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Artist: Various Title: Subfuse Label: Tesseract Studios Date: July, 2010 1. Computer Music Magazine THE RIDDLER AND FLOAT 2. Attractors BEATSKLOP 3. 1910 VERTEX 4. Earth Prime ZYCE AND NERSO 5. Age of Change MIDDLE MODE 6. Santo Daime SIDEFORM 7. Ground Zero EGORYTHMIA VS FLEGMA AND NERSO 8. Stereo Panic ZYCE AND FLEGMA 9. Night Swallowing Day E-CLIP AND FLEGMA 10. Obi Wan Bobi HARDY.VELVES TesseracT Studio is just that a studio where (according to Discogs) they allow their artists to create many different types of progressive trance and ambient. They also have their own mastering facility and design artists, so it's like a one stop shop for progressive trance releases. I have never heard any of their releases, but I recognized many of the artists on this disc. That's why I got it. If you have read any of my progressive trance reviews, then you would know this is right up my alley. When I listen to progressive trance, I like it to be floating, melodic and drifting. Something you can immerse yourself in and get lost. This disc has a few newbies and some core producers that all should be familiar with. 1. Computer Music Magazine - The Riddler is actually Talpa and I think he may have found his niche as his music has evolved from the groundbreaking album The Art of Being Non. Man what a groovy bassline! Super smooth progressive house style with guitar licks in the background and a good time vibe throughout. Very peppy. Great way to start a compilation. I think they are taking the piss about Computer Music Magazine, but that is what this track is, a good time. 2. Attractors - No idea who this act is and have never heard of them. I would call this more on the minimal side of progressive. The bassline takes center stage with not a whole lot going on, but fairly fluid in its movement. Filler, I believe. 3. 1910 - Whereas the previous track was the shortest, this one is the longest. Vertex has put out a couple of tracks including a nice one on this years previously reviewed Kosmics Playground. There is a feeling of nostalgia with this one where the atmosphere is created quite well. The second break in particular is dreamy. Good use of reverb throughout. Strong track if a little long. 4. Earth Prime - Now these two acts are the go to guys when it comes to deep, emotional progressive. They erect good grooves below floating melodies. There are chopped up vocals of a tribal chant and ancillary effects right up until the break at around 5 minutes. Unfortunately this track is not their best effort or I should say, it is not up to par with their usual production. It's fine, but nowhere near as involving and rich as most of their other work. 5. Age of Change - Here is another of the new artists, and this is what I expected from Zyce and Flegma. Deep bass sweeps and atmospheric sounds really set the mood. It is very dark and makes me feel isolated. The break is awesome as this artist has a command of how to manipulate sounds. Superb! Where the first track was all sunshine, this one is blacker than a trillion midnights. 6. Santo Daime - I have heard two tracks from this duo (Dark Light and Welcome Home) and they were both very impressive. A page is taken from the Iono Music school of drifting progressive complete with sweeps and a churning bassline as melodies echo high above. There are so many different sound textures that the ear doesn't tire of the same old sounds. The break is trippy with more sweeps and a funky drumkit which is nicely blended. Great original track and would be thrilled to hear more of this type. 7. Ground Zero - Having heard several tracks by Egorythmia I wasn't bowled over, but being teamed with Flegma & Nerso I expect big things. Not. Disappointed. True to form, this is another drifting track that concentrates on atmosphere. The melodies are short and show themselves sparingly, but there are so many that one is never left alone. Keep it rollin! 8. Stereo Panic - This track was fine and continued down the same path that their tracks always do, but I felt it was a little thin. There was too much time just hearing a kick, hi-hat, and a bass line. Thicken it up a little. 9. Night Swallowing Day - E-Clip has really come into his own laying down killer after killer. Teaming up with Flegma these guys deliver a smooth missile of deliciousness. You couldn't get more soaked in atmosphere if you tried. Sweeps, reversed chants, dominating melodies...the gang is all here. The break really illustrates how brilliant these producers are, showcasing their ability to stir up emotions with their music. Just drips with quality. Kick.Ass. 10. Obi Wan Bobi - "I don't want to be human. I want to see gamma rays. I want to hear x-rays. And I wanna..I wanna smell dark matter. I wanna reach out with something other than these prehensile paws. And feel the solar wind of a supernova flowing over me. I'm a machine." Nice closer here that comes right out of the box bouncy. I don't know what movie the sample comes from but it was pretty cool. And let's face it, it makes the track. The melodies continue and the track thickens up becoming quite the force. Super. Man o man what a nice journey. Aside from one filler track, this is a must have. It has all the qualities that make a ride on the progressive rocket ship enjoyable. Deep and emotional, rich and thought provoking. In a time where psytrance continues to get stale and derivative, it is nice to know there are producers out there that know the meaning of quality. Buy this, you will not be disappointed. Mdk Beatspace Psyshop

Artist: E-Clip & Flegma Title: Dynamic Violence EP Label: Iono Music Date: May, 2010 1. E-Clip & Flegma - Phantom Traveler [9:04] 2. Flegma & Nerso - Sonic Manipulation (E-Clip Remix) [7:49] 3. E-Clip & Flegma - Antimatter [7:12] 4. E-Clip - Salvation [8:39] This is a 4 track ep for digital release by Iono Music. This label is the leader in the vast, melodic progressive trance that I love. They have released a whole bunch of quality artist albums as well as numerous well received compilations. Here is their Discogs page, I urge you to check them out. Flegma is Dalibor Delic & Slobodan Gacesa and E-Clip is Marko Radovanovic and they have released a true gem in this genre. Phantom Traveler floats dreamily along with rich strings, deep bass, and soaring melodies. The breaks are short but effective and you are immediately launched right back into the fray. Perfect track. The E-Clip remix of Sonic Manipulation combines a space sample with a medieval chorus in the beginning that grabs your attention. The detail in this track is very complex with all types of sound textures. The tracks have this stand offish quality that prevents them from becoming cheesy. Antimatter is rich in atmosphere right form the get go, and is definitely dark. The groove is tight as each new facet of the track is revealed, but it never loses its purpose. The melody explodes in the last 3rd and becomes quite the tale. Salvation could be a continuation of the previous track as it chugs along because the melodies continue to impress. But it is more than that. The intricate details that when added together create such a vivid ride that I have no qualms in setting the player on repeat. The way they evolve the tune in the break is just breathtaking. I find it hard to review short EP's sometimes because how many times can you describe what you find in each track. What I mean to say is that this EP is so good, that all the adjectives which would portray how beautiful and moving each track is could be written in one sentence. But nobody would take that seriously. Hell, with what I have written you still might not. Regardless, this is worth the buy if you are into smooth melodic progressive trance that is so detailed it makes you want to cry. Samples Mdk

I just reviewed your EP my friend. Mdk

Artist: Beast303 Title: Controlled EP Label: Underground Alien Factory Records (UAF) Date: June, 2010 Tracklist: 01. Beast303 - Beast303 (6:32) 02. Beast303 - Zoo Logic (7:36) 03. Beast303 - White Leopard (7:00) 04. Beast303 - Pyro Acid (7:46) 05. Beast303 - Lady of the Water (8:13) It is my hope that people are very aware of this netlabel because they are releasing a truckload of quality choonz. And you know what? They are all free. But don't discount it as amateurish for that reason because it most assuredly is not. They have released numerous EP's from artists like Sky Technology, Grand-Cheff, and PharaOm just to name a few. The sound is most definitely old school goa trance and they do it well. One of the best things about the label is their variety of goa trance style. Something for everyone. Their latest offering is a 5 track EP from the man of a thousand aliases Filipe Santos. In a little bit of a change of direction, this EP is an acidic trance lover's dream. And as per usual, Filipe doesn't beat around the bush, but instead goes right for the throat. Aggressive 303 mania with crystal clear sounds. The screeching lead of the first track lets you know that you aren't in Kansas anymore. While that sets the tone for the EP, it isn't until you dig a little deeper that you discover where Filipe's talent really shines. Zoo Logic begins with a tribal percussion and bubbly bass, but quickly turns into much more. The filters are unrestrained as the soft kick thumps in the background. Goa melodies swarm in a mixture of acid trance and 1995 India leaving only one option and that is to dance. White Leopardcontinues the 303 chaos as it seems to get more and more bubbly. The bounce is there as the melodies reach ever higher. The flow is maintained and the energy never leaves. Pyro-Acid has to be my favorite track. You can hear the 303 rumbling underfoot as the hi-hats chirp away. As he twists the cutoff knob the adrenaline begins to surge and all out chaos ensues! How do you not dance to this? At 5:30 a screaming, and I do mean screaming 303 demands you pay attention. Holy crap that is intense. I just listened to this track 3 times in a row. This is a nasty mother f***er! Lady of the Water slows it down so you don't hemorrhage. Synths bubble below soft tones as melodies are created from nothing. The bass guides but doesn't interfere. It really is a mournful track, maybe speaking of what might have been. Smooth. Well, what can you say, Filipe has done it again. He has come through with another ground breaking effort that combines the genres of acid and goa in a danceable masterpiece. This EP kicks in the door of the status quo of goa trance (which I love) and opens up all new possibilities for the genre to explore. Like the combination of Nitzo and goa trance this is a welcome exploration that I hope other artists will build upon. Great work as usual Filipe and kudos to Imba for getting artists to produce such fine works with your label. Mdk

Quality release. Edit: As time has gone on I like this release much less than I originally did. It sounds very similar, pounding home lots of the full-on tropes that I cannot abide any longer. His sample work is great and sets the mood for the tracks, but I just cannot get past the bass line. Mdk

I thought the "Bombscare" remix was ok, but felt that it could've been fleshed out more. The Pleiadians track was disappointing aside from some interesting bass work. Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Kosmics Playground Label: Prog On Syndicate Records Date: June, 2010 1. Expect No Less / Monod 2. Synthetic Life / E-Clip 3. Flash Point/ Jiser 4. Are on the sky / Elfo 5. Desire / Time Stretch 6. Save Us / Querox 7. Obsidian / Flegma and Nerso 8. Dark Light / Sideform 9. Prosperity / Zyce and Talpa 10. Present / Vertex Here is a new label with a progressive trance compilation. Label head Querox has put together a selection of artists with an international flair not seen since the old Benneton commercials. Most of the artists are familiar with a few relative unknowns. There is a discrepancy I have noted, albeit minor. Track 3 on my disc reads as above, but checking Psyshop's site, they have it listed as "Sub Motion" by Infinity. Probably just a misprint. So another new label jumps into the scene, what can you expect? Some pretty good tunes. "Expect No Less" - Great track to begin the compilation. Not too heavy just floating away with your thoughts on a space ship. It goes by very quickly. "Synthetic Life" - Wide open and tumbling through the vastness of outer space is how I would describe this. This is the perfect balance of melody, atmosphere and trance. My favorite track on the disc. "Flash Point" - Simple bassline again, but rich bass sweeps along with fresh twinkly sounds fatten this beast up. The break at 5:20 really shows this artist's ability to meld sounds in a captivating way. Time enough to catch your breath, but not so lengthy to sound like a different track. Awesome. "Are On of Sky" - This track has a familiar melody, but I cannot place it. Almost like a child's lullaby. On the whole, it's a nice playful song, but doesn't hold my attention like the others did. "Desire" - Snorefest until the break takes over and then it seems like a different track...well, almost. It's still pretty minimal, but cannot compare to the rest of the gems here. Skip it. "Save Us" - With a deep bass and thunderous kick this track blends chopped up vocals and sounds. The melody is in the distance growing a little more bold. The break is clever, with more short vocal snippets. This is what it would sound like if Artifakt made progressive trance, just less chaotic. Different, but welcome. "Obsidian" - This track is a continuation of the great partnership between these two artists. A track that is loaded with atmosphere and clever bass manipulation. The swirling melodies have lots of ancillary company, giving it a very deep feel. Superb! "Dark Light" - This track has the simplest one note bass line, but contains plenty of other sounds that thicken the track. A soft pan-flute tone is surrounded by analog flutterings, The break is short, but effective providing a seamless re-entry back to the beat. There is an odd key change in the final 3rd of the track, but it is interesting. Very good effort. "Prosperity" - Talpa is back with Zyce and this is an example (IMHO) of two artists going in opposite directions. Talpa's last album for me was a colossal disappointment, while Zyce continues to put out great music. So what happened here? Did Zyce lift Talpa up or did Talpa bring Zyce down? The former is true, with sparkly synths and good motion to the track. The melodies undulate amidst melancholy sounds creating a great feeling. The break is dreamy as the track flows along. This is an excellent example of a great collaboration. "Present" - "Much of the work we do cannot be measured in standard terms." This is a floating track with a really cool break about aliens. The sounds are very delicate and soothing providing a nice exit. Well worth it. Aside from a couple of clunkers, this is a fresh ride down the progressive highway. The artists deliver a very high quality selection of tunes that a deep and emotive. Recommended! Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Digital Beings Label: Echoes Records Date: June, 2010 1. Age of the 6th sun / Earsugar 2. Process / Ritmo 3. Kelman Gates / Easy Riders (aka Ace Ventura and Rocky) 4. Scandonavian / Gaudium 5. Digital Beings / Zen Mechanics and Ace Ventura 6. The Path / Quantize 7. Revenge / Freq 8. Concrete Jungle (Rocky rmx)(Feat. Michele Adamson) / Lish 9. Yin and Yang / Human Element Another recent purchase in the progressive vein and another I cannot locate an image for. Sorry. Echoes Records based in Israel is responsible for releases like "Borderline" "Stereo Slave" and "Think Different." Some pretty good progressive hits on those. Their latest compiles previously unreleased tracks from mostly well known artists. The cover is of a woman with her eyes closed in the greenish black style reminiscent of the Matrix. 1. Age of the 6th Sun- Earsugar begins the track with a prayer to Hunab Ku and then...not a whole lot. Some nice sounds, but it doesn't really go anywhere. Suitable opening I suppose, but not very deep. 2. Process- "But we all want to move....in the same direction." This one is very rich as one would expect from Ritmo. Thick bass sweeps and a galloping, steady bassline. He even drops a little Obama on you. It plods along until the 7 minute mark and then it gets a little aggressive. I just wish I didn't have to wait so long. 3. Kelman Gates- "Listen to me! Whatever door you opened in my brain...shut it!" Rocky and Ace Ventura combine for this project. Smooth and steady without a lot of melody changes. I would be tempted to say that at ten minutes you need to throw some variation my way, but they do a good job with breaks so it doesn't seem so long. Crystal clear sound for sure with a brooding atmosphere. 4. Scandonavian- This seems boring to me, with its rapid fire bassline and not much else. The break however, gives the track some much needed depth, but it just can't recover from the monotony. 5. Digital Beings- Now that bassline seems familiar... Even with it, this track seems fuller than the previous ones. The break gets some funk on ya, but not enough to switch genres. Nice. 6. The Path- Noise plus interminable buildups = me skipping this track. 7. Revenge- Freq brought his heavy beats and minimal style progressive trance to the show. The result...you know what it sounds like. 8. Concrete Jungle (Rocky Remix)- The only remix on the compilation. I haven't heard the original so let me see if I can dig it up. Nope, couldn't find it. All I need to know is that it has a stupid spoken verse in it about leaving the house without a knife. Terrible, another skipper. 9. Yin and Yang- Ahhh, the Human Element. This track is a feel good groover that ends the compilation nicely. Not a lot of variation, but the reverb was working overtime and the little melody is very catchy. Great job and my favorite track. So this is one of the other sides of progressive trance. There is more focus on the beats than the melody or the creating of atmosphere. Accordingly, the tracks are thinner in the area of richness compared to other compilations. These guys do what they do really well. The grooves are heavy and if that's what you like get on board. If you're looking for a deep, melodic listening experience, this will leave you a little flat. Psyshop Beatspace Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Progressive Sadhus Label: Sadhus Records Date: June, 2010 1. Infinity / 4-Play 2. Recycled / Deeplomatic 3. Bullet / Yoake 4. All The Way Down / Sphera 5. Body Snatcher / Flegma and Nerso 6. Daydriver / Zyce and E-Clip 7. Practicle Accelerator / Human Gate 8. Lusid Vision / Lucid Sound 9. It's Up To You / 4-Play It's been awhile since I reviewed anything, but this one prompted me to get back on the horse. Sadhus Records is apparently a brand new label and I cannot find out any information on them. Location, label head...nothing. The cover is what drew me to the album though. That guy has a lot of hair! A Sadhu is, according to the Hindus, a mystic practitioner of yoga...or in this case, of progressive trance. The tracklist reveals a few well known producers of the genre, but most are newcomers. Do not let this dissuade you. Right off the bat, this is the deep, rich progressive trance that I enjoy. Punchy beats, oodles of melodies and reverb, and sweet percussive stylings. 4-Play opens the show with a very emotive and meditative number, complete with a laid back vibe. Deeplomatic provides a bouncy track with a tasty and rather lengthy break. Delicious. "All The Way Down" begins with thick sweeps and staccato tones from all sides. Dark melodies and a wet groove make this one a pleasure. Flegma & Nerso continue to impress and deliver another shot of their brand of vast progressive tunes. Driving, with a great mixture of highs and lows. "Daydriver" uses a nice breakbeat before launching into the same style as the previous track. They could almost be the same track, so...double the sweetness! It continues the floating vibe that the disc is soaked with. "Practicle Accelerator" picks up momentum with deep basses and high pitched whirly sounds. This is swimming with the aliens type stuff as the lead melody winds its way across the ears. "Lusid Vision" shines with its chopped up synths and simple melody. Not a lot of meat in this one, but they way it's put together makes it a very full track. Nicely done. The final track is a perfect way to end this ride. It seems to have a slower BPM and could arguably be considered almost housey, but it is spectacular. Smooth and warm with a sunset feel that brought a smile to my face. 4-Play does it again! But doesn't it always? This disc is a worthwhile addition to any progressive trance fans collection and is riddled with the classic Iono Music sound. Not a bad track in the bunch. The many effects aid in a comfortable and atmospheric listening experience. I would say this is the definition of a gem. More of this please! Psyshop Juno Records Beatspace Saikosounds Mdk

That really looks great! Looking forward. Mdk

I have to say this is some of the most melodic and beautiful trance I have heard in a long time. Thought provoking and dreamy, but not very psychedelic. I appreciate it for what it is. Afternoon on the beach with a nice breeze and a girl under your arm music. Mdk

That cover is absolutely fantastic. I know he usually produces Dark Psy, but has anyone heard it yet? Mdk

Is there anything this label isn't capable of? I mean the best sunshine, melodic goa and now this dark beast of a compilation. As a Suntrip fanboy, my words might not be the most objective, but I mean this when I say that this is a glorious exercise in movement, melody, and atmosphere. Khetzal is back with a stormer that is melodic and eerie. Like Jon, I am just happy he is back on the scene, but his track provides an excellent opening to the disc. K.O.B. for me is not what it is to everyone else. I realize that I am in the minority (and that is ok), but this style doesn't suit me and I find it empty and boring. I appreciate the attempt at a different style, but it is just not that appealing to me. This goes for other tracks by Filteria's alter ego. Now Daimon (aka Antares) owns the track of the comp for me. When that percussive lead comes in at the beginning it shapes the whole track. The foundation is laid allowing other melodies and sounds to add to this superb journey through the cosmos. Absolutely blistering. An unreleased Moonweed and Shakta track? Yes please. A very good effort and it makes me wonder why it never saw the light of day. Maybe we weren't ready for this type of experimentation back then. Psychedelic, melodic and a groover. Very enjoyable. Merr0w brings a layer rich tapestry that covers the highest of the highs and the deepest of the lows. Very lush and powerful, reminding me of Filteria's first release Sky Input. One of the best tracks here. The new school master weighs in with a great track about traveling faster than the speed of light. Illogical. The sounds fit well and the rhythm is on point. The samples are great and interesting as the melody evolves. I felt it could've been fuller on the lower end, but this is a minor quibble. This is classic Filteria with all the twisting and intensity. While still melodic I feel the chaotic element takes the spotlight here. The consistent quality of his tracks is so impressive that one can take it for granted. Another home run. A lot of work was put in by Draeke and co. to find this artist and release his tracks. I guess Suntrip did their due diligence as well. While not as aggressive as most of the tracks here, the leads are no less twisted. There isn't a lot of variety in this track, but it is still good. The last track by Nebula Meltdown is one that I had to give lots of listens to appreciate. First it is very long at 11:31 and it is slower than the rest, less chaotic. At least it seems to be. This one is more subtle and takes a few minutes to get going, but when it does, the acid lines erupt. The chopped up strings add an airy, spacey feel giving a relaxing or contemplative state of mind to finish out the compilation. Great stuff! Mdk

I just have one question...what significance does the 303 hold? Artifact303, Atom303, now Beast 303. Must mean sumpin'? Mdk

Good for you man. Whatever you're doing, keep it up. When and if an album is released I will be happy to buy it. Mdk

Hey Filipe are you shopping your new Buddha tracks around? I see 4 on your YouTube channel. Your 2nd album hasn't come out and you are well on your way to your 3rd! Mdk

Great stuff man. Glad to see the Buddha back in business. Mdk

Superb man. Just blinding from all the sunshine melodies. My current favorite is the Liquid Flow and the Antares tracks as they just feel very powerful. Mdk

I am very fond of the melody of MFG's "Dark Waters." Eerie and just flows so well. Man With No Name's "Teleport" is pretty diesel also. Funny nobody mentioned any new school goa. Comment on the scene? Mdk

With the plummeting Euro, this is an awesome deal. Hell, even without that it's awesome. Mdk

What the hell is wrong with me? I try to keep it varied. Mdk

New track? This isn't on the 2nd album according to the promo. Work on a 3rd album? Loved the growling bassline and the dreamy melodies. Has a high-tech feel with a touch of mysticism. Only one thing bothered me, the repetitive snare roll. Other than that, top quality as always. You've got the touch brother. Mdk

I was also impressed with this offering. Very melodic and easy to digest. Mdk

Artist: Xatrik Title: The Demarkation Area EP Label: Digital Psionics Date: May, 2010 1. Halleluya 2. The Demarkation Area 3. Hands Up! 4. Up The Mark The South African sound is my favorite type of psytrance. It is intense, beat heavy, and chaotic. It is very dance friendly and melodic without the hint of cheese. When I saw this, I knew I was going to get it. Xatrik is Greg Hamber who has released 2 full length albums as well as a huge amount of compilation material. When his first album came out in 2004 (Project A) I wasn't that impressed. He didn't start picking up his game until the Psionic Distortion disc and he hasn't looked back. He brings all the things I mentioned before to his tracks as well as a dark, brooding atmosphere. There is acid and lasers and the inability to control oneself. This 4 track EP is his latest release and it promises more of the same. High energy dance inducing madness complete with his wary hi-tech feel. To me, this is psytrance. It has it all, sounding super crisp all the way. Get it. Beatspace Mdk

I have to bump this because it is that good. This is South African intense psytrance done better than South Africans do it. This is 3d vision Absolum crazy and should get the attention it deserves. So far this is the best release for 2009 for me and I will go further. Best product to come out of Mexico. Ever. Mdk