Trance2MoveU

Artist: PTX Title: Fade Out Label: Bionics Records Date: March, 2011 1. Smaplay 2. Bumper 3. Uptime 4. Hannya 5. Loft 6. Starter 7. 4freaks 8. Old Faces 9. Sound of Goa 10. Surfer Sometimes you have to make do with what you have. For example a bluetooth headset is convenient (if not blatantly annoying to the person next to you) but it can get a little pricey. Boom, problem solved. F*ck you Verizon. I have a friend who rides motorcycles and while I'm not fond of a trip to the emergency room I suppose some would find them desirable. I heard it goes 0-60 in like 4 sec...when you throw it in the back of a truck going downhill. Gangsta! It's the summer and everyone loves cookouts, but in this economy who can afford a grill? Shopping carts...is there anything they can't do? I wanted to review something else but it hadn't arrived yet so I had to make do. PTX is Patrick Chen and this is his 3rd album. That's a pretty good accomplishment, I don't even have a job. Participate in the X-Periment and Color Your Ears were great efforts so I am interested in how his sound has evolved. Reading the promo nonsense I see you've had some electro and techno influences. That could be...good? Right? Smaplay- "F*cking thing sucks!" I'm sorry, but did you just sample Bill O'Reilly from the Inside Edition days? I think you did. Kudos. Unfortunately that was the highlight. It's a stipped down full on parade that harkens back to the Alien Project days. It's groovy with a cool sample but it's thinner than Kate Moss at lunchtime after a visit to the toilet. Yeah, I did. Bumper- You do know it's 2011 right? A hype DJ goin' on about lettin the bass drop? Couple this with a weak break and buildup and it's not for me. Some groovy parts sure, but a lot of things have some good stuff in them and then don't turn out so...well. Matching pimp and hoe outfits? Yeah, I don't know when that was a good idea... Uptime- "In the mean time keep the f*cking music down!" Emphatic cursing really helps get your point across, ask any comedian today. Yeah it's full-on, but God help me I don't hate it. Don't get me wrong, I want to, I really do. But it has this driving, undulating feeling that I find groovy. But let's be honest it always reverts back to a stripped down version that you've heard...let's see by my count...465,321,755 times. Years ago. Get with the program. Hannya- This one is more of a slow starter, kinda progressive like. Eventually it builds and has a spacey feel to it. It would be a good soundtrack to something badass happening. Full-on? You bet, but I've heard way worse. You have to...you know you have. Loft- At this point I'm pretty sure what I'm gonna get from this disc. Just when I'm ready to trash it he brings that driving style that appeals to me. Pumping and great music for the car. Sounds like stuff from Glowing Flame which I think we can all appreciate. I just wish he would keep doing that. Good stuff. Starter- There is definitely some electro shenanigans going on here. Wailing leads make me think this needs to be played at a big club where you can just be you. Even with the hige kick it's minimal sounding and I don't care for the stuff myself, kinda empty. Just kept looking at my watch waiting for something interesting to happen. That time never came. 4Freaks- This could possibly be the worst track of all time. Hold on..getting a text from Lamont I know dude, it's really hard to believe. Why would he put this on the album? "I wanna freak you." Really? High on Coke and Jell-O pudding pops, upon hearing this track Bill Cosby was sent into a swoon in which he may never recover. When asked for comment the only response was a torrent of nonsensical gibberish. Old Faces- See, now he's just f*ckin' with me. More of the driving style with synths screaming above the beat. It's like that cartoon about the frog that can sing when nobody is looking, but as soon as someone else peeks...ribbit. Wipe that smile off your face. You're making me look like an idiot. Sound of Goa- This was actually a great track. Close your mouth, you look ridiculous. While not really goa, it may be as close as he gets. It drifts with chopped up choirs and has some really cool bass sounds. The leads and strings are also impressive as a story is told. Hey Imba, shoot him an email and see if he would be open to a goa album. Best track on the whole enchilada. Surfer- Last track and he pulls out a progressive number. It's minimalistic sounding, but it's got some deep bass and funk to it. 2nd best track that makes me want to get dirty. This is what it is. A full-on album with some big beats and groovy quality. This is what PTX creates. Like most full-on there is some cheese and some generic crap also. Still, when he nails a track he nails it. Most tracks had some good parts in them, but they were far too brief. He shows flashes of brilliance and the ability to create a banger, but it's not the deepest release I've heard. Far from it. Unfortunately I also found it was the weakest of all his albums. Slightly above average full-on which is still miles better than anything I could make. Psyshop Beatspace GoaStore Mdk

Umm...hello? This is not psy-polka. F*cking amateur. Mdk

Can I review it? Mdk

Artist: Absolum and friends! Title: CO Lab Part 01 EP Label: 3D Vision Date: July, 2011 1. Power Science (Vs. Lost & Found) 2. Get Up Now (Vs. Outer Signal) To this date Inside the Sphere by Absolum is my favorite psytrance release. Power, dark melodies, danceability...what more could you want? So whenever I go EP shopping (which is too damn often) if I see a release by Christof or one that he appears on, I buy it. This just came out from 3D Vision and that is a label that I also cannot resist. Added bonus alert? Appearances by Lost & Found and Outer Signal. Power Science- "We've put an explosive charge in your head...sound familiar? Well that would explain the headaches. Two of the most awesome twilight acts around on one track? Yes please. Power and leads that like your little cousin that you don't see very often...ain't quite right. The acid runs deep here and now it's all over the walls. I am NOT cleaning that sh*t up! I'm telling you that. The break gives you a brief rest before picking up right where we left off. Pretty standard ass kicking stuff that won't displease. Do you think they're dancing to It's Raining Men? Get Up Now- "C'mon now, get up!" And boom goes the dynamite. Let me show you how we got here. First, you ah....are gonna hear that sample a lot here. Starts off great with a big beat and a flutter of a synth keeping time. It adds drama and suspense and I'm thinking we have another cracker of the animal variety. The nimble lead dances with agility that's hard to come by and then the sample begins to repeat. Leads get crunchier and scratchy like my sheets were made of poison ivy. So I'm thinking this is still a beast until the final break. Who the f*ck invited the dog? Is this your dog? Get him the f*ck out of here! Listen to the track and you will see what I mean. Rapid fire dog barking sample with a rising track? You just fell off my playlist. Barking dog aside, these are two pretty good tracks. You've got a stong beat, requisite acid splattering and an overall dark atmosphere. Not the best I've heard, but they shouldn't disappoint. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Rinkadink Title: Human Technicians Label: Alchemy Records Date: March, 2011 1. Tranzmachien 2 Rinkadink Vs. Loud – Abstract 3 Rinkadink Vs. Slider – Triple X 4 Bootleg 2011 5 We Can Build You 6 All That Matters Is Love 7 Control The Future 8 Eightsawz 9 Rinkadink Vs. Mike Modular – Techmology (2011 Remix) Alchemy Records did most of their damage in the early and mid 2000's but here release Werner Van Jaarsveld's third solo effort. Now I'm not gonna lie. I know what I like and this artist, well...has left me feeling Just because you're from South Africa doesn't mean you get the keys to the kingdom know what I'm sayin? But let's talk about this CD and not dwell on the past. His last album was over 6 years ago so what's he bring to the table? Not too much I'm afraid. This would've been a perfect time to unleash a bomb from someone who has largely been on the periphery for the last few years. But that didn't happen. This sounds like it could've been made in 2005. Not necessarily a bad thing, but this is as vanilla as it gets. With lots of full-on touches there ain't anything that makes it stand out. No memorable melodies, lush breaks, or power that screams to be heard. It sounds very thin and I found myself skipping forward in tracks at times to find improvements. Remember Rabbit From The Darkside? Well, it sounds a lot like that. Now that wasn't a bad disc but it's not 2004. As Janet Jackson said, "What have you done for me lately?" I can tell you, shortened my wishlist, that's what you did. Beatport Mdk

Artist: SETI Project Title: Wizard's Night EP Label: Underground Alien Factory Records Date: May, 2011 1. Wizard's Night 2. Insomniac 3. Demons This is Paul Yelland with a 3-track EP. He released an album on UAF back in 2009 called Tribal Trance that wasn't very memorable for me. That's ok, because I think he is coming into his own, maybe workin' out the kinks. Whereas his previous tracks sounded raw this is a step up in both intricacy and the production values. Sounds more professional to these ears. Wizard's Night- Oh yes it's Wizards night, and the feelings right...Kool and the Gang don't get no love? Why do I see a dancing Gandalf with that big hat of his? This track sounds rather simplistic in the beginning yet it becomes more intricate the longer it goes on. There are many leads and layers and it's done very well, but it lacks that floaty, ethereal feeling. That's ok, it's doing its own thing. Bubbling and sparkling leads with a nice growly 303 rising from the earth. That's when it gets into ass kicking mode. So this is quite awesome, like a good friend having your back or to put it another way... You don't just walk into Mordor without protection.... Insomniac- I can picture this. It starts off with a metronome-like clicking for about a minute. You know like when you can't sleep, but you hear the second hand of the clock clicking? Yeah like that. It's got a pretty cool violin sound and then it gets all goa-ey. Chants, bouncing rhythm in a hypnotic style. Not as evolving as the previous track and it makes me think of what I do when I can't sleep. TV? Internet? Club? Then...inspiration! Demons- This is a grower as it starts off slow and blooms into something more in the floating style. Effects and bubbling leads populate this piece. Not bad, but it kinda bored me. Obviously my favorite was the title track with its twists and turns, and I think it's the best I've heard from Paul. The other two were ok, but just didn't stand out. It's free over at Ektoplasm of course. Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Ovnimoon Title: Magnetic Portal Label: Ovnimoon Records Date: May, 2011 1 The Source 2 The Liberation (feat. Flegma) 3 Love is the key 4 The holographic sphere 5 Believe in the change 6 One Heart (feat. Man Machine) 7 Izolan (feat. Middle Mode) 8 Energy of life 9 Galactic Mantra (Ovnimoon 2011 Remix) This is Hector Stuardo Marileo from Chile and he has been...well let's just say he has been all over the place. Here is his Dicogs page and you can see for yourself how prolific he is. 7th studio release and a sh*tload of compilation appearances and you quickly discover he gets around. His style is a hybrid of progressive and psytrance with great melodies and atmosphere. He also doesn't forget that this is dance music as he brings the beat. His album Geometric Poetry (review here) was superb and I believe he gets better with each release. The Source- "At the center of all that is...is a great light...the source." Welcome to space where alien life thrives amid long sweeps and the deep cold of dimensional bridging pads. Drifting melodies circumnavigate a nebulous galaxy at light speed as the beat pounds away. Very beautiful and a hell of an opener. The Liberation- Pairing up these two heavyweights can only mean good things and just like this gif it's a... Bullseye. More deep sweeps and washes continue with the space feel. The atmosphere is one of cold hypoxia but aggressive like someone is stepping on your throat. Searching leads weave alongside laser blasts as the storytelling gets thick up in here. Couple a tempo change with an airy flute and you've got yourself a truly thick track. Sub-Saharan Africa meets Event Horizon. Love Is The Key- "Love is the key. Love is what makes up the universe. The present technology on Earth will only develop to a certain extent, because mankind does not yet understand that love is necessary." Wow, this guy can create a mood. Rumbling beat at the outset with a plethora (yeah, I said plethora) of effects that carry this to the 2 minute mark. Sweeps was apparently a major of his at university, because he has his degree. As I sit on the toilet! Someone spent some time getting his master's in goa, because he rips one (no pun intended...well, maybe it was) that sounds a lot like E-mantra! The sample is long, but it ain't a flow killer and it's robotic quality fits right in with the outer space goa ride. Groovy, atmospheric, and layer heavy! F*cking knockout. The Holographic Sphere- "Visualize an infinte hologram of unconditional of love above your head. This is a holographic sphere with the flower of life pattern. Infinitely expanding inwardly...to infinity." Ummm, what? That was some bong hit you took, are you all right? Here's a bag of Fritos, work on that. This has all the bpm's of psytrance with the floatation device of progressive washes and long sweeps. It's intense and he ain't done with his goa experiment as he builds to an early climax. Don't worry about it, it happens to all of us. Well, not me, but when you dance like this the girls come running! Super deep break as the layers cleanse the soul. Power and atmosphere right down the gullet! Good show old boy! Believe in the Change- I don't think he's talking about menopause. It's like riding around in a cloud city with these ethereal pads. So floaty as the pitch bend wheel gets a workout. Slower, but no less intricate by any means. He uses that scratchy sound that a lot of darkpsy artists work with, but it comes off less...darky. The chant brings you back to Earth and it's more of a progressive drifter with less twists and turns. Still tasty. One Heart- Never heard of Man Machine, but if Hector's label is releasing it, maybe I should check it out. We've clearly reached the less aggressive portion of our program. Not to say this isn't driving, because it is, just not as lethal as previous tracks. It's more of the standard psygressive style. Not bad. Izolan- Here he pairs up with this duo that so far have the Midas touch. Their collaboration on Nerso's track Deep Blue was wondrous. This is psytrance that is lush and melodic while also bringing the power. Something hopeful about the melody. Combine that with the unfurling synth lead that knows where it wants to go and you've got the makings of a very intense experience. 303's swirl in the periphery, but whew...good psy! Energy Of Life- Swirling melodies twist as the beat drives on into the unknown. Loads of layers with some nifty chopped up synths. Not much to say here, just good atmospheric psy that doesn't disappoint. Galactic Mantra 2011 Remix- This was off the Geometric Poetry album and I thought the original was a slice of all right. It's got a little of that goa sunshine we love so much, but what I don't like is the "I am yadda yadda yaddda crap." It doesn't say that, but you get my meaning. Eliminate that and you have a nice spiraling track with a deep pad heavy break. Jeez M. Crow it has been a banner year for progressive trance. Can you really call this progressive though? It drifts and flows like it is, but it also has the hands against the wall, spread your legs "I'm gonna kick you in the nuts" aggressiveness that a lot of the world's police force is using. He can float as well as deliver some scathing goa flashbacks. Superb atmosphere creation while punching you in the face with his rhythms. Oh yeah, I recommend this. Psyshop Beatspace GoaStore Mdk

Artist: Nerso Title: Exploration of Infinity Label: TesseracT Studio Date: May, 2011 1. Jungle of sounds (with Iva) 2. Electrify 3. Dune (with Sideform) 4. Synapse 5. Borderland 6. Vertigo (with E-Clip) 7. Crystal 8. Deep blue (with Middle Mode) 9. Quirky If you have been reading my reviews then you know how impressed I have been with TesseracT Studio. This label continues to produce quality progressive trance music with one release after the next. Nerso is the Dragon aka Dragan Matić and he composes some of the most expansive and lush music I have heard in this genre. It's full of effects and beautiful melodies that catapult you deep into the world he is creating. Although he has released lots of stuff, this is his debut album as a solo artist. And what a release it is. Superbly deep and complex with a dark shimmer all over it. This is what happens when progressive crashes headlong into psytrance with an artist that knows how to develop atmosphere. It churns, bubbles, ripples...hell there are even some forest textures that scream across the Scandinavian night. Whether it is the insistent march of the massive opening track Jungle of Sounds or the growling 303 in Dune this disc has it all. Synapse drifts as if it were a roller coaster along the brains pathways and Borderland rumbles across the barren terrain. Burning brightest is the collaboration with E-clip with it's descriptive sounds and thundering rhythms. But really the whole disc is like this. While every track is great listening all the way through is the way to go. Along with E-Clip's Shuma Vertex Ocean, and The Riddler Questions this is the best progressive release I have ever heard. Rich in details and atmosphere Dragan has delivered a modern day masterpiece. If you like progressive trance please support this artist and buy his disc. Phenomenal. Psyshop Beatspace GoaStore Mdk

I love those two. But that would be something that a vote would decide. Mdk

We have best of threads for all music, but what about the ones you heard that were absolutely craptacular? Do they deserve some recognition? I know nobody goes out to buy music that they hate, but maybe stuff you have heard or bought thinking it was good only to discover it was crap. Could also work for movies as well. Just a thought. Mdk

This has me curious. Dark Ambient done well is extremely moving. Mdk

Artist: Xatrik Title: Bust A Move EP Label: Planet B.E.N. Records Date: March, 2011 1. Barcelona 2. Yalla 3. Sketchy Biznizz (Rmx) 4. Red Handed Pt. 2 Oh, hell yes...some new Xatrik? I feel a surge of happiness on the horizon... Yeah, it's monumental. If you love twilight music, and I mean...love it like I do then you know who this is. Xatrik is Greg Hamber from South Africa and he is one of the best at creating highly rhythmic psy with a darkly melodic overtone. His album Inside Information back in 2007 was just bomb after bomb that still sounds fresh. Did you catch the Demarkation Area EP? No? Gimme a sec... "I said get your ass to Beatport and download that sh*t, ho!" Right now it's just your sister, but keep it up and your whole family is gonna get it. Here he delights with a new 4 track EP that I just became aware of. Barcelona- Good gravy on potatoes how does he make that bass line sound so punchy? It's got groove and is a perfect warm up to what is in store? Yalla- "Honestly I listen to that and I'm just like what is this piece of sh*t I'm listening to, do I even know this artist?" Ewwwww,..you got acid in yo eye! Clean that sh*t up man, you look ridiculous. Legs...operating...involuntarily...What's that? It's worse than I feared. He set off the shake your ass alarm. Again. The funk doctor is in and he will see you now. Perfect mixture of groovy tunes with futuristic effects. Damn, that is how you get asses out of seats! Sketchy Biznizz (Rmx)- "Man when are you gonna learn, everything about this business is sketchy!" This is a remix off his Inside Information album. Not to be confused with the remix of the same song on the Psionic Tales Chapter 2 compilation. 3 remixes for one track? Guess he's a perfectionist. The beginning melody is a little...eerie and then he hits you with the acidic goodness. The bass rumbles and shakes a few windows, let me tell ya. Just big beat bad ass. I heard he played this at Ozora...what? We have some video? Roll that sh*t! Red Handed Part 2- Awwwww sh*t! Funky breakbeat with percussive help is here! Nobody lays down aggressive beats like the South Africans, plain and simple. It's just a wall of attitude that shows more confidence with each measure. He throws a lot of techno sounds in your face a la Artifakt. Awesome EP that was just balls to the wall motion. I cannot recommend this highly enough if you enjoy the South African sound. Are you listening Ormion? You should be. And if you don't mind me saying so... I think I'm a little gay for Xatrik right about now. *Squeal!* Beatport Mdk

Don't ever stop being creative Oswald. So what if I didn't like it, I'm just one schmuck at a computer. Penzo liked it and I'm sure there are more who did also. You are the artist and you make what every you feel like. When I write a review that may not be so positive, I still have respect for the artist who created it. They built something from nothing and that's pretty impressive. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Reboot Part 1 Label: Mechanik Records Date: May, 2011 1. Where are the Wires - Lost & Found Vs. Absolum 2. P.S.U. - sHiFt 3. Hardkore (R.E.L. Remix) - Bliss 4. Stoners - Abomination 5. Costume Maniac - Z3ro 6. Focus Pokus (Rmx) - Outer Signal Let's see, who's on the tracklist for this EP? Absolum, Lost & Found, sHiFt, Abomination... Yeah Bert, I see it too. Seems pretty solid, but something just ain't quite right. The phrase too good to be true has bitten all of us at one time or another. Hell, the first thing I reviewed for 2011 had all the makings of a classic, but was naught but smoke and mirrors. You see some great names on the tracklist but Willy Wonka f*cks up your shit. We've all been there. Where Are the Wires- No way these 2 heavyweights of the twilight genre could f* ck this up you say? Wrong. Sure it has power and the screaming leads these 2 are known for, but how come it sounds so empty? It's full steam ahead, but they seemed to have dropped their payload at the last exit. P.S.U.- Ummm....what's happened to you Chris? People Should Understand that you want to make different music. Well ok, but this Popular Sh*t is Unwelcome. I'm just having fun with the title obviously, but this is a far cry from where his bread is buttered. It's a full on gallop that has none of his usual darkness and sounds very UNsHiFt like. Dare I say even a little too commercial for my tastes. Hardkore (R.E.L. Remix)- Yeah I was afraid of this. I haven't heard this song, but Bliss has been on my pay no mind list for awhile now. Stops and starts, goofy samples, video game sounds being pitched up and down...I thought a remix was an attempt to better a previous effort? R.E.L. also delivers the mother of all buildups not once, but twice. Get me the f*ck outta here. Stoners- "Have you heard nothing that I've said?" Well look who woke the hell up. Their last album had snooze button written all over it, but they deliver the power packed gem of the EP here. Big beats and dominating leads but it's the last bit that's working the wrecking ball. Loud, in your face, and nowhere to run. Let's hope this is a portent of things to come. Costume Maniac- "OK, I've got an idea. If we're going to call this guy Batman, lets be consistent. Why bother to figure out what kind of car he is driving. Uh..it's a batcar. On a bat chassis, powered by a bat motor, with top of the line bat springs with an aftermarket bat exhaust that every auto enthusiast between here and Detroit would kill his mother to have." This is Javier Duran who had a great track on Psycho Laboratory II and an average one on Fractal Energy 3. That's ok though because that entire compilation sucked. The more I listened to this, the more I liked it. Pretty groovy with an amusing sample but he maintains the intensity level the whole way through. Good boy Javier. Good boy. Go Batman, it's your birthday.. Focus Pokus (Rmx)- Fabric of Space from 2009 was pretty good and here the duo remix their track from the Ministry of Chaos compilation. Too many drug samples for me and a little too stop and starty as well. But so was the original in parts. There are definitely some groovy parts but I liked the original better. So all in all it's not bad. Maybe I was a little hard on the first two tracks as the only turd in the punchbowl was the R.E.L. remix. The Abomination track was a nice surprise and the Z3ro one was also pleasing. Still, I have heard better from all these artists before and for $12 why don't they just pistol whip me before they take my cash. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Vertex Title: Archipelago EP Label: TesseracT Studio Date: June, 2010 1. Oceanos 2. Archipelago 3. Hungary Dance 4. Oceansphere I like the ocean. Surf, sand, cool breezes...and the bikinis. Man is there anything better than a place where it is expected that women wear minute amounts of clothing. Candy shop...open! But Nikola Kozic and Slobodan Gaćeša really like the ocean. Their debut album aptly titled Ocean was a stellar bit of progressive trance and here they jump right back into the big blue with an EP from super label TesseracT that brings up images of turtles, pristine beaches, and of course: I gots one just like it but in blue... Oceanos- That's not even a word. Reminds me of how we Americans put an "o" at the end of a word and that is the default for Spanish. What have we got here? Deep, rumbling bass and a nice afternoon percussive beat. The lead makes me wish I had a Corona in my hand as the wind blows towards the shore. There's not a lot here, but what they do provide is groovy and relaxing. Archipelago- Hear that ocean? Music, sweet relaxing music. And this is what you might expect it to be. Deep bass, wailing leads with some chopped up synths. It does evoke a beautiful beach scene that I am more than happy to enjoy. Sunshine through and through. Hungary Dance- I'm guessing that this has a Hungarian folk melody in it, but these guys integrate it into the track without any semblance of cheese. More of that big beat goodness and bass that brings it's groove shoes. I don't know what this has to do with the ocean, but f*ck it we're not oceanographers here. There is the sound of the ocean at the end of the track so I guess it still works. Smooth, like when I catch that perfect wave. Ummm...you're doing it wrong. Oceansphere- Starts off one way, but then switches up so fast you don't have time to tie that string bikini you just got. You really have lost weight and look fabulous. You should call me...we could hang out. I mean, I don't want to take you home or nothing, just wanted to you know...hook up. And that's how I felt about this track. A nice little EP that has an ocean theme. The beats are good and the melodies are light for that perfect afternoon. Nothing groundbreaking but a nice enjoyable day at the beach. Beatport Mdk

Don't worry about it Imba. Maybe I'm in the minority or maybe that's just the sound Oswald is going for. Just because I didn't like it doesn't mean it wasn't good. It's free and people should use their own tastes. So for me then, what's the score? Good UAF releases >>>>>> bad releases. You are still the man, as is Oswald. Mdk

No problemo mi amigo. It's what I do. Mdk

Cmon Penzo, you know I thought about turning it down. Even when the volume is lower, it sounds shrill and very tinny to my ears. I would've liked the 1st track too, but the sound was just too bad. Mdk

Artist:Baron Samdi Title:Cursed Bloodline EP Label: Underground Alien Factory Records Date: June, 2011 01. Cursed Bloodlines (8:59) 02. Mississippi (9:10) 03. Ouija Es-Tu La (7:41) Between UAF and Neogoa you should be so full with new school goa trance goodness. They just give and they give...till it hurts. And it obviously hurt because Neogoa is undergoing a transformation. Still, there is plenty to enjoy. So what's this? PharaOm is pulling an Antares and releasing some darker themed goa under a new name? Color me interested. You can get it at Ektoplazm like always and like always, it is FREE. Cursed Bloodlines- Damnit this first track is noisy. Hey people...shut the f*ck up, I'm trying to hear the music. Noisy whistling sounds and I've heard one of those melodies before. There is so much reverb that everything seems to get drowned out. Is this mastered or what? F*ck this, it hurts my ears. Mississippi- With the pipe organ beginning it's like a backwoods Phantom of the Opera. The title is Mississippi and it is dark and haunting. Like I imagine living in Mississippi would be. The hi-hat is too loud for me, but I like the melody. Creepy with some good moments, but again it's TOO F*CKING LOUD. Ouija Es-Tu La- Here are some more dark vibes with a spooky music box and minor key melodies. I think this track relies more on samples for sure but the strings in the middle were creative as the distorted pad moans. The percussion sounded weak though, not in volume (oh hell no!) but in quality. There is a goa"ish" melody near the end, but I wasn't impressed. This is not your grandmother's goa. Hell, I don't think it's goa at all. Dark themed with voodoo samples, moody organs and horror movie child music boxes, but I'll be honest, I can't enjoy any of it because of the way it sounds. Way, way too loud. It comes off as harsh and amateurish. Love your work as PharaOm Oswald, but I can't get into this. I don't know if Keamia f*cked your sh*t up or if it's supposed to sound like this, but it ain't for me. Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Crossing Mind Title: Ultimate Reality EP Label: Underground Alien Factory Records Date: May, 2011 01. Insomniac (9:03) 02. No Way Wrong (9:17) 03. Nova on Night (9:39) 04. Progenic (9:40) 05. Power of Trance (10:16) When I first saw that there was some more Crossing Mind material I decided to celebrate! After a few awkward moments at the police station and some chaffing, I had to home and check it out. But the women's World Cup was on and the US was playing France so I decided to watch. I find the games more exciting than the men (although I watch them also) and they are less prone to act like babies. You would think that some of these guys were on the wrong end of a sniper rifle. Pussy. I immediately cheer against any a-hole that pulls that crap. You don't see that in hockey because if someone did try to pull that crap he would be going home with a few less chicklets if you know what I mean. Jeez, you could drive a truck through that gap! But I digress. Saw the USA game vs. France and it was fun to watch. France has nothing to be ashamed of as they dominated long stretches, they just couldn't finish. And that Necib? She has crazy skills. That got me thinking about how much I enjoyed France and my time there. Great food, history, scenery, women...which brings me to this artist. This is Stéphane Béze a new school goa trance producer from the land of wine and cheese with a follow up to the eye opening The Holographic Paradigm released by DAT Records last year. It's a mix of old and new uptempo and slower stuff, though I can't tell which is new and which is old. Still, thanks to that crazy monkey at UAF Imba for bringing us some more great tunes. P.S. The crazy Monkey says that Power of Trance and Insomniac are the older tunes. Insomniac- This sounds like it coulda been on the album. It's aggressive even though it has a baby's laugh on it. Don't quite get that. Anyway, there is zero rest as he is all in with his multiple leads. Good show sir. No Way Wrong- Don't tell me I'm doin' it wrong...like my speedo? I believe he has shown that he doesn't do much wrong in the way of goa trance and with this track he continues the outer space vibe. The lead is metallic, maybe a little gruff, but that's his style. His tracks are also long, so I know I get caught up in his numerous melody changes and I'm like...where the hell did those 3 minutes go? Pretty good stuff. Nova on Night- This one sounds as if it is more...current. Can't explain it. But what I can explain is the darker, more eerie atmosphere. He's still bringing the layers out to play with running arpeggios and get this...he actually put a break in a track. I know, I couldn't believe it either. It's sunshiney and makes me feel like I'm in the forest on Avatar with all the fluorescent crap everywhere. Another drifting tune that spirals endlessly. Progenic- Ladies and gentlemen we have reached the mid-tempo portion of our program, please unfasten your seatbelts and light em if you got em. Bubbling, drifting, use whatever adjective you want to describe this. Lots a leads with the ability to make your mind just go with it. He's twisting those knobs like an inexperienced teen does with his first girlfriend with much better results. And less slapping. Power of Trance- When he was first "discovered" there was a big folder with a lot of his tunes and this was in said folder. It's more mid-tempo smooth with wailing strings and nimble leads. And don't mistake the slower tempo for not having an edge. This track does what all of his seem to do. And that is switch leads and melodies without effort as they catch you up in his vision. Highly melodic and if you will pardon the pun, entrancing. Like this guy was going to release a tub of sh*t. Not bloody likely. First off, it's free so you should check it out even if you're poor. Like me. Second, if you heard his album and liked it, then you will like this. It's the same drifting style with long synth runs and very little interruption in the trance inducing process. As I mentioned I found myself losing track of time as his melodies just seemed to go on forever. Perhaps we can harness this power for the greater good? No brainer, go get it. Ektoplazm has it fo FREE!!! Mdk

Superb track of course, but why so quiet? Mdk

Artist: Hypnoxock Title: Acid Return Remixes EP Label: None Date: Pretty damn recently 1. Traffic (Xock Acid Remix) 2004 06:58 2. Time Out (Chapapote Remix) 2011 08:00 3. Future Xock (Cosmic Remix 2011) 08:26 4. Hypnoxock feat. Green Beats - And There Was Calm! - 2011 02:18 There are a lot of opinions about social media but you cannot argue that it has connected the world like never before. Conversations between people separated by thousands of miles happen instantaneously. Sure, people share too much...like I don't think I need to know what your dog just threw up or what you are doing this very second. But I am thankful that due to sites like Facebook I can find out about stuff like this. I like these guys music so I friended them and now I'm privy to what they are cooking up. Hypnoxock are Victor Solsona and Pedro Quijada and are bringing psytrance back to where it needs to be. Their debut album Synthetic Resurrection in 2009 was outstanding and I recently reviewed their Tales of the Mind EP right here. They do intense, melodic psytrance as well as some groovy as sh*t progressive. This is a free digital release on bandcamp that I urge you to check out. Good music. For FREE. Where is the confusion? Traffic (Xock Acid Remix) 2004- The project started 9 nine years ago? Right out of the gate they drop a heavy beat and a growling synth threatening to erupt. Like that Icelandic volcano a few months back. What was it's name? adkdfwel&slfksafhasjelei? You try and spell it. Computer effects crackle and oscillate amidst some 303 chicanery. Goa vacation gentlemen? Because this has all the hallmarks of some dark goa flavor. It's funky, it evolves and breathes a healthy exhale of fire. Blistering. Time Out (Chapapote Remix) 2011- Cyber undulation and stuttering samples are just the beginning as it gains power and momentum all while easily fitting in with some of the latest neogoa releases. Here they go with that 303 again, bubbling up like black gold. Texas Tea. The break is a place for a new lead to spring forth as effects set the table. Layers sprout up as that 303 forces it's way to the front of the line giving this track a strong backbone. Yessir, these guys are on to something. Future Xock (Cosmic Remix 2011)- To remix a track that was already bad ass takes some chutzpah. Put another feather in yo cap like a Pimp named Slickback cause this is some outer space sh*t right here. Cosmic leads twist around the windpipe with a goa stranglehold. Love the break with it's forlorn oboe sound. Short, but effective making me feel like I'm high in space looking down at the Earth. Is it better than the original? I dunno, but I do know that I liked it. And Then There Was Calm- What the? They do downtempo also? Lord help me, this is a delicious little slice of tribal drums and eerie atmosphere. The bass bubbles as solar winds pass overhead. Why so f*cking short? This had serious potential and I do hope the next EP is a pure downtempo effort. There you have it. 4 tracks that show you how psytrance should be. I do want to say that when I downloaded it, there was an extra track that wasn't listed on the page so I didn't include it in the review. It's intelligent full-on that is layered and deep with a groovy 357 in its coat pocket. These guys continue to impress and it has me heading over to Beatport to check out their latest release, Logic Evolution. Cheers for the free EP gentlemen. FREE DOWNLOAD. Thatta boy...come and get it! Mdk

I think the best full on these days is the British and the South African sound. It's driving, melodic, and full of atmosphere. Sans cheese. Here are some links to reviews of good full-on: Arecibo Chronicles Vol. 1 Fractal Energy 4 Tryambaka - Replenishing Roots Kut-N-Paste - Relapse Wizack Twizack - IV Rubix Qube - Saturate EP Midnight Storm Vol. 4 - Acid Rain Ianauria- The Orange EP Tales of Heads Digital Talk - Audio Extremists Just a few... Mdk

Artist: Midimal Title: The Pursuit of Happiness Label: Echoes Records Date: June, 2011 1. The Deepest Thing 2. Larger Than Life 3. How The Mind Works 4. From Zero To Hero 5. Jaron 6. In Between 7. Bitbox 8. Sweet September (Midimal rmx) - Vibrasphere 9. The Pursuit Of Happiness 10. Become 3 Ahh, the pursuit of happiness. One of the tenets on which my country was founded has long been a goal of the masses. Some think it's money and while having money makes life easier I think it was a great philosopher who said, "Mo Money, Mo Problems." Of course he is also responsible for such gems as "I treat you right, you talk slick, I beat you right" and "I wanna bitch that like to play celo, and craps." Just sayin' read up before you search for pearls of wisdom in his works. Hell, I don't need massive amounts of cash, just enough to live comfortably, travel, and provide for my offspring. Not to be confused with the tearjerker of a movie starring Will Smith this is Christian Merkis with his 2nd release. The first was titled In Search of Water so he obviously is looking for things. His tracks are the deep, lush progressive that I am so fond of. Which is kinda weird because his name is one letter away from minimal. The cover is great with a guy (I assume that's him) looking for happiness. Nothing to do with him though, did you read the promo text on Psyshop? What generic drivel that I am sure has been used on many other albums. I bet whoever wrote it didn't even listen to the album. Don't make me break out the Ed Lover C'mon Son gif. Cause I'll do it. The Deepest Thing- "Everyday...every breath is an opportunity to express the deepest thing in our heart. It is important when we're involved in some sort of spirituality. That we not become simply a consumer item. It's very very healthy for all of us, myself included..." All right stop. Just stop hippie. This reminds me of every conversation that revolved around the bong in the middle of your drum circle. Grand plans that don't make it past a bag of Cheetohs at 3 in the morning. Did you know that I discovered a cure for cancer? Yeah, but I don't remember it. But ask me if I remember the trip to I-Hop and the chocolate chip pancake that smiled at me. His whipped cream smile knew what I was talkin' about. Larger Than Life- Smooth. Groovy. This is how it's supposed to be. A galloping lead with the deep drone of the bass. It's constant as washes fly beneath the female voice. Total drifting piece of work that is epic. How The Mind Works- "The complex structure of the mind is the subject. The mind is what the brain does. The mind is a system of organs of computation. It's key idea can be captured in a sentence." How about this sentence..."Your sample is too f*cking long and kills the flow." Stop it. After the two minute mark he does and this is another drifting piece of music. That is until the glitchy, techno beat takes over and it is pretty inventive and well placed. Not bad if you can get paced the first bit. From Zero To Hero- What are we, in the forest? What's with the birds? While I'm at it, why are you whispering? IF you don't like machine gun bass lines, this isn't for you. But give it time. It becomes fuller at 4 minutes when there is more than just effects and he is clever like a fox. He builds his track, slowly reeling you in like a like Chris Hansen does pedophiles. By the time the break happens, it's dripping with emotion. A nice long break, it ends with a positive melody and man it's cool. Good show old boy! Jaron- "Tunes can act as a bridge between cultures when language fails us." This was a nice progressive tune which even included a solo string in the middle. My favorite line from the sample would have to be,"It's not how many notes you have, but what you do with them." Which is a lie every girl tells you about penis size. The melody after the string is a nice shimmering piece of sunshine that really opens up. Score another one for you sir. In Between- Do you get it? He put this in between the trance tracks. And the title is called in between. Pffft...Take another hit hippie. A soft piano melody unwinds and gently flows between sadness and hopefulness. As a piano player this appeals to me as it is really beautiful. Sounded great. Bitbox- He seems to like long openings. Not intros, but it takes a while to get things going. Here he fulfills his almost name as this is leaning towards minimal. Galloping bass line and very little evolution. It grows, but into what? Just kinda churned along. Wake me when it's over. Meh. Sweet September (Midimal rmx)- See what I mean? Almost 2 and a half minutes before the beat kicks in. I'm not sayin' it's a problem...I'm just sayin'. Hi-hat at almost 4 minutes. Break at 5. Bring that old guy back, this is boring the crap outta me. The Pursuit of Happiness- The lead is quiet at first, but you can hear it searching out its target. Definitely a bounce to things here with an eerie feel. He does a lot with a little to make the track seem fuller. Marinating in the mantra? Coulda done without the hippie bullsh*t, but the groove is pretty tight...and I'm in a forgiving mood. The key change is very sweet and did you see that dance move I pulled off? No? Shame...I don't think I can do it again. Become 3- Downtempo closer that puts one deep in thought and becomes a little break beaty. I like the part at 6 minutes where the beat drops out and adds the piano. I think he could've done more with this, as it sounds deeper and tells a better story without that beat. Just my opinion. So there you go. For me the stars of the album were How the Mind Works and the piano interlude In Between. The tracks after that almost took on a simpler quality. As previously mentioned, his style is very deep and he likes to build his track, sometimes with really good results. I don't think it was as good as his debut, but by no means was it bad. Progressive trance that carries you away never is. But, as per usual, some tracks were more intricate and interesting than others. Good listen. Psyshop Beatspace GoaStore Mdk