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Prometheus - Corridor of Mirrors


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hello my album is out today ........hope it goes down well....be kind

 

benji

what you mean 'is out today'? it's been available from Twisted for a month... you mean we'll be finally able to get it in other on-line stores?

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Hi All !

 

Benji Vaughn AKA Prometheus was not so famous and appricated untill he suprised the whole world with the album "Robot-o-Chan" on 2004. Suddenly, every psytrance fan know this project and respect it. Now, almost three years after the debut album, Benji is back with full-legnth album called "Corridor Of Mirrors". Twisted Records is proudly to present the lateset materials of this talented guy and we need to check what is the new message that Prometheus is bring with him.

 

Cover : http://www.twistedrecords.co.uk/shop/catal...&page=popup

 

1. Arcadia Magik

The inroduction for this album is the "Arcadia Magik" tune. Benji is let us taste the unique style he developed over the years and now it's sound better than ever. Two and half minutes of stirring opening and than the trip is starts officialy. His own line is so sensed here and all the supported elements around just add more colors to the track. The first track is surely give the listener a good impression for the upcoming sounds. Let's see what is cooking next...

 

2. One Cell Short Of A Brain

Ok, so the first reunion with Prometheus music was very positive and the second track has high expections. The ability of this project to create a psychedelic atmosphere everytime is just astonishment. The flat kick with the right playings background, make it sound like an adventure story. I hope your brains is strong enough for get to the third tune. Be aware - the story just get more and more complicated.

 

3. Drug Sock

The vocal on the begining gives us a little clue for the rest of the track. "Drug Sock" tune is more deep and soft with the requied elements for full attention by the listener. The tension vibes just go up and up and thats force you to listen it well without missing anything, AMAZING. The hallucinate experience is continue...

 

4. The Logic Of The Polyphonic

Track number four is start with lovely robotic sample following by melodies-storm. The style here is modern and updated, even sound close to the full on genre, but much more high quality. This tune has a clear target - to shake the body seriously without leaving the brain's work. Every effect is founded on the right place and thats why it's sound so proffesional. The beautiful melody on the middle brake simply confused me totally. If you look for chilly material to relax after this track, you can search it on another place because here everything just going higher.

 

5. 9th (The Man Who Swam Through A Speaker)

The classical-music fans will recognize the symphony on the beginging...yes Beethoven is the right answer :-). This dance floor stomper is one of the best Benji's tracks ever in my opinion. The atmosphere is one of kind so as the all flow of the track. The genious symphony is coming back after five brilliant minutes and takes the track far away...this creative mind is always leave me speacless.

 

6. Soma

"Soma" track is a gift for all the stoned brains. The plot is starting chilly and slowly growing to the highlight. This tune has not connect with the dance floor, but it's a master-piece for the hallucinate brains - a long & intersting trip to unknown zone. "Soma is poetry..."

 

7. Oz

The bombs is gone and we can recover with "Oz" tune. The fat kick, flowing baseline and the soft riff is the best solution for let the brain understand what is happened here before and go on. The tempo is low and friendly, so as the funk influences, which combined fine.

 

8. Cherry Pie

What a smiley tune we have here :-). The suprising kick, which come from no where, is so groovy. Because we are close to the end, everything is more calm and compromiser. The "hangover" time is pleasant and enjoyable...all you need to do is let the music to control you.

 

All in all, the "Corridor Of Mirrors" trip is a must experience for every psychedelic music's fan. The order of the tracks is decided smartly and make the all tour more fun and wonderful. The required comparison with the first album is unnecessary, becasue the times are different and each album has it's own magic above.

Now, I can officialy say that Twisted Records back to control the business after an extended break and the credit should also go to Mr. Vaughn for his rare stuff.

 

The cd is availiable through Twisted's web site :

http://www.twistedrecords.co.uk/shop/catal...ee109daed5fd02f

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Hi All !

 

Benji Vaughn AKA Prometheus was not so famous and appricated untill he suprised the whole world with the album "Robot-o-Chan" on 2004. Suddenly, every psytrance fan know this project and respect it. Now, almost three years after the debut album, Benji is back with full-legnth album called "Corridor Of Mirrors". Twisted Records is proudly to present the lateset materials of this talented guy and we need to check what is the new message that Prometheus is bring with him.

So, Younger Brother wasn't appreciated? :lol:

It's still unavaiable@Psyshop and Saikosounds.

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To my ears, this album is a definite step up from his previous effort. I enjoyed the album more than I thought I would. It does have a few weak tracks, e.g. 2 and 8, but on average this is a strong release and does garner a positive recommendation from myself.

 

This is better than the other Twisted stuff (such as the latest Koxbox) being released.

 

 

 

Pedro

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No need for reviews really

Probably better understanded by mature listeners

This is the best release i heard for a long long time ...

This is the kind of quality stuff that can still save the scene ...

 

Just great

Wish there was more like this one to dream on ...

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Given this one listen so far.

It's a good album without being outstanding!

Repeat listens may bring more out & it's definately good enough to get a few repeat listens ;)

2007 is shaping up to be alright :)

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  • 2 weeks later...

Prometheus – Corridor Of Mirrors

 

Posted Image

 

Hi-res cover: front + back

 

Artist: Prometheus (UK)

Title: Corridor Of Mirrors

Format: CD (jewel case)

Label: Twisted Records (UK)

Cat. #: TWSCD31

Distribution: Twisted

Date: February 2007

 

Track listing:

 

01. 08’50” Arcadia Magik

02. 06’50” One Cell Short Of A Brain

03. 07’36” Drug Sock

04. 08’19” The Logic Of Polyphonic

05. 08’07” 9th (The Man Who Swam Through A Speaker)

06. 07’37” Soma

07. 07’54” Oz

08. 08’46” Cherry Pie

 

.m3u-playlist: http://tinyurl.com/3cus5a (all tracks!)

 

Review:

 

The ample and ambitious successor: The Echo Chamber Sessions.

 

London’s leading trance export Twisted Records is out with their 31st release, Corridor Of Mirrors which is the second album from Hallucinogen-apprentice Prometheus (Benji Vaughan). Virtually everything that Benji has had his paws on has been ace – from the early Process collaborations to the epic Younger Brother album. From the gargantuan first Prometheus album Robot.O.Chan to the many stand-out compilation tracks on Twisted and TIP.World. Crystal Skulls material in particular.

 

Benji is a subliminal producer of both progressive, full-on and downbeat and I regard him as one of the most pivotal post-2000 UK trance personas. So yeah, I’m a huge fan and I’ve been a happy camper ever since this second album was released. Now let’s find out if it meets the expectations.

 

Let me take you thru the tracks…

 

#01: Arcadia Magik

The album opens with a blast… An epic story told with only the best tools trance has to offer. The mesmerizing intro soon turns into an uplifting melody-driven piece of epic trance. More layers are added and several more subtle trance FX are sprinkled into the mix. The melancholy synths strike a notable contrast to the lush, pounding rhythm section. Those two key elements keep battling it out - building to a frenzy and eventually the track reaches higher levels of pure bliss. This is a textbook example of perfect *trance* and this is why I’ll never ever grow tired of it. What an amazing opening track.

 

#02: One Cell Short Of A Brain

And here’s a classic party choon. This lovely piece of arpeggio-rich psytrance encapsulates post-2000 UK-trance. Flaring synths, clean-cut percussion, huge melodic pads and tons of raw, unfiltered, ‘aving-it-large mentality… This is all about having fun the old-school way and dancing like no-one is watching… Screw conformity, this shit it ripe and is up to par with both Eat Static and Posford’s seminal dancefloor antics… Another addition to the triumphant resurrection of full-on! =)

 

#03: Drug Sock

“Dark glasses, white trousers, […] black socks, lilac shirt and multicoloured beetle boots and black socks… Not beetle boots!” Shortly after we’ve come to terms with the (seemingly weird) dresscode the bass is dropped and the trance quest continues. This time we’re digging deeper into the underground and the psychedelic undertones starts being more predominant… I love how this track is totally wobbly – it bounces up and down and back and forth constantly challenging the listeners… I can already picture how the trancefloors are gonna look like a giant human wave when this bombshell hits them… Hands-in-the-air material for sure. Lovely!

 

#04: The Logic Of Polyphonic

“By stretching the imagination and the […] you go from symmetric to asymmetric. The way from symmetric towards asymmetric…It’s the eternal logic of the polyphonic…” Time to up the ante, raise the bar, unleash the aciiiiiiiiid and marvel at the wonder that is chord progression. Now this is, quite literally, the dog’s bollocks. This is crisp, über-tight, insanely full-on psychedelic trance when it’s best… Propane-injected, pure-bred, in-your-face dancefloor napalm for darkened clubs and moonlight-lit dancefloors… Words really don’t do it justice. It the best track yet – and that’s saying a lot on such a marvellous album.

 

#05: 9th (The Man Who Swam Through A Speaker)

The oddball track off the album. Both the trippy title, the classical music-samples and the general freestyle feel here indicates that this is the kind of trance Benji produces when he’s been sipping on grandpa’s old cough medicine. That’s right; this is the kind of electronica that goes down extremely well with magic monkey juice… The psychedelic factor still plays an important role and this track is bound to gain fans among twisted dancers and tripped-out sofa trancers alike. I’m digging it, though it doesn’t leave me quite as breathless as the previous track. It’s still very a fantastic track though – totally unique and easily the most versatile thus far.

 

#06: Soma

“Soma is not really a plant. Poetry is not really language. Soma is poetry. The origin of poetry is soma!” Soma is an ambiguous title. It’s the drug without after-effects - or the intoxicating Iranian drink. It’s the cell body of an axon (deriving from the Greek word for body). It’s the Indian name for the moon AND it’s a botanical hallucinogen. To put it short, soma is poetry! I’d like to think that Benji takes a little bit of inspiration from all the above-mentioned definitions. Anyway, this track seems Ben turn the BPM count down a notch or two, leaving us with effervescent, bubbling psytrance… The flawless synth work is still very much the focal point and this track would work great as a transition tool going from full-on night trance to progressive morning trance. Very tasty!

 

#07: Oz

Oz is a very nice, tightly-knit hybrid of carefree trance with cascading melodies + deep and totally sexy morning trance… With a progressive structure and a few surprising twists Benji shows us once again just how versatile his production talent is. Multi-climactic morning trance with stamina, staying power and enough potency to crack tons of smiles. More uplifting than Viagra and more addictive than crack. Another very fine track.

 

#08: Cherry Pie

“There’s nothing quite like cherry pie baked by my Aunt Daisy…” The closing track is a piece of pie! And by pie, I mean a mouth-watering, subliminally tasty dessert rounded off with whipped cream. This a cornucopia of freshly squeezed Prometheus goodies in the form of lush, uplifting, twirling trance music with a pinch of psychedelia. A playful, easy-going nature is riddled throughout this lovely little track which will go down very well with a couple of beers and a spliff on a sunny afternoon. Its slicker than your average!

 

Believe the hype!

 

As you’ve probably already guessed by now this album totally lived up to my expectations – and even exceed them. This is right up to par with the Holy Trinity: Prometheus’ Robot.O.Chan (Twisted Records/2004), Ott’s Blumenkraft (Twisted Records/2003) and the Younger Brother album A Flock Of Bleeps (Twisted Records/2003) – to put it in layman’s terms, it’s an instant classic!

 

Benji is such a versatile, deeply talented producer – and his output is as eclectic as it is rewarding. His talent spans several genres, but the subsequent basic framework of high-quality psytrance is always the common denominator. Ben does it best. The flashy, futuristic artwork by legendary Calx is proper eye candy and meets the high standard we’re used to from Twisted Records. My only gripe is that the album only runs for 64 minutes, but with music of such quality I’m willing to let that one slide. It’s the old quality over quantity thing.

 

All in all, this is an amazing album – there’s nothing even close to a mediocre track here and I’m positive several of these tunes will become proper trancefloor anthems in years to come. It’s *that* good. Comes highly recommended from me as this is one enchanted piece of plastic. A musical investment opportunity that few people can afford to miss. Trust me on this – you need this one! Enjoy!

 

Favourites: 1(!!), 2(!!), 3(!), 4(!!!), 5(!), 6, 7(!), 8 < -- Yeah, that’s all of them!

 

DeathPosture

Posted Image

 

External links:

Twisted Records: http://www.twisted.co.uk

Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/release/877347

Saiko Sounds: http://tinyurl.com/2vrr8p

Beatspace: http://tinyurl.com/2m3sje

Discobole: http://tinyurl.com/3dss79

Wirikuta: http://tinyurl.com/37faba

PsyBuy: http://tinyurl.com/2n7b67

Psyshop: http://tinyurl.com/2ltzsm

Cisco: http://tinyurl.com/3d6w2x

Juno: http://tinyurl.com/2uf7p9

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I really like this one, and I didn't care too much for his first album...

 

The music here is so fresh and colorfull - and his basslines are very catchy and creative... Highly psychedelic music too, way moreso than most psytrance I've heard...

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  • 3 weeks later...

PROMETHEUS - CORRIDOR OF MIRRORS

TWISTED RECORDS

2007

 

 

Posted Image

 

 

Track list

 

1. Arcadia Magik

2. One Cell Short Of A Brain

3. Drug Sock

4. The Logic Of The Polyphonic

5. 9th-(The Man Who Swam Through A Speaker)

6. Soma

7. Oz

8. Cherry Pie

 

 

At first I wasn't enjoying this album. It's generally not that psychedelic. This is psytrance with more tracks on the side of a stylish tech-trance-type emphesis. Machine Trance with Psytrance influence? His style certainly is unique whether you like it or not.

 

Past the innovative sound and style, few tracks really engage me relative to what takes place within the style. Some of the tracks simply feel empty, lacking, as if more could have been done with them. An example is track 2. It's not the unique style but what you do with it. There's this strong, stomping throughout most tracks. Production did a good job cranking up the kickdrum and bass. Actually, the strength of bass and drum is sure to rumble clubs and your car/home system. The basslines and kickdrum are often strong throughout. This album lacks an opening or closing downtempo track.

 

 

1. Arcadia Magik is a good, maybe great track. There's just something very catchy about that melody, the notes and arrangement. This song was released early to hype and promote the album. It's a strong opening track but can the rest of the album compete with it? B+

 

2. One Cell Short Of A Brain is disappointing IMO. It has this little groovy melody somewhere in the beginning that vanishes for the rest of the entire song! This should have been brought back several times. Without a strong selling point, (the HOOK) the song becomes redundant and drawn out. I don't feel this artist utilized his style enough here. So much more could have taken place. All the drum and bass in the world can't save this thing from being lackluster. It's too repetitive and not catchy enough with the sounds existent around the strong *thud, thud, thud* (Repeat). There's a swishy sound that goes up and down over the groovy foundation and a pretty catchy melody crosses its path which is cool. This isn't a bad song per say. I simply find it one of the less engaging ones on the album. B-

 

3. Drug Sock is the second well done song here. It really sets the BOOM sound in the album. While repeticious in its own way, the sweet stomping beat plays to its more aggressive, dark (?) advangage, developing just enough to feel that any additional sounds here only compliment the power of the rhythm. Other sounds however seem alterated just to stretch their tiny purpose but it's not big deal. It feels like a pumped up song. While very one-Dimensional in general concept and execution, I can see why many people would like this. Play it loud but watch the health of your ear drums B

 

4. The Logic Of The Polyphonic is arguably the most aggressive song on the album. It has a faster beat speed compiled with higher pitched sounds. It gets increasingly catchier as it progresses. The song retains this higher octane energy and melodies throughout. This is what I like... And I LOVE the short "moving up" sound, melody bit, whatever that instrument is called. The notes change very fast. It's amazing how something so short and little can enhance a song so much. This is one of my most favorite songs on the album next to Arcadia Magik and Somo. It currently is my most favorite if I had to pick one. It becomes more climactic, has catchy, strong rhythm and melodies, and good/great development and direction from beginning to end. This is a very strong track. More tracks that are great and above (this one is great I think) would be excellent for a Prometheus album. B+

 

5. 9th-(The Man Who Swam Through A Speaker) has more musical sounds and melodies as it progresses. It's an interesting, fairly aggressive song. The melodies are good. I really like the more orchestrated, dramatic melody lead. It gets my attention! I think this should have come first, as track 4, because I find it less catchy than The Logic but whatever. That's a nitpick. Once track 3 begins the album is good and it continues here. Moments when the beat stops, as present here, is interesting because such a mysterious bit creates a wonderful opportunity for something to take place like a horse just waiting to race out of the gate. B+

 

6. Somo is one of the best songs on the album. I really like the main melody. It's simple and strong yet catchy and memorable! More well crafted melodic tracks like Arcadia Magic and this one would have been great on this album. B

 

7. Oz is pretty good. Actually it's one of the better songs on the album. I like the rhythm created. The melody is echoed which is catchy. A melody or two almost seems Goa influenced the way it's altered and played with. I think the artist did a pretty good job here creating sound variation around the repetitive kick. The melodies, transition are both well placed. The music returns stronger than before, in act two or three of three. It's good! I like songs that develop and become better as they progress but Oz lacks greatness. The best part is a good rhythm and once that ends the song soon ends. B- / B

 

8. Cherry Pie makes me want to smash my face in the cherry pie. I'm just kidding. This is unimpressive, far from great song from start to finish. Some stretching or altered sounds are mixed to a melody around a generic kickdrum. As more sounds are added I find this track falling into the same hole as track 8. It attempts to be different and succeeds. It lacks strong, catchy melodies and direction. Give the song depth and feeling! End the album with a bang not a whimper! The beat repeating to less layers of sound along with the up-and-down tune present isn't catchy here. Ambient sound cannot also save this thing from lacking a core, a strong, stablized structure from well built sound developing into other good sound additions. This final track coulda, shoulda been magical. It takes several minutes to jump into higher gear, a more energetic rhythm. By then I've all but completely lost interest because nothing took place to really intrigue me before that. In the final third a melody is added with few sustained notes in the background. But again, the sounds used, the actual song and how its composed and delivered lacks being catchy and good as a majority. This is a weak way to end the album, in my opinion. C

 

 

In conclusion, I'm not impressed with this album overall. Nonetheless several songs here have. Some song involve a strong charged up rhythm and punch filled energy. It's good for dancing. Several of the songs (1, 3, 4, 6, 7) range in the pretty good, good, and great zone. Several are very disappointing, weak (2, 8) or at least they fail to engage myself and various others I know. The opening song starts off the album strong and I wish the entire package, especially the closing did the same. I find Cherry Pie anything but filling unless by that you mean "filler." I do prefer debut Robot-o-Chan over follow up. There were more fresh, catchy melodies and successfully infectious experimentation on the first album, in my opinion. This album lacks a heart. Some tracks feel empty, too unemotional. On the positive I enjoyed this album more over time. It isn't a weak follow up but I expected more. There are some pretty catchy melodies and sounds sprinkled throughout which compliment the BOOM kickdrum and bassline. I think some people refer to this album as being boring due to the general repetition that takes place during certain moments and tracks which lack in strong sound variation and style relative to others. Surely the next album could be more adventure, intense, exciting, infectious, and include more moments of climax, unexpected twist and turns, stronger leading melodies and rhythms. Many people seem to feel this album is pretty good but nothing great or excellent. You can add me to that list but there is some great work present. Some tracks lack a selling point while others cash in by capitalizing upon them. This album creates the latter but fails to embace me with more than 4-5 good ranging songs. If you enjoyed the first Prometheus album you'll most likely enjoy this. It's generally a continuation from something good rather than a sound or style brought to an unquestionably higher level. I like this album because of several tracks where the style works the best. I'm not in love with this album nor do I consider it great as a whole. It could have much better as a whole.

 

 

Favorites: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6.

 

 

B

 

 

Samples = http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display...ase.asp?id=6380

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That's funny - I found the first album very boring and bland but find parts of this album terrific...

Yeah. I can imagine people not liking this album, but to call it boring?

 

JC gave the lowest rates to the tracks that I find to be very good, if not brilliant ("One Cell Short of A Brain", "9th" & "Cherry Pie"). It is true that this album is not in-yer-face, it's much more delicate and gentle. But each track oozes with quality and great ideas. The melancholic melodic touches in "Arcadia Magic", the great, the twisted Hallucinogen-like acid twists in "One Cell...", the bass tricks and wooden drums in "The Logic of The Polyphonic", the bits from Bethoven's 9th Symphony, groovy bass, acid tweaks and heavenly voice in "9th (The Man Who Swam Through A Speaker", the delicate, emerging from nowhere melody in "Oz" and techno/acid backbone in this track - how is all this boring?? It must be that "taste" thing... ;)

 

True that it could be more different from Robot.O.Chan, could be longer, I'd change the order of the tracks, made transitions between them... But as it is, it's still one of the best albums this year and further listening only reassures me that it won't be getting out of my playlist any time soon :)

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Yeah. I can imagine people not liking this album, but to call it boring?

Notice that I didn't call it boring but said it bored me.

My favourite albums if I heard them again & again & again I would end up being bored by.

I'll give this more listens though to see if I can find anything fresh!!!

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 5 months later...

Top notch material. 2 of my all time favorite Prometheus tracks are here. Arcadia Magic which sound like the very definition of Psychedelic Progressive Trance to me and 9th, an instant classic that should be played in the peak of every party. Absolutely morning bliss.

9/10

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Top notch material. 2 of my all time favorite Prometheus tracks are here. Arcadia Magic which sound like the very definition of Psychedelic Progressive Trance to me and 9th, an instant classic that should be played in the peak of every party. Absolutely morning bliss.

9/10

So true, 9th is just wonderfull stuff, love those fucked up tweaky, highpitched synths he's using!!!!! The last part(5:50) doesn't please me much, but i shure can live with it with that killer first 5 minutes

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  • 4 weeks later...

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