S.M.I.L.E. - The Goa EP

[Lemmiwinks]

A - The Force

B1- Goa

B2- To Fast

 

S.M.I.L.E. is a group formed by some of the very first artists involved in the underground german trance scene: Andreas Karsten Pfeiffer (aka DJ Sangeet), Roland Sommer and David Winch (aka DJ Pushava). OK I know I've already said this a few times before, but this is my earliest find where the name "goa" is specifically mentioned on an electronic music record so we have a strong candidate for THE very first goatrance EP ever. Hmm... well yes and no, because even though the name goa is there, and it was made by people that were later involved in the goatrance scene, it doesn't really sound "goa-ish", more like some trippy techno with some dark atmospheres.

 

The Force is some darkish acid techno with a breakbeat and samples from Star Wars (as the title suggests). It's a nice listen, but certainly nothing really memorable.

 

Goa is better described as some tribal techno, very repetitive and with some didgeridoo samples. The atmosphere of the track ranges from rather goofy to pretty dark, so I guess these are the first attempts by artists to play with people's minds, especially when on acid. But again, although it's an interesting listen, this isn't really memorable.

 

To Fast, as the name suggests, is the fastest track on this EP (I mean by the standards of the time of course ), but also the least interesting track IMO.

 

CONCLUSION: A definate must-have for every self-proclaimed "trance historian" like myself, however the musical interest is very limited... don't say I didn't warn you

 

PS Don't mix up S.M.I.L.E. with S.M.I².L.E., that's a completely different project from Michael Kohlbecker (of Eternal Basement fame).

[Sentinel]

This was really crap I thought.