Jon Cocco

Update: December, 2008. FINALLY http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/won/won1cd003.html

Wow, this is a mighty generous Holiday gift. Usually weak albums are given out for free with few exceptions. But this is strong. Like buy-worthy strong! I'll move the rest of this to the review thread, 2008 section!

Excellent.

MFG - THE MESSAGE 2000 PHONOKOL RECORDS Track list: 01. 08'20" Have A Nice Day 02. 09'19" Wonderland 03. 09'03" Brainwaves 04. 07'17" Walking On Ice 05. 09'22" Free Like God (New Version) 06. 08'20" Rise And Fall 07. 08'17" Welcome To The Edge 08. 09'06" Dark Waters 09. 09'26" The Message MFG's first departure from PURE GOA-TRANCE is a very, VERY melodic (with cinematic-esque overtures at times), thoughtful, and unexpectedly solid and beautiful PSYTRANCE album. A part of me does miss the Goa heavy influence. At least something feels missing. Maybe it's that spiritual element that Seraph mentioned. The magic of youth? I don't know. But I love that this is NO ordinary Psytrance album either! It's engagingly emotive at times (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 9), complex (3, 5, 8), and contemplative (2, 9). There are some stand out, powerful moments. But the trip this time around lacks the playfulness, eager energy, and complexity of their previous albums. They've matured in some ways. Their sound is smoother than ever. Production values are excellent. It's just not PURE GOA anymore.This is a melodic Psytrance album with touches of Goa/Goa influence. The emotive (warmer, more euphoric at times) factor beginning with Have A Nice Day is excellent. I just have to be in the mood to appreciate MFG's psytrance over Goa approach with this album. In enjoying it for what it is, I think many will enjoy it, and if I were to rate the song's, it would look something like this-- 01. Have A Nice Day - B+ 02. Wonderland - A- 03. Brainwaves - B+ 04. Walking On Ice - B+ / A- 05. Free Like God (New Version) - A- 06. 08'20" Rise And Fall - B+ 07. 08'17" Welcome To The Edge - B+ 08. 09'06" Dark Waters - A- 09. 09'26" The Message - A CONCLUSION This is a great PSYTRANCE album. MFG started out in the shadow of Astral Projection, but they broke out with their second and most definitely their radical third album. This is a mature, emotive, and passionately produced release. It's unique and has aged well since 2000. I do agree that it lacks a certain magnetic, playful energy. The album feels a little more digital at times, and that may be their shift from Goa to Psy. I simply hope others can enjoy this for what it is, not expecting a Goa follow up to the style of Project Genesis, let alone any of their past three classics. MFG didn't lower their standards to produce a conventional full on trance album. In stead they created a Psytrance hybrid of sorts and the result is a melodic, unique, trance-y, and engaging album with some exciting surprises, great usage of samples and musical TUNES, buildups, and climaxes. Oh, and there IS Goa influence regarding some of the mixing and synths incorporated into the Psytrance. And the last track is excellent! Favorite tracks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9 A-

Nice review Lemmiwinks. I like how you added in the stronger/weaker aspects too. Initially I wasn't sure what to think of the samples (lighter on melodies, didn't like that). But returning back to them the album seems more interesting, twisted, very psychedelic and atmospheric. I like that. Anyway I'll post a review when I get it. It's not on psyshop yet unfortunately and currently out of stock on saikosounds, means people are buying it up anyway. Should be back soon. I'll bookmark this. Samples http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=7382

It's currently available again. It comes and goes. Everyone here who hasn't got it; they should get it now before it goes again. This is my kind of aggressive Goatrance 100% percent. Specifically: Tracks 1, 3, 6. These tracks for me are more addictive than any of the other songs on the album, although The System has several superb "hook" segments. Furthermore, I find these three tracks more infectious than anything Hallucinogen has ever produced accept for Trancespotter, Shakey Shaker, and maybe 2-3 others, L.S.D (but the synth work wasn't as crazy addictive in L.S.D. IMO, but I love the song). For me, this several tracks are up there with Pleiadians. Tandu - Multimoods is possibly in the top 5 or 3 most infectious albums in Goa and Psytrance due to several tracks. It's the synth work. Naturally they're quite imaginative and skilled on a technical level but what it comes down to is the synth work. For instance, the synth work from 7:08 to around 7:47 in Alien Pump. There's something about the synth work that is very interesting here. It's like, this sound suspends every other sound in the environment; I become completely submissive, unconscious of all other sounds when this synth work takes present. Same thing around 3:52 into Naughty Moves. The streaming, blazing, echoed Goa melody is awesome yes, but there's something arresting with the sound. It's like an addictive sound that takes over my brain. In life certain sounds, visuals, or feels affect each and everyone of us differently. But the work here, many people agree with me, there's something interesting about it, how it affects the senses. Alien Pump, Naughty Moves and Visually Distorted are stunning, infectious killers. Those tracks alone would last a stunning war up against any three tracks from any artist/album in electronica.

Violet Vision - First Sign Of Communication BNE 2001 Track listing: 01. Divine Conflict 02. Inside The Glass Shell 03. Fingering Nuns On Mars 04. 3 Martians 05. Sense 06. Violet's Vision 07. Momentary Lapse Of Consciousness 08. Substance 44 09. Grey Matter 10. Panic Disorder First Sign Of Communication is more original, cutting edge, and refreshing today than almost anything that released in 2001 and few PSY and Downtempo albums since. At times the album sounds like what a Hallucinogen downbeat album could have sounded like to some degree, at one time or another. First Sign Of Communication is innovative, interesting, creative, daring, and psychedelic with elements of surprise and beauty. Evolution is BIG here, for those less into progressive trance. This is very psychedelic downbeat and midtempo music with uptempo work too. I wish they continued to develop their psychedelic-break-downbeat-trance-electro-tech-experimental STYLE here as opposed to what came later so far. This is by far their best release to date. Erez of Infected Mushroom mastered it in his prime. When IM was releasing albums that most people considered excellent. I'm not a big fan of how the album begins, though I find it great on a technical level. After the zip/break PSY/electronica opening and break-turned downtempo second number however, my panties start to get wet, starting with track 3. But just a little. They get soaked however as the album progresses. 01. Divine Conflict starts with a strange voice sample coupled with gentle, emotive notes of ambient. Slowly the sound develops. This reminds me of something I'd later hear from FuturePrimitive - Subconsciousness. The beat picks up along with the entrance of psychedelic sounds that are emphasized, crisp. Innovative more or less, drums roll, the tempo picks up with the growing beat and the intricate artwork around it. An emotive sound coupled with hymns and an intriguing interlude from around 2:50 to 3:45 are all well done. The segment from 3:15 to 3:45, before the beat is very floating, spacey! The beat returns with breaks and fresh melodies. New psy sounds are highlighted; they're brought into the forefront of the music. I like that. The song changes tempo, switching up the breaks/no breaks ideas, a varied stylish mix, now moving at a faster beat and rhythm. The song's hard to remember once over because it changes so much. There's enough ideas here to create several interesting songs. The song's unlike anything I've ever heard, it's innovative and catchy and more or less good and/or great! You decide. B+ 2. Inside The Glass Shell begins with strange, altered machine voices. It follows up the previous track nicely so far. Those into those fast break combos will likely enjoy this. Chopped up voice samples and sound effects fly around the moving beat and breaks. Cool articulated sounds sprinkle as if in fast motion. I like the first three minutes of this track. It's very hyper and energetic, crazy, fast. Around 2:57 the entire tempo slows down from hyper crazy to chill, downbeat. An ethnic voice appears in the background to the gentle melody. It's a unique shift into the downtempo realm where the album is gradually developing, less previous in element via the opening track. A male singing voice begins around 4:04 and this is really the only track you'll hear voices like this on. I don't mind it so much but I prefer the otherwise vocal free album. The voice work is soon altered or overlapped by an electronica effect. For the final two or so minutes the song is free of voices. Overall a unique track that goes from crazy breaks/tech electronica to downtempo with gentle singing. Good work but lacks excellence; this is my least favorite track here. B 3. Fingering Nuns On Mars is an elegant, opera-esque downbeat, stylish beauty with breaks, catchy melody/sound work, minor dub influence, and an ethereal, ambient edge, numerous cool psy sounds and more throughout. The beautiful opera voice goes with the music quite well as it evolves. It's unique, as it comes and goes. There is a very chill party around 1:50 too where all sounds fade but a badass beat, rhythm and tone. The song arrests my attention the most so far; it tell one story throughout as opposed to shooting through different transitions to the degree of the previous two tracks. The part around 4:00 to 4:20 is beautiful! Great work! B+ 4. 3 Maetians is great, maybe to see where Prometheous potentially got some of his ideas from before forming own unique style. The track starts out pretty good. It picks up a hard hitting, fast beat a la later-Prometheus into the middle section. The final two or three minutes beginning around 8:52 are just great. These goa melodies evolve with the song as it blossoms with a strong yet slow melody lead around 9:17. The star is given huge support around 9:42. The song sounds like a Simon Postford and Benji collaboration with a touch of something else, a strong emotive tune via Silent Hill maybe from those moody soundtracks. This a great number. The last third beginning around 8:08 is excellent. I'm curious to know what people into Prometheous and Younger Brother's first album think of this one here. B+ 5. Sense is a strong and heavy beat, a catchy and romantic/sexual, downbeat dream number. This is one of the best downbeat numbers IMO. Just listen to it on the samples below. It's great, excellent. A- 6. Violet's Vision is a momentary interlude. 17 seconds. No score. It's too short. This kind of relaxes the senses a little bit in between two big downbeat numbers. 7. Momentary Lapse Of Consciousness is another strong downbeat, downtempo number. It's great; this is another one of those infected, shpongle influenced numbers. Experimental, acidy work surround the less perception altering sounds. It takes time to grow and is just as if not even more attractive in some ways than Sense, though less accessible to the general person. Many cool, little effects and change up plague the chill ridden atmosphere as the beat pushes it through nearly continuous, delecate evolution. Another great, excellent song! beat A- 8. Substance 44 is a more experimental downbeat/tempo number with a faster beat being played within the atmospheric Chill world and feel. Later on the song becomes quite cybernetic, faster, and more driving. The dreamy sounds melt into the drive, thus relaxing the senses as the beat becomes less prominent before a unique interlude. It's catchy! A WONDERFUL, euphoric and soaring downtempo evolution and melody lead suddenly appears around 6:00. Both the change and melody, composure is beautiful. Maybe it's a bit too loud over the beat, but that depends on your stereo I suppose. This is a strong downtempo track filled with passioin, style and substance. A- 9. Gray Matter is the more minimal, crazy breaks/Psy number. The song is dynamic and fast, mostly relying on a breaks/tech emphasis amongst psysounds and tempo/sound effect shifts. It's unlike anything I'm used to. IMO this is one of the less accessible tracks on the album unless you have a thing for breaks. In that sense, it's very cool. The melody/sound work around the beats adds healthy support. I probably wouldn't have liked this song if such work around the breaks wasn't present. Nonetheless, the track's a breakbeat hyper kid. It's quite artistic and raises the bar as to what's been done before with breaks/psy music. B+ 10. Panic Disorder follows up with breaks and adds strong layers of ambient and various, emotive melody/sound work around the stirring beat and breaks. Okay I must say that the first half of this song is outstanding. The second half is good/great and if it was as innovative with ideas and cybernetic energy as the first I'd give this a solid A. The voice sample's compliment the choir. The song from the get-go evolves into an infectious, cybernetic, computerized, sound skipping, brain candy, psychedelic mind trip on melting walls, beat and rhythm. And that's just the first half. As it progresses it seems to calm down a bit, becoming less intense and layered. Overall this is an excellent, dynamic, innovative, and animated closing track. The damn 2:30 sample is okay... it gives no justice to everything I just wrote about it. Big picture: Excellent work! A- In conclusion, this is an awesome release. Not everyone will say so but I think the general reviews here agree. This album is one of a kind in the PSY genre. Will the group please get back to making strong downbeat/tempo albums in the PSY genre please. This is what they're best at. There is actually a huge market for strong downbeat, downtempo albums now days more than ever. The album begins quite experimental, though techinically impressive, and for this reason, I think the general person may not know what to think right away. It takes time to grow as does the rest of the album. Believe me. Nonetheless, as the album progresses, these strong, more-or-less powerful downtempo tracks start coming, one after another. Then the crazy break combos start coming over the downbeat numbers; midtempo work is evolved from previous downbeat drives along with infectious, driving cybernetic computer melodies, psy sounds, ambient, more or less skipping, tripped out and more. The style is imaginative, innovative, groundbreaking, and IMO wonderful, absorbing, and at times infectious. I always forget how strong this album is until I hear it again. If you're looking for strong downbeat, downtempo work, well that begins right after track 4 with exception to track 3 more or less and elements of track 2. There's just so much going on here, and with so much variety in the electroncia/down-mid beat genre, it's impressive. Violet Vision hit so many right cords when they produced this album. They just needed to find their audience and I don't think they found enough people at the time to hang on so they changed their style. I really wish they hadn't and would return to the source of making powerful downbeat/tempo work but for our time now. There's one track with voice work, singing, and that's Inside The Glass Shell. It's not a big deal because I know a handful of people don't like singing in downtempo music with few exceptions, OTT for instance. The majority of this pie is delicious! First Sign Of Communication is one of the best experimental and innovative PSYCHEDELIC down and midtempo albums I've ever heard. Love it or hate it, it's an innovative mind trip with strong beats, melodies, and a plethora of unique concepts that will likely grow on the general psy/downbeat listener. Excellent release! Favorite tracks: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 A- Samples Check BNE's website to see if it's currently available if you like these below. If not, click the "Add to Wishlist" button so that the "wants" come up in their system. http://www.saikosoun...ase.asp?id=2151 +1

Whoa... those are huge words mate. I just wonder why this album hasn't been reviewed since July, 08. I came across it for the first time while searching for another album in the 2008 section today. Samples sound pretty cool, unique, psychedelic. Loads Of Laughter sounds so repetitive though. Nonetheless I may put this on my wish list. Tracks 5 and 6 grabbed my attention. It seems like this artist is really trying to do something new in the field. He appears to have a lot of potential to produce an amazing album (an album with more more dynamic and infectious songs his this style). I'll post a review when and/or if I get the album. Samples http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=7017

This was AP's title. What is the status of Astral Projection anyway? Do they still make music anymore? I loved their music growing up. I wish they released a masterpiece once every 4 years or something. But I suppose I'd rather it end with Another World (most people remember this as their final anyway) then rehash their older works and take edge away from their glory days anyway.

DOOF - LET'S TURN ON TIP RECORDS 1996 Track listing: 01. 07'10" Let's Turn On 02. 06'13" Mars Needs Women (96 Mix) 03. 07'59" Youth Of The Galaxy (Final Demand Mix) 04. 07'36" Double Dragons 05. 07'45" Sunshrine 06. 07'29" Secret Sun (Sunbeam Mix) 07. 08'00" "Key To The Innerverse" or "ANGELINA" 08. 08'21" Destination Bom 09. 11'45" Star Above Parvati (Bijli Mahadev Mix) 01. Let's Turn On invites the listener into a world of fantasy. The song begins beautifully, with waves of ambient and atmosphere. The track's actual introductory sound is magical. The first half of the song is great. The middle interlude is floating, and the second half produces some of the tastiest sound/melody textures that I have ever heard. The song flows and evolves extremely well from beginning to end. It makes me wonder why Nick Doof quit making Goa trance, as this is just the opening song and already I'm desiring more. Superb track. A 02. Mars Needs Women (96 Mix) is a great number. The Goa melody lead arriving at 3:16 is just jumping out like a healthy starfish to dance beside me. Talk about liquid-dynamic sound waves. The development around this element into the atmospheric interlude is wonderful. The beat-free interlude keeps it dancing as well. This is a super song! A- 03. Youth Of The Galaxy (Final Demand Mix) will make you smile. The evolution in this artist's work is super. However this offers more of an attitude and character to its colorful body. This is a strong and positive sounding, race-across-the-galaxy track with an infectious melody driven interlude and more. I think it could have soured higher in the end but overall the song is bliss. A- 04. Double Dragons is yet another strong number. I'm starting to sound repetitive here but the album is just that good. Nonetheless, I find this track fairly less infectious than the previous three, though I found the previous track slightly less addictive than the two before that. This is a driving number regardless. It just sounds similar in some sounds and a bit less refreshing than the previous tracks. Though some people love it more or less. You decide! I think it's good/great, just nothing superb. B+ 05. Sunshrine is a beautiful, uplifting and soaring across the sky number. Comprised with a big heart and enough feel good melody/sound work to turn sadness into light. It's a great, euphoric sunrise track. A- 06. Secret Sun (Sunbeam Mix) is more aggressive and layered than the previous, more dreamy dance number. As the song progresses it forms a sweet, hypnotic Goa band causing one of those subtle shift/vibrations. Cool. Although it's pretty much a point A to B type drive, it gets where its going in a refreshing style and speed. Great track! A- 07. Key To The Innerverse A.K.A. Angelina(?) appears strange on the track list because my track says ANGELINA. It's my favorite track on the album anyway next to the first one. The vocal work is marvelous in how a female saying one name compliments an also super, and infectious nighttime beauty flying across the blues and purples cosmic energy as if on heaven's wings with a touch of mischief. You know, I'm not going to lie or let symbolism and/or poetry sum up the track review alone. What's most impressive is the melody work beginning around 2:53. It's creates a driving, euphoric high; here this is the melody lead/star. Surprisingly it doesn't appear again until 7:04. Most alternative songs are 3-4 long and repeat the chorus at least three times in that length. I suppose this hook could have been integrated once more but this isn't a flaw. The track is wonderful. Superb work! A 08. Destination Bom is my least favorite track on the album; it's the only one that seems a bit redundant, less polished and imaginative relative to the others. It has various strong elements however, a growing ambient that compliments the driving psychedelic Goa racing headlights and the end becomes quite infectious/layered waffle style. But the path to that seldom changes pace, dynamics, or rhythm. Occasional sounds come and go around a brief interlude. The least strong song here is one of the stronger songs compared to 9/10 Psytrance albums to put it nicely. Cool track! B+ 09. Star Above Parvati (Bijli Mahadev Mix) is one of the most unexpected Goa closing tracks. It's more Psy/downbeat dub Chill track rather than a Goa/Psy downtempo number. Overall it's very well done with numerous elements of beauty and contemmplation. B+ In conclusion, this is one of the BEST Goa-Trance albums. Own it. Love it. Play it over and over. It's timeless. Over 10 years later this both deserves and has received by general Psy/Goa fan consensus classic status. IMO not every track is outstanding. But the least strong work here is good and/or great. Furthermore, some of the greatest tracks ever produced in Goa, in Electronica in general are on it. Let's Turn On is a super positive sounding album too which some how manages to prevail the odds without without sounding cheesy. Oh, and the cover's delectably cheerful and fun, just like the music. Favorite tracks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, A-

I have a request. Two actually and the first is quite a sinch a la easy as cake. First, over the years I have often forgotten that there is a review thread for classic album DOOF - LET'S TURN ON. This is because who ever opened the thread in 1996 failed to write "Doof." It inaccurately says: V/A - Lets Turn On, thus not producing an immediate result in the search engine when typing in "Doof." It would be more accessible this as "Doof - Let's Turn On" as the full artist/album title receptively. From the actual V/A - Let's Turn On thread. Can someone please fix this error? Delete V/A and add "Doof." ? See here.. http://www.psynews.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=35142 Second, I've mentioned this before. A handful of forum posters agree, some appear indifferent and a few don't see the point. But a handful do. Is it possible to get a sub forum in either the psynews.ORG or the General Psytrance section called "Favorites" where all the general favorite threads can be placed?? A handful appear every year, sometimes doubles, often times remakes without he or she knowing that 10 of "Your top 10 Psytrance albums ever" reviews have been done before. Can we just have a "favorites" sub-forum? Can someone just do a search for "Best of" and "Favorite(s)" threads and place them there? I'm not sure how the site's coded so I don't know if this takes that much work or not, to create a subform and move these there. It would just be nice since "Favorites" are so ridiculously popular. Everyone can relate to favorites. Furthermore, the "Best of 2008" threads can be here as well I suppose, or not. That's up to the site masters. Is this doable?

HAHAHA. I wrote that??! MWWWAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!! Just kididng.

It's about time they give this a real release. I didn't know if certain people were waiting for the stars to burn out in the sky. Several have actually while waiting for this album! I'm glad to see this finally getting a release. It's deserved it for 10 years. Also happy to hear about the mastering. What Tim Schuldt did with Dimenion 5 - Transdimensional Re-Release via Suntrip Records was great. Thank you. Well that just about sums it up then. Now it's up to hearing the final mastered release for itself. I like the cover. It's cool. Samples 1. Lunar Civilization (Pleiadians Remix) 2. Antonomasia (Lotus Omega Remix) 3. Daffy Duck (On The Comet) 4. Cerealogy 5. Pentagon 6. Classic Process (Hale-Bopp) 7. Full Mental Jackpot (Etnica Remix II) 8. No More Singles

Entheogenic - Flight of the Urubus Universal Symbiosis Records 2008 Track List: 1. Skullcap 2. Trara 3. Araras 4. Entheogen Spice 5. Microcondian 6. Urubus 7. Vervain 8. Fellowship 9. Rio Barra 10. Itaipava I like these artists for recycling and caring about the environment. But making their album difficult to order off any site but their own for months was not fun. Whatever the reason, to build internet buzz maybe, I don't know -- I finally got it so I can relate to all the fuss and decide what I think of the album. Entheogenic changed a variety of things here relative to previous releases. Such changes include relatively shorter tracks, more tracks, a stronger emphasis on downbeat and psychedelic edge over chill, and more. I'm happy with the changes and I felt that these artists needed to reinvent themselves in some ways in order to make more of an impact in the downtempo genre. This is no excuse to slack off however. The next album should be just as if not even stronger. I skipped buying 2006'a Golden Cap, though I wanted to after hearing The Solution Machine followed by a few others. Flight of the Urubus will be the first album I give a real review to by them. 1. Skullcap begins with the sound of think, running water followed by gentle key notes and several strange instrumental sounds. It sounds organic and enhanced via customized software options. It's also a bit psychedelic. A main melody part appears around 1:51 before the beat picks up. As the song progresses I become more conscious of the altered, distorted instrumental effects; the notes purposefully tweeked to emphasis the psychedelic effect I presume. From around 4:50 into the fifth the rumbling sound works well with the song. But there is a displeasing sound being generated from this distorted orchestra. I like the concept of changing instruments, but playing a bunch of sounds that appear to be coming from half broken musical devices only goes so far before getting on my nerves. I like their experimentation and the concept but I'm no fan of how the idea is implemented here with few exceptions. This is an okay track. So far I'm not impressed. C+ 2. Trara is both friendlier on the ears and generally catchier than the opening. It's more driving and appears to become more involving and interesting as it progresses. I like the streaking melody emphasis however along with various other sounds, melodies. It's cool. Now take the cool elements and make a super song with them. The group has the ingredients to produce something even better in the future, and this shows clear potential. Cool track, nothing spectacular. B- 3. Araras is IMO the first solid or good/great track on the album. The opening melody work is strong, contemplative and the voice sample enhances it. The beat is stronger. Sound effects compliment the beat, various psy sounds melt into the ambient, atmosphere, and the song develops in a positive way. Numerous instruments are incorporated into the mix and everything works well, but the melody lead around 2:45 is great! The entire track is built around a hook, a chorus in a sense coupled with a unique voice sample that is never overdone or irritating, though what's being said isn't all that interesting. I like it. The harder drum work at times adds to the dynamics; that returning melody, again around 4:00 is great, and how the track changes up, evolves with it is strong. The song runs shorter than most tracks I've heard by them but the quality over quantity really shines. Good if not great track! B+ 4. Entheogen Spice is more cheerful, upbeat. The melody work reminds me of their earlier work. The sound effects, psy water droplets and more enhance these old school elements with nice, new school packaging. The first half is a little redundant. The violen work and melody is catchy. The voice is a little awkward. Most people don't know what this person is saying anyway. It isn't bad however, though it does little to enhance the music. The piano work towards the end adds a nice touch. Overall, a pretty good song. B- 5. Microcondian is very cool. Here is the darker, more atmospheric number on the album. Consider this, not a sequel, but the follow up to The Solution Machine, possibly my favorite track from Entheogenic's previous 2006 album. The hard beat jumps in around 1:35. It's great. Sounds of swords clash as the rustling of chains shake from the pirate ship sailing on a dark mission. The melody work from 2:29 crossing over into the third minute is great. I like how moody and atmospheric this song is. An interlude takes place around 3:30. More strong melody work around 4:12. It's very cool to see this group create with a strong concept and execution a gripping song I'd consider in the darker realm of downtempo. Nice work! Each act seems to have a strong element that carries the number further into a healthy evolution, regardless of the health present with the characters in the story. The choir around 6:00 is good too and the atmosphere makes the song even more interesting. This track gives the album more variety in a good way. I could be happy with an entire album in this darker style actually but I know not everyone would agree with that. Anyway, this is one of my favorite tracks here. Great, excellent track! B+ / A- 6. Urubus is anotehr cheerful, upbeat number, one I find far more fun and upbeat, catchy than the other cheerful Entheogen Spice. This is faster, uplifting, and filled with life. No voice exists either to distract from the layers of music and speed. Good, great track! We're finally on a role again. I'm not complaining about the shorter length, long as the song is strong and preferably over 5-6 minutes at least B+ 7. Vervain is a slower, more romantic number. Finally these artists have produced a somewhat floating and euphoirc track with a medium speed, beat, and drive in a non intense way that compliments their style. Finally. The interlude in the middle is good. This The music continues, it's strong, feel good. The cheering towards the end is very positive too, and all other voice work. Great work! So far the variety on this album is healthy and solid with few (what I consider) dips. B+ 8. Fellowship appears to have more of a Jazz/organic influence. There is a stronger sound in the forfront while the band plays not far behind it. Overall a decent track with some nice musical elements. It becomes more layered as it progresses but the overall song is nothing great. Decent track. C+ 9. Rio Barra is more Jazz or at least lounge oriented with a present, strong tune varietion similar in tempo and style, basially a cousin to my first favorite melody on the album via Araras. This sound works well to compliment the slower, more chilled Jazz band. The song would be lacking and less enjoyable without it, in my opinion. The group as made a track that can appeal to both Jazz and downtempo fans to some degree. While I don't care for this song very much, it's pretty good, just nothing riveting or all that eventful, desirable to sink my teeth into. B- 10. Itaipava is the first song to take advantage of those altered voice sound effects a la Madonna's "Die Another Day" theme song in 2002's self titled Bond flick. Also in 2008's "OTT - Skylon" album. Overall I don't like the effect in general; I'm glad they kept it short here as it cheapens the song, as effect taken advantage of over the years to compensate for singers who lack tapping their diaphragm, though that may not be the case here. I just don't like the effect in general, same with Infected Mushoom's Erez who probably needs it to not sound as bad. The song itself is a decent, fairly good world/ethnic instrumental piece coupled. The group could have ended the album with something stronger, more appealing. It's not bad at least, but my least favorite track on the album. A more or less decent ending to an otherwise strong album. C+ In conclusion, Flight of the Urubus is a stronger album than recent releases by Entheogenic and quite possibly their best release since the first two. The style has been reworked and modernized in a way that I feel delivers a refreshing approach to the downtempo/Psy genre, from what this group has done previously. Not everyone will love it or be pleased, and I clearly see room for improvement on this more more dynamic, less chilled albeit influenced at times style. I felt more involved with the album on the third number, Araras. This prizes the strong melody/sound work I'd love to see this group develop and continue to evolve, as it's one of their gifts. There's a dark track I really like called Microcondian; it's very cool and moody; I'd love to see more works like this one too. The album is comprised with a handful of good and great tracks. Several decent, not so great tracks exist as well. This is a good album overall, maybe great, though a bit overrated relative to some comments I read here. I mean, we knew these artists had potential to produce something more novel, energetic and here it is. It's cool to see them awakening to more of their potential. Unfortunately, a far from stellar beginning and end takes away from the bigger picture. I'm happy to have finally heard/bought the album. It's one of the better, possibly one of the best downtempo releases of 2008 with more emphasis on the Psy. A bit less on the Chill, floating aspects that made certain previous albums more peaceful and in some ways dull and/or redundant at times. There are chill aspects nonetheless that work well into the more exercised style and sound. I'd like to see Entheogenic build more imaginative, passionate, and powerful, memorable songs in the direction (and continue to innovate in positive ways) of their strongest work here. Good album! Favorite tracks: 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9. B Samples http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/usr/usr1cd001.html I like the album too but I wouldn't go calling it a classic and saying that it goes "far beyond the Psy scene." This seemed like such a "perfect" review of the album. I became utterly suspecious after reading it. Actually I wouldn't be suprised if a couple (not many but several) posters showed up here to, yeah. This is a cool album that deserves attention OMO. But to call it a classic?? It is far too soon to even think of words so big. As of November 29 this person has posted one comment. Can you guess which one it is? Now this sounds sincere, and not because Healium focused on +/- either. I actually believe what he says here, and it comes across as a short and to the point express review.

Interesting. I was wondering the status of Nystagmus. I had no idea about this until now. Samples http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=7499 Some sounds pretty good IMO. Often times with samples I have to go back after hearing them at some other time and hear them again. Thanks for sharing. If anyone gets it, please don't hesitate to open a fresh review thread.

NOT which is your favorite album or which is the strongest album in Psytrance. No. We've done that 100x before The question is: Which group or artist has released the MOST strong albums? If you asked my opinion.. Juno Reactor That 2008 album didn't impress me though, but it had its moments. They've released around 7 (!!!) albums if you include Luciana. - 2004: Labyrinth - 2000: Shango - 1997: Bible of Dreams - 1996: Beyond the Infinite - 1994: Tansmissions Astral Projection I can name at least 3-4 and you know which ones they are. I;ll add Astral Files too for being a strong remix album mainly. - 1999: Another World - 1997: Dancing Galaxy - 1996: The Astral Files - 1996: Trust In Trance MFG Because the've released at least 3-4 strong albums. - New Kind of World - Project GEnesis - The Prophecy X-Dream I hope the next album is great, if there is a next album (?!). Add their side projects. Albums I didn't find great not listed below. - The Delta - Scizoeffective (side project) - COP (side project) - Radio - We Created Our Own Happiness - Trip to... Hallucinogen Because Twisted is awesome and The Lone Deranger is a strong follow up IMO. So this artist is 2 for 2 here. 1 out of 1 doesn't count for this thread. You need several strong albums.

JUNO REACTOR - BEYOND THE INFINITE BLUE ROOM RECORDS 1995 (though my album says 1996) Track listing: 01. 07'11" Guardian Angel 02. 08'08" Magnetic 03. 07'03" Ice Cube 04. 07'39" Feel The Universe 05. 06'54" Razorback 06. 08'17" Samurai 07. 06'36" Silver 08. 08'19" Rotorblade 09. 07'10" Mars Well said Yerg. I agree with just about everything you wrote. I decided to hear the album again this evening. All tracks are great, excellent, and/or superb. This album remains strong, vivacious, daring (adventurous), and wonderful 8 years later. I like it far more as a main album than anything they've released since Labyrinth. Even then, I like this more. Favorite tracks: All of them. Beyond the Infinite is my favorite album by Juno Reactor to date.

You're not entitled but always free to your opinion. I hate the world entitled when it comes to freedom; it's like having conditions, and that's my opinion. Moreover, there's no such thing as an A+ from me. An A captures scores from 9.4 to 10. Like college grades here in the USA at least. Naturally a 4.0 is a 100% or an A, but I don't do the little decimels in my head. Although if you insisted I gave one song a 10 if I had to choose one, it would be Asterope, but again, that's subjective even if 9/10 people agree. Let's not get into that here. Nothing is perfect essentially but to the mind that believes it so. And yes, there is always room for improvement but the artist is not far from getting an A from me if he continues to improve. I don't know if anyone knows this but the last new school act/album I gave an A to was... it has NOT happened to date. Not Filteria. Not Khetzal. Not even RA. In my heart I don't like the scoring thing as much as some people may think. If I focus too much on the scoring part I end up not enjoying the music as much; it becomes a job, like work, an analysis process and that's the point I suppose. Also, not everyone will agree with me and I respect that. That's one of the reasons why I often write openings and conclusions to my reviews. Because if I just throw grades around it seems less explained why I find the song good, great, excellent, and/or superb aka outstanding, potentially groundbreaking, etc. Is this album groundbreaking? For psytrance and music in general, the answer is yes. I breaks ground. It innovates and elevates the Psytrance genre in some ways. Again, I don't want to have a discussion about this here; I just want people to know who are or were ever curious. To be honest, I didn't buy this album because after hearing it for free, it took the edge off from me feeling more encouraged to buy it; however I've become more appreciative and "present (read my sig below on this)" without how wonderful this artist is for giving us the option to hear it for free. I have also told more people about this artist since, and directed them to various pages where on saikosouns for instance, it was UNAVAILBLE to buy. This should be available there. I think $10 for this album is hugely generous, a sale/discount price for one of the best albums I have ever heard, and I would really like to buy the next album. Once it's done and the artist is happy with it. So there Jikkenteki you see. We like your music from all over the world. Keep it up! Blow us away on the next release! Awesome. Or, cool! From what I've heard some people think the word, umm.. they don't say awesome in their country.

DARK NEBULA - ROBOTIC TONGUE Digital Psionics 2004 2004 1. Bugz Me 2. Phenomology 3. Fire Offering 4. Toxic Reality 5. Structural Failure 6. Sajuuk Khar 7. Hyperspace Core 8. Hordes Of The Nebula 9. Sea Of Turbulent Sound Robotic Tongue is the first album I bought by Dark Nebula. Going through the samples, I came across a few tracks that sounded good but it was Structural Failure that sold me on this one. Fortunately, it isn't the only strong track and there's a reason why people seem to like it so much I suppose. It's pretty awesome actually. Some of the works a bit lackluster and repetitive unfortunately. Even the decent songs have good elements but the stronger songs elevate the genre in some ways. Listening to samples, I noticed that this group has released some albums that are pretty weak or at least far from great, at least the extended samples didn't impress. I've also heard their first album but some the tracks generally have a similar sound, feel. The songs stand out more on this release; more characteristics take place to distinguish each one, making the album more enjoyable to listen to straight through. RobotiC Tongue's first two tracks have a forgettable male voice, basically the unintended narrator on the journey comprised of few voice samples. He's quite distracting in the opening, though this is presented in a cheeky way. The male's voice work is ultimately forgettable. Thankfully, surprisingly he is replaced by a cybernetic, Sci-Fi female computer voice, who is far more appealing, interesting, and desirable. It's like the group was toying with the listener and then WHAM -- demands our attention that they're not playing around any longer. If that's the case, I like the artist's attitude and expect strong releases from them. Naturally, this female voice leads the dark/atmospheric vehicle through SPACE and into armageddon, or total finalization. Fortunately, the tracks her voice is on are so strong that ironically, as the ship approaches peril, I don't want to get out. By the time we explode, quite literally in super song Structural Failure, it was worth it. I like smart, strong ideas and having her here compliments the album. 1. Bugz Me begins interesting with various cool, dark background soundscapes. These artists produce some very good background atmospheric, sound work I noticed, as the first 0.20 of here for instance. Many people notice the small details long as they aren't so subtle. They're cool. I don't care for the guitar however, but it's okay. There are some very strange animal sounds and a male, voice sample that ironically asks if his annoying voice annoys us. Some people may take this voice to repetition as a joke, but I take this track as a cheap excuse to be here; it's rather filler, far from good and the joke wares out early on. Overall an okay track, arguably humorous in a shallow way and/or bad depending on how you look at it. If this album is supposed to represent the kickass in dark Psytrance Dark Nebula, I'm so far unimpressed. C 2. Phenomology is much better, more involving and fun than the opening. It's solid, driving, filled with crunchy textures and some pretty cool melody/sound work. The middle third is cool, though my favorite part begins around 6:40 as the melody combination becomes more layered and catchy, improves; this is great to dance too. I just wish there was more of it. The song's pretty good, nothing great. B 3. Fire Offering begins with a very dark sample, soundscapes. This is darker and very different overall from those before it. I like it much more actually. Less heavy beat and bass line; this is less intense, more melody/sound intricate, layered, focused and strong in that regard. The song develops very well as it progresses and the atmosphere compliments it. Things change up too, around 4:20 and again with the melody combinations around 4:44. It's catchy. Evolution tracks like these are fun to listen to, long as the song is consistently strong or gets better as it progresses. Both can be attributes to this one here. I also like the variety of sound and flow, ideas and execution; the song sounds completely different from all other tracks in a stong way, making the album feel less repetitive. Great track. B+ 4. Toxic Reality has some nice sound work, becomes more psychedelic as it progresses. The first act is fairly repetitive and UNEVENTFUL. The voice samples are good. They compliment the story which grows engaging into the second act that showcases some great darkly musical composition and creativity. The atmosphere is good too! Also- great interlude from around 5:00 to 5:30. The build up into the 7:00 area is good too, though the ending could have been a little more infectiously memorable I think. The first half dragged for me but things shifted really well after that. Good track! B+ 5. Structural Failure is excellent. It starts out interesting, with the female computer/ship voice. 1:07 into this track is addictive, very catchy. This is a total octane, meltdown, end of mankind type track. The concept is strong and how the story is implemented in with the music as it drives towards countdown. Listen to this thing at night, with headphones or while driving or dancing! Dark Nebula has to produce more songs like this. It really gets people talking, attention on their group. I ran out and bought the album because of this song in the end. I later became aware of how many people were attracted to this album because of this song (and others, but this is THE song by them. 3:10 minutes into the song, again, great stuff. Excellent. The super melodic parts return like a chorus. Ironically I'm hooked on the female voice counting down to destruction. It would be wonderful to her more super songs by the group, monster songs with this stand out power, infection and appeal. The song has so many strong elements. It's superb. A 6. Sajuuk Khar is another of my favorites. There's some very interesting sound, voice elements and a foreign feel combined with a unique edge of darkness throughout. There's a bending melody that's great too, very catchy. Great track! A- 8. Hordes Of The Nebula begins with some cool voice samples. It sounds like a couple goony voices, essentially one, no more than two I believe, overlapping while doing the alphabet, and they did it incorrectly. Atmospheric elements takes place around the sound effects as distinguished, different drum work takes place around the repetitive beat and bass line. The drum work is good. The strange goony sounds are cool, coupled with thick bands psychedelic textures. By the third minute however, the song is still in repetition. Nothing refreshing or all that developing really takes place until around 5:13. Here a certain noise is removed to support an interesting interlude. The first half of the song could have been 1-2 minutes shorter to lesson redundancy and therefore compensate for the empty, uneventful space. Coupled with sounds of electricity and various other Psy effects, the beat/sounds come whizzing back around 5:37. Finally the song changes and it sounds good! The drum or hard hitting work around the consistent beat is catchy, emphasizing the overall sound, giving the track an organic edge and more of an emphasis. Besides a blinking melody without much change up towards the end however, this relieved evolution begins to ware out its welcome as well. It's like two repetitive sounds back-to-back with a bunch of psy sounds and occasional voices coming and going. This track could have been closer to six minutes and it would have been tighter, more fun and enjoyable. I cannot stand repetition to the degree this track runs through at times. It takes away from the stronger elements. Decent track. To sum it up: It starts good, grows tired, revives well but a little too late before growing fairly lackluster again, then ends. C+ 9. Sea Of Turbulent Sound is unquestionably stronger than the last one, as least from my perspective. Beginning with an echoed voice, as if that of a teacher or orchestrater of some sort, its dialogue continues numerous times for short moments throughout the track. Fast, heavy, layered and intense. The part from around 4:20 to 5:10 is good. But I THINK this exact guitar segment has been taken from an album I own by Dark Soho??! *sign* Okay I know I've heard this exact guitar lead before. I'll have to check my records. An unwritten rule is to at least (assuming they took) not take melodies or moments that so many people are familiar with from other albums. Overall the track is fairly uneventful, decent. I can't listen to it without thinking of the other song that appears to have had this exact same sound here. C+ In conclusion, this isn't what I consider a great album as a whole. The middle of the album, tracks 3 through 6 (that's four tracks back-to-back) are very strong however. But there are a handful of more or less decent, OKAY songs around these. Structural Failure is impressive, strong melody/dance driven work. Each song, well almost every song is developed with strong character and an intriguing vision and I really like that. It makes this group stand out even more. More powerful, danceable killers like track 5 and heavier emphasis on strong sound/melody work a la track 3 comprised with stronger psychedelics at times a la track 4 would be great. This is definitely one of the better dark psytrance albums out there, and I return to it time and again for those favorite moments and tracks-- but it's nothing spectacular as a whole. Still quite enjoyable when I cut out the songs I enjoy least. And those samples and up and down BENDY synth accents in Sajuuk Khar are UNUSUALLY CATCHY IMHO. They keep coming, altering, exiting then reappearing like a perfectly timed characteristic I love. Why I find this accent so addictive is beyond me. I can hear the song over and over again, sometimes 3-5 times in a day when revisiting this album. Favorite tracks: 3, 4, 5, 6. B+

Yeah I liked the debut quite a lot. I seldom listen to it anymore however. Actually I think I'l listen to it again. It's been a while. :posford: Far as the sequel went, they changed the style and attempted singing in this mixed style including Psy, Rock, Breaks, Pop, Experimental, electro, and various other forms or organic and electronic music. I still haven't bought it. The price on psyshop isn't bad but for an album that seems OKAY with few exception tracks... hmmm. No thanks! On saikosounds it's more reasonable at least. And now I can at least listen to more of the songs to see if I'm willing to buy the album. http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=7393 I can already tell based on the lengthy samples that there's tracks I like or at least parts of (1, 3, 4, 11). Chelsea sounds catchy. I like the sound, voice, and rhythm. Lyrics could be more positive and aware though. The girl saying 'I'm a loser" doesn't make me feel good while the song's putting me into a positive state otherwise. I wish more artists would be more conscious of their words and the fact that many people actually listen to the lyrics. If I wanted negative catchy lyrics I'd listen to ICP, Jamie Madrox/Twisted, or Blaze Ya Dead Homie And tracks I don't. I think they should pick their best genre and capitalize on it. THe problem with calling this based on arguably their best track is that it directs fans and those who enjoyed that song to an album without any other songs like the self titled Heaven's Underground on it. I'd be disappointed if I ordered this album looking to get more super songs like that, only to find out that they used that title just to attract potential buyers. I have Heaven's Underground via a compilation I bought around 2006. It's a great track. Truthfully, I think they should return to the PSY genre and cut a super downtempo album. It suits them much better than making albums full of hit-and-miss tracks. I like that they innovate but if no one knows who they are (but us and there friends and families basically), I mean let's be realistic. If they're making a decent living or beyond off this, that's good. But when I hear these samples I hear what sounds like a compilation of tracks like IM's 2006 album more or less.

Robotic Tongue is not a great album IMO. It's the melody/sound and atmospheric work and an exceptional story track that's quite effective. The album's pretty good at best IMO. It has several good songs and one that is excellent, superb. I wish they made more songs I considered excellent, superb. But I have not heard all of their tracks. I like when they get creative with the beat, drums, bass line, sound effects, strong MELODY WORK (layers) build up, rhythms, occasional climaxes, etc. Things start to get repetitive without a more dynamic and arresting approach a la Penta - Horn Please and for those who liked the 2007 Xenomorph album. More memorable, visionary, and dance friendly songs like Structure Failure would be wonderful. Superb track - Structural Failure - A Good tracks - Fire Offering (!) - Sajuuk Khar - Hyperspace Core What is their best album? Any ideas??

Yeeaaah.... They'd be better to just delete that whole part out of the advertisement. It's pretty cheesy. My favorite album by them to date is Robotic Tongue because of several tracks, and Structural Failure and Fire Offering and few others. I LOVE the melody/sound work in those tracks, especially SF. Hopefully the many collaborations don't hurt the album. This could be a good thing in some ways. The idea of Electrypnose is interesting. He should produce a fresh AMAZING dark psytrance album now that his style is so much more evolved, with his experience now. It could be really creative. Anyway, Spirit Cave sounds interesting, and Universal Heart. I like powerful, energy, infectious melody/sounds and atmospheric, crazy sound effects tracks with buildup, complexity, change of soundscapes (scenery), unexpected twists, turns, and hooks; songs that become more infectious and gripping as they progress, but they start out no less than good. Universal Heart seems to have potential relative to some of these elements anyway. I like when groups go crazy and produce powerful, infectious tracks. I hope it's a good album. 4:00 SAMPLES http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=7642 Update: I just heard Dark Nebula Vs Meeo, the opening track. I really like the female, emotive edge and melody work.

I put a lot of time into writing this so I hope Transwave reads it. We have a lot of respect for these artists and would like to see them release a great album. But I'm going to be honest and in accepting the fact that they're making a Full On album. Transwave is known for making strong and danceable Psytrance in the past. I suppose having some refreshing new school Goa melodies is not something their making a part of their new album. But these artists were always known for creating great melodies and dance songs. The question is.. how great are these tracks for Full On? Some examples of more or less greatness, successes include: - 1200 Micrograms appeared to innovate when they released Time Machine by making their music and mixing more dynamic. In some ways they transcended Full On by showing us that once Goatrance producing artists can return and produce something strong that isn't Goa/Psytrance per say. - Infected Mushroom has made many excellent Full On Psytrance numbers that we seldom call Full On because it occasionally stretches the boundaries of the generic formula the general Full On track has become. Yet many of Infected Mushrooms songs remain dance friendly. They proved once again that not all tracks on a Full On album must be Full On or even share characteristics. Love them or hate them, Infected Mushroom is the most famous Psytrance act in the world to date. And they still produce awesome songs, regardless that their previous album had several tracks most people I spoke didn't care for. - Space Cat made a strong Full On Psytrance album that was just great called Power Up. The artist, Avi returned in 2004 and produced another Full On Psytrance album which had some pretty good tracks. In this album however he got most caught up with the typical sound though he didn't lose himself entirely. It was the least break out and overall most forgettable main album he produced to date according to many people. Regardless of the sales at the time, in the moment. The reviews weren't bad but the general consensus and feedback/reviews they speak for themselves. I feel like this artist all but became a shadow of his former self when he released Mechanical Dream in 2004. It seemed like much of his creativity was being choked by a label or something. His previous stuff was just so much more fun and dynamic. Makes me wonder.. For those who generally put down Full On. Full On is simply dance driven (club friendly) Psytrance. That doesn't mean it has to sound clubby or generic, square, risk free. I've accepted that there's a good amount of great Full On out there. But the stuff that isn't makes the great stuff look overwhelmed. Furthermore, few things are as dissapointing as looking forward to one of your favorite artists/acts, only to see them attach their names to something that's generic or not great, something that doesn't elevate the sub genre, genre in anyway. An example of this was Pleiadians who released a Full On album a year or two ago. It was disappointing to say the least. Cosmosis is one of the few once Goa (famous) artists who has actually made some great Full On songs, especially on Trancendance. But for some reason the amount of his great tracks were not many. It made me wonder why a great artist like Bilbo Bagginz can't make 8 or 9 awesome songs. He seemed to have no problem doing this with his first two albums and was anyway, looked up to as an example of excellence by more people at one time in the field, scene. Now I don't want to get into all of that here. I'm just making some points and setting some examples. I want to remind certain Goa enthusiast that much of what Transwave did in the past was considered by some Full On Goatrance. Naturally Full On generally refers now days to dance driven music and since most of that music appears stripped of imagination, innovation, passion and soul, Full On has developed a more or less negative connotation with certain people who remember acts like Transwave back then. But them producing Full On could be a great thing if they make an excellent dance driven PSYTRANCE album. Based on the samples since we're doing feedback here: coming soon sounds decent. Cool melodies. cycles of life is named after one of my favorite Transwave songs. I understand why they'd create Full On versions of some of these Goa songs. The song itself, from the several minutes shown.. it just makes me wonder, why can't these guys add more layers and enrich the rhythm? It sounds decent but a generic, in the box version of its former self. I mean, these were amazing dance songs, Goa or not. They had a euphoric edge that was seldom seen in psytrance at the time. But here I feel like the general melodies are, well.. they're falling into the "we've heard it all before returning artist" Full On type sound category. I mean, even Blood Is Pumping was a great dance song when it came out. It innovated. I want to hear some new and great Full On songs since that's the direction Transwave has gone so far. Though most of Suntrip Record's work is filled with great, dance driven Psytrance numbers: Momentary 29 by Red Gravity on the Twist Dreams comp was excellent. Also.. Weight Of Oblivion (Featuring Klara Steiner) by KOB was great. Trancefuzion by Khetzal was awesome. Those tracks were dance floor killers! The artist developed their distinguishing, imaginative individuality and sound and produced some of the best dance songs of the year. THese songs were played at huge parties, massive sets, with enormous praise and positivity. Is it not possible for Transwave, one of the leading pioneers in Psytrance to break out and make something amazing and evolved in our time now for their danceable style as opposed to making general, recycling melody work versions of some of their best prior songs for the general club now? I'm not asking them go back and make a Goa album. I mean.. Old school artists (song included below) like Transwave that returned in OUR TIME NOW and produced great, excellent and fun/imaginative dance songs include: Shakta - Even Ten Times Around The Sun (Great track!!! On the Opus Iridium compilation. Aftifact303 - Feelings (one of the best dance songs of this year!!) Transwave has potential to be on this more free spirited (kickass, alive, and free, not generic) level that transcends the lacking in innovation Full On genre by producing wonderful dance songs in more of their freedom style. They are choosing to adopt the generic structure of what A, B says is Full On. They don't have to fall in this thinking. They can step outside it at anytime, clear their minds and produce some of the best dance songs of all time that are Full On and/or Full On accepted. As opposed to rehashing their best work to fit in the Full On box.. lets see.. eleven particles actually sounds original. I like the trippy, vibrating effect and melody work. Now this is more Psytrance for our time now and it's danceable. I just thope this thing develops into one infectous storm and builds more energy as it progresses and not in the typical, generic Full On way but a Full On way nonetheless seems sensible here. This actually has potential to be a strong Full On number. THey're taking risks and I like that. The Full on genre NEEDS it. Believe me. Alot of us listen to Full On, we dance to it at parties and its fun but afterwards it's forgettable. I'd seldom run out and buy the album because it's just there to make us nuts in the moment. So we're looking for something with more substance, creativity, and replay value. fuel on is decent meaning alright. It's driving, some cool melodies, sure. But it sounds more typical Full On than great Full On, original and new. japan sounds pretty good for a Chill track. Probably a good one to close the album with. Again I hope it becomes stronger (in this speed) and more engaging and catchy as it progresses. Atmosphere is cool. I like it! Very catchy and original! joon and spam ... I can't really tell based on the sample. It sounds okay. More typical Full On sound than great. land of freedom the original is beautiful and this sounds strong for a Full On number. I just hope they don't butcher those wonderful melodies as the track progresses. I heard something a year or two ago on youtube or somewhere that sound butchered. Also, from around 1:30 to 1:52 on this sample here the beat and rhythm sounds so bland. Can't they make the dance beat/kick drum more dynamic and change up danceable around this part, not just repetitive? The main leading melodies are very attractive. It's just that its been so long. It would be cool to hear stronger supports before those "hooks" so to speak. organik actually sounds different in the dance beat than the previous sample and I like that. The melody work is good too. Add some cool coming and going pieces of atmosphere and you have a potentially even cooler track that already sounds great. I really like their darker, driving melody and rhythm, beat here. This is more like the great Tranwave I remember if I imagined they crossing over into Full On, based on what I've heard on the sample so far. INNOVATE! GET CREATIVE GUYS! C' COM! You have all the tools in the world to brew up one of the tastiest and most dynamic Full On albums of out time. This is definitely one of the best track samples I've heard. phototropic part 2 is gentle, chill. This could come in the end right after Japan, assuming they have room for all of these. I like it. It's catchy. They (Transwave) could probably get away with more if they create some of these tracks to not run too far over 5-7 minutes. I just don't want them to sound cut off or incomplete or course. Again, I haven't heard the rest so I can't. I think Japan sounded more original and catchy so far if I had to choose one based on what I heard so far though. rezwalker 2009 can we just not call 2009? That's like having 2009 samples in your album and then it becomes outdated quicker by 2011 or whatever. Yes I know the album has a release date on it, but calling tracks by years is just kind of yesteryear. Anyway, the interlude is very cool and I like that. I miss these guys imaginative work around the beats and I'm pleasantly surprised to hear this island of peace here. The female vocals add a nice touch. A huge build up, climax and explosion is a great idea but does this last bit here have to appear so typical Full On in buildup? Transwave had creative and refreshing ways of lifting the music up off the ground and exploding with in a style that didn't seem like they were trying to adjust to the genre in the past. Yet it was very danceable. If this song goes the more euphoric route it could be good but it seems almost too typical Full On in where it's heading as opposed to its wonderful elements around that. Such elements include a female voice hymns, not singing thankfully warm atmosphere, interlude. rising high has some beautiful melodies and sound work. One of Transwave's gifts is their creative melody/sound work. The track appears good with some great elements from what I've heard so far. transwave vs gms is interesting, more minimal, danceable. It's pretty cool actually, and the computer melodies along with the stronger unique, deeper sound. I like what I've heard so far. It must evolve in a smart, catchier way as it progresses though if it wants to remain appealing and fun, at least in my opinion. tribute is one of the strongest Full On dance numbers by Transwave to date based on this sample. It's good. I want to hear the whole thing. And more super songs. uplifter tec sounds pretty good, some fast driving melody/sound work and rhythm. I like it. Every part of it. Very cool. In conclusion, these artists have got to make a great comeback album. If it's Full On, fine, may it not be a typical sounding Full On album. This is where the limitless boundaries in Psytrance and Transwave's creativity have potential to compensate for a genre more known for generic releases than awesome ones by full and large, the majority. They have all the pieces to the puzzle, the awareness on what to do and what not to do after all of these years. In the end they'll make the final choice. A comeback comes either with a bang, a so-so, or a whimper. It would be awesome if they stuck to really super Psytrance and dance friendly numbers with exception to a chill track or two in the end that is good or great (Japan at the moment, seems to be going in a good direction; my friends like it). Also think they should focus less on making Full On versions of loved Goatrance songs. Land of Freedom with some tasty touch ups I can understand. But this is 2009, not 1996, 97. Remaking every old track into Full On is.. I don't. According to my friend it's like milking a cow for every drop its got. With few exceptions Full On updates to Goatrance tracks (Land of Freedom maybe) new and interesting, Psytrance/Full On numbers that are great are fun. Some of the samples here have potential to make dance floor killers if one or two isn't already. I just hope they don't rush things in the final stages and really produce and release a super album that transcends the Full On genre in some ways positive, not just adds their name to it with few exceptions. Examples of good, great Full On work is above in bold, not including samples by Transwave obviously.

+1 Dissapointing album, though Dave is one of the greats. It would be wonderful if he evolved his more experienced Goa sound into even higher/stronger realms of beauty, power, and psychedelic magic infection, as if to reflect a heightened shift in planatery consciousness.

V/A - SUNDROPS: LIGHTS IN MOTION SUNTRIP RECORDS 2008 Track list 01. Chi-a.d. – Sight of the Sages 02. California Sunshine – Oblivion 03. Virtuart & Chronomyst – Zanchin 04. Aerosis – Lunar Effect 05. Artifact303 – Energy Waves 06. Antares – Aurora 07. Ra – Gateway 08. Filteria – Back To Earth Sundrops: Lights In Motion is Suncd11, the third major release this year by Suntrip Records after V/A - Opus Iridium and RA - 9th. Both received strong praise and reviews. Unlike previous compilations, Sundrops specializes in Sunrise/Morning Goa tracks by some of the best producing Goa artists of our time who still produce/release Goa. It also showcases harmonious, traveling, and explorative, story telling Goa, for those who've felt that new school Goa/Psytrance over the years has been missing something. This is more for listening and the trance end of Goa as opposed to being a dance driven (Full on) Goa/Psytrance album, which by large, this isn't. Returning to Suntrip is RA, Aerosis, Artifact303, and Filteria, with new and exclusive tracks. As with RA, California Sunshine's Har-el has returned with a new Goa number and it's great to see this artist back. So how is this new compilation by Suntrip Records? 01. Chi-a.d. – Sight of the Sages follows up the artist's beloved Goa style/sound via less climactic work. This is a very traveling and euphoric number. RA - 9th had strong, uptempo/emotive edge with Predator and this penetrates the heart even deeper. The song begins like a chapter to one of the greatest fantasies not yet told. This is the magical sound that I have missed so much in Goa, post 2002. The formulation around 2:22 is deeply emotive and moving, though slowly. The song is floating, dreamy, and filled with positivity, light. The interlude around 4:00 is excellent, euphoric. Some people have used words like "celestial" and "heavenly" to describe Dave's work. I'd like to add warm, loving, quisessential, awakening, and spiritual. The main rhythm throughout this song is wonderful. Supported by a handful of well articulated, engaging sounds; the track gains noticeable strength around 5:50 though it remains calm and anti climactic. I say that with a smile because intensity is not the essence here. Present is one of the best, most heartfelt and positive sounding tracks of 2008 and by Dave Young to date. It's wonderful to see this artist back and with a respectful record label. Hearing this, it's like the passion of the artist spilled into the song, giving it a soul. Beautiful track! Update: I played this for a couple of my girlfriends when we were driving around. Everyone was quiet until the track ended. I pressed the off button and straight up asked, "So what did you guys think of that song, honest." The general consensus was: We like it because it's happy. It feels really good while listening to it. Update 2: One small weakness however, a noticeable observation, is that the song replays part of its first half after the song's middle interlude with few exceptions, a couple details here and there. I think more of a wonderful evolution could have made this song even stronger, thus reducing any sense of repetition. Otherwise I love it. It's spacey, floating, and beautiful. A- 02. California Sunshine – Oblivion is very different from the previous number. Whereas that was peaceful and floating, this is more energetic, dynamic, and arguably intense. If a beautiful spirit was created on the previous light, it now has a body/mind, attitude, adventure, and, wait.. I thought this was a Sunrise compilation? This isn't too fast or intense, but driving and imaginative. Possibly taking place as the sun going down or just before it's ready to rise. The song is comprised of numerous segments I'll refer to as acts. These acts are bridged together by various short paths, sample free interludes. The first four are excellent. The final, at least in my opinion seems to miss an opportunity to lift all other acts towards excellence, though the number's strong throughout, an excellent comeback by Har-el of California Sunshine. Act 1 involves an infectious foundation thanks to an echoing, rattling (like hinges pulling apart a steel door by something very strong in a mysterious castle). It's quite catchy! Soon it fades away for melody development that stands out around 2:42. More sound/melody work is involved here to build this determined and adventurous rider. Act 2 takes the baton from the previous runner at around 3:50. This next part of the song is awesome. The rattling, echoing dark effect/tune returns in support of a strong Goa melody, now transforming the previous select in sound arrangement. The song breaks down to a powerful and driving, midtempo variation of itself. This part is especially fun to listen to at night time, while driving or otherwise, dancing. I highly recommend this. Powerful, driving, and infectious sum up this area of the song and the track by large. A short transition is seamlessly added to the adventure, taking place around 5:45. Essentially this is the removal of various sounds and the readying of something new and potentially evolved in a preferably more infectious way. The tempo soon rises. Speed appears to pick up a bit to compensate for the next development of story telling. Act 3 is an excellent continuation. It removes but only temporally the infectious rattling and develops fresh Goa/Psy melody work to the catchy rattling sound effect continued. A short transition of speed takes place around 6:44. The tempo really shifts. The general sound speeds up faster than ever before and we really move into uptempo territory now. Act 4 builds layers, one after another. Though it's short lived; the track gets ready for an extension. The fresh, psychedelic melody takes place around 7:55. It is here in this final area where I feel that an opportunity has been missed to take this song to an even higher level of excellence. Here's where my attention was least arrested and it is because of the squiggly, PSY melody/sound that appears after a suspenseful buildup from around 7:45 to 7:54. I just think something more aggressive and catchy could have taken place to create a more powerful and unforgettable ending. The song prior to this part sounded more confident and fearless. The general listener may over look this small observation. Whenever I notice potential I just like to point it out sometimes. I would have had a huge, surging sound around 7:35 into a powerful, driving, and climactic/infectious segment. But that's me. Overall this is an ambitious number and one of my favorite tracks by California Sunshine. It's interesting how much it evolves. I'd love to hear more songs like this and a new album eventually in this general, more dynamic style. Excellent work! A- 03. Virtuart & Chronomyst – Zanchin is an epic legend of story-telling through space, time, and light. This is magical and at a whopping 12:02, one of the strongest, epic Goa tracks I've ever heard. I also loved V.T.O.L., but don't compare the two as they're completely different landmarks in Goa. The song is continuously developing and imaginative, moving through various atmospheres and evolved, hypnotic soundscapes and galaxies, solar and star systems. To me this comes close to some of the best Universal (SPACE) Goa story telling tracks out there. It's not climactic. It's not intense or slow enough as downtempo or ambient. It is a gorgeous, fluid and flowing uptempo dream. The melody lead towards the end is great too! Apparently one that has come full circle with its full potential like reflections of God (humans in form) looking back at their own reflection in the mirror, only to see light in the formless realm of themselves, that which is unconditional and infinity. If we could put aside old and new school Goa, titles, descriptions, and just "be" non self absorbed for several seconds in peace and clarity... (okay many of you won't get that and will keep on reading, haha, that's fine moving on). This is one of the best Goa songs I have ever heard. It's outstanding. A 04. Aerosis – Lunar Effect returns the album to a faster, more pick up rhythm that's less epic than the previous number and quite danceable. Last time I heard these guys, they produced a good track on V/A - Twist Dreams. Here the focus is more morning, uplifting. This is another track with layers of beauty and positivity, much like in the general "sense" of euphoria to that of RA's Predator. The opening minute is pretty good as the song builds, collecting numerous, attractive melodies and sounds as it progresses. What really stands out as catchy is a knocking sound that evolves into what appears to be tribal drums by 1:50. It soon takes advantage, seriously enhancing the music. Around 2:18 is the first strong melody lead. It's elegant, beautiful, and emotive. The two melody leads flow together extremely well, passing into the third minute with fluidity. Various layers are dismissed to compensate for a less developed stream of light. The song is carefully articulated to the point it seems that the artists really wanted to keep every aspect of this story great. An interlude, without beat takes place around 5:12. It's good. The beat returns around 5:33 with a refreshing melody and this in combination with continuously evolving melody/sound arrangement showcases greatness. Coupled with a transcended sound, the returning tribal drums compliment the beat. Emphasized is the story's second-half melody around 6:50. Another strong sound appears around 7:07, reminiscent of that eerie, atmospheric tune from Simon Postford's classic L.S.D. track. Overall, Lunar Effect is a strong and emotive Goa number possibly Aerosis' best track to date. B+ 05. Artifact303 – Energy Waves artists return after releasing Feelings on V/A - Opus Iridium with another aggressive and climactic uptempo number. Numerous listeners have said that if Astral Projection continued making Goa songs today, they'd sound like this to some degree, and this is no exception. Opening ambient notes last less than 20 seconds before numerous layers accompany its side, producing a sold foundation. Soon after the first minute, an echoing female sample appears similar to the voice on DUNE via AP's Dancing Galaxy album. When the sample ends, the ride takes off. Barreling through a storm of effects, a strong melody lead becomes clearer around 1:32, leading the vehicle though the cosmos, enriching the liquid properties as it races across the galaxy. Around 2:12 is my favorite part of the song. The general arrangement alters to compensate for a wonderful, upbeat, 4-note melody. This part alone is one of the best hooks I've heard all year. Past it, the song races into newly enlightened territory with its main lead changing to evolve the song and reduce repetition. Around 5:25 is a short interlude, voice sample. It only lasts several seconds. This is a energetic Goa dance song and the artists don't want to stray away from that energy. Ambient layers appear around 6:00 to enhance more soundscapes and newly acquired power packs on this fun getaway. The song is energetic and Full On GOA/Psytrance from start to finish. If I were to complain about some things, it would be that the wonderful melody arrangement from 2:12 to around 2:28 never returns fully within the thankful evolution of the song. While the song is great with numerous, arguable "hooks" so to speak, I think it would have been awesome to hear this clear, infectious melody arrangement one last time, integrated into everything else and accentuated with more layers via a stronger rhythm; why not? This could have taken place past the faded "recollecting energy" area around 6:30 and/or after 8:00, though the song does reprise the general sound, the exact melody sentence is left around 2:38 to evolve with the song into other cool variations. A small observation. Furthermore, I want to see Artifact303 take risks and make super songs that are less dependent on the classic (but now old and dated) Astral Projection formula. This is a great track, not spectacular. But I feel like I've heard it before to some degree. Also, the song could have ended a minute to two shorter and it would have been just as if not more tight, as it follows trails of its former self in the last 1:35 roughly. On a positive note, the growing ambient around 5:40 and how it emerges into the main synth work around 5:50 to 6:24 great. Energy Waves is the high octane Goatrance song on the compilation. It's just nothing groundbreaking and is arguably great. B+ 06. Antares – Aurora is almost the opposite energy from the previous number in that it's peaceful and calm like the ocean before a storm. The style here returns to the more traveling and less climactic feel from songs prior to Energy Waves. I've never heard of Antares before so I felt a bit unsure when I saw their name on the track list. Rest assured, they pull off a strong and flowing number with zero dips or slow downs. If I were to compare this style and song to one artist it would be Ethereal and Ethereal's Moondawn respectively. In that sense, Moondawn takes the edge due to more infectious melody work, at least in my opinion. Nonetheless, the sounds and melodies quite strong. They flow like waves in an ocean. Such waves never move too far from the thick, elegant current, thus forming this driving, hypnotic, rhythmic trance. This is one of those songs worth putting on the headphones, laying down in a dark room, and shutting the eyes to listen to. It's beautiful. The song is a gradual build up to rhythms within rhythms; the melody work is very layered. Furthermore, atmosphere takes place and what later on appears to be key changes! Various sounds chime around the thick stream of traveling liquid as the story continues. The idea here is for the listener to be absorbed into the sounds, I sense, into a fantasy world of layers and motion. There is some build up around 7:10 into a higher drive within this sound, style. While not the *big bang* style as the previous rocket, this is more subtle and traveling a la Ethereal but in its own style/sound, albeit inspired I imagine. The song is very peaceful like the opening track, though less emotive I feel. It compliments the previous, more fiery rocket. Great track! A- 07. Ra – Gateway begins peacefully and pleasant like the last. Numerous organic sounding instruments arrive as a strong and euphoric tune appears and is reprised like an eagle soaring in the sky. The kickdrum kicks in around the first minute followed by a mid/up (seems in between, my guess mid) tempo. Underneath this all is a continuous and gripping music current, similar in concept to Octagon from the 9th album, but this aspect is merely the foundation and it's strong, beginning around 1:09. Very cool. More layers enter the mix along with a catchy, blinking melody around 1:37. At this point the song sounds good, with a pretty tune soaring in the sky; the blinking tune evolves in variation. Both the tune and variation are great. These artists are gifted when it comes to selecting certain sounds and how they're programmed, utilized. So far this is the most emotive track since Aerosis - Lunar Effect and Chi-a.d.'s opening. The following melody lead appears around 3:04. It's excellent, coupled with several moving sounds of support. The arc is enhanced and developed around 3:30. Drums changes up. Around 4:11 is where a wonderful skipping, whatever this effect is called -- altered ambient melody arrives, joining a refreshing, blinking oriental influenced melody around 4:37. RA's infectious work is continuously growing. A channel, interlude soon arrives, female voice included, and this is probably the least memorable voice sample on the compilation. I like the sound of a female echoing voice but that in itself is pretty much all this is. I can barely hear what's being said, and maybe that was the point, to not distract the listener with words so much. Overall the ideas in the song and how they're executed, implemented are beautiful. These artists have a passion for growing the direction of music in ways both smart, aware, and engaging, through evolution and not falling off course from the wonderful story, but enriching the chapters as the pages fly by, making every sound count as if speed has slowed down to absorb the information on every note. There's no point describing more as it won't recreate the experience of listening to the song and letting it grow. I think these artists' hiatus have inspired a seemingly endless comeback. But they better be careful. If they keep making songs like this, they'll be expected to release a main album sooner than they think. Strong track. A- 08. Filteria – Back To Earth ends the album with a beautiful, refreshing and euphoric midtempo number in follow up to Jannis of Filteria's more evolved and colorful Goa/Psytrance style given notice on V/A - Opus Iridium. This is more elegant and dreamy. The track takes its time developing a gripping foundation as a Pleadian-esque screamer flies by at medium speed, complimenting the anti-intense nor climactic feel of not too fast nor slow speed. A strength with the track is its gradual improvement after a strong opening. Subtle layers of harmony follow closely and in harmony as a new lead's introduced around 3:40. More are soon added; I'm now starting to see the potential for a wonderful, cutting edge mid/downtempo album. The song appears to gain more of that quintessential sound as it progresses, especially from 4:15 to 5:03 before nearing a space of peace. Quiet. The sounds fade as the music returns around 5:35, bursting with juicy, color and a monopoly of sound fusion fluidity. This part is wonderful. Things crank down with the sound of what a psychedelic radio clock might sound like from around 6:45 to 6:55, without beat. The sound formation soon returns. The song maintains a relatively similar direction throughout. But the several interludes in combination with numerous sound variations and its self-hook within its own melody paragraph are excellent. I think a little more could have been added to make the final stretch after 7:10 stand out even more. But this is a small observation. The overall sound is crisp, clean, and refreshing, like a delicious refreshment. Back To Earth is the artist's most elegant number to date and one of the best Psy/Goa songs of the year. It's excellent. A In conclusion, people generally say I'm critical when it comes to analyzing in general and writing reviews. The only other new school Goa more-or-less compilation I've given this many A's to was Opus Iridium, and that was a double album! Sundrops is just that strong. At least in my opinion. Is it better than V/A - Apsara? I don't know. Does it take one ring to rule them all? No I'm just kidding! Sundrops and Apsara are generally in completely different styles of Goa, more or less. The answer of which is better is: That's entirely up to you. Give this time. Let it swirl around inside your head to clarify thoughts before decision making, then write a review. For a sunrise compilation, this thing is gorgeous. At one point I was listening to lengthier samples thinking, okay it's pretty good but, yeah, I'm not so sure here.. These songs deserve to be heard in their entirety. Sure they take time to grow, like anything. Naturally you don't pour water next to the plant so it spills all over the floor. You water it. You invest time and energy into that which you care about and grow with it. Suntrip Record's has not previously to my knowledge focused so heavily on a certain type of Goa this present throughout a compilation before. While some work, such as California Sunshine's darkly lit and mysterious, driving Oblivion is arguably sunrise in my opinion, it adds a wonderful aspect of power and quality to a sun driven album, one filled with euphoric waves, magical and traveling melodies, and positivity. Suntrip Record's have captured the magic of Goa that we seem to speak of at times as if it was in a far away land. This special sound is preserved in a clearer sense than any compilation I have heard in years to put it nicely. If I had to pick a track I find most beautiful, it would be the Chi-a.d. track followed by either Aerosis, Virtuart & Chronomys, Ra, or Filteria. It's hard to tell because all tracks possess beauty, and it's a matter of how one defines beauty anyway. To be fair, those expecting or looking for a Full On Goa/Psytrance album will be disappointed. Sundrops is not a high octane compilation. It's for those who love the "listening" aspect of Goa, morning Goa, and its aspects right down to the tasty band in the transformational waves of colorful bliss and fantasy/travel story telling. This isn't about the climaxes per say, at least that's not the main focus. Though high octane energy is an aspect of Goa in music/form and in that sense, I think many listeners will be pleased with Artifact303 - Energy Waves. It's fast and exciting, danceable. Nonetheless, some tracks are quite danceable. But listening pleasure appears first and foremost, getting picked up in those transformational soundscapes. So many new school tracks on uptempo Goa (dance driven) albums now days seem light on the exploration element in Goa I've noticed. So much in electronic music seems sensational, with style well over substance and beauty, passion and heart. Sundrops: Lights In Motion acknowledges the wonderful, deeper aspects. The album is candidate for: best Goa compilation of the year, best Goa/Psy album of the year. This is one of the top best Goa compilations of the 21st century and one of the most beautiful Goa compilations ever released. Favorite tracks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8. A- Samples / Order http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/sut/sut1cd011.html http://www.goastore.ch/product_info.php?products_id=2690 http://www.beatspace.com/dettagli/dettaglio.asp?id=4562 http://www.suntriprecords.com/pages/releases.php http://www.tower.com/sundrops-various-arti.../wapi/112924751