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Jon Cocco
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Posts posted by Jon Cocco
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Hey, this isn't bad at all.
I recently streamed the samples for this album. Its actually really melodic and dance-friendly sounding! Lots of interesting little characteristic moments, like how the music suddenly stops, changes, the sounds shift into a different rhythm, etc... in other words, its not repetitive sounding.
The new album, based on the samples, sounds fairly upbeat and uplifting, while maintaining to be psychedelic. I like the samples and I don't know much about 1200 Mics, but I sampled some of their previous work before this release and I found it boring and repetitive sounding, of course thats only from the samples... but the samples here are pretty catchy overall I thought. Nothing great, nothing bad, they sound pretty good and I like some of the lift-off melodies and creative moments where the music just stops and then hits into a continuation of beats and melodies.I know this has been done before, but the style sounds fun.
The link to the samples are below.
www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/tip/tip1cd038.html
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Does anyone know whats going on with MFG???
I haven't heard anything in years! I was just listening to The Message and New Kind of World the other day, and I'm impressed at how good both these albums still are after all these years! Some of their tracks today still blow away the majority of whats being released today! Whatever happened to these guys? Its been 5 years since their last album!
Are we ever gonna get a great "next" new album from these guys or are they pretty much done because they're passed their prime like AP? I feel that all of MFG's albums kicked ass, although the last one seemed more toned down overall, less over-the-top and not that dark. Project Genesis has always been my favorite because of the darker approach. Tracks like Why? was one of the greatest tracks!
MFG used to come out with an album almost every year that was really good! Then one day the releases stopped coming. Its been 5 years now. Does anyone have a clue whats going on with the status of MFG?
MFG: (Main Album Discography)
The Message - 2000 ... Good release! The last track is super cool!
Project Genesis - 1998 ... They're most loved and edgy, opinionated release. (Its great dark goatrance!)
New kind of world - 1997 ... Arguably their best album! Considered "great" by many. Great cover!
The Prophecy - 1996 ... Good debut! Beautiful cover!
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Damn! I'm WRONG?!?! I hate being wrong!
... but that was only a track. He basically started with Hallucinogen as far as "albums" go, but okay.Well, Hallucinogen - Twisted seems to be his first Masterpiece! I think virtually all people will unquestionably agree to that, including you.
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His Best Projects -
Hallucinogen is Simon's best. Its where he began, his first release, his introduction to us and the known world! How can anyone not love, really like, or totally not respect and appreciate this stuff, unless your not into psytrance and goa. Hallucinogen is some of the very best psytrance/ (goa?) I've ever heard! The Lone Deranger was awesome too, one where I think he may have outdone himself for the time, but many will argue that TWISTED was greater because of its time and many, if all ... unforgettable tracks!
It seems that many long-time fans and people interested in Simon Postford, would LOVE it if he went back and made a true, third Hallucingen album. I would wait 3-5 years for this! Do we have a choice??? No. I hope he spends so much time and energy on this that it is truly a masterpiece beyond! I hope he makes and sucessfully finishes and releases a third Hallucinogen album... One thats more incredible, psychedelic, melodic, animated, mesmorizing and beyond, with tons of awesome layers of beautiful, twisted, sounds, scapes, rhythm, dark and light vibes, subtleties, secrets, and all the unique Simon finishing touches, sigature, and mastering... than ever before! I really would like to see him return to his roots and do what he's done best I feel. Hallucinogen is a milestone in psytrance and you all know it. It is to this day, fucking brilliant, and I still feel he has the energy to follow-this one up because its not like he's missing half the group, like Pleiadians, who I'm skeptical about Pleadians ever making a third album because half the magic is gone. Simon is at least, the group of Hallucinogen to my knowledge and many hope after all these years he makes another Hallucinogen masterpiece!
As far as Sphongle, you may all find that I've never really "got" it. I feel that these albums work best under the influence of something, because to me, other than the first really good track on "Tales from the Inexpressible," I found that the songs have more and more parts that slow down, speed up, skip, distort, etc... things that would affect ones perception if on something. I just have had trouble getting "into" it, as unique and interesting as some of it sounds to me. Ya know? I think Sphongle was partly made for the best music to have an adventure on. Some tracks seem as though you need to be in a very relaxed or influenced state to enjoy them or your like, yeah whatever, this sounds cool but its nothing great... and yet there are Sphongle tracks that I really like. Tracks that regardless, I can tell that they are great, musical tracks! Yet thats only several of them, at least for me right now. And I have a feeling that Simon really likes doing these Sphongle projects. They're something very rare and special to most people, and he's a master at it. These projects will never be his worst projects ever I believe, but after 5 years of ambient/chill/dub/trance, etc... call it what you will "music" from Simon, I wish he's return and do a third Hallucinogen album! I think the psytrace is where he has room to expand his creative energy!
Worst Projects???
Well I heard Beast (Spawn EP) and its not bad at all, its just not really good, especially since we're all used to his "best stuff." I was never all that impressed with Simon's track with Space Cat on track one of Beam Me Up, but it wasn't bad, I just expected more I guess.
So then ... worst stuff? I don't know. Someone mentioned a project on this topic thread that they said was worse than Beast (Spawn EP) and I forgot what it was right now. So... maybe thats his worst. Also his worst is probably what you all have never heard. The tracks that will never get released because they're not good enough, and I think some probably are really bad and every artist goes through things that he or she knows aren't good.
If something "bad" exists from Simon Postford, I haven't heard it. Some Younger Brother tracks were really cool while others I found pretty repetitive, annoying, and tedious to sit through, but I can't they were bad. Tracks 1, 3, and 4 on that album are so damn good! Regardless, Simon Postford has released very few bad or disappointing projects. I do know that because I heard many of his projects, but I can't think of any bad projects he's made that I've heard.
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Does anyone have any idea where anyone, including myself can buy Jaïa - Blue Energy on CD?
This is one of those albums I've been looking to buy for quite some time.
I heard Blue Energy was a really good album and it got great reviews, including right here on this site years ago.
But I have no idea where it exists to order and buy.Any suggestions?
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I just listened to the samples, well, the ones on psyshop!
The album and samples are now available on PSYSHOP.COM!
http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/sut/sut1cd001.html
All I have to say is, WOW! Based on the samples, this is some great, rare stuff we've seldom seen recently or maybe even in years! I hope the hype is real. Has anyone heard the whole album yet? How is it?
I hope this album is the most surprising album of 2004. After streaming the samples, I ordered the album today. It should take a week. By then we should have some REVIEWS up in the review section on this site if we don't already.
Just from judging the sample of track 1, which sounds very promising, this album may turn out to be one of the most special psytrance albums in years! I really hope it does have its own style and I'm very much looking forward to listening to this in its entirety. Its one thing to be inspired by Pleiadians (which are, err... were awesome) Its anothe thing to copy their style, so I hope unlike Misted Muppets (in some parts, which heavily reminded me of Infected Mushroom) the thought of Pleiadians don't continuously popping in my head. Of course, both artists seem to love lots of layes, and believe me, I am all about layers, meloides, and insane innovation too in music, I only hope I can distinguish this "new" style and I hope its not a spin-off of someone else's, but of course if its inspired its inspired, thats cool.
My impressions based on the samples thus far are: Very intricate and melodic... ambitious, twisting. This must have taken a long time to complete. Its comforting to know that the artist really cares about making something rare and great; something that seems to have died out in the mid 90's, when goa peeked as far as layers go.
Remember, its gotta be catchy, not just have tons of layers of melodies and cool sounds. Direction, rhythm, and flow plays an essential role here, and I hope all of these elements have come together to form a most precious masterpiece that is totally catchy and congruent, while also sounding very intricate, deep, and full-of-layers.
Its nice to see an artist finally make something not commercial and yet sound so super-cool. This sounds like a relief after all these years of so many dumbed down minimal and club trance albums.
Does anyone know how long its taken to finish this album? I'd be curious if anyone knows how many err... years this thing took.
later!
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You don't listen to I.F.O. or any other old Pleiadians stuff for the percussion or stuff like that. You listen because of the mesmerizing, trance-inducing, multi-layered kaleidoscopic explosions of sound and melody, the sense of journey created by those amazing arrangements, melodies and scales. That stuff is, in my humble opinion, unequalled in the history of music.
that magic left with the departure of the prodigous Carlo Paterno and Andrea Rizzo.
Wow! Good topic!
And nice post Ukiro! I strongly agree with virtually everything you've said. You seem very passionate about this music, as well as informed about Pleiadians. I thought that the third album was cancelled years back. Its been nothing but speculation over the years... I agree with you that I.F.O. is unmatched. I mean, nothing can replace it, and 99.9% of all goatrance albums to date have never been as detailed, labyrinthine, and intricate as this. [i.F.O.] is AWESOME, and while Family of Light had one amazing track called HEADSPIN... The problem was that overall, there was only one truly amazing track (according to most people) and the album just wasn't up to par with the perfect, abstract, melodic style its predecessor, but it was still a classic. I mean, they just don't make music like this anymore. Regardless, I.F.O. is without a doubt on the top 10 geatest goatrance albums of all time, and it may very well have tracks with the most layers. This album sets a benchmark in music history.
Similar questions about Pleiadians pop up every once in a while... rumors or tentative news of a third Pleiadians album. And I DON'T want to see a bad or okay album because it will hurt the name! I would rather NOT see a third album, unless it somehow was amazing. Unless it brought justice to the other two main albums, which is so rare I don't see it happening, but yet anythings possible! People are getting excited of a new Pleiadians album but most people don't realize that the group has split up. This greatly effects the style and overall creation. I own both I.F.O. and Family of Light and I KNOW THAT THESE ALBUMS ARE MASTERPIECES!!! I don't want to see them go down like the Etnica albums over the years.
Why don't they bring back Carlo Paterno and Andrea Rizzo??? Whats so not possible with that? Has anyone contacted these artists, even if they're on to different projects or careers in their life? This third album and the name of Pleiadians is riding on so much! It sounds scary, the idea that things could go wrong. I think the four of them should come together again if they did indeed separate... and lay down the most amazing album ever!!!!
The truth is that it is possible. The sad thing is that dreams this great usually seldom happen.
I'd rather let the two classics stay in glory than take away its luster with an inferior, disappointing follow-up. This 3rd album would have to be such, that well, I think the only way is to bring back the magic that made the first one such a classic or not bring it out at all. Just look what they did with the sequel to the film, The Crow and Terminator 3?!! These follow-ups seriously damaged the coolness and impression of the original classics. In retrospect I wish they were never made and I don't want to feel the same way about Pleiadians. People will judge this third album and compare it with the others! In a sense, I hope they have some master-plan to reinvent goa/psy trance or something flat-out grandbreaking, or this EXPLORER shouldn't come out under the name of Pleiadians! Think about what Astral Projections TEN has done! Those crappy remixes hasn't enhanced AP one bit. I would have rather it never was released, and unless there is something to surprise us all, I fear that this could be the case with Pleiadians unless they re-group and only if they all still have the magic or the remaining creaters have had an epiphiny or saw the light or something! Putting out something just "good" or "cool" or "different" isn't good enough. If its not amazing, TRULY AMAZING, they shouldn't use the name of Pleiadians to bring them attention. Maybe I'm being harsh, but I hope if there is a third release I pray these guys know what they're doing.
Lastly,
I noticed that as recent as September of 2004, Pleiadians released a track on this comp. Is this a new song or a Etnica Remix??? Either way, I find it rather average, nothing impressive at all. I saw it here on this track list at psyshop...
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I have just one question about Astral Projection.
Are these guys ever going to release a new main album anytime soon???
Anyone?
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I'm not really into Progressive Trance. For me, when people mention some TOP progressive trance albums, I usually hear ATMOS - Headcleaner, and for me, I did like two or three tracks on that album, but overall I found it very repetitive, over-rated, and I never really understood what all the hoopla was about.
However, while listening to Meller, I found several sample tracks catchy, but I think many psytrance fans won't like the singing in track 3. Still I'm curious to read what people have to say because I'm not really into progressive psy-trance and yet several parts of this album totally caught my attention. Here some of my thoughts based on the 10 samples I have heard at psyshop...
Anyway, so far the first several tracks (1-4) have not done anythiing for me. Track 1 sounds somewhat cool but those voices could get annoying for some...
I do like the sample of track 5... "Klangbad." That sounds pretty good, with the guitar and all. Nice.
Track 6, Prophecy has these talking female echoe voices which remind me a little bit of the female talking voices in Bio-Tonic, but not as catchy.
Track 7, Voodoo and track 8, Riddim are both the most catchy songs on tihs album too me, along with Klangbad, track 5.
Track 9 seems fairly interesting and track 10 seems fairly decent, albeit repetitive based on the samples.
I have not heard the album in its entirety, just samples so I can't review it, just comment on the samples...
Hopefully more comments will come soon.
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Yes, of yes. I think most of us have all done this before.
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Well every track on this album rocks. My Kingdom is fucking awesome. I can't wait for another release from Talpa.
Nough said.
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I dont usually like vocals in trance... to me one of the important things about trance is the 'abstractness', or how you can interpret thousands of little things and have a trip in your own head about the story the music tells.. Vocals seem to lock you into a specific set of associations
Well articulated and very well written!
I fully agree and I'm sure we can all totally relate. Psy or Goa is just not the same with vocals with most, not all... but most psytrance and Goa because it distracts from where you want to go or your focus on something you are imagining or seeing.
Vocals and singing limit the music most times, or rather they usually unintentionally remind us (in our sub-conciousness) that we're listening to a song, when in actuality certain songs don't seem like songs because we are so gone while listening to them; we interpret something entirely else, such as the places we're in, people we're with, etc.. The music is like an escape to these places and vocals and singing makes it far more difficult to focus on your own creations because were too busy paying attention or being distracted by what they're singing about, even if its complete bullshit.
However, sometimes a track or tracks are intended to not be these amazingly deep or abstract tracks. Sometimes the beat and melodies are accentuated by singing. Not too long ago I posted a thread in the general forums on Bio-Tonic - Divina, and for the first time, some people seemed very critical and in disagreement to my positive feedback toward that album. I mean, thats fine, we all have different tastes. However, my point mentioning that album here is that there are voices and singing in that album and it pulls it off successfully, rather accentuating and enhancing a song which wasn't all that psychedelic to begin with. The song was never written to be deep and mind-altering without voices or singing. Thus, and how its done here, the voices compliment the sounds and vice-versa. It actually makes the song cooler and adds CHARACTER, but certain times adding character with voices can turn against the music when the listener has already created character in his or her own mind.
Anyway, whether you like one or both of these melodic albums or not, Bio-tonic's Divina and X-Dreams new album are two GOOD examples where voices work in psy and / or tech-trance. But those are two albums that aren't all that psychedelic at, so the voices enhance the album rather than they are a burden, at least for the most part, even if on one or two songs it sounds kind of silly or whatever!
In those two albums for instance, I think singing or voices are good because its the type of music you'll probably simply dance or drive to, not trip, zone out, or whatever else to. They don't have hidden secrets of sound, (i.e, subliminal messages, not to my knowledge at least) subtle-ties, acid lines, and all that other more induced psychological stuff which would in most cases be totally ruined if singing existed. Where as in many cases with psy-trance, the voices would distract from the overall experience, I don't find it a problem in several albums released this and many other years. I repeat: In several.
But of course it really depends on the album, the music. In psy-trance there is a difference from voices and singing. I prefer NO SINGING in psytrance because its usually cheesy and ruins the visualizations that one creates while listening to the music.
WE ALL REMEMBER "Seratonin Sunrise" by MAN WITH NO NAME!
I think that was the song on Earth Moving Sun which caused quite a stir in the psytrance scene back in the late-90's. Fucking singing to goa music??? Would we call it goa or psytrance, I think GOA and for me the singing RUINED that track so much. I liked the music but the singing was like, what the fuck is that doing here???!!! I don't want to hear some guy singing about some shit I don't care about... and many people agreed that the song was very controversial... but some peeps actually liked it to my amazement.. Since then its been a BIG "IF" when it comes to singing.
Sometimes it works, most of the time it doesn't. I prefer NO singing because it usually sucks, but like I said, it works in X-Dream and Bio-Tonic but what the fuck is going on with Infected Mushroom???[/size]
I mean, Jesus Christ... that opening track is so fucking irritating with the whining, singing, it sounds terrible. I liked the first track on the experimental side of Converging Vegetarians and several other tracks with voices on that album were cool too, but Infected Mushroom's new album, I think the female voice in track 2 and 3 is pretty good, but the opening and final track with the singing and voices is just TERRIBLE!
That is an example of what I don't like in psytrance and how a song can be so much better or worse because of voices or singing, usually in psytrance its the latter. I give credit X-Dream track 2 on Bio-Tonic and all of JUNO REACTOR's albums for actually, flawlessly and diligently pulling it off.
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These ARE some of the Best Psytrance albums of 2004
*I haven't posted FREQ or X-Dream because I haven't heard those yet!
Ypsilon5 - Binary Sky - Yes! This album gets #1 for right now just because it has GOA written all over it. Well, not literally but.. This is the most GOA sounding, 2004 album I've heard all year, and its good, real good! This album reminds me of those lush waves of beautiful sounds and melodies from some of the earlier and final days of really good, great GOA music! If you liked Astral Projections earlier work in the mid-late 90's, RA - To Series, and this years very well done Electronic Universe album, I think it would be pretty difficult to not like this one! B+ / A
Space Monkey - Wow!!! This has many G-R-E-A-T, dark, catchy, full-on tracks! B+ / A
Four Carry Nuts - Mechanical Age - Dark, industrial, melodic, full-on (At most times) psy-trance at its best with several monster tracks. Lots of layers of sounds! (Track 1 and 7, just for starters) Can anyone say... ambitious?
B+ / ATalpa - Art of Being Non - Real amped-up, melodic psy-album, w/ IM influences. B+ / A
Electronic Universe - Cosmic Experiences - Very good, melodic release! B / A
Blue Vortex - Mirage - Some really good melodic, goa-ish tracks! B / A
Lemurians: Secret Message - Hell yes! Cool alien space psytrance! Phat production! Some super-cool, catchy songs! Good album! B / A
Psycraft - New Moves- (Very good release, dark and melodic, crazy and catchy!) B / A
Synsun: Symphonic adventure - One of the most melodic '04 albums! There are several very, VERY catchy songs which remind me of some of the goa-ish layers of melodies that seem to be so lacking or less epic in todays psytrance music. The second and last track especially I consider something very cool and special sounding. B / A
Juno Reactor - Labyrinth - Ahhh... yes. It's finally arrived.
JR's first main album since their last album, Shango came out in 2000! Here's group that has always managed to juggle multiple types of electronic and non-electronic music, while just about always sounding totally catchy, involving tribal beats, drums, female voices, chants, etc. I like most of the tracks on this new album, although like most people, I've heard two of the nine tracks before on The Matrix sequels & soundtracks. The Mono Lisa Overdrive track on Labyrinth has more sound layers and actual, multiple female voices, as opposed to the version on the Matrix Reloaded soundtrack. I appreciate both versions for different reasons. This album starts off really well too. Although I've heard Nevras on the Matrix Revolutions soundtrack, it truly is one hell of a very cool, epic track! Also, the darker songs really compliment the lighter songs, such as the opening track; very peaceful, very calm... then bang! It begins! B / A Bio-Tonic - Divina - Tracks 2, 6, 7, and the last one are really cool! Some track samples I agree may sound a bit cluby, but not much of it. Imagine a sexy female voice like Evanescense, but altered and without full chorsus, like the catchy, altered singing parts in Analog Pussy's 2004 release titled, Trance n' Roll, which had some good tracks. There are some VERY catchy melodies in Divina, at least I consider they are... and I LIKE catchy melodies! Track 2, 5, 6 and the last one is just really cool, something that slightly reminded me of what Juno Reactor did with the upbeat beautiful floating voices on the last track of their 1999 album, Shango. B- / A
Misted Muppet - From the Legend - Kickass melodies! Opening track is great; has IM influences. However, this album is nothing ground breaking, innovative, or truly great when you consider the fact that Infected Mushroom existed at least 6 years before. Nevertheless, fans of IM's style will really like Misted Muppet, while other fans find it lame for attempting to use someone else's revolutionary, and yes, at one point, incredible style. Regardless, this album has some very catchy, melodic tracks, but for the record, it is heavily influenced by Infected Mushroom. B- / A
Infected Mushroom's - IM the Supervisor Errr... where to begin. This DOES have some VERY GOOD tracks (TRACK 6 for example, and 2 & 3 I like very much) but its the weakest main album ever put out by Infected Mushroom to date!, and now I'm CONVINCED of that! This album is decent or fairly good at best I feel. When its good its great, but when its not, well... And I think the last track is very weak and disappointing, why did they end the 2004 album with such a weak, more clubby, generic track? Lastly, it seems that the sound takes less risks, thus to remain more generally appealing. There is greatness in this album, but the price of greatness comes with several surprisingly dissapointing tracks. C+ / A
Space Cat - Mechanical Dream - I personally found this dissapointing, but its actually a pretty good album. I think most, not all but many will appreciate his first and third album the best to date. There are some really good tracks here, however, this fourth album instantly sounds much more club-oriented than his other three main albums. Fortunately, its certainty club-friendly while certainly not club-trance. But there seems to be less risks in direction, style, and what he chose to do, rather what he didn't do this time around. C+ / A.
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" but it gets WAY too cheezy... Iry's Incantation , Indian , El Paso , Our Way to the Sun and Ephedra actually sound like music from some 80s NES game! I'd easily imagine this kind of music playing in the background of some commercial on Slimweight 4000 or something... "
lol... okay, okay. You're being funny but serious. Well the thought hadn't crossed my mind of a slimweight 4000 commercial or something, but the thought of LANI's music sounding like its from some Nintendo game is kind of cool, for about five seconds. But really, "old-school" did cross my mind when hearing this. Maybe you're right. I'll have to hear it again.
Yeah, I love AP and really like Yahel's first two albums too. I couldn't imagine this music, I mean this Lani album... being played at some big party because it sounds too nice if that makes any sense, but I guess there's a part of me that kind of likes 80's Nintendo music. lol.
Yeah, there is one or two other albums that came out this year which instantly reminded me of Nintendo music. Actually I could have sweared that some of the tunes were taken from that old futuristic racing game F-Zero on the super NES. I forget the albums but I think the reason why I like this album is because it has a nostalgic sound to it... but I now see what you mean by cheese.
But like you said, NES music. I really did laugh out loud, no bullshit.
I still can't get over that. Its just too funny! Poor Lani. If he knew people were saying his stuff sounded like old Nintendo music he'd probably jump off a cliff or drown himself in the bath tub, depending on which environment the man is in.
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Cool. Wow thanks!, this is like, really old stuff and some incredible stuff evolved from these originals! Its not even in the reviews section on this site?!?! I wonder why. I never knew of this albums existance before. Its kind of interesting to listen to it after all this time. I still hope AP comes out with another amazing follow-up to their magical sound from back in the days of Another World and Dancing Galaxy, but something even more ambitious, abstract, imaginative, melodic, (layers) and absorbing. I know, I'm probably dreaming.
I wonder if phonokol has any copies of this original SFX album...
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I know! How the? What the...?!
What the hells wrong with this planet?! Like this album is more rare than Juno Reactor - Luciana.
I was supposed to know about this one too.
I can't believe it. I can't take it anymore!
Thats it. It's over!
I'm killing myself.
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Oh my... I didn't know they had another album. Thats interesting. Isn't it a bit too late to be presenting this album?... or...
Where is this available to buy. Its not on psyshop. I have heard S.F.X.The Unreleased Tracks 89-94.” It was a good album for its time. Many people consider it a classic; the beginning of Astral Projection, which stopped making awesome music after their third or fourth main album, "Another World"!
Is it coming to be re-released, what is going on with it. Are they re-issuing it?
It is being brought up and mentioned here because??
I would like to hear this album.
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What is the release date for this album? It seems to be building up a buzz.
It says UPCOMING or COMING SOON on psyshop, but there is no specific date.
Any ideas / answers when this things getting released?!
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HOLY SHIT, YOUR RIGHT!!! Look at the similarities. What the hell is up with that??? Why did X-Dream do something so, er... something that already was done? What, why..?? That is so freekin strange. Both covers look the same but with different people, same concept and overall idea with a guy and a girl, and a speaker, and how they are positioned. just wierd man...
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I finally got and listened to this whole album. I like every track here, no bad tracks. I mean, its a melodic trance album, whats the problem? Here's what I have to say...
First off, I really like the first two tracks, track 4 has a nice guitar sound, and track 7 is really cool too, which is titled, Over the Moon. Some of the tunes are just so addictively catchy and positive sounding. I like that. Its a nice escape from all the recent twisted, dark stuff that keeps coming out.
I really like melodic songs that are catchy, layers and layers of catchy melodies, with rhythm and lots of changes. I like all sorts of psytrance actually, except for minimal, which this is NOT obviously. And for the record, I hate minimal.
I believe all of the songs develop at least several more layers of sounds after the first several minutes. In other words, at least for me, they improve the more into the song they get. The songs change direction, or rather, they are not repetitive (Although the album sticks to its melodic style) and minutes into most of the songs, their sounds become more blending, creating some really nice rhythms. This album in general is just so melodic and upbeat, uplifting, nice, and pleasent. The tunes, and melodies sweet. This album reminds me a little bit of those more emotional, it reminds me a bit of the melodic trance songs the EMUNA album (emotional trance) released several years back, but LANI has its own style, sound, and direction.
Anyway, someone said this album has some cheesy songs, like fluffy. Does fluffy mean soft or cheesy and what is your definition of cheesy or fluff? Now I've heard people use that word with some of California Sunshines songs, and I realize that morning trance doesn't mean cheesy.. but what do you mean when you say cheesy??? ... Because just because something is uplifting, positive and nice sounding does not mean its cheesy, ya know? Can someone explain this? I like this album and I think its cool to still have artists creating uplifting melodic songs that do NOT fit into the club-trance genra, even though they can be played in clubs if you know what I mean.
I recently got this album along with Yspilon 5, and this really is very well done for melodic trance fans! I do feel that certain tracks are more emotional sounding and I really like that, just like many melodic songs I've heard this year from Electronic Universe, Synsun, Blue Vortex and Emuna. So if you like those, I suggest at least checking out some samples of this new album to see if its worth getting.
So the album is nothing ground breaking but it is something really nice, especially for those into melodic, upbeat trance / melodic psytrance. But this very melodic, album with some really catchy songs is nothing less than a B- out of A or a 7.9 out of 10 for what it is. This is a melodic trance album with lots of nice tunes and well composed composition, mixing, and direction.
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Over 8 main galactic melodies???
I just heard the samples! This is really good!
But songs like Domestic_Modulator fade out mulitple times during the sample and then the music comes back, and I did read your site, but showing parts of one song during a sample of one song actually hurts the overall feel and listeing experience of a rather great, melodic song, because it cuts off right when you're getting into it. I hope the samples on psyshop show one straight, unedited part of the song, because you're songs are melodic and catchy enough to please most full-on, melodic, psy fans! Believe that, this is something that sounds good.
I guess I only wish there was a dark song with lots of atmosphere, melodies, a sense of being somewhere visual and such, but that doesn't seem to blend in well with the theme or style of this first album. And regardless, I like what I've heard.
I totally have a thing for catchy, well, layers and layers of CATCHY melodies, and track 6 on Asura's new album is soooo catchy. Not just a bunch of sounds, but rhythm, creating cool, lush waves of melodies and tunes.
Remember. Ambitious, imaginative, creative, original, different, melodic, breaking formula's, cool direction changes within the same song, those are all cool.
But CATCHY is key to a songs success
I am very interested so far! I hope it is one really good or great album! I hope there isn't one weak or decent track! Also, I hope there is an interesting build-up, not just a bunch of tunes but rather before the tunes start, there is an interesting introduction before the tracks, like Juno Reactor and AP's earlier stuff and like most stuff in general, they have these interesting opening beginning parts, but I believe that the case is similar here as well. Anyway, good luck!, and please fix those samples when it comes down to sampling the tracks on main sites like psyshop so that none of the potential buyers are confused.
take care!
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Nice pictures! They're just a bit blurry from the trail effects.
IFO
in General Psytrance
Posted
Holy shit this thread filled up fast! Its like someone mentions the word "Pleiadians" and others stop from taking a shit just to see what its all about,
heh
Cinos, I hope you didn't hear this album for the first time and already drew conclusions by posting before hearing it more than once or letting some time go by before hearing it again. I.F.O. was released almost 8 years ago man! Its a classic for many reasons but you heard it how many times did you hear it? This stuff isn't easy to just jump into, and "get" just like that. Well it is for some people but for others.
No first listen ever fully establishes itself unless you never hear it again. A person needs time for it to sink in. "Random" is not a good word to describe this album. Words like intricate, abstract, ambitious and melodic is more like it... just to name a few. There is so much rhythm and imagination within the tracks, it may be too much to appreciate or mentally organize or understand on the first or second or even third listen!, but I hope it wouldn't take too long, unless you're not familiar with this music or music this layered and detailed. Pleiadians is sophisticated music. It has a very steep listening curve for some people, just like the learning curve on a at-first difficult video game.
It seems that most people into goa and psytrance really like I.F.O.. But like with all albums, at least several people will never "get" or care for it. And you might turn out to like it more or less as time goes by. But realistically, I'm sure that there are several people who don't care for Hallucinogen. Is this hard to believe? No. You see, no one can deny without being dishonest, biased or unaware, that both Hallucinogen and Pleiadians have extremely unique, creative, and distinct styles & artists. If you don't see that, you have missed something or need to change your perspective, how your looking at it instead of focusing on how unimpressed you feel toward it. Regardless, if you do see the insanely masterful, creative inventiveness, that doesn't mean you have to like it. You may turn out to like it if you're into psy-trance with lots of layers... or not.
The fact is that Pleadians, like AP's earlier work, and Hallucinogen, and several others... have always been very different from all goa and psytrance artists before, and if you know a thing or two about mixing, tons of work (Hundreds and hundreds of hours -- literally I believe) has gone into finishing the I.F.O. album, but that doesn't warrant it to be liked by everyone. Nothing in its time [style-wise] sounded like I.F.O, and just think about it... the build up into the fast psychedelic melodies; the thick, twisting, wave-braiding layers of sounds upon sounds, melodies on melodies, the rhythm! Fucking awesome if you "got" it. I think Asterope is one of the tracks with over 30 or 40 layers combined, going all at once during several times, but I'm not sure right now if thats the track I'm thinking of. The only track I never cared for on this album is Celeano. It was decent to me, nothing great, even boring on the first couple listens, but later I came to appreciate it more for being so soft and subtle after such an intense and intricate album.
Anyway, those who heard this album close to when it first came out got the biggest impression because they didn't have half as much to compare it to as we have today. They got THE first impression and many realized that it was absolutely groundbreaking!, (At least, the style I believe was)
What if you saw the first Starwars movie in 1997 AFTER you saw the original Matrix movie in 1999? I bet your impression of the visuals and Special FX would seem dated when comparing it to Star Wars, had you seen Star Wars after The Matrix...
Maybe those two don't make up the best analogy, but I think it helps make one of my points. Just think about it. The original Star Wars movie did so much for its time, but gradually became dated of course, yet it will always be considered and remembered as a classic, one of the greatest films of all time for its creative and visual achievements. I for one, don't feel that the first or second Pleiadians album sounds dated, (Because I'm focusing on the inventive style which I believe no one has improved upon since) but the production during its time, maybe could have sounded more crisp and precise, had that same album come out now or even spent more time in its "mastering" stage than, but it didn't. Times change and production equiptment and potential improves. Star Wars and Pleiadians are both classics because of time and what they achieved in their time.
If I myself, did not see the light in I.F.O. like many of you crazy people, I wouldn't waste my time writing all of this, ya know? But look Cinos, I think you saw a bunch of great reviews and posts, and you were probably expecting something amazing or at least you were hoping to be impressed. In short, you were disappointed. However, maybe you'll just never like this style, which is fine, but its too soon to tell right now I think. Maybe it will grow on you in time, as its grown on many others. But if one album took YEARS to grow on me, it was Pleiadians - Family Of Light. Christ, I hated that album when I first heard it! Just read my several review posts under my same name on this same website for the Goa Reviews of Family Of Light! Holy shit I HATED everything about that album ACCEPT for HEADSPIN, which is a masterpiece all by itself!
Another album reminded me of your high expectations on I.F.O... I had super high expectations on an album I finally obtained, called Cosmosis - Synergy. Let me start off by saying that that album ROCK!. Although I didn't find it great, I can tell that it is great for its time. While listening to it, I found several tracks really good, but overall nothing amazing or even excellent. However, I could tell how good it was. I mean, sure I've heard stuff I considered better over the years, so going back 7 years is a little hard... I'll never see it the way some of you did when it first came out.
Nevertheless, its a super-cool album and I'm proud to have it in my collection. I was expecting something more, but while listening to it, I realized that I was expecting too much and I simply went with it. When music is solid, unique, innovative, or good, you sometimes just know it, even if its just a style. Some people don't care for every style, and Pleadians certaintly has a style that no one came remotely close to for almost 8 years until, apparently from what I've read... the new artist Filteria did something inspired or by the I.F.O. style but I haven't heard that Filteria album yet so I can't comment. My point is that I hope you see and appreciate it for what it is, whether its your type of goa / psytrance or not. And make sure you listen to it on GOOD headphones or a great system, not some crumby disc man or boom box or sterio. For the record, sound quality is essential with this music which is why I hate to think of downloading it.
Anyway, if you don't like it, you don't like it. Family of Light is a totally different style so maybe you'd like that more or less and hopefully I.F.O. will grow on you. At least I don't think you'll ever have a problem selling it if you bought the actual album and don't want it. In the real world, not everyone likes everything. That is cool. And I for one believe that I.F.O. is something very special, and some of you people out there know what I'm talking about. But like with anything, perspectives and impressions are bound to differ.