Jump to content

Dimension 5 - Second Phaze


Guest filip[at]att[dot]net

Recommended Posts

  • 3 years later...

Second Phaze probably sounds different thanks to Christer's influence as I hear a strong parallel between this album and To Sirius. But hey, I don't pretend to know how they made this album and who had the most input.

I was going to post about this exact thing but you had already done it. :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 years later...

Yeah the similarities between this album and the Ra albums is undeniable. And in all the best ways. And it's no surprise then that one of the members of the Ra project contributed to this album. To me this is a combination of the colder, and slightly scaled back nordic Goa sound, and the hyper-psychedelic Goa approach characteristic of the other albums in the Dimension 5 catalogue. This album to my ears atleast, has touch points with Miranda's Northern Lights and Asynja albums. And of course shares features with the two Ra albums To Sirius and 9th. It becomes immediatelly obvious, if you play Second Phaze and the abovementioned Ra albums in successive order.

It is by all accounts also a cosmic themed album, just like the other Dimension 5 albums. It's just another interpretation of this theme and to me atleast represents a refinement of some elements. From a technical standpoint I find this album to be very satisfying, as it has a clean-cut, balanced sound image which I find welcoming after listening to lots of more layer-dense 90's goa. It's by no means minimal, but the layers feel less like they are competing for your attention, and form a cohesive whole where you can select where to put your focus, while not being overwhelmed by the layers. And this also a trademark of the Ra - To Sirius album.

At times this album feels more dreamy and nostalgic than the other Dimension 5 albums. Perhaps hypnotic would be an apt description, some tracks on this album display a cold soothing quality as well. Which I think stems from the nordic input on this album. However, instead of a Northern Lights phenomena in the earth's sky, like on the Miranda album, this album greets you with a color display far out in space. Where the galaxies dance around in caleidoscopic delight, shimmering with charged particles and glowing celestial wonders set within a five-dimensional space.

One aspect that this album features, that I'm missing a bit on the Ra - 9th album, are the TB-303 patterns. This album makes good use of those acidic flavours so characteristic for the little silverbox. This album isn't as oriental in nature as the Ra albums either, that however doesn't mean that it is completely absent here. There is for example a very nice eastern inspired flute melody in one track. So for me the similarites between Second Phaze and the Ra albums can be subtle, but when you start to compare the albums you'll be rewarded with small hints here and there. So if you haven't heard this album yet and is a fan of the Ra albums. I definitely think you should check this album out. Don't go into this album expecting a Transdimensional 2.0, that way you'll only set yourself up for disappointment. Rather approach this as yet another style and theme, alongside the Transdimensional and Ra themes.

Now I'm only waiting for a remaster of this gem. That would be a spectacle worth perpetual celebration not just on planet earth, but elsewhere in our universe as well, where this album resonates strongly with its habitants.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And btw does anyone know why Dimension 5 hasn't made a comeback? I would love to hear what they could come up with today. In the same way that Ra joined the goa resurrection in the mid 2000's. If they ever decide to make another Dimension 5 album, I would love to hear what direction they could take the Second Phaze and Transdimensional styles. With todays technology, preferably in tandem with some old analogue and virtual analogue synthesizers as well. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, astralprojection said:

man.. a new dimension album would be nearly or identical as exciting as a new AP album. maybe they just got old :(

 

Yeah but atleast Christer Borge-Lunde is still active :) so I mean if he can still make kick-ass goa after all these years l don't see why it couldn't happen. That beeing said the odds aren't exactly the best since so many years have passed. But hey who knows perhaps some of the ex D5 members might've been doing goa at home and just not felt for releasing it? Or the magic that came from them working together as a team, never really was there anymore if they split up?

I think an important factor, is that Christer Borge-Lunde never really quit. So he maintained his goa skills. But I imagine one never really forgets the craft, but perhaps they're not interested in the genre in the same way anymore? The original inspiration/vision they had as a team to make this music might not be there anymore.

I still think it's a bit sad in one way, because there are still veterans who make some good music. But then there's of course the possibility that if they continued making music that the direction could've shifted entirely, perhaps towards full-on, psy, prog or something. And in that case I think the untarnished legacy they left behind was the best possible.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, AstralSphinx said:

Yeah but atleast Christer Borge-Lunde is still active :) so I mean if he can still make kick-ass goa after all these years l don't see why it couldn't happen.

iirc the people from suntrip said that earthcall was the last uptempo release by ra?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Padmapani said:

iirc the people from suntrip said that earthcall was the last uptempo release by ra?

I don't doubt that. But does that mean that he somehow lost his ability to produce goa, if he should like to do so again? :) And I didn't know that they stopped with uptempo. I would've formulated myself differently if I knew. Anyways too bad! Hope they make some uptempo goa again. :(

What I meant was that Ra managed to produce goa after the golden age. So if the D5 crew hypothetically would assemble again, could they create some nice goa again? :D I don't know but I wanna keep the dream alive. Third Phaze BELIEVE!

I always wonder how they did produce albums with so many members of the group. Like who did what? So fascinating, who contributed the most to the overall sound? Were they all equally good with the synthesizers, or did one perhaps specialize in the mixing part for example? It must've been very handy back then for sure to have several people doing filter sweeps and manual mixing desk fader automation etc during recording.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, AstralSphinx said:

Hope they make some uptempo goa again. :(

I don't know but I wanna keep the dream alive. Third Phaze BELIEVE!

I always wonder how they did produce albums with so many members of the group. Like who did what? So fascinating, who contributed the most to the overall sound? Were they all equally good with the synthesizers, or did one perhaps specialize in the mixing part for example? It must've been very handy back then for sure to have several people doing filter sweeps and manual mixing desk fader automation etc during recording.

me too.

i want to believe :)

no idea here. same with the original etnica lineup. i guess the most efficient way for differentiation of labour, where everyone specialises in one aspect, would be synthesis, writing the parts, sequencing, mixing. but then they wouldn't be working together as much as one after the other. some sort of "you're our 303 player, while i play the 101 and the third guy mans the drum machine" would also be a little strange…

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 minutes ago, Padmapani said:

me too.

i want to believe :)

no idea here. same with the original etnica lineup. i guess the most efficient way for differentiation of labour, where everyone specialises in one aspect, would be synthesis, writing the parts, sequencing, mixing. but then they wouldn't be working together as much as one after the other. some sort of "you're our 303 player, while i play the 101 and the third guy mans the drum machine" would also be a little strange…

Yeah that's exactly what I'm thinking and it doesn't make sense :D like a rock band setup. "Maaan you should hear Max! He's a wicked 303 bass player!" "Ooh great! He should totally meet this TR-909 drummer I know, he programs some killer 4/4 beats. With some mean snare rolls to boot!"

But then again who knows, considering many of the goa acts of the first gen were previously in synth, metal, punk bands etc.

This makes me think of the sleeve notes on UX - Ultimate Experince regarding their live setup at the time, which I think is somewhat similar these days perhaps? :) 

"All tracks written, produced & aurally sculptured at the U.X particle accelerator.

UX live are:
Kris Kylven: electronic drums
RX Heaven: keyboards & midi guitar
Pete Martin: keyboards & samplers
[editor's note: these are not the credits for the album, this live line-up has varied throughout the years]"

 

*copy pasted from discogs :)

  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

So what's the opinion here on the two different cover artworks that were available for this album?

 

Do you prefer the Blue Moon Productions version?

ADB53BF4-C768-40E6-B9D1-8E5AEBAC72A7.jpeg

 

Or the Velvet Inc./GTN (Global Trance Network) version?

AA451B88-5396-4FCF-A1C1-296DF6B11F5C.jpeg

 

I think both are cool, but the Blue Moon Productions one is far superior. It just feels more psychedelic and inspired. And also fits better with the artwork of the previous album Transdimensional, in terms of having a graphic identity which is instantly recognizeable. And besides that I also think it reflects the colors of the music more accurately.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...