Trance2MoveU

Artist: Bypass Unit Title: Dropz of Obscure Eclipses Label: Music Research Date: 1999 1. Zibling Zwirl 2. Spectral Collapse 3. Liquid Prisma 4. Mesmer Drops 5. Lunar Senses 6. Distorted Frames 7. Nanosphere Courier 8. Frozen Symrex Did you know Denmark was responsible for some of the most twisted tracks in the golden era of goa trance? No? Me neither, but doing my homework revealed that it was so. I recently reviewed Train To Chroma City by Colorbox and believe that it deserves its rightful place right up there with some of the greatest goa trance classics. Point being, Colorbox was Rene Abildgaard Jensen & Kenneth Abildgaard, two brothers from the land of the Vikings. Well, Rene drops by again with some more of his fellow Danes to deliver this tour de force. Denmark seems like a cool place that fosters creativity, but I wouldn't know that would I Team USA? You see, I played soccer for my country when I was 16 and we traveled Europe to basically get our heads handed to us. We did, but our tour guide in Paris for the team was a smokin hot French chick that I hooked up with. I was 16 and she was 21, what was I supposed to do? Long story short, just because I broke some rules and got laid, the "man" confined me to my room when we weren't playing. How am I supposed to enjoy all that Hans Christen Andersen land has to offer if I'm stuck in my room? Eh, f*ck you coach. I made up for it in Sweden. But I digress. Must be something in the water there because this is another bomb in the goa trance annals that doesn't seem to get the notoriety it deserves. It was released in 1999 when goa was pretty much on the way out making way for the ultra boring and ridiculous minimal bullsh*t. Yeah, I said it. Zibling Zwirl- Ok, I have never liked this track. It is totally different than all the rest and doesn't seem to fit. Sure there is the variety of effects and the techno leanings, but none of the groove that the other tracks have. The sounds are just noisy to me and don't gel at all. The tempo changes into a shuffling gait and at long last a goa melody appears, but it doesn't save it for me. Spectral Collapse - I believe this is their most famous track as it bounces with a very hurried bass lead. Great how it gets to you right away. The synth is organic, crunchy sounding, even wobbly. It's pretty intense as leads come and go with a rough edge to it. I imagine the creator is high on coffee and says, "Nah, this just isn't doing it." He then does 5 lines of coke off a hookers stomach as he just finished his last 3 ecstasy pills. Yeah, that'll do it! Melodic, fast paced and rhythmic as hell! High Five! Liquid Prisma- More bubbling with a frenzied bass line and leads that change color like a chameleon. Easy to see the techno influences here as this is pure danceable fun. The lead is sneaky snakey darting from here to there in the blink of an eye. Good times! Mesmer Drops - With a very Front 242 vibe of the late nineties the track kicks into techno like gear with effects and then a crazy lead that gets a little help along the way. Groovy man, with spiraling melodies that rise and fall. Highly danceable with a cool guitar (not really) like wail that fits right in. Super. Lunar Senses- More high speed goodness with whooshes and electronic screams but that lead! Nasty, and it gets chunkier and funkier. This I love, this...intensity with attention to groove. Add more sparkling melodies right into a faux break as the bass keeps crawling. It's like whack a mole trying to pin down these leads, they are truly jumpy...and they keep on coming. More of this thank you very much! Perfect! Distorted Frames- Distorted percussive sounds bounce off each other as squirty bass sounds herald the arrival of the kick. The bass is funky and makes me want to move as the melody stamps down hard. Super groovy as the leads get tangled up with themselves. I first thought it was too chaotic, but then I began to appreciate it with multiple listens. The melodies keep coming and they are not your sunshine kinda thing. Definitely has a trancey feel. Nanosphere Courier- Bubbling effects so thick you can cut it with a knife and an awesome and I do mean awesome kick roll. If I made music I would put that in all my tracks. Very eerie feeling as the goa melody takes no prisoners with a distorted vocal saying God knows what. The sounds and melody are ridiculously famous and the distortion adds that outer space feeling. More leads swirl (or Zwirl) and carry an angry chip on their shoulder. Space time effects are sprinkled all over a section of the track and it's hard sounding like UX. Searing leads, that's how I would describe it. Awesome. Frozen Symrex- Ooohhh, I feel like we are underwater with that intro, but tain't long before the machine gun bass line kicks in with a scrambly lead. Love the way they did kick rolls back then with the fading in and out; great stuff. The synth is filtered and pitched up and down as effects cascade atop everything. This is more psytrance with some goa flavor thrown in. Pretty harsh and intense though. Ever hear of a chill track? No? F*ck it, then. The flavor kicks in around 5 or so minutes.. No. Not that Flavor. Sigh, no wonder everyone hates us. It's a pretty straight forward track without a lot of twists and turns, but yeah, it sh*ts all over the idea of a chill track. Train to Chroma City was f*cking awesome and this is right up there. There is a much more abrasive element, with harsher leads but it is no less groovy and melodic. I don't find it that samey and even if I did, give me great music over and over again. I mean really this is good: But isn't this better? Mmmm mmmm! Love me some cupcakes. And that's why there is an obesity problem here. In a time when every 17 year old from Portugal is dumping his stuff on Youtube as the next great psytrance artist, I prefer to go back to when artists where musicians and didn't worship at the foot of Cubase. I'm not saying that every artist today is like that of course, but back when people were lucky to have midi it seems that there was more creativity and less cut and paste. This was an awesome album and the best from the project IMO. And as we know, my opinion is like Denmark...you know it's there, but more often than not you just forget about it. Mdk

Nice review! Mdk

Artist: Colorbox Title: Train To Chroma City Label: Hypnotic Date: November, 1997 1. First Stop - Greenvich 2. CYANid 3. Greenious 4. Next Stop - Bluesville 5. Kinky Pinky 6. Indigo 7. Next Stop - Blacksfield 8. Grey Spook (Eastside Mix) 9. Grey Spook (Westside Mix) 10. Last Stop - Yellowstone 11. Maroon 12. Goldfish Sometimes you have to travel through the wilderness to find your destination. Shovel a lot of Sh*t to find a gold nugget. 1997 is now 14 years ago and that's a mighty long time, but I'm here to tell ya, there's something else...Colorbox. Long ago before there was 3G cell phones or high speed internet there were record shops. Now I missed this golden age of music and only discovered it later on. People like us would have to peruse the electronic section which was usually hidden in some far off corner of the store separating us like lepers. For me, I knew what sound I was looking for, but had no f*cking idea what it was called. I spent many hours listening to a lot of really terrible German trance that said goa on the label, but did nothing but disappoint. Like some, I came across The World of Goa Trance from ZYX Records and it was cheap as balls. Picked it up and when I got home I was blown away. What I heard changed the course of the music I would listen to forever. This is what I wanted. High energy, melodic, and deeply layered music that would have me dancing for hours. Colorbox was Rene Abildgaard Jensen & Kenneth Abildgaard from Denmark and this was the only album they released. As you can see by reading this forum, Kenneth has had a lot of things going on. The growth of his family, an obvious rift with his brother (although maybe that is on the mend)...While we can selfishly hope that things become more stable for him so he can produce another album like this in reality only time will tell. The least I can do is give this piece of art that had such a profound effect on me a proper review after 14 years. As you have noted this album is a journey divided into 4 parts designated by the color coded stops. Get it, Train to "Chroma" City? CYANid- The king of kings I would call this track. It's eerie and dark, but also powerful enough to turn out your lights. That bass is thumping and unchanging setting up the foundation which allows leads to splatter and dance with impunity. Synths scream and growl without the slightest hint of a break. It's a relentless track that builds to a very thick climax. Superb. Greenious- A sweet melody creeps out from the dark as the glorious 303 rumbles and the track becomes quite groovy and danceable. I love how the track bubbles, simmering as lead after lead streaks along its path. Just like the previous one, this track never slows, never wavers, but still has plenty of twists and turns. Same structure is here with an unyielding bass line that acts as the tour guide for the melodies. Great track! Kinky Pinky- Onto Bluesville! This one is balls out rampaging bass (sounds so liquid) and melodic intensity. The lead bounces all over the place as outer space pads sprinkle a hint of mysticism. With well done kick and snare rolls the melodies return with renewed vigor. Pure power! Not the most complex track, but the switch near the end gives it new and alien life. Loved it. Indigo- "I see no way to escape the conclusion...that somewhere..bonelike structure is developing in space and time." This could be the exact same bass line and clap from the previous track as the lead stutters and staggers. Seemingly less chaotic and aggressive, the synths begin to pile up and make their own way. This track shares the same properties as the previous ones with the constant bass giving the track the boundaries with which to stay while the melodies swirl above. Good track. Grey Spook (Eastside Mix)- "Let's suppose that I have a wormhole with one mouth here and the other mouth over there. Now there are three different possibilities for how time can be hooked up through the interior of that wormhole. The first is that when I stick my arm into this mouth, it came out over there simultaneously. The second possibility is that when I stick my arm into this mouth it comes out over there only after some delay. The third possibility is that if I go into this uh, wormhole mouth then I come out over there before I ever even go in. Let's just see that." Welcome to Blacksfield! What a kick ass sample! This is one of the most famous Colorbox tracks as it has been on numerous compilations. That 303 is haunting, driving, melodic...everything you want in goa trance. And it goes on for a long time as sky scraping synths deluge the listener with goodness. It is so fluid like if you could see each acid molecule wrapping itself around your arm. Wicked. Grey Spook (Westside Mix)- West Side! More infectious bubbling bass and streaming effects, so vivid. The lead shifts and stutters, changing sounds and keeping the atmospheric feeling alive. Tactile and flowing, the melodies harken back to a time when all was rich in a Goa paradise. The wormhole sample returns, but when the 303 bounces in it is so heavenly. How can this not be legendary? I can see all the arm of Vishnu operating simultaneously and it is quite the sight. Throw in the smooth pads and I am speechless. Awesome, just awesome. Maroon- "Id like to think of.. space and time as analogous to the ocean. And changes in it as analogous to waves below the surface of the ocean. But those waves of course don't show up when one is miles above the ocean. It looks flat...then as one gets..down closer to the surface..one sees the waves breaking." Last stop, Yellowstone. Wow, that kick and bass are thunderous! The goa melody is furious and hyper insane. Pure dance music plain and simple. It screeches, howls, whatever you want to call it, and then a new sound moves with agility becoming filtered and twisted in its own right. Combine the two and rhythmic and melodic bliss erupts. Superbly well done. Goldfish- "Rather quickly I recognized that.. what he, uh..probably should do is replace the black hole as a means for interstellar travel with the wormhole." Oscillating sounds vibrate like a tuning fork as a melody hops along with angry intent. It gets louder and more twisted as the ever constant and unchanging bass line holds position. This is a formula used throughout the album and damn if it ain't successful. The lead screams, and adds more character to its story. Most definitely the least melodic of all the tracks and also the most abrasive as it continues to pummel. Funny that they called this track Goldfish. The weirdness continues after a short silence when samples from all the tracks reappear dropped against a cool breakbeat melody. So I guess the latter half of the track is a chill track; funky too. Very bubbly with percussive elements and a great way to end. When I first said you sometimes have to go through a wilderness to find your destination, I didn't intend it to be a metaphor on life, although that is certainly true. I was at first referring to the massive Hypnotic catalog that I waded through to find this gem. Say what you will about this label, for me it was responsible for some of the greatest goa trance music ever produced. Colorbox of course, but also Psygone and Bypass Unit. 1997 was the peak of goa trance and there were a sh*t load of albums released that are now classics. This was such a powerful and (pardon the pun) hypnotic journey that I believe it should be right up there with I.F.O., Transdimensional, and LSD. Great music stands the test of time. That's why nobody says a poor word about a Beatles record when it comes on because it is so damn good. Such is the case here. This sounds as good as it must have in 1997 in the open air parties on the shores of Goa. I did a quick search and you can download it freely, but if you are searching for a copy (which I wholeheartedly recommend getting) you will have to shell out some green. Amazon supposedly has a CD going for about $100. That's a lot of dough and it will be up to you if you want to swallow that pill. I'm here to tell you that this was one of the best goa trance releases. Ever. Mdk

Artist: Technossomy Title: Make it Fit EP Label: Flying Rhino Records Date: December, 1996 01. 12'34" VTOL (Full Length Version) 02. 08'07" Porcupine 03. 09'33" Electron Bender (Samsara Live Mix) Oh, f*ck me, more British domination? This almost isn't fair. How in the hell did they lose the colonies? Did we send over a bunch of hookers and then they sailed east? This is (or was because they haven't released anything since 1997) James Monro & Matt Evans the former being the co-founder of the great Flying Rhino Records. In the goa hierarchy they tend to get overlooked, but that is a mistake. Their album Synthetic Flesh can hold it's own with solid tracks like Pyramid, Elektron Bender, and VTOL. I love how the EP title isn't one of the tracks. There's a curve for ya. VTOL- "Jesus Christ everything is full of static electricity!" This is the full version so pack a lunch. Over 12 and a half minutes of deep, layered storytelling. That's half of a sitcom! Or 188 times longer than this fight: It begins slowly, with effects and whirling sounds. Clearly this is of foreign origin, as alien tones creep in and leave just as quickly. A melody hesitantly growls, and flowers becoming a screaming arpeggio that rises and falls. After 4 and a half minutes of intro the beat and melody become more of what you expect from a goa track. Leads crawl and scrape amidst the alien landscape, twisting and turning with a dark edge forcing you to dance. The slight break offers a nice respite, but you can hear that it is gearing up for a second run. New leads get filtered and choked out getting thicker right up to the end. Awe.some. Porcupine- Slow bass pops as more claws scratch the rocks around you. This is much slower and less aggressive than VTOL, with more of a psytrance bent. I tell you this is a very underrated project. Metallic leads clamor back and forth with an awesome break full of evil leavings. Those leads come back with a slight key change and it gets plenty thick. I wasn't too fond of this track as it really didn't go anywhere but it does have a lot of dark atmosphere and that is delicious. Even Michael Jordan missed a few shots. Elektron Bender (Samsara Live Mix)- The version on the album is an absolute stormer and with that we are off with crunchy synths on repeat. That telltale lead jumps right out and this version feels a little more laid back. Smooth and casual, but crystal clear. Nice and not abrasive. I still prefer the original though. Can't say too much about this other than it is a great EP. I would've preferred that Porcupine be the final track, but that is so minor that it's hardly worth mentioning. Very vivid and deep, with great melodies. It still sounds so good today. Mdk

Artist: Mindfield Title: Let's Get Stoned and Watch The Freaks EP Label: Phantasm Records Date: 1995 1. Let's Get Stoned and Watch The Freaks 2. Green Worm Discogs says this was done in 95, but the thread is from 96. Ehh, who am I to quibble. This is an EP that doesn't get the attention that it rightfully deserves. Mindfield are Mark Allen and Chrisbo Smith and they've been doing their thing since 93. While their 2CD album Odyssey of the Mind didn't thrill me, their EP's made up for it. Before Phantasm turned into full on central they released a lot of great EP's in their own right. Let's Get Stoned and Watch the Freaks- "Hey...let's get stoned and watch the freaks!" Don't mind if I do! Massive sweep to start and then the battle is quickly joined with a smooth goa melody. Old school sounding all the way with that infectious bounce as lead replaces lead in a cosmic dance. Loud growling sounds bark amidst space style skitterings while the 303 rumbles like a magnitude 8 earthquake. And then the 303 gets all screamy in a bliss bullet train. F*cking awesome! Green Worm- "I've got this little greem worm in my hand...and he glows in the dark." Alien sounds hover and squirt above a filtered lead and are joined by another more dominant synth. It twists all around and reminds that this is the stuff that trips are made of. The break calms things down, but don't get too comfortable as another lead bubbles. The sample is repeated which makes the track feel a little dated, but not much. The very trippy lead dances right to the end. Not terribly complex but a good banger nonetheless. Only two tracks but they really drive home that old school goa sound. I think the title track is the better of the two and would recommend this EP just for that. Mdk

Artist: Etnica Title: Plastic EP Label: Blue Room Released Date: March, 1997 1. Plastic 2. Vimana 3. Floating Universe You know an EP has to be good if there is 2 pages on the forum talking about it. Well, I am here to tell you...it is. Etnica began with 4 Italians and then 2 left, but I don't know if all 4 were around for this beast. This project is one of the cornerstones of goa trance and if you are doubtful, pick up a copy of Alien Protein and then shut your mouth. Sure their music "evolved" and took a turn to I don't know what the f*ck, but we will always have this. Like all EP's from that era, it is ridiculously hard to find a copy. I'm sure you can download it from somewhere, but for true collectors the hunt is what is important. First off the colors of the cover are both soothing and vibrant and I suppose it is what makes it instantly recognizable to those in the know. It was released on a label that back in the day was a king for releasing some of the best goa trance stuff out at the time. Infinity Project, Total Eclipse, Koxbox...you get the idea. Plastic- Bubbling and scratching above a big beat is how this track begins when the break brings a melody to the forefront. Very rhythmic and dare I say dark. It's so easy to get caught up in the groove, but they drop another break on you with delicate synths twisting in the darkness. Something wicked this way comes! The leads climb over each other in a thickening pattern. Not much change, just constant unfolding and undulating synths. Nice! With yet another break the scratching effect returns and another synth rotates underneath. Pure psychedelia that proves alien life is out there. Vimana- "This visitor somehow displayed the way aliens have been genetically altering our DNA from our very beginnings. And that they have inspired our greatest spiritual leaders." One of the greatest tracks in goa trance lore. 10 minutes of pure perfection from the beginning sample and the rambling synth to that signature synth that uncurls its fiery tendrils to lick at you. It rolls, gets twisted as it is joined by an equally acidic lead. The way it vibrates, it's hypnotic. You can see where a lot of the inspiration for new school artists comes from. Rising scales again confirming the presence of extra terrestrials. There are quite a few samples here, but they are not dominating but well placed, keeping with the theme. It grows in intensity as the climax approaches preaching mysticism and full power. This is a perfect example of a track that uses its ten minutes to all its storytelling glory. BLISS. Floating Universe- Floating is an accurate way to describe this track. It begins with a slower tempo as synths bubble like a witches cauldron. The melodies twist you, as they scramble and soar. Evolution is evident as the track gets deeper and deeper. So ultra smooth with pinpoint bass and spiraling synths that seem to change around every corner. At times this track is eerie and carries a very outer space vibe. Another classic that needs to be heard. Nuff said? Mdk

Top ten worst of 2010 right? Mdk

I like to stretch myself on occasion. As far as how to do my reviews, I'm torn. Sometimes an album is so poor or disappointing that there is no way I would waste my time going through all the tracks (See Brainwash album.) Others are so good that I feel if I don't describe it, I won't be doing this piece of art justice. Obviously track by track is much more labor and time intensive. Above all I enjoy writing and hope that I am helping someone who wants to know about a certain release. Also, I like to add humor b/c it's tiring to just read what someone has written especially if it's track by track. Mdk

Artist: Cosmosis Title: Howling at the Moon EP Label: Transient Records Date: January, 1997 1. Howling at the Moon 2. Atomic Funfare 3. Psychofunk Here is another one of the icons in our genre. The first two albums Cosmology and Synergy are pure goa trance classics. It has been Bilbo Bagginz porject since 1997 and he is still going having released Fumbling for the Funky Frequency just last year. What is it about the U.K. that fosters such musical brilliance? Tell me you didn't rub one out to Ginger and I will call you a liar to your face.,...I mean c'mon it almost isn't fair that this little island with horrible climate tasteless food should be so prodigious. What else are you gonna do I suppose. Purely our gain, because the music of Cosmosis is timeless. The Transient Records label is another stalwart responsible for countless EP's and seminal releases. Hell the Transient series of compilations is pure gold...well, right up to about 5. Howling at the Moon- Widely regarded as THE Cosmosis track, I am in no position to argue. 11 minutes of pure goa psychedelia. It churns, it gurgles and it's alien sounding intro just gets me salivating. Sharp stabbing effects fire upon a shimmering synth line and if you're looking for a gentle entry into sound this ain't for you. The lead is prickly, being filtered to within an inch of its life. At the break when things attempt to calm down it is just the calm before the storm as a new melody springs forth. It twirls above the pounding bass, becoming thicker and more bold. The climax at 5 and a half minutes makes me weak, alas Bill is just getting warmed up. The track refocuses as more and more leads join the fray. Enter 303 and it is all about surrender. The key changes at the end just keep getting pitched up as he pushes the envelope. Purely hypnotic goa trance. Perfect. Atomic Funfare- The bass dances lithely as outer space effects curl and drag. A sticky bass sound chimes out a goa melody as another lead is chopped up giving the track some structure. And that's what he does, produces melody after melody without missing a step. Some are different, some the same to make the track fatter. Whereas Howling was an assault, this is more subtle, but no less melodic. He teases, giving you a little and then pulls back just to make sure he has you on the hook. Great track. Psychofunk- With an Astral Projection type sounding melody to start more sharp leads arrive. They are twisted and check out the flutter of that hi-hat! The synths combine and the 303 is of course the most prominent as it climbs and climbs. And yes, it is slightly funky. Nonstop arpeggio after arpeggio that still maintains the flow. A dreamlike break (kinda) allows for the synths to growl and grow in intensity. Then it's POW! In your face 303 insanity. The climax is melodic and very rhythmic as previous melodies spiral about the cortex. Superb! An awesome trip is what this was. As I said before, Cosmosis tracks are timeless and superbly well crafted. Rhythmic and melodic through and through. These three tracks are wonderful, and even though Howling at the Moon is available on a few compilations, Atomic Funfare and Psychofunk are much harder to find. So if you come across this buried in the back of your favorite record shop (are they even around anymore?) pick it up. Fast. Mdk

Artist: Pleiadians Title: Pleiadians EP Label: Flying Rhino Records Date: 1996 1. Jungle Trax 2. Zeta Reticuli If you had to pick some of the most influential Italians, who would you choose? This guy? Maybe this one? Why do they revolve around violence? The answer is these guys: If I have to tell you who this is then you are not a true goa fan. What could very well be the greatest project of old school goa trance ever, released several EP's as well as the supreme being of the genre I.F.O. Their sound is melody, melody, and what the hell, more melody. They did it better than anyone and there is a reason they are the cream of the crop. It is the same people who are in Etnica, but they changed their name to release on a different label. Jungle Trax- With an almost techno arpeggio, things get started with a bounce. The goa melody bobs and weaves and then thickens up giving the track volume. The cool thing is that the melodies constantly change as new sounds are added to the mix. Sharp, stinging leads penetrate the brain, as yet another melody ups the ante with more chaos, but you ain't seen nothing yet. The key change is maddeningly good and just when you think it's too much, it just keeps changing and rising. So, so delicious. Zeta Reticuli- The synth rises and falls with the beat, while another lead scrambles overhead. Catch that kick roll? Subtle. The short break allows another melody to shine, but only briefly. There are so many changes in direction with new melodies replacing old ones while still keeping the driving flow moving. Nonstop, relentless, driving rhythm. This is for those that love the I.F.O. sound. With yet another break at 3 minutes to go, the track reorganizes itself, and remember that melody that was only there for a short time? It'ssssss....back! Full circle. An absolute classic. Mdk

Artist: Dimension 5 Title: Tribes of the Moon EP Label: Blue Moon Productions U.K. Date: December, 1998 1. Tribes of the Moon 2. Limitless Dimension Dimension 5 are one of the premier names in goa trance. Their album Transdimensional is at the top of a lot of lists for the greatest goa trance album of all time. Every track on it is brilliant. At one time there were 5 people in this project including another old school master Christer Borge-Lunde otherwise known as Ra. They no longer make music as a group, but their debut album was re-released by Suntrip in 2007. Hell, Ra is still on the Suntrip payroll and dropped his sophomore effort 9th in 2008. These guys have been making music for a very long time and this was released by a label formally known as Intastella Records formed by Kerry and Nick. Tribes of the Moon- With a long sweep alien effects skitter across an outer space pad. The bass scrambles as a lead rises and falls. As synths combine the melodic bliss increases creating a hypnotic ramble across space. New leads replace old ones in perfect fluid motion as they seem to grow out of nothing. Total old school flavor with more outer space shootings contribute to the ride. The track undulates forging its path, but is never boring. It shows its age a little with the repetitive sample but still a great track! Limitless Dimension- "Sometimes...I think we discovered a new planet." Beginning with another sweeping pad space seems so cold. The frosty melody rings forth before being replaced by one that grows tantalizingly slow. It rises amidst a very imaginative sounding synth that adds to the far away galaxy atmosphere. At the break a new lead teases, moving cat quick up and down. This is what happens when deep space trance meets goa. This is how old school is done. I love the new era of goa trance, but these guys build a track from a solid foundation, replacing melodies with smooth fluidity instead of stacking them. Not a lot of reverb so they tell the tale with entrancing melodies and allow the track to unfold. There is something so alive about their tracks and it still sounds fantastic today. Mdk

Artist: Blue Planet Corporation Title: Cyclothymic EP Label: Flying Rhino Records Date: August, 1997 1. Cyclothymic 2. Crystal Flying Rhino was one of the most superlative labels in the golden era of goa trance. They shut down in 2002, but before then they released some of the most sought after music in our scene. Most of you probably have their highlights like GNOTR Rock Bitch Mafia, Technnossomy Synthetic Flesh and of course the BPC album Blue Planet. I think what makes them a collector's dream though is the EP's. I have had a hell of a time trying to find some of the most sought after like the rest of you. So when I do get my hands on one, it really is a special moment. So the next reviews I do are going to be some old school EP's as I have "rediscovered" how brilliant they are. Starting with this one. Blue Planet Corporation was originally a duo consisting of Gabriel Masurel and Christophe Lebras but he took off after the release of this EP. Shame, and it has me wondering what could've been. Now it is just Gabriel, but they released music way back in the early nineties under the Underground French-Kommunication label that can be considered trance or space trance on EP's like Overbloody Flood and The Second EP. Recently DAT Records released A Blueprint For Survival which was a compendium of their old stuff as well as some unreleased things. Some liked it and some thought it should've stayed unreleased. There is a thread here that is 3 pages long if you want to discuss it. This EP is widely regarded as a favorite, and definitely for me. The BPC sound is composed of deep layers where every sound fits together perfectly providing a smooth melodic ride into outer space. Never too heavy and always smooth. Cyclothymic- It bubbles right from the start with a delicate goa melody. The bass is super clear and the kick is very fat. Spiderweb thin leads pounce joining with each other creating a dreamy fluid feeling. During the break there is a forlorn pad with some distortion over a crunchy beat. The bass returns with very slight effects adding even another liquid bass sound. More soft melodies tread water lightly like an insect on a pond. This track shows how goa trance can be powerful and melodic while not being overbearing. Awesome. Crystal- This is less goa trance and more outer space deep trance. It begins with a shimmering lead climbing through the clouds as a very distinct bass sound bounces underneath. Floating pads accompany silky smooth synth tones until that telltale melody arrives. The same sound in the Greece 2000 track from 3 Drives on a Vinyl. At 3 and a half minutes there is a goa tendency that continues to flower right up to the heavenly strings. The signature lead is streak on window brilliant as it scorches back and forth. Just truly atmospheric with a portal for escapism. Superb. There you have it, two tracks by BPC that are some of their best. They are all over compilations so chances are you have them already. Finding the vinyl (without having to fork over a small fortune) is considerably tougher. These guys were great at combining smooth melodies that allowed the mind to drift. Their sound was crystal clear that you could almost touch it. So what if the music crossed genre boundaries. Good tunes are good tunes and these were lovely. Mdk

Artist: Psilocybian Title: Wry Figments Label: Ovnimoon Records Date: August, 2010 1. Back from a magic party 2. Mary Poppills v2 3. Analena 4. Proof of principle 5. The UFO Guy 6. Blue Eagle (Psilocybian rmx) 7. Succumb 8. Jumping Jack Flashback 9. Offbeat Heartbeat I was sent a promo copy of this to review even though it came out in the summer. So...is it really a promo? I don't care because it enabled me to hear something I totally missed. This is Sasa Dukic who also releases music under the names Mammal Footwork, Screw Loose and Dual something or other. I first heard his music on the Dimensional Gateway compilation (one of the best goa comps out there people!) where he crafted quite the atmospheric goa track. This is his debut album and one quick visit to the 'shop tells me that it is on Ovnimoon Records. Is this a label created by the artist known as Ovnimoon? So have we reached the point where we are recycling names now? I tried to find out, but the intarwebz are on some hush hush sh*t. Ovnimoon is Hector Stuardo and he has put out some brilliant work in the progressive arena with releases like Signals From the Surface, Geometric Poetry,, and Family of Light. You know, Hector is the man! Like this guy: Just talkin' bout Hector. Back from a magic party- This begins as a groovy track with nice effects. It bounces along with a dark tendency, not in style, but atmospherically speaking. The sweeps are deep and add depth as the break gurgles with a simple melody. Not a whole lot happening, but a very good intro to the journey. This is an example of creating a lot from a little. Mary Poppills V.2- A nice progressive and eerie sounding stomper greets the ears. He is very competent with the echoing effects and it sounds great. The melody at the break growls over the ever present bass line as this track's strength is atmosphere and groove. Good track. Analena- "What you are watching, is a crude robot being trained spontaneously by a creativity machine. Unlike popular humanoid robots controlled by human programming, this robot, is in a sense, is creating new ideas and forms of action." More vibrating deliciousness as the leads work their way past sonic noise. The bass scrambles as a lead scorches above but it doesn't stay long. He uses other sounds to create different melodies to keep it interesting, almost holding the place of the more dominant synth. This track is more aggressive and also more rhythmic and complex. The key change at the end was a nice surprise. Very good track! Proof of principle- Effects are everywhere as the bass pounds out the steady rhythm and it isn't long before he works the percussive angle. The goa flavor is tangible (even though there isn't one such melody) as the delay and echoing create a sumptuous delight. This is a power track as is gets stronger the longer it goes on. Not a lot of evolution, just good straight forward psytrance. The UFO Guy- A bubbly beginning, and right back into the 4/4 stomping. The sample about UFO's is interesting and well placed. It fits with the flow of the track and like a lot of the previous tracks, there isn't melodies stacked atop each other, but rather a focus on power and working with what is there. Not evolutionary (far from it) but still pretty good. Blue Eagle (Psilocybian rmx)- I have no idea who Neon Noodle is, but here he gives this artist the business. Smooth, spacey pads contrast with the abrasive sweeps, as a computer voice speaks. The lead is dirty, 303 dirty and creates good bounce. More great effects as the track thickens up with a gurgling lead crawling below the surface. The break is short but effective as the power increases. Leads enter subtlely but stop me if you have heard this one...the atmosphere created is delightfully dark and vivid. The computer voice begins to annoy, but luckily it is in the background. I liked it a lot. Succumb- "What we perceive as solid matter is mostly empty space. Just as we may perceive that a life is full when it is actually a series of empty encounters." This one has the the galloping bass line to start and then changes to a more rapid fire approach. It hops nicely but is a little plain until the 303 pops out of the break and just storms angrily right to the end. Perfect example of not a lot of twists and turns, but still providing a good sense of flow. Jumping Jack Flashback- See what he did there? Big kick and a shuffling groove? Yeah, I'm on board. More effects and the sidewinding bass line give this a warm progressive feeling. Melodies come and go and they add a funky element. The break is filled with sonic goodness making this a nice track. Offbeat Heartbeat- This is the final track so it is fitting that it is of the slower breakbeat style. It bubbles and squirts, with piano stabs and a great sounding percussion section. Funky as hell with a sunshine appeal. A twisted lead snakes in with an atonal vibe. Just like the intro, it was a great way to bookend his album. As I mentioned in the track descriptions this is about atmosphere. I am a firm believer in effects and that they can make or break an album. He uses them to maximal "effect" (God, that was bad) and they drive the track. When you are immersed in what he is creating, countless melodies aren't needed as you already feel part of the listening experience. What he does, he does well. Powerful, vivid 4 on the floor psytrance. Want soaring goa melodies; take a look at his Screw Loose project. If I had one gripe it would be that there wasn't a lot of track evolution but even with that shortcoming he provided a great sense of movement. This was good psytrance with great attention to smooth transitions and the establishing of a mood. Even though he didn't reinvent the wheel this is a good first album and recommended. Psyshop Beatspace Goastore Mdk

The review for the Wicked Wires CD was spot on. Same type of nonsense. Now, having never tripped on LSD or done cocaine maybe I am missing the boat and quite possibly this is to psytrance what IFO was to Goa. But if that is what it takes to make this music listenable, then...well... Mdk

Artist: Brainwash Title: Maximum Overload Label: Fractal Records Date: October, 2010 1. Simple Imagination 2. Electric Stimulation 3. I'm hard bass creator 4. Don't Panick 5. Maximum Overload 6. The Advice 7. Psychological Dependancy 8. Freak 9. The End Do you like multiple incessant buildups? Frequent stops and starts without any flow whatsoever? Then, this is for you! The fact that this is out of stock at Beatspace can only lead me to conclude that we have seen the decline of civilization as we know it. Who the f*ck does this appeal to? It's loud, abrasive, and so generic that I think the cover should look more like this: I sat through this entire album and am thinking of filing suit. Surely compensatory damages apply here. Just when you think that our music has turned a corner and ceased releasing this drivel along comes the next purveyor of Taco Bell to back up the toilet. Normally when I come across an album that is subpar, I usually try to lean on the positives. I cannot do that unfortunately as this album falls into cliche after cliche in each track. It's easy to criticize especially when I don't make music myself, but if slamming your finger in a car door hurts, you don't keep doing it. To protect the guilty, I will not reveal his name (bullsh*t it's Marco Pinto) and his last album was far from great, but this commercial effort takes craptacular to a whole different level. This is the same label that released Bio Rhythm from Sidhartha, right? What the hell happened? For God's sake the cover itself has a silhouette of a guy with a gun to his head. What does that tell you? I think reviews are supposed to be entertaining and fun to read, but I'm not mean and will not continue to pile on this poor guy who has obviously fallen asleep at the wheel. Ok, one more. "Are You Not Entertained?!?" Psyshop Beatspace Saiko Sounds Mdk

Artist: Zyce Title: L'Apstraction Label: TesseracT Studio Date: December, 2010 1. L'Apstraction 2. Illustration Tesseract Studio has their toes in a lot of pools. They do most of the cover design for their releases and have their own mastering studio. Since it is damn near impossible to survive releasing one genre of our music, more and more labels broaden their spectrum to appeal to a wider fanbase. Mind you if the music still sucks than I don't care how many different genres you purport to produce, sales are going to suffer. Ep's have been a good thing for labels, as they give you a taste of what the artist is about, a tease if you will. If you like it, well, you're more likely to buy more from that particular artist aren't you? Zyce is Nikola Kozić from Serbia and his album Transgressive was a great progressive trance ride. He has the talent to make big spacious tracks that are not short on melodies. Meditative music without being chill if you get me. Well this is no exception. Since there are only two tracks I will give you a summary of what you're going to get. A nice steady beat and slowly evolving melodies that twist and turn. There is plenty of reverb and washes to add volume to the track. The tracks have the Iono music style of echoing washes and percussive sounds with oodles of reverb. The breaks are smooth with plenty of the above sounds which just thicken the whole effort. The last third puts it all together and allows it to hit its stride. Illustration is a little more melodic and carries more of an outer space vibe, but still has the same characteristics. I actually liked that one better. It is a nice little EP and pretty cheap so not much to lose. If you enjoy melodic progressive trance then I would recommend it. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Uth Title: Distant Instincts EP Label: Neogoa Date: December, 2010 1. Distant Instincts 2. Haze Of Reality 3. Reflections Of Consciousness 4. Levitating Flower I have just returned from Christmas vacation (it was pretty lazy with lots of food) and over a foot of snow on the ground. At the beach. Read that again...there was more than a foot of snow at the beach. How the hell does that happen? Needless to say I really needed something warm to make up for the beach that I was missing. This was my reaction when I had my first listen to this EP: After my next few go arounds, I was more like this: This is Alex Lytvyn from Toronto, Canada and I was fortunate enough to hear some of his downtempo work before this came out. He has immense talent and his tracks ooze feeling and emotion. Did you know he can craft a rather kick-ass goa trance stomper as well? He offered it here on the Psynews forums a little while ago and you may still be able to grab it. While it is good, his downtempo project is the jewel in his crown. Mellow, smooth, and absolutely mystical sounding. For starters, look at that f*cking cover...brilliant. Beautiful to look at and not just a little reminiscent of the Filteria artwork. You can get this for free at Ektoplazm. Distant Instincts- "At night I close my eyes and I try to imagine I am floating up, up and away." The dawn arrives slowly without much fanfare, when a breakbeat pops and a deep bass rumbles with a heavy step. Waves crash with thunderous power against the shore as shimmering synths dance lithely above. A sad melody drones amidst sunlight percussion and we are in full float mode. This must be what it feels like to walk on a cloud. Haze of Reality- Shivering breaths echo as a flute wails mournfully while pads hum below twinkling tones. Slow and steady with an ethereal piano melody that evokes nothing but the brightest sunshine. The break hears an undulating synth filtered ever so slowly and the beat is just so consistent. Bang, pow, boom. A perfect backdrop that allows the track to flower right before your ears. Reflections of Consciousness- Birds chirp loudly as a monk chants to the mountains before another breakbeat drops. Percussive sounds echo and delay as a melody crawls slowly across the track. Mysticism reigns supreme as sunlight sparkles across K2 and then there is a key change which transforms the track from one of sorrow to one of hope for the future. It is excellently done without a hint of cheese. Synths skitter right to the end in a sublime groove. Levitating Flower- Another dubby bouncing steady beat providing the foundation for melody creation. The synths "accelerate" as a group chant chimes in the background. This is a purely mellow exercise, as it changes direction while not losing any of its charm. I'll have another beer as I watch the sun dip below the horizon, thank you. This was a tremendous EP. F*cking brilliant piece of work. What the hell is wrong with you Alex, giving this quality work away for free? You have deep tribal percussion and chants, bubbly, resonating bass, and sky-surfing melodies all with which to carry you away. This is the definition of a totally immersive listening experience as the sounds fit snugly together like puzzle pieces. So deep and detailed that it begs for repeated listens. So much so that even after multiple trips I still feel like this: It's free so even you hippies can afford it. Get it. Mdk

Congratulations on your first review here! Mdk

Artist: Ishq Title: Sama Label: Electronic Soundscapes Date: September, 2010 1. Intro 2. Sama 3. Vidya 4. Energeia 5. Elysian 6. Urasvati 7. Persia 8. Path 9. Mandala This is the 2nd full length from Ishq (Matt Hillier and Jacqueline Kersley) called Sama. Their album in 2001 Orchid was brilliant and I thought ahead of its time. They have been around a long time and have more aliases than Filipe Santos. Sama has a pretty significant meaning in Buddhism, so I'm expecting deep, meditative compositions. The cover itself is warm and inviting, perfect for spending time by the fire on a cold winter's day. Intro- With a very Buddhist beginning, the gong rings amidst the gentle crash of the ocean. Not a lot to say about the start. Sama- Birds call as a soft rain tumbles down. Pads chime slowly with a pillowy soft kick popping quietly. Discordant synth tones play above a dubby bass while more pads guide you through this journey. A Kitaro-esque lead meanders, conjuring up images of the Silk Road. An ethnic instrument blends perfectly with a melodic pad creating a perfectly relaxed atmosphere as the rain returns. Vidya- Ethereal vocals and a far away pad comprise a beautiful beginning. A beat slowly emerges totally content to sit back and listen to the soft pads tell their tale. Choirs soar and strings pierce the clouds. I would say this is as close to Heaven as one can get. Energeia- Fluttering effects float above cool pads as this has a drone appeal to it. I would say a nice interlude, but from what. I couldn't be more relaxed than I am right now. Elysian- Tinklings shine above gentle pads with a cool effect on a voice. So soft and relaxing melodies with nary a beat to be found. The sounds of birds and water further calm the nerves. Urasvati- Metallic clankings ring off a pipe that drips moisture as you hear cattle wail in the background. Percussion slowly thumps as an insistent synth beckons. The drum evolves, but that synth goes on too long and I don't care for it. In what was a calming experience, this comes off as harsh and grating. The track itself is pretty good as it gets better but it just seems out of place. Which is a shame because it is over 15 minutes. Persia- Bubbling amidst the quiet forcing you to listen as a man speaks. Pads combine slowly drawing out a smooth soundscape. A brief chant, but the pads are the star here. Immersive. Path- As the wind howls soft chimes ring and effects sputter. There is definitely a spiritual bent to this one, as if there is a...presence. Oddly disarming as gentle chanting is just within earshot. Mandala- More discordant tones jumble with the pads as tones travel skyward. This was like a jumble of everything you have heard on this disc as it descends into the sound of flowing water. The pads continue their melodic trek becoming more atmospheric if that is possible. To give you something to hold onto the gentle percussive melody at the end is a great way to finish. The tracks are gently mixed together for the most part and I think this goes a long way towards a submersive listening experience. And what was that experience? Only the most calming hour or so I have had in a while. The pads created beautiful melodies as synths where whisper soft with the sounds of nature giving this a very organic, meditative feel. Well, minus the misplaced Urasvati. If you want to be put at ease with the ability to drift away from all that you know, then this is for you. Psyshop Beatspace Saiko Sounds Goastore Mdk

Artist: Frost-RAVEN Title: Thee Old Ones Label: Goa Records Date: May, 2010 1 Thee Olde Ones 2 Warlock 3 Feed your ego (Frost Raven rmx) - Ectima 4 Molly 5 Trolls 6 Merlin The Wise 7 Morgana the wicked 8 Deka (7th Mix) 9 Seraki Mire I was invited to review this album a few weeks ago and now have ample time to do so. This is Dustin Lee Musser, a psytrance DJ from San Francisco. Whoo-hoo! USA! USA! We lead the world! Ooh, not the best example...how about that American cyclist? Pure talent... Yeah he's a winner. Say what? He got caught doing what...? Oh, f*ck. Well, in America we have such a high standard of living that all can envy. Streets paved with gold... For the love of.... Ok ok. Well one thing is for sure you don't have to worry about those tsunamis happening here. I don't think a volcano has erupted in the US since Mt. St. Helens in 1980. Natural disasters seem to avoid the good 'ol US of A. Wait, that was here? I'm sure we took care of it though, because if it is one thing I know, we take care of our own. Him again? Man, we got a lot of problems. Music doesn't seem to be one of them however. Sure, the music scene is full of subpar artists that are all flash and no substance, while robotic DJs continue to force the same 15 songs down our throat every hour on the hour. Everyone and their mother are trying to put their ghetto kids on youtube with the hope that Ellen will "discover" them and get them on her show well on their way to fame and riches. For God's sake, this is the face of music in my country right now... Why am I still here? I bet Dustin didn't think he would get a review like this . This is his 3rd studio album and I'll be honest, I haven't heard one single track from him. I figured it for more copycat full-on that was beneath my notice. Obviously I'm not the end all and be all for what is great music, but be real there is a lot of shi**y music out there. Thee Olde Ones- "No they can't help you, I mean it. If...you're talking about a sarcophagus that doesn't match any thing in our records. There's nothing that's not in our records..except what came before. The old ones." Choir pads join some percussion with an eerie feel. The beat is heavy and the track is taking its time. After a quasi break it starts up again with more of the beginnings' percussion and a higher pitched bass sound in rapid fire mode. Halfway through there is a yummy break. The above sample sounds great, but the track itself is nothing to write home about. Not much evolution. Warlock- This one bounces along with a thick bass sound and a distorted synth that gets louder. The break is again eerie, (I think we found his forte) and all too short before we are thrust right back in. Another break which sounds great before a synth with a house feel snakes forward. This is a really beat driven track I guess for the clubs and it would work nicely. Not so much for home listening though. Feed Your Ego (Frost-RAVEN RMX)- I have never heard the Ectima track so I cannot compare the two. This one has a progressive swagger; crunchy with some nice echoing effects. A lead grows into the chaos, and is gone just as quickly. There is a sample, but I can't understand it except for the New World part. The synths are revisited and it has a pretty good bounce to it. Pretty good! Molly- Love the start of this one, spooky, metallic with great use of panning. Very alien. The leads crawl and are grounded in the nighttime. This sounds delightfully dark. There is a breakdown into electronic noise and then right back at it. The effects start piling up and then a new melody drifts in but is quickly swallowed by the darkness. The power is there and driving in an almost goa melody. Pretty sweet. Who was Molly? Ex? If so, she must have done something really bad... Trolls- More squirting darkness and power. Pretty fast and intense with more than just a nod to the dark side. Twinkling sounds flow nicely above the riot and they devolve into a twisted lead. At the break is a truly horrific sample about trolls stripping a captive female. What I can't decide is if it is a serious movie, or a porno. Very powerful and dark but also catchy. I liked it. Merlin The Wise- I love his intros as they are very effective and so far very dark. The bass line rumbles as pads sound off in the background. There is a forest feel here with effects and washes. The melody is light and I don't mean in the sunshine sense. After a break with the Merlin sample (which I loved) a great lead makes the track even more furious. Pretty cool track. Morgana the Wicked- Arthurian legend influence? Another sample as the bass gets its dancing shoes on. Effects bubble, and the beat drops producing some good flow. There is a tempo change amidst more foreign language chanting. Reeeeeally dark. Shimmering sounds float while chopped up synths rage until it all dies down. Not bad at all. Deka (7th Mix)- Mmmmm....love a good choir pad. Twisted effects start the beat off as synths combine in a filtered bowl of delicious. The elcetro/techno influence arrives giving a momentary respite right into a beatless break. But you can hear the slow arrival of another crunchy groove. Seraki Mire- "Everything looks good from here. Yes. Yes. This is a fertile land and we will thrive. We will rule over all this land and we will call it...this land." I really want to know what movie these samples are from. The obligatory downtempo number. Sounds like real drums as a bass line hums with the skittering of effects. Synths echo and get modulated to distortion all while maintaining the same aura. The goa feel here is unmistakable, and it was a nice way to end. Well, he is definitely not who I incorrectly assumed he was. This was Twilight approaching dark with some nice melodies and great atmosphere. You could hear where the album took a turn down darkness avenue around track 3 and not coincidentally that is when it began to appeal to me. I'm a guy that likes layers of complex melody and oodles of atmosphere. I suppose it is easy to make a full-on track with all the technology out there, but where he shines is the breaks and intros. I enjoyed them the most but he also brought the power and groove. The melodies in tracks like Deka (7th mix) were pretty damn good. With the samples he uses he reminds me a little of Xenomorph. All in all I would say this was an enjoyable listen and reminds me to not make assumptions. Good job! Beatspace Psyshop Goastore Mdk

Thanks a lot for the info. Did you hear the EP? Mdk

Artist: Nerso Title: Timeless Label: Synergetic Records Date: December, 2010 1. Timeless 2. Existence This is Dragan Matic from Serbia who...wait a sec..when I hear his name I think of this guy: "I must break you..." "If he dies...he dies" So many classic quotes from that movie and it was also home to one of the greatest 80's montages ever. With high tech training and of course a healthy dose of steroids Drago takes on all natural (Yeah, sure he was...) Sylvester Stallone in a metaphoric battle to finally show which nation of the cold war is supreme. What were we talking about? Dragan (whom I shall forever refer to as The Dragon!) is an extremely talented producer of progressive trance. His style is one that is super liquid and emotive with fantastic melodies, so whenever I see an EP of his I grab it up. He has been on so many compilations I have lost track and his effort Opposite last year with Flegma was outfrikkenstanding. Timeless- Long, echoing sweeps set this up as cold as the cover when the galloping bass line hits. Soft melodies trickle from behind the bass sweeps, twirling in increasing volume. At the break pads wail sadly as a new synth struggles from below. This track seems sad while at the same time pensive. Not a whole lot of evolution, but he uses what he has and I like it. Existence- Another cold feeling of isolation as effects ricochet of the bass line. Sounds bubble, so close you can taste it, as a solitary lead weaves its way up and back. The pads provide a melancholic structure during the break, stretching the vibe, giving the track an epic feeling before jumping right back to where it was. Again, not super complex, but with the effects he makes it larger than life. Not much to say about two tracks. It is a quality EP if you like this type of effect driven melody music. It's really well done and sounds great. I highly recommend it. Beatport Juno Download Mdk

Artist: Sun Control Species Title: II Label: Iboga Records Date: October, 2010 1. Serenaii 2. Yaban 3. Pi in the sky 4. Two 5. Quadrant 6. Spleens 7. When worlds collide 8. Scalar Fields 9. With the frozen lands in place This is Andrew Davidson from down under with his 2nd release. His first Scienza Nuova was an absolute smash and one of the best progressive trance releases I had ever heard. Next to Iono Records, Iboga is the best label with a knack for putting out superb music in this genre. Serenaii- A forlorn melody starts with a soft ringing of a piano note and Ultimae glitchyness. I just want to say that the clarity of the piano note sounds as if it is coming from a Steinway. A short stretch of singing and then the beat kicks in. Warm, with a deep bass groove that becomes quite nimble as the track progresses. There is a key change that I would've like to see evolve a little more, but it is a nice way to slide into the album. Yaban- Right into the beat here, with more of a subdued style. The sub-bass is really low, and carries the track while echoing tones ring from far away. The main ingredient here is the beat as it brings a warm vibe as synths fill in for atmosphere. The break is also smooth giving a nice bouncy vibe. Not bad at all. Pi In The Sky- More spacey synth wanderings with a housey feel. Very vivid and funky. The clarity of the sounds really shines as the beat kicks with a soft pillow like punch. The groove is high as a tinkling sound carries the melody. During the break smooth synths bring more melody and depth, I could've done without the distorted voice, it was sounds slightly cheesy. Again, not bad at all. Two- He is very skilled in filling gaps with sounds that are short lived and it all goes to creating a rich atmosphere. No exception here as another deep, deep bass rumbles below plenty of effects. The melody makes you bob your head and takes its gradual time. The break allows the track to open up like a flower and finds its legs. Very nice indeed. Quadrant- After a minute and a half things get going, galloping along in true house style. It's funky, right to a break when it switches focus. Synths twinkle about, and pads wail in the background. This one was ok. Spleens- "People were rendered mute...by fools who spoke many words but said nothing. Afraid of...an obscenity. The prophet stalked his enemy...until..diminished by his wounds, he turned to the next in the ancient line of light." That sounds like a sample out of a samurai movie. It is mid-tempo with a ringing that reverberates over the bass. It really takes it's time, growing all the while, until the break comes. It bumps right out, with an insistence. There isn't a lot of melody, but what it does have is a swirling full fell to it. I found it interesting. When Worlds Collide- I like that the bass begins with a held note as strings waver above. A melody evolves ever so briefly over percussive elements creating a trippy bouncy feel. The bass is tangible and so smooth and liquid you feel like you could reach out and touch it. The effects go a long way here doing a great job as the track ends with some nice acoustic guitar strumming. Loved it. Scalar Fields- This one feels wide open right from the start, with a dubby bounce. Pads swirl above, but distant. Soft tones move amidst whispers. It saunters as unknown sounds flitter about, with a jazzy trippiness. A nice breakbeat dub to slow things down. The voice was unnecessary but still really nice. With The Frozen Lands In Place- Ultimae sounding ambience with dubby bass. Even though the kick is 4/4 with all the effects it feels slower. Unobtrusive as if this were a chill tune with a beat. Smooth have a beer at sunset glide, as sounds echo while waves crash upon the shore. Great way to end bringing a smile to my face. This was a very groovy and warm atmospheric album that was subtle and not in your face at all. I would describe it as a progressive house ride with a chill vibe. It tended towards the housey style, but none of the annoying crap that makes house...well, house music. The details are many and this isn't a progressive album that consists of a kick, hi-hat, annoying vocal and same bass line after bass line (I'm looking at you Symphonix!) I also believe that this album has a very distinct flow. Sure they are great tracks on their own, but he keeps to a certain feeling that really comes out with listening straight through. While there are melodies here, the groove is the star and he brings the funk and makes it very danceable. And the final two tracks to wind it down and chill were appreciated. Recommended for those that want to chill but not be motionless. Smooth, man. Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Symphonix Title: The Usual Suspects Label: Blue Tunes Recordings Date: October, 2010 1. Remember You 2. Sexy Dance 3. Downtown 4. Strawberry Lime 5. Music from heaven (Symphonix rmx) 6. True Reality 7. Dawn to dusk 8. Dirty Minds 9. Ask for permission 10. Feel Free Look at that cover. Aspirin, cigarettes, goofy sunglasses...what is that a condom wrapper and a clunky iPod? Get a job you worthless parasite! Quit living off of mommy and daddy's money and be a productive member of society. Obviously these guys travel to exotic locations playing festivals and carry only the essentials. Dicks. Symphonix are brothers Sirko and Stephan Woetanowski and according to the woefully boring promo text at Psyshop they are keeping it progressive. This is their 3rd studio album and besides that they have been on more compilations than I can count. Blue Tunes Recordings is...jesus will you look at all the stuff they put out? They're a bunch of prolific motherf*ckers. I own a lot of it and I will tell you they are a quality progressive factory. But enough about that, let's see if this lives up to the bullsh*t hype. Remember You- This has a fat kick and a nice bass line. It's a scaled back approach, different than what I am used to. Not a lot of variation here. Throw me some effects, man! It's kind of boring until about 3:45 when there is a slight key change that wakes me up. Groovy, but I would say this was a slow start. Sexy Dance- Oh f*ck...really. Do I wanna dance? Kick, stab, shuffling, and one note bass line...C'mon guys you're going to have to do better than that. 3 minutes and I'm ZZZZZzzzzz.... Oh but it gets worse because the ladies voice is speaking over the weak track and she is on the cheese train. Woo Woo. This is quickly spiraling out of control. Seriously she says, "Uh...I like that." F*cking sad. Downtown- I have to give it to them, they bring a pillowy soft kick. There are more stabs and yep, the one note bass line. Good God this is boring. It's so minimal and repetitive that my mind wanders. Kick, bass line, stabs...Someone send these guys a melody chart. Strawberry Lime- Soft strings float by as the kick enters. This has a few more components but the one note bass and stabs are still there, don't worry. More rotating strings and bouncy percussion. Getting there... Music from heaven (Symphonix rmx)- With a slow start we jump right into...a one note bass line and a kick. In a live show do you just press a button and go get a drink? Yeah it's groovy, but what else? Tedious samples repeated....I'm starting to lose it...And this is a remix! Isn't a remix supposed to improve how a track sounds? True Reality- The kick and one line bass note stopped being effective 5 tracks ago...Add cornball lyrics and this is almost too much to take. Dawn to dusk- It's the same f*cking track and we are almost 3 minutes in. The break is slightly interesting, but I feel there isn't much left to see here. Dirty Minds- I didn't think it was possible for a track to make me feel like I am a pervert. Ask for permission- Kind of eerie, but it still suffers from the same malaise the rest of the album has succumbed to. Feel Free- You don't know how close I was to ending this review after track 5. This may have been the greatest track ever, but I'll never know because I wasn't paying attention. Nah, I was, but I didn't hear anything different from the previous 9. God that was excruciating. This is the definition of a one trick pony. I guess they have that minimal progressive style, but it drives me insane. So boring and empty with no track evolution. With track names that have everything to do with late night clubbing you would think there would be some energy here. It's the same formula time and time again. This is like just playing the presets on the synth and letting the sequencer go. I hate to speak ill of someones work because they must have worked hard in between the beer and weed, but this lacks any emotion or passion. It is substantially closer to house music than progressive especially when the samples ask me questions. If you want to hear quality progressive trance stay away from this and listen to what Iono music cooks up. I'm leaving links to samples because this is just my opinion...you can make up your own mind. But I would take away their instruments if I could. Psyshop Beatspace Goa Store Mdk

Artist: Hypnoxock Title: Tales of the Mind EP Label: Trance Lab Argentina Date: September, 2010 1. Camouflage 2. Reflex 3. Emotions First off, damnit why did I get such a big picture? Second, how the hell do you pronounce this name? Hypno - sock? Hyp noxic? I think they do this just to f*ck with you. The Spaniards are at it again with this digital download after the tremendous debut Synthetic Resurrection. If I had to I would label their style as twilight psy and I have yet to hear these guys make a bad track. I found this on Juno Download so if you're interested you can start there. Camouflage- At first I was like...whaaaat? Then I was like, ok let's dissect this. These guys blew me away with their debut; it was fast, intense, and melodic. This starts off with a huge beat and some great effects in mid tempo. It's groovy and they're channeling their inner progressive. There is so much to occupy the ear it is ridiculous. The "break" is smooth with cool cat flow and allows a new melody to blossom, not unlike my boys Flegma & Nerso. More leads join the party and it sounds really massive. It snakes its way with that galloping bass line providing perfect dance floor material. That was unexpected, but I loved it! Reflex- With a break beat start and lots of pads another big kick drops in. The bass is equally large, as effects set the stage. Another progressive romp, this one also brings the groove. The break allows percussive effects, and stretching pads to really create space. The groove returns with a vengeance and finishes strongly. It's a short track, but worth the time put in. Emotions- "You have 5 seconds to terminate this tape." Flutes, effects and pads really create a solid intro. The bass bounces and then a bass synth takes over sounding very analog. Thick and fat, just like your mom. Another lead stealthily advances rising and falling right into a break. This one is of a quicker tempo I believe and more in the psy vein, but still rich in sounds and effects. Your mom comes back and she is pretty groovy for a fat chick. Loved it, I hope she calls again. Man I did not see that coming. If you like the Iono music style you will love this. It's massive, detailed and uber groovy. As I mentioned earlier I guess they are flexing their progressive muscles this time. Great job as this is a wonderful listen proving they cannot be pigeonholed. It's less than $3.50 so nothing to lose. Man, I can't even get a happy meal for that. Juno Download Mdk