Trance2MoveU

Artist: Various Title: Beach Atmosphere Label: Iono Music Date: October, 2010 1 Key In / Osher 2 Deep Passion / Naes 3 Everything Can Change / Xshade 4 Instant Summer / Klopfgeister 5 Puppetmaster / Motion Drive and Flowjob 6 Nostalgia / Normalize 7 Floater / Ritmo and Rocky 8 Mojo / Juiced 9 End Of Line / Reverse When a new release from Iono hits my hands this is my reaction: This label is the best progressive trance label when it comes to atmospheric and melodic trance and they are an instabuy. They just seem to have a knack for putting together compilations that put you into the clouds. I suppose if my physics training is to be believed for every action there is an equal but opposite reaction. This is how feel when another CPU album comes out: For those that think that is harsh, did you hear Eat This? Key In- This is Osher Swisser or one half of Ananda Shake. I heard the Shake's last album...and it, uh...well Progressive trance seems to be where he excels however, as this track is beautiful. A nice mid tempo joint with plenty of effects and reverberating melodies. The kick and bass are deliciously warm as the track bounces along with smooth synths and soothing melodies. Firmly planted in the Iono Music style it was an excellent way to open the compilation. Deep Passion- Never heard of this artist (shocker!) but more sweeps and synth echoes that allow the brain to drift. It's not that complicated, but it flows well. I can picture myself on the beach watching the sailboats float by as the afternoon wind blows. Dreamy stuff. Everything Can Change- Continuing with the introduction of new artists, Xshade provides what seems to be his second track. Bubbling sounds sneak in between long sweeps and a one note bass line. In a repeated formula for the album, it's atmosphere rich without a dominating melody. The break arrives and the dreaminess continues as the effects rain down. This track is great and it just creates a long floating ride with the ocean just over there. Instant Summer- "Hello from the children of Planet Earth." I still haven't heard his Sunflavoured album, but all the other tracks by him are quite impressive. Let me tell you this track rules. The sounds are soft like your girlfriend's behind post moisturizing. And if I know your girlfriend (and I think I do!) just as comforting. The synths weave effortlessly between each other and that break is nothing short of magical. This is the definition of floating, drifting trance. Well, done master! Puppetmaster- Man, this CD is f*cking awesome! Another team-up brings a slight housey feel to things. The effects are again top notch and I would almost label this ready for the shores of Ibiza what with the female vocal. At the same token it is also the most aggressive track here so,...psygressive? The sample about the puppetmaster is kinda cheesy, but everything else makes this a very groovy and enjoyable trip. Hands down the most visible melody on the compilation. The final bit is groovy and dreamy to the, um...10th power. Feel that...that's sunshine my friend. Nostalgia- Tasos Koinis is another of the up and coming progressive producers with a handful of released stuff. This is another smash steeped in mellow smoothness. The synths aren't harsh, but lush. The beat gallops at a steady pace and the break is a short respite. With a churning lead to guide the sun's rays feel warm indeed. Floater- Progressive Jesus teams up with Rocky for a very detailed romp along the shore. It's a biochemical system that makes you want to dance you know. Well, that and alcohol. And maybe some other pharmaceuticals. The synths are delicate touches that rise above the washes yet it still is a driving force. Pretty damn good! Mojo- This one has a faster bass line with more echoes that fade into the sunset. Nothing remarkable about it even though it still has the Iono style. One thing noticeable here is the lack of a main melody. There are a couple of smaller ones connected by great effects work. Still, the work that is done has me doing this End of Line- With the final track, Mario drops a gem, I tell ya! Such smooth flowing vibes with zero wasted space. The effects create such a rich atmosphere that I am enveloped in this. Mournful echoes ring above a steady bassline as the break cascades gently over you like a Caribbean wave. Awesome track. I like to think of myself as open minded. On my MP3 player is Billy Joel, Onyx, Mindsphere, and Coldplay. Though liberal leaning, I still sometimes watch FOX News to see what the other side is saying. Which unfortunately usually results in this emotion: My point is that it cannot be 100 miles an hour all the time. Sometimes you need to step back and just...glide. Progressive trance done well can put you in the clouds and the only limit is your imagination. Nobody does that better than Iono and that is the case here. Atmosphere is the name of the game with melodies sprinkled in so that you can always see the sun. Another great addition to my collection. Highly recommended. Saikosounds Goastore Mdk

Artist: Tube Title: Tube: The Remixes Label: Push Records Date: December, 2010 1 Personality (Tube rmx) / Tube 2 Meet the monster (Noizepulse rmx) / Tube 3 Dinosour (Anomalia vs. Bond rmx) / Tube 4 My November (Magneto rmx) / Tube vs. Azax Syndrom 5 Groove Action (Tube rmx) / Tube 6 Generator (Karmacrop rmx) / Tube 7 Dangerous (Tube, Crazy Tone, Quad System rmx) / Tube vs. Skazi 8 Confessions (X-Team rmx) / Tube 9 Rock N Roll (Prospect vs. Digital Tribe rmx)(Feat. Michele A / Tube vs. Skazi 10 Damage Control (Twisted Reaction rmx) / Tube vs. Koxbox I'm going to quote a few things from the promo. Let's start with the first sentence: "Finaly, the long awaited Tube Remixes." Notwithstanding the poor spelling, have we really been waiting for the Tube remixes? Really? "The next generation of Push Records and Electronic Music." Riiiiiiight............. Personality by Tube was one of my first introductions to psytrance. I really liked some of the tracks and thought it was a good effort. The same can be said for his most recent release Confessions. That being said, I'm pretty sure I wasn't sitting up at night hoping against hope that some label would have the foresight and the ambition to release some Tube remixes. Well, my imaginary prayers have been answered as this was dropped by Push Records just recently. Let's look at the tracklist, shall we? That's what you came up with? I thought the idea of a CD full of remixes was to make it better? (Read: less sh*tty) If you have been paying attention to Tube and where his music has been going (Chemical Crew) than you probably know what you are in for. Fear not sissies, I listened to it numerous times...so you don't have to. Personality (Tube rmx)- And the total do over of his debut album begins. While not too terribly fond of their title track to their album, this has a crunchier, more frenzied sound. The melody is clear enough so that it doesn't sound like a different track altogether, but it has more ideas to keep it fresh. Isn't that the idea of a remix? The buildup at the crescendo made all that hard work almost worthless, but they recovered well. Pretty good. Meet the monster (Noizepulse rmx)- "They could put an end to human civilization." Another remix of the Personality album this time done by whoever the f*ck Noizepulse is. Just kidding you f*cknuts, this is Shahar Shtrikman & Yonatan Ramon from the Holy Land. It's futuristic, and brings a darker twilight edge to the track. I like the ominous melodies and sound choice is pretty good. Acid is plentiful and the groove is quite tasty. Good job guys. Dinosour (Anomalia vs. Bond rmx)- I am always nervous when a good track is remixed because, well most of the time you can only f*ck it up. If it was me, I would only remix crappy stuff, but each to his own. Apparently Eli released an album in 2009 that totally eluded me called Signal Shock. Like guitar in your psy? Me neither. Nonetheless, there is a hint of metal here that is somewhat appealing. But if I wanted guitar in my psy I would dig up S.U.N. Project; I'm sure they're buried around here somewhere. Bottom line, the title is repeated ad nauseum and mostly the track annoys me. Pass. My November(Magneto Remix)- I think Magneto has an affinity for Azax and his terrible music as of late, as this is the 2nd track he has remixed from Regev. Maybe that's a good plan, follow him and clean up the mess he invariably is going to make. Just a sidenote, Azax can you stop sucking and get back to producing tunes like you used to? Thanks. Right off the bat this is an improvement as there is more flow and better sound selection. It's twilight to the bone, with acid stabs and echoing into breaks. It's all been done before, but it is still good. He's got some interesting short breaks that are not the everyday which helps, but don't overdo it buddy. The large break keeps with the futuristic theme and the end is not bad. A little too stop and starty so sort that out. Good stuff though. Groove Action(Tube Remix)- Yet another remix off Personality. Guess he thought it really needed an update. It has a cyber feel to it with lasers and repeated sounds. Dark melodies predominate, and then there are the stupid samples, "Ooh la la" and "Groovy". Oh and don't forget the disco call. C'mon, who are you trying to appeal to? Still, there are enough twists to make me forgive, and there are some guitars as well. It's not bad, especially the ending, and I feel he is close. Generator (Karmacrop RMX)- Sidhartha and Khopat took on...yep you guessed it another track from Personality. Here I have an issue with their choice of lead as it is just that generic metallic sounding stuff you've heard a million times before. The synth near the end is a better twisted sound as it snakes its way to the conclusion and that saves it from being just another number. Dangerous (Tube Vs. Crazy Tone RMX)- I listened to the original which was on Chemical Playground and it had all the things that I would normally despise. Strangely enough I liked it. Same thing here. It's put together well, so the annoying stuff isn't that annoying. Sure there are stops and starts, build ups and guitars, but it is a funky little tune. Not great, but not the sh*tfest I thought it was going to be. Confessions(X-Team Rmx)- There's an X-team now? Is that when a member of the A-team (cough, cough) cannot fulfill his duties they pull someone from the second string? Brass presets? Chopped up samples? Guitar? Oh yeah, it's in there. But by all that is holy, I find this a guilty pleasure. I should hate it, but I don't. Well, that is until the buildup. God, that is like f*cking up a wet dream. Rock 'N' Roll (Prospect Vs. Digital Tribe RMX)- I'm noticing that as the titles get longer, the music gets crappier. Just something I picked up on. Holy Sh*t the digital guitar makes an appearance! So someone did dig up S.U.N. Project! This is as generic as it gets with the exception of the 303 sounding lead at three minutes or so. It owns, but don't worry, they'll f*ck it up with the singing. This can all be summed up by this : Into The Future (Twisted Reaction RMX)- Well, we've reached the end of this journey and I would love to tell you that it finishes strong and ends on a high note. But I'm not a liar. Wow, that went downhill fast. You know there's trouble when you see a lot of heads in hands on the pics I post. I think Tube is a good music producer and he certainly isn't the first artist to be a victim of sh*tty remixes. I also believe that if he made his music darker and stayed away from the stops and starts he could really excel in the twilight genre. But this effort is not something I would put at the top of my resume. It's commercial, mostly generic and not something I would recommend. Goastore Psyshop Mdk

Thank you very much! I'm glad you like them. Who wants to read a wall of text? I would rather try and make people laugh. If you guys keep liking them, I will keep writ..errr...typing them. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Sound Drops Label: Warpbrain Records Date: October, 2010 1 Snowflake (Seamoon rmx) / Lauge 2 Odd / Lauge vs. Baba Gnohm 3 Distance Unknown (Erot rmx) / Monoque 4 Chillnerd / Seamoon 5 Before The Morning Sun (Irukanji Remix) / Senzar 6 Long Way Home / Sputer 7 Therapy Pudding / Vonoom 8 Sleep Paralysis / Sputer 9 Convolution / Aedem 10 Within the Grapes of Soul / Bob Tracker The word drop can have a lot of meanings. Anime...that is some whacked out Sh*t. Am I going to hell because I find it so funny when this type of crap happens to kids? And check out grandpa...he's like, "Well, Johnny you shouldn't have provoked him." Like this happens every week. If a kangaroo dropped kicked my kid, that marsupial would be on the dinner table. My favorite... I've spent over $200 in dry cleaning in three days. Regardless of how you mean it something is going down. And here, sound is going the downtempo route. From the psychos who brought you Kubensia this is their first chilled out effort. Now when I got the compilation, I looked at the tracklist and was like... You don't know how long I've been trying to work Gary in here. Anyway, I was like, who the f*ck are these people. I've heard of Lauge and Baba Gnohm because their EP Monolith was outfrikkenstanding. The rest...well, sometimes people can surprise you. Snowflake (Seamoon Remix)- Man this sounds like water dripping amidst the glaciers as a beast stirs deep beneath the ice. You can hear the ice cracking. So cold and alive with movement in the dark. You can hear it, but you cannot see what is out there. With a tribal yell the beat slowly churns as the effects deepen the feeling of isolation. Awesome! Odd- These guys produced the awesome Monolith EP and they continue their fine work here. Soft tones chime above floating pads in the grand Vangelis tradition. With a trip-hop beat a mournful guitar wails delicately by. An LSD sample sounds off, but it is neatly tucked into the background not becoming overwhelming. The whole track is decidedly cotton candy sweet but a delicious guilty pleasure. Distance Unknown (Erot remix)- I've heard 4 tracks from Erot and they've all been pretty good. This has wide, interweaving pads and a shimmering lead that catches the sunshine just right. The sounds balance out perfectly with neither the high nor the low dominating, but work in tandem. No unexpected twists, but a good solid tune. Chillnerd- Hey, it's Seamoon again. He produces a worldly effort with flutes, tribal percussion, frantic synths. It's quite busy, with electronics bouncing off the real world instruments. Makes you want to find your inner nerd...excuse me I need to fix something on my computer. Hey..hey, don't you take that picture! Before The Morning Sun (Irukanji Remix)- Truly spacey with a slow deliberate groove that keeps the head bobbin. The percussion jogs like a marathon runner as the pads float calmly by, taking it all in. This has sunshine written all over it. Even when the pace seems to increase, the beat remains the same. Very positive and I enjoyed it a lot. Long Way Home- Ummm....this thing is all over the place. One minute it's got happy unicorns sh*tting rainbows and then it switches midstream and becomes a deep, brooding sad sack. Near the end I thought I was bumping some Jan Hammer. I just got off the phone with my boy and he was like... Therapy Pudding- I love pudding. And this is chocolate with a caramel groove. Want some funk with that? Floating vocals with a breakbeat is quite tasty. The bass thumps as the break really stretches its legs with a very smooth interlude. Skittering synths and warbling leads sound really nice. This is sitting on the beach in the afternoon in Jamaica with a recreational...whatever in your hand. Really liked this one. Sleep Paralysis- With an interesting sample describing (wait for it...wait for it...) sleep paralysis, Sputer is back with a calming vibration. Plucked strings mingle with synths in a hypnotizing fashion. As a cascade of synths rain down, another sample fits well with the methodical clicking of the beat. Super relaxing. Convolution- This one was a little to hectic for my tastes with it's fast arpeggios and overall loudness. It wasn't relaxing and came across as just...deal with it. I think I need to revisit this... Within The Grapes of Soul- With an ambient closing, twinkling synths interplay with deep synth strings in true suspense movie fashion. It crawls along slowly and to be honest sounds a little thin. It's eerie with falling strings and the portamento type effect. Nothing spectacular but a nice way to close I suppose. Well, that was really all over the place. Some nice relaxing and emotional tunes and some that stressed me out. Lauge and Baba Gnohm are the stars here, but most everyone else had some good ideas. I felt the flow was off, but maybe that's just me. I don't believe it is essential, but I'm glad I have it as it is a good downtempo compilation. Recommended. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

Insejn clean up our reviews section! Stupid promos and duplicate reviews are clogging things up. Please? I knew you were the man. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: The Garden of Delights Label: Blue Hour Sounds Date: July, 2010 1 Bolid / Paraphone 2 The Journey Agent / Tantrix 3 Orangutangy / Tristan 4 Timeless / Ajja and Pearce 5 Tiny Taste / Asimilon and Satya 6 Fabric of Space / Ianuaria 7 Brewed Awakening / Lucas and Tristan 8 Door Mice / Tantrix 9 Garsas (Gaiana Rmx) / Gido Blue Hour Sounds is based out of Italy and began in 2009 so they are relatively new to the game. The only experience I have had with their releases is the wonderful downtempo effort Made of Dawn. Bolid- This is Benjamin Klages who has been on a few compilations. It was a nice opening. Nothing to elaborate or detailed, but nice to hear. He has that bubbling style that makes the track appear thicker and more liquid. The lead is squirty and playful to be sure. One thing of note, the sounds were crystal clear. Not bad. Free Lemonade- "In future be more careful from who you accept free lemonade." This is a wonderfully organic track that is full of effects and pumping sounds. It bounces and weaves and reminds me of the stuff from Glowing Flame. Long phrases twist above a constant bass line as more sounds are added to the mix. Sounds great. Yeah, you tell 'em Orson. Orangutangy- Tristan Cooke is a survivor who has produced everything from Goa to progressive and downtempo to psytrance. Most of it pretty damn good. This track is a bit of a rambler in the psy-gressive mode. Effects compliment the good bump it has going. Again, not terribly elaborate, but these monkeys seem to enjoy it. Tiny Taste- "As your attorney I advise you to take a hit out of the little brown bottle in my shaving kit. You won't need much...just a tiny taste." Two unknowns for me who bring scraping sounds and rolling bass lines. More groove oriented without many layers, but the percussive work is pretty nice. When the effects start to pile on an ominous feel takes hold. Good stuff. Fabrik of Space- One of the reasons I was interested in this compilation is right here. All of the tracks I have heard by Josef have been super. Very squirty and forest like sounds ripple in larger and larger waves but the difference here is the depth and the layers he brings. The leads just roll on. Rich and vivid and without a doubt the best track on the compilation. Hey! Awkward white boy who can't choose a hair color...get out of my Mr. T dance shot! Brewed Awakening- Get it...Brewed Awakening? I'm guessing these two are big coffee drinkers. Wait...or beer drinkers. Check this guy out...his name is Popcorn and he lives in the mountains of North Carolina and he brews his own moonshine. He's like 90 years old and has been arrested numerous times. They tell him to stop, but he's mountain people. It's like telling a crack addict to just chew gum. Hell, they even put the drip drip in their track. Metallic clankings that streeeetch as the bass line pops underneath. A constant ringing of a synth brings a wobbling bass sound at the break. There is a lot going on here and it is delightfully filling. The 303 finally arrives (I knew it was coming!) and becomes quite groovy. Great stuff again! Jumping Mice- Tantrix again, with more psychedelic goodness. Oh, those juicy effects they just set the tone. This is an outerspace journey, with comets spiraling past you sparkling with so many colors. It has a goa feel to it and just pounds away. The break is so cold, but well done. Also one of my favorites. I'm gonna have to keep an eye on this duo. I just wanted to see if I could find something. Awwww....isn't he cute?!? Garsas (Gaiana remix)- To close it out is a project I have never heard of remixing a track by an artist who I have no idea who it is. Follow that? Settle in because it is a long one. It's a spacey rumbler with deep bass and swirling sounds. Echoes and reverberating effects work very well, as I look down and see there is still 6 minutes to go. Wow. Soft ice-like pads chime in and synths twinkle as a guitar softly hums just within earshot. Just flat out groovy and I didn't mind the length at all. This is a very good compilation. Not great, but quality. It really does remind me of a lighter version of Temple of One. You won't be overwhelmed with melody, but what you will find is plenty of psychedelic sounds and good groove. Case in point...the last track. It really didn't go anywhere, but the trip it took me on wasn't boring. I enjoyed it and was glad I found it. There are better compilations out there (and far worse) but you would do well to give it a listen. Very subliminally psychedelic. Recommended. Goastore Saikosounds Beatspace Psyshop Mdk

Build ups to me are like the easy way out. Instead of being creative and finding a way to bridge phrases insert stops and starts or a running snare and obligato string. I'm on board for an extended and descriptive break, but please you can see these build ups coming from a mile away. There's some good progressive out there my friend! Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Synthetic Alchemy Label: Hypergate Records Date: August, 2010 1. Multiverse KARMACROP 2. Cynikal RABDOM L 3. Sequence Initialized CONCEPT VS TRYON 4. Tic Tac TIME TWISTERS 5. Sergeant 3 Quill XATRIK 6. Synthetic Alchemy TRYON 7. Damage SMASHED 8. Aftertouch (rmx) KHOPAT 9. Fundamental Resonance EARWORM 10. ItKillsYouUp SIDHARTHA Ok, lately I have been sh*tting all over some psytrance compilations, but I want you to know that I don't get any enjoyment out of it. Hold up....that's not true, some of those have allowed me to write some funny stuff. You know maybe those of us in the scene are just more discerning about the quality of our music. Have you heard these tools lately? I understand wanting to make a buck, but sometimes you just have to say no. Just because you can put music on a CD doesn't necessarily mean you should. Take Usher. There is no denying that he is talented, but for God's sake you're 32!!! You're singing the same stuff you did when you were 17. You want to make love in the club? We'll see how long that lasts when your son comes home singing skeet skeet skeet. The fact I can scream into my refrigerator or slam my fingers in a door and put a beat behind it doesn't make me Shpongle. Or....does it? My point is that I believe just like in the commercial music arena we have artists and labels that are very willing to release subpar music in search of the almighty doll...yuan. Ouch...that stings. Where was I? Oh yeah, Hypergate Records was started by Sidhartha and is responsible for the absolute smash by Alienn called Cosmic Matter. The style is twilight and right up my alley. Multiverse- "He thinks you traveled to another universe." Khopat and Sidhartha team up as Karmacorp to deliver a pretty good opening track. It moves well, being groovy and somewhat dark. The synths swirl around each other and have the backing of lasers that fire indiscriminately. The break has a nice sample with some nice percussion work as it gathers steam for the crescendo. Braindead- Rabdom L has long been a stable in the twilight scene but unfortunately he delivers a disappointing track. There isn't much evolution and it plods along like it's on crutches. No twists, no turns, just going forward. It's not bad, but I have heard him make better stuff. I think it comes off sounding thin and a little too full-oney for me. Sequence Initialize- Concept's Vicious Circle and Tryon's Twilight Solution are two very good albums that are definitely worth owning. This one has a good groove, complete with lasers and synths crawling about from the dark. The acid is delicious as it sprays like a popped fire plug. The break brings ominous sounds with a vocal computer sample. Alien sounds echo off surfaces reminding me of the creatures in Pitch Black. I could've done without the overplayed scream into the second break, but that is a minor quibble. The acid lead near the end is like an Electric Universe Space Tribe combo that works very well. Great track! Tic Tac- With a swirling synth intro and some funky percussion the beat rages on. Stabs blare as a pretty good groove emerges from the bass line. Acid riffs scrape as this track picks up in intensity. The break has an interesting bass effect, love the creativity. As the new lead gurgles it plays a cat and mouse game as more metallic sounds take over. Great groove and not bad everywhere else. Synthetic Alchemy- The effects give this an alien feel, as the bass line gallops away. When synths combine they really add depth to the sound with lead after lead. The break has plenty of cyber like sounds echoing off cold metal but the acid isn't far. It weaves, tentatively at first, but it becomes braver as the break unwinds. With a surge more sounds bring the power and it becomes very volatile. Great track. Damage- Never heard of this artist. But it is delightfully dark and space themed. As a matter of fact, this is how I felt when I heard it: The track builds, with great leads and samples, never giving too much away. Some of the sounds are ridiculously alien. Acidic nastiness coats you like an acid rainshower and the groove drives the point home. Much more of this please! Ergeant & Quill- This is Greg Hamber and in my eyes he can do no wrong. I don't know what that title means, but he manages to deliver another head banger. Leads scream from left and right as the bass line pummels you. The beat fades into the first break, but that is only temporary as with a very real breakbeat it picks back up. More leads join the parade and the groove explodes. Juicy stuff, my brother! Aftertouch Rmx- Most Khopat tracks underwhelm me but not this one. Great metallic effects and an eerie melody go hand in hand with acidic light sabers. Synth just keep getting added on, but one thing that disappointed me was the length of the sample. It played with no beat and just killed the flow. I would've liked to see him still drop a beat with that and keep things moving. As the track goes on, it picks up more acid work and another really cool melody. Listen to the end for the climax, you won't be disappointed. Fundamental Resonance- This is Max from the good ol US of A! He is what I call a compilation king as all the tracks he has released so far have been golden. This one starts off with an ominous tone as lasers are unleashed above a rumbling bass line. Great groove, not a lot of surprises, just straight forward psy. However, with his effects and breaks he tells a good story and really pulls the track together. Pretty good. It Kills You Up- What does that even mean? With the final track the head of label does the honors. I don't know what happened though because he goes out on a weak note. With the female vocal this backflips into commercial trance territory. The bass line has no strength, and the chopped up vocal doesn't impress me. Add in the stops and starts and build ups and I'm disappointed. I mean, it ain't terrible, but it wasn't as strong as most of the other tracks. What we have here is a pleasant surprise. Most of the tracks here are acid heavy, night-time stompers with great atmosphere. A couple are a little weak, but it's rare to have 100% success rate. I was most impressed by the Smashed track as it was constructed so well and didn't lack any power. Mainstays Concept, Tryon, Xatrik and Earworm didn't disappoint. So, yeah I would recommend this to any twilight lover. Another jewel in the South African crown. Besides, if Chuck Norris likes it, you know it's good. Psyshop Beatspace Saikosounds Goastore Mdk

Artist: Frozen Ghost Title: Out of the Mouth Label: Disasterpeace Records Date: December, 2010 1. Out of the Mouth 2. Awesome Town 3. The Finisher 4. How Unfriendly 5. Little Gun Big Bang 6. Mr. Monkey 7. Diamonds Are For Never In another shining example of why South Africa is the portal to Heaven, this is the home of Disasterpeace Records. They have quite the stable of artists who specialize in the awesome high speed, intense, melodic and groovy sound of the way psytrance should sound. At least according to me. What caught my attention was that Mr. Ghost (Barry Wynn) decided to release this album for free. That's right, zero scheckles. Not being one who passes up free stuff, I clicked on their website post haste to download my very own wav file. Now that I have listened to it numerous times I shall guide you through this little gem. First, know who this is? If the answer is no, then you will. This game literally changed my life. Well, this game, Doom, the movie The Crow, and lots of weed and booze. In a six degrees of Kevin Bacon sort of way, indulging in the above got me kicked out of med school, forced me to move back home, take a job that I was overqualified for, but would also eventually put me together with my wonderful wife who I now will soon have 2 children with. Also, I suppose indirectly allows me to communicate with all of you and bring you my wisdom and humor. I'm sure I could've met my wife if I graduated thereby not drowning in student debt, but this is my story and I'm sticking to it. Frozen Ghost is Barry Wynn and he makes some very fast, intense hyper trance in true South African style. This would be his 4th album and it's a doozy. Out of the Mouth- Ohhhhh yeah!!!!!!!! Can you smell what the Rock is cooking? This builds for the first minute or so, but in typical Ghost style being noisy and abrasive. I mean, "Sh*t I just want to get high!" The leads scramble and it is very intense, seeming to get louder as the track races on. Acid laden hyper trance in every sense of the word. Very groovy and meant solely for the dance floors. Awesome Town- "Awesome town...population...me!" In what I would call the most bizarre and unnecessary intro, what the f*ck? It's a very poppy, big band type of start with a blaring brass sound...but then races into his style. I'm not seeing the connection. I think this track is loaded...and I mean loaded with Duke Nukem samples. He's got the strangled leads and quick sample breaks that I love. Most of the fun of his tracks are trying to find out where the samples are from. Some buildups are annoying, but it is so fast paced that it is enjoyable. Sweetness....simply badass. The Finisher- "It's not the finisher dumbass, it's the Punisher!" This one fits just right. Acid heavy, chaotic psy. It always seems as if it is crawling to a new climax. He uses samples very effectively as they fit well with his short breaks. More groove meant for the dancefloor even with a buildup. But hey, I might as well look for the drugs while I'm here. Fast and furious, just the way I like it. How Unfriendly- "And when everyone's super....noone will be." Can you really have too much Duke? I don't think so. This one is of a slower pace but no less wild and groovy. The key change deepens the sound and keeps it interesting, but what is really cool is the Incredibles sample. It fits well as his synths bang away in their crazy fashion. And really don't we all wish we had a monkey? Little Gun Big Bang- I will have an acid laden special with a side of groove and could you go large on that? Thanks. He twists these leads until they are just lifeless husks scattered on the earthen floor. And just in case you didn't get enough Duke in the previous tracks, there are plenty more of his catch phrases to enjoy. My favorite? "Let go of my wonder waffle!" Mr. Monkey- As I said before, I wish I had a monkey. Err, maybe not this type of monkey. This one builds to a ferocious beating, with teeth and claws leaving blood spatter on the floor. More loud and abrasive scraping, as if 50 students with long fingernails decided to scrape their fingers down a chalkboard. And he dares you to listen to it. I believe that is a Frankenstein sample, but who can tell, as the track continues the cool lead sounds and groove aplenty. Buckle up as it only gets more loud and violent. Whew! You saw that coming, right? Diamonds Are For Never- Dirty Motion make an appearance here. I have never been a fan of remakes of TV or movie themes...for example, I forget who did it, but someone did a remake of Inspector Gadget. It comes off as silly and pointless. This is how this track was. Not as impressive and groovy as the previous tracks, and it seems like the sample here was more an intrusion than an enhancement. If I wanted prolonged stops and starts I would dig that Brainwash CD out of the trash. Hey they can't all be home runs. Wow, don't listen to this if you have the slightest headache on the horizon. In a style that hearkens back to his first album, it is loud. It is chaotic. It is also melodic and groovy as hell. His leads can be abrasive, but he doesn't give a f*ck. Deal with it. He obviously spent as much time playing Duke Nukem as I did, so thumbs up from me. And I would guess that this would be the theme. It's dark, but still playful as he places the samples in perfect position that they flow right with the track. The man knows how to rock a dance floor. It starts to sound a little samey, but the samples keep the listener on his toes. I loved it, but I love his style anyway. And I think what we need to remember here is that it is free. So if some Frozen Ghost is what you need (and I believe everyone could use a little in their diet) then download this and turn it up loud. Disasterpeace Records Mdk

Artist: Rena Jones Title: Indra's Web Label: Cartesian Binary Recordings Date: June, 2009 1. The Awe And The Wonder 2. Helix 3. Indra's Web 4. A Lullaby For Corvis 5. Ordinary Day 6. On The Drift 7. Point Of Existence 8. The Webs We Weave 9. What Once Was Will Be Again 10. The Problem Of Time 11. Helix (EVAC Remix) You know who Rena Jones is? What?...no. That's Florence from The Jeffersons Really? That's Florida Evans from Good Times. Ya'll a bunch of racist motherf*ckers. This is Rena Jones: Yes she's pretty and I'm sure that she is sick of hearing it. I would argue that she is the most important female in the psy scene since Miranda. Liked Left Coast Liquid did ya? She was on that. Beneath The Surface which I reviewed recently? Yep, she teamed up with Bluetech and absolutely owned. This lady is not just a knob twiddler who recently picked up a demo of Cubase. She is an accomplished musician playing the cello, violin, piano, and probably that big brown jug that all the hillbilly's in the mountains are looking for. Yeah, that guy. Sheesh, do you Europeans have a version of this backwoods, slow lane motherf*cker? My point is that this young lady who now resides in Portland, Oregon has more musical ability in her little finger than probably the entire Nutek label. Throw in that she is proficient in the use of software and drum machines and you've got yourself a dynamo. This is her latest album after her 2006 release Driftwood. I haven't heard it, but if it is anything like this, I'm on board. The Awe and the Wonder- The electronic stirrings of some slumbering animal comes awake against a very human breakbeat. The drum programming is excellent as the dubby bass hums aside the melancholy strings. This is reflective music, thinking about a time long ago or maybe a lost love. The electronic piano adds a dreamy quality as if looking through a window with fresh raindrops. Really emotional stuff. Helix- Bass drops ring as another realistic drum beat pops. Her strings are really vivid and carry such sentiment that one cannot help but feel a pang of sadness. There is a flute and plucked strings against electronic shimmerings but it is her cello that steals the show carving out such deep emotional feelings. Sometimes I found the electronics getting in the way, but only briefly. Mellow and sublime. Indra's Web- No question this is the belle of the ball. Slower than I would've thought possible, the strings are laid bare and I experience a Shawshank Redemption moment of clarity that I relish. The cello cuts deep and slowly twists around sparkling electronics. If this doesn't find it's way into a movie soundtrack, someone is not doing their job. Easily my favorite. A Lullaby For Corvis- With an even slower tempo, kicks thump repeatedly as electronic growls form the foundation for her strings and her effect laden voice. It's so slow and gangsta that it could be bumped from the most tricked out Coupe De Ville and not seem out of place. More mellowness and trippy possibilities sprout form this groove like a flower in springtime. Very enjoyable. Ordinary Day- The pace picks up with her breathy vocals and more electric machinations. It's happier here like sunshine after a rainstorm. Not a cello in sight, and I miss it. It's good she can work without it, but I miss it nonetheless. Kind of a placeholder. On the Drift- Glitchy electrics, and deep, deep sub bass that rumbles while smooth melodies scratch across the sky. It moves slowly like a lumbering dinosaur as string snippets flutter above. Great groove, but a little thin on ideas. Still, cool to hear. Point of Existence- Back to the art of melancholy with strings and juicy rumbling bass. Electronics play a backing role, as the strings tell another sad tale. The track is again deliciously slow, yet seems to have a sense of urgency. It continues to climb as the track progresses, and the strings just fade away. The Webs We Weave- I would swear that sound is from a payout in Atlantic City with the coins dropping in the tray. You know what I'm talkin about! The bass is nice as percussive sounds echo as if in a cave. The distorted strings add depth and a far away feeling. Girl, is that some FM synthesis? It's a nice track and a good piece of chill. What Once Was Will Be Again- A slow loping gait, real bob your head music. Ahhh...no. Laid back with that sweet sadness known as her cello. Man that is moving the way the cello sounds with the support from the electronics. You can feel the loss, and obviously the recovery that is coming. Beautiful. The Problem of Time- The synths drive the track here, with the strings providing soothing sounds for the background. I think I prefer it the other way, as the electronic stuff seems to harsh for her beautiful cello. I would've liked this track to be more bare bones, but whatareyagonnado? Helix (EVAC Remix)- Since I wasn't a big fan of the original, a remix might be just what the Dr. ordered. With a trip-hop vibe the beat thumps amid electronic skitterings. This could be right out of the Ultimae catalog. Percussive glitch sounds so cold, balancing out the warm strings. They hover as beeps and rapid fire hi-hats create a cyber like environment. It's kinda dark,bubbling out from the corners and really well put together. Bra.Vo. Veeerrrrrrry impressive. Smooth, laid back, and perfect rainy day music. Her strings really compliment the use of electronics and it is some of the most passionate and thoughtful stuff I have heard. I can see where some might find it all a little to similar for a full album, but the track lengths prevent it from becoming a labor. It moves very well with good flow and I believe that all chill lovers should give this a try. Great job. Psyshop Goastore Beatport Mdk

Artist: Astropilot Title: Solar Walk Label: Altar Records Date: April, 2010 1. Languor 2. Perceiving the universe 3. Between 4. En Reve 5. Space Ghosts 6. God's Channel (extended mix) 7. Inside the harmony 8. Life Textures I want to tell you that there is nothing funny about this review. Unless of course, my storytelling is so bad that you find it funny. After listening to this, I didn't want to be amusing as this had an effect on me. It is some beautiful space ambient that carried me away and allowed my mind to drift. This is Dmitry V. Red'ko from Siberia and he has produced a brilliant almost beatless journey. It is vivid and lush and perfect dreamtime music that I don't understand why it scored so poorly on Discogs. While the tracks are great in their own right, I believe maximal effect is achieved in a stright through listening. There are 2 versions of this CD mixed and unmixed. I don't know if he is still in Siberia, but I imagine there really isn't much to do there. It obviously works wonders for the imagination. The intro track sets the stage for a truly cosmic experience. It twinkles and shines as I'm just seeing the sun's rays streak from behind the moon. I shift the vessel into auto pilot and do a systems check. All systems are functioning normally and I plot our course for the Russian space station. Stars born millions of years ago dot the atmosphere as my ships computers click and whirr in cold silence. Alien forms dance with ethereal grace and a heavenly voice puts me at ease. As I stare at the cold vastness of space, dreaming of a simpler time, the lights on the global positioning system flicker to life informing me that we are approaching the space station. Checking the life support systems I begin the docking procedure. A solar flare of a million colors explodes past the window and I catch myself staring at the myriad of shapes. The steel machinery works in blind obedience as it gathers my ship in. Metallic echoes bounce off the chipped paint and blurred logos of the spacecraft, and I begin to wonder why I'm here. What happened to the crew of this once proud accomplishment? The most expensive and incredible technological marvel humankind has ever built. Sent to begin the mammoth task of re population. It was to be a floating city, hovering thousands of miles above the Earth, comprised of scientists, workmen, and many other citizens to take the burden off society as we know it. Barely 47 years old, the initial crew of 275 recently stopped transmitting and I am the first to be sent to reestablish contact. As I board the ship the first thing I notice is how vast it is. That, and the oppressive cold. Power and life support systems are down so I am forced to remain inside my suit. I attempt to make my way to the crew's quarters to hopefully find someone who can explain what happened. Ice crystals tumble through the air forming on all things metal. The station is equipped with tremendous windows to allow the beauty of space to be viewed. So many levels, so many manufactured environments. It's eerie to walk alone in a place usually vibrant with life. As I stare down at the Earth behind a thick plexiglass window I wonder what my family is doing. As the sun dips from view, the darkness is oppressive. Whispers come from all sides and I continue my lonely walk at a slow pace. Nobody tells you about the silence, about how loud it is. I find myself talking just to hear something. At the ships bridge and control center, I find that their last entry is a week ago. Something appeared outside the ship, something brilliant. As I am combing through files and data entry shapes real and unreal appear and disappear. If a person could have a trail, like a heavenly body they flutter across the room. There is no spoken word, but I understand clearly all that is said. It tells of a disruption, of an intrusion by man. Attempting to go where they were not meant to. A bridge to another plane where things were not meant to be seen. A portal began to open, as if space were slowly twisted open. Instead of being black like in the movies, it was anything but. Imagine love ones long gone, plainly visible right before your eyes as plain as your breath in the coldest of winters. The greenest grass tumbling across the plains and a sunset comprised of so many reds and oranges and yellows that you cannot hope to describe it. To be able to soar amidst the peaks of the Himalayas as birds as big as jetplane fly right next to you. Forests so thick and with trees that scrape the atmosphere. This is a place of dreams, where there is no hunger, there is no war, and all is attainable. Is it heaven? The water at a stream is so clear I take a drink and it is so refreshing. Impossibly so. A female figure dressed in flowing robes approaches and she is breathtaking. Hair of the brightest gold and skin so smooth she speaks without speaking, in tones that are wise and musical at the same time. She says that everything I could ever want is here. I will never be hungry or thirsty, never bored or lonely, and money has no value here. As I look about I see myself moving, but I am not in control. I remove my suit and activate the airlock. The barrier door closes behind me and I am screaming at myself, pleading for me to stop this madness. The countdown to safety ends and I feel myself sucked into the great void. Twisting colors wrap themselves about my body and I float effortlessly towards nothing at all. The lush green grass and the magic birds disappear and I am left alone. Feeling the air being snatched from my lungs, I tumble as the molecules of my body tear themselves apart. Taking one final glance at the space station, the woman with the golden hair is smiling coldly, as her eyes turn an evil green. Juno Mdk

I'm very glad you enjoyed it. I try to be humorous because nobody wants to read a wall of text. I will say this...it is much easier to be humorous when the album is terrible. Check out the praise this album receives on Isra....different strokes for different folks. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out Label: Beyond Logic Records Date: January, 2011 1 Bunny Pusher / Exaile 2 World Of Illussion (Magneto Rmx) / Azax Syndrom vs. Absolum 3 Our Rave / Double R.E.L. 4 Serotonine To The Brain / Brainwash 5 Silver Head / Technodrome 6 In Control / Karma Crop (Sidhartha vs. Khopat) 7 Tina Tomorrow / Orca 8 Syntax / Cybernetix vs. Ctrl+Alt+Del 9 Dedication Of Time / Xatrik 10 Shake N Bake / Panayota vs. Frozen Ghost I downloaded this. There I said it. I'm sure some of you did the same and why wouldn't you? Look at that tracklist. Some of the best artists in the twilight genre are represented here. And maybe that should've tipped me off. But...this is the label that brought us Synthetic Vision from Killer Buds. The compilations Project Sundew and Endless Euphoria. How could this turn out badly? This review will explain how I went from this to this Bunny Pusher- Good God is this terrible. Israelis Nir Sobol and Eyal Tzur continue their trend of releasing vapid and uninspired music. Any more commercial and there would be an 800 number at the end where you could leave your credit card. Weak beats, uninspired melodies, and of course the vocal that makes me want to push them over the edge. This doesn't bode well. World of Illusion (Magneto Remix)- It's bad when I am already pleading with my favorite artist Absolum to save this sinking ship. To be fair, I don't know who Magneto is and why he is doing a remix. With a massively annoying build up things take a turn for the worse as the stops and starts grate on my nerves. Less than 3 minutes in we have already tallied 3 buildups with so many stops and starts I feel like I am in rush hour traffic. I am right about here: Angry Panda doesn't think you know how to use Cubase properly. No matter how good you are Christof you cannot get the stink of Azax of you as his generic infection is very powerful indeed. Better than the first track, but that's like saying I would rather have chlamydia than gonorrhea. Oh you will love the last buildup...it's epic. Our Rave- This is Ariel Ram & Ariel Sela and after 2 albums and numerous compilations they offer a commercial turd of their own. I haven't heard their 2 releases, but if it is like this, I dodged a bullet. Boring repetitive samples , no danceable rhythms, and....dear God this was the best one yet. What the f*ck? Serotonine to the Brain- I am at Defcon 4 right about now with all the crap I have made myself listen to, and after their album Maximum Overdrive, there may not be any hope left. Leaving right were their contribution to the craptacular left off, we are treated to more buildups, stops and starts, and general noise pollution. Wow, this is really bad. Silver Head- Now I like Technodrome, their album Earthquake was one of the most powerful twilight releases I have heard. This has some of the trademark acid sounds they like to bring, but also an female operatic note. Weird. The acid washes remind me of Frozen Ghost (that's a good thing) but there really isn't anything interesting here. It seems quite thin despite the crazy bass line. Still, so far it outclasses everything that came before it. In Control- Wow, that was blander than sugar free Kool-aid. I didn't realize that all you had to do was hit play on the sequencer and let it run. I'm stunned, really. Tina Tomorrow- Orca had a great debut with Fist of Fury and this starts out promising with a heavy beat and some good acid riffs. The rhythm is good and the off balance atmosphere is well created. The lead sound doesn't appeal to me, but the acid makes up for it. Not bad actually until that excruciating, and I do mean excruciating build up. The tune then descends into rave territory. Sigh. Syntax- "Watchers from everywhere are tracking us. Anything we think we're gonna do, they know about it." "By not knowing what were gonna do...until right before we do it." "A plan without planning." Another truly milquetoast offering with no power, or anything to distinguish it from the tons of other crap out there. I'm laughing, really laughing. Dedication of Time- Now, I don't think it is possible for Xatrik to make a bad track, so if this sucks the fix is in. With a short old tyme radio broadcast sample the track pounds the skull with a fat kick and angry bass line. Cyber sounds proliferate in his dark style, with a lot of rhythm. Very danceable. There really isn't a story to be told here, just a collection of ideas jammed together for maximal enjoyment. He's made better stuff than this, but on this compilation it stands out like I would in an Al-Qaeda meeting. Shake N Bake- With the final track, Frozen Ghost teams up with a guy whose album cover makes me think he is going to break into my house. What you get is a high paced assault on your ears that is another throw away. A build up that is both noisy and annoying (wait, that's all of them). You can't see me know, but this is how I feel.... The biggest question here is how all of these artists were able to sell their tracks to Beyond Logic without them knowing how terrible they were. Was the quality control guy out sick that day? I have heard great music from all of these artists. Yes, even Exaile. There is none of that here. It is derivative, generic and an obvious cash grab by all these artists. Are they upset at the label and this is their version of a f*ck you? I don't think I can get across to you how atrocious this album is. I highly recommend that you avoid this album like the plague that it is. Jesus, this is what I chose to review to start off 2011? Sad... Beatspace Psyshop Goastore Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Midnight Storm 4 - Acid Rain Label: Nexus Media Date: December, 2010 1. imitations DELIRIANT 2. degenerate DELIRIANT vs CYBERNETIX 3. frequent smokers ABSOLUM VS SHIFT 4. unknown excess PITCH HIKERS 5. all or nothing SOLAR AXIS 6. de ja vu CYBERNETIX 7. bring your own bios - Ctrl Alt Del rmx HUX FLUX 8. big acid binge CONSCIOUS CHAOS 9. Moscow Cassiopeia TWISTED REACTION vs KALILASKOV AS vs MANTIS 10. a devil's moon MANTIS 11. eat this DR THROB vs MANTIS South Africa. Nah, let's go larger. Africa. When I think of this continent, here is what I see: Do you know that he suited up to play hockey for charity? Look, I know that there is more to Africa than this, but this is what we are shown here in the USA. If you want to see wild animals and go on a safari, this is where you go. There is overwhelming hunger (which I believe industrialized nations share a responsibility) as well as nations that cannot seem to hold onto a government for more than 5 minutes. More recently there was something else. Wasn't there some type of tournament held in South Africa? Where the hell was this when I was playing? As great as that is, the best thing for us is in a town called Mowbray. Started in 2004 by sHiFt (Chris Hoy) and Slug (Liam Gibbs) they have been releasing some of the best high energy twilight music around. This is the 4th installment in their awesome Midnight Storm series compiled and mastered by Chris himself. There are several new recruits on the roster to go along with the old guard. Imitations- Deliriant really impressed me with their debut Chemistry last year. Undercurrent percussion with a hammering bass line brings a very danceable acid lick that is pretty hot to the touch. The break cools things down and the track redoubles its efforts. The end puts it all together with a cool melody as the beat grinds it out. Great start. Degenerate- Cybernetix is one of those young guns I was referring to (and his tracks have been pretty storming) and here he joins with Deliriant. This is another slow evolver that sticks and moves. It hits with some powerful stabs and acid washes to get the filth off you (or maybe on you). The lead is another funky back breaker that implores dancing. Once again the break allows for some reorganization and the track ends well. I felt it hit its stride at the midway point, but still very good. Frequent Smokers- This is the definition of heavy hitters right here. Absolum and sHiFt have consistently rocked the socks off of people so I have set the bar very high indeed. Ain't long until the beat drops and if the acid doesn't wet you, the lasers will. This is also a teaser, giving you enough to sate the hunger, but holding back until the end. The last minute and a half bring the noise to satisfy even the most hungry. Great track. Unknown Excess- This is the track that I have been waiting for these 2 co-owners to produce. It's dirty, insistent, and you can tell it is building towards something big. The acid leads at the end are so juicy, be careful you don't want none of that in your eye. The only negative about this track was that it was so short. Still, more of this please! All or Nothing- Another young buck who brings the funky bass line and lead that rips the groove like the thong in your girlfriends underwear. Ohhh that acid! It's raining motherf*ckers! The soft melody allows the lungs some much needed oxygen, but it won't be enough, because he launches right back into the mayhem. Awesome track! De Ja Vu- Cybernetix again and he's twisting you like a pretzel with his groovetastic leads. The middle is like a place holder but very psychedelic and unfortunately loses some steam. After the sample it just doesn't seem to be able to recover. Good, but not the best. Bring Your Own BIOS (Ctrl Alt Del Rmx)- I love it when people remix a Hux Flux track because they usually make it better. Personal opinion people, put down the pitchforks. And what we have here is some twisted sh*t. Sample laden with some IM influences. This leans on the tech-trance side for me with lots of stops and starts and there is even a buildup. Not impressive, so I usually skip this one. Big Acid Binge- Conscious Chaos also released a gem right up there with Speedball and Deliriant in Divine Justice . Ever strangle a duck? I imagine that's what the opening lead would sound like before the acid showers the mind. The leads begin to combine and the groove picks up. The break allows the evil to gather steam, but the buildup kills some of the sting for me. Thankfully it's pretty short and the track finishes strong. Moscow Cassiopeia- A trio of yutes combine on this effort. It's pretty aggressive and funky to boot. That lead is sneaky and I would swear some turntablism was found here. Nice. The Asian sample reappears (no idea what that is from) but the groove is not gone for long. Just a good dance track. Great job. A Devil's Moon- Mantis is none other than Chris Hoy in disguise who had an absolute cracker on the last Midnight Storm compilation called Self Deception. This was also released on the Mantis EP Dark Planet. Dark themed right from the get go, he drops a 303 in there with some other cool leads. Great rhythm piling up the sounds as only he can do. The only beef I have with this is the cheesy spoken word about the Devil's Moon. Apart from that, awesome stuff. Tom knows the deal. Eat This- More sHiFt goodness as he sh*ts on the idea of a downtempo track. The bass line is deeper than the other tracks, but the acid is just as sweet. There are dark synth washes and the beat is just punishing. With a little more techno involvement the beat rages on, with interesting phrases and tempo changes. You know what you are getting when you put this on. Pure twilight music full of acidic insanity, heavy beats and frenetic energy. The sound is immense and crystal clear; basically what you have come to expect from this series. I highly recommend this as it further cements Nexus Media as one of the best labels in psytrance today and sHiFt as one of the best producers our scene has. With releases like this I suppose we have to forgive South Africa for this: Goastore Saikosounds Beatspace Mdk

Well, you know how it is...taste is subjective. Some people love the way darkpsy sounds and some people love the generic full-on stuff. Something for everyone. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Wasted Brigade Label: Devils Mind Records Date: November, 2009 1. Mine Sulima 2. My Deer Wizack Twizack 3. E.S.O.K. Kiriyama & M.W.S. 4. Fuck You, I Hate You Pink Bunny Boy 5. Desolation II (Silent Horror Remix) Kiriyama 6. Emergency Fearkiller 7. Sonic Circumstances Derango 8. Look At Your... Taigan Sun 9. Braincracker (Devil's Mind Edit) Melorix Vs. Skunks of Satan 10. Axel Fucked Total Vs. Aremakki What the f*ck am I doing? I have been reviewing melodic goa trance from the masters as well as smooth relaxing downtempo. How the hell did this end up in my lap? I'll tell you how. I'm a big believer of experiencing things outside of your comfort zone as life is sweeter with more variety. Ohhh...gross. I'll bet you are a hit with the ladies. What would possess you to put a door knocker through your nose? Bullseye. When I get to this point, it is time to pull the plug. So after listening and thoroughly enjoying Kiriyama's debut I decided to give Devils Mind Records another go. Derango is on this compilation and I have always enjoyed his brand of darkpsy. Most of the others are unknown to me, so I am starting with a pretty fresh canvas. Mine- This is Alexander Sulima (half of Manifold) who douses you with horror movie sensations. It has the squirty lead that..um squirts above the typical darkpsy bass line. That abrasive wash lead that frequents a lot of darkpsy wreaks havoc as the journey deep into the forest continues. Screams rain down amid twisted synths. Very dark without many melodies to keep you safe. Perhaps a child's fairytale if the end result is Cinderella's head served up in a box. Yeah, that's about right. My Deer- "Go ahead George...light it up." "I...I couldn't do that. I've got enough problems with the booze and all, I mean, uh..I can't afford to get hooked." "You won't get hooked." "Yeah, well, I know...but it leads to harder stuff." The very prolific Tommy Axelsson is back with the atmospheric stomper and oddly titled My Deer. Electronic effects dot the sonic landscape as the bass line hums away. What I have always liked about his tracks is that even though they are dark, they seem more accesible. The above sample does a great job of breaking up the darkness as synths echo from the left and right. More gugrling sounds and staccato electronic stabs make it feel as if an alien is crawling right in front of you, leaving a trail of slime in its wake. I liked it. E.S.O.K.- Fresh off their great album Reach Escape Velocity Kiriyama join forces with M.W.S. (really out of my depth on this one) to bring a fast paced bit of darkness. There is a tempo change and really harsh sounding leads that just sound like noise to me. Acid gets thrown around with another dose of eerie atmosphere but that is overshadowed by the chaos. I can do without this one. F*ck You, I Hate You- Nice title..you need a hug. Pink Bunny Boy? That was the best you could do? Well, this goes pretty much how you would expect it to. A voice repeating the title over and over as the noise level increases. Complete with backward voices to break the monotony. This makes me want to kill someone. I'm sorry, but this isn't music I want to listen to. I know it's "art" and it's not for everyone and tastes differ...I suppose this is better than going on a shooting spree...Ok, which one are you? Desolation II (Silent Horror Rmx)- This is Jigar Shah (a marine engineer!) who also has a talent for making the darkpsy. I haven't heard the original so I cannot comment on whether this is close or not. Insert deep rumbling bass line with scary sounds to set the mood. If you cross Alice in Wonderland with the movie Hostel while having hallucinations, this is what you would get. It is scary and trippy at the same time. I can picture having no control of my environment and that is pretty frightening. Emergency- With a name like Fearkiller you aren't going to see many rainbows or unicorns. Same style bass line, absence of melody, scary sounds....yadda yadda yadda. Really, this is hate your parents type music. The only emergency here is to get you into a class that teaches music theory. Sonic Circumstances- This was the reason I gave this compilation a listen. Derango has that forest style that is dark and at the same time melodic enough to draw the casual listener. He has a lot going on which adds depth and the muted melody is haunting. There are the bubbling effects and other sounds that keep you...off balance. He continues to deliver his juicy forest acid and let me tell you it is delicious. The track reorganizes a couple of times with nice results. Now this stuff I can get behind. Look At Your...- This one was interesting. With a twinkling tones contrasting a low bass line it sets itself up nicely. Not scary, but mysterious. The sounds intermingle seamlessly, creating quite a sonic texture. The effects add complexity and gravity to the track, and as it continues to meander it takes you deeper down the rabbit hole. That melody returns and provides a nightmarish hallucinatory climax. Loved it! This guy is one to watch! Braincracker (Devil's Mind Edit)- Holy f*ck this is fast. What is the bpm here 180? There is very little rest and it is pretty obnoxious. I'm not certain, but I believe it "borrows" the theme from Halloween. The title is apropos as this is like a sledgehammer to the skull. You can rest assured that there is a scary element here including a heavy metal snippet. I actually liked that part. But...that's about it. Axel F*cked- With another nod towards speedcore, chaos and random samples pepper the track as synths scramble all over the place. Believe it or not, they bastardize a melody from a song that hasn't been relevant since the 80's. The bass line changes quicker than a politicians promise and yep, that was a crying baby you heard. Really, what the f*ck? Eddie Murphy is turning over in his grave. This is exactly what you suspect it is. A darkpsy compilation that has all of the cliche's of the genre. Deep, rumbling bass lines, scary horror movie atmosphere with harsh leads and an almost complete lack of melody. I don't listen to enough darkpsy to say whether it is good compared to other efforts, but they must be doing something right because it scored a 4.90/5 on Discogs! Take that for what it's worth. For me though, and this is only my opinion, it was not a pleasurable listen. Music is something to be enjoyed, and I cannot enjoy music when I feel like punching someone's grandmother in the face. It tries to sound so scary and anti establishment that it becomes a parody of itself. Tracks 2,7, and 8 were good, but other than that I expect to see most of these artists on the evening news with lots of crime tape. Beatspace Saikosounds Goastore Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Beneath The Surface Label: Native State Records Date: March, 2006 1. Irwin’s Conspiracy – The Beginning of Something Good 2. Bluetech – Ice Forming on Glass 3. Sympath – Amethyst 4. String Theories – White Dragon 5. Marconi Union – Buildings and People 6. krill.minima – CatDinR42 7. Nalepa – Porcelain 8. Ganucheau - Stillness 9. Rena Jones – Aurora Borealis 10. Desert Dwellers – Stellar Dendrites 11. Bluetech vs. Shulman – Midnight Bloom 12. Aerostatic - Continuous 13. David Last - Landscape You have kids? I do...Well, just one. He is absolutely wonderful and staying at home with him is the best decision I have ever made. I get to teach him, spend time with him, and watch him grow up. Also, I don't have a boss or a fear of getting laid off. Those are the positives. You have to be the right person for the job, as there isn't anyone I can hold an adult conversation with, I'm knee deep in dirty diapers, and I have to sit through this waaaay more than I would like: How much acid do you have to do... My point is that I need an escape...I had that today. With my little guy asleep and dusk approaching, I dove headlong into this compilation. This is Native State Records, a label headed by Evan Bluetech which released Left Coast Liquid in 2005 to tremendous acclaim. They are strong in ambient and downtempo grooves and continue their fine work with Beneath The Surface. As I have mentioned in the past, sometimes the cover of an album matches the goodness on the inside. That is the case here, where we are treated to some of the most relaxing music I have heard, putting me on a cloud I haven't seen since two Tylenol PM and a Benadryl. The Beginning of Something Good- This is a purely ambient intro. It's a view of an icy landscape while the sun is shining. It's massive glaciers slowly drifting across the sea. Nice beatless opening. Ice Forming on Glass- After 6 albums and numerous appearances on compilations Evan Bartholomew should be no stranger to anyone who listens to psy chill. He has the magic touch it seems as every piece of music by him is brimming with emotional detail. No exception here as bubbling textures ripple across glitchy electronics. Dubby bass contrasts the shimmering leads in a tremendously tactile track. The individual details are so rich and vibrant, with piano melodies leaping over huge glaciers and shimmering leads. Outstanding. Amethyst- This is Noah Pred and Naasko creating another downtempo gem with rich echoing synths and clicking percussion. Deep bass fills the lower end creating a nice afternoon groove on a windy beach. Completely relaxing. White Dragon- Evan and Rena Jones (a multi-instrumentalist who creates truly beautiful cello works) team up to deliver a melancholy track. Far away pads and the soft percussive elements that make this genre so appealing are everywhere. Rena's gentle strings are there, but merely in a supporting role. The track itself is just a beautiful mixture of natural and electronic instruments. Buildings and People- This is a more up tempo track without losing the calming influence. I didn't know the things the previous reviewer did about this tune, but the feeling he was going for was right on the money. Sweeping images as one watches from a vehicle create a dreamy soundscape. Perfect for a cold and rainy day with soft wailing guitars and soft electronic piano melodies. CatDinR42- This is Martin Juhls from Germany with a very dronelike track. It sounds like what an afternoon rainstorm would sound like with soft pads and a contemplative feel. The slow beat provides guidance, with a soft melody that has a wisp like touch. It melts away like the wax of a candle. Nice and calming. Porcelain- With more digital clicking this has the feeling of a smooth child's lullaby. Mellow without any surprises, it has heavenly pads and bounces along. Pretty. Stillness- Continuing in the trend of artists I have never heard of, Scott Tusa gets very glitchy as pads float coldly in the background. With clever percussive touches this track has gently plucked strings that dominate, and that takes me out of the chill comfort zone. Good track though. Aurora Borealis- Rena on her own here and she drops a very spooky tune on you. Horror movie children's chimes hover as strings of sadness draw first blood. Another brilliant combination of real world strings and softly brooding electronica. I'm gonna have to check her albums out. One of my favorites here. Stellar Dendrites- Tribal instruments strum against more electronic warblings, in a slow and measured gait. I find it less sad and more pensive, perhaps unlocking some previous mystery. Very spacious. Midnight Bloom- With another of the best tracks on the compilation, Bluetech joins with Shulman to bring clicks and whirrs, below sparkling tones and smooth female vocals. This is a cold drink on a warm afternoon, with vivid synths and soft touches of percussion. I think it goes beyond genres, as this is just a wonderful piece of music. Loved it. Continuous- This is where the compilation began to dwindle for me. Drones and non melodic phrases that appear and disappear. There wasn't anything for me to really grab on to, is just kind of...was. Landscape- Anyone else find the irony in the last track belonging to David Last? Anyone? If the first track was a beatless intro then this is a beatless outro. Strings and horns that remind me of the first Rocky movie. It's a 70's thing...you young guys wouldn't understand. Very theatrical and totally different from the rest of the stuff here. For me this compilation ended at Midnight Bloom. What a wonderful and peaceful journey. With lush details and beautiful atmospheres permitting me to float away on clouds of the softest white goose down feathers. The shorter track lengths work really well to get maximum artist vision in one album. It really is very varied, going from straight beatless ambient to downtempo and dub. The vast majority of the tracks were superb with crystal clear sounds and wonderful production. If you are in need of a getaway and the sh*tty economy has taken a bite out of your wallet, get a nice drink, put on some headphones and just melt into your chair. Gotta go, someone just woke up and if he doesn't get his noo noos and magic beans, well, sh*it is going down. Mdk

Artist: Psygone Title: Optimystique Label: Hypnotic Date: 1997 1. Camaro Kanitou 2. Salvi Da Tori 3. Outer Limits 4. Spirit Of The Jungle 5. Chemical Eclipse 6. Equal Bottle Blows 7. Twisted Minds 8. Cosmonaut 9. Strange Cocoon 10. Tasmania Oh, hell yeah I'm going for the Danish hat trick! No, not that one. Although they look undeniably delicious. I'm talking about goa trance here. I recently reviewed the classic Train To Chroma City by Colorbox and Dropz of Obscure Eclipses (what the hell does that even mean?) by Bypass Unit, both of which consist of brothers of the same family. Well guess what, there is a third and that is Michael Kjeldgaard (aka Psygone). He recently released a follow up album called A Second Breath (which I also reviewed.) This is one talented family. Which got me thinking about other siblings that have gone on to do great things.... I suppose we owe the Wright Brothers a lot. Although now we have them to thank for being caught in the middle seat between two obese businessmen that have obviously never heard the word no at a buffet and I swear to God if that little kid keeps kicking my seat I am going to snap his neck and who the hell brought the crying baby? Wait...3 bucks for a small bag of peanuts? Obviously no brother tandem is more important that this duo... So many hours spent in front of this game.... But I digress...what the hell is up with that cover. I never understood it, and really think he could've done a better job with it. Still, it is what it is, and like all the old school classics, you know what the music is just by looking at it. Camaro Kanitou- That small snippet of a Muslim prayer (?) was so exotic and opened up a world of deserts and a culture that I had no experience with. This is one of those tracks which altered my listening habits. With a fairly simple beat, a nice melody pierces the air creating a sweet signature groove. The bass scrambles with a purpose as soft tones cascade down. When the goa melody traced its path I was in full dance mode. What an awesome way to introduce me to the foreign and mystical. Superb. Salvi Da Tori- In what could be a continuation of the previous track, those same tones dance above a slower tempo. This is much less aggressive, with a pensive, outer space vibe. The 303 still growls, but there is more of a trancey bounce to it. Outer Limits- The bass is forceful here, as synths join together right into a break that is only a break in name only. The melody is not your typical goa, middle eastern sound, until the 4 and a half minute mark when that lead creeps in. He shows his talent in blending different melodies and sounds you might not expect to go together. Pretty good track! Spirit Of The Jungle- I always hated the elephant sound in the beginning. As if I hear it and go, "Oh...Spirit of the Jungle." It makes the track sound dated in my ears. The leads in this one sound quite old as well, but that bubbly 303 is very keen. This is the one that I can do without. Chemical Eclipse- Boom, what a powerful kick. The bass rampages away and the lead seems to float well in the mix. Very danceable. The break brings back that familiar, bubbly 303 lead that lend itself to the mythical feeling of goa. Very nice track. Equal Bottle Blows- This is another almost downtempo style that bubbles and is very atmospheric. Ethereal tones swirl as the previous chopped up synth hums above the bass line. The melodies switch sounds and as it unfolds creates a hypnotic feel. I liked it, but felt that this would've been better for the end of the album. Twisted Minds- This one starts right away with a good synth punch. The melodies..umm...twist as filtered leads climb ever higher. The 303 comes in and f*cking owns as other leads join in. Great track. Cosmonaut- With a slow rumbling start the bass line jumps out and this is a track I would call a grower. It is another more trancey type track the evolves with a good bit of atmosphere. Judging from the title, you can imagine a situation where something went horribly wrong with a space program. Again the 303 steals the show, as he has a knack for twisting it for all its worth. Great track. Strange Cocoon- More in your face bass lines and danceable, agile melodies. This is another powerful track as the lead hops over obstacles and a bass sound gurgles underneath. The melody and sound are something that sounds very similar from other tracks, but when the groove is this good I ain't complaining. Now I wonder where that dominating 303 is? Ahhh, there is is. And it is massive. Tasmania- So there really is a place called Tasmania? Really?? I thought it was the made up home of this guy: Ominous pads give way to another of his bass lines, and the main synth is most assuredly from outer space. More leads chime in and the track thickens up immediately. The 303 here is more atmospheric, streaky if you will. No less moving mind you. Another great track that just fades away. I liked this album, but for me it is starting to show its age. The more I listened to some of the tracks the more I felt like skipping some of them. Out of the three Danish old school albums I have reviewed I think this is the weakest. It's still got some tracks that I would consider awesome (Camaro Kanitou, Twisted Minds, and Strange Cocoon for example), but I think he uses some sounds which don't work that well for today's listening. His strengths are definitely his 303 manipulation and powerful kicks, along with his very aggressive bass lines. There isn't that much variety here as he follows a definite pattern, but it is still quite involving. Is it a classic? Yeah I think it is, as most of the tracks are memorable and very good. Mdk

Wow. You guys. You know what my phone does? Makes calls. I can text too, but after that it's a paperweight. Mdk

Artist: Shiva3 Title: Space In The Woods Label: Space Baby Records Date: June, 2010 1. Intro 2. Har Har Mahadev 3. Scotland Trolls 4. Sithartha 5. Trolls Woods 6. Main Tittle 7. No 8. Mirrow Monk (with Alienapia) 9. Luga Wood (with Alienapia) 10. Three 11. Outro Space Baby Records is responsible for the Alienapia classic Goapocalipsis so they are definitely a label to watch. Their style can be dark and quirky as evidenced by the Magic Dew compilation. This is Averin Andrey from the Ukraine and he wants to guide you through his nightmare. The cover is awesome, one of my favorites this year as it fully describes what you are about to get yourself into. Intro- The intro track is full of tribal chants and mystical sounds. Bass drops precipitate a slow beat with shimmering synths shooting across the sky. Well produced it sounds as if I were in the middle of the forest witnessing some other worldly ritual. Great way to begin! Har Har Mahadev- Tribal (you will be seeing that word a lot) drums usher in a very deep bass line and rapid fire synths. Chopped up chants rain down as an eerie melody creeps forward. Eerie like the aliens have landed in the American Southwest on a sacred Indian reservation. That is the story it tells to me, that they have arrived and sitting upon a high bluff overlooking the vast desert, they are deciding their next move. Scotland Trolls- More eerie sounds fly from all over the place with a...oh no he didn't! Are we bagpiping it? I love how the bass shifts with purpose. The bagpipe melodies are short and sad, floating atop forest sounds in the wee hours of the morning. Easy to see trolls with this background... No not that kind. Jeez, we get it, your parents didn't love you....get a girlfriend. And notice the ICP T-shirt to complete the white trash ensemble. Get used to the words, "would you like fries with that." Good brooding track. Sithartha- More deep bass rumbles with spooky melodies and effects as this monster crawls to the surface. I don't really like the 20 to 30 second revving of an engine sound as it killed all flow, but...it's only 20-30 seconds. Plenty of time to recover. And so it does, with vocal manipulations and scrambling bass. This track is really hard to define...is it dark, or deep forest, or the soundtrack to some horror movie. Maybe all three. Trolls Woods- More trolls? This track already feels warmer, not in happiness, but in thickness. Scary melodies echo off the moss covered trees. Tribal percussion marks its sacred territory as fluorescent lights tease. The pixie dust is heavy here especially with the female vocal telling you everything will be ok only to be followed by a heavy wall of sound revealing the lie. Weird. Main Tittle- With a fighting scene played out synths and effects whirl around thin melodies. Squirts and flying things plants us deep in forest territory. Where everything is...not what it seems. Atonal melodies reverberate in true forest style, going where they please. The end is unique as it crescendos as if it were a scene in a movie. Another very spooky track. No- Bubbling synths hover above a bass line and distorted voice rumblings. Weird again. Leads wail disintegrating all hope that you may ever get out of here. Whispers taunt the ear, speaking of victims that came before you. Metallic sounds slice the air with a multitude of effects and a delicate synth melody perhaps shows a way out. More darkness, but enjoyably so. Mirrow Monk- The next two tracks perked my ears up a bit as our friend Alienapia lends a hand. Right off the bat you can hear his melodies, along with the Shpongle vocal exercises. The bass line rages and leads from...out there take over. Ahhh, there is the Alienapia stamp. Other worldly goa melodies float about along with a piano melody. Still weird. And take it a step further, the stabs...Definitely unique. Luga Wood- Oooooh I like this intro...light steps in a forest..and a warning. Cue deep bass and eerie melody above bubbling. You can pick out Alienapia's melodies in a heartbeat. The atmosphere is rich and thick with melancholy as a female voice sings and tones twinkle. More deep forest culture as trolls and pixies lurk around every massive tree trunk. The tribal drums are a great touch and who stops a track near the end for a Capella singing...so unique and fresh sounding. Three- To continue with the WTF theme, a light melody ushers in a pounding kick and deep bass line. It ain't long before the creepy melodies plunk in and that feeling of dismay or disorientation is there. Tribal drums, sounds of forest creatures, it really is all very dark and unnerving. But I love it. I can hear the trolls laughing at my predicament, with no place to go. This is like a child's fairytale gone horribly wrong. Outro- "Millions of people take Ayahuasca in the Amazon. It is the largest psychedelic religion on Earth." Was this dark, and demented experience all a dream or the result of some ancient medicine the shaman gave me to calm my nerves? Whispers penetrate my delirium as I hallucinate in slow motion. This one really is hard to define. I mean, do I want my music to make me dance, scare me, or tell a story of a race in another time? Perhaps all three. First off I guess I would have to say this would not be the first thing I would reach for. There are melodies but not the kind you can really dance to. That being said, I do find it interesting and it was great home listening. This music mirrors the album cover. It is dark, mysterious, and evocative of fairy creatures and forests so thick that you feel you might never escape. Alien sounds are everywhere as is this feeling of tension that you are being lead down a path and that you have no control. He really has a talent for creating a vivid atmospheric journey. If you are in the mood for a dark, forest-like experience, then this is very unique. It really tells a great story, in true supernatural horror movie fashion. I enjoyed it, but I caution, you have to know what you are getting in to. Psyshop Beatspace Saikosounds Mdk

Artist: New Age Hippies Title: Dive EP Label: Cyan Music Date: December, 2010 01. Bass Spender 02. Physis (Live) 03. Return 04. Wodka Vokoda Man, look at that cover. Soft blue, vibrant underwater feel...it definitely makes me want to listen to something when the cover is appealing. Unlike this... Somebody didn't get enough hugs from mommy and daddy... This is Marco Köller and I reviewed his album Entrance which was pretty good. So far all of his stuff is free and readily available on Ektoplazm. He switches genres like I change my son's diapers. One thing I've come to know about Marco is that he seems to like the color blue. Bass Spender rumbles with echoing sounds from the deep and sounds like we took a page out of 2001's book with its minimalistic style. The difference is his juicy break fresh from the deep blue sea. Physis is another slow starter with a big beat and rich atmosphere. The break is very nice and I wish the track would've been longer. Return bounces along in the predictive progressive style but once again the break shines with its expansive vistas and it's lounge like detroit techno pads. Dreamy stuff for sure, but it doesn't really go anywhere. Wodka Vokoda has floating pads against a kick as it drifts for 2 minutes. This minimal style will appeal to some surely, but I find it rather empty. In the end I find this release like most of their tracks. Slow starters with very descriptive breaks, but eventually just peter out. I found myself feeling a little bored with the lack of evolution of these tracks. It seems like he had some good ideas (and he did) but didn't know what to do with them. Maybe that is just his style. I can recommend better progressive trance releases than this, but it was worth a listen. Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Painkiller and Lost & Found Title: Transmit EP Label: Nutek Records Date: December, 2010 1. Transmit 2. Serious One Oh f*ck, Nutek didn't get their stink on these artists did they? I'm sorry if you like this label, but they are responsible for kicking me in the pills. How so? Let me refresh your memory... Cut and paste, build-up ridden, commercial pablum....To this day I swear aliens abducted Samy Guediche and replaced him with God knows what because know way would a guy responsible for Computer Error make Eat It. Now to be fair I haven't heard their latest stable of artists, but what I have heard wasn't that impressive. Painkiller (Roy Engel) and Lost & Found (Gerhard Olivier) are two great projects that are hyper energy and intensely melodic psytrance producers. I cannot wait for Gerhard's album, as it seems like it is taking forever. And what I feared would happen has come to fruition. Transmit is not groundbreaking by any means, as we have heard it before, but it is funky. Good rhythm and drive with a sweet, undulating break. There are a few buildups, but no deal breakers. Serious One takes a while to get going and when it does there really ain't much to see. I would even call this track...boring. It seems that Nutek has indeed sullied the creativity of these artists. I would pass on this as it's not anything special and a warning to Gerhard: get the hell away from this label before they turn you into CPU. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Ianuaria Title: Orange EP Label: Blue Hour Sounds Date: December, 2010 1. Pandora Jungle 2. Knoff Hoff Josef Hofinger does not look like this to my knowledge: or this: Jeez, those guys could be twins. And I don't think this is him either, especially since he is dead: What they all have in common is that they are from that creative mecca we call Austria. I've been to Vienna and it seemed like a very cool city. Josef released and album waaaaay back in 2007 that I have somewhere in my house called Da Capo Al Fine but more recently dropped three absolute smashers on the Temple of One compilation (reviewed here). Super intelligent and detailed psytrance is what I would call his style. Pandora Jungle has that foresty glue that gets stuck on you immediately, with its deep ripples. It is super liquid and alien sounding with skittering effects and could easily be an awesome foray into goa. Originating from the dark forests of Sweden with its squirts and it reveals its melody right at the end. Knoff Hoff is no less driving with lots of bubbling effects and groovy bass lines to munch on. There are lasers and eerie melodies with more rhythm than your grandma at church. I like where his head is and love his style. Melodic, groovy and pretty dark. His twinges (if you can call it that) of the forest are also well played. I hope he releases more stuff because it is how psytrance should be done. Hmmm...I need to find that album of his, it's around here somewhere.... Juno Mdk

Artist: Sunstryk & E-Clip Title: Nature's Warning EP Label: Plusquam Records Date: December, 2010 1. See Nature's Kindness 2. Nature's Warning As I continued my post-holiday shopping in the digital age, I found another EP from some of my favorite progressive trance artists. Sunstryk is Thomas Vitali from Germany who has a real knack for creating emotive and very detailed pieces. His album Pure Essence was pretty good and I feel he is only going to get better. E-Clip is Marko Radovanovic from Serbia whose collaboration with Flegma on the Dynamic Violence EP was awesome melodic stuff. These two continue their fine work with two massive progressive stormers. See Nature's Kindness is everything you would want in a very airy, melodic jam. Reverb, bass sweeps, and a little sunshine vibe even though it is dealing with the tragedy of the BP (Bitch Please!) oil spill. I found this logo pretty telling: Nature's Warning uses the same newscast sample from the previous track and I found it a little more aggressive. Still full with the sound of sweeps and echoing tones the lead is harsher and the mood is more melancholy. Another good track to just allow you to float on its wings. More stunningly vibrant stuff from these two. E-Clip is fast becoming my favorite artist in this genre, as his compositions keep getting better and better. Melody and atmosphere are the name of the game here and for under 4 dollars I can easily recommend it. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Etic Title: Plan B EP Label: Digital Nature Date: December, 2010 1. Plan B 2. As It Happens I came across this digital release recently and picked it up without giving it too much thought. I had liked some of his work previously, but to be honest I wasn't expecting that much. I love a good surprise. This is Etay Harari and he has released 4 albums which were fine, but nothing to write home about. He produces music in both the progressive trance and downtempo arenas and what I noticed right away is somebody has been practicing. These two tracks were very smooth progressive trance with a ton of mellow, laid back atmosphere. Plan B has a truly massive intro with bass sweeps and delicate ringing tones that make me think of Iono Music stuff. Lots of echoes as the track takes its sweet time making sure to get just the right feel. Total other galaxy vibe as it slowly unwinds. As It Happens is a little bit more pared down and it also evolves slowly. The effects help in getting into the track with stabs and little noises and reverberating sounds. Drifting away is almost guaranteed as it bounces along with a synth that wavers and wobbles. Like I said, nice surprise. He made 2 tracks that are heavy on atmosphere and really allowed you to delve deep. His effect work was nice, also. 5 bucks for two tracks is a little steep, but if you really like melodic progressive trance it was worth it. I preferred the 1st track myself. Beatport Mdk