Trance2MoveU

Artist: Chi - A.D. Title: Anno Domini Label: Nova Tekk Date: September, 1999 1. Anno Domini 2. The Flame of Eternal Life 3. Pathfinder 4. Moonart 5. Shadow Spirit 6. Myopic Utopia (A.D. Mix) 7. Redivider "I cannot say for certain. Too long sometimes it consumes the very soul it's assigned to protect." Since my wife is on the night shift it seems like I shall be spending the evening with Dave Young. This is the 2nd album from him and having really enjoyed Virtual Spirit I was floored by this masterpiece. The depth of this album is unfathomable The cosmic hypnotic style is ever present with 7 very long tracks that unravel slowly to illustrate their purpose. Beginning with the title track it quickly became one of my favorites. Space effects abound creating an atmosphere that sees colorful nebulae within your grasp. If the northern lights made a sound I think it would sound like this. Leads crackle with electric energy and the hair on my arms begins to stand up. It's spiritual in an other worldly sense and when that choir kicked in I swear I got chills. This is what music is supposed to do. Absolutely breathtaking. Epic. I like that it takes its time. There is no hurry. A reviewer said this was spiritual trance and I agree. You don't dance to this. You experience it. After Anno Domini I'm thinking the only way you can go is down. Wrong. While The Flame of Eternal Life doesn't have the setup and vast tapestry of Anno Domini it has it's own method. The melodies really kick in at 3 and a half minutes and instantly you're rocketing past planets. The break is a window into the soul unlocking mysteries and I inhale deeply to become part of it. As it flows on there is the sense that you are in the presence of greatness. I cannot believe what I have just heard. Unbelievably smooth, cradled in the protective arms of knowledge. The next track is a fence splitter. You either love it or hate it. I hated it for so long. But something happens in the wee hours of the morning when it's just you and the music. It was as if the clouds parted and the light of understanding touched me. Tribal with a driving beat, I'm thinking what is this doing here. How dare you usurp the paradise with which I was entrenched. Yeah it's thunderous drums will shake you from your reverie, but the odd vocal chant is hypnotic in its own right. Ritualistic even. As if you're watching something no human has ever seen. Before long you are part of that ritual. Goa? Nah, but we're still making trance music right? Moonart gets back to what got you here. A nice descriptive intro that soon has company. Did you hear the alien creature skitter across your headphones? I did. And I'm seeing things also. Ghosts. His scratchy-melodic synth phrases are so lush it makes me smile. Ultra hypnotic with a synth falling away and other short melodies as a far away chant brings it all together. I cannot get over how vast this is. The sensations this album is giving are intense and the clarity of the dripping liquid against effects is almost too much to take. But that's what Shadow Spirit delivers, in a downtempo format that creeps along with his penchant for beating you over the head with samples. For some reason it works here though. The electric guitar riff also works giving a wink to Front Line Assembly. Little long? Maybe. Too much sample abuse? Absolutely. The placement at first glance seems a little odd, but when you hear the next track it will become clear how he wanted to set this whole thing up. I feel he put Pathfinder and Shadow Spirit where he did to treat them like excursions on another world. Because with Myopic Utopia it's get back in the ship and time to blast off. The booming kick takes the adrenaline up another notch and the choir chant from the first track returns adding another layer to this effort. This is as driving as it gets as the wailing sounds of ghosts from civilizations past echo in the background. Redivider has this bit of sunshine at the break that allows one a brief glimpse of a cherished memory before it's back to the cold touch of space. While not bad at all, it lacks the depth of the other tracks. I don't normally write this much. But I couldn't help myself. I also try to inject humor in these things as well, but I couldn't do it with this album. The same reviewer who called this spiritual trance also said this was very personal to him. I agree and I understand. I've listened to so much music in my short life, but nothing...I repeat nothing has entranced me like this album. So vivid and emotional without being harsh or overbearing. IFO...classic. Alien Protein...classic. LSD...classic. Those were titanic power albums rich in psychedelia. You won't get run over or knocked out with concussive force with this album. But it will move you. When Hollywood wants you to cry, they put music in a scene that will do that. I felt this was achingly beautiful and was as detailed as any film. How can you go back to new music after an experience like this? I hope he reads this and knows that while he may never get wealthy from goa trance (that's a f*cking certainty) his music has had a profound effect on me. A definite classic. Mdk

Artist: Chi-A.D. Title: Virtual Spirit Label: Ganesha, Nova Tekk Date: 1997 1. Healing Magic 2. The Ocean Also Dreams 3. Astral Warrior 4. State of Mind 5. Serpent's Fire 6. Inner Energy 7. Paranormal Activity (Spooky) 8. Organic Forms 9. Sacred Vision This is the first album from Dave Young and I think wildly under appreciated. Healing Magic- "But if the desire to resume burns brightly enough the holy people will be merciful." I really like the tribal feel with this one, very atmospheric. It really hits home because while I don't have a drop of native American blood in me, it was my ancestors who slaughtered the Indians and forced the remaining few to spend the rest of their days in an alcoholic tailspin on the most dry and barren land the white man could find. So yeah, I can connect. What I can't connect with is the absolute sample abuse that is taking place here. Love samples, but too much is, well...too much. Love chocolate too, but that doesn't mean I want diabetes. So good atmospheric goa, but... The Ocean Also Dreams- "The ocean is the largest surface area of our world. Here...man is far from supreme." I'm sure the ocean is dreaming of a time when we stop spilling so much f*cking oil into it. That's what I would dream about. And I would totally do it with a mermaid. Even at this early stage you can tell there is talent here. Long, drifting pads float above a bubbling synth and the whole thing has an ocean vibe with the sounds of seagulls. Better, but still a little sample shenanigans. Astral Warrior- "I have seen things that you can only dream about. I have been there." Everyone has heard this track as it is one of his most famous. The samples sound so profound and futuristic...feel like I would totally get killed in a game of scrabble with these guys. More tribal elements with the didgeridoo (thank you spell check) humming, but this is the most aggressive track yet. The bass line hammers away and the lead is particularly sharp sounding and intense. Good stuff. State of Mind- He continues with his "soft touch" goa and it continues to sound great. The flute adds an air of mysticism as synth lines peek around the corner. One of my favorites because it flows so well. Serpent's Fire- Yes can I get a little soul clap? His songs are so expressive, this one weeps with emotion as the melodies build. The carry like snowflakes which is kind of an odd thing to say since the track title is Serpent's Fire. But give it time, the track gets its fire as the lead rips amidst the bubbling effects. Superb. Inner Energy- So futuristic and palpable you feel you could reach out and touch the arpeggios as they drift by. Another one that flows like a magic carpet ride. Paranormal Activity (Spooky)- Nimble little thing isn't it? Seems like the fastest yet and it's more pure goa melodies that aren't soaked in reverb. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Delicate is a good way to describe his style on this CD. There is something other worldly about the tone in an X-files kinda way. The truth is out there. And it's screaming to put the f*cking donut down. Organic Forms- Warm pads speak of a sterile scientific vessel and this thing has an awesome beginning. Smooth and involving. This is less goa and more progressive or even dream trance. The simple bass line has a disco feel as the pads keep coming. So warm and fits with the theme of the album. Bra-vo. Sacred Vision- In 1997 every artist seemed to close an album out with a downtempo track and this one is no exception. He brings the Navajo guy back and he gets all shamanistic up in here. Until it picks up about 3 minutes in and that's when I feel things went wrong. It would've been better if he left it as a closing slow jam. Show how spiritual the ancient shaman is. Show us he's got a plan and sees thing with his peyote ham sandwich and peace pipe. "Am I gonna win the powerball? What about the NHL strike, is that thing almost over cause if I have to watch baseball I might just slam my d*ck into a car door. Where are you going? Get the f*ck back here Tonto and draw some pictures in the dirt!" So racist. It's easy to see why this project is a classic of the goa trance genre. Pure old school that is non intrusive yet supremely melodic. Storytelling at it's finest with slick atmosphere. It flowed like an album is supposed to and like a great actor it never broke character. Smooth goa trance with a Blade Runner feel. Mdk

Artist: Koxbox Title: Dragon Tales Label: Blue Room Released Date: 1997 1. D.M. Turner 2. Electronic Brainwash 3. Doktor Mesmer 4. Life Is... 5. Colordrops 6. Tokyo Nights 7. Stratosfierce 2001 8. Searching For Psychoactive Herbs Me since I started listening to psytrance in 2003: This f*cking sucks! I thought this was supposed to be goa? Hello? Melodies? Me tonight. After letting a high quality rip blare through the sub woofer: Almost everyone on this forum had high praise for this work. I obviously took a decade long lunch break because there is no other explanation. Like it's amazing cover it is as psychedelic as it gets. It breathes like something alive, pulsing sinister electronica from a planet I've never heard of. This is when the project had all of its members and was at the height of...well, whatever the hell you call their brand of goa trance. A large injustice was labeling this goa trance in my opinion. And maybe that's partly why it took so long for me to accept this because I was expecting it to be something else. Sure there are elements and I guess you can call it goa trance on the darker side of things. But this is pure psychedelia and man did it make its mark on me tonight. Doktor Mesmer? Absolutely mind blowing. Life Is...? So many turns with echoing synths that wail. Colordrops sounds like actual drops of color. Gooey sh*t that you just stepped in and you're mad because you know you don't have a change of footwear in the Yugo. This is the type of music that would take full-on out to the parking lot and lay a beating on 'em just because. This isn't the type of trance that stacks layers. It stacks atmosphere. So there you have it. All it took was time, the right night, and a some really good speakers. *Pulls collar* "Sounds like my wedding night!" If I could sum it up in two words: uniquely psychedelic. Sounds extremely fresh as if it were made yesterday. It was given the re-issue business by Inpsyde Media in 2003 so there is no excuse not to have this gem in your collection. I'm getting it. Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Oood Title: Alive Label: Self Released Date: December, 2008 01 :: Cobra (8:33) 02 :: Karmic Suture (7:53) 03 :: Cthulu (7:58) 04 :: Cosmic Ripple (7:04) 05 :: Herbs & Spices (7:25) 06 :: Silence (8:30) 07 :: Two Dawns Over Baleshwar (9:48) 08 :: Kundalini (9:52) 09 :: Rifa (6:46) Quite a Christmas gift wouldn't you say? The original masterpiece was released back in the golden days of 1997 on Cabbaged Records, but in 2008 Colin and Ektoplazm were proud to re-release this classic in digital format. Flac, wav, mp3...whatever. All the tracks were recorded live at various parties and put together on one album. And what an album it was. This is their crowning achievement in goa trance and one of the absolute classics of the genre. The only template you'll find here is no template. You couldn't find a full-on bass line with a CSI team. It's organic and evolving wielding 303 madness all along the way. From Cthulu to Two Dawns over Baleshwar it is a flowing morass of oscillating synths and stacked melodies that build tension and threaten to explode. I used to dislike Kundalini, but in the early morning darkness as dawn was approaching I finally got it and let it wash over me. Not the best track (that goes to the psychedelic monster Cosmic Ripple), but it fits right into the theme of this album. My least favorite is Rifa which requires speed, ecstasy, and a dancefloor that slopes downward just to keep up. But even that one and its blazing pace demand respect. Thanks to Colin and Basilisk for making this happen. Too often the greats of the genre go unappreciated because the CD's are so hard to come by so you have to make do with iffy download quality. I hope one day that other classics will find their way to this site so we can enjoy them the way they were meant to be heard. Free at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Rabdom L Title: Augment EP Label: Nexus Media Date: May, 2012 1. Daywalker (Rabdom L Remix) - Cybernetix Vs. Rabdom L 2. Master of the Krusha (Rabdom L Remix) - Khopat Vs. Rabdom L 3. Ionosphere (Rabdom L Remix) - Deliriant Vs. Rabdom L 4. Firestorm - Rabdom L This is Craig Hudson who is 1/3 of the Twisted System project (time for a new album wouldn't you say gentlemen?) with his 2nd EP on Nexus Media. If it's Nexus media, the style is atmospherically dark and thumping. What we've got are 4 tracks three of which are remixes of his own stuff. The promo on Beatport says a chunky blast of sounds and colors. I like chunky. What's that? Oh. It said crunchy. Well I like that too. And you get that static electricity crunch that stays true to the Nexus Media model. Daywalker (aren't we all daywalkers?) is from the Tevatron EP by Cybernetix back in 2010 and I can't tell them apart. Kinda like if you look at people from the third floor of a Tokyo building. Unless you're talking about the young kids with their psychedelic hair and just to be different dress, but the ninjas and samurai walking the street hate them anyway. The original was good so by the distributive property this is also. Master of the Krusha is from 2011's Aricebo Chronicles and as I mentioned when I reveiwed that album I would swear he lifted parts of it directly from the Nightmare Creatures video soundtrack. In which case we can arrange a deal for my silence. Once again this is like looking in a mirror. If there are differences between the tracks they appear to be slight. Maybe the original sounds gritier and more aggressive so I think I prefer that one. I don't know where Ionosphere is from but it's more of the same acid and laser combo which I usually really like. Not bad, but not great either. Firestorm is the only one that isn't a remix. Good eerie setting that brings back the days of acid rain deluging you in buckets. Not quite that good, but closer than further. I liked it but if you have the Tevatron EP, or Aricebo Chronicles there really isn't a reason to purchase this EP. The third track was ok and the fourth was good, but if you're looking for Twisted System insanity better cue up your old Dealers album. However if you don't have any of those, then by all means you'll get your acid fix. Beatport Mdk

No problem! It was like a puzzle. I love puzzles. Mdk

Thank you Mr. umm, Wang. That worked perfectly! Haven't tried the messenger thing yet, but I will let you know how that goes in time. Thanks so much for your rapid and effective customer service. Mdk

Anyone else locked into mobile mode? I'm trying to change the theme and get it back to black, but it won't let me. Also when in messenger, it wouldn't let me send messages. Mdk

Artist: Tryon Title: The Source EP Label: Kaos Krew Records Date: October, 2012 1. Noise Freak - Tryon Vs. Digital Talk 2. The Void - Tryon Vs. Mindcore 3. The Flame "Keep on doing what you've always done. Keep on being what you've always been." Oh yeah...now we're talking. Telmo gets it. Take a thumping beat, drench in acid and repeat. Why is this so hard for some? He's not here to weave a complex tale dissecting the intricacies of our existence. His goal is to make you get up and dance with a sledgehammer combination of lasers and acid. His style drives in the fast lane where your grandma insists on staying with the right blinker on. If you're in his way well, you've got another grandma right? "Oh thank you young man. I-I-I don't know who he was, but he was one of those foreign fellas. Probably in the Taliban. Did you know they make their women wear potato sacks? I don't. Both died of cancer, but let's be honest it would be much cooler to go with smoking acid marks on your back. His collaboration with Digital Talk is my favorite as it is unrelenting and super rhythmic. He's got this ability to use a sample that is clear, but sounds far away. Adds to the mayhem for me. If you're a fan of the high tech acid heavy style consider this recommended. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Sonic Alchemy Chapter II Label: Sonic Motion Records Date: October, 2012 1. Technology - Outer Signal 2. Impulses Reimagined - Deeper In Zen 3. Eureka - Yurika Sonic Motion Records is back at it again with the 2nd chapter of...ah, you can read. The name sounded familiar so I went back and "re-discovered" that I had actually reviewed the 1st chapter here. And after reading what I had written I'm still uncertain whether I liked it or not. Well I must not have liked it enough to keep it cause I no longer have it. Compiled by Atyss again (whose latest release Luxe In Nocte also befuddled me) he offers 3 tracks in the same night full-on style. Outer Signal makes a track that reminds me of California Sunshine with guitar in a prominent role, but I listened to it anyway. I came away with a definite feeling. Hardware that is effective and delicious? Yes please. Impulses Reimagined- I've always liked Mr. Brian's music, but his persistent thumping and warbling on this track left me indifferent. Nothing really to discover, just temple pounding. Eureka- Hey look, the track name sounds like the artist, but it's spelled differently. That's called a heterograph. Like their and they're. You and ewe. How many can you name? I'm serious because that holds my interest better than this track. Sonic Motion I'm disappointed. This was fairly benign without any of your usual characteristic bombast. Maybe you should stop with the EP's and just focus on compilation work. I don't know the answer, oh wait yes I do. Get better tracks. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Syb Unity Nettwerk Title: Mind Rider / Source of Life EP Label: Aquarius Date: 1995 1. Mind Rider (11:29) 2. Source of Life (11:01) Kris Kylven is a stranger to nobody who frequents this forum. Responsible for the unparalleled dark goa trance epic Ultimate Experience (which was recently re-released with awesome updates) he obviously didn't start out that way. One of his other projects was Syb Unity Nettwerk which to be honest sounded a lot like UX. This is one of his earlier releases and boy does it show. Mind Rider flirts with the industrial side of things with crunchy guitars lurking in the background as goa leads roll in waves. Both tracks are very thin and monotonous to me with Source of Life being the most boring. The production is rather sparse to say the least, but this was 2 years before he gave us the Ultimate Experience. Far from his best work, but it does give a little idea where he was heading. Only for collectors and completionists. Mdk

We are destined to disagree here as you seem to have liked the last track which to me was barren like a 80 year old woman's womb. It's full-on and it's been run into the ground. Significantly by this label. However the tracks by Tristan and Mad Maxx seemed to stand out and didn't resemble the rest. I have heard much worse than this. But there is no right or wrong, just opinion. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Be Spun Label: Spun Records Date: May, 2011 1. The Serum GMS VS ANTIDOTE 2. Bend the future (Logica rmx) SONIC SPECIES 3. Space Star Ordering CHROMATONE 4. Freewheeler TRISTAN 5. The Great Outdoors EARTHLING VS MAD MAX 6. Hollow Anne BROKEN TOY 7. Headbanger Boogie HEADROOM 8. Tarsonis POLI VS BRIAN SENTIENT 9. Stay Classy (GMS rmx) GMS VS ASTRIX Spun Records? Better put on my full on hat. Really? Hey choppers you look like you have a f*cking uterus on your head. I think something a little more in line with the history of Spun would be more appropriate. Bingo. While they are probably not cheese heads, they have been known to rubber stamp carbon copy cut and paste full-on. But they make no bones about it, they are a full-on label. GMS? Poli? Astrix? I already have a pretty good idea where this is going, but I'm up for a listen. Maybe. The Serum- We can pick on GMS all day long (and he has deserved it), but this is a pretty good opener with a strong bass line and overall happy feel. I've stepped in deeper puddles, but as far as dance floors go I could see this working. Space Star Ordering- "Space...what is it? The simple answer? We don't know!" Even though he makes full on I've always felt that Chromatone's music was a cut above the norm. It was harder, edgier, grittier. No exception here as he fills all open areas with effects above a pumping rhythm. His bass lead at 2 minutes demands ass wiggling and I love the break beat in the middle. The end is a little anti climactic, but it's still worth your time. Bend The Future (Logica Remix)- I believe this to be the Petrillo brothers giving a Sonic Species track from Neurology Vol. 3 the remix treatment. It wasn't bad, feeling fuller than the original. There was of course the almost required build up but if I heard it again 5 minutes later I wouldn't recognize it. Pre Iron Man Robert Downey your thoughts? Exactly. Freewheeler- Tristan Cooke has been holding it down for almost 2 decades so credibility he's got. The style is very Temple of One or Tales of Heads if you recall those compilations. Driving beat with echoing synths and a sample while repeated doesn't dominate the mix. It undulates with electricity lacking a central melody yet somehow remaining melodic. The Great Outdoors- "Aww, look at that man, the GREAT OUTDOORS!" Mad Maxx's Afterworld in 2008 was impressive to me as was Earthling's Hypernature also released in 2008. This track bubbles and skitters like something alive in the same style as the previous one. Full on well done if you ask me. See this face? Are you sure this is from spun records? Hollow Anne- Mr. Toy is hit or miss with me (usually miss), but every now and then he makes me sit up and take notice. See me? I'm lying down. It isn't terrible, but it's full-on to the bone without anything exciting to offer. I did like the break and would've loved it if whatever was going on there was better represented. Headbanger Boogie- "I can't just smoke some regular weed and write cause regular weed don't really do nothing for your thoughts." Sounds like someone has a wee bit of a weed problem. I used to smoke weed and would sometimes catch myself grinning like an idiot. Ever drive while high? A 5 mile road felt like 20. But that'll happen when you travel at 15 mph but feel like it's 60. This one grew on me. It built tension with a groovy as hell beat that had me dancing in my seat. Sure they beat the hell outta the sample, but I believe after decades of marijuana use that Method Man actually talks like that. Does nothing for you thought, right buddy? Tarsonis- Poli joins forces with the compiler with a decent track. I liked the break with the chant in there, kinda filled things out. There were sufficient changes during the whole thing so it was a good listen. Stay Classy- Some would say that when you remix your own tracks you weren't that pleased with them in the first place. Or maybe he's a perfectionist that...Hmmm...I can't figure out how to finish that sentence. Shouldn't a remix not bore you? At this point he's just beating a horse that has been dead for over a decade. Somebody please call PETA or something? Ron Burgundy. News Anchor. Loud Noises. This was a pleasant surprise. It proves the maxim never judge a book by it's cover or author in this case. My apologies to Spun for doing just that. While not the greatest full-on ever this was way better than I thought it would be. Some of the tunes could've come from Blue Hour Sounds to be honest. This wasn't full-on from 2005 (thank God) and actually showed some depth while still being danceable. Psyshop Beatspace Saiko Sounds Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Sunday Vol. 2 Label: Blue Tunes Recordings Date: January, 2012 1. Summer Good Bye OSHER 2. Ilite POP ART 3. Desire (Osher rmx) LIQUID SOUL 4. Dimension ZYCE AND FLEGMA 5. Dusty Groove EGORYTHMIA 6. Shuttle SIDEFORM 7. Flashlight DOUBLE CLICK AND NUMB 8. Ein Tag in Hamburg HANZO AND CLUFE 9. Your Eyes (Time in Motion and Flexus rmx) SVEN SNUG 10. Messed Up (Haldolium rmx) NOK Sunday is typically a day of rest so I thought it would be apropos for me to take a look at the 2nd installment of the Sunday series by Blue Tunes Recordings. Add to the fact that it was compiled by the Creator and I might not even have to go to church today. As is the case these days you have a mix of savvy veterans and some fairly new names to discover. Summer Good-Bye- Osher Swissa really impressed me with his change in style when he released the 2011 progressive smash Twilight (oh, the irony). The opener is rather harmless with none of the eye opening tricks that made me smile with his debut. It's as if Blue Tunes said "We have a formula here hippie, so take your good time funky music elsewhere if you can't play ball." Guess he played ball. Ilite- After being part of the group that ran full-on into the ground Oshri Krispin (Indra) jumped on the progressive bandwagon faster than you can say cut and paste and has thrown out a bunch of EP's to get a lay of the land. Same style as the previous track with extended percussive warblings. The break though is deep and takes its time careful not to rush things. Better, but room for improvement. Desire (Osher Remix)- Osher again with a remix that may have the execs at the label a little sore. This is the wide open melodic stuff I expect from him. Oscillating synth waves and a very expansive break make this a dreamy floating track. There's still some time where the bass runs a little long without company, but that's a minor complaint. Dimension- These two artists need no introduction with Zyce showing up seemingly everywhere. I think he was at my kid's 3rd birthday party handing out EP's. They have crafted too many tracks to count and the vast majority of them have been quite good. Like the others before it, it leans toward the lighter side of progressive perfectly content to let the bass go as the effects unfold. It's hard to be upset at this style as it permits the mind to drift if at times feeling a tad empty. But if you give it a chance you'll hear quiet melodies filling the gaps as it all comes together. Best I've ever heard? Of course not, but competent. Dusty Groove- Boban Lazovski has been riding the EP and remix train for over 4 years and has produced great results for the most part. This one is even more wide open with an echoing sample that screams eternity. It's nicely cold with echoing effects clanging against a galloping bass line. Dark and matrix-y I like that it lets me render my own dream. Shuttle- Time for some Balkan brilliance! To date I have never heard a bad track from this duo and they keep it that way with this smooth criminal. Bounce is there and spaces are filled with melody hits and sounds on delay that give it some lush appeal. It's got a soft touch as they experiment with some ryhthms in the break and gets all shimmery and euphoric at the end. Congratulations, you are my favorite of the compilation. Flashlight- This is Patrick Star. He's an idiot. How the f*ck did this make the cut? Was the compilation building too much momentum and getting real good that it scared you? Annoying sample manipulation the whole way through made the guy who eats his belly button lint walk away from your track. Somehow I made it to the break and thought the worst was behind me, but it turns out I was in a cul de sac so...yeah no escape. Ein Tag In Hamburg- Here are two more projects I'm unfamiliar with and they have the luck to follow what was one of the worst tracks I've listened to in a long time. So, nowhere to go but up correct? And they do go up with a melody that reminds me of Sixteen Candles with its sound. Remember when Jake pulled up to the church and was leaning on his cherry red Porsche waiting for Samantha? You don't know what I'm talking about do you? It was a movie in the 80's ask your parents. "Open the door." "No way Jose! You punch my face!" "You grabbed my nuts." "That you?" "Yeah. Than me." Dude's a carpenter now doesn't even act anymore. The Jesus references just keep coming. Your Eyes (Time In Motion & Flexus Remix)- Flexus recently released the uber soft The Beginning EP and Time in Motion has quickly gained my attention with his vast soundscapes. I don't know who Sven Snug is and haven't heard the original track, but damnit if that lead melody doesn't sound familiar. More soft melodies are present, but it doesn't really go anywhere. Far from terrible, but it seems as if the knockout blow from Flashlight might be too much to recover from. "Quick what's your name?" "Thursday." Oh boy. Messed Up (Haldolium Remix)- Last track and while I've never been a fan of Haldolium's tunes, I don't hate them either. True to form this has a light touch like all the other tracks, but there is something about it that conveys a bad ass attitude. There isn't a lot here, but what they do give you...I dunno, something about it that I like. You've got a pretty good progressive trance compilation with an average opener that sees the tracks getting better and better until the head on collision that was flashlight. But like a trooper it picked itself up and dusted itself off to finish fairly strongly. The music is gentle in style as if afraid to wake up your parents and probably good for winding down. While not the best comp out there you could do worse. "Patrick! Patrick come back! I'm done, I'm not gonna play it again, I promise!" Psyshop Beatspace Goa Store Mdk

Artist: Phatmatix Title: Eternalis Label: Hiltop Records Date: June, 2012 1. Rebelion 2. Dies Irae 3. New world disorder 4. Existenz feat. Atyss 5. Love is tragedy 6. Destiny 7. Fahrenheit - Mindcore 8. A long time ago 9. Noise Control (Phatmatix rmx) - Atyss and Tim Schuldt "The first seven minutes of your day...control your destiny." I sincerely hope that is not the case because the first 7 minutes of my day are extremely unflattering. After you knock out a few knuckle children it's pretty much downhill from there. When you are a reviewer of my questionable talent it is important to be consistent and remain objective. What else have you got? I have my favorite artists just like you do, but when I plan to review their music I have to distance myself. "I love you too girl. No, no...think nothing of it. I don't take that restraining order personally. It just means I have to step up my game. You're worth it!" This is all done for free and on my own free time, but I must never forget that my first and most important objective is to entertain. Waaaay down the spectrum perhaps education happens, but it's iffy. I'm just a father of two in front of a computer that loves this music and offers his opinion. Could someone please help Stephane, clearly he has fallen down. Ok newsflash that's not Stephane. He might've eaten Stephane, but that's not him. So here we have Stephane Rault, who along with Absolum and Electric Universe (the older one, not whatever alien sh*tshow made Higher Modes) are among my favorite twilight artists. Sorcery in 2006 and The Divine Comedy in 2008 are albums soaked in acid rich mayhem that I never get tired of. This is his 3rd effort and I suppose with the success of his work he has earned some...shall we say artistic license. Cue it up on the computer, get in my comfy chair while the kids are (supposedly) taking a nap and hit play. What the f*ck is this? I'm pretty sure I chose the right thing, but this is 180 degrees from his last two albums. Where his older stuff was balls to the wall hundred miles an hour acid monkey poo fling-fests this is very stop and starty, overly sample heavy, and commercial sounding. Is he appealing to the masses (otherwise known as the lowest common denominator) or just flexing creative muscles? On top of that, he "adapts" music from classical greats which, and I don't care who you are, sounds uber cheesy in the electronic genre. Insanely theatrical and operatic like Principles of Flight on some bad acid. Astonishingly bad is the Noise Control remix that has all the stops and stutters that I've come to despise. Throw in the terrible guitar and well... But he let's you know that he still has the ability with his Mindcore project as Fahrenheit is a sweet twilight track bursting with atmospheric effects and cool samples. And that's the thing...on the whole I didn't like it, but some of it was refreshing and different so I was torn. If I can take away one positive it's the fact that he is still an amazing producer. Sure I didn't like it, but I can tell he oozes with musical ability. It's not like this wasn't produced well because it was. His varied beats and effects are still ever present. There were parts of each track that I liked in a guily pleasure type of way, when I need a break from the usual. It sounds great to the ears and is very professional, but for me I prefer you to get back to your acid flailing ways and leave the classical music to the long dead masters. Get back to your Yabai ways and fling more monkey poo! Psyshop Beatspace Saikosounds Goa Store Mdk

I'm confused. In your conclusion you say it's available for free download. It is? I thought this would be sold by Ovnimoon

Artist: Various Title: Dimensional Gateway III Label: Neogoa Date: December, 2012 1. PharaOm - Space Outpost Titan V [142 BPM] (07:40) 2. Trinodia - 7th Ace [139 BPM] (09:02) 3. Screw Loose - So Much To See [145 BPM] (08:10) 4. Astrancer - Fenomena [146 BPM] (09:41) 5. Decadent Sympozium - Lux Invictus [144 BPM] (08:20) 6. Nova Fractal - Redemption [146 BPM] (10:08) 7. Lunar Dawn - Future Of Mankind (Waiting The Dark Years) [147 BPM] (09:22) 8. BlackStarrFinale - Sagittarius A* [145 BPM] (10:59) 9. Menkalian & GoaHuman - Spirit Of Life [120 BPM] (06:34) Creator of the Neogoa label (and now Graviton Records head) Ivan Richpa presents the third installment of the phenomenally successful Dimensional Gateway series. Not only did he compile all the tracks (which I can only assume meant going door to door with the requisite begging and threatening) but he's also responsible for the impressive artwork. A gateway should be ornate, impressive...making you feel like you are about to enter something substantial. To what dimension does this lead? Richard Gere's hamster could not be reached for comment. Gateway drug? I don't think so...unless it's a gateway to laughter and a bag of Doritos. 2. 2 bags of Doritos. And some funions. Crackers. Ritz crackers with some cream cheese. And do you still have those pork rinds? "I tell you B...why doesn't he get some help? Why? I'm tired of tip-toeing around this, he has to know he sounds like this. It's been over 70 years and I still can't understand a f*cking thing Donald says!" So here we go on the journey through the 3rd and presumably final gateway with the usual cast of characters as well as a couple of fresh faces. Space Outpost Titan V- I don't like it. I'm sorry I don't. Oswald Pfeiffer recently released his debut Tesseract (for free) and I found it to be a great album, but this sounds nothing like it. The problem I have with it is that it relies too heavily on samples. In fact it sounds as if the track was built around them instead of using them as an enhancement. It also doesn't help that the samples themselves are quite cheesy. But one thing I did like was that he experimented with a different style. While I might not like it, I definitely respect it. 7th Ace- Daniel Eldström is no stranger to the scene having released Human History (also for free) and Stargazing on Ovnimoon Records. This one is a combination of spiritual goa meets outer space goa. Twirling melodies as you would expect, but when that 303 growls to the surface I take notice like teenager at a Hooters. You can tell he is a storyteller as his break is vast and the launching pad for more snakey leads and a nice full climax. And I think that a nice full climax is something we can all agree on. So Much Too See- "This is one corner...of one country on one continent on one planet that's a corner of a galaxy that is a corner of a universe that is forever growing, shrinking, creating, destroying, never remaining the same for a single milisecond and there is so much, so much to see." Yeah...take it all in. So. Much. To. See. Proof that the Balkans not only dominate progressive trance they have goa trance square in their sights and Sasa Dukic lays a rumbly goa smack down on you. That 303 bounces like it's dancing on a hot stove and did you check the way he slid that sample in there without giving you a chance to catch your breath? It catches you up without strangling you with melody, but you don't have to ponder whether it's goa as he layers nicely. Great track. Fenomena- Like a lot of you Bruno first came to my attention with the Dzog Chen track on the Pyramidal Trancendence comp back in 2006 and it's been high expectations ever since. I mean how do you top that? Well he didn't do it here, but he nonetheless made a ok track. It has power, but not much evolution. Even with that shortcoming it still sounded full and very spacey to my ears. Lux Invictus- Here is the first of the fresh faces with a very shiny and shimmery lead melody line. It's another track that smacks you right in the beginning without many twists and turns, but it's still good. Methinks Ivan may have stumbled upon a gem here. It will be interesting to hear more stuff from this project. Redemption- we all have all done things that we weren't proud of or maybe wish we could've done better. "Ok, so you missed the question on the contents of a twinkie, I dunno I thought you were gonna nail that one, but, but let's move forward. All you gotta do is get clear of this last test and we win the million dollars. You can do it, redeem yourself. That's it, wait for it wait for it...Oh c'mon!! Damnit, you had this!" More Croatian dominance as Renato Brnić delivers another long goa tale. The beginning and break resembles Filteria's Filtertraces and he has a great Shawshank sample with Morgan Freeman speaking about...you guessed it redemption. That guy's voice is legendary. I'd be riveted listening to him read the terms of my mortgage. Besides Morgan's awesomeness it's a goa track that doesn't sound like a goa track. Sure the elements are there, but none of the cliche stuff that some are sick of hearing. Great track. Future Of Mankind (Waiting The Dark Years)- Lunar Dawn owns the Chuck Norris of tracks on this compilation. Overtly aggressive with searing leads and 1970's power. I really don't know what that last part means. "B*tch, don't touch Chuck Norris's steering wheel!" With a nice calm before the storm intro you can tell right away this isn't your daddy's buddhist monk goa trance. He layers sounds like my kid stacks leggos. Which reminds me: When Chuck Norris steps on leggos, leggos cry. The pace is brisk with only short breaks and it travels like a tsunami adding to it's destruction total. One if my favorites surely! Sagittarius A- Luis Pabon seems to believe that you have nothing better to do with your time because he offers an 11 minute track. AND YOU WILL LISTEN TO IT! It's got lasers in it. You like lasers. And that lead that sounds like the one in Blade when they walked into the "club" and the showers came on. Only it wasn't water. Oh no it was blood. That's how you do a vampire movie Twilight b*tches. Powerrrrrr. Sorry about that I was leaning on the r. Spirit of Life- And to close things out we get some fresh blood here with a downtempo-ish type track. I like that it's not a true downtempo track. After the previous tracks that would be like going through the windshield at 65 miles an hour. I think that's like 476 kilometers for the Euros. But you might want to check my math. The sound of this one is more melancholy and Lord of the Rings than Event Horizon if you get my meaning. Still nicely drifting and a great way to close it out. So there you have it. Ivan has done it again with the 3 volume of this series. Plenty of goa with a heavy dose of psychedelia to see you through. As with the previous albums this one is also free and I think will be available December 1st. Congratulations to him and all the artists that continue to make this series something to look forward to. Coming Very. Very. Very. Soon. Mdk

Artist: Menog Title: I See Change EP Label: Spectral Records Date: April, 2012 1. I See Change 2. Revolution of Consciousness feat. Absolum 3. Make The Change "Fire...our first true piece of technology. Fire." And it all leads up to this moment brought to you by disappointed redneck parents everywhere. Lot of talk about change lately. Change the tax code, change your lifestyle and eating habits (RIP Twinkie). It's even hit close to home. Had to get rid of my previous research assistant due to ahem, certain litigation so breaking in the new meat has been a very exhaustive process. "I said three sugars! Three!! We are going to be here all night till you get it right! You think I like this?" Tough job, but someone has to do it. Our friend Daniel Bernardo from Portugal is back with a 3 track EP and I for one am eager to hear it. This fool has been holding it down since 2005 (yeah I know his debut was in 2003, but it was terrible) and is one of the godfathers of the twilight music genre. He brings more of what he's good at, moody and dark hi-tech psy that is sure to get the dance floor moving. The title track isn't bad, but it's merely an introduction to what's to come. Looky looky who he's teamed up with for track 2. My favorite twilight artist Absolum (still waiting for next album) and you can't miss his sound with this one. These guys ain't strangers if you recall 2008's Basic Survival Instinct as that one left a mark not unlike a blowtorch. It delivers power and mayhem that erupts like a 3 hour hand job. Make the Change is the second best track on the EP IMO with a good sample about technology and ambition. It's not bad at all, but let's face it Absolum could probably make my music sound good and all I know how to do is beat box. Good stuff. Beatport Mdk

Thanks Drake! I'd be happy to review anything from your label. All of your releases have been impressive. And I believe you have a big one coming up...wink wink! If you would like me to review anything, just PM me...happy to do it. I had three tabs open on the CPU: One for DAT, One for Cronomi, and one for Sita Records and was getting ready to empty out your respective catalogs when the Jeep decided to go out on me. So now I gots that headache. However, once that's taken care of... spendy spendy. Mdk

Artist: Technodrome Title: Freedom EP Label: Biomechanix Records Date: May, 2012 1.Neucler 2. Free Faizal 3. Melted Mind (feat. Orca) 4. Freedom 5. Fallen Star (feat. Panayota) 6. Back To Life "There was a feeling that you could take a college graduate from Indiana U and give him L.S.D. and create a hippie..." This is Shay Ben Haion and he really liked him some ninja turtles. The project name I suppose is from the tank-like fortress that serves as the base of Shredder and Krang from the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon series. Yeah I had to look that up. His debut (and to this point only) album Earthquake waaay back in 2005 (wow, really?) a stomper in the twilight genre which I still really like had a picture of Donatello on the cover. Had to look that up also. Then some of the track names were turtle related. So what's he been up to lately? Well let's see...a quick internet search and...hmmm...you don't say? Arrested for selling drugs in India? Waitaminute...you can take a crap in the street in India, but you can't move a little LSD? Really, who is in charge of revoking this nation's third world status? He shoulda done that sh*t here. Lindsay Lohan gets caught with coke, has had numerous DUI's and been charged with theft on multiple occasions and she still gets to make movies. Yeah, they're sh*tty movies, but whatever. I hope he had something to give him comfort while he was in the joint. Of course he would. Not a lot of info on the net so maybe he'll see this review and enlighten us. So many things I want to know. Did he try to lift every weight in the gym and read every book in the library? Silly me they don't have books in India. How often did he have to fight off homosexual advances? Did he have to do the warden's taxes to get ethical treatment? How did he get his mind right to crawl through 500 yards of the worst smells imaginable on his way to freedom? I'll be honest most everything I know about prison comes from the Shawshank Redemption. Or maybe he's been through such a horrible ordeal he'll tell me to go f*ck myself. I can't think of anything more hopeless or disgusting than an Indian prison. Except maybe India. The cover of this maxi-ep kinda gives you a general outline of things with the handcuffs, and the fingerprints and the freedom thing. The track titles seem to mirror the 5 stages of grief. Are there 5 or 6? I think you get an extra one when you're in an Indian prison. The question is does Shay who now has more in common with Martha Stewart than he realized still know how to bring the twilight craziness? Hmmm...yes, with a caveat. He hasn't lost the ability to bring pumping and acidic mayhem to the dance floors. His collaborations with fellow night time music producers Orca and Panayota was like slipping on a comfortable pair of shoes. Some of his bass lines are tangible, like being able to get a good grip with your toes and I like his futuristic cyber sound, but with a lot of "alone" time he seems to have become cozy with annoying buildups. Some are longer than others and some peak with a spoken sample which I like (Free Faizal has Platform- and then the beat hits). Mind you, it's not bad at all and if you are looking for some balls to the wall insanity this will certainly do the trick. Welcome back sir, you were missed. Beatport Mdk

Sorry about that my friend. The remix is the shorter of the two. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Audiophile Vol. 3 Label: Spintwist Records Date: September, 2012 1. Arped VAISHIYAS 2. Modern Terms PHAXE 3. Deep and Pumping Sound (Day.Din rmx) AUDIOMATIC 4. Extraordinary FABIO AND MOON 5. Count Down INTERACTIVE NOISE 6. Spin Spirit (Audiomatic and Vaishiyas rmx) KRAMA 7. Automatik SIDEFORM 8. Up on you COM!NG SOON 9. Transformation AQUAFEEL 10. Dr. Lupo (Audiomatic rmx) ACE VENTURA AND ROCKY That crazy microphone from the 50's is back at it for the third installment of the Audiophile series. Spintwist is one of the more prolific labels with regards to progressive trance and while not one of my favorites I'm a bit of a completionist. True, I keep collecting all the seasons of The Simpsons on DVD even when they stopped being funny a while ago. So with that piece of info there was no way I was going to let this fly under the radar. The usual suspects are represented and it looks fairly impressive. Arped is a great way to open with catchy bass and a huge beat. A good time track to be sure. The problem for me is that this label then tends to go off the reservation after hooking me with the first track. Phaxe did an adequate job, but the Pumping Sound remix left the melodic frontier and hung out in weird sound techno town. Extraordinary picked up right where the previous track dumped me with harsh metallic sounds and pain in the ass house-like samples. Whattya want it's from DJ Fabio, I shoulda seen it coming. Countdown has an interesting break, but its lack of evolution bores me. The Spin Spirit remix has more agonizingly repeated samples that make it unlistenable. Automatik brings some much needed Balkan talent to the compilation, but even they can't save this. At this point it's a bit like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Just when I thought it couldn't get more pathetic Up On You proves me wrong with the embarrassing "I want you" sample. Ugh I'd rather slam my fingers in a car door than go through that again. Aquafeel has made some good tracks to be sure, but this ain't one of them. Somehow he managed to make it sound as if he was covering Jean Michel Jarre's Oxygene. The momentum (typed that with a straight face I did) killing phone call and mouth music also had me rubbing my temples. Finally (Thank God) the Audiomatic remix of Dr. Lupo closes things out and is actually not bad. It has a catchy melody and no stupid sample to screw it up. Dr. Huxtable can I get a ruling on this? Oy what a sh*tshow that was. This was a descent into me throwing my headphones across the room and fighting the urge to clean my floors. Obviously there is a market for this type of progressive trance, but if you like the deeply atmospheric and melodic stuff look elsewhere. The cover tells the whole story as he's hanging on for dear life. Another performance like that and he might try to hang himself with his own cord. Psyshop Beatspace GoaStore Mdk

Artist: Atyss Title: Lux In Nocte EP Label: Planet B.E.N. Records Date: September, 2012 1. Equinox 2. Noctum "There's no solution here." You said it I didn't. Geez, I guess my photo hosting service stopped putting restrictions on the size of the jpeg. Could that be any bigger. Some would say I'm compensating and to them I would say shut it. Atyss in Gregory Morand from France and I'm no the fence with his music. Compilation work? Pretty good, but his album lacked the unbridled fury that I was used to in his tracks. Lux in Nocte is a brief 2 track EP that unfortunately hasn't changed my opinion. At times it moves from powerful music to electronic wanderings. Almost as if it's unsure of it's own identity. It's not acid heavy night time insanity, but neither is it the abrasive and sometimes disjointed dischord of Artifakt. There were parts of each song that I liked, but I wasn't sure how to enjoy it. Do I attempt to dance madly (emphasis on attempt) or do I try to contemplate his tale. So I came away feeling confused. Then I got a headache. After some aspirin I took a dump and played with the kids for awhile. The middle of Noctum had some potential, but it couldn't maintain the drive. There is real talent here and I hope he can put it together for his next album. Beatport Mdk

That is exactly what I have on my player. Mdk

Artist: Moonweed Title: Telepath EP Label: Celtic Records Date: 1996 1. Telepath 2. Telepath (Remix) Everyone loves a little trip down memory lane. If you were one of the lucky souls who got to experience the raw power and emotion goa trance wielded by attending festivals before everyone got computers and smartphones you could be as old as I am. I missed out, but that's to the internet my search for old school gens actually meets with positive results. Sure it's not like being there, but I also don't have to sleep in a tent or go without showering. Moonweed is Jamie Graham and you can find his music all over goa compilations but the EP's are harder to find. Telepath can be found on Destination Goa The Second Chapter , Goa Spirit Hard Psychedelic Trance, and so on. But the EP takes an already growling acid ripper and puts it on steroids with a remix. And unlike the reviewer on Discogs, I think that remix is an improvement. The 303 is uncontrollable and I don't think he turns it off for the entire track. Add a bright and shimmery lead for backup and you've got a very potent one two punch. Full steam ahead with only a slight respite this track is bursting with awesomeness. Like an awesome fruit pie. If you can find it...ah, you know. Mdk