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Top level
Music reviews
Psytrance reviews
Review by PKS
New compilation out on Magma Records...
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Magma Records based in Italy is out with their second release, this time a compilation called Speed Of Light. Here they are focusing on the darker sight of trance that fit best at night.
Speed Of Light (Magma Records) 2004 (MGMCD002)
1. Flashback Vs. Virus – Chemical Brain
2. Golikem – Patafrax
3. Vik On Injection – R2D2
4. Insect Sun – Inertia
5. Parasense – Animal Turn
6. Suria – Sky Tone
7. Parasense – Amnezing Tango
8. The Misted Muppet – Odyssey
9. Noga – Precious
First out is a track by Flashback and Virus, which is a collaboration between a guy from Italy (Nicola Mazzanti) and a guy from Greece (Agis). They give us a hard pumping, fast night time track, with only dark sounds. Quite minimal all the way, but probably something for those who like the typical Russian trance style. Track 2 is by Golikem (Paolo Passerini), also from Italy. This one start with some break beats, before we get thrown into a very stumpy bass line. In this track we don’t get much sounds and melodies at all, and in my ears it sounds really simple. Some minimal trance can be great, but this was just boring in my ears. Track 3 is better. This one is made by Vik On Injection (Vik Shefy and A-Tan) from Israel. It starts really dramatic with the sound of an orchestra, before a pushing beat hits in. In this track they have gone darker than usual. Stumpy as hell, with several dark sounds going in and out. Again there could have been some more variation of melodies, but this track sounds pretty massive anyway. Track 4 is by an artist called Insect Sun (Ilan Yaniv) from Israel. This is a pumping, dark track with some sort of guitar sounds. Quite boring in my ears, because there are not much variation in there at all. Track 5 is by the Russian trance stars, Parasense (Alex and Victor). They have released two albums on Acidance Records, and has got a good reputation for their minimal night time trance. In my opinion they are quite over hyped, but some of their tracks are pretty strong. The track we get here is really typical Parasense style, with a hard, almost evil bass line and psychedelic weird and dark sounds dripping now and then. Very boring for home listening, but can be good at the dance floor at the darkest time of night.
Track 6 is by Suria (Frederic Gandara) from Portugal who released his debut album on Crystal Matrix Records last year. His album had some pretty cheesy melodies, but it seems like he has gone away from that in this track. Here we get a pure, stumping night time track, with mostly dark sounds, still very minimal. Then we get another track by Parasense. This one starts really weird, with some 50’s music which they have twisted around. Then, the psychedelic sounds take over, and the rolling, evil Parasense bass line starts pushing. Again typical Parasense. This track is better than the other Parasense track we get on this album, and is one of my favourite tracks on this compilation. Track 8 is by The Misted Muppet (Dagan Israeli and Tal Hassidi) from Israel. They have just released their debut album on Trancelucent Productions. A full on album with a lot of crazy melodies that reminds me of old school goa. Here they continues their scary horror movie vibe, but we get less melodies than we are used to hear from these guys. Still the most varied track on this compilation. The last track we get on this compilation is a track by Noga (Noga Sudai) from Israel. This track goes dark too, but has more atmospheric vibes and lighter melodies. My favourite track on this compilation because of the drifting vibe, groovy bass line and nice melody.
This is a pure night time compilation. Most of the tracks doesn’t fit for home listening at all, but will probably please several dj’s and their dark night time sets. So if you are into minimal, dark, night time trance, check out this compilation.
PK (shivapks@hotmail.com)
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Death Posture
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14.08.2004 14:38
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V/A – Speed Of Light
Cover: http://217.160.138.169/pic_b/mgm1cd004_b.jpg
Artist: Various
Title: Speed Of Light
Format: CD (jewel case)
Label: Magma Records (Italy)
Cat. #: MGMCD 002
Distribution: Ajuca Productions (U.K.)
Date: June 2004
Track listing:
01. 06’30” Flashback vs. Virus – Chemical Brain
02. 07’53” Golikem - Patafrax
03. 06’31” Vik On Injection – R2D2
04. 06’52” Insect Sun - Inertia
05. 07’35” Parasense – Animal Turn
06. 08’11” Suria – Sky Stone
07. 07’21” Parasense – Amnezing Tango
08. 07’25” The Misted Muppet - Odessey
09. 08’57” Noga - Precious
Review:
Lasagne trance!
Magma Records (based in Italy) is out with their second compilation called “Speed Of Light”. Just like the first compilation; “Spaghetti, Pizza And Psychedelic” this CD was released without much publicity – well, at least I didn’t hear much about it when it came out a couple of months ago… But on this compilation, Magma line up some pretty impressive names, so I think it’s worth a review (though the cover-art is an eye-soar… Yuk!)… Let’s see what the Italians are up to…
Let me take you thru the tracks…
#01: First up is a track by Flashback & Virus – An Italian dude and a Greek dude… I have no idea whether they are upcoming producers or veterans!?… But this is night trance – stripped down to the basics, and with a minimal structure with hints of full-on sprinkled lightly on top… Loads of industrial sounds and your typical darkish FX… It’s not a bad track per se – I just can’t find anything memorable about it… Run of the mill track!
#02: Golikem is the moniker of Italian producer Paolo Passerni, and this track is a preview of his upcoming album (actually it might already be released – I dunno!)... We start out in breaks-territory and it soon evolves into a percussion driven, odd-ball track… Very stripped down, and rid of all ‘unnecessary bleeps and acid squelches’ – you wouldn’t want to confuse this with a psy-track, right? With all fairness, let me stress that this is not a bad track – it’s just not very psy, and this is supposed to be a psy-trance compilation right?
#03: Viktan + Cyber Cartel = Vik On Injection... I’m not sure I would have used the word ‘on’ here… ‘Featuring’ sounds less fruity, but that’s a whole different story… Anyway, this is the Star Wars track complete with both voice samples and the sound of light-sabres and tie-fighters … And as the title suggests, R2 is also present… This is a full-spectre night-time trance track with loads of different ideas – not hugely original, but effective none the less…Oh, and Sebulba from Phantom Menace makes an appearance or two here as well… “Slimo!” Great track, I like it!
#04: Next track is by Insect Sun from Israel who released an album on Balloonia a couple of years ago… This track is also best enjoyed at night – it’s pretty basic in structure… A dark and simple, yet stomping bassline + some synth effects, a little percussion and the occasional acid-riff… This is a little too stripped down for my taste… Average track!
#05: Parasense, the infamous Russian trance duo is up next… Alex & Victor have experience massive success the last couple of years with their 3 albums and numerous tracks on compilations… And thanks to that, this track helps lift this compilation to higher grounds… Animal Turn has a dark, eerie feel to it – the trademark of Parasense… I dunno how they incorporate all those demented FX into their tracks… It must be something in their vodka-supply. Water? It’s gritty, it’s improper, it’s even vulgar – and I like it… Sweet track!
#06: Portuguese producer Suria has released two albums already, and is best known for his uplifting full-on style… ‘Sky Stone’ is of a somewhat darker nature though - but I think it will work wonders on the trance floors at night…For home listening it’s a little to anonymous for my taste though… Average track!
#07: More Russian delights on this amnezing tango! Remember some of the really weird polka stuff on the ‘Past Present Future’ album? – Well, this could easily have been on that album… Also, I hear a little Wizzy Noise in this track – and that’s not bad at all… It’s weird, it’s dark, it’s bizarre – it’s good! Very, very twisted, complete with digital drops, tribal’esque percussion and an evil, haunting bassline… Me gustas mucho!
#08: And now for the highlight of this compilation… The Misted Muppet! They’ve just released their outstanding debut album on Trancelucent Productions, and here’s is more stuff in the same vein… This track has that “what-Infected-could’ve-sounded-like-if-they-didn’t-changed-direction” sound – without being plagiarism… This is multilayered, night time full-on with raging acid-lines, rapid melodies and dark, pumping bass and percussion… To top it of the build-up/climax parts are excellent… Perfect track!
#09: “My preeeeecious!” Last up is another Israeli, Noga! … As you might have guessed from the title, this track has Gollum-samples, but they are very well-fitting… This is not as dark as the rest of the compilation… I guess the sun is setting after a dark night, and Noga brings us some lighter melodies - but still with a distinctive, dark edge… The bassline is subtle and good, and the overall feel is happy… I really dig the spacey part from 3’20 to 3’47 + the take-off near the end – that shit can mess with your brain…Beware! Very nice ending to this compilation…
After a weak start, this compilation really picks up for the second half of the disc… Right, so we have 3 excellent tracks – 2 nice tracks and 4 not-so-good tracks… If DJ Nicholas (who compiled the thing) had thrown in just a couple more good tracks, this could easily have been a top-notch, essential compilation… However, the tracks that ARE good are in fact so good, that I would seriously encourage anyone with a taste for darkish, twisted, psychedelic night trance to check out this compilation… It deserves more attention than it has gotten!
Favourites: 3, 5, 7(!), 8(!!), 9(!)
DeathPosture
External links:
Magma Records: http://www.magmarecords.it/
Psyshop: http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/mgm/mgm1cd004.html (Audio samples available!)
Saiko Sounds: http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display_release.asp?id=4079
Discobole: http://www.discobole.gr/product.asp?pid=69919
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