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Indepth - Zero Sum (Spiral Trax)
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J
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : May 19, 2009 17:23:24
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Artist: Indepth
Title: Zero Sum
Label: Spiral Trax
Genre: Techno / Progressive
Format: CD / MP3 / Compact Stick
Released: May-2009
http://www.myspace.com/depthsof
http://www.myspace.com/spiraltrax
http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/spt/spt1cd027.html
As we gear up for the upcoming festival season Spiral Trax is extremely proud to present a row of more techno influenced releases.
First out is Indepth from Israel who, even though he had two previous album releases, is a newcomer to Spiral Trax. As we laid our hands on a five track demo some time ago we realized that 25 year old Shahar Melamed from Haifa is heading down the same musical path that we have been walking for some time now. Even though Zero Sum is his third album release it is a release that is re-defining his musical style.
Throughout the years Shahar has moved from progressive to breaks to techno, all with a little pinch of psychedelia and a hefty dose of clubby influences. The new album is a blend of banging techno, minimal, acid and electro.
The artwork was designed by Irit Tal and Shahar, and the responsible for mastering was nothing but Tim Schuldt.
Holding a five-year residency at Luna Club, northern Israel’s leading dance venue, and numerous gigs abroad has definitely taught Shahar how to work the floor…
Through the tracks:
01 :: Retired Porn Star
Starts kinda spacey, with some nice effects and some cool noises. Kicking with really spread Hi-Hats and a nice deep distorted vocal pumps the Baseline. It's an awesome one btw, really alternated, which created a nice connection with the leads. The percussion rocks for sure, and a voice on the final to close it up.
02 :: The Crack
This one has a really club start. The same spread Hi-Hats and some cool effects just mix in the scratches from vinyls, a Proggy baseline with some nice leads and a cool vocal to give a connection with the atmosphere. The effects are way awesome and on a high frequency, getting even higher and increasing to create a great flow from the Hi-Hats. Top notch combination.
03 :: Sum=Zero
This has more smooth start, and it increases, leading to some amazing effects and a deep flow. This is more club oriented than the other two. Awesome baseline and a real catchy melodies, creating a beautiful atmosphere. Impossible to stand still while listening to it.
04 :: Ginaton
Some cool effects to start it and just gently begin the fun while a strong baseline gives the spinning effects a nice touch, just preparing yourself to rock. Spread kicks and a nice percussion to make a bit Proggy, but still without taking away the Techno feeling.
05 :: Shun
This has a more groovy start, which is put aside when the Baseline enters. I found this one more trippy and not so much dance-floor oriented. Its more smooth, and deep then the others, but it's groovy as hell, so point for that. You can see by that track's ending. So amazingly deep.
06 :: Headway
Now here's a guy who really likes spread opened kicks. This one hes strong leads and distorted baseline, followed by killer percussion and some cool effects, while the Hi-Hats gently open to lead the track to a nice smooth break, coming back with style to its peak. Must be awesome for clubs. Very Techy stuff.
07 :: Itaitaiko - Future Is Uncertain (Indepth Remix)
This one is a little more Proggy then the others. A cut vocal follows the Hi-Hats, always grooving and making the rhythm, while a break makes you trip with the loud effects, and entering some cool leads and perfect melodies to give and incredible flow. Then it rocks again!!!
08 :: Everyone I Know Has Paws
(Just for the record, I loved the title, but I wont tell why, cause then this topic would be moved to the Spiritual stuff section  ) But this one is one of the highlights for me. It has an amazing baseline, the melodies are really deep and emotional, creating a incredible flow. Some effects that reminded my video games sound, like Mario on water, or perhaps jumping. Then it spins back to the same outstanding atmosphere. Its deep, its danceable. Works any place you want. Progressive Techno.
09 :: Last Night On Earth
This reminded me some Deadmau5's tracks. The melodies, for instance. Cause it starts really Proggy with the percussion and Baseline, than some amazing effects to start kicking with power, and then the Hi-Hats enter to groove it, and make you move. Perfect leads also. Since I'm more into Progressive, this one fits my more to my taste. The break is really deep and beautiful. Just the melodies, making you move your arms around, while you feel the baseline coming slowly to make you move again, in a more Electro style. Than again, the deep break. Beautiful track. Favorite one so far.
10 :: Null
This an ending tarck. Beautiful beginning with the Piano, just making you feel good and finishing your trip through the hole album. Not quite so, cause I'm talking about the Compact Stick version, so there's more, believe me.
- - To Be Continued - - |
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J
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : May 19, 2009 17:25
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Compact Stick Tracks:
11 :: Miniatures Miracles 09
This one has a very Clubby start just the kicks and the Hi-Hats creating the flow, while a high effect pops the baseline. This could be something between Techno and Minimal. The elements are really minimalistic, cause the melodies are really trippy and continuous. A gentle break gives you a moment to rest, while the same effect comes back, triggering the baseline again with leads and grooving with the Hi-Hats.
12 :: Shibuya
Starts smooth, just kicking and some melodies, and when the baseline enters, you already feel the clubby part of this track. Spread kicks and an alternated and funky baseline. The effects jus rise up and than low down to get the leads started. These melodies kinda reminded me of some old Beckers’ material. Speeds up to a monster comeback with the baseline, and the melodies blending each other and coming back groovy as hell. Very nice track. Would terminate any Indoor party.
13 :: Lockdown
Some uplifting effects on the start, and cool and deep melodies followed by a nice vocal, and the baseline just swoops in, and gains space to rock it on. What an incredible baseline he got on this one. This track has a heavier atmosphere cause of the spinning effects and kinda spooky leads. A break gives you a time to rest, while the effects keep spinning your head like a madman (on the good sense) and gets back in style with the same incredible baseline. Very spooky track, sort of speak. 
14 :: Last Night On Earth (DJ Friendly Mix)
This one is actually pretty the same track as the original, however on the final minutes of the original, you can see that the next tracks just blends in, so the Remix (at least this is what I think) he made a more extended version to be easier to mix (DJ Friendly mix). So DJ’s out there, say thank you!!
15 :: Screw You
Clubby and minimal beats, just increasing the melodies and opening space to the melodies and a deep vocal, with a some small break beats that enter the baseline and the leads on a perfect match. Effects are also very well put, and the kicks… OMG. Spread ones (which I love for Techno music), This one is also perfect for any indoor party. The effects just rise on a real high frequency, some scratches and the same amazing atmosphere that we all look for on a club. The baseline and the break beats at the final were awesome. This is also one of my favorites. Beautiful track.
16 :: All’s Well That Ends Well
From the name, I can imagine he felt the same way I did. He did a perfect job so far, so it can only end… WELL! Clubby again!! Some high effects and a baseline that fitted perfectly with the kicks and the melodies. Nice combination again on these three elements. The Hi-Hats follow the baseline, and the spread kicks make you want to move your legs (I’m not standing, btw), and the melodies are reaaaally deep, and emotional, getting higher in some parts, and creating a great feeling through the track. Perfect finish with the piano, again. Just like “Null”.
Bottom Line:
I’ve always been a Progressive fan (still am, but lately I’ve been opening my eyes to Techno stuff) and I’m glad I got my ears in this one.
From beginning to end, it takes you on a journey with beginning, middle and end, putting some Progressive influences into Techno, and some Electro beats into Progressive, and so on.
So I highly recommend this album. Spiral Trax must have thought: “We have 16 tracks, to fit on a 10 tracks album. What do we do?”. Great idea. Cause the bonus stuff from the CS, is awesome.
Nice work Shahar, Bakke, Tim Schuldt (the master for mastering) and everyone involved on the creation of this amazing and strong release. I’ll give it a solid 9/10.
Highlights: 2, 3, 8 (!!), 9, 12, 15 (!!) and 16.
Techno fans: GET IT!!
J. |
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Gui Milani
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : May 19, 2009 17:51
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As usually John just did another complete anddeep review for an amazing album!
Well, ''amazing'' maybe it´s a word Im using a lot and it´s not enough to express HOW GOOD THIS ALBUM IS!
I already said many times to my friends here in Brazil and I am not tired at all in saying that this is THE BEST TECHNO ALBUM SO FAR IN 2009.
Simply because it´s fat, dirty, heavy, hypnotic, lysergic, tripping, dancable, etc! hehe
I already played some tracks of it for many people, around 40.000 people in Virada Cultural, and they were just GREAT!
For me the highights are Track 03 (!!!), Track 04 (!!!) and track 08 (!!!!!!!!) (lol)
Congratz Indepht for such an amazing album and John for another great review! 
 http://soundcloud.com/guimilani/ |
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J
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : May 20, 2009 19:34
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full_on
IsraTrance Team
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Posted : May 20, 2009 21:32
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Yep, interesting stuff. Samples sound good.
Respect!
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...Be gentle with the earth...
...Dance like nobody's watching...
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...I don't mind not going to Heaven, as long as they've got Coffee in Hell... |
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Ah-sid
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Posted : May 21, 2009 15:50
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this cd cant b listned as a whole,starts to sound very monotonous.may b 2 trax @ a time.but shud b good for dj's to mix up their set.......mastering is done by the master himself wich is a huge plus point for this album. |
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ritmo
Ritmo
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Posted : May 22, 2009 21:23
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Osho
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : May 22, 2009 21:29
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Impressive album
Shahar you did a great work!
Waiting to hear more from you in the future
Progress In Music! |
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DJ Shankar
Aerodrömme
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Posted : May 22, 2009 22:28
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wow, what a killer album!!!
congrats man! 
Aerodrömme (http://www.myspace.com/aerodromme)
Tribal Vision Records (www.tribalvision.cz)
Shakti Collective (www.shakticollective.com) |
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Steve00
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : May 22, 2009 22:53
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If you don't have a clue or aware of the techno scene this will fill you all over but if you're familiar, at the end, you will realize that is not an excepcional album, at least not above of the techno artists around but I can say that is not bad either and it worth any cent spent. My favorite Sum=Zero
This is a direction that I didn't expect from Spiral Trax but all the people is moving forward into a different paths so... |
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Trip-
IsraTrance Team
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Posted : May 26, 2009 14:01
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Very diverse with intense atmosphere! Interesting themes all over ... way to go Shahar!
Crackling universes dive into their own neverending crackle...
AgalactiA |
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shahar
IsraTrance Team
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Posted : May 26, 2009 14:30
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Very nice album, heard it only twice so far and it was a very nice surprise. Also had the chance to dance to it at Doof and it was great fun with the afternoon rain.
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"Be the change you want to see in the world!"
M.K. Gandhi
"There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self."
Aldous Huxley
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-Abatwa-
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : May 28, 2009 20:02
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At last, smtg worth listening to this year. What a disappointing year its been so far. This album is exceptional, nothin groundbreakin or different, but definetly quality album with sweet atmospheres for sure. Big up.
`Bottomless wonders spring from simple rules, which are repeated without end` Mandelbrot |
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Tomic
Tomic
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Posted : May 30, 2009 03:20
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This is techno in a maximum perfection what definitely set a new standard in this genre.
Well done and congrats to Shahar!!!
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Steve00
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : May 30, 2009 07:00
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Quote:
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On 2009-05-30 03:20, Tomic wrote:
This is techno in a maximum perfection what definitely set a new standard in this genre.
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This is what I am talking about. I mean come on!
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