Trance2MoveU

Artist: Various Title: Digital Breed Volume II Label: MMD Records Date: May, 2010 1. Quarantine- A-Mush 2. Psycho Diver (Zion Linguist Rmx)- Zion Linguist Vs. Technodrome 3. Shehoor- Blue Demon MMD is another South African label that just like Nexus Media and Timecode deliver the goods. Frantic, twilight psytrance that doesn't leave your ass out of the boogie equation. While I thought the last Damage album was pure crap, the rest of the stuff is really good. Quarantine- "Crazy people don't know they're crazy." Man that is some tasty acidic goodness right there. Oh yeah, that's not coming off your shoe. It's like if you stepped in dog poo and the only thing you could wipe it off with was more dog poo. The bass line rages and the break introduces another synth which is single minded in purpose. What's the only thing that could ruin such aggressive flow? A series of buildups and while they are there, it's not that bad. The climax more than makes up for it. Power, acid, and a driving bass line make this one pretty enjoyable. Psycho Diver (Zion Linguist Rmx)- I have an idea...let's get a part owner of the label to put a track here. That's what this is? I see. This is Laurence Sonnenberg and he has released 2 albums and been on a lot of compilations. There is a hi-tech cyber feel to this one with screaming leads and a pounding beat. He's got one lead that is modulated pretty heavily and harsh, but out of the last break comes another that ties it all together. I really like the end of this one, with its groove and eerie atmosphere. Good job! Shehoor- She a whore? I dunno, but I heard that she been givin' that stuff up to all the graffiti guys. You could paint three of those murals on some of that ass. I don't think this has anything whatsoever to do with the Beastie Boys, but I write what I want. Never heard of this act, but it has its feet planted firmly in the twilight area. Dark cyber age computer music that is high tempo aggressive. The choir pad lends a little horror cred to the nightmare but lest we forget this is dance music, there are some groovy stabs that funk the whole thing up a bit. If you like twilight music then this will fit the bill. Pretty groovy and intense, with melodic touches and acid a plenty. MMD is quality so f*ck yeah, I would recommend this. Beatport Juno Download Mdk

Artist: Goalien Title: Psychedelic Dilemma Label: Sita Records Date: January, 2011 1. Asteroidal Dust 2. Do it now 3. Hallucinating (feat. Agneton) 4. Evolution of mutation 5. Inner Mind 6. Psychedelic Dilemma 7. Aggressor 8. Tragic Kingdom 9. Origin of life Enough time has passed and I have listened to this so much that I am ready to give my opinion on the latest from our friend Boris. Besides, I got laid, so...uh, I'm feeling kinda good. Cookieliscious! Goalien is Boris Huskic and this is his debut. He has released several tracks on some new school compilations that were for the most part highly entertaining. This is being released by Sita Records so that should tell you what style he is producing. I suppose you would call this Nitzho-goa that combines the playfulness of nitzhonot with the sunshine melodies of goa trance. The king of that genre right now is Agneton and since he and Boris run the label, this seems like a natural fit. I love the cover as it reminds me of several things. We all know aliens have been to this planet long before we were able to rub two sticks together and once again a Bruce Willis movie has it right. "Don't stop, make it pop, DJ blow my speakers up..." I can't tell whether the alien presence is attacking or not, but this smacks of a no-fly zone over Egypt. Peace out Mubarak. Nice knowin' ya Khad...Qadda..plastic surgery accident. I can't imagine how Muslims could think that the white man is at war with Islam. Not seein' it. Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya...at some point you have to pull the goaltender, give him a pat on the back and say, "Just not your night kid." Asteroidal Dust- One look at the duration and you know you are in for an intro track. A rapid fire nitzho kick thumps as spoken word samples pepper the ears. A goa melody is quickly joined by some atmospheric pads and you get a sense of what you're in for. Do It Now- The undulating melodies of Arabia tumble out at 2 minutes and are soon joined in battle with more synths. A good litmus test if this works well was the fact that I had to listen to this over and over because each time I was just spirited away. New melodies twirl about each other as octaves are raised like a high stakes poker game. The beat doof doof doofs on while the dance continues. Great stuff! Hallucinating- The scale, the scale! Tender work being done on the dulcimer but this is way more full power than the previous track. Afternoon winds blowing across the desert as I sit on a cushion of the softest material. As I peer through my tent of silks I see... "Yes, multi-pass I know, I know. Stay away from the food services table and take of the f*cking crocs!" The melodies come fast and furious and continue to fly through a break beat type of interlude. Pretty cool and intense without taking itself too seriously. Fun and very danceable. Evolution of Mutation- With long sweeps and bubbling effects this has a definite alien feel. Futuristic power with the X-men sample about mutation in there as melodies bounce and ricochet off one another. Powerful without being aggressive while still maintaining the melodic air. I liked it as well. Inner Mind- Radio signals from space? Dude, your planet is on the phone...I dunno something about picking up your sister after soccer practice. I don't f*cking know, load up the vampire wagon (minivan) and go get her nightmare creature! These melodies are cat and mouse quick and the sounds switch repeatedly keeping it fresh. Like all the tracks so far, it has that tell tale kick and octave switching melody work. This appeals to me and it makes me want to dance, but I can see how some might find it overwhelming and a little too samey for 4 tracks. Psychedelic Dilemma- Oohh, a nice long track length! This has a thicker feel with more layers right from jump. It is also fast and melody crazy with I believe a harder edge. Easily one of my favorites. Aggressor- This track was on the Sahasrara compilation back in 2008. It is what is says it is, aggressive and high octane. The bass line and melodies scramble like a Sega Tecmo Bowl QB with no offensive line twisting and turning. He does his breakbeat thing again with great results as the sounds just churn up dust. Another great track. Tragic Kingdom- Not to be confused with the No Doubt album of the same name. She was kinda earthy, I think she would dig this music. Well, before she went all Hollywood and crap. The bpm's might read the same but this one definitely feels slower. He does another great job with layering and keeping the feeling of euphoria going. As a matter of fact this leans more towards dream trance than goa until nearly the 5 minute point. Then the ol taste buds get slapped with a generous helping of goa flavor. Which brings me to one of my favorite things to say to your girlfriend (if she has a sense of humor) The pace quickens and we're back into familiar territory. Not bad at all. Origin of Life- I was hoping for a downtempo track to give me a break, but no he has more power to unload. It's mysterious in tone as leads twinkle from a hidden position. Here come the layers and I see he wants to end this journey on an upbeat note. Laden with nitzho style arcing melodies the track unfurls like a flag in a strong breeze but instead of being overwhelming the synth work is more of the delicate variety. So in a sense, I suppose it is similar to a downtempo track in feel if not pace. Well what to think? If you like nitzho or its influences then you will like this. It is very melodic and of quick tempo. The problem lay in the fact that it can be too much of the same style for the whole album. Some might be overcome and fatigued is the word I am looking for. It's hard work to track all those intense and super-fast melodic lines. I love this stuff so it's not a big deal for me. He has a talent for melody and I will say it is a good album. I enjoyed it and think that he will only get better as an artist. Congratulations Boris. Psyshop Beatspace Saikosounds Mdk

Artist: E-Clip Title: Shuma Label: Yellow Sunshine Explosion Date: January, 2011 1. Live is enough 2. Asia Tribe 3. Crow 4. New level of being (feat. Egorythmia) 5. Chandra 6. Reactor 7. Nostalgic 8. Existence 9. Cosmic Energy You ever have a friend or know someone that, whatever they attempted or did was successful? Answers in school came easily to them without really having to study. Or they just excelled in sports because they were naturally athletic. Maybe they were just in tune to things or maybe they worked their ass off and we never knew. When I was in optometry school I had a friend that used to smoke so much weed but was consistently at the top of the class. However they do it, it gets done and we are left to marvel at their accomplishments. Well this guy has that quality when it comes to music. This is Marko Radovanovic who released a psytrance album in 2008 under the name Beyondecliptica called Groove Technologies which was a superb album I thought. Well his friend Flegma rubbed off on him and now he delivers psy-progressive stuff under the moniker E-Clip. Every track I have heard from this guy is a deep and lush experience. Stories are told. So when I saw he was releasing his debut I knew I wanted to give it a try. I see that it was put out by YSE and... I thought that was a label that had a rich past, but now only released not goa trance that said Goa Trance 97 on the cover. Hmmmmm.... No track by track review here. To be honest, it's hard to discern one track form the next. Well, that is until the last few tracks where he is on some serious Glowing Flame style sh*t. While some might view that as a negative I see it as an epic tale that lasts over an hour. It's a perfect example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. The post-apocalyptic atmosphere is thick with long sweeps, echoing synths, and dreamy melodies that fade into each other. To me this wasn't dance music as much as a vehicle to transport you to outer space. It wraps you up and keeps you safe from the cold void while beats pound away as the cosmic lightshow unfolds right before your eyes. This is lush progressive trance at its best with a psychedelic edge and gets my vote so far as best progressive album of the year. I know, it's early....but it's awesome. Jeez...I just wrote a f*cking promo. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Let's see....I suppose the Lost & Found and Artifact303 albums for me. Mdk

Artist: Lish Title: Miles Away Label: Iboga Records Date: March, 2011 1. Alien Workshop 2. Alpha Groove 3. Funky Habit 4. Route 44 5. Miles Away 6. The Light (Album Edit feat Ace Ventura) 7. Robots in my lab 8. Necessary Activity (feat Andrea Bertolini) 9. Feel Good The first thing I did when I got this album was to listen to Dejavoodoo. After hearing what they did back in 2002, I can now understand why the new album is called Miles Away. Lish are Israelis Lior Maimon and Shay Tiab and have been making their mark in the scene for quite some time.Here is an interview of the duo done by our very own pr0fane which I found very informative. This is their 3rd album after the brilliant and I mean brilliant Free Fall back in 2005. How do you improve on something so great? That's a good question. Alien Workshop- That's a pretty large kick you have there gentlemen. Immediately it is evident that there is a progressive house swagger to their beats. It is slow and deliberate with a warm feeling. This is music to dance to with a beer in your hand. Melodies creep in almost undetected, smooth meanderings. It's very organic...can I use that here without sounding pretentious? That was a great start. Alpha Groove- Such a total turnaround from their earlier work. Pulsating synths wobble amongst lithe percussion and a string obligato. This is a house groove without the annoying vocal, no question. I like it. The melodies slide in smoothly right into the break as another synth wavers almost out of sync with everything else. Groovy and this is why musicians get all the chicks... It's all there in black and white. Funky Habit- This one strayed a little to close to the housey sun Icarus. I can take some of it, but this is pure house music with not much in the way of melodies. It went one way with zero surprises to it. Sorry guys they can't all be home runs, but there wasn't anything funky about this habit. Good hat! Route 44- See, this one is already funkier than the one with funky in the title. Must be the bass. Is route 44 the down syndrome cousin of route 66? The one that just goes in circles? Be careful, the NASCAR groupies might take exception to that. You know...all left turns? Have you ever seen some of their fans? All jokes aside, the beat is pretty cool but again it is pretty minimal with no melodies to break the monotony. I didn't hate it, but it was still lacking to my ears. Miles Away- The bass is really sub level and makes me want to bob my head, but once again that is all this track has. Empty and not engaging. The groove is just one part of the outfit, you still need some clothes before you step out the door. Otherwise you might as well just wear a pizza box... Oh for f*ck's sake! The Light (Lish Album Edit)- Ok, now this is worlds better. Melodies and pads right from the get go to complete the ensemble. Sure there is the smooth beat, but it doesn't have to carry the load alone. Working together you lift heavier loads and this is a groovy monster. It grows on you, changing and evolving with nice effects and melodies. It sparkles with Tangerine Dream running synths...yeah think of the subway scene in Risky Business...do you guys even know that movie? Anyway there is a tempo change but this is a great example of how good a progressive trance track can be with house influences. Good job! Robots In My Lab- I like the effects in this one. Bubbling and echo style stuff, all over top of a groovy bounce. There are some washes and organ stabs that give it a nice funk injection. The break allows a cool melody to sprout and it's percussive feel fits in well. Danceable as hell once it gets going. Go Bender...it's your birthday. Necessary Activity- "Every time I see your face..." Doesn't she make pasta? What? Oh, that's Bertoli. My bad. Whatever, she has a very, very minor role, but Oh snap! That is the jam motherf*ckers! I defy you not to bounce to this. It really is a necessary activity. The bass is warm and popcorn is a poppin'! Another grower that packs a punch in the climax. Wow, the girl scouts are really going outside the playbook for selling cookies. Feel Good- So if you don't know by now that this is a progressive house album then you really haven't been paying attention. The boys end on a good note with an infectious little tune that feels so good. The melody is happy without tasting of cheese with some more kernels from the popcorn left over. Nothing to alert the media over, but a nice smooth way to close the set. Where Dejavoodoo was still in the progressive vein, it was dark and minimal. Miles Away brings fun and progressive house beats with a warm melodic caress. If you compare the two albums you might not think it from the same project. A total 180 degree turnaround. Must be easier to get chicks with melodic music. Hot chicks anyway. Ahh, evolution. Miles Away has a progressive house bounce that invites everyone to the party instead of a select few. Way more digestible and even though I felt they lost their way in the middle, there are plenty of feel good jams here. It's summer afternoon tunes chillin' in a car you spent all day waxin' type good. Good job. Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Pan Electric and Alexander Daf Title: All Around The World Label: Tempest Recordings Date: 2009 1. Unseen But Not Unheard 2. Eastern Approaches 3. Birthright 4. Affinity Plus One Birthright 5. At The Edge of the World 6. So Long As There is Faith 7. Ghosts Laid To Rest I don't have a lot of experience with Matt Coldrick but apparently he used to be a criminal. Maybe, but Discogs says more along the lines of car theft. He's a big time psy-chill guy now having released an album with Ishq as well as his debut from 2007. I didn't hear that and I was underwhelmed by About Time. Somehow I came upon this and since my life is rather turbulent at the moment I needed something to relax to. It's a funny story how this collaboration came to be and really does prove that music knows no language. You can read it on the Discogs page. The cover is absolutely beautiful and could be just what I need. Unseen But Not Unheard- This is the longest track and goes through many permutations. Cycling synths, acoustic guitar, and bubbling melodies all find there way here. The bass is deep and abrupt as a mid tempo pace arrives. It's gone as quickly as it came. With floating melodies the break is very soothing as if I was walking through that Elven city in LOTR. Birds and waterfalls and sh*t. The beat comes back with a thunderous crash as if it has a purpose. Pretty cool as it goes from relaxing to intense and back to relaxing. Eastern Approaches- Ahhh, afternoon music. There is a mystical and tribal feel here as percussion rattles away and synths waver. It is very loud with cascading twinkles and loping stings that sound great. This sounds like if Kitaro and Yanni ran into each other at high speed. I see waves crashing as well as purple mountains majesty. Not bad. Birthright- Dreamy guitar floats over dub style bass as a flute flutters above. The percussion begins to grow in volume turning into a smooth downtempo vibe. The flute carries the melody with accompanying guitar. Smooth man. This could be a jam session between studio musicians. Loved it. Affinity Plus One Birthright- I see your Affinity and raise you one birthright. How the hell did poker become so popular that you could televise it and people would watch? F*ckin' degenerate gamblers. They broke this beat and then funked it up. The bass is beautifully playful and would thump on some subs. I feel like I should bust a freestyle. Okay then...One and two and three and to the four...keep on waiting to see what I have in store. Rippin up the mic like it was last months bills, my rhyming style so fresh it gives you the chills. Yeah, you feel me. Needless to say (ignoring my tired rhyme) the beat was pretty cool. Spit that sh*t Mario! At The Edge of the World- Shimmering synths roll as a bass sound sets the mood. It's warm as pads help thicken things out. Another fluttering synth receives the filtering treatment as yet another one shines higher above. Pure sunshine, staring over the edge of a great precipice. The guitars come in along with even more synths. It's very full and I can almost feel the breeze. So Long As There is Faith- Another smooth tune where they somehow give the leads a funky rhythm all their own. The bass is Jan Hammeresque along with the xylophone and I feel like I'm on the set of Miami Vice. Not that Colin Ferrel Jamie Fox crap. I'm talkin, Don Johnson and Phillip Michael Thomas. Somehow a detective got to drive around Miami in a Ferrari and wore a suit jacket over a tangtop. You know how much BO that guy would have? But it sparked a trend that had every yuppie in the world wearing a blazer with the sleeves pulled up over a pastel t-shirt. Motherf*cker never wore socks either. But it was so cool back in the day. The song? Oh yeah, that was pretty good. Ghosts Laid To Rest- Whisperings and a slow string heavy sweep that meanders on its introspective course. Another synth swims amidst guitar strums. I get a sense that this track brings closure to the listening experience. It is sunshine and light made more so with the break beat. Together they have a good sense as far as combining sounds. I enjoyed it. Well this wasn't a relaxing trip down beatless avenue, but it was great to listen to. While not as polished as an Aes Dana or Carbon Based Lifeforms it does bring several genres into play. I didn't find a bad track here and felt that this would be perfect beach listening. These two guys show they have talent that's for sure. Whether it's the melding of real and electronic instruments or the ability to change the beat, I was impressed. Juno Download Beatport Mdk

Artist: Osher & Avshi Title: Desert Trip EP Label: Synergetic Records Date: December, 2010 1. Desert Trip 2. The 60's I have to give Osher his props. Propers. Snaps...whatever the kids are saying these days. After riding the Ananda Shake project into the ground he has reinvented himself in the progressive trance genre. I reviewed his debut album Twilight (go find it) and it was surprisingly deep and rich. He has been composing some very lush progressive soundscapes in the IONO music vein. Big beats, floating melodies and expansive breaks. Here he teams up with someone named Avshi who has been doing his own thing for quite some time. Desert Trip- "When it gets really interesting is when we use that same system of symbols to...." Oh man I would love to go on one of those. Money is tight these days so taking a tour of all the desserts sounds really cost effective. What? That's not what that means? Oh...desert. Like the Sahara. Gotcha. I knew that. With a melancholy violin and soft percussion twinkles shine high above. The kick is full and there is a swagger to this. Sharp bass and echoing synths give this track some space and it only gets groovier. The combination of synths is so very thick and rich that it is impossible to get bored with this one. If you are a fan of progressive like me. It's very dreamy and the melodies drift like the winds upon the endless sands. Outstanding work gentlemen. The 60's- "I do not blame Dr. Leary for all of this. I think he was an important part of it. Such things as Grace Slick and the Jefferson Airplane and the rock groups talking about the glories of drug use. It was a drug world." I wasn't alive in the 60's so let me answer that question first. The bass is of a higher pitch here as more echoing synths follow. While spacious in its own right, this is not as grandiose as the previous track as the sample about Dr. Leary reappears frequently. Not bad but it doesn't have the same flow or atmosphere as the first track. For 3 bucks you get some really good progressive numbers. Desert Trip is the star here with its great detail, but The 60's is not bad. Osher is definitely one to watch as his production skills are really growing. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Sidhartha Title: Total Experience EP Label: Digital Distortion Records Date: December, 2010 1. Total Experience 2. Sumharla 3. Epileptic (Sidhartha Remix) Imagine you could work for a while, then decide to...I don't know, take 3 years off. That's what it seems like this label did. After releasing some really good compilations (Work It Out and Adventures on the Dancefloor) they didn't produce a thing for almost 3 years. 3 whole years. It's not like they put out some turds and decided to close up shop. They were on a roll. None of my business really, I'm just glad they are back. I recently reviewed Wizack Twizack's Breeze of Heaven EP that these guys put out so they seem not to have lost a step. This is Nuno Francisco Santos from Portugal and he has been rather busy. His debut Reverse Mode was pretty good and then in 2008 he upped the ante with his 2nd album Bio Rhythm and in the same year released Versus Galaxy. Lately I thought he has been getting a little more commercial, but he has some credibility in the bank with me, so I'm always willing to give him a chance. His style is twilight and he loves to wield the acid broadsword. Right up my alley. This ain't fast pitch softball sweet cheeks. Total Experience- The beat is good and it ain't long before he brings out the acid leads in true groovy style. There is talk of extra terrestrials in a staggered tempo change and then right back into the comfortable glove of 4/4 time. The bass becomes a footrace as it dares you to keep up. I like it a lot. He does the tempo change thing again at the 2nd break with a little build up (grits teeth) but it works out well. Very nice Nuno...very nice. Sumharla- In the same style he lets stabs echo as the bass line sets things up. He has always been able to make you want to move and there is no exception here. The leads are juicy and firmly packed as my flight to Jamaica... Oh, c'mon how are they supposed to get the drink cart by? The lasers and acid wash over me in a cascade of deliciousness as it gets really intense. Love it. You do what you do Nuno. Great job! Epileptic- This is a track done by Tube from his album Personality and his music has been hit or miss for me. Sometimes he comes up with a stormer and sometimes I don't know what the f*ck he's doing. Now if IRC, this was one of Tube's better efforts but I had to listen to it again to compare. It sounds great with a whole lot of things going on. Lots of sounds, pretty loud to be honest, but not uncomfortably so. It's not bad, but doesn't hold up to the other 2 tracks. Prefer the original as it seemed deeper and more of the storytelling variety. The best track on here is Sumharla followed by Total Experience in my opinion. He still has the knack to move you and if you like crazy acid ridden psytrance then check it out. Beatport Mdk

Man that was great. I hope that you are saving all these tracks for an upcoming compilation release. Kinda like a Imba Vs. type of thing. Mdk

Artist: Kut'n'Paste Title: Relapse Label: One Foot Groove Date: January, 2011 1. second coming 2. the gift 3. secret society (Noise Anomalie rmx) 4. nymphony 5. district 9 v2.0 6. deal gone wrong (featuring The Jester) 7. beautiful disaster (featuring Day Turns Night) 8. sinning in the rain 9. carnival of animals 10. relapse I got paid! Not like this guy with his pants off and his man lover rubbing him with money. For God's sake, pull your f*cking pants up. Is it racist to wonder whether this individual is in jail or dead? Just wondering. Regardless, cash is king and the government just gave me back some money which I loaned to them at 0% interest. Aren't I nice? That's how the tax game works. So I goes out and gets me a new disc. In our scene of generic and derivative music, where copying and letting the computer do all the work is unfortunately so prevalent, how can I not review an album by the artist Kut'n'Paste? I mean, c'mon...that's the definition of lazy and unimaginative. I've never heard of Jaco König but kudos to him for choosing a great name. Let's begin with the cover...doll with multiple fractures on fire. Are you an abusive arsonist that was trying to get better, but had a relapse? Abuse is never funny unless it's old time commercials that didn't give a f*ck about political correctness. You got knocked the f*ck out! Who would win, Hawaiian Punch guy or Kool-Aid jug? I dunno. Maybe the cover is a symbolic representation of our lost innocence. Again, drawing a blank. The cover is striking though. Judging by the font and the images, I thought this would lean towards the darker side and boy was I right. Pure twilight music. But you know what...a funny thing happened while listening to this. Fire made it good. One of the best. Episodes. Ever. Second Coming- "Now open your mind...let us begin our quest...to find the new sound." No offense Jaco, but this sounds like the old sound. Plenty of lasers firing and a nice bass line give this a nice groove. Acid washes sound great but I could do without some of the samples in the break and you know how I feel about build ups. Still, this track brings the power in places and it has peaked my interest. Pretty good start I suppose. The Gift- "She had awakened...and thought she smelled something burning." Ouch, babe that usually means a visit to the free clinic. At 2 and a half minutes that shiny chaotic lead is a gift as it tears across the track. With a break a new rambling synth crawls forward and the stacking begins. I like how he switches sounds for new phrases and the bass line deepens to become a noisy rumbler for a time. Nice. Secret Society (Noiseanomalie Rmx)- Amidst a gaggle of noise a simple bass line steps forward. The lead is rather scratchy but what I liked was the short breakbeat. Funky rhythm and real drum sounds. Other than that it is full steam ahead and pretty chaotic without much evolution. Meh. Nymphony- "Unplug from your chairs, get up and look in the mirror. What you see is how God made you. We're not meant to experience the world through a machine." If that isn't the biggest FU to Facebook, I don't know what is. And take your damn Farmville and shove it up your ass! This I like, the bass rages and the ominous melody suits me fine. What I don't like is the buildup of course. Twice. And when you hear the vocal declaring "I'm a nympho" repeated, well you might say...please to meet you! I did! Normally I would hate that, but it works here as the key changes and leads race. Very South African my friend. All in all a good track. District 9 V2.0- I haven't heard the original so this is a blank canvas. Wheew...that bass line is deep. That kick is THUNDEROUS and the effects crawl from the darkest pit. Earthquakes don't rumble this much, wow such power! There are numerous samples from the movie (District 9 if you were in a coma) and they are well placed. F*cking awesome track. Deal Gone Wrong- "You don't know what you're talking about." Man, he really does specialize in deep basses, cause this one is rattling some windows. I know my son needs a nap, but I cannot help myself. Are you South African Jaco? Because Timecode would like a word with you. Holy acidic synth batman! The only part of this track I didn't like was the rapid fire kick and word drugs repeated over and over. Other than that..I'm seriously gay for this track. Beautiful Disaster- When I was still getting high from pot, I saw Event Horizon stoned to the bejesus and thought it was the greatest movie ever. Ever. There are plenty of samples to occupy the fan while the beat punishes. There is guitar in this one, but it is well done. This is another quality headbanger. Like metal? This is for you. Sinning in the Rain- "I think I'm a machine." The delicious breakbeat intro makes me wonder what kind of dark musings he can create in that genre. But that's food for thought for another time. Has anyone seen Jaco and Frozen Ghost in the same place? Cause they're using the same leads. That's cool, but what's cooler is the nah nah nah nah nah nah put to some serious dark music. The lead sounds like it was run through a distortion pedal which I find appealing. The track just keeps growing and growing, really awesome work. Carnival of Animals- "I just don't like techno...You would if you had robot ears." Moving through a subterranean corridor as synths try and escape their underground prison. Sound like a carnival? Yeah it does, but a wicked one at that. It's grimy with that telltale deep bass that will not be contained. Just to change pace he hits you with a higher pitched synth in an almost classical melody. While not as powerful as the previous tracks it was certainly interesting. Relapse- The Emily Rose sample is still scary to me. If I am ever confronted with that in real life, get me a diaper. More deep rumblings with loads of atmosphere thanks to that sample. The effects are also great sounding like scratching on a tomb as they seem to come from all sides. With the screaming it gets pretty noisy but that is all part of what he is shooting for I suppose. The strings are a nice touch. Darkest track on the disc. Talk about finishing on a strong note. This reminds me of Hiyarant's debut Collision. And not just because they both sampled from Emily Rose. It's a horror movie soundtrack that makes you want to dance. When I first got into it, I thought he was going to become just what he was making fun of. Not so my friend. His beats are ridiculously heavy handed and he really does have that South African flare for melody and intensity. But what he also has is well set up tracks with good sample placement (mostly) and a full cup of danceability. Most definitely a welcome surprise that only got better the more I listened to it. This is not your everyday attempt at twilight music. Beatspace Saikosounds Goastore Mdk

Link added in the review peoples! Mdk

That is an awesome story. Just a simple thing like that and maybe he will spread the word to other friends. Mdk

Thank you. No wonder it didn't show up in my German translator! Mdk

Sounds interesting, but it doesn't belong in the reviews section. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Project DIY - Belgians United Label: None Date: August, 2010 1. Fractal Frequency & Fusik - Deadwood 2. Agneton - De Wereldoverbrugger (Short Edit) 3. Ephedra - Travel On A Wednesday 4. Daimon - Grimoire 5. Javi - Eiwit 6. Lapsus - Shake Fear 7. Javi - Alice In Blotterland (Rmx) 8. DjunaSaurus - Nobody's Nuts Without A Little Bit Of Sugar Man, I have had this on the ole hard drive for many weeks, but am only now getting to it. Sue me, I've been busy. I found this as a digital release (link below) but it was an actual CDr in which only 50 copies were made. It was put together by DJ Javi who was a dj for Suntrip, but had to stop due to ear problems. All of the artists are from the great land of Belgium and worked for free. The artwork was done by none other than Mars from Suntrip. I don't know what flower that is on the cover, but all of a sudden I want blueberries.. But back to Belgium...this land had given the world so much: f*ck blueberries. Muscles from Brussels baby! Man he's never gonna live that one down. I will work this hilarious gif into as many reviews as possible Thank you Reyu for setting me straight on this one. I've been to Belgium, but that was back in the early 90's so I don't remember anything but this really cute and touristy town called Brugge. It was like stepping into a fairy tale. Of course it was Christmas time so it was all done up and I was with this smokin' hot French chick..But I digress. Deadwood- - "The world ends and then you're dead. Until then...you got more punishment ahead. Stand up like a man...and give some back." Nice start from people I have never heard of. Arpeggios flutter in and out, numerous at a time. A lead dances in between them putting it's dancing shoes on, but it's a little on the minimal side. I guess I'm just spoiled by layers. Not bad though. De Wereldoverbrugger (Short Edit)- That's me trying to figure out how to pronounce whatever the hell you call that track name. That's consonant abuse Elias. This is the shorter version of a track that was put on the great Protozoa compilation. It's a nitzhogoa special with sparkling synths and that tell tale nitzhonot kick. As usual he pays attention to the details as the bass line thunders and synths scatter like roaches with the light on. He adds leads and builds a tasty treat. I love that melody at around 3 and a half minutes. The break is super with ideas shooting from all angles. Love your work man! Travel On A Wednesday- Well of course you want to travel on a Wednesday...have you seen the price of flights skyrocket on the weekend? No idea who this is. This track tends towards the darker side of things with an intense drive as the synth arpeggios rage on. The key change is pleasant and keeps things interesting for awhile, but the same sounds without a break can get a little weary. Not bad. Grimoire- The dark alter ego of Antares (Simon Felix) who has his debut coming out this month. He creates an alien plane with effects running from the darkness but quickly shying away from the light. He maintains that feel throughout as synths waver uncertainly crying out to be filtered. It's like a childhood icon that was full of smiles decides to say f*ck it and go on a crime spree. F*cking Grimace had it coming...if the cholesterol from the shakes didn't get him you know Ronald would. Lazy fat bastard collecting checks... This track is dark and not a storyteller, but just a good atmospheric ride. The climax brings it all together in a scary frenzy. This guy has talent. Loads. Eiwit- "The spiritual and religious use of drugs has been occurring since the dawn of our species." Man he wastes no time does he? Twist that sh*t homie. Very good bounce as he interchanges leads. Once he's finished with one it's on to the next. Pretty thin, but it still kept my head bouncing. Good job. Shake Fear- Nicolas Wojciechowski had a track on Pure Planet 4 called De Tevroegkomer (whatever the f*ck that means) that I thought was pretty good. I've heard this before and upon listening again realized why I liked it. It's driving with attitude, synths racing while more leads get added. The textures are also different; the bass is kinda gruff, some leads have a delicate touch and some scream like my son when you say he can't watch another f*cking episode of Yo Gabba Gabba before bedtime. Intense and full of adrenaline, especially the climax. Should be time for an album from you, no? Alice In Blotterland (Rmx)- This one bounds out of the gate with multiple leads and keeps the goa vibe thumping. It morphs into different phrases and keeps the flow. It has a gritty feel, with the 303 bubbling and hell, there's even a sheep braying. You know a track is good when livestock do a cameo. Loved it. Nobody's Nuts Without A Little Bit Of Sugar- Wow, this is just annoying. There is a terrible vocal effect used in the 1st two minutes that makes me want to kick my monitor in. Thankfully it settles down and becomes quite the goa stormer. Screeching 303 madness that makes me want to do the spins with weird leads moaning in my ears. Psychedelic no doubt and would've been great if not for the 1st two minutes. Sort that out. Way to go Belgium! Congratulations to the artists and to DJ Javi for putting this nice compilation together. All the tracks were good and several were exceptional. Anytime you release some goa trance, I'll be there. And all of this for free. Links have been updated for download Mdk

Artist: Syb Unity Nettwerk Title: The Space Puppy EP Label: Flying Rhino Records Date: March, 1997 1. Space Puppy 2. Limited Access to the Files 3. Morphogenesis 4. Untitled Kris Kylven is to old school goa trance what Dennis Rodman was to basketball in the 90's. This is not to say that Kris dated Madonna or donned a wedding dress. I'm not saying it didn't happen, but I'm not not saying it either. You would have to ask him. Kris is Mr. UX the undisputed king of dark goa trance. Powerful, melodic, and intensely chaotic. I don't know why he has this project because it sounds the same. His style is unmistakable. Maybe label problems, like the Etnica guys had. I dunno. There are 3 versions of this according to Discogs and I shall review the maxi CD with 4 (actually 3 tracks; why even put that nonsense at the end and call it a track?) Space Puppy- There it is, the Kylven UX synth that stutter steps across the sky. Pure old school goa, but wait...did the track just pick up speed imperceptibly? That lead twists like leaves in a strong breeze as it emerges from someplace very dark. There is a key change as more leads fill the sky and damnit it's getting delightfully crowded in here. If you're not twirling to this, someone amputated your legs whilst you were sleeping. Maybe it was....him!!!! Limited Access to the Files- "My experience is but a small part in this great plan. The Venutians are here among us with great love...believe me there are many more to come. Their purpose is to help us in this world crisis. Their influence is very great as you will see. You're going to be able to meet these people, to talk with them, as well as take part in a trip to their planet. Believe me for I know it is so." The bubbling effects in the beginning set the alien tone as he wastes no time in getting down to business. Here he goes with that synth that is thicker than a pastrami on rye from Mulberry St. I guess you guys won't get that. How about, thicker than your girlfriends midsection? Regardless, more leads pile up (not unlike the layers of pastrami...getting hungry) and I would say this track is even more intense. He has this ability to keep the entire track hypnotic even as he changes sounds or begins new phrases. Truly entrancing as leads climb higher and higher and dark whispers are spoken. The tone is delightfully alien. Morphogenesis- Wow, starting simply enough with a bass line and a jangly synth but a no less alien environment. Juicy leads and dark stabs provide the backdrop as he reinforces his atmosphere in the break. The leads creep about like some supernatural evil and I'm sorry did I just wander into this guy's nightmare? Good God this guy was a great goa trance producer. Just some amazing soundscapes with rich detail and plenty of melody. The beats always made me want to dance, and it was dark and delicious. You can probably still find this at some vinyl shops, but who knows. Even if you have to download it from somewhere, do it. It's f*cking quality. Mdk

Well said. I believe (hope) that the power is going to come from his Daimon project. Great call on the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. Mdk

Artist: Antares Title: Exodus Label: Suntrip Date: March, 2011 1. Exodus 2. Mysticism 3. Aurum Solis 4. The 4th Dimension 5. Dreaming Universe 6. Mount Meru 7. Astral Plane 8. Sun Sanctuary 18? Really, he's only f*cking 18? That's just out of high school. Do you remember how stupid you were at that time? Holy crap. What a f*cking douchebag. Hopefully smarter than these dipsh*ts, but still. That is a time when you think you know everything but you really know absolutely nothing. You're still discovering who you are and what path in life to pursue. Most 18 year olds haven't even been laid yet. Well, I had, but that's because...well, I'm the mack. Ooohh...mac an cheese! That is how old Belgian Simon Felix is and I cannot think of a hotter start to a career. I mean c'mon playa, did you hear Prophecy on Artificial Sun or Eureka from Energy Waves? This kid (I'm sorry but to me you are a kid...I'm old enough to be your father) has released bomb after bomb and in true "pimp" style even gave plenty of tracks away for free. Did you also know he has a dark side? Ugh. If you totaled all their years in school it wouldn't add up to a high school diploma. You know, there is nothing more embarrassing than uneducated white people pretending to be black. No, his darkside is Daimon which was some evil twisted goa trance found on another Suntrip compilation Temple of Chaos. That track is on full repeat for me. Wicked stuff. His debut here is released by the great Suntrip so you know you are going to get melody and light. Exodus- I'm not sure, but this might be from 2005. Great, what was he 12 when he made this? Sitars and shimmering sounds join a mid tempo beat. Plein du soleil as it bounces along with numerous layers. As the promo says, it's a slow and deep downtempo track to give you a taste of what you will find inside. Nothing shocking, but the sun's rays do feel good on the skin. Great intro. Mysticism- Ancient strings crawl slowly in a long forgotten ritual, when the beat picks up. The track is full and layered yet a nice evolving piece of work. It flows very well with new phrases being added seamlessly. Is it goa? Yes? Maybe? I dunno, but it sounds great and well produced. It has the quality of taking you on a trip without beating you over the head with too many melodies. Full of blinding sunshine and detail. Well done. Aurum Solis- 2 tracks in and no stomper yet. Well this track changes everything. You didn't think he was gonna do that to you did ya? The goa melodies begin from jump and tinkle (tee-hee) in a panning motion as sweeps rain down. He twists a lead putting things into full goa mode and then adds lots of layers to it. It's like a 6 foot tall layer cake....hmmmmm Yes, I would love some. He brings the power with the darkest track yet as it screams ferociously. Me likey! The 4th Dimension- After an echoing sample and spacey effects the track builds and sounds very old school to my ears. Lead melodies changing sounds which leave you twirling. At 3 and a half minutes he brings a lead that takes the house down. F*cking awesome! Bubbly yet wicked aggressive sounding...superb! And if that wasn't enough, he kicks you in the nuts with another sparkling lead that takes the groove factor to 11. Awesome. Dreaming Universe- That soft flute gets me every time. The strings add to the ancient feel and this track is so spacious. Lead after lead fold in in a weaving that makes me shake my head. I can't believe this kid is 18. Goa to the bone, and I believe this is one of the tracks he gave away. It is definitely of the floating variety perfect to carry you away on a sunny afternoon. Mount Meru- is a young volcanic mountain which dominates the town of Arusha in northern Tanzania. You sonofabitch, did you climb this? If you did, I am jealous as I try to hike to the top of any mountain I can get to. The intro is very airy and speaks of high altitude mountaintops. The lead is chopped up providing the foundation for effects to take hold. Weaving its way is a snarky lead that is quickly joined by other synths creating quite the picture. Although less aggressive, it is melodic and hypnotic through and through. This is a picture from Mt. Meru that should sum it all up. Astral Plane- You can tell the album is winding down. Not in quality, far from it. But in intensity. This is a very spacey track with floating melodies allowing the listener some deep reflection. The pads drift as otherworldly synths and effects bubble and squirt creating that atmosphere. The break is super mellow as the melody stacking continues with the softness of an 18 year old's bottom. Not his!!...I meant...quick post some porn... Yes I would like some fries with that shake. Sun Sanctuary- The obligatory downtempo goa track to close things out? Don't think so. It's actually more of a progressive tempo with some nice groove, like a funky shuffle. Distant chants float below a bubbly bass and meandering 303. This is really good, more people should explore the funky side of goa. It's a head bobbing good time with numerous shimmering melodies and a growling bite. What a great way to end the album. My hat's off to you Simon, you have made quite the album. Ok, if you have read my reviews you know what a Suntrip fanboy I am Creepy. Be that as it may, some might question the objectivity of this review. I have loved everything they have done...well except Ka-Sol. Dunno how that made it into the catalog. Maybe they were just getting warmed up. Whatever, this label has been the gold shining standard in melodic goa trance. Recently bringing some downtempo stuff and darker themes in goa have only cemented their success. This kid knows how to make goa trance and he does it well. There is great detail and intensity in his music which makes this a melodic sledgehammer. Intro track, progressive builders, and piledriver smashes...yeah, it's all here. I thought this was a wonderful album, and find myself hoping for a darker Daimon album in the future. For those that love Suntrip, this is a blind buy, but for those that are unsure, take a chance. If you love melodic goa, you will not be disappointed as this is a perfect addition to the Suntrip legend. Psyshop Beatspace Saikosounds And of course.... Suntrip Mdk

Glad you enjoyed it! Mdk

Artist: Project Sketch Title: Paradise Valley EP Label: Arkona Creation Date: March, 2011 1. Dino-Sore-Arse (125 BPM) 2. Chemicals For Happiness (128 BPM) 3. Nothing Happens (128 BPM) 4. With A Herring (126 BPM) A self described "moody bastard" this is the side project of Al Psymmetrix from the UK. It's a free release available from our very good friend (and invaluable resource) Basilik. I was looking at how ridiculously high it was rated and had to give it a go. Yeah I'm still poor, thanks for your concern. I'm glad the masses (at least the masses who decide to comment or vote on Ektoplazm) think so highly of this, but I don't get it. 94.50%? Really? Starting with the cover by Ivgenerate it looks like a Picasso on steroids. I think I see the remnants of a keyboard, a flower and a whole bunch of eyes. Very abstract. Dino-Sore-Arse- A slow galloping bass line with chopped up T-rex screams from Jurassic Park. And bird tweets. The lead isn't very interesting nor is the track very groovy. Sigh...is it over yet? Chemicals For Happiness- "Everyone belongs to everyone else..." Oh...so many choices....I'll take LSD for the win Chuck...Better groove here, as it has a bit of a dirty, edgy house vibe. It's a two step brimming with attitude. Clever percussive effects add to its depth and it is a nice bouncer. Nothing Happens- I don't know if I would give a track this name. But that's me, and I don't produce music. More psy-house beats and more percussion to help things along. I admit I do like it, the bass line is playful. The effects are many and as varied as a college campus. Was that a tiger roar? Sulu...set groove factor to warp 5. Aye aye, captain. I liked this one the best, mucho funko. With A Herring- I like the running effect here as it works well with the bass. For the first minute. Then it gets very samey and boring and then I went to pee. The really cool break near the 6 and a half minute mark was my favorite part. Nothing special otherwise. Ok, I think I got it. This is all about getting into a good groove. Of that there is a plenty, but after that....pretty slim pickings. Plenty of effects to add to the ...weirdness. If you're looking for big melodies...you no find dat here. I mean it's free, so all you have to lose is time. All in all, not bad but definitely not my cup of coffee with three sugars and then vanilla creamer. I didn't want to say tea. Although I like tea. A lot. I can drink an entire pitcher of sweet tea (North Carolina sweet tea, not that horesh*it Nestea or Lipton peddle). I hope I don't have a kidney stone...man those hurt. I'm still trying to figure out if Al got all his friends and family to vote this so highly. Dude, WTF? Get it at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Aes Dana Title: Perimeters Label: Ultimae Records Date: February, 2011 01. Anthrazit (featuring Field Rotation) (6:34) 02. Snoeflinga (6:23) 03. Perimeters (10:09) 04. In Between (7:55) 05. Xylem (2:14) 06. Resin (Overspring edit) (10:12) 07. Heaven Report (7:10) 08. Antimatter (Ante) (3:25) 09. Antimatter (Post) (6:15) 10. The missing words (7:58) 11. Currents (5:54) What frustrates you? Job, school, girlfriend...all valid responses. Know what I get frustrated with? Those stupid ziplock plastic bags that hold shredded cheese. Know what I'm talkin' about? The ones that are supposed to make it easier to close and open while keeping your cheese fresh? Every time I go to open one of those things, I end up ripping it. Every time. I got a better one. First tri-mester of pregnancy for my wife is stressful. Nausea, heartburn, fatigue...makes her feel like crap. I feel terrible for her cause I know there ain't nothing I can do to help. Know what else it does? Makes her boobs look f*cking awesome! Talk about frustrating! "Hey honey I know you feel bad and all, but can I get a feel goin here?" Good God that gif is fabulous. Next stop....sofa city. As you know Aes Dana is Vincent Villuis co-owner of Ultimae as well as a downtempo wunderkind with 4 albums to his credit as well as appearances on more compilations than I can count. If that wasn't enough, he was a founding member of another downtempo powerhouse Asura and then to top it off, he makes soundtracks. His style is spacious floating downtempo and ambient as well as some progressive leanings from time to time. Anthrazit- I don't know what that word means...(anthrax + zit = terrible morning.) Yeah, I might call in to work sick if I had this. And a job. The strings are Rena Jones like with a melancholy tone and slow beat that makes me think of a day like today where it is raining and foggy. The melody wavers and carries with it a sense of regret, of wanting things the way they used to be. The pace picks up near the end, but loses none of its emotional quality. Absolutely loved this track. Snöflinga- More rainy day soundscapes with that ultra soft kick and dubby bass line. With a slightly quicker pace the synths are more varied and create an atmosphere of looking through a haze. When the loud percussion arrives it feels like too much, maybe unnecessary. But the pad work as usual is very dreamy. Perimeters- You have to love the pads...you have to. They can say so much with just a hi-hat and a kick. Like the previous tracks the kick is like diving into a down pillow as some glitchy sounds skitter around the outskirts. I love the wailing melody above the distorted strings. It sounds deep and final. Instead of a rainy day, this has an outer space feel. Like looking over the precipice of celestial bodies. Like he is prone to do, Vincent kicks up the tempo but it is very smooth. When he adds the lead melody, it is haunting. The pace ebbs and flows in a brilliant storytelling experience. Beautiful and massive. In Between- Slow going here, with more dubby bass and soft, almost wispy synthetics. There continues to be a glitchy taste to his music, as kicks reverberate. The melody is again forlorn and instantly transforms the track. Instead of being unfocused, it now has a destination. We just have to see how he gets there. As I listen to this I realize there are so many layers superimposed that if you don't stop...you just might miss it. He shows his trance side again as the pace quickens with his...jeez can you call an Aes Dana bass line aggressive? I guess for him it is. He sucks you in with the quiet calm and then hits you with a louder effect to make sure you are paying attention. Nice, but I prefer the slower stuff. Xylem- Like xylem and phloem? I took a plant biology class once. Stop it I'm not a tree hugger or anything, it was required for the biology degree. I remember two things. How boring it was and the size of the professors nose. If she did coke it would be like, like... Yeah, but with a lot less F-word. To be truthful, I find this track to be boring droney stuff, really unnecessary. Pure space filler. Resin (Overspring Edit)- The sounds of swarming bees in front of pads makes me nervous. I don't like bees. Luckily I'm outta there without a sting, and this is another progressive jaunt. The metallic pads speak of industrial buildings with blacksmiths laboring over an open flame. But it's kinda boring. 5 minutes in and I really can't remember what I heard. I feel like I'm back in school. "Mr Kelly could you please tell us what the answer to question # 4 is? I dunno...56? Mr. Kelly this is English class... " It's not a terrible piece of work by any stretch, but it certainly is underwhelming. Heaven Report- Someone needs to do a little more investigative reporting from Heaven. All these media outlets and I can't get someone from CNN on the scene? They really aren't big on transparency. I know what I've been told but it would be really great if Heaven was like I want it to be... If there is anything better than a hot chick with a great rack, I'm listenin'. This is yet another progressive rambler. I'm not saying it's great because it isn't. I don't think this is his strong suit. If he wants to make great progressive check out the Iono label, but his real talent is more in the ambient downtempo arena. Antimatter(Ante)- This is what he does well...fading pads, drifting sounds...very mellow yet still full with emotion. It's a short ambient piece unfortunately, but very well put together. Antimatter(Post)- The 2nd half of Antimatter is a grower with sounds getting added along the way while a pad sings a mournful tune. Effects give this (like all his music) a very spacious backdrop. But wouldn't you know he throws another progressive rumbler in there....but hold up! This one is different. The bass is very thick and juicy like a nice steak on payday (Money's too tight for steak!) and it's the star of the show. That glitchy percussive element is always present as another lead worms its way in with a wavering style. It goes nicely with the pads. Much better, almost sublime. The Missing Words- This starts of so mellow with an undulating synth and pad combination slowly unwinding and then regaining strength. Relaxing...nah more comatose. Lovely for sure like the sun coming out after a rainstorm. The funky breakbeat and guitar strings usher in a heavier beat. It's still slightly glitchy but I am more engaged when he does stuff without the weird percussive stuff. It's good, but when the bar is set so high anything less feels like a kick in the nuts. Currents- The way he blends sounds together is nothing short of awesome. Smooth, long and winding pads with great effects are so ear fillingly delicious it frustrates me that a whole album can't be composed like this. So many sounds and emotions taking place all under a super warm chill blanket. A f*cking fantastic voyage into deep thought, Vincent let's you know who is top dog in this b*tch. My house motherf*cker...--- Vincent Villuis Um...he didn't say that, but with that last track he could. So yeah, this album frustrated me. I believe it started off like gangbusters, lost it's way in the middle and attempted to make a comeback while ending on a very high note. IMO his best stuff is the downtempo and ambient ball field. He is super skilled at combining and blending sounds as well as creating rich and vivid atmospheres. No question. His progressive stuff pales in comparison not having the same feeling. Leave that to the other guys. You just keep making what makes you an icon in this genre. It's a good album, but falls short of being a great one. But, hell it's Aes Dana so for me it's a must have. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Artist: Cortex Title: Spiritual Tonic Label: Geomagnetic TV Date: August, 2010 1. The Unborn 2. Sonic Boom 3. Brain Juice 4. Elixir 5. Elastic Reality - Cortex, Jaws Underground & Twisted Nature 6. Mr Faster 7. Party creature - Cortex Vs. Tempo Shrine 8. Goin N Goin - Cortex Vs. BrainBokka 9. Going to the promised land (rmx) 10. Goan Mad (Cortex vs BrainBokka Party rmx) - G.M.S. Vs. Karan You guys are young, do you like going out to clubs to pick up chicks? I'm married, so I don't have to do that. As a matter of fact, I'm so money all I have to do is pull up to them at a stoplight Yeah, I'll make it rain on ya baby. We've all been to the club, it's dark, music is pumping and you've had 3 or 13 of your favorite drinks. It's getting late and the pickings are getting a little slim. So you see what's left and the girl you settle (and make no mistake, you are settling) on goes home with you and well, you do what you really want to do. Next morning, head pounding, you begin the walk of shame only to find out that Mrs. last night isn't what you thought and the chase begins! Let me show you how I got there. Cortex is Assaf Weizmann from Israel and his 2007 album Time For Salvation was very good I thought. I suppose he made his bones in the twilight genre. So, you know, I figure one can never have enough twilight psy and that's where my night at the club begins. The Unborn- Ok, I'm not sure about the flamenco guitar, (did that not fail on Flamenco Mania?) but I like the big fat bass. Juicy. Pure full on but with that bass and those acid stabs I could really like this. There is an interesting change in tempo that improves the groove factor. When the break hits the guitar plays nicely but that is just an opening for the bass to come back and pound away. So at this point its Sonic Boom- Another tempo change from 4/4 to 3/4 I dunno, but the acid synths make this ok. It of course goes back and bounces ok, and I see this chick and she seems pretty hot, but it's dark, so I'm not really sure. With all the lights it's hard to tell what I'm looking at, but this is how I see it. Brain Juice- Some electric guitar right there...yeah I don't like it either, but something about that riff is appealing. Not unlike the lady I just scoped out. Besides, I have already had enough brain juice for both of us so she's probably pretty hot...right? The break is kind of build-upy, then the beat emerges with a gallop. Not terrible. Elixir- Man this stuff is f*cking with my brain. I like the punchy bass and the acid lead is intoxicating. See what I did there? The groove is pumping, even if it starts and stops a bit, and I'll be honest I'm just staring at my lady's jugs. Elastic Reality- So where dancin' and spinning with the disco lights flashing all over the place. Yeah it's full on to the core, but I'm so wasted I don't care. I like the acid lines, but the build-ups are a little tedious. We're still a go! Mr. Faster- What the f*ck is Kanye West doing here? Man I hate it when artists mangle pop songs to make it "psy." Another damn tempo change? How am I supposed to get my swerve on with this fine piece of womanhood if you keep switching the beat up on a brotha? Man, the room is starting to spin a bit and I wish Kanye would shut the hell up...It's so dark, maybe I shouldn't drink any more... What the f*ck? Was that an adam's apple? Party Creature- The guitar is wailing away as the acid jumps in and I probably didn't see anything. Oh yeah, I'm taking this babe home. Let me give her some of my dance faces so she knows how into her I am Yeah I'm a party creature. Man we gotta get outta here, another tempo change and that guitar doesn't belong here. What the hell, why did the music stop? Goin N Goin- No more drinks for me, let's take this babe home. Like the song, I can't get movin' fast enough. "Here you go baby, let me get the door for you." As I slide into the drivers seat I look over and... No way...I hope I'm ok to drive... Man this song really isn't that special. Build-ups and generic full on. Pass. Goin To The Promised Land (RMX)- As I'm making my way to her place, I put this one on. The ethnic vibes are righteous and that gets her all the way to me town. The flute really makes it.. Pretty good track and yeah, we do the nasty... Goan Mad (Cortex Vs. Brainbokka Party mix)- A remix of a GMS track? How much cheese can one man take. As I wake up I look over at my sweet lady and...she's not there. I hear noise in the kitchen, and as I'm trying to get dressed I hear her coming back. NOOOOOOOOOOooooooooo!!!!!!! Yeah, the track is just as frightening. Just say no and stuff. The moral of the story is don't get wasted at a club if you're looking for love cause this could happen to you. The disc wasn't turrrrible as there were parts of most songs that I liked. But with all the tempo shifts and starts and stops, it was hard to really generate any flow. He's got talent and I think if he actually decided to make a true twilight album it would be pretty kick ass. I leave the links so you can make up your own mind, but it is far, far from essential. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Artist: Witchcraft Title: Magic Frequencies EP Label: Matsuri Productions Date: 1996 1. Magic Frequencies 2. Whale Sometimes I forget how prolific Matsuri was. Not only did they release a lot of great albums but they also had a large amount of EP's. It's been 12 years since they went out of business, but most of the stuff they produced is on the shelves of those in the know. I won't go through them because there are too many but here is their Discogs link. This EP was made by Izik Levy (Sandman) and Rami Shapira (Chakra). I need to listen to the Sandman albums again as it has been awhile, but I do recall reviewing the latest from Chakra and thinking it was pretty good. This EP is one of those which I think is underrated. It's a shame that it was the only one the duo collaborated on. Magic Frequencies- "The gift of time. The gift of life. The gift of wisdom. The gift of light." Right out of the gate it's high tempo with a simple lead melody. The break isolates that synth, but then quickly jumps back into the fray. When they are all put together it creates a nice pace with the leads and pads giving the track a thick feel. I liked it. Whale- At the 1:30 mark we are in bouncing, melodic goa territory, fat and beautiful just how I like it. The break has some nice interesting effects, and the bass line is pretty catchy. What is really great is the changes in leads and melodies that make this track feel so grandiose. The final crunchy lead is whiplike and just the cherry on the cake. I would not hesitate to call this track epic. I wish this had better production. I'm not the guy to discuss mastering, but this definitely lacks power and clarity. Such a shame because the tracks are really good. You can find them on compilations so I guess this isn't essential, but I do think this is one more people should talk about. Mdk

Artist: Zabra Title: Waterworld EP Label: Spiral Trax Date: 1998 1. Waterworld 2. A Trip Back 3. Fluorotronik You ever find something that someone else thought was worthless, but you knew to be a gem? How many stories do you have to hear about some schmuck finding a f*cking Picasso at a yard sale because the dipsh*t that owned the big ugly picture never bothered to look underneath the picture his grandmother gave him? Oh here's a good one...some guy is getting rid of his comic books that he has collected since he was a kid, but he's a grown man so he doesn't need to hang on to this kid stuff any longer. Yeah, this is what was in the stack: Yeah, that's the 1st appearance of Superman. In 2005 that book was worth $485,000. This was the seller shortly after finding out about what he had done. I don't have a good story like that. I didn't find this at a corner record store that was trying to get rid of their electronica for pennies on the dollar. My grandmother definitely didn't give this to me. She was more of a gangsta rap fan. Represent grandma. Westside. I found this on the net somewhere. Never heard of the guy nor the release, but I decided to give it a try. That was when I got that feeling of finding a diamond in the rough. Who the hell is this guy? This was all he released? What happened? So many questions and no answers. Well, that's not true. His name is Zwi (really?) Akierman and this was his only release under the Zabra name. I don't know why because this dude had talent. This was so good I had to listen to it again and again. I felt like Luigi in the movie CARS: "I must scream it to the world from the top of someplace very high!" Read that quote in a thick Italian accent, it sounds better. Waterworld- I love the ominous sound of a submarine ping and the sound of dolphins as the track gets up to speed. The leads undulate, like a invertebrate sea creature caught up in the tide, as he adds multiple layers. His groove is on point but a little more variety would've made this one much better. A Trip Back- The bass line is quick and elusive like a snake here reminding me of Colorbox. The leads dance in the sunshine, swirling around each other and getting more company as the track evolves. This is very dance friendly and I love hearing it. Fluorotronik- Did he save the best for last? Why yes, yes he did. This is delightfully dark and that is reinforced by the break. Sinister melodies flutter around that bass line becoming quite juicy! A thumping good time. So this was a definite find. Pure talent for goa trance and I would love for a label like DAT to find this guy and see if he has any interest in producing a goa trance album. Where to find this? I think you would have to search the net, but I will be frequenting some record stores and yard sales. Hey...you never know. Mdk

I wrote that back in 2009...let's see if I can elaborate... Artist: X-Dream Title: The Frog EP Label: Blue Room Released Date: 1996 1. The Frog 2. The Frog (Morphem Remix) 3. No Guilt Trips Everyone knows of X-Dream and how they are one of the names you speak of when you say pioneers of goa trance. Hell, I know I've written it here before. If you look at most of the replies to this topic, people are in love with this thing. You would think it was the holy grail or something. 3 tracks, including one remix. Time brings changes, and I wanted to see if time has made me rethink my stance on this. The Frog- Of course it begins with the sound of a frog and quickly morphs into the bass line which is actually quite clever. I'm diggin' it, but there isn't a lot here. This ain't goa. Hell, it ain't even psy. It's minimal as in minimal melody, wait...no melody, just effects. I suppose the choir in the background can be called melody, but is two chords really a melody? I don't feel this holds up well and remains uninteresting to me. Yeah, this track is no longer in the pilots manual. Kinda need this guy awake. The Frog (Morphem Remix)- Slightly more interesting with some different effects and percussive elements, but like they say, "You can't put a silk hat on a pig." True, Morphem just didn't have a lot to work with, but man those are the kinds of tracks that you can turn into bombs. So, yeah for me the frog sucks, but Morphem didn't help their cause because the idea of a remix is to make something different. They failed. No Guilt Trips- Screaming 303. Groovy rhythm. Hypnotic, twirling madness. Melodic and dark. A whole hell of a lot more of this please. My opinion on this EP has stood the test of time. IMO, the Frog is boring, Morphem dropped the ball on the remix, but alas, the last track saves the EP from being a total disaster. I have to wonder if they put No Guilt Trips on there to hedge their bets that the community might not appreciate the Frog. Who knows? I suppose you should listen to Th Frog just to hear it, but the only thing worth getting is that last track if you love goa. Mdk