Middle Mode - Rising Shamans

[Bill]

Middle Mode

Rising Shamans

Digital Om Productions

Tracklist:

1. Rising Shamans

2. Over Reality

Middle Mode is the rare progressive project that immediately grabs my full attention. This Serbian duo are imaginative, detailed and extremely engaging music makers.

 

Of my favorites from these guys, "Click & Fly" is vintage psytrance and a clear indication of the early sounds from where they draw their inspirations. Their co-production with Nerso & Zyce on "Full Moon" is exceptional progressive work with very memorable melodies and soundscapes.

 

Often, though, I've wondered how much better those two excellent tracks could be if the BPMs were raised and the works were brought a bit closer to full-on territory.

 

Rising Shamans shows exactly how the duo fare in the full-on realm, and they do fare quite well, meeting that line between progressive and full-on with their usual assured sound production, never dipping into a moment that is dull or repetitive, always exhibiting a very keen insight into how to keep a track moving along at an engaging pace.

 

"Rising Shamans" is great tribal full-on with progressive touches, a very enjoyable groove works throughout the track while the primal, tribal rhythms are very easy to dance around to. The tribal chant samples are also very imaginative and highly effective.

 

"Over Reality" is a bit more on the reckless side of full-on without ever going completely mental - it's a track that is extremely brisk in its pacing while the ridiculously good synth keys growl with fine full-on power. There are also key moments in the track when the synth becomes lithe and airy harkening back to the vintage days of psy and giving the track a lovely bit of morning vibe among its full-powered energy ravings. An excellent track!

 

The weak point of Rising Shamans is it is only two tracks long. The duo already have several EPs out to their credit so it would be nice for these chaps to get a bit more ambitious and unleash a full-length at some point. However, despite how short the EP is, it is also very educational. It shows these dudes are just as adept at making quality full-on as they are at creating quality progressive.

 

Truly gifted these two are and, incidentally, that album art is fantastic. Great work on this one, worth shelling out the $3.98 Beatport is asking for.

 

Beatport