filipe Santos does today. Even the name he used was a f*cking alias. His name's not Martin. It's Gilbert Thevenet. But by far this was his most successful project. 6 albums of goa trance, a best of if you will with Amnesia, and then whatever the f*ck Abduction was. There are certain albums that just stand out and while I think this is a very good one, it's the vibrant artwork that makes me smile. The first track that hits the sweet spot is Antartica with it's ever changing lead sounds and furious intensity. Full Moon Project follows suit with crazy dancing acid lines and extended twirling opportunities. Visitors is characterized by a screaming 303 while his version of Zeta Reticuli comes off as rather subdued. Fear not because he closes with a screamer in Vertige. This isn't a layer rich melodic orgasm. Sure there are melodies, but he doesn't stack them one on top of the other as it's made primarily for the dance floor. Some of the tracks have some extended time where nothing new is introduced so for me he loses some points there. I don't believe I'm going out on a limb by saying this isn't a classic, but it is a pretty good goa trance album. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Goa Trance Volume Six Label: Rumour Records Date: 1997 1. Project Oblivion - Conspiracy Theory 2. The Spirit - Sourmash 3. Drama - ManMadeMan 4. Alien Hitmen - Slide 5. Starkissed (Aroma Venus Mix) - The Secret 6. Crowd Nine - Eco 7. Abraxis - The Shining Path 8. Omnifarious Splifferous - Shamanic Tribes of Acid 9. Planet Bliss - Super Skunk 10. Spectre - Blue Book The multi appendaged deity is back with the 6th installment of the Goa Trance series by Rumour Records. I think they got up to 7 in the series and if you've heard one of them then you know that they follow a formula. You get a couple of big names with well known hits and then drown them in a copious amount of mediocrity. The standouts for me were the ManMadeMan track Drama and Eco's Crowd Nine as the stormers here. Slide's Alien Hitmen is a close second with a crunchy technoish texture and the surprisingly good Abraxis unfolded with a lot of dark appeal. The rest? Not very impressive and quite forgettable. Chances are good that you already have the good tracks so it's hardly necessary to own. However if you are a completionist like me then your damn OCD compels you to get this like the power of Christ would. Mdk

Got my DAT Records catalog today. Etnica Live in Athens 1996 Crop Circles - Tetrahedron Crossing Mind - The Holographic Paradigm Blue Planet Corporation - Blueprint For Survival Anyone want to sell me a copy of Mind Rewind? Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Cyber Trance 2 Label: Javelin Ltd Date: March, 1996 1. Paint a Picture - Man With No Name 2. S.T.C. - The Deviant 3. 1002nd Night - Total Eclipse 4. Whale - Witchcraft 5. Alpha Centauri - Hallucinogen 6. Andromeda - Laughing Buddha 7. Enlightened Evolution - Astral Projection 8. Primal Orbit - Prana Part 2 of the Cyber Trance series from Javelin sees a lot of tracks that you are not only familiar with, I'm willing to make a wager that you already have. I like comps like this because it forces me to listen to these great tracks and recall how outstanding they were. Paint a Picture- See I just made that last statement and we start off the compilation with a less than stellar track. Martin Freeland opens up with one that won't blind you with its colorful spirals, but is more of an introduction to what is collected here. This track for me was always more trance than goa. But I give the guy a break since the track is from 1993. You're lucky he didn't come at you with some grungy Soundgarden sh*t. BYOF (bring your own flannel). Not much here, but he allows you to paint your own picture. Freeland? More like 'Froland. S.T.C.- Known for their collaboration with Orichalum, this trio (which includes Mr. Souque, aka The Antidote, Total Eclipse among others) lays down a track that is almost 13 minutes long. With a smattering of spacey effects it is quite hypnotic even if there isn't much evolution. You would think that somewhere along those 13 minutes it would get a little boring (it did), but just get some breakfast cereal and you're on your way to a great day! Breakfast of champions. Eat it Bruce Jenner. Eat it. 1002nd Night- Love the beginning of the track with it's Middle Eastern flare and soft alien textures and then it offers up gentle twisting melodies. It's another one that is not going to bowl you over with stacks of sound, but it creeps eerily along. Good, but showing it's age a bit. Whale- "How many worlds are there?" This is where the compilation begins to get its wings. This project (Sandman) is known for 2 tracks, Magic Frequencies andWhale. The leads scream and the intensity increases as this is the lushest track yet with great layers. He gets it. Alpha Centauri- Simon's well known track entrances with twisting melodies strung out for miles as well as crunchy growly synth work. Not much to say really, if you've heard it you know what I'm talking about. Andromeda- Cosmosis duo drop a bubbly gem right into your lap. The project is now all Jeremy's (and I wasn't thrilled with his album Sacred Technology), but back then it was all goa all the time. Hypnotic without being overbearing. Enlightened Evolution- Really? Do I have to describe this one? Great space goa back when AP made music and not just promises. Primal Orbit- Saving the best for last is this screaming beast. It's a morphing and swirling track that contains everything that is great about goa. Tribal elements, dark melodies, and power. Ladies and gentlemen we have a winner. Holy sh*t did your face get fat! Classic compilation that doesn't get the attention that a lot of other well known ones do. It starts off slowly, but then rapidly picks up speed with some superb tracks. If you can find it, pick it up. Mdk

Artist: Chi-A.D. Title: Infinitism Label: Out of Orion Date: September, 2001 1. Beyond The Singularity 2. Sub Atomica 3. Celestial 4. Eye Am The I 5. The Flame 6. C.12 7. Animatrix 8. Purity The third album of Dave Young is a compilation of his most well known tracks as well as 2 new ones. Hmmm...released in September of 2001. Not many people were releasing goa trance at the beginning of the millennium. Gone were the floaty and beautiful melodies and in their place the minimal movement was in full swing. Something else happened right at that time. What was it, what was it? Oh. Yeah that. His style is that floaty storytelling goa trance more focused on spiraling melodies and atmosphere than blowing your doors off. Beyond the Singularity is a great way to start with a really cool breakbeat and dare I say an uplifting melody. Sub Atomica copies that exact pattern at the outset, but like a lot of his tracks it meanders on its own dreamy way. Mainly due to the length which is ideal for meandering. The long break allows the breakbeat to return while new leads germinate like flowers in Spring. The Flame is a monster. Hear that hi-hat? So delightfully crunchy! The lead? Epic! Carving across space like a turkey on Thanksgiving. Seriously cosmic goa trance. C.12 is another one of his cosmic tracks that rely on storytelling and capturing the listener. A synth stab hums warmly amidst outer space and alien effects. Soft melodies twinkle and travel from ear to ear. Animatrix is one of the new tracks (also the weakest in my opinion) and while in the same vein as the others it's a bit of a slow starter. Purity closes things out with one foot in the melodic trance genre and is a pretty good track. I enjoyed this one and it seemed to be a good time to put together a best of if you will. There will be questions of why this one or that one wasn't included, but I think it's a good primer for those not familiar with Chi-A.D. Floaty, melodic goa trance that uses epic melodies to rocket you into the stratosphere. Mdk

Good one. I get it. Double dog dared in American slang means someone dares you to do something. If I get some time in the next few weeks I'll give this a listening. Mdk

Artist: Somaton Title: Future Memories Label: Phantasm Records Date: 1997 01. 07'17" Monogatari 02. 07'03" Future Memories 03. 07'37" Eclosion 04. 06'54" The Sphere Of Sensation 05. 06'50" Infinite Reality 06. 06'52" Alpha Rhythms 07. 06'45" Mutate And Survive 08. 05'21" Future Memories (Digitalis Chilled Rmx) 09. 06'33" Radionics 10. 06'34" Infinity Dubs "Your minds and your memories will be totally absorbed." I think that's Jeff Goldblum. Did you know homie is 60 years old? Man time flies, it was just the other day he was in the Fly right? What's that? Oh, 1986 you say? Wow...I need to get out more. Ok had to come back to this one. Before Filipe Santos had 27 different project names there was Seb Taylor. This guy produced music under the name Shakta, Somaton, Digitalis, Hibernation and Kaya Project to name a few. Having a classic under your belt is rare and quite impressive. Having 2? Well, that's something to crow about. Silicon Trip released by Shakta is a well established benchmark of the goa trance genre IMO, but this is his less talked about achievement that performs just as well. He comes right out and scores a smash with Monogatari that hits with the force of a sledgehammer that just doesn't get old. Eclosion is imminently danceable and high on the twirl factor. The Sphere of Sensation has the kind of lead that leaves a heat trail behind it as it sucks you up its vortex of goa energy and while I liked it, it seemed to lack the killing blow that several of the tracks here have. Infinite Reality sees an acid line rip a hole in the firmament which allows all the little goa demons a chance to escape. But then Alpha Rhythms comes on and...things start moving involuntarily. OK! Nobody was doing this breakbeat Crystal Method sh*t back in 97. Well, except Crystal Method. The 303 screams and the beat is heavy. Did he copy them? Hard to say there wasn't some influence as it sounds like this could've come off their Vegas album. But there can be no mistaking the dominant track on the album Mutate and Survive. Swirling leads, pumping rhythm, and that bubbling 303 that lets you know everything is gonna be all right. Dude you're on fire! No, seriously dude, you're on f*cking fire!!! With the eigth track he brings his downtempo Digitalis project into focus with a chilled remix of Future Memories. It's cool in a flowing way with an old-school hip hop beat leading the charge. Not bad with some juicy electronic bubbles. Kinda odd that he put it where he did, but that's not the type of thing that will upset me. Radionics sees the pace pick up immediately with leads racing past each other for prime position. Super fast with driving melodies makes it very tasty. To close things out it's another slow jam this time in the dubby style. I don't know how this made it on the album as it doesn't fit with anything else. Sure it's relaxing dub style, but put it on your chilled project. Give me more goa! While not one of the top 5 goa trance albums, it still holds weight with me. Acid lines that tear across the sky, bubbling leads, and power out the wazoo make this one a very impressive release. Mdk

Did I just get double dog dared? MDK