Jon Cocco

Omg Goasia released a main album??! Someone please start up a real review threat. This is something I've wondered about (if Goasia would indeed release a fresh, debut album) for years! CELEBRATION EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!! :posford: :drama: :clapping: Samples!!!!!!! http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=6900

Update: Add to list YOUNGER BROTHER - THE LAST DAYS OF GRAVITY EAT STATIC - DE-CLASSIFIED GOASIA - FROM OUTER SPACE XENOMORPH - DEMAGOGUERY OF THE OBSCURANTS

EAT STATIC - DE-CLASSIFIED 2007 SOLSTICE RECORDS 1. Invasion 2. Sucker Unit 3. Trantaloid 4. Deadly Amphibian 5. Sin-Quest 6. Tractor Beam 7. Pachama 8. Visitors 9. Brassneck 10. De-Classified After listening to this albuma handful of times I can honestly say this is a very solid album. What's so refreshing here is the level of various styles in the Electronica genre, and the quality of the overall package. These styles include Trance, Techno, Psytrance, Breakbeat, Dub, Drum 'N' Bass, Ambient, and Downtempo. The album is also fun to listen to, unexpected on more than occasion, and includes enough groove to a pretty lasting effect on most listeners I'd imagine. 1. Invasion is a great opening track. I love it. The U.F.O. sample sets the mood for the rest of the album. The beats, rhythm, and mixing work here is excellent. The sounds are infectious, driving, and emotive! I especially love the melodies and ambient throughout. This is a very well done song and I'm really happy with it. B+ 2. Sucker Unit isn't as satisfying as the opening but few it's pretty hard to compete with somethat that's pretty much flawless. It's selling point is its very psychedelic melodic sounds that create a great fusion of sounds. Some experimental work sounds cool but it seldom seems to return to its strong opening two minutes. B- 3. Trantaloid is my least favorite track on the album because of a specific melody that begins around 1:33. It's a little too goofy sounding for my taste to the point I actually find it irritating. Save I have a sense of humor. It's evident these artists love playing around. What's cool is that their unexpected, sometimes experimental parts often evolve into something better. I admire the first half but I enjoy the second. What's interesting is that it starts goes from sounding like an innocent child to a fairly dark adult, regarding the melody, tempo, and tone. Overall it's a pretty cool song, nothing great in my opinion. B- 4. Deadly Amphibian is very different from the others in that it's psychedelic and by far the most energetic song on the album so far. There is a very strong under-tone (bassline, rhythm) throughout most of the track too. I really like the altered, bubbly sounds added. It seems so simple but it's so catchy. Moreover, the sound changes up through somewhat dynamic transitions evoking new moods, sounds and beats, creating new textures, and patterns. It's very well composed and technically accomplished overall. B+ 5. Sin-Quest is the strongest song since the opening to me. It's the most energized and psychedelic song on the album too, more than the last I feel. I actually wish there were more super songs like this one here. Just when you thought you've heard everything this thing has to offer, it bursts, evolves, progresses, lifts up, and pushes forward with even more energy. If it's Full On, it's an example of what a great Full On Psytrance song is to me. I just love how this song buids up, the energy, the climax and melody work, and how it breaks out. This is a fierce storming psytrance song that is highly recommended for dancing to, clubs.B+ 6. Tractor Beam is the "Drum 'N' Bass" number on the album. It would sound repetitive and generic if not for all the good sounds, melodies, and other various components Eat Static decides to develop into it. After the previous two psytrance pieces, this one makes a really nice excursion. It's different and refreshing, and it's grown on me quite well after time. B 7. Pachama is the slowest track here so far. It seems like a cross between downtempo, trip-hop(?), techno, and experimental. I mean anytime there's a dog barking as a melody, well there's something you don't hear any day. The female touches are catchy. What I like is that this group doesn't play out the surprise moments or sounds because the track is often good enough; the details are there to simply compliment. The track isn't all that eventful but a comfortable one to chill to with some unique and memorable moments and melodies especially. B- 08. Visitors is a return to more energetized psy and trance with what seems to be addictive drum combos and God knows what else. These guys create some very catchy rhythms thanks to attention to good sounds, melodies, and mixing. This song can be very spontaneous, unpredictable at times. It's just fun to not focus on the music too much. Just open your mind and focus on driving, dancing or whatever. When the sound changes and breaks out or evolves into something more catchy it's all the more pleasurable. B+ 09. Brassneck is less psy, more melody driven psy, breaks, and more. The initial beat becomes repetitive as it progresses and at first I wasn't impressed with the melodies. The change up is good though, especially the melodic notes that follow. It's almost like this group toys with the listener sometimes, before saying, "Hey, we know that wasn't impressive. Now check this out." B 10. De-Classified is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard all year next to the last song on Younger Brothers follow-up. I think this track would have been superb if the incoherent, gargled (computerized) voices were removed from the first third. I don't like how distracted from the romantic, mood setting music I become when they arrive. Suddanly I'm listening extra carefully because I cannot make out what is being said. The concept of vocal work could have been excellent here if the artists incorporated a real, live, female with a beautiful voice, who sang some well written [coherent] dialgoue. Otherwise the barely audible dialogue seems like Eat Static attempting to be artisty and more unqiue in the lasting impression then they had to be. Big gripe aside, I find this one of the best, most creative, emotive, catchy, and unique chill, downtempo song of 2007. It really has a flavorful sound completely different from anything I've ever heard. B+ In Conclusion, this album seemed to come out of nowhere and grab my attention. Not only can these artists pull off quality techno and trance, dub and breaks, they also create some very well done psytrance, tech-trance, and downtempo-esque numbers as well. Due to the variety in electronica styles however, some may be put off by certain tracks. Several songs are not nearly as catchy as some others, to be fair. Also, I initially didn't think the album was psychedelic enough, but this isn't a psytrance album after all. It actually gets pretty psychedelic at times. Furthermore, it's funky, and it's fun! Overall this long awaited follow-up won't shatter your senses. It's no masterpiece in my opinion, but what they did here they did very well. This is one of the best Electronica albums I've bought so far all year. Favorite tracks - 1, 4, 5, 8, 10. B Samples: http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=6701

It's a well done album. My favorite tracks are 1, 4, 7, and 8, though every track has something interesting, catchy to offer IMO. I enjoy listening to the album straight through. Mantrix seems to do really well with edgy, nighttime, crystal-clear, driving trance such as the opening track Levels. They also make good tribal-influenced electronica. I'd love to hear more. Furthermore, emotive work as what's in the second half of Alpha Beater is catchy!

I love this one.

YOUNGER BROTHER - THE LAST DAYS OF GRAVITY 2007 TWISTED 1. Happy Pills - B+ 2. All I Want - B 3. Elephant Machine - B 4. Your Friends Are Scary - B 5. I Am A Freak - A- 6. Ribbon On A Branch - B 7. Sleepwalker Part 1 - B- 8. Sleepwalker Part 2 - B 9. Psychic Gibbon - A The Last Days of Gravity has a very different sound and feel from the first one. The debut was more edgy, psychedelic. This is more upbeat and euphoric, and it walks a fine line in between darkness and light more than once. 1. Happy Pills really sets the 60's "love, drugs, and good times" mood this group is going for. It's animated and cheerful. I think this is a great song. 2. All I Want is less strong than the opening. It's gentle and non-threatening. This reminds me of what a chill, downtempo cowboy song is if I ever heard one. It seems to have a western influence (twang sound) whether it's aware of it or not. It has a very catchy and creatively mixed, skipping, squeeking lead melody. The song is all the more unique and memorable with it. The gentle voices give it a nice touch too. The overall song isn't as powerful; it's more subtle. Anytime I think "howdi doody" while listening to Younger Brother it may not be the coolest thing. I prefer their more beautiful or edgy work. Nonetheless, this is a refreshing, original track well done and placed between the the previous, more driven number and the one that follows. 3. Elephant Machine is my favorite track on the album so far. It's a very strong, aggressive, and mysterious, and fairly dark piece of work. The voice samples take some of the edge [advantage] away from its darkess (as opposed to the voice samples in track 3 from the debut, that was more effective dark-wise) but they're cleverly mixed; playing to the music, literally. But it makes no sense! Nevertheless, this song really stands out. 4. Your Friends Are Scary is very different but similar to the second song in that it's calm and peaceful. I understand and appreciate that these softer songs are placed in between the more aggressive ones. However the softer tracks generally stand out less, they're less captivating than the others. I enjoy the more contemplative approach to this song, which sounds more euphoric, romantic as it progresses. It's just nothing reviting to me. I feel like it had a chance to develop into something intoxicating. 5. I Am A Freak is a great return to that more aggressive, (darker) omnious at times rhythm and style I enjoy so much by Younger Brother. The only thing I don't care for is the "I am a freak. I am unique" opening samples which repeatedly take place. They're tacky. Cheesy. Unnecessary. However once they're are gone the song escapes into a wonderful, driving, psy and trance sensation. I don't mind the beginning gripe so much once it ends in the beginning but does put a scratch upon an otherwise kickass vehicle. This is one of the best songs on the album. 6. Ribbon On A Branch involves what sounds like the voice of Maynard James Keenan of "Tool," if he lended his voice talent here. Turns out it isn't him but it's a very well done song. It's floating and gentle, and the altered voices compliment it. This sounds like what it would sound like if TOOL did downtempo! It has the potential to really attract a wider audiance like candy if marketed correctly. Other than the downtempo musical angle, the voice work seems as if it's ripped off Tool. I like Tool and I enjoy this song, original sounding or not. Probably not. But it's catchy. They can get away with one track like this here. It's rather nice and harmless I feel. 7. Sleepwalker Part 1 may be the most uninteresting, mediocre sounding piece I've heard from Younger Brother to date. I don't know how much credit it deserves for being unique, different. It has a nice melody that rises up as the song progresses coupled by few others. However these never manage to lift the song up into heaven or anything all that great or even good in my opinion. A rather beautiful combination of sustained, mixed melodies swirl together during the second half of the track, briefly. It's great work, and more of these wonderful flavors would have been appreciated, or at least more catchy [stronger] build up to a short moment of musical bliss or freedom sound. Lastly, the song is pretty short (6 min) but I'm glad they ended it here if they had nothing better to continue it with. 8. Sleepwalker Part 2 seems like that continuation I just mentioned above. It has far more energy. It's actually danceable. Maybe these were both one track at one point, separated to enhance the track listing. I'm glad they're two tracks. It's a fairly good song I suppose; more catchy than the last, but nothing enchanting, super, or what I can call great. 9. Psychic Gibbon may be the most beautiful 2007 song I've heard all year, to date. This is a big reason why I love this group. Because they know how to make a song that impresses, full of passion. I love work that moves me emotionally. What this song accomplishes, the rest of the album seldom achieves, and that is to really affect me emotionally. In conclusion, this may not be the masterpiece some of us were hoping for. It's different and creative, cleverly mixed, and at times wonderful sounding. The Last Days Of Gravity is inspired by the colorful, happy, tripping days of Pink Floyd and Woodstock, brought up-to-date through the Downtempo genre. There are also some of those magical touches and moments that seem so rare in music now days, especially present in the emotive, final number, Psychic Gibbon. Several songs here aren't great in my opinion, but for the most part I find that even the less capturing pieces compliment the other songs; they tell another important chapter to the wonderful story. More work could have gone into making one or two stronger tracks, but the less stand-out tracks aren't bad per say; I expected more with few songs present. The first Younger Brother album was better, in my opinion. It was more fine tuned, and the songs were more powerful and gripping to me. I.e: Track 3 for starters. Nonetheless, these two artists have created another strong release. Such joy may have been a masterpiece with several stronger songs and magic moments, and if the overall package was as musically riveting emotionally, as it is mixed and mastered on a technical level. Overall this is one of the most solid releases of 2007. It's nothing spectacular as a whole, but a friendly, solid [good] follow-up to a cult-gem some refer to by name as "A Flock of Bleeps". Favorite tracks: 1, 3, 5, 6, 9. B+ SAMPLES http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=6884 http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/twi/twi1cd032.html

JIKKENTEKI - THE LONG WALK HOME PAR-2 RECORDS 2006 Track list: CD1: Revelations And Moments Of Clarity Samples: http://tinyurl.com/om3gg 01. 06’48” False Sense Of Security 02. 12’54” Ambiguity 03. 27’22” An Angel Takes Flight 04. 07’17” Chasing Raindrops 05. 15’31” Warmth In Cold Places CD2: Moving Forward In The Real World Samples: http://tinyurl.com/s6rxk 01. 14’00” Temporary Distractions 02. 08’46” Automagic 03. 08’33” Quietly Screaming 04. 07’12” Days Of The Weak 05. 06’20” Something New 06. 08’20” Different Paths 07. 09’11” Stepping Forward 08. 09’10” Warmth In Other Places This is a wonderful double album album. The melody work is so infectious and moody at times. Each disc has so much to offer. One is ambient, downtempo, and experimental. The other is Psy-Trance. Both are very creative and catchy throughout. The ambient side has some of the best, most emotive Psy work I've heard for quite some time. Surprisingly, this artist makes some of the most beautiful and danceable Psytrance numbers in his novel style too. CD1 01. False Sense Of Security is a slow and drifting ambient piece. It's calm and gentle, and a comfortable invitation for the listener to explore the deeper world that awaits. B / B+ 02. Ambiguity is far more, well, ambiguous. It's intangible in a sense, yet catchy. The first two minutes begin the development of a beautiful sound and melody. The sounds are capturing and coupled with complimentary, gentle ambient notes upon rising, ethereal ambient notes, and other sounds of addiction. This number intelligentally takes its time to build. It gains aggression, speed, hit-hats, and a treble-esque beat at 5:36. Fresh melodies are added to support the melody structure. It's contemplative and elegant. An infectious melody is added, then another, and another. Some how this song is interesting and involving for the full 12:53 duration. There is even an island of peace, without beat in the final third. Past that the song takes a completely fresh, and refreshing direction. I think this is an excellent song, from beginning to end. It's really beautiful and it may just break ground in the Psy/downtempo genre. A 03. An Angel Takes Flight continues well off the end of the previous enchantment. It's a very slow, progressive track coupled with many sounds and melodies. For the first 5 or 6 minutes it's pretty good but the emotive hook arrests my focus around 6:16. Suddanly the track becomes more catchy. Female hymn's add strength to the floating atmosphere throughout the middle section of the song. There is a very interesting transition around 15:00 that lasts several minutes. It's as if an enormous amount of energy is being conditioned and massaged in some way before release, albeit slowly and carefully. The final eight or so minutes are a combination of at least a dozen or so ideas present before with a stronger beat driving them. I really like how this song builds up. It rewards the openminded listener with a wonderful third act to the journey who is most patient. The beginning just takes some time to pick up. The artist could have split this up into two related tracks around the 14:02 mark but he decided to create an epic world. The result is ambitous in its concept and execution. I have rarely ever (if ever) heard a track this long that is so strong and catchy. A- 04. Chasing Raindrops is an interesting, contemplative ambient piece, the first since the opening track. I think it sounds sad in a beautiful way. Echoed Psy sounds remind me of crickets or aliens communicating, in sound waves (symbolically) from across the astral realms. It's very calm and spacy, although more one dimensional than the previous two tracks. It's still very creative, developing, and original sounding. I like it. B+ 05. Warmth In Cold Places begins very atmospheric. The male hymn's are interesting but the musical backdrop seems to transcend them. This is another number (it has become a consistency by now ) where the various sounds and melodies seem so carefully, tactifully, and creatively placed. This song really breaks out around 4:37 with a great leading melody. Wow it's catchy. There is a several minute island of water without ripples (without beat) for several minutes. This is where the song recaptures itself. Peace. Drifting.. And then something happens at 9:43. One of the most beautiful echoed melodies in downtempo takes place. This fresh sound is brought together with the great, continous melody lead from earlier on in the song! Both of these beautiful melodies dance together as another melody, an infectiously skipping one plays through them. Yet another, more aggressive melody appears to further enhance the sky in this celestial worl. By then the beat and rhythm have become strong and driving. This is a powerful, mysterious, and emotional track. It is one of the best tracks I have heard in the Downtempo genre. Awesome! A CD2 01. Temporary Distractions begins with similar, [catchy] soundscapes and melodies from the last track on CD1. This feels like a gorgeous continuation. But now we're getting into Psytrance. Around 2:50 begins the beginning of the kick drum. The speed and melody work lift up into this artist's Psy style. I love how the beautiful elements from the downtempo/experimental album have carried over into this song, for starters. From 5:53 to 5:58 releases a boost of strength "effect" into the music. It's catchy! Characteristics like this make the song feel and sound more dynamic. Skipping male hymn's are unleashed around the tracks middle, another smart move. The song becomes more energetic and aggressive as it bursts forward into the final act. I'm impressed how this artist goes from creating such a gentle, yet beautiful album to such a strong and energetic, yet "excercising in beauty" Psytrance album. It's like two different people or two different sides or aspects of the personality. Most artists cannot pull off two great albums back-to-back in the same package. Is it possible that this artist made two great albums for the price of one? A- 02. Automagic begins with strong piano notes coupled with a combination of sounds, some I have never heard anything like before. Around 1:50 begins the bursting, leading melody and another joins its path to strengthen the band soon after. Is this Goatrance or Goa-influenced I asked myself multiple times. It's awesome. An fresh, non-mainstream interlude or transition takes place in the middle of the song. It's interesting, and at this point the tempo changes. The style and tone has suddenly become dark and intense. An entirely fresh sound structure appears to be being built from scratch. This is a great song. Is it possible to let the winning streak continue? A- 03. Quietly Screaming is an oxymoron track title if I ever heard one. Things take some time to build up. The floating transition in the middle is refreshing. It's been a long while since I heard elements so artistic and non-mainstream in Psytrance songs. A rolling "rolling" sound stand out well, comprised with various skipping sound effects. At this point I'd be stuck in between saying good or great. But this artist seems to add just one more creative health pack right when I thought I've heard all the piece had to offer. Towards the end of the song, a strong and animated Goa-esque melody takes the lead. It's great! This song sounds different than the previous songs. Each one has so much character and a healthy range of ideas and they're all very danceable. Great work. B+ 04. Days Of The Weak begins pretty good and becomes better as it progresses. By now listeners will become familiar with these positive descriptions. People really appreciate a track that doesn't starts strong and gets getter as it progresses, passing good, into greatness and potentially going beyond our expectations. Although I don't find this the most infectious track on this second CD, it's very well done, whether that be good or great. The skipping sounds are used once again to great effect. B+ 05. Something New drops its beat hard into the first second. A gentle echoed melody is carefully placed and gains more emphasis to the tracks progression. This number returns to more of the stylish feel, somewhat infectious melodies I enjoyed in the first three tracks. Although the part from around 4:00 to 4:50 sounds more experimental and unique, it is still creative and catchy. B+ 06. Different Paths is very driving, motivating, and inspirational. Now here's a track that makes me feel more upbeat than the previous song. The crashing effect is great. The melodies are sonic bliss. They're wonderful! This reminds me of those old, nostalgic F-Zero game melodies that I couldn't get out of my head. But this sounds nothing like Nintendo-game music. It's the real deal as far as great Psytrance, dance, and production for various types of listening go. The chiming melodies towards the last third sounds very cool. The way this artist creates and combines melodies is naturally infectious at times. Beautiful work! A- 07. Stepping Forward is another strong song. It's more aggressive and crunchy, than the previous several numbers. I really like the Goa/Psy animated melodies in the first third but I care less for the crunchy textures in the second half. I do like crunchy textures at times but I feel as if this number is too loaded with ideas and sounds to the point I can't sink into a certain deep groove or mood. It's as if something raising me up in the beginning third eventually pulls me in other ways and I like being lifted up. This is still a pretty good song. It just came across as a bit overdone to me in execution. Often times this artist makes wonderful fusions with leading melodies. Here something new was attempted between leading melodies evolving into their combination with a more crunchy, psychedelic atmosphere and aggressive ride. I like the ideas and I think some people will love this song. It just doesn't agree with me as much as the others for some reason. I generally prefer the liquid melody-esque feel, emotion, and harder edged (not saying this isn't hard, it is) style of the previous songs. B+ 08. Warmth In Other Places is to my surprise a Psytrance version of one of the best songs I've every heard by this very same artist in CD1. Now why won't other artists do this? It's such a bright, eye opening idea. For that matter Simon Postford could go back and make Psytrance songs out of some of the best Shpnogle tracks! Or not. Let's leave Shpongle alone for now. I could not imagine a transition from Ambient/Downtempo masterpiece to carrying over so well into Psytrance but Jikkenteki is the one to pull it off. Awesome streaming leads, skipping sounds, hymns, and various other sounds come together for one of the best Psytrance albums of 2006. It's very creative how the ascending lead melody in the final third is minipulated around 5:25 like an animated, vivacious horse just bouncing to get out of the gate. This is a superb song. A In Conclusion, The Long Walk Home is a rare double album with strong quality and quantity, the latter referring to both CD's length, lasting appeal, and replay value. I'm impressed with the level of beauty and allure in the first CD. I also find interesting, the attractive combination of aggression and beauty in Disc 2 after hearing the first one. Often times an artist makes his Psytrance album too aggressive or too gentle, but the Psy/Disc 2 has a nice balance. This is an underrated gem and I'd love for this artist to release a super follow up in this style, and like this debut. It's one of the more beautiful, unique, creative, and artistic albums out there. Furthermore, it's one of the best Psy albums I have ever heard in my life. I'm very happy I bought this. Favorite Tracks CD1: 2, 3, 4, 5. - [A-] CD2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8. - [A-] A Samples http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=5872

double post, will use the first on page 3.

What an unexpected surprise. Abduction was an excellent album and I don't think these artists have ever released a poor one. Abduction is a milestone in electronica. I don't consider this Psytrance. If people expect Psy or Goa they'll be disappointed. Eat Static has their own sound and style which generally blends various forms of trance, techno, experimental, funk, downbeat, psy, drum n' bass, and chill (amongst others). I didn't realize they released a new album until today. Some of the tracks sound good, some not so good as someone put it. But that's my opinion. Overall I really like their funky, twisted beat and almonst constantly changing sound while remaining creative, catchy, and at times surprising. The last track is almost indescrible to me and yet there is something so elegant and beautiful about it. It's really nice to see them back.

Doesn't this song sound like a more mainstream Shpongle tune with lyrics sang by Maynard James Keenen, the voice of TOOL?? Anyway great song, beautiful actually...it just sounds a bit Tool-esque in vocals unless they hired the lead man for this new Younger Brother track to sing in it. When is the official release date for YOUNGER BROTHER 2?? All I can find is this... http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/twi/twi1cd032.html ... Btw I'm with you guys...I loved the first and I'm really excited about this one.

Hallucinogen seems to have his best songs on the two main albums. From L.S.D. on Twisted to Shakey Shaker on The Lone Deranger, I've never heard songs as impressive by Hallucinogen on singles or comps not found on his main albums including the Hallucinogen In Dub remix album. But then I searched and came across these Hallucinogen tracks below. Some are great. Some are excellent. Are there others??? - Astral Pancake - Crescent Suns - Four Stations of the Sun - Gamma Goblins - Lunatic House Sounds - The Herb Garden - Magic - Mi-Loony-Um! - Space Pussy - Spike - Soothsayer Is that it??

JUNO REACTOR - TRANSMISSIONS 1993 Track list: 01. 07'11" High Energy Protons - A 02. 08'08" The Heavens - B+ 03. 07'03" Luna-Tic - B+ 04. 07'39" Contact - B+ 05. 06'54" Acid Moon - B 06. 08'17" 10000 Miles - A 07. 06'36" Laughing Gas - A- 08. 08'19" Man To Ray - A- 09. 07'10" Landing - B+ / A- Transmissions is a classic. It's such an underrated gem. In 1993 Juno Reactor was making what we would later call Goa-Trance and the genre title wasn't even known back then! This is a groundbreaking album. Sure it's old now and some songs sound more Trance influenced than what we'd now call Goa. However this may be their most Goa-esque album to date. There are no bad tracks or one's that seem misplaced on this album. High Energy Protons, Laughing Gas, and Man To Ray are awesome. The Heavens is really good, great. Luna-Tic is driving and makes good use of its sounds, Goa melodies, and build ups. Contact has a wonderful melody comprised with a unique, elegant, moving feel and oriental sound. Only track I don't like so much is Acid Moon. 10000 Miles is incredible and unlike anything I've ever heard. It has a nostalgic, almost classy, old-school video game-esque melody or sound to it. Landing is a terrific ambient piece. You may float away when you least expect it. When I think 1993 I'm seldom more impressed. Aged production aside, there are tracks on this album that, if released today, would be considered great. This is a super debut from an exceptional group. I really love some of their tracks here. Favorite Tracks - 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8. A-

Luciana is the most tedious "long" track I've ever heard in my life. Honestly. And I love Juno Reactor. I own all of their albums but this one. If they built some awesome melodies, rhythms, and beats around the brooding dark ambient world they've managed to create here, I may have found this thing amazing. Nonetheless that idea would compromise the concept of the ambient track entirely. Personally I don't enjoy it and I won't rate it. Luciana is definitely artistic and unique, and nothing on planet earth is quite like it to my knowledge. You either like it or you don't.

BLUE PLANET CORPORATION - BLUE PLANET FLYING RHINO 1999 Track list: 01. 07'30" Apex - B+ 02. 08'44" Crystal - A- 03. 10'48" Alidade - A- 04. 06'55" Micromega - B+ 05. 07'33" Atoll - B 06. 06'47" Dialect - B+ 07. 09'14" Open Sea - A- / A 08. 06'38" Roma - B 09. 10'28" Arcana - B+ In Conclusion, this is an excellent album. It's loaded with strong, juicy, and delectible sounds, melodies, and soundscapes. The melodies are often warm and sometimes very emotive. They are blended in such a way to make the album a very memorable experience. Virtually all tracks stand out. None are bad though a couple aren't all that great IMO. Few may appeal more or less to Goa fans while others seem to fit the criteria for Psytrance. Most tracks however are very good and great. From the burst of energy into high gear halfway into Apex, to the beautiful, emotive, and infectious melodies of Crystal and Open Sea, tracks 2 and 7 are the strongest Goa-esque tracks on the album. They're both beautiful. The only track I don't care for is Atoll and Dialect. Atoll tries a different, ethnic-influenced melodic trance style. Dialect is more driving and aggressive (as is Alidade) however Dialect becomes more repetitive as it progresses. Tracks 1, 3, and 6 add more darkness or aggression to an otherwise peaceful, gentle journey. The contrast is interesting, but somehow makes the album more complicated for better or worse. It would have been interesting if the artists' stuck to Goa-influenced trance and/or Goatrance throughout. Fortunately the more intense tracks compliment the album with variety and I prefer intensity with melody focus, as Alidade does well, not so much Dialect. The latter is a pretty cool, driving Psy piece regardless. Roma is very pretty and atmospheric but lacks a memorable lead. It sounds like a bunch of peaceful sounds and textures and then fades away. I often times forget Roma because it isn't all that gripping, regardless of the peaceful sounds sprinkled throughout. Arcana is more of a Psy/Goa downbeat number. It's really good but nothing spectacular. Overall, this is a really unique and passionate, at times beatifully produced album filled with attractive melody/sound work. Favorite Tracks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9. A-

ASURA - LIFE² Update: Added to opening post.

JUNO REACTOR - LABYRINTH 2004 *Updated* September 2007 1 - Conquistador 1 (6:02) - B+ 2 - Conquistador 2 (5:06) - B+ 3 - Giant (4:00) - B- 4 - War Dogs (5:00) - B+ 5 - Mona Lisa Overdrive (4:45) - A 6 - Zwara (6:35) - A- 7 - Mutant Message (6:10) - B+ 8 - Angels And Men (7:07) - B 9 - Navras (9:06) - A First came Transmissions in 1993, an album totally beyond and underrated in its time. A- Luciana arrived in 1995. An extended, experimental, dark ambient piece that really tests the listeners patience. It's around 1 hour long. There are no beats or melodies or breaks. I did not enjoy this underrated self-titled album track but it's definitey artistic and unique. Love it, hate it, or admire it. You decide. Rating N/A Beyond the Infinite released around 1995. It is to this day a killer release. Many people considered it their greatest album along with... B+ Bible of Dreams arrived in 1996/97. I didn't like it at first, but its grown on me ever since. B+ Shango released in 1999 was very diverse in style, songs, and seemed like their most ethic album to date. This again was one of the best albums of the year and personally I think it's arguably their greatest piece yet. A- Than 5 or 6 years went by and Juno Reactor only seemed to pop up once in a while with a single or singles on a soundtrack (Matrix Reloaded / Revolutions) here and there. Labyrinth Juno Reactor's fifth main album (4th one to hold a list of new tracks) proves they still have it in them. It's interesting to see the mixed reactions on such an ambitious album. Pretentious? I won't argue that. But so are the people who tote what they feel as facts including myself. I think Labyrinth is a post-trance cinematic triumph. It's innnovative. I don't think every song is great. Some I find less developed and satisfying compared to others. Sure I consider Mono Lisa Overdrive and Nevras(!) super songs for what they are whether you like them or not. When I first got this album in 2004 and close to when they appeared on the Matrix Reloaded soundtrack I was a little disappointed. I thought the first track was great. However parts of the album seemed too motion picture-esque. Some songs felt angelic while others felt empty, or repetitive and heavy with little substance. And then back to angelic again, the overall album. I even had trouble enjoying Nevras on here initially because at first it reminded me of the opening credits coming up at the end of Matrix Revolutions (disappointing movie too!!) where my mind first heard and associated the song. This sucked for me because I thought the song was one of the coolest things about the movie. I walked out the theater feeling better about the movie because of the awesome song igniting the opening credits before I had time to comprehend the overall film and how shallow an amazing debut cult-classic gem had become by its visually awesome (at times) and misguided sequels. For instance, the fight for mankind and freedom was based on a fist fight with a once intimidating now jaded villain?! Shit, I thought the first one was so much more. The FIRST Matrix film left us relating and pondering our own world while the sequels turned all of that awareness (more so into Revolutions) into a big, dumb (however cool looking at times) -- with little substance and moments in philosphical talk to compensate for depth in plot, action movie! But under different times of day and as time went by I ended up enjoying this album far more than I did at first. I have to be in the right mood because it's much to take in. And I think Labyrinth is as epic as it sounds. The first song compliments the second song as if darkness (War) takes place after peace (Light). And it builds into an evergrowing ethnic, tribal, chanting world of driving melodies and dance beats. Something tells me the tracks on this album present a symbolic fight between angels and demons. It establishes the beauty in track one, the anger in track two, and then the war soon begins. Labyrinth at times can be like experiencing a big event or show through audio and this is why I believe some people find it as impressive as others find it well, not. And that doesn't mean or is the main reason per say why everyone will like or dislike this. Everyone feels differently towards something and that something grows on them differently. I find every Juno Reactor album ever produced unique, artistic, intriguing, and with greatness. Each one is so different from the other. Fortunately they all seem to have a strong tribal/ethnic as well as a light/dark element and emphesis. They've kept their style of beats and drums which I couldn't imagine enjoying without since even Juno Reactor attempted an entire beatless album with their extremely artistic but more admirable than enjoyable Luciana in my opinion. So they've done alot. They've taken many risks and not everyone is going to like everything they've done. If I were to complain I'd say track 3, Giant sounds like a song that didn't make the Matrix soundtracks cut. I don't like track 3 very much at all. In conclusion, there are songs on Labyrinth that are so powerful, unique, catchy, interesting, fun, dark and light. Whether you love it or hate it, Labyrinth is a huge, stand out album. Juno Reactor again pulls it off again. Their style with voices, drums, tribal and goa influences exist here as well. Labyrinth is one of the best albums of 2004. JR's style and sound has matured even more. They've tried somethings different here and certain tracks have more of a soundtrack composed feel than others but in the right mood I appreciate the epic, cimematic feel. Fortunately JR has fused their tribal trance and battle clash symbolism and sounds into the mix. Here it sounds more grandeur than ever in my opinion. I've always admired that no other artist sounds like Juno and vice-versa. Favorite Tracks - 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9. B+ Samples: http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=4396

Asura - Life² Ultimae Records July 2007 Tracklist 1 Golgotha (6:12) 2 Back To Light (7:16) 3 Galaxies Part One (Album Edit) (8:15) 4 Celestial Tendencies (9:07) 5 The Prophecy (7:28) 6 Five Lines (9:32) 7 Life² (7:49) 8 Galaxies Part Two (10:34) 9 Butterfly FX (6:27) 10 La Chanson De Carla (4:56) This is one of the best albums of 2007, hands down. 1. Golgotha is a chilling, somewhat enchanting and powerful, emotive score. I could imagine this being played during a powerful, historical (to more or less degree) film like City of God, Braveheart, Blood Diamond, or Gladiator for starters. This opening song sounds different from anything I have heard by Asura to date. It's not Ambient I don't think. Trance neither. It's like something you'd feel while being captured in a emotional, riveting motion picture. This is an excellent song and opening. It's strong and moving. I love it. A 2. Back to Light starts slow and has a great buildup into a thick storm (but not storming) and rhythm of beats, lush melodies, and other sound effects. But it's those strong, not-too-fast and powerful beats (and whatever depth alterations or enhancements may be involved/mixed in or around them) that drive the this missile. The melody work is strong and the song evolves throughout. This is an excellent song! A 3. Galaxies Part 1 is different from the previous version on Oxycanta compilation. This is a very spacey, floating ambient piece, the first on the album. I like the echoed, altered voices. And I'm pulled into the celestial sound emerging from the blending harmonies and sounds around the 5-6 minute mark. These sounds are superb; they're transcending and elevate, seriously raise the entire track. Some listeners may consider this number a pleasant interlude of before the next stronger wave of energy with beats, song. Many would disagree to that. This is a full, well developed Ambient Space track, not an interlude. And it's very catchy for those who can be present with it and not focus on other things on their mind that are not important in the present moment during. I wouldn't be surprised if Asura was inspired by Solor Fields on creating this warm, atmospheric journey through space. It's very well done regardless. Appearing simple in execution with a powerful, uplifting and transcending final third. A 4. Celestial Tendencies is a very well done and motivating number with a strong, continuous beat, warm atmosphere, a nice female voice, and streaming melodies. I like how it progresses as it develops, and the hymns in the backdrop (remind me of the score in the moody, original film, "The Prophecy" with Christopher Walken! The violen transition is attractive; it breaks up the song nicely and fronts the continuation quite well. A- 5. The Prophecy starts slow and begins as another ambient, emotive score initially. And I'm not complaining. I enjoy how the songs generally build by Asura. They don't reveal all of their magic in the first several minutes which is nice. This one involves male opening tribal/ethnic male vocals followed by female vocals. I'm not a big fan of the guy who says "Prophecy..." because it doesn't correlate so well with the floating music. But this is minor. The touch is actually fine. This is one of the most emotive songs on the album since the opening track. The ethnic female voice that eventually enters is catchy. Do the extended hymns of the male towards the halfway part foward sound a bit too aggressive or distracting from the intriguing current of sound? At first I thought so but on second and third listen I didn't mind it so much. Overall great track. I love the sustained instrument, the ambient, and the female voice especially. B+ 6. Five Lines begins ambient and gradually slowly develops a pretty good beat. The first several minutes are gentle and relaxing, great background/chill music. I initially thought Asura could have created stronger melody work around the beat, but the chilled music has grown on me, and seems to compliment the less subtle melody work on the album. The song seems a little more repetitive than the others, though the 5-6 minute transition refreshes this feel nicely. The music returns after fading out. I thought the song was over. The song is more progressive, and lacks evolution upon the music's return. Again however, the progressive approach has grown on me, and creates some diversity among more dynamic artwork. The previous one's were more gripping (or had more movement, events taking place), but the idea of a less gentle beat here is good. Solid track! B+ 7. Life² is a return to strong beats. Cleverly placed echoed sound fx are enhanced by melodies as you'd expect from Asura's beat-driven songs. Also great is the buildup, skipping voices. There appears to be some Goa-influenced melodies at times! I think the beats are just a little "too" strong (at times) relative to the beautiful sounds/music and rhythms throughout. Sometimes I think not. The song is arresting and keeps me interested, hooked, and involved throughout. Great track! So catchy and wow! Nice work. A- 08. Galaxies Part 2 is the most ambient driven track since Galaxies Part 1. As a follow-up to Part One this is a peaceful, floating score with a slow beat. Sustained melodies, atmosphere, and sounds correlate as few artists seem to do so as Asura and Solar Fields. It's difficult for me to score these Ambient tracks because I generally prefer songs with beats, but I'm warming up to these. They create variety and are thankfully strong. I think track 3 was the more powerful (in its progression). This is dreamy and celestial sounding too. Maybe not as heavenly as "Galaxies Part One." That's just my point-of-view of course. This is well done and compliments Part 1 (track 3) and the overall album. Oh it's so very nice actually. A- 09. Butterfly Fx involves one of the strongest kicks (beats) on the album. I really like the combination of Ambient to beat-driven Ambient Trance tracks on this album. It's good for contrast, to avoid a repetitive feel (like every track is the same even though that isn't true) perception. The contrast is is nice. As I hear a more relaxed song like Galaxies Part Two, I find myself ready for something more driving. Listeners will find Butterfuly Fx to a good driving beat with breaks of ethnic sounds and ambient as the song regains consciousness and evolves into a different body of grooves and sounds. The skipping melodies are great. The overall direction I find more compelling as the song progresses. This is one of the best beat driven songs since tracks 4 and 7, one of the best songs on the album period. A- 10. La Chanson De Carla is short but worth it. The album could have ended gently with track 8 or more driving with track 9. However Asura was kind enough to add one more, just one more... an uplifting and melodic electronica ambient-influenced piece that resonates as an epilogue (sort of) in my opinion. It's very much its own track though. It sounds different (more ethnic) from the previous songs, and combines some great ideas, such as female vocals, ambient, and atmosphere with a beat. This and brings closure to a wonderful journey filled with beauty, love, and light. B+ / A- In conclusion, Life² is Asura's most mature and flawless album to date. The first two were mature. I rated the debut (Code Eternity) very high because I felt that it broke ground with how Goa melodies were utilized with ambient-influenced trance/downtempo, and the quality of the overall delivery, execution. My gripe with Code Eternity however was that there were radio samples in one of the tracks involving domestic issues. These had nothing to do with the journey that the album presented. Fortunately, there are no suspect or questionable samples in this third album, in my opinion. The samples are well chosen and carefully placed. The voices and vocal work seems to have been given serious consideration. Life² is a great album. It flows better than the second album (Lost Eden) and is more of a continuous journey like the first (Code Eternity). The difference between this and the Code Eternity is that this has more of an ethnic (more or less New Age at times) influence, where as Code Eternity can be described as Ambient Trance with Psy/Goa influence via downbeat. I can't say the difference of having no Goa melodies is a loss here either. So much has been added and changed that succeeds. Both albums, (more epic ones 1+3) and all three actually are completely different even if they share some similar, positive characteristics. It's like the artists set aside or moved beyond whatever they were initially doing and started with a fresh approach. I say this because the way Asura described this album in 2006 would later reveal itself being totally different (and better) than anything I had imagined based on previous description. Naturally if I were to mention a weakness or something less positive, it would be that the first song has such cinematic flair, it's so provocative and gripping that it's curious as to why Asura didn't create another piece as cinematic and emotive in the classical (as opposed to Ambient Trance, or Downtempo) sense as the first. All in all, the tracks that follow the strong, moody, and unexpectedly great opening by Asura is a list of solid songs that combined, make up one of the strongest albums of the year and in the Ambient Trance genre as well. What Asura accomplished here is awesome. Life² is a wonderful album. Favorite Tracks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 A- Samples: http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=6698 http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/inr/inr1cd025.html

FSOL - DEAD CITIES 1996 Track list: 01 Herd Killing 02 Dead Cities 2 03 Her Face Forms in Summertime 04 We Have Explosives 05 Everyone In the world is doing something without me 06 My Kingdom 07 Max 08 Antique Toy 09 Quagmire 10 Glass 11 Yage 12 Vit Drowning 13 First death in the family I'm convinced after over 10 years. This album is awesome. It has to be [at times] one of the darkest ambient albums out there. The track variety, how often each song differentiates from the other is great. Add that to the wide level of sounds used throughout out album. Every track is unique and often thought provoking and moody. There's even a banging techno tune titled We have Explosives which most of us have heard. Most of the tracks here are great, excellent. I love how moody the overall album is. Each track seems to compliment the one beth before and after it in some way. More impressive is how loving and filled with LIGHT some of the songs are while others are DARK as hell. Honestly, I listen to this album straight through. Even when I hit tracks less strong like Antique Toy, the less super songs seem to do a wonderful job in fronting the next. This album deserves more credit than it has gotten. It's an underrated gem. Maybe, just maybe, this is a masterpiece. It sounds unlike anything I've ever heard and it's very catchy and interesting. This is one to shut your eyes to and imagine, or just float away. Favorite tracks: 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11 A- / A I agree. Especially around the 5-6 minute part foward. My Kingdom is powerful and emotional. I love it.

So when's this thing coming out? Any ideas?

Sweet. I'm looking forward to this. Thanks!

Then I'm going to love this. Nice review abasio. I just heard the samples. This sounds great. I didn't know Asura had it in them to make it more like the first. I'm glad they returned to their psy ambient-influenced electronic work with strong sound/melody work, feelings, and beats.

What do you consider one or even some of most heavenly and beautiful songs ever? Maybe the song brings you to heaven so to speak, or it's just one of the most dreamy, gorgeous things you've ever heard. A track or tracks that sound so beautiful, elegant, lush, maybe even intoxicating, etc. GOA / PSY Chi A.D. ... (First artist who comes to my mind when it comes to celestial in goa) - Exit Eternity - Eye Am The I - Liquid Neon Sky - Beyond The Singularity Juno Reactor - Shango album - Songs for Ancesters Astral Projection - Dancing Galaxy - Kabalah - Liquid Sun Dimension 5 - Transdimensional - Deep Space 5D - Flow Blue Planet Corporation - Blue Planet - Dialect (that leading melody is gorgeous) VA - Purple Energy 2 - Goasia - Spiritual Connection Zen Paradox - Eternal Brainwaves - Thanatos Awakening (Second half of this song is soooo beautiful) - Emerald DOWNTEMPO Electrypnose - Subliminal Melancholies - Perce Oreille - Neverending Story - Tripad Abakus - That Much Closer to the Sun - A Whole New Way of Looking At the Day Phutureprimitive - Sub Conscious - Submerge NEW AGE / TRIP HOP Goldfrapp - Felt Mountain (more sexy/romantic than celestial in a sense) - Pilot (Om A Star) - Utopia Phobos - Phobos (OMG this albums superb...arguably the most beautiful/sexy/romantic New Age album ever!) - Earth Ritual - Soul of Desire - Weightless - Temple King Enigma - The Cross Of Changes - The Eyes Of Truth - Age Of Loneliness (Carly's Song) The Spirit Level - Of Earth and Sky - Ghosts In The Night Watergate - Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence - Heart of Asia (heavenly remix) Bassic - Seduction AMBIENT The Future Sound Of London - Dead Cities (excellent album!) - Everyone In the world is doing something without me Synaesthesia - Ephemeral - Intelligence Dream OTHER Delerium - Terra Firma (Lara's Mix) - Truly (Signum Club Mix) The Flaming Lips - At War With The Mystics - Pompeii Am Götterdämmerung

Plasmoid is the best song I've heard from Cybernetika to date, hands down. It changes and keeps me engaged from beginning to end. I love how it progresses. The melody work, atmosphere, and special fx is strong, effective, and attractive. This is a very well done song. I hope this artist makes more at this involved, developed level and beyond. Songs like this is an example of why I listen like Dark Psytrance. B / B+

I was listening to Bodyspeaker and Weird Condios this morning from their "Freestyle" album. Both are pretty good tracks. Neither would tear up the dancefloor in my opinion. For me Rastaliens lack super songs or tracks that really stand out as great to me. I'm very drawn to several tracks they've released over the years due to the well done melody work. Based on samples here Spaceshifter sounds pretty cool, more aggressive. I really like the opening and continuing melodies in Electromatic. Wish their were more emotive dance songs. I like when they add more and stronger melodies and sounds to their songs. The more infectious their melodies, the more I enjoy their Full On sound.

Both are great for ordering psytrance, downtempo, chillout, and some Goa. Maybe Saikosounds comes a bit faster but both average 1-2 weeks for me. Psyshop's in Germany and SaikoSounds is in Honk Kong I believe. Customer service seems more receptive from saikosounds. Not to sound cheap but Psyshop and Saikosounds nearly dominate the PSY online market it seems. Both should have specials more often. Saiko has many items on sale but few are worth ordering in my opinion. For example, here's my definition of quantity over quality. http://www.saikosounds.com/english/full_specials.asp And Psyshop needs to update their freekin "stock section" on the mid-left of their home page. The majority of them have been there for years with few additions. Don't forget about amazon.co.uk. And amazon. Once in a while some of the best stuff pops up there for a more reasonable price than anything you're likely to find on saikosounds or psyshop.