Phantasm Records is back again, this time with a new full on compilation, compiled by John Phantasm.
Machine Head (Phantasm Records) 2004 (PTMCD149)
1. Eskimo – Show Me The Money
2. Black And White – Flipper
3. Z Machine – Drinking Dreams
4. Mindfield Vs. Dickster – Slide (Groovy People Rmx)
5. Azif Ewuz – Hyperdelic
6. Jumanji – In Da Jungle
7. Eskimo & Dj Vlado – Jinja Ninja
8. Eskimo – Party Pooper
9. Dynamic – Virus Infection
10. Gundam – The Strike
First out is a new track by Eskimo (dj Junya) who was born into the Phantasm family, since John Phantasm is his father. He released his debut album (Can You Pick Me Up?) on Phantasm Records last year. A modern full on album that that was played by most full on djs around the world last year. The track we get here goes the same direction. GMS influenced, noisy full on. Quite melodic, but it doesn’t sound very refreshing. Massive bass line and screaming sounds. Track 2 is by two Israelis called Black And White (Yaniv Biton and Samuel Walerstein). They follow the full on direction. It sounds like most other Israeli full on these days, with some sort of Skazi vibe. I’m a bit fed up with this kind of full on. Nothing new here, just the same noisy full on we have heard tons of lately. Track 3 is by someone called Z Machine (Paul Marks). Here things get more interesting. It starts off with a cool little melody and some floating sounds, before the bass line starts pumping. Stumpy beats and very melodic, but not in a cheesy way. Track 4 is a collaboration between Mindfield (John Ford) and Dickster (Dick Trevor). This has got a better rhythm drift. Groovy as hell and some really cool sounds. One of my favourite tracks on this album.
Track 5 is by a new upcoming artist from Israel named Azif Ewuz. And it doesn’t sound bad. Quite melodic, and the first part reminds me of the old school Israeli trance. The beats are massive and the sounds we get in there are really crunchy. Nice one. Track 6 is a new track by Jumanji, which is the collaboration between Eskimo and Dickster. This is a really massive full on track. There are some funny voice samples in there, and a lot of jumpy psychedelic sounds, but it sounds a lot like tons of other full on tracks. Track 7 is a collaboration between Eskimo and dj Vlado (Vlado Andonovic). This one goes the same full on direction, with some scary vibes now and then, which makes it slightly better. Track 8 is another track by Eskimo. Full on, a massive rolling bass line and some weird voice samples saying that the police are here so we have to stop the party! This sounds like something between Skazi and GMS. Full on to the bone. Track 9 is a new track by Dynamic (Shay Almaqayes and Ben Avital) from Israel, who released their debut album Dynamix on Phonokol last year. I think Dynamic is one of the better groups when it comes to melodic full on Israeli trance. The track they give us here is not among the best ones I have heard from them, but not bad. Massive all the way through. The last track John has picked out for us to this compilation is a track by Gundam, which are the same guys as in Dynamic. This is absolutely one of the best tracks on this compilation. Some really twisted, swirling psychedelic sounds and a groovy rolling bass line. It is also quite melodic in a really good way. Nice finish on this compilation.
After the album release by Eskimo last year, Phantasm has definitely changed style to a more modern full on sound. I miss some of the originality we got in their releases before, but there are some strong full on tracks here that you will definitely hear a lot on festivals and parties worldwide this summer.
PK (shivapks@hotmail.com)
Top level
Music reviews