V/A - Return To The Source : Sacred Sites

[Guest Goa Sage]

V/A - Return To The Source : Sacred Sites

 

 

Artist: Various

Title: Return To The Source : Sacred Sites

Label: Pyramid

Date: 1997

 

Track listing:

 

CD 1

01. 05'31" Manmademan : Hill Of Shining Beings

02. 08'15" Insectoid : Tribedelic Nomads

03. 07'42" Joujouka : Ama No Kawa

04. 07'48" Quirk : Energy Transition

05. 08'44" Parasonix : Flight Of The Pteradactyl

06. 04'45" Medicine Drum : Supernature

07. 06'56" Anubis : Rites Of Ra

08. 08'26" Laughing Buddha : Tapu

09. 06'41" Buzzcraft : Ilias

10. 07'23" Masa : Dawn Of Man

 

CD 2

01. 05'50" Ceiba : Sky Spirit

02. 09'00" Tribal Drift : Disciplinic Flow

03. 06'33" Cat Von Trapp : Reaper Girl

04. 06'40" UVW : Hypnofly

05. 06'54" Tripitaka : Mootawinjee

06. 07'14" Azukx : Newgrange

07. 06'03" Astralasia : Every Mother's

08. 06'25" Yokota : Time Gate

09. 08'27" Youth : Freefall

10. 07'49" Universal Sound : Stone Henge

11. 03'52" Star Children : Sacred Reunion

 

Review:

 

Every track here is supposed to describe a sacred site. Sometimes it works,

sometimes it doesn't. The first disc contains tribal and (in some cases)

pretty experimental Psytrance, while the second disc is something for all

Ambient/Dub lovers. I like the idea of this compilation; the thought of going

back to the roots, back to Mother Nature. This is described in a 70 pages long

booklet about mysticism and native beliefs. The compilation itself is actually

rather good, even though the second CD is a bit weak. The first two tracks,

"Hill Of Shining Beings" by Manmademan and "Tribedelic Nomads" by Insectoid,

are a great introduction to the rest of the compilation. Dark, groovy and with

a tribal feeling to it. Joujouka's "Ama No Kawa" is good, as well as Quirk's

"Energy Transition". Then follows the best tune here; "Flight Of The

Pteradactyl" by Parasonix. Many weird electronic sounds in elaborate patterns.

Great! Posford's and Deckker's track "Rites Of Ra" contains some cool, fem!

ale "voice melody" and a many psychedelic acid lines. The three last tracks are

not that good. "Ilias" by Buzzcraft sounds like a Eurodisco tune, while "Dawn

Of Man" is nice, but a bit repetitive. The guys in Cieba (or should it be

"Ceiba"?) deliver a first class Ambient track. Goddamn it, "Sky Spirit" rocks

even though it's slow and doesn't contain any psychedelic sounds at all!

"Hypnofly" by UVW. is also cool, but a bit unprogressive. Youth's "Freefall"

is quite average and nothing really happens in it, but the ambience is really

soft. The last track, "Sacred Reunion" by Star Children, contains many nice,

swirling sounds, a terrific piano melody and some nice chanting by a female

voice. Altogether, this is a good compilation for home listening. Playing it

at a party would probably be a mistake!

[Guest clark_303]

Goa Sage described the idea already so I'll just concentrate on the tracks. The

first CD is a killer, lots of experimental Japanese and Australian stuff that

bends your mind but this is not for the "regular", a little narrow-minded

people who only like the classic sounds and can't stand new ideas(although

this is from 1997!). Very nice throughout except for the last 2 tracks that

are disappointing...The highlight: Laughing Buddha, kicks like the best

Cosmosis releases. The Second CD is very good too, beautiful chill-out for the

enlightened ones. Gets close to the quality of Shpongle, very tribal and

spiritual. None of the tracks are disappointing and the highlights are

Tripitaka(very psychedelic and touching), Cat Von Trapp(lovely stuff made with

vocals), Astralasia(like atmospheric drum'n'bass with vocals), Youth(great

atmospheric track with cool melodies, I don't understand how you could call

this average) and the last track that ends the journey with very peaceful

atmosphere and totally beautiful vocals. A great compilation if you're not

afraid of new sounds and chill-out stuff. The booklet is also cool. -Clargoa