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Buckle Up Vol. 2

V/A - Buckle Up 2


Author:

Death Posture

Time:

29.08.2005 22:44

Text:

Safety first!

Trancelucent Productions from Israel is a funny label really � they�ve released some really, really cool CDs like the brilliant album From The Legend by The Misted Muppet + the two brilliant Etic albums Touch Ups and the recent Feedback� They are all cracking artist albums that I really enjoy � but unfortunately Trancelucent also has a tendency to release really crappy stuff� Like the Electro Sun album and the Cyberdelica compilation � and now this second Buckle Up compilation�The first one was released in 2003 and had a couple of good tracks � but the rest were forgettable� Now let�s hope this one is better�

Let me take you thru the tracks�

#01: System Nipel � Russian Gangsters
The compilation is kicked into gear by a couple of Russian gangsters in Israel: Ruby Yakubov & Anton Lunev� And this track is pretty much recycling� Boring neo full-on pads, �the DJs took pills to stay awake and play for seven days� samples and predictable basslines� I have to give credit where credit is due though: I do like some of the melodic pads here � too bad it�s soaked in cheese� I mean � just listen to the breezy �I can feel it� samples� Too much cheddar will make you� Puuuuuuke!

#02: Cosmic Tone � Element
�Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the tunnel. I�m your DJ! And I�m gonna take you on a tour of the twelve inch. We�re gonna start here with the kick and the bass. Are you with me? Here we go! There are many elements of a track � I like it all!� It�s been a while since I�ve last heard anything from Israeli producer Roei Nissan � he�s a productive guy and has been involved in loads of releases already� As you might have guessed, this is very much uplifting morning trance� Full-on in nature, but not as fluffy as the previous track� Well, don�t get me wrong � we�re still very much on the lighter side of the spectre here, and the lengthy Music Instructor-like sample in the middle of the track totally ruins it for me� I would have absolutely loved this track when I was 13 � but I�m twice that now, and kiddie stuff like this doesn�t do it for me any more� Avoid!

#03: Electro Sun � Demons Halo
Here�s a new track by the young producer Nadav Elkayam� He released his debut album Pure Blue earlier this year and I only liked a few tracks from there� This is more full-on, but with a little more edge this time� Finally! The offbeat experimentation is this track is reminiscent of old Infected Mushroom and its pretty good � without being revolutionary� This is an �ok� track� But ok doesn�t cut it in my book I�m afraid�

#04: Aquatica � Skydance (Rmx)
My last encounter with Aquatica (Elad Asi) was on the Cyberdelica compilation released by Trancelucent last year� That track was edgy full-on and was actually pretty good� And sure enough, this is pretty good too� We�re still in Israeli full-on world, but this isn�t as fluffy as some of the previous tracks� I�m guessing this is a remix to an older Aquatica track � whatever it is it�s the best track on this compilation so far� And that�s not saying much!

#05: The Misted Muppet � Snarling Zraw
Ahh � the muppets! Or rather just one muppet now, as Tal Hassidi left the band and it�s Dagan Israeli on his own� But the MM touch is indeed intact here � from the very first second the trademark sound is present � medieval intro complete with cembalo and the works� Very similar to the sound of the brilliant debut album From The Legend released last year � and yeah, that formula still works for me, and this is a stand-out track here� Multi-layered, darkish medieval full-on� Also the what-the-fuck-happened-to-my-speakers FX used towards the end of the track is sweet� A delicious track!

#06: Noga � Acceleration
The stuff I�ve heard from Noga Sudai has been in the better end of the full-on scale � I like his Etic-like progressive approach to full-on� And sure enough � this is pretty good too� That being said, this is still pretty fluffy, but hey � fluffy in a good way� This is very melodic, simple morning trance� The little kicks here are groovy and the general feel is enjoyable� Nice, but forgettable�

#07: Etic � 1 Day
�Why would I lie to you?... If that�s what you wanna do, you should do it!� When I looked at the tracklist of this compilation, I was only excited about the MM and the Etic tracks� Etay Harari has released two brilliant albums on Trancelucent and I really like his hybrid between progressive and full-on� This is just that � a funky number somewhere in between� Long, atmospheric, murky pads in the background � and a progressive rhythm-section with all kinds of spacy FX sprinkled all over the place� Another job well done by Etay� Another stand-out track!

#08: SystemiC � Systec
Dekel Maman (SystemiC) & Itay Milgrom (Synth Tec) also had a track on the Afula On compilation released by Com.Pact in 2004 � however this is the first time I hear their work� This is groovy full-on� Reminiscent of Sub6 and older Infected Mushroom � and it actually sounds pretty nice, though not particularly original� And that�s sad really, as these guys clearly have talent� The break-down bit is sweet indeed � fits the track perfectly� But still�

#09: Noga vs. Solar System � Above The Ground
�Why do I have to be humiliated in front of my guests by one of my own servants? The more license I allow you the more you take! If his grace is not satisfied with me he can dismiss me!� Noga Sudai is back for the last track � now in cahoots with Lior Lahav� They open up the track with a voice sample from some flick about Mozart � and they launch straight into a melodic, full-on piece� I like the harmonies here and the percussion with hints of progressive rhythms� Yeah, this is not a bad way to end this compilation at all, but I could have been without the cheesy female singing or moaning or whatever it is�*Sigh*

Well, IMO there�s only two stand-out tracks � the rest is simply too generic for my tastes� And two out of 9 is simply not enough for me to validate a purchase of a compilation� Of course this is a matter of taste and fans of the new Israeli full-on sound will have a field trip with this one� Others should probably take a listen before buying it� But enough common sense lessons for now!

A lot has been said about the controversial cover-art here � most people seem to dislike it� Again, I tend to disagree� Frankly I can�t get worked up about this � it�s obviously a piss-take on behalf of the Trancelucent crew � and I smiled the first time I saw it� I like it much more than say the cover of the newest Etic album� At least this one doesn�t try to hide anything�

Anyway, I didn�t really like this one � but I haven�t given up on Trancelucent� How could I with the amazing Etic album released simultaneously with this one? Enjoy!

Favourites: 5(!), 7(!)



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Message  V/A - Buckle Up 2
Death Posture 29.08.2005 22:44  

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