V/A - Return To The Source : Explorations 1

[Guest Pit-UFO]

V/A - Return To The Source : Explorations 1

 

 

Artist: Various

Title: Return To The Source : Explorations 1

Label: Pyramid

Date: 2000

 

Track listing:

 

01. 06'28" General Midi : Automatic

02. 06'20" Electric Tease : Do That Thing

03. 06'43" Trancesetters : Roaches (Shaker Rmx)

04. 06'55" Electric Tease Feat Sophie Moleta : The Edge

05. 06'10" Double Dragon : Deep Thought

06. 07'06" Purple And Lunar : Subtle Thrust

07. 06'50" Space Safari : Monoton Cocktail

08. 04'35" Dogma 3000 : Hey Mr Juice

09. 05'46" Quirk : Disco Trash (Shenkin Shakedown Mix)

10. 06'53" Morphem : Hypnotone (00 Fleming Mix)

 

Review:

 

A lot has happened since the days when Freeland was making echoes, when Jan and

Marcus sent us to Trancesylvania, and when a club called Return to the Source

began. Psychedelic music has evolve rapidly and its greatness relies on the

amazing results when it touches other genres like breakbeats, techno, funk and

house. For many people this is the worst thing that can happen, minimal music

sucks, guitars are horrible and bla, bla, bla? for me and for sure most people

that have been trancing since the early days, this is the best, because we

like to see how psytrance takes risks, evolves and how it adds freshness,

style, an character to everything that touches. It´s encounter with house

could be one of the most promising ones, you could taste this in the amazing

Moovers and Groovers. Now Mark Allen has crafted an amazing journey through

acid lines, housy sounds, a lot of groove and kitsch passages. The result: The

best Return to the source mixed CD. An album that crosses frontiers, that has

great energy and 10 really good tracks expertly mixed. Another triumph for

psychedelic music. Buy two, and expand our music!!! 9/10

[Guest scott.kanov[at]v2music[dot]com]

I'm in full agreement with Pit-UFO, except for his rating. This one deserves

the Golden Prize, 10/10. Mark Allen has undoubtedly been the single most

innovative DJ/producer in the entire psychedelic spectrum. Once again, he

shows us the infinite possibility of music. Funky breaks, bouncey disco

rhythms and full-on psychedelia blend together like they were made for it all

along. "Explorations" forces you to listen in a whole new way. Here, you find

the trippiness of disco, the spacey moods of funk, the full-on flavor of

house. No use picking favorite tracks as they all stand out. Like too many

psytrance fans, I never gave enough credit to these types of music. This one

will open your eyes and ears. Kudos to Mark for ignoring the boundaries of

psytrance. Once again, he's broken the mold and we, the fans, reap the

rewards. One of the great releases from one of the great artists.

[Guest Globalsteez]

Yes indeed chums, this is the one for me, being by far the best And most

interesting trance mix CD i've heard for ages. I agree completely with the

above dudes views and also with Mark Allen's approach to mixing music, which

here, takes in just the right amount of diversity to pull it off. It's all

good baby...and you don't stop!! It's about time though that someone did get

it together on our scene to demonstrate how taking influences from other music

can complement our psychedelic sounds and make for a far more satisying

mixdown. I've got records by General Midi and Slacker so I was well pleased to

hear how Mark incorporated them here and once more I salute his choice. Who

knew that the Trancesetters track 'Roaches' was a Slacker remix then, as I was

surprised to notice that they were not credited anywhere on my cd box? Well

done to you as well!! Fuck it...10/10 (a very rare mark for me) This CD is a

flaming triumph...

[Guest slinker]

Damn fine masterpiece if ever i heard one..different, groovy, electronic and

superbly mixed ...what more could you desire for your ears and brain! one of

the best mix CDs i have..thanks Mark!! lets have lots more. =^,^=

[GEoMaNTiK]

Mark Allen you're a true legend in the psy scene, taking this music to another

level and incorporating so many other styles to one of the greatest mix-cd's

I've heard.

 

This release has so much bloody feeling and I agree with everyone else's review

of this top notch cd.

All tracks are perfect, mixing is spot on and Mark Allen will be around for

many more years to come with an amazing level such as this.

 

Can't wait to catch his set at Earthcore in Australia this weekend!

 

I can't remember the last time I gave a CD a perfect score, but this one sure

does deserve it - 10/10!

[Guest anon]

I don't think its as you guys give it, but I was MORE than pleasantly surprised

upon listening. Break beat stuff at the beggining really isn't my cup of tea.

Start playing at track 3!!!!!! The last track although quite cheesey is an

absolute killer. Listened to this whilst tripping hard... nuff said.Double

dragon made me buy the album, which made me discover phantasm records, which

in turn gave me artists to look out for on comps, which gave me Hommega,

SpiritZone, Nova Tekk, Psychic Deli, Transient(Not sure that is so good now

though), and MANY other labels to look out for. So I guess I owe this album

alot. But It isn't AMAZING. Just very good, if perhaps to fluffy.(perhaps?

for sure) 6/10

[Guest dj_auryn]

this cd is 'da bomb' - electric tease's do that thing should win a prize for

"most funk in a tight bassline" while "the edge" should win in "best

retro-electro meets trance sfx". Nobody should miss this, it's the future of

psychedelic music. Well done mark!

[Guest [Anonymous]]

This is a wonderful album mixed by mark allen.. so atmospheric.. it's like

going to an outdoor party with him. Comoplete set.