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Artist: Lectro Spektral Daze Title: Totally Frictionless Surface EP Label: Goa Records Date: February. 2014 1. Speechless 2. Totally Frictionless Surface 3. The Shiva Danny Marshall from New Zealand released this EP back in 2014 and I have to say that I'm really surprised and impressed. Like...Rihanna on the other end of a left hook surprised. Where did this come from? If his latest album sounded like this I believe more eyes would've been opened. The goa is cosmic and continues to be interesting all the way through. The music is entrancing with plenty of layers to delve into. He uses driving rhythms that invites dancing and unleashes the power at the right times. Great stuff to get lost in. Beatport

Artist: Ascent & Argus Title: The Perfect Element Label: Ovnimoon Records Date: February, 2014 1. Galadriel 2. Water The Perfect Element Every now and then you come across something that just hits you right. Nails the perfect sweet spot for a specific moment in time and this two track ep did that for me. Ascent (Bojan Stojiljkovic) and I assume his brother Argus (Branko Stojiljkovic) have teamed up before with another EP and a full length album all on Ovnimoon. Haven't heard those, but this one stuck me. From the slow, gentle groove to the far away voices this downtempo quickie sounded really great. Remember that Enigma track that was all over the radio back in the early 90's? Of course you don't, you guys were probably in diapers. Anyway he appropriates that beat for a relaxing and mystical trip. But the show stealer is the 2nd track that just sounds so lush and packed with emotion. Really enjoyed this and will be checking out their other stuff. Psyshop Beatspace

Artist: Various Title: Colors of Goa Label: Timewarp Records Date: February, 2014 1. Ingenuous Curiosity FILAMI 2. Mind Therapy J.I.S. 3. Dark side of the universe COSMIC DIMENSION 4. Kalindian KURANDINI 5. Behind the wheel (2013) OMNIVOX 6. Procyon TRINODIA 7. Gods of annihilation GOATREE 8. Wibbly Wobbly SCREWLOOSE 9. Ready to fly SKY TECHNOLOGY 10. Paranormal FROST RAVEN 11. Free your mind KOBAIA 12. Sand Planet TAVI 13. Kristallwald GHOSTONACID 14. Gemini Asteroid OXI 15. Galanga GOWAX 16. Universal Enlightenment INNERZONE 17. Solar Resonance (Live Mix) IMBA, ETHEREAL 18. Sojourn in Goa (2013) SOMNESIA "Children don't read horrorscopes." True. But they do have accidents sometimes and sh*t their pants. And then proceed to track it all over the classroom floor. Bu, you know, since there was a birthday party the same day and chocolate cake was served nobody seemed to notice. Only when the teacher bent down to clean some of it up did she realize this was a whole different level of fudge. To find out who had the accident (think a 5 year old in a classroom of their friends is gonna tell you? You obviously don't have kids. I sh*t my pants once and as a last resort found refuge in a Taco Bell bathroom. I know right? My whole world was turned upside down. Everything was backwards. You don't normally have a pre-emptive smash at the Bell, they are usually the cause. Weirdly there was no line. I'm thinking they should just have a slide from your table to the crapper...just makes things flow better. But I digress...) So the teacher brought each child behind a large easel to check their pants and not embarrass the culprit. Cause believe me, that is one insult that will stick with you right through high school. So of course the next day the school was flooded with questions from insane parents as to why a teacher was eating a sh*t sandwich in class and looking down precious Johnny's pants. So yes children don't read horrorscopes but they do tell imaginative stories. Truth is stranger than fiction and this actually happened at my son's school last week. Anyhoo (awkward pause and segue) Timewarp Records has really stepped in it now. Fresh off the heels of The Call of Goa comes another 2 CD album that you are going to want in your shiny "Get...those f*cking chocolate fingers away from my CD's!" collection. *puts finger to ear to listen to producer.* "No that's not what I...I'm sure they..." *sigh* "Fine." Uh, about the chocolate fingers remark...I wasn't labeling black people as thieves. I mean c'mon, I'm not a Republican. My kids just had a few Hershey Kisses so they really did have, you know...chocolate fingers. Timewarp is really leaving their mark in a very short time. Compiled by Nova Fractal and Ovnimoon this brand of goa is bouncy and highly energetic with great sounds and melodies. The first CD is comprised of names you should know whilst the second introduces you to the less familiar. Except that Imba / Ethereal combo. We've all heard of Ethereal (new album with a re-release of Anima Mundi please) and there are pictures of Imba defiling the Holy Land all over my Facebook newsfeed. At times it bubbles and harkens back to those golden days of Indian beaches, but sounds as clear as if you were in the room when it was being produced. Filami and Kurandini (sounds like something the Jawas would say) absolutely crush things with very impressive offerings. Cosmic Dimension and Trinodia serve up more space goa and Screw Loose adds a deluge of Psilocybian frothy psy to their track. By the time you wipe the sh*t eating grin (are you my kid's teacher?) off your face and make it to CD 2 another journey is set to begin. Frost Raven delivers an X-Dream /M-Run (hyphens not included) hybrid with much bounce to the ounce. Kobaia (where the f*ck did you find these guys?) sounds like they've been worshiping at the altar of Artifact303. Tavi takes you to arid desert lands full of turbans magic lands and chilled monkey brains while our very own GhostOnAcid paints a swirling goa portrait. I thought the newer guys did a great job presenting many twirling moments and held their own against the first CD of veterans. The whole thing is an absolute must buy if you're a goa fan. Another triumph Renato. Keep hitting it out of the park like this and soon they're gonna start asking you to pee in a cup before an album release. Psyshop Mdk

Artist: Hypnoxock Title: Rewritten By Shiva Label: Goa-Trance.com Date: February, 2014 1. On The Eve of the Revolt 2. No Time To Cry 3. Double Zero *stares intently. Sits back in chair and exhales deeply. Tilts head in concentration* Hypno... Hypnosh... Hypnozo... *shoves books off table angrily* F*ck! I can't do it. All I see is cock! F*cking cock! It's like some flamboyant Rorschach test! This duo from Spain is well accomplished. Their album Synthetic Resurrection was terrific and they're not shy about releasing free stuff over at Ektoplazm. With a short three track ep they open our ears to their goa sound. On the Eve of the Revolt is a delicious short intro that ripples with mystery. My only complaint was that it was too short. Homies bringing the downtempo like Ra. Not Time To Cry is your typically good goa track which goes into overdrive with the help of a well placed Leonidas sample. Double Zero is the same, but the break is absolutely fantastic. Some rich storytelling right here. Feel it. Still impressed with these guys. Their productions are always warm and vibrant. They breathe life into their music even if I can't pronounce their name. Welcome to the fray my friends. Beatport Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Pag Asa Label: Phonix Records Date: February, 2014 1. Glitch - Karma Bonus 2. Brain Driver - The Box 3. Remove - Be Water 4. Catarsis - Twisted 5. Sonic Assault - Edge of Sanity 6. Hysteria - Just One Cap 7. Distant Touch Vs. Fright Rate - Hilbilly Stripper (Distant Touch Edit) 8. Disco Volante - Finders Keepers 9. System Sequence - Pag Asa "The only thing that is karmically potent...is intention." Everyone loves the underdog. Especially ones you don't have to follow around with a pooper scooper. "Damnit Underdog, really? You couldn't do that before we left the house?" Hard not to root for them. Disney built a dynasty betting that you'd do just that. Rudy, Finding Nemo, and somehow they wrung three movies out of the annoying kids playing sh*tty hockey. Point is everyone likes the underdog. Phonix Records shares that mantra although with probably a lot less nazi imagery. This compilation Pag Asa (Filipino for hope) is a charity album for the victims of the recent typhoon Hiayaan. The artists generously donated their tracks and ll the proceeds go to World Vision, an international children's charity. The best thing you can do is something for others so when they contacted me and asked if I wouldn't mind throwing a review their way it was the least I could do. "Wrong herr Mike! Zee least you could do iz nussink!" True. But I'm not a dick like you. You know what hitler means these days? When someone smears sh*t below your nose to imitate your wittle mustache. Karma really is a b*tch isn't it? So here comes Phonix records about to dive into the deep end where the big boys play. Big Boys like Nexus Media and Timecode. Well those big boys better begin looking over their shoulder cause this underdog just laid the hammer down. Blisteringly good tracks like The Box, Be Water, and Twisted make the ground rumble and will have you running for cover. Just One Cap is another bruising track loaded with Futurama samples and brings to mind the work of Frozen Ghost. And if that wasn't enough they end with an acid barrage of a title track that could've come from Alienn or Ex-Gen. It's a really good compilation that is very light on filler. Add to the fact that it's for an excellent cause this is win win. I don't know anyone who couldn't use a little karmic balance. So get your wallets out and do a good deed instead of wasting it on yet another Alien Jesus album. When I say whoa...I...mean...whoa! Phonix Records Mdk

Artist: TRD Title: Apostles of the Universe EP Label: Chaitra Records Date: February, 2014 01 - Forgotten Paths (115 BPM) 02 - Apostles Of the Universe (140 BPM) 03 - Redeem (140 BPM) 04 - Resurrect (115/145 BPM) 05 - Spiritualization (140 BPM) 06 - Cotton Haze (80 BPM) Where is the f*cking toilet? I listen to a f*ckton of music. Absolute f*ckton. Everyday. Whenever I can. While I'm making dinner or dropping some kids off at the pool, my headphones are never out of reach. I've been reviewing albums for a long time so does that mean I've gotten better at distinguishing the wheat from the chaff? I'll leave that up to you, but if you do something long enough you should eventually get rather proficient at it. Don't know a thing about brain surgery, but give me a decade of daily study and I'll have you drooling in no time. But what if you nailed it on your first try? No med school, no residency, you just picked up a scalpel and signed your name on somebody's medulla oblongata? Yep that's some ol Doogie Howser sh*t right there. Legen...wait for it...dary. Well that's what this kid did. And yes I called him a kid cause at 21 years of age that's what you are to me. The debut from Swede Par Carlsson (extra s added for "superb") is lush with melodic layers and bursting with atmosphere. It's crystal clear sound is your guide for a trip through the galaxy. His breaks are deep and rich and keep the tracks fresh and vibrant while his use of percussion makes it stand out. Robotic voices and a cold feel drive home the theme that you are about to go where no man has gone before. Beautiful. Electronic. Music. Normally I'd avoid anything with a morning label on it because it just ain't my bag baby. But this is a must hear. We got ourselves a prodigy and the doctor is definitely in. Colin Oood on the master again and he did a bang up job. Give him a shout he might hook you up with the penis lengthening thing you wanted. It'll keep the girls from pointing at your junk and laughing. Free at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Z3ro Title: Interception EP Label: Fractal Records Date: February, 2014 1. Space Empire 2. The Resistance feat. Locked Locker 3. The War of the World 4. Mind Master feat. Z3ro "Join me, rise up with me, rise up on the wings of this slain angel. We’ll rebuild on the soul of this little warrior. We will pick up his standard and raise it high! Carry it forward until this city, your city, our city, his city, is a palace again! Is a palace again!" Holy sh*t is there a better orator than Al Pacino. This man could fire me up to punch a RPG toting terrorist in the dick. I didn't see the movie, but listening to the clip of his speech I was ready to take on the world. And this would be the perfect soundtrack to do just that. I knew I liked this guy. This is Javier Cortes from Mexico and half of the bombastic Speedball project. Knowing that will give you a better understanding of what you'll find in here. Heavy, thumping beats and acidic mayhem. I'm talking hurricane force stuff. And let's not forget that it's also loaded with ass wiggling material. These are quality tunes made for opening up that V8 on the interstate. I tell ya Fractal Records has been kicking some ass lately. When the hell did they become 3D Vision? *Javier not responsible for any speeding tickets or the revocation of anyone's license. Please drive responsibly.* Beatport Mdk

Artist: Carbon Title: Dream EP Label: UAF Date: February, 2014 01 - Shangri-La (142 BPM) 02 - Bergamot (143 BPM) 03 - Jupiter (Green Elf Mix) (149 BPM) 04 - Dream (100 BPM) Longtime Psynews memberand festival leggings wearer Imba is back with a release on his Underground Alien Factory label. Carbon is from Slovakia (a psytrance/goa artist from the Balkans? Stop me if you've heard that one.) and he delivers something pretty nice. Shangri La has lots of evolution with some bubbling and intense fury. The layers are nice and this sounds very raw. Bergamot is old school gritty with popping 303 sounds. Another track that makes a sharp directional turn. Well put together. Jupiter was very spacey, but not my favorite. He closes things out with the downtempo Dream. Homie put a bluesy saxaphone in there! Not afraid to travel the untrod path I see. I think I like the variation and changes in direction the most. The tracks are fast and bring the power with very nice layering. Free at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Various Title: Future Architecture 2 Label: Neogoa / UAF Date: February, 2014 01 - GoaTree - Human Apocalypto (80/106 BPM) 02 - Crossing Mind - Virtual Mind Cleaner (139 BPM) 03 - Aerosis - Cape Quetzal (138 BPM) 04 - Celestial Intelligence - Light After Darkness (143 BPM) 05 - Adrenalin Run - Spoiled Brats (Premature Incubation Mix) (145 BPM) 06 - Dreamweaver - Penta (145 BPM) 07 - Cosmic Dimension - Alien Civilization (142 BPM) 08 - Trinodia - Psychedelic Sun (137 BPM) 09 - Magic Science & Imba - Ghost Town (144 BPM) 10 - Omnivox - Inner Polarity (2014 Rework) (147 BPM) "And thus their undying love was made ever stronger by their continued collaboration..." So happy together...You guys are like peas and carrots. Peanut butter and chocolate. The match made in heaven continues to bear fruit (I'll let your brain juggle that image) with the second installment of Future Architecture. Neogoa (Ivan Richpa) and Underground Alien Factory (Nikola Petrovic) have cemented their place in the goa trance Parthenon with many quality digital releases and cover art to boot. Did I mention that they do all this without sticking their hand in your pocket. That costs extra buddy. Human Apocalypto- "If the population goes up to the point where we destroy the resources of the earth, it doesn't matter which nation is most populous...we all get it in the neck." Cmon...you know India gonna take a big hit. This track begins as a slow tribalistic warning with chants and the ominous sample and grows into a tense blockbuster soundtrack. Welcome to the show. At first I didn't like it now I'm captivated by it. It's beautiful. Virtual Mind Cleaner- Stephan has vaulted to the top of the goa pyramid with his distinct sound. Metallic yet warm it bubbles with tendrils that leave colorful trails in their wake. Constantly changing it never misses a beat. Yeah hit me again with that. There's still some midget fetish porn back in the corner you missed. Clean it! Cape Quetzal- Holy f*ck an Aerosis sighting! Welcome back man you have been missed. So much has happened since you've been gone. Lessee...we got Bin Laden, Obama got re-elected, gay people are getting married, Putin still shirtless, Paula Deen hates Negroes...oh just so much. Now this is a danceable piece of smoothness. Shiny and warm it bubbles towards that unreachable horizon with nice layering. Love de bass line mon. You've still got it. Light After Darkness- I think this is one of their strongest tracks to date. It's organic and alive as it changes shape thrusting warm rays of sunshine into the receding night. Great work! Spoiled Brats- The first release of M-run + Stiven and oh boy it's a doozy. Loads of groove that has epic pads, power and leads that make it fun to dance to. Love this track. Penta- Dis guy? Look I know next to nothing about Penta, but if he's making a goa track I'll give him a...what's that now? Oh. Penta is the title. Well, that uh...makes a little more sense doesn't it? Like my redneck neighbor says this is a moody sumbitch. Dark and not bad. Alien Civilization- "And then the question why don't they land here? Maybe it's because we're simply not that interesting." Bingo. And holy photoshop! I am convinced this was his inspiration. Only an alien race could imagine a scenario where having your pudding pounded on camera by a D-list celebrity would lead to fame and riches. His album In A Special Kind of Place wins the award for my most delayed review. Something always seems to come up. This track continues with his style of outerspace goa with glittery melodies and lush breaks. Psychedelic Sun- Mr. Astral Clouds is at it again with a track that resembles the M-run groove. Head nodding goodness that continually churns. This guy can be counted on. Ghost Town- Imagine little Teresa's surprise during lunch when, amongst all her friends, instead of pulling out a ham sandwich she grabs hold of mommy's little friend during those long, cold, winter nights. "Omigosh! I can't eat that!" Actually you can...well, you can pretend to. A thumping track with a backpack full of sounds. It gets real growly near the end. Needed a little more variety to put it over the top, but still a scorcher. Inner Polarity (2014 Rework)- Talk about closing with a double barreled blast! Full power all the way with a massive bottom end and a vigorous pace. This will leave a hole in your wall about yay big. "Yeah I saw him. Big fat guy. He was leaking this red liquid all over the place. Kept screaming Oh Yeah! all the way down the street." What a fantastic album. These two stalwarts have done it again. Highly recommended! Free at Ektoplazm

Artist: Sound Strider Title: Intrepid Travels EP Label: La Briche Records Date: February, 2014 01 - The Stakes (115 BPM) 02 - Menlo Park (115 BPM) 03 - Childhoods End (115 BPM) 04 - Limit (130 BPM) 05 - Betoniere (105 BPM) Gritty beats, juicy bass, and samples aplenty is what you get here. Throw in some turntablism and the recipe for nasty in a good way is there. Sometimes the percussion is off beat on purpose which is kinda cool. I feel they do themselves a disservice though with the extended length of their tracks at this slow bpm. What's that? They're not that long? So why the f*ck did it feel like I was running through pudding? Childhood Dream sounded like a slow depressive spiral where they were just f*cking with their machines. Betoniere was random messing about to my ears. The whole thing didn't have enough variation to fill the space. It's an...interesting break from the everyday I would say... In May... On a stack of hay... If you're...gay? *phone rings* "Hello? You're with who? Ah, human resources. Yes, I understand, I'll...I'll be right up" Damn, that's the third time this week. They must really like me. Free at Ektoplazm Mdk

Artist: Talpa Title: Emo Robot Label: Tesseract Studio Date: February, 2014 1. Emo Robot 2. Going Home ""Yesterday morning I woke up on the streets with a lollipop in my anus." See what you did you've confused Jackie Chan. Now he might try and make another movie. I think Goran is confused also. I do. This is what happens when you use aliases, you have to keep in character. Talpa = groundbreaking Art of Non psytrance. Riddler = funky yet eerie but wiggling progressive music. Same guy just different facets. This is a Talpa release. But it sounds like the Riddler. Aside from me trying to shoehorn him into boxes he himself created this is an interesting release. Emo Robot is the equivalent of a homosexual slap fight where juvenile robot voices trade barbs. But the electric effect is so throaty and funky I can't stop listening to it. Throw in that piano riff and disco hit and it sounds just like The Riddler. Going Home also has the eerie child-like melody characteristic of the Riddler, but there is also a Joe Satriani-esque guitar solo that I cannot stand. He won't you know. He won't stand for baloney! I don't know what Goran is doing these days. Expect the unexpected I suppose. Beatport Mdk