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V/A - Cryptology


DeathPosture

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V/A - Cryptology

 

JSmKS99.jpg

 

Hi-res cover: front + back

 

Artist: Various

Title: Cryptology

Format: CD (jewel case)

Label: Timecode Records (South Africa)

Cat. #: TCCD016

Distribution: Arabesque

Date: March 2006

 

Track listing:

 

01. 07’29” Hydraglyph – Mind Fuck

02. 08’46” Species – Digital Chaos

03. 06’34” Artifakt – The Idiot Song

04. 07’08” Phyx – Seventh Sword

05. 07’48” Multistate - HQ

06. 08’27” Twisted System - Razor

07. 07’47” Seroxat – Twisted Image

08. 07’20” Inner Action feat. Danger - Halloween

09. 06’45” Tickets - Babushka

 

.m3u-playlist: http://tinyurl.com/npyyg (all tracks!)

 

Review:

 

Tales from the crypt…

 

Timecode Records is the most visionary and quality conscious label on the African continent. Following the incredible and immensely popular albums by Artifakt and Twisted System, it’s time for a compilation… This 16th instalment is a blend of well-established Timecode-artists as well as newcomers… And judging by their previous releases my hopes are already lifted… Let’s dig deeper…

 

Let me take you thru the tracks…

 

#01: Hydraglyph – Mind Fuck

“If you need to find something out when you're in there, just calm down. The less you freak, the less you'll trip out. Yeah, but all this shit from before just comes tumbling... Yeah, but that shit is in the past. Focus on what you need to get now!” Prior to this track I’ve only heard a couple of tracks from the Nano-heads that are Hydraglyph… I liked their full-on, yet experimental take on psytrance… And hell yeah, this is experimental too – just as the title suggests. The voice samples from The Jacket are trippy indeed and they correspond well with the banging, full-power nature of this track… Chainsaw trance if there ever was chainsaw trance… Relentless, pounding and totally trippy! I dig it!

 

#02: Species – Digital Chaos

Species (Ahmed Hajdarovic & Eli Nesic) from Belgrade, Serbia are new to Timecode, but have released both an album and numerous compilation tracks on different labels… What we get here may sound like butt rock goa to the untrained ear, but this is easily much more refined than those Chemical Crew disciples… This is much more than the occasional guitar-riff – this is technoid, cream-of-the-crop party-minded psytrance… Banging, blasting and forceful… I like most of it, but I could have wished for some added variation in especially the first part of the track… There are a couple of too-techno’y passages though… Luckily it picks up as the track progresses and the break-down is particularly well executed… It’s destined to cause absolute havoc on the dance floors…

 

#03: Artifakt – The Idiot Song

“And now an appeal for sanity!” It’s no secret that I’m a BIG fan of Timecode boss Matthew De Nobrega’s output… His 2005 album Artifakts II was nothing short of a conceptual masterpiece – and following such a blast is an arduous task… But if anyone can pull it off, it’s Matt – and of course he doesn’t let me down here. I’m happy to say that this tune lives up to my expectations… As usual, this is multi-diverse, eclectic, genre-bending music – fusing tons of styles, samples and crack-pot ideas… Just like the title would imply! But don’t get me wrong – this is serious stuff too… Seriously trippy, dancefloor friendly, groovy as hell and just plain awesome! Hands down, the best track here…

 

#04: Phyx – Seventh Sword

Ian ’Phyx’ Summs is another old fav’e of mine… His acid-drenched, party-tool tracks have stood out on many compilations in recent years… His stuff on Ketuh Records has seldom let me down and I’m always excited when I see his name on a compilation… This track is another Phyx excursion into the psy twilight zone of darkish, acid-ridden, multi-layered night trance… Delicious!

 

#05: Multistate – HQ

“Go check out the trash collector’s homes. Cut the truck off at its next stopping point. It’s possible they’ve come in to contact with someone.” AFAIK Multistate is a debuting project from South Africa… And what we get here is trashy psytrance! That’s right – this is industrial-flavoured, nitty-gritty, raw and relentless psytrance… Oddball at times, but it never looses the general punch, drive or direction… Rich, versatile and extremely powerful… A ripping track!

 

#06: Twisted System – Razor

Twisted System consists of Ian Summs (Phyx), Chris Hoy (Shift) and Rabdom L – and they really, really impressed me with their second album Core released on Timecode in January… That album was a real intensive, well-produced piece of cluttered energy and Razor was one of the best tracks… I’m gonna copy/paste impressions from when I reviewed the album: Fuck yes; this is exactly what I was hoping for… Fragmented, multilayered, climactic, banging psytrance… Like a big, wide wall of sonic energy drenched in acid and with twirling melodies all over the place… Just like the many impressive Phyx tracks I’ve come to love… A smile-cracking track if there ever was one… Wonderful!

 

#07: Seroxat – Twisted Image

Seroxat is Offer Maoz from Israel is another producer who has yet to let me down with his trip-friendly, fast-paced, hands-in-the-air, shake-your-ass psytrance – and this is another healthy doze of just that… I mean, just check out the wicked intro here… Acid-ridden, full-power party-crunch right from the get-go… Maybe a little simple, but very effective too… Very, very powerful and twisted too… As the title suggests! Pretty good, but there are a couple of moments I find a little too simple… Generally I like it though…

 

#08: Inner Action feat. Danger – Halloween

Inner Action is a duo from Israel with one album + a bunch of compilation tracks under their belt… They are joined here by Danger from Procyon Records… This is easily the most high-pitched, most full-on track here… The computerized, robotic voices are pretty cool and this different approach to energetic psytrance is a welcomed change from the previous tracks… It has full-on tendencies, but luckily it manages to stay clear of the most obvious cheese pitfalls… A very nice and deeply energetic track… Great as a party-tool – and less great for home listening I guess… But when it comes to the level of energy put forth, this track is unsurpassed on this compilation… Cool!

 

#09: Tickets – Babushka

“What’s that smell?” This is actually my first encounter with Tickets (Joseph Summs) whom I’m guessing has some kind of family tie with Phyx!? Anyway, what we get here is a very South African-sounding full-power, full-on track… Not as much acid as in a Phyx-track, but it’s close… I like the many changes in pace and direction + the multi-climactic nature… Also the melodies are interesting here and the sampling is very original… All in all a nice track and a very worthy way to end this kick-ass compilation!

 

Kick-ass indeed! Timecode Records have fast established themselves as the undisputed heavyweight psy-champion of South Africa… There are no bad tracks here, and the stand-out tracks are many… There are a couple passages in a couple of tracks that doesn’t really rub me the right way – but they are easily outweighed by the landslide of brilliantly trippy moments… It’s been a while since I’ve seen SO many fav’e tracks on a compilation… Well done! …Timecode – psytrance you can trust!

 

The cover art is sweet and generally this is a pretty damn sweet compilation… A safe purchase for fans of the distinct South African sound – but also to fans of labels such as Ketuh, Digital Psionics, Shiva Space Technology and so on… Go check it out! … Enjoy!

 

Favourites: 1, 3(!!), 4, 5, 6(!), 8, 9

 

DeathPosture

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External links:

Timecode Records: http://www.timecode.co.za

Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/release/663969

Saiko Sounds: http://tinyurl.com/lqera

Beatspace: http://tinyurl.com/rwmwh

Psyshop: http://tinyurl.com/mfawj

Chaos: http://tinyurl.com/nq3a4

Juno: http://tinyurl.com/ow5x5

Edited by DeathPosture
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The artifakt track does indeed kick ass! :) This is a good compilation for S.A styled Psy fans, but on that part it ain't anything special too...

I prefer the new Mignight Storm II ! That one kicks more ass :D

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Just bought it and listened to it once.

I agree with FrozenRealm, it's a good compilation if you like SA style (although many tracks are not SA style) but not something extraordinary like The Turning or New Blood comps.

Like Sonic Solutions is a very good release but I miss the SUPER track (ok, Twisted System is awesome but it has been already released).

Fav tracks for this one listening are Twisted, the Artifakt (great stuff again), Seroxat (great surprise), Phyx, Multistate, Hydraglyph and Species.

 

And yes FR the Midnight Storm 2 is gonna be awesome!!! (Azax Syndrom-Covenant (Shift rmx) B)

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  • 1 month later...

Tickets is Phyx's younger brother.

They have a project together called Brethern.

 

He used to sell tickets at timecode parties, I think that's where his name comes from.

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Tickets is Phyx's younger brother.

They have a project together called Brethern.

 

He used to sell tickets at timecode parties, I think that's where his name comes from.

540293[/snapback]

Oh they are brethren, i have one very nice track by them: Shaka

 

this compilation isn't anyhing special for me, artifakt track is pretty nice but the beginning is a bit over the top, it's like attacking spiders. still nice track tho..

 

the twisted system track is very good too, but i already got it from thier full album

others traks are fine but not outstanding

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  • 7 years later...

aEkGSvi.jpg

 

Artist: Various
Title: Cryptology

Label: Timecode Records

Date: April, 2006

 

01. 07’29” Hydraglyph – Mind Fuck
02. 08’46” Species – Digital Chaos
03. 06’34” Artifakt – The Idiot Song
04. 07’08” Phyx – Seventh Sword
05. 07’48” Multistate - HQ
06. 08’27” Twisted System - Razor
07. 07’47” Seroxat – Twisted Image
08. 07’20” Inner Action feat. Danger - Halloween
09. 06’45” Tickets - Babushka

 

 

URx1mbe.gif

 

"What's that smell?"

 

Oh come on! It's not that bad! One bowl of Indian curry and everyone is Mr. Clean all of a sudden. It's natural!

 

 

A few of these tracks messed up a compilation that had all the makings. Take out the Digital Chaos track first. Don't know how that momentum killer made it here much less into the coveted 2nd track slot. The Seroxat one gets away from the South African goodness so with that gone we are now twice as strong. Remove the Inner Action and Babushka track (weakest Tickets track I've heard) and now we're talking.

 

Addition by subtrak...subtracksh...f*ck it.

 

Of course that's close to half the album so perhaps this coulda been an ep. And what a kick ass ep it would have been. Mind F*ck and The Seventh Sword are blistering. Follow that up with Razor and HQ and end with the Idiot Song. Bam, a scorching ep that might set off your smoke detector.

 

I should work for Timecode.

 

Psyshop

 

Beatspace

 

Mdk

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