Trance2MoveU

Artist: Braincell Title: Dirt n Dust EP Label: Free Spirit Records Date: October, 2010 1. Dirt n Dust 2. Free Spirit 3. Kundalini Ever heard the term good things come in small packages. Of course you have. As a short guy, my mother constantly told me this to help my self-confidence. I don't know if it was the sole factor, but I became quite the accomplished athlete amidst a sea of giants. Ever heard of this guy? Guy looks like a dwarf, but in a league of 6'7" 350lb football players he was only one of the best running backs of all time. How about this person? I tried to find the craziest pic of him. If he is taller than 5'4 I'll eat the chair I'm sitting on. Nonetheless, when he isn't jumping on Oprah's couch he is one of the highest grossing movie stars around. Now a lot of it doesn't have to do with him I would argue, but this maxim is proven time and time again. One last time. How about this guy? Dude still scares me. Even though he talked like Michael Jackson, here is one of the most feared heavyweight champs of all time. My point (finally) is that sometimes EP's in a nice small package of a few songs are great things to buy. Such is the case here. Braincell is Ralph Knobloch from Switzerland and this EP precedes his new album Intelligent Beings. His previous discs have been awesome forays into groove and melody. This guy know psytrance and he knows how to do it right. Dirt n Dust- A big wash echoes across the plains as a bass line rumbles with a crisp clarity. Synth sounds bounce off each other as a lone lead grinds out the melody. After a short pause synths gurgle and bubble like an oil pit, really giving this track some depth. It isn't overloaded with sounds or melody, but he makes great use of what he does provide. The track is dark and atmospheric really bringing a sense of isolation. Just the way I like it. Free Spirit- The start reminds me of the minimal days of the early millennium. It starts to boil, with a very liquid flow approaching forest territory. A juicy lead reverberates as another one sneaks in under the radar. Then another melody flutters over all giving the track a lofty feel. I love the effects as they work great with the bass, not overpowering but additive. Great track. Kundalini- With a chopped up lead and a machine gun bass line the track begins. A synth weaves its way around effects as another bass lead pops up. It isn't until the very end a melody emerges, but that's ok. I think this track was more about groove and atmosphere than getting deep into melodic bliss. So there you go. A short 3-track EP that shows how psytrance should be done. It isn't as melodic as his previous stuff, but more of a driving psy with a hard edge. And it wont cost you more than 5 bucks. Juno Download Beatport Mdk

Artist: Artha Title: Fluori Dolby EP Label: Cronomi Records Date: February, 2010 1. Signs 2. Astral Body 3. DNA 4. Sannjasin (Remix) Differences. We all have them. They are everywhere in everything. Personally, I hate lobster. I think it's disgusting with all the cracking and juices. But I know people that would eat it 7 days a week. In art, there are always artists that do something that is left of center or 180 degrees away from the norm. It makes them unique and sometimes it becomes brilliant. Artha is Michał Bączek from Poland and he recently released his debut album Influencing Dreams on Cronomi Records. With the goa trance revival in full swing, he took a left turn and did what nobody else in the scene is doing. Personally I didn't think it was that spectacular, but I appreciated and respected it. Before the album though, he released this EP for free. That's right, quality goa trance...for nothing. You can get it here. Signs- Clanging sounds and a whippoorwill rise create an outer space vibe before the beat kicks in. Chopped up strings bring a dark melody as effects dart about creating a sublime atmosphere. A warm 303 bubbles not giving you too much sunshine, but enough to enable the will to proceed on the journey. It undulates, as if watching life in slow motion, or an octopus slowly unfurling it's tentacle. Melodies seamlessly insert themselves coming and going like a thief in the night. It's all a grand tale told with reverence, both vivid and eerie at the same time. Superb! Astral Body- Wobbly synths preface the unleashing of a furious lead. Sounds combine bringing groove to a whiplike lead. The synth changes its direction climbing skyward, as the warm sensation bubbles underneath. When the madness ceases, he delves into a more subtle goa tunnel, adding effects to take you to a different place. The chaos resumes right to the end. Good track for sure. DNA- "A genetic cyborg evolved from synthetic DNA." Settle in now for the last two tracks which happen to be the longest of the bunch. Cybernetic alien skitterings show themselves briefly, teasing you from their hidden places. Instead of hitting you over the head with sunshine melodies, he gently brings you along. He builds the track, adding new melodies above the bass line and evolving what is already there. It's hypnotic. The break is beatless, but the aliens live. Just when you relax, BAM!! He hits you with a strong goa lick. They branch off, snaking this way and that. Add the hi-hats and it's a Buddha party! After another short break he crushes you even harder with a dastardly goa assault. Awesome! Sannjasin (Remix)- Metallic effects and a flute don't normally mix, but he pulls it off. Bubbling synths accompany a woman's singing, as the break reorganizes things and the beat is heavy. A melody rises and falls, a lead screeches across a short break and this is a perfect example of how he makes psytrance with a goa slant. His introductions of new leads and melodies are super smooth. I love the 7 and a half minute mark as another synth growls under a slow and steady beat. This track has a lot of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Great track. This was deep, and oh so vivid. The detail used in sculpting this statue is so precise. The tracks a so chock full of stuff that the long length is needed to unravel his story. He weaves a psytrance hammer while caressing you with sweet goa blanket. Differences. He uses the psytrance and effects to set the stage and the melodies to show you where goa can be taken. If his album was all like this, I would've screamed it from the rooftops. But this EP was a treat and further showed his talent. While not everyone will think this is super, (I do!) you have to respect his talent and ability as an artist. Highly recommended! P.S. Can someone tell me what Fluori Dolby means? Mdk

Artist: Alienapia Title: Goapocalipsis Label: Space Baby Records Date: February, 2010 1. Distinctive Perception 2. Dharmakaya 3. Estimate of standing crop 4. High Visual Philosophy 5. Inner Poison 6. Magic Magnification 7. Fear and anger - Alienapia Vs. Psy-H 8. Reign of madness (Alienapia rmx) - Ra 9. Misterika Island - Alienapia Vs. Agneton 10. Remnant Space Baby Records is a label out of the Ukraine which is fairly new. To date they have had 7 releases including Forest Trip by Kyoto (which I reviewed) as well as the Magic Dew compilation (also reviewed) and that was a great mix of psytrance and goa. Here we have the boys from Zymosis...waitaminute...aren't they a downtempo project? Give me a sec...yep, they released a downtempo album called Fragments. So they apparently also do some goa trance. As a lover of pretty much all things goa, I had to check this out. As all of you know goa trance is in the middle of quite the resurgence with release coming out all the time. My question is this...is new school goa the new full-on, ripe for bashing? You know the drill, someone does something and you love it, then before you know it everyone and their mother copies it, diluting the product until it was a mere shell of what it once was. Pretty soon you end up with something like this: *shudder* Here the boys from Zymo...Alienapia give you 10 tracks two of which are an intro and an outro, and 3 tracks available on other goa compilations. So...5 new tracks? Interesting... Distinctive Perception- This is the intro and right off the bat there is a mixture of outer space feeling and mysticism. It's a breakbeat with a goa melody and let me tell you, it is just getting warmed up... Dharmakaya- This track is also available on the Alternative Colours compilation. It is driving with screaming leads and has a scrambling bassline that keeps going into the break. A high pitched twinkling melody becomes more elaborate and the signature of this track I believe. The melodies continue to spiral upward into atmospheric bliss. Estimate of standing crop- A nice chant has me staring at the stars as dusk arrives while I sit in a Buddhist temple in the Himalayas. This is dark revealing the brutality of man. As melodies unfold a pounding bass note thunders and the layering gets thick. The break reinforces the spiritual nature by adding whizzing and whirling sounds. The melody wails amidst melancholy strings creating a tremendous atmosphere. Superb storytelling here! High Visual Philosophy- This track was also on the Magic Dew compilation. Ethnic clanking opens the door for scrambling melodies as they become filtered and twisted. A staggered acidic lead drops in and briefly changes the tempo; didn't see that coming. I mean I did, because I have heard it before, but you know what I mean. The break sees more sounds reach skyward as another synth uncoils revealing it's dirty nature. While not as dark or vivid as the previous track it is no less furious. Awesome! Inner Poison- This track is also found on the Goatronika compilation...I see his their genius. Reviewers like me point this out and that is free mass marketing of other goa trance releases! They do it for the music! Hmmmm...mass marketing? How many people read this...5? 10? Don't care, that's not why I do this. This one is liquid, dripping with melody and also quite dark. The melodies swirl together then become louder as the track reaches its crescendo. Once combined it is pure goa trance magic. Superb! Magic Magnification- Like a flower with high speed photography this one opens up with a driving beat and melody. 303's tear holes in the dark reality so massive that time itself cannot support the change. Unrelenting leads prop up floating pads right into a well deserved break. The difference between the track at full speed and the break is jarring but beautiful to hear. Skittering droplets of atmosphere dance over a breakbeat as the track resumes. Another great effort! Fear and anger- A Russian vocal sample sets the mood as if I were in the movie Hostel. Dark, dank, and dripping with regret. An ethereal melody composed of mournful wishes sprints frantically heavenward. It's dizzying. Sounds from the past scramble and you can hear the Hallucinogen influence. With great atmosphere and ripping leads you can taste the psychedelia as sure as you put that little stamp on your tongue. I don't know what was said in Russian, but I think it was fairly evil. Holy crap that was good. Reign of madness (Alienapia rmx)- The balls on these guys remixing one of the classics...Filtered synths roam the terrain of the mind, bubbling as if you could see each individual water droplet in a waterfall. Melancholy strings mask the fury and mystery behind the ritual you are witnessing. Big beats, scattered and scarred synths rage as 303's sear the skin on your body. F@#%ing fantastic. Misterika Island- "I have found the bridge that spans two worlds...the link between all souls by which we cross into our own true nature." What.The.F@#$? I want what he is having. You know that when you get an Agneton track that the psychedelic Nitzho-goa will fly. Bingo, a rapid melody gets you right here while the ringing kick blasts among the hi-hats. It is so groovy that you really cannot comprehend it until you hear it. I'd swear it was done on turntables. The break revives the opening melodic theme and if images of the Middle East don't pop in your head...More arcing melodies twist and turn their way through the wormhole soaking you with a feeling that warms the soul. F#$%! Remnant- The outro that lets you see where you are and reflect on where you have been. A sad flute whispers above dreamy pads beckoning you to return just as the door slams shut. Wow. Get.This.Now. Period. Mdk

Artist: System Sequence Title: A.R.G. Label: Neurotrance Records Date: November, 2010 01 - System Sequence - Human Unconsciousness (147 BPM) 02 - X-Avenger - Energisonic (System Sequence Remix) (147 BPM) 03 - System Sequence - A.R.G. (8:05) 04 - System Sequence - The Message (147 BPM) 05 - System Sequence vs Radiophobic - Expanded Mind (147 BPM) Neurotrance Records is a netlabel that releases free psytrance. Basilisk is kind enough to post it on his site and we all know what a valuable resource Ektoplazm has become. I have a lot of CDs to review, but every now and then I like to throw a curve and review some of the free stuff. Some of it is very good and when I come across it, that is where these forums become invaluable. There is a lot of music released these days and I like the idea of learning about some cool stuff that I might have missed. System Sequence is Mario Funes AKA DJ Zoer from Mexico and the promo says he specializes in the "hi-tech" area of full-on. Oh, really... Human Unconsciousness- Holy crap where did this come from? Sweet sweet goa melodies right off the bat! This has laser like leads adding to the chaos and great sound. The bassline is angry as it rumbles unchecked while lasers fire from all points. It really is crazy and might be more than some can handle. Not me. There are short faux breaks, but the craziness doesn't let up. This is like South African Psytrance with a little goa thrown in. Awesomely intense! Energisonic (System Sequence remix)- It really does sound very cybernetic and future like. Mario drops some minor key pads to up the eerieness, but it ain't long before the acid oozes in. Acid leaves, new leads arrive with a frenetic pace and switching tempo right into a break. He had me until a bunch of build ups with machine gun kicks are repeated. Still, it sounds so great with acidity on high that I didn't mind that much. Pure power. A.R.G.- I love the metallic textures and futuristic sounds he uses for atmosphere. The bass thunders as layers of sound are constructed even though I didn't care too much for the lead melodies in the beginning. It's like crazy just for crazy's sake. Still, intense as f@#$ and the break is trippy with it's desolate space ship vibe. A couple of buildups here and there otherwise a great track! The Message- More cyber sounds put together in rhythmic bliss. Just all out insanity. This is dancefloor music. The only problem I had was the part where it speeds up to stopping...you know what I mean. Other than that, it is punishing. Good track. Expanded Mind- "The way that I take psychedelic drugs seems very natural to me but then when I describe it to groups of people like this I realize that people have all kinds of styles." The leads duel to see which is the more twisted as the track builds. This is him Vs yet another person I don't know. Doesn't matter, this is another intense track with leads blasting the ears from every direction with groovy beats. Another slight buildup (stop it) but it was brief and doesn't take away from the blistering quality of this track. Now this was refreshing. One of my favorite albums of all time in the psytrance genre is Absolum's Inside The Sphere. Why? Because it was able to successfully combine intense energy, with melodic music while adding a palpable atmosphere. It's not that easy to do. Concept can do it and Speedball nailed it as of late. This was a great EP to introduce me to System Sequence and the hi-tech cyber acidic style he wields. Super fast hyper trance that makes you want to get up and dance. If I could offer a small piece of advice...lose the buildups. It kills the flow and I for one hate them. Other than that this was a great EP and let me remind you...it was free. P.S. What does A.R.G. mean? Come and get it! Mdk

Artist: Jaws Underground Title: Still Alive Label: Geomagnetic TV Date: October, 2010 1. Music Box 2. Danger Zone (Jaws Underground rmx) - Mesmerizer 3. Teknologic 4. What City (Jaws Underground rmx) - I.Dot 5. Trance Fighters 6. Sub Division 7. The Rules 8. Still Alive 9. In Space - Jaws Underground Vs. A-Mush This is Alexandre Joly from France with his 4th album. Four? Really?? Wait, is Joly his first name or last? I'll be honest with you, I read his name and thought is sounded like Angelina Jolie, and had to search the interweb for pics...you know how that goes. So here I am 4 hours later. I mean, c'mon this chick is hot! Anyway, Geomagnetic TV is an American label that has been firmly planted in the world of full-on. They sure have been busy releasing a ton of stuff. I have some of it, and can usually find a track that I really like. I think this guy is on the twilight side of things so maybe I stumbled onto something? Music Box- A child's music box plays a soft melody as a couple of girls discuss where babies come from. The bass line rumbles as orchestral stabs play in the background. Not unlike Principles of Flight. Lasers fly among a chopped up chant. There is good use of an actual drum sample a couple of times as a lead dances out of the break. The layers start to stack, as the next break sees that disturbing sample return. An acid melody slithers out between deep bass stabs. Not bad! Danger Zone (Jaws Underground rmx)- Two French DJs comprise Mesmerizer and man was I getting ready to kill this one. I don't know what's going on at Mind Control Records, but they are really getting good at producing uninspired, cheesy, generic full-on. And you best believe all the full-on cliches are present here. Infinity reference repeated (it's not psychedelic any longer), generic bass line, and track slow down. Ugh, now I don't know what the original sounded like, but if you remix a track you have to take the blame. Teknologic- Buy it break it, suck it, f*$# it...you gotta be kidding me. Techno bleeps and blops with one of the more annoying samples I have heard. Another track slow down...no you know what it isn't worth the effort to type how crappy this is. When did he think this was a good idea? What City (Jaws Underground rmx)- "There was a time that we didn't know the world was round or.. that the atom existed...or whatever, because we didn't have the technology to observe it. And then boom! One day..right? So...it's totally conceivably possible that at a later time we will have the technology to observe...God." The last part of that statement makes a lot of assumptions me thinks. I.Dot (get it, I dot dot?) is...ah, I don't know who the f@#$ that is. Anyway, the thumping bass line is back as several leads guide us through. Pretty groovy. The break brings that sample back and a little acid joins the party. The melody is good with the key change and this is making up for the last two Abominations (Mind Control Records pun). The sample comes back...yet again with a new spacey lead. I like the shift in focus, even though it is more on the epic trance side. Guilty pleasure for sure but a good track. Trance Fighters- With a large does of Japanese samples this has both feet in the cheddar category. Full-on to the bone, complete with buildups. Sigh. Keep it moving, nothing to see here. Sub Division- Ok now we are getting back on track with a fast paced bassline and some good tempo. Synths whirl about as the lead melody descends against the beat. A thicker, more acidic synth picks up some slack, but it just feels empty, no emotion and no direction. Skip it. The Rules- The intro has some interesting percussive elements and heavy breathing like in a horror movie. It starts full-oning in predictable fashion and pretty much stays that way. This is getting ridiculous. It isn't terrible, but there is no layering and the leads that are chosen to, um..lead are not that great. Still Alive- If you liked the movie Saw then you will see that it is all over this track. But in cheesy fashion, instead of using a poignant voice sample from the movie, he uses what I assume to be his own voice. Or it could be from one of the later installments from the series. Let's be fair after the 2nd or 3rd did anyone really give a s@#$? The rampaging bass line and more Saw samples with boring leads is pretty much the way this track rolls. In Space- So thankfully we close with a pretty good acidic facewash. Where the hell was this for the rest of the album? I don't know who A-mush is but I'm guessing he did the lion's share of work here as this track style wasn't found anywhere on the album. The beat is heavy, and the acid is flying around like a shrapnel grenade. It isn't very complex, but sometimes the simplest tracks done well can go really far. This is powerful and straight forward danceable. This was an utter train wreck. Where is the passion? Where is the deep storytelling? Hell, where is the power. Maybe he isn't a twilight artist. Some of this was as cheesy as you will find. It wasn't very detailed and didn't maintain my interest at all. I liked the remix of the I.dot track and the A-Mush collaboration but after that, it is slim pickings. Now I don't want to pick on full-on (it is too easy to do), but there are examples of great music that uses that style. Mr. Peculiar does it. U-Recken does it. This however is not one of them. You are still alive Mr. Underground, but just barely. Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Tales of Heads Label: TIP Records Date: October, 2010 1 Troglodyte / Eat Static vs. Lucas 2 Dirty Tackle / Dickster vs. Lucas 3 Mind Cockpit / Laughing Buddha vs. Lucas 4 Stinkin' Warehouse / Avalon and Lucas 5 Magic Umbra / Tristan vs. Lucas 6 Hooked On Machines / Lucas 7 Hat Trick / Aphid Moon and Lucas 8 All In The Mind / Raja Ram vs. Lucas 9 Far From Home / Prometheus vs. Lucas Legendary. Classic. Iconic. Well, as much as the music and images in our little scene can be I suppose. Looking at the cover, true psy heads know that lurking within is nothing short of the highest psychedelic quality. Here, let me show you...remember this? Everyone who loves old school goa will see what they did here. It is a who's who of the greatest names in the genre. I won't name them because if you don't know them then you really need to do your homework. How about this one... or this one...? They even went all phosphorescent on your ass! The Shiva head cover is known for bringing out the best in psychedelic music regardless of your favorite. So now we have a new release with the famed cover on the scene. Put together by Lucas (Former Flying Rhino label manager, now TIP.World persona) who is also responsible for the great God Save The Machine compilation. Oh, in case you were wondering, it looked like this... Sense a theme? Troglodyte- Eat Static have been around a long time and are just not my type of music. It's abrasive, harsh, boring...IMO. I even mentioned on the GSTM comp that I didn't like their track. The Eat Static contribution is all over this as it is more of a breakbeat techno piece. A lot of chopped up vocals and alien samples. So I guess you could call it psychedelic, but it felt more like, been there done that. Average track. Dirty Tackle- Soccer reference? Seen plenty of those. This is Dick Trevor who has been on a lot of good compilations. I like the smooth pads and soft percussion to start, with a smooth vocal to add smoothness. The bass bounces along as a melody crawls out of the slime. This track builds in steps and the leads create a juicy feel, very liquid. There is a nice bit of depth here and it is very psychedelic as synths bubble and gurgle. Love that. This is what I was looking for. Great track! Mind Cockpit- "Welcome to the center of the braiiiiiiiiiin. You may enter the cockpit of the miiiiiiiiiiind. Only after you have answered this question." Laughing Buddha just released his album Sacred Technology and I cannot wait to give that a listen. Here he teams up with Lucas with a great track. It isn't long before it starts to hit its stride with some funky bass and effects. The percussion hits relay a sunshine feel, and the leads are rhythmic as hell. I would also classify this as an old school production, as the lead after the break has that vibe that just hypnotizes and carries you. Synths scramble all around, but it really delves into the old school as a 303 begins to growl with an acidic grudge! Super groovy and a fun listen. Loved it! Stinkin Warehouse- "Now about these hallucinations...what are you seeing?" Avalon is Leon Kane and his debut Distant Futures on Nano Records was pretty damn fresh if you ask me. Thumping bass and scientific samples give this track some delicious depth as acidic synths pepper the sky. More groove heaped upon laser stabs as the layers are spread out before you. Absolutely juicy old school sounds ride the bass and make this a bouncy ride. The break allows a new lead to flower amid a 303 and puts it all together at the end. Great track. Magic Umbra- "What I loooooove.....is the fact that I am watching the mechanics of the solar system work." Tristan has been around so long that if you want to see all he has done, you should go to his Discogs page. That sample was twisted and extended to bring you here. The lead climbs to the surface amid cool breakbeats as the bass darts in a zigzag pattern. More sounds are added to the palette as the leads begin to build upon each other. At 4 and a half minutes one synth takes over as it becomes filtered into a break. More twisted sounds? Why yes, thank you. And if you could add some lasers that would be great. Thank you. I liked it, but it wasn't as strong or as deep as the previous 3 tracks. Hooked On Machines- "I'm hooked on machines." "Well...then you'll enjoy this." Lucas is gonna handle this one all by himself. He starts with the sample and some liquid synths and this track feels spacious. The bass line rambles as atmospheric synths rain down like a drizzle, but the star is a delicate lead that is super nimble and has plenty of company. Layers on layers, so delicious! The darkness is all around us as soft synths drape us in their hypnotic stare. Old school feeling once again and the break is awesome. I felt like a cork bobbing up and down in the sea of groove. This is a very deep track and demands multiple listens. Hat Trick- "It's actually very scientific." "My hat is deep and full of magic. I got rabbits, handkerchiefs..I got smoke machines, bubble machines...I even got love marines...and still the hat goes deeper." You say hat trick to me and all I think of is hockey. I love the way these guys combine sounds. There is no empty space to allow the track to become boring because there are things happening all around you. Synths come, some faster than others, and then they vanish all in a dance of hypnotic rhythm. Swirling, bobbing, weaving...the leads are sometimes chopped up and fired in a rapid machine gun pattern. The break is another item that though short, allows smooth transitions to the next phrases. More liquid goodness adds to the psychedlic flavor and I am buying into this. The second sample came out of nowhere, but it was cool to hear. Great track. All In The Mind- "LSD an acid derived from a fungus... is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and undetectable. Once swallowed it is all in the mind." Here is one of the Godfathers I suppose, Raja Ram (TIP records creator, quintessential hippie, and yes, one time envelope salesman) has really done a lot for this scene. The beginning starts off psychedelically tribal with a gong and a...you guessed it, an LSD sample. He loves those! His trademark chopped up voices combine with a very spacey melody as the bass churns. Then bam out of nowhere the 303 kicks you in the face. It gets filtered and the groove intensifies, with effects adding to the mystery. The second break brings back the intro and then the track thickens with a new lead. Nicely done! Far From Home- "I am delighted to meet you. But we need your help. We are far from home. After we have replenished ourselves and shared with you what we can, we will leave." I recently reviewed the latest Prometheus album Spike, and while not impressed, I await to see what he will bring to the table. With a percussive crawling the track begins as the bass joins in. It's kind of odd to have that percussive element there the whole time, but it is growing on me. Another deeper lead spreads its filth as yet another gargles underneath. Funky. More so when the hi-hats kick in and the layers begin to stack. At the break, a soft, plunking melody blends well with the filthy lead. This one is all about groove which it has aplenty. Good track. Lucas has a keen eye for what psychedelic trance should be. Most of the tracks follow the same roadmap. The intro, and then it does its thing. Break, go a little further down the rabbit hole to another break, and then end furiously. It is a recipe that works and they do it well. The tracks are very hypnotic and have enough twists and turns to maintain interest. I don't think the Eat Static collaboration fits with the rest, but I don't care for them anyway, so take it with a grain of salt. This compilation provides plenty of trippy sounds and groovy rhythms while at the same time giving a big wink to the old school sound. If you like what I just said then this cd is a must for you. Highly Recommended. Juno Downloads GoaStore Saiko Sounds Psyshop Mdk

Artist: Prometheus Title: Spike Label: Twisted Records Date: October, 2010 1. Fast Train 2. Triplets 3. Blue Tubes 4. 2010 5. DarkStar 6. Rush 7. Rhythm, Circuit, Echo 8. Taylors Machine 9. Colt 10. Datcha Prometheus is Benji Vaughan, half of the Younger Brother project. He has released 2 albums prior to this one that have met with some high praise. According to the promos on Psyshop, he is choosing a new direction in his music. I liked Corridor of Mirrors as well as Robot-O-Chan so I'm a little disappointed, but I understand that an artist has to grow and evolve. Twisted is a label that has put out some of the biggest albums in our lovely little genre. Founded by Simon Holtom and Simon Posford (Godford to some) You've got Hallucinogen's Twisted and Deranger, Shpongle's Tales of the Inexpressible, Doof's Let's Turn On...need I say more. This is a label that is drenched in quality music and sound production. Fast Train- With a synthesized voice about the future a nimble bass dances below some floaty pads. One lead flutters and is replaced by another. Chopped up synths give the track some pace and it then switches direction. The last bit has a rave-like quality and punctuates the groove. Not bad. Triplets- The track rises with far away pads as percussion taps out the rhythm. The key changes sound nice as metallic shuffling and synth stabs ride shotgun with the beat. The break is pad heavy with a spacey, wide open feeling. When it re surges it is crunchy without a lot of variation. Not bad again. Blue Tubes- Slow synth sounds march as a bass sound bubbles underneath. The kick is punchy with a single note arpeggiated lead. Electro sounds and percussion push this almost to Detroit techno styles. It is a slower tempo and I find myself interested in finding where he is going to go next. The synths warble and blast into a crescendo as it eventually calms down and fades into pensive strings. Interesting. 2010- Abrasive leads, insistent kick drum, and another rambling bass would define this track. The bass and kick drum are so loud together that the higher melody has to be loud just to be heard. It's a nice melody, but with the insistent synth stab being repeated it gets a little annoying. Also the bass doesn't give this track any feeling, it just throws itself at you. I didn't care for the arrangement. DarkStar- This track begins with a lot of vocal manipulation a la Infected Mushroom with a funky bass. The beat is heavy and the melody is catchy as hell as I catch myself bouncing. New leads come in but continue pounding out the groove. I feel it goes on too long though, but the last third does bring the power. The final lead soars above the grungyness of the beat. Not bad. Rush- An entire minute of preamble later and another progressive beat kicks in with someone saying, "Come out and show you." I would say this is more on the house side of things, and it is groovy. Synths arrive a little later to give the track a larger feeling, perfect for a party. This is like something I would find from David Guetta. Without Akon. That ain't bad, right? Rhythm, Circuit, Echo- Now we have a deep progressive groove going with robotic voices reciting the title. You'll hear that again and as the break arrives a slight melody gives the track some depth. The rhythm is smooth and scaled back with air horns, and when another break arrives far away sounds give the track another direction. Not bad, but there is way better progressive trance out there. Taylors Machine- Once you get through the unnecessary beginning, the breakbeat thumps and the melody sounds like Depeche Mode. Close your eyes, this could be off the Black Celebration album. One of their interludes they like to do between tracks. It's not terrible, but it isn't that interesting either. Colt- With a very loud ringing bass a light guitar melody weeps sadly along with some twinkling sounds. The bass puts me off immediately as it is overly dominant. A shame because the other instruments sound nice, but they are drowned out. I could do without this one. Datcha- This final track is a very emotional and pensive piano concerto. It is accompanied by some strings and effects as it puts a melancholy stamp at the end of the album. Supremely beautiful tale that drips of sadness as it floats with the ease of a spirit. I didn't know he had it in him. Great, relaxing ending and clearly the best thing on this disc. This definitely had a little bit of everything didn't it? Now normally when I read the promos that show up on the vendors's site, I take it with a grain of salt. There is usually a lot of hyperbole written. This time however a lot the points I was going to make are included with the album description. There is no question his style has changed as there is a definite electro/techno feel to this album. It is very cold with little warmth to be found. Also it is a little on the noisy side and I find his trance to be rather unremarkable now. As far as psytrance goes, I don't think there is anything psychedelic to be found here. What I would love for him to do is release an downtempo album because tracks like Datcha show he has a gift for creating emotional ambient. I am happy that he is exploring new avenues in music, but I believe I will wait until he finds his new direction. This was ok, but nothing to get excited about. Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Electrypnose Title: Sweet Sadness Label: Suntrip Records Date: September, 2010 01. A5sention 02. Histoire d'Histoires 03. A Part Of Myself Is Somewhere Else 04. Sady 05. Triste Gaîté 06. A Wasp At The Fairies 07. Out There 08. Triste Vie 09. Perle De Vie 10. Dramatic Orchestra 11. El Cornio (Second Chapter) 12. Peurs Et Pleurs What can be said about Suntrip that hasn't been written a thousand times? The label has resurrected the goa trance scene with artists that make driving and powerfully melodic compositions. This is their 20th release and have decided to throw you a curve. With this album they bring you a downtempo treat. While I think this is nice for the customer, make no mistake it is also quite the savvy business move. What better way to expand your market and increase sales than to get into other genres. Lest you think that this is their first foray into the world of ambient recall the Opus Iridium which was a groundbreaking double album consisting of half goa trance and half ambient. The guys at Suntrip always make a professional product and have a reputation of being very listener friendly and giving the people what they want. Electrypnose is the incredibly versatile Vince Le Barde who has been releasing various types of music for a long time. Subliminal Melancholies in 2006 was a brilliant ambient offering but he has also released several albums of psytrance and Darkpsy. A5sention- The start is like a needle of a record player at the end of a record as pads float over a single deep bass note. It's deep cold as if I were on a deserted spacecraft. A soft synth melody repeats itself lightly as the bass hits again and again. The track gets warmer with this melody as I reboot the power supply and get life support functions back online. Slowly the computers flicker and the air becomes breathable as a hi-hat flutters. Super space ambient track! Histoire d'Histoires- As I sit myself at the control station I delve into the ships log. Soft, ice cold pads tell of a sad journey as computer twinklings dazzle and leads wail a lament. Outer space synths reach farther to the stars and are underlined by a deep bass that tell me this really happened. The crew invited a passenger on board that...wasn't what he seemed. This track is wrought with regret but beautifully so. Epic sounding. A Part Of Myself Is Somewhere Else- Alien skitterings scatter amidst hopeful pads as I am surrounded by the hum of cold machinery. Without a beat the track picks up speed with no discernible bottom end. A glitchy quality permeates the entire track until the kick arrives late. This seems like it would've been a good interlude...maybe it is. Sounds pretty abstract and very floaty. Sady- A cautious melody weaves through a breakbeat while space sounds swirl all around. They are all placed perfectly as the track bounces along. Crystals sparkle with a slight percussion as the bass continues its measured path. More leads fire delicate strands of acid as the track takes a sharper turn towards the dark. Super! Triste Gaîté- Electric pianos dance the dance of the melancholy as a bass sound rumbles underneath. Shortly this quickens to a mid tempo pace entering the realm of progressive. Guitar sounding wails frame the track as the break arrives with more atmospheric rushes. Something is building, that much is evident and it is taking its sweet time. Gradually growing into a shriek and then back into the beat. Pretty emotional track with great sounds again. A Wasp At The Fairies- More ambient twinklings soar high above a distorted breakbeat until that beat becomes clearer. A nice interlude but I don't sense what he is trying to accomplish. It doesn't seem to fit where it was placed. I still liked it though perhaps it needed to be longer to allow its evolution. Out There- Starting with digital noise until a pad rises from the chaos and more twinkling greets the ears. The track then switches focus as a very Ultimae (think Cell Hanging Masses) beat comes out accompanied by even more high pitched synth sounds. I don't see why that beginning had to even be there...whatever. This becomes quite funky and beautiful with a feeling of regret. Then it switches again with a sad piano melody. Again this was pretty, but didn't have a direction. It sounded like he had several ideas that he tried to tie together. Triste Vie- A soft piano melody starts out with a sense of sadness but also hints of a brighter day. At 1:45 it becomes more electric with a sadder overtone as pads swirl. The piano returns with some delay and it sounds great with some glitchy atmosphere. Not bad. Perle De Vie- With yet another forlorn piano melody to begin, a breakbeat enters and then another melody arrives. The key change is a little odd. Like Tim Burton odd, but I can't get a sense of where it was going. It becomes heavily modulated and fades away, allowing the piano to return. It really is beautiful and reminds me of the Ring soundtrack. Jungle sounds and whooshes appear and then float away. Electronic leads join with the piano and the melody sounds very spacious. Very good track. Dramatic Orchestra- Orchestral strings sound so smooth and fluid and then the electronics begin. Bouncing synths echo off one another transporting me back into space. The strings return and give the track a tension, as if we are up against a deadline. It's very beautiful and haunting at the same time. With this track he is masterful at fading in different sounds. With ease he transitions to electronic bubbling while losing none of the feeling that the strings brought. Awesome! El Cornio (Second Chapter)- Downtempo glitchyness as sounds ping like a submarine at a slow crawl. I find it very cold deep in the ocean, but also very visceral as the sounds are so damn clear. The echoing is quite entrancing and takes you deeper and deeper into his world. The drumbeat increases in tempo as strings usher in a new melody. Very eerie. When the piano comes in it is positively scary. Super f#$%ing track! Peurs et Pleurs- This is a haunted house track if I ever heard it. Metallic scrapings, deep low pad and echoing eerieness. The piano melody continues to do what it has done throughout and a beat effortlessly assumes shape. Brilliantly done. It's slow and steady, designed to be creepy. Short though it was, it was a nice ending. First off as someone mentioned earlier in the thread, it sounds very electronic. Very little warmth. Also this could very well be the soundtrack to video games like Silent Hill, good call Jon Coco. There were parts that were very beautiful and emotive, allowing a story to unfold but at the same time, there were a few areas that seemed disjointed or connected haphazardly. It's no secret that Vince is supremely talented, but maybe this album needed a theme or a more rigorous structure. Obviously all the tracks have a melancholy tone and some of them deliver a little brightness as well. At first I thought he was trying to have it both ways. The cold, digital feeling of sadness with the cheesy, almost Yanni-esque warmth that happiness could bring. But with more listens his genius came to light. The title of the album is Sweet Sadness and that is exactly what you get. Mostly melancholy tracks with some brighter areas. Every track is haunting and his talent at mixing sounds is ever present. To say I wasn't expecting this from Suntrip would be an understatement. Highly Recommended. Mdk

Sounds like a plan. Looking forward to see what goes on here. Love it on this forum. Check it many times a day. Mars as one of your last acts of administration, could you please remove the posts in the inappropriate forums by the member Gebriel and his promo Mitchell Crapton shit? It really is very annoying and he dropped it in almost all of the forum. Thanks, Mdk

Check out the Kiriyama album Reach Escape Velocity if you want living, breathing music. It has been reviewed twice here. Mdk

Artist: Digital Talk Title: Audio Extremists Label: Hadra Records Date: November, 2010 1. No Limit 2. Binding Hours 3. Audio Extremists 4. The Ultimate (Live Version) 5. Distorted Reality 6. Mental Universe (vs Mad Maxx) 7. Evading In 8. Meltdown 9. Exit Digital Talk are Frenchmen Julien Fougea and Luc Achintre and this is their 2nd release after what was a debut filled with promise for the future. New Age Surf in 2004 were cranking up the groovy twilight psy tunes and while I thought that album had flaws, I saw that they could take this type of psy to another level. Through extensive compilation work their flair for rhythm and melodic darkness was readily apparent. Hadra Records is no stranger to good music as their releases have included the wonderful Sine Die Life Hack, the successful Hadracadabra series, as well as a few other compilations that brought the heat. Before I get started, um...the cover. WTF? I need to hit them up on Facebook so they can explain that one to me. No Limit- "You beings are eons away from discovering light travel. You travel at the speed of light? Oh no, we can travel many times that speed." This track has a punchy kick and a bouncy bassline intent on getting you to move. This is a formula that will be seen again on this album many times. Various hi-tech sounds flail about as an acid lead is heard. There really isn't a melody to sink your teeth into per se, (a la Hoodwink or Reality Grid) but that's not the purpose here. It's all about groove and it's done pretty well. Binding Hours- The opening strings give this track volume along with computer systems checks and alien reachings. Once again groove is paramount with electronic sounds being used as percussive elements. There is more melody here as the break makes this a tribal cinematic experience. The lasers join in to keep the beat going. Very good track. Audio Extremists- These guys like to lead with a bass line and create atmosphere with metallic effects. They bounce off each other and conjure up a pretty detailed picture. They synths go on a rampage with what seems like malicious intent allowing the track to show its dark side. Far away strings add to the creepiness as the leads grow louder sprouting out of the pitch black. Pretty good track. The Ultimate- Filtered bass leads growl as more metallic sounds echo over the constant bass line. It's very computer centric almost as if we were in The Matrix. The break reorganizes under a punishing beat and after a slightly annoying buildup leads dance rhythmically along. Distorted Reality- That bass bounces front and center again, but damn it's catchy. More electronic machinations cleverly add atmosphere and groove. More lasers and this sounds more...epic. The delays and reverb give this track a lot of depth right into the break. Another spooky lead finishes it off, but I felt it was lacking the power that would've made it a dynamite track. Mental Universe- This one is a growwwwwler! The boys team up with Mad Maxx (who has had some really good tracks BTW.) It bubbles and races as far away spirits tease. A chopped up synth provides the framework as more sounds add to the urgency and the entropy. I liked the breakbeat, it added a funky element, but make no mistake this is an intense cyber assault. Great track, probably my favorite here. Evading in- "The effect is somewhat like looking through a microscope. Suddenly..uh.. you look through a microscope you discover that there is an invisible world around you that you hadn't know about before you did it." Beginning like all the others there is a pounding bass line with a kick and electronic gargling. Simple, yet creepily effective. Tension builds as the leads start to fire wildly and more lasers get the groove going. The break brings a scaled down funky beat which allows a scratchy lead to take over. Pandemonium that ends with a howl. Meltdown- "The presence of even a very low form of life...uh...suggests very strongly that in time an intelligent species will rise. Now this is simply because evolution in its course tries every possible nice, every possible trick which will enhance the survivability of the species." With intermittent techno sounds this starts off more like Scorb or Oood, but it ain't long until the bass line asserts itself. What's amazing is that they use everyting as percussion. Creating funk and rhythm where there was none. The short break is stand-offish, and brings another chaotic lead. It thumps along and maintains the new world order of cybernetic organisms. Exit- Their debut album ended with a glorious downtempo track, but this one is an electro offering that serves up the funk. Echoing stabs punctuate the break as a D-nox & Beckers groove slides forward. The panning of effects is great along with the percussive clarity. Various electronic bleeps and blops give the track some shape and it serves a s a good exit (get it?) track. Nothing spectacular as it kind of runs out of steam. If you would've told me that I'm going to listen to an album that doesn't have any strong melodies, I would imagine it to be thin and very tedious. Not the case here. While the absence of cascading melodies might be a sticking point for some, their ability to manipulate sounds in creating atmosphere cannot be ignored. As I mentioned, every sound is used as a percussive force. This disc has one sole purpose and that is to get people dancing. I imagine it will do that well, as it is loaded with energy and copious amounts of groove. Still, there is a small part of me that is disappointed. Their compilation tracks show an ability to make powerful, deeply dark and emotional songs. Real storytelling journeys. Even with the atmosphere well created something feels as though it is missing to put it over the top. Maybe it's because the groove seems to be the primary focus and the other aspects might have to take a back seat. A minor quibble, I wish it could've been a little more powerful and descriptive. I will say that the more times I listened to it the more I liked it. This is a good release and if you want to move the crowd this will do very nicely. They've still got it. Recommended. Psyshop Saikosounds Beatspace Mdk

I came across this today. I hope that it is legit. As I know that there are other lovers of the SA sound, I thought I would post. Free Frozen Ghost Album!!! Mdk

Artist: Crop Circles Title: Tetrahedron Label: DAT Records Date: December, 2009 1 Lunar Civilization [Pleiadians Remix] (10:47) 2 Antonomasia [Lotus Omega Remix] (9:36) 3 Daffy Duck [On The Comet] (10:01) 4 Cerealogy (10:22) 5 Pentagon (9:03) 6 Classic Process [Hale-Bopp] (9:14) 7 Full Mental Jackpot [Etnica Remix II] (9:28) 8 No More Singles (10:21) I love it when another Psynewser does good. Anoebis and Mars of course created Suntrip, Richpa is currently creating the mother of all new school goa trance portals, Imba and the UAF label have been consistently releasing some great variety in goa trance for free, and don't forget Filipe Santos and his many projects. DAT Records was opened up by Draeke during September 2008 with the attempt of releasing old school Goa Trance music that was previously available only on DAT. As of this date, they have 3 outstanding albums to their credit from old school masters. This was their first one and what an ambitious project it was. Tetrahedron, the mythical album that was thought to be lost was rediscovered and given a new life. This was done by the Etnica/Pleiadians/Lotus Omega group of artists and it has been long sought after. Mastered by Tim Schuldt this classic has been given some fresh paint and a new engine to shine for today. I had never heard these tracks so this was going to be like running downstairs on Xmas morning at the crack of dawn and seeing all the gifts and their glory waiting to be unwrapped. Lunar Civilization [Pleiadians Remix]- Synths dance amidst spacey effects as one melody grinds out its metallic path. 3.5 minutes in the goa is flying while key changes make the direction unsure, but at 9 minutes that tell-tale melody shoots out frolicking with lasers and the driving beat. I like how intense this was and that it wasn't until the very end that the recognizable melody surfaced. This track is full steam ahead with a hard edge to it. So sweet. Antonomasia [Lotus Omega Remix]- This one has a lot of twists and turns with one melody giving way to another while at the same time not being very...melodic. The amount of melodies is hard to calculate as they don't stay long. This one didn't thrill me as it seems unfocused. I prefer the original. Daffy Duck [On The Comet]- The outer space feel is palpable at the outset with a robotic voice and streaks zipping by. Groovy. The beat picks up and the melodies begin to combine as the track grows. It slinks, hides and then before you know it sounds are coming from all over the place. The sinister character of this track makes it a delight with one melody cascading over another. Lovely. Cerealogy- A spacecraft takes off from a dark planet and checks his status. The bass bounces in and becomes very liquid. Lasers fly by and graze the craft, as a small melody sneaks in amidst the alien chaos. Although the melodies are light on this one, it more than makes up for it in atmosphere. When the craft is finally brought down with a sonic blast from a laser cannon, the alien makes its way through the wreckage. Acid emanates from its cold fingertips at 6 minutes dissolving all it touches. It's coming. Old school, dark goatrance is what this is. Very tasty! Pentagon- The alien has stealthily made it to the outpost disguised as soldier lurking in the corners of the base just within the shadows. 303's flash in a barely contained barrage as the bass bubbles. In no time melodies slide forward creating such a dark atmosphere. Insanely psychedelic layers! It just builds and builds...superb track! Classic Process [Hale-Bopp]- soft synths bleep and blop like sentient computer spirits. The alien effects continue to pile on and that 303 can no longer be contained. It bounces, soars, dives...man these guys know how to build a track. Key changes, temporary disappearance of the key melody, all part of the magic. The final bit is a goa tour de force! Full Mental Jackpot [Etnica Remix II]- Who doesn't know the original, possibly one of their greatest tracks. Floating pads and a lead right out of early 70's psychedelia is supplanted by a big kick. Oh man 303 madness reigns, and they just started! A quasi break allows for momentum gathering as the lead grows in volume and intensity. It gurgles and I just defy you not to dance to this. With one final lead change it is truly a groovy track. There is such great interweaving of lead sounds here. Very good remix. No More Singles- Gated metallic leads hover above a kick as a bassline dances. Leads growl as synthlines rise and fall. Alien noises join with goa leads in psychedelic harmony. As others have said this isn't the best track on the album, but it is still so devious and juicy with a sinister undertone. When I first began going through all the tracks I wrote my review as an unfolding story. After reading it over, it came off as silly and corny. Not only that, every science fiction movie cliche was represented. But that is what this music did to me. It told a great story that never wavered from the underlying alien theme. This music is melodic old school dark goa trance. It is driving and emotional with great track construction. Let's face it, these are THE GODFATHERS of old school goa. Anyone who makes goa trance today would be lying to you if they said they did not get inspiration from these individuals. This cannot be more highly recommended and I encourage you to seek this one out. Big thanks goes to DAT records for helping this classic see the light of day and to Tim Schuldt for making it sound fabulous. Mdk

Artist: Artha Title: Influencing Dreams Label: Cronomi Records Date: April, 2010 1. Dubber Nubber 6:50 2. Controlled 10:32 3. Chaos 7:02 4. Saikol 9:18 5. Mystic Change 7:53 6. Vocal Distortion 9:17 7. Bali 9:57 8. Transfusion 9:06 9. Insidelamp 8:51 The first time I became aware of Artha's music was a download from some site (don't remember which) where his tracks were given for free. Astral Body, Mahabharta, and Faith struck me immediately as intense, passionate, and superbly melodic goa trance stormers. They were everything I was looking for in this fabulous music. Michal Baczek from Poland had me hooked and I began keeping a keen eye out for more releases. When word of his debut came about, I cannot think of a more anticipated album, at least in my case. It was released in April, now 8 months gone and I am ready to review it. This thread has called it such things as amazing, a masterpiece, a Hallucinogen clone...very high praise to be sure. The first thing to discuss is possibly an area of contention...what the hell is up with that cover? Colors, yeah I like 'em, but a hairy cro-magnon with lots of eyes on his head? Not so sure, but that is a minor nitpick at best. Dubber Nubber- With a massive opening the beat kicks in with some bouncy bass and rhythmic percussion. Chopped up chants perpetuate the tribal feel as leads ramble on. Not your 4 on the floor stomper but a good intro track to give you a glimpse of his ideas for goa trance. Controlled Live Version- Synths scrape and claw as a bassline ushers in a subversive filtered lead. With the effects and guttural goa melodies the track comes across as very psychedelic. The break seems to borrow a little inspiration from Infected Mushroom creating a warm beach stroll. But lest you think it will fade into the sunshine it storms back for one final assault. With subsequent listens the details really jump out. Super track! Chaos- He uses more percussion here and it blends well with a peak a boo goa lead and a driving bass line. It's powerful and laden with outer space atmosphere as a heavily modulated synth screams. The break is gated and before long it picks up intensity again. But instead of riding it to the finish, he introduces a new lead and it goes in another direction. Aggressive, abrasive, but very good. Saikol- "Doc says half of these are anti-psychotics. Well...I don't know that much about medicine, but it occurs to me that if a man is taking anti-psychotics it might be because he has a tendency to become..well, psychotic." What a great sample! You can feel this track building as more synths get added to the mix over a melodic voice. But again instead of launching right into what is expected, he switches gears and changes the focus. It's like sleight of hand. So instead of a stormer, this track simmers, bubbling along with good pace. It's nice, but I felt it could've been so much more if the ideas were extrapolated a bit. Mystic Change- Hear that growling 303? That is what I was expecting. Old school all the way with floating melodies that soar into the sun. That bubbling is delicious to the ears. More melodies jump in and this could've been done by Transwave. I'm guessing he put this here just to show that he could still blow the doors off. My favorite track easily! Vocal Distortion- Very tribal beginning with modulated synthesis and a melancholy pad. There are several stabs and a crawling progression to the track as another lead gurgles the melody. Add another hard lead that dominates the proceedings, but my favorite part is the break. It slowly increases in intensity as the lead meanders its course amidst stabs and another lead. He has a talent for track building that is evident. Bali- At 2 minutes the melodies start to pile on until the break reorganizes things. I liked the popcorn sounding melody after the break, very forlorn and not overbearing. It is intense and twisted, growing in intensity. Psychedelic to the core. Not a crushing track but still a good one. Transfusion- Nice evil sounding effects with a rumbling bassline join forces with a cat quick lead. Groovy. Synths unravel, bass sounds thump, and the melodies carry me away. Even the break has a funky samba quality in it that is all to short. Pretty good track. Insidelamp- Soft twinkles speak of the mystic as the beat drives on. The tempo is slower but the groove is deeper. Chopped up chants echo to a break with a juicy bass and warm pads. Modulated lead wavers as more synths bubble patiently underneath. The melodies that fight it out at the end had my head bouncing. This was a great ending to this album, very spiritual as the sun sets. As others have said this is not your everyday new school release. Michal takes goa trance in a different direction, one that is full of surprises with unique melodies and track structure. I would say this is the definition of psychedelic goa trance. With some tracks he showcases the power (Mystic Change) and others he takes goa to places where maybe it hasn't been. I will say there isn't a bad track on this album, but at the same time, I don't feel there are many tracks that will stick with me for the long term. I like that he did something different and didn't make a cookie-cutter goa trance album, but I do miss more storming offerings. You can hear the similarities to Hallucinogen, but he still has his own style. While not my favorite goa trance album, he does have something to offer and this was a great listen. Recommended for those that want a break from the every day. Mdk

Absolutely. And your site offers just that. Great music by artists who could charge for it, but choose not to. Can't wait for his debut album. Mdk

Artist: Spectral Title: Celtic Alchemy Label: Blue Room Released Date: July, 1996 1. Celtic Alchemy (Nothing Is True Mix) (7:07) 2. Kundalini (7:37) 3. Moonstone (7:17) 4. Celtic Alchemy (Magical Circles Mix) (6:25) I thought I would tackle an old school release as I came across this Ep. I have searched the net and haven't found a negative remark about it. People here called it ahead of their time with great production. Spectral is Jean-Loup Kehrig & Thierry Gotti and they have been doing their thing since 1994. They released several Ep's and an album that went in a different direction called Diffuse in 2000. Blue Room Released is one of the seminal labels for goa trance back in the day releasing many of the gold standards such as Mystical Experiences by Infinity Project, Alien Protein by Etnica and Beyond the Infinite by Juno Rector. As I have mentioned before I missed out on this wonderful era, so I spend a lot of my time hunting down these rare and hard to find releases so I can get a glimpse of what the masters had done. This is from 1996...14 years ago. Think about that..We fell in love with Jerry Maguire, Los Del Rio spent 14 weeks at number one with the Macarena, and this is a cell phone from that era: That was actually my cell phone until a year ago. It would still be mine if I hadn't dropped it off a mountain. Would be pretty difficult to watch Avatar on that. Times and technology have most assuredly changed and mostly for the better. I can only imagine what these guys could've created if they had software to make their tracks. Or maybe, that was why they were so good because they spent the time and meticulously composed each note rather than cut and paste. Celtic Alchemy (Nothing is True mix)- "To be given a potion which casts them into a deep sleep." With a soft melody the track begins to float onward, with various ethnic sounds and chopped up chants. The melodies that come in do so gently, there is no aggression here. The pads are atmospheric and this could very well be the "kindest" goa trance I have ever heard. Kundalini- This is the track most are familiar with as it has been on a couple of compilations. GMS remixed it (results...well...)so you know it's a classic. It has more bounce in its step than the previous track as synths echo amidst light pads. When that melody comes in at around two and a half minutes, a warm familiar feeling begins to grow. Not elaborate; just simple and well done to entrance. The break that isn't still kicks with atmosphere proving that less can be more. Pretty good track even for today. Moonstone- I love the soft attack rates on the strings that create the mysterious atmosphere. Hell there are even the sounds of seagulls in this one. More gentle synth manipulation like a butterfly's kiss. After the chants a familiar melody fits like a well worn shoe. The ethnic percussion is also a nice touch when the melody returns. Celtic Alchemy (Magic Circles mix)- This one begins with more dreamy pads and a soft kick/bass. Twinkling synths dance in the clouds with a lead that is in lockstep with the bass. The percussive break has a wailing, falling pad to keep the feel alive. Not a whole lot happening, but what is going on is soft and smooth. Just like your girlfriends butt. Well that was a nice trip. I don't know if it is because the technology was inferior at the time or not, but like I previously mentioned this is the softest goa trance ever. The leads are not piled on top of each other dueling for supremacy, but are distinctive in their own right. It sounds wonderful very old school (wow, really?), so hat's off to the person who did the mastering because it is crystal clear. There was no sound competition, no business of "the leads or the kick or the bass is too loud." Just smooth, gliding and mellow trance with ethnic sensibilities added to gentle, emotional goa melodies. What a good listen and lesson on how the greatest technology is not necessarily superior to an artist skilled with his instruments. Mdk

My point was that his music was so good that he could charge for it. Mdk

This was an awesome listen...a perfect combination of forest and goa. Thank you so much for piquing my interest. That is why these forums are so valuable. Mdk

Artist: Oood (Out of Our Depth) Title: Oddball EP Label: Broken Robot Recordings Date: 2010 1. Oddball 2. The Tube 3. Oddball (Hedflux remix) Well well what do we have here? Oood have been around for quite some time with several album releases including the goa trance classic A live. Who could forget songs like Silence, Cosmic Ripple, and Cobra? Wonderful goa trance compositions all. I haven't heard their latest efforts (Free Range or Fourthought) but I believe they are more into the progressive sound these days. Here the trio give us 2 tracks and a remix to the title track. Wanna check it out? Oddball- The sounds of a track getting up to speed start us off until you hear the kick and the bass in a very pared down style. It's groovy with some very quirky effects as some chopped up voices carry the melody. Pensive. The bass gurgles with metallic synths ringing, bouncing off each other. At around 6 minutes they are in full groove mode with all the participants speaking their piece. Funky, rhythmic, and simple. Pretty good. Oddball(Hedflux Remix)- With a wink to the electro genre and some simple percussion the funk begins! Techno beats flourish and it's like someone pissed off a computer. He's angry my friends. When the break hits everything is in slow motion. It comes back with a big beat and rides the wave home. More of a techno track than a trance one. The Tube- With some bloops and rushes the computer noise continues until the FAT bass takes over. Wow that is filthy. This is the definition of funky. There is a long sample about how terrible television is, but it fits well in the track as it devolves into noisy chaos. Just then more big beats and hey more cowbell!. I would say I liked this one the best just because it made me move and nod my head. Yeah, this is definitely and Odd ep. Certainly is an interesting direction they are headed. Techno, glitchy, electro beats full of computer nosies. That sums it up. They are far removed from the goa trance they used to create and that is cool. I'm sure their tastes in music have changed and they want to try new things. Since I'm not much of a techno head, I wouldn't begin to tell you whether this was good or not, but as someone who likes music that makes me move...The Tube did. Mdk

Artist: Perfect Blind Title: Surfacing Ep Label: Akashic Records Date: November, 2010 01 - Calm Below (80 BPM) 02 - Nimbus Two (90 BPM) 03 - Syncope (95 BPM) 04 - Surfacing (100 BPM) This is the downtempo project of Deimmos aka Igor Čeranić from Croatia fresh off the great track he released on the free compilation from Neogoa.tk Dimensional Gateway. So far he likes giving his music away for free, (you can find this release at Ektoplazm) but if this keeps up, we are soon going to have to pay for it. Read below to see why. Calm Below- This is a short intro ambient track that is too long to be considered an interlude. Soft floating pads conjure up images of the deep with alien zips racing past the ears. It is soothing and gives you a glimpse of what is to come. Nimbus Two- More pads and and delicate synths glide effortlessly through a persistent beat. This is a laid back cloud watching moment. Beautiful, arcing melodies slowly introduce themselves as I lay on the ground staring skyward. The track fades away peacefully. Syncope- At almost 9 minutes this is the longest track on the EP. We are greeted with the same bubbling style leads and wide open spaces. There is a dubby feel here as synths waffle and new leads are introduced. It sounds like a 303 being filtered and soaring high in the clouds when a new lead takes over. Very nice with a gentle exit. Surfacing- This dub piece contains all the elements of the previous tracks with soaring melodies carrying maybe a tinge of melancholy. Sweet imagination music, the break is so smooth, with echoing percussion and volume fade. One melody goes, another enters slowly reorganizing things but with the same feel. Great track. What a super little Ep. This is smooth downtempo which lends itself nicely to dreaming or just getting away from it all. It is really vast sounding, with slow BPM's. The tracks start slow and gradually build with hypnotic melodies, one flowing into another. Igor definitely has the downtempo gift and I look forward to more of his stuff, realizing full well that I will have to eventually shell out a few scheckles for it. Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Kiriyama Title: Reach Escape Velocity Label: Devil's Mind Records Date: November, 2010 1 Reach Escape Velocity (11:32) 2 Congratulations (Crawl Into My Mouth) (11:40) 3 30 Cycles (10:19) 4 Unexpecting The Expected (9:40) 5 Moving Hills Barefoot (9:01) 6 Ablaze (Time Leap Mix) (10:55) 7 Rapide Ou Plus Lent (9:07) 8 Space Between Spaces (7:02) Now I don't usually go for Darkpsy. As I have mentioned before, a lot of it sounds noisy to my ears, with no discernable melody or direction. All the standard blah blah blah. The obvious exceptions being Derango and Loke. This has always disappointed me because like goa, I think this genre of music has the ability to tell some great stories. Devil's Mind Records specializes in darkness, and have brought you 2 Silent Horror albums as well as the much ballyhooed Ka-Sol & Battle of the Future Buddha teamup. I haven't heard any of those, but the review above has me interested. Kiriyama is Alex Örtegren and he is the co-founder and owner of the label. Starting with the cover, it appeals to me.The title makes you think of outerspace, but the picture is of a forest. Meeting of the two worlds? Perhaps an alien craft of evil beings landed in the Swedish forest? I am an avid hiker going up and down mountains and into forests. Although I have been to Sweden, it was only Goteborg and I didn't make it to the dark pixie forest. The image looks like a place here in Virginia (actually it is the highest point) called Mt. Rogers. So already I feel like I connect with the album as I think I have been there. Well, as Eudaimonia mentioned, it has a sticker on it that says, "infused with the twilight sound of Scandinavia and mysticism of Goa trance. Ready to travel north?" Where the hell do I sign up? Reach Escape Velocity- He comes out with the title track first, so he has some confidence. This one oozes liquid effects and begins with a frenzy. The horror movie strings are loud but are just part of the frightening mix. Synths wobble and waver, and then we are under attack as an alert horn sounds. Driving and intense. Congratulations (Crawl into my Mouth)-"Crawl into my mouth. I don't think I can fit. Sure you can, just go one leg at a time." First of all love the title. Cyber madness greets the ears with eerie melodies twinkling on high. A spooky childs voice reverberates "Congratulations" as if we made it to the slaughterhouse. It rumbles with deep bass indicative of the genre and the juicyness of the effects cannot be overstated. Tangibly delicious! Scary pads pile on and when the sample arrives it fits perfectly. Awesome! 30 Cycles- Cyber gurgling gives way to electronic banshees as they swirl above. Again the bass rumbles with force as evil bleeps and blops crawl from the abyss. Out of the madness an melody grows louder with synthesized voices. This is so...liquid and organic. What's great is that it is darkness, with layers, and groovy at the same time. Very well done. Unexpecting The Expected- This beast lumbers out of the computer graveyard with various clicks and whirs with a sinister intent. It dribbles and screeches with atmosphere, as leads wail their detuned lament. Most assuredly dark, but also so deeply layered. The last third increases in intensity as a goa melody flourishes. Moving Hills Barefoot- Slow steady heartbeat bass as a melody snakes just out of view. The melody is nice but the bass rumbles with anger. These two don't seem to go together. Is it a dark track of a light one? More experimental I think. Ablaze (Time Leap Mix)- Delicious goa goodness at almost 11 minutes! UX proved that goa can be dark and a page was ripped from his book. Very rhythmic with eerie, scratchy effects just to let you know that you haven't strayed too far from the darkness. Listen to that growl! Remember the opening scene music in Blade when all the dancers are in a meat locker they think is a club? Sounds like that. More layers thicken the track and it becomes a driving force. This is another one that has a few twists and turns with great weaving of layers. Rapide ou Plus Lent- With a goa melody right off the bat the track has a groove to envy. The high balances the low, as the goa adventure continues. Not overbearing, but enough to show he has the talent. Very hypnotic as leads wail and melodies fly by. Whereas the other tracks had melodies in them, this one is constructed around them. As it breaks down, it resurfaces, growling. There are so many changes and the track is so deep you don't stand a chance. A dark goa treat for the most sinister. So damn good. Space Within Spaces- A darkspy downtempo track? Am I dreaming? This is slow, alien and spooky. The beginning is so evil and fluid. A delicate melody walks gingerly above evil choirs as a bug would traverse a body of water on small feet. The pads make me think of the Himalayas as it chugs along. A new melody rises from the dark and this is the perfect ending to what has been an eye opening experience. More darkpsy artists should produce downtempo numbers. Wow. So vivid. I have been waiting so long for this. Such a rich picture with numerous layers that tell a great tale. The first half is darkness with some melodies and the 2nd is melodies with darkness. It's liquid, it's alien, it's an evil ride through the mind of the most psychotic killer. But oh yeah, he is from another galaxy and he cannot be stopped; stuff of your worst nightmares. With an incredible amount of detail in all of the tracks one listen does not do this album justice. There is an evil sprite around every corner, and he is hungry. I always said that effects can make a break a track and this guy takes full advantage in his storytelling. Add to that fact that melodies are all over this thing and we have one dynamite release. Like long tracks? Get used to them because that's all you will find here. It works well because he needs that time to unravel all the complexities in each song. Also, they are slightly mixed so they flow into each other keeping the vibe going. Bottom line, this is a truly enjoyable voyage into the mystic, combining the mystery of the dark forest with the melodies and light of goa. If this is the direction of Darkpsy then I am fully committed. I was totally floored by this and I highly recommend it. People need to give this more attention. Mdk

Wow, after the first sentence I don't know what you said. Mdk

Maybe, and maybe because the goa trance that I listen to sounds like...goa trance. I felt this didn't sound like that. Doesn't mean it's bad. Just one person's opinion. Mdk

I didn't hear a melody that sounded remotely like goa trance. Perhaps floaty epic trance, but definitely not the signature sound that marks a goa track. I realize that he is doing something different that what we have all heard before, but this didn't sound like goa to me. That's cool, just wasn't for me. Mdk