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Ekoplex - Creatures of the Forest (Ektoplazm)
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mercury
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
21
Posts :
30
Posted : Aug 3, 2010 21:02:08
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In the modern music world filled with commercialization and overpriced digital music shops that ripoff listeners and bedroom djs, we seldomly remember that there are still websites dedicated to the release of free legal music. In the Psy-Trance world, few websites have released free quality music with the same consistency as Ektoplazm. This month, we look at a recent release from Toronto based full on producer Ekoplex, who has released his second full length album entitled 'Creatures of the Forest'.
Ekoplex
Ekoplex is Ray Vincent, a Canadian Psy Trance producer who has built up a solid reputation in the outdoor and indoor scene in Eastern Canada. Ray's break through release came in 2008 with his debut album 'Journey of the Turtle' which gave him global exposure to the Psy Trance community and a 5 star rating on the Ektoplazm website. Since then, Ray has been busy in the studio and on tour performing his live acts which has earned him gigs both in Canada and abroad.
Ekoplex – Creatures of the Forest
1. Planted Tree
Banging opener. This is something that Psy festival goers will tell you is the lighter side of full on for the earlier part of the evening, but the home listener will still feel a pounding effect. Good contrast between lighter and darker sounds with some nice vocal sampling to set the mood.
2. Kodama
Very similar to Planted Tree. The best part of this is the inclusion of Ray's electric guitar in the final part of the track which provides great psychedelic string sounds to accompany his signature bassline. These strange sounds are not something heard often and provide an exotic touch.
3. Tree of Life
A change in mood appears with Tree of Life. The bassline is slightly darker and the harmonics seem to be aimed towards a club audience (or in the psy world, indoor crowd). The sounds are more reminiscent of the Tech-Trance Psy artists like Orion but in the context of this album, it appears to aim for a different mood than the opening two tracks.
4. Seeds
This is the most creative track on the album. The intro has a very pulsating bassline but does not seem very direct. The sounds employed until the 4 minute mark chime like radio airwaves from the year 2400. Around the 4 min mark, the guitar strings (this time acoustic) are welcomed with a sense of surprise but the production still does not lose its direction. The track ends with a quite spiritual and hypnotic mood. Great peak time full on.
5. Alchemistics
I think most people familiar with Ekoplex will say that this track would have been more appropriately used on the previous album Journey of the Turtle. The track evolves late on but is clearly meant to keep the energy of the album going.
6. Twisted Root
Holy morning full on! This is the sound that Ekoplex has gained attention for. A very difficult sound to describe, it's best that you hear it for yourself first. A lot of energy, a lot of elements and a lot of reason to give this song a listen multiple times.
7. Palaka
Similar to Tree of Life, this falls under the filler category. Nothing memorable happens but the layering approach is different. Compared to the previous 2 tracks, Palaka is not as dark nor is it as element oriented. It is arguably the most morning track on the album with sounds that could be mixed in with older Aerospace or Etnoscope material, but placing it after Twisted Root was always going to be difficult.
8. Give us the Creature
A very different path is taken with Give us the Creature. I cannot quite put my finger on it but something about this track is different. It is groovy but you could describe it as trippy just as easily. This song really takes some time to grow as it is so unorthodox to the normal Trance listener but definitely a lot of thought was put into bringing on that feeling.
9. Neuro Highway
After the big turn made with the 8th track, we come back to the journey with Neuro Highway. A very psychedelic tune, the bassline is what keeps the interest in this tune. A very appropriate name for the tune (it is easy to picture yourself driving in the desert on a highway while the sun is setting when you hear this), it contains a vocal sample that is one of joy rather than a dark soul. Although pulsating, the bassline is more driving than dark and should not scare too many people away.
10. Inner focus
The tranciest track was saved for last. Inner Focus is a very emotional track which is very well structured. It seems like there are 2 influences to this track: the robotic machinery sounds of the old Psy/Goa scene and a modern day orchestra who just learned how to use a synthesizer. Very good production and for those who love the emotional kind of melodic Psy; this is a great choice for a closer.
Verdict: A lot of solid work was put into this. This is not the typical Dark Psy, Full On Psy or any kind of Psy related release. Ray has really evolved into a sound that is harder to classify with every release he puts out. Not every track is an immediate gem but the quality of the production is very respectable. For the amount of boring stale releases, it is nice to notice that there are still artists willing to make quality albums and release them free of price for the love of the music.
Rating: 8.5/10
Tracks to not miss in order of preference: 4 = 6 = 10.
Review written by Ben/Spaniard for Trancealert.com - Track the best in Trance: http://www.trancealert.com/album/ekoplex-creatures-of-the-forest-ektoplazm/
For more information about Ekoplex and Ektoplazm, check out:
www.myspace.com/ekoplexx
www.ektoplazm.com
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Boulevard
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
55
Posts :
2497
Posted : Aug 4, 2010 20:29
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Love the album. My Fav number 10.
Nice Review.
Mushrooms make you do crazy stuff. Look at Mario he jumps on animal heads and fights with dragons. |
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-Abatwa-
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
42
Posts :
1087
Posted : Aug 4, 2010 21:08
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Full respect and support to Ray. The concept of the album fits exactly to what the soundstory tells. very close to natural roots vibez in this one.
dont miss this & keep the forest spirit alive!
kodama, alchemistics and inner focus are my favorites.
`Bottomless wonders spring from simple rules, which are repeated without end` Mandelbrot |
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a3k
IsraTrance Team
Started Topics :
269
Posts :
7826
Posted : Aug 4, 2010 23:09
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Quote:
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On 2010-08-04 20:29, Boulevard wrote:
Love the album. My Fav number 10.
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same here 
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Boulevard
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
55
Posts :
2497
Posted : Aug 5, 2010 00:07
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Quote:
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On 2010-08-04 23:09, a3k wrote:
Quote:
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On 2010-08-04 20:29, Boulevard wrote:
Love the album. My Fav number 10.
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same here
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I really feel this is a special album to me as it has a totally different sound to it.
Mushrooms make you do crazy stuff. Look at Mario he jumps on animal heads and fights with dragons. |
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