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Infected Mushroom - Vicious Delicious - Live Listening Review
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Hazzy
Started Topics :
8
Posts :
36
Posted : Mar 17, 2007 07:02
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(Yes yes yes, we all hate Infected because they haven't limited themselves to strictly psy trance and blah blah, but I'm posting this here nonetheless, for those that still enjoy their music. There are definitely psy themes still, even in this newest addition.)
NOTE: This is a live review of the album by yours truly. In other words, I wrote this as I listened to the album for the very first time. I did not pause at all, and finished each review as each song finished. These are first impressions with fresh ears and these are my own opinions, of course.
I've stuck with IM a long time..far after many of my psy-head friends dropped them. The reason? I listen to them and appreciate their originality of style with an open mind. They possess a unique sound that is hard to find anywhere else, and both individuals are extremely talented in the musical respect of their tunes.
That said, I did not go into Vicious expecting a Psy album. They've outgrown their psytrance stage and have moved on. Nevertheless, at the base of it all, the Psy is still there, lurking in the background. That much has been accepted by me, as after seeing them live on numerous occasions since this bridge I've found that the ENERGY is still there. Now.. on to VD:
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Hazzy
Started Topics :
8
Posts :
36
Posted : Mar 17, 2007 07:03
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1. Becoming Insane: B-/C+
Catchy, slightly addicting, but somewhat cheesy in a Ricky Martin esq sorta way. The tune itself is fun and ethnic and enticing.. the accoustic guitar is a really nice touch. Sound distortion and beat is steady, and the classic IM touch can be felt. But the whole Spanish bit? Yes, they're broadening their horizons, but it seems a little... eh.. off. Probably that Israeli accent on top of it. Seems like they may be stretching a bit in this song. Probably all that SoCal mexican food getting to their head.
The lyrics? Ok guys and gals.. you have to admit they are on the weak side. "Remind me of the story that I won't get insane"??? Yuck. Duvdev has been living in America long enough to acquire proper grammar.
Overall, an OK song. Melodies and instruments are sweet, but the vocals throw off the style. I will admit though that the chorus at the end contains a definite power.
Grade: B-/C+
2. Artillery: F
Oh god, the horror. As I said, I am not expecting Psy trance. Hell, I'm not even expecting trance. But, when listening to IM, I'm expecting GOOD music, and music I can DANCE to. This song, is grade A crap.
I am ALL FOR bridging out and experimenting, but this song is UNORIGINAL. They borrow styles from some of the more terrible genres of American music. Though it may be brash to say, I DO hear hints of Linkin Park, and of course hip hop. Even the beat is unoriginal and unexciting.
The chorus is dull, the guitar line is dull and repetitive, and only on the bridges does it even seem remotely like this is Infected's work. Please bear in mind that Infected's experimental stuff is actually some of my favorite. The song Converting Vegetarians is one of my all-time favorites, in fact, and it bears absolutely no resemblence to their more 'classic' work.
While Artillery does branch out from their usual style, in branches out into styles that are already used by many groups, and worse yet, groups for which I hold little respect. Yuck. Let's just pass this off as a failed experiment.
Grade: F
3. Vicious Delicious: A
Ahhhh..there's the Infected I know and love. Heart thumping, beat crunching, awesomely distorted, totally groovy! I love the filters they use on this tune, and I can see Erez's fingers flying on the synth in my mind. The melody is rad, I like the breaks of strings falling right into the crunchy metalic rythm, and those bass drops are awesome. This song gets my feet moving and gets me pumped to see them in SF and Coachella.
Lovely chord changes, bringing some emotion in there mixed with the good 'ol fashion darker psy-ish Infected beats. The builds get my spine tingling! They aren't afraid to go wild on that synth, and I'm thankful for it. I can see the crowd loving this track. If there is any complaint the higher pitched whiney portions of the peaks can get a little unnerving, but I think it blends just fine. I like that synthesized vocal bit at the end..
Grade: A
4. Heavyweight: A-/B+
Ooh yeah.. more experimental IM, but this time it's the good stuff. Nice, crunchy, heavy slow beat. I love that hard guitar on top of the higher, smoother voice-like melody. When it moves into the heavy breaks I just want to nod my head, don my shades and look like a badass. That mandolin-sounding instrument on top of it gives it a nice balanced feel. The break down of rythm is sweet as well, and lets them mess around with filters and distortion.
This song feels like a Erez/Duvdev/Netz Jam session. The product is sweet. I could imagine swaying to the sounds, then beginning to stomp as the 4/4 beat suddenly drops. Groovy with the synth-voiced melodies.. the strings with the powerful chord changes bring the good 'ol infected feel back in. Then the vocal-ish changes with the rock beat. Beautiful! I'm groovin!
And right back into the heavy stuff. Ooh those note bends and distortion bring prickles to my neck. I get a real bendy feeling from this track, like I am on a journey of sorts. And when Netz goes balls out on his guitar it SINGS. I get a feeling of being cast into a spiral and dragged back into familiarity several times.
The guitar jams ring of heavy metal and strangely enough remind me of the jams of such Reggae/punk groups as Slightly Stoopid and the Expendables.
Overall, a trippy and groovy and sometimes heavy experimental jam by the three. I could see them using all real intruments on this, if not for some of the cooler distortions. Though I will say that this is not a dance song.
Grade: A-/B+
5. Suliman: B/B+
Back to the dance hall. I'm sure most of you have heard this live many many many times. Nice intro, beat drops, and some heavier synth work. I really like the water-pipe sounds. The vocal-ish melody is somewhat haunting, and they impliment some fun sound effects. It does sound like they had fun making this one. While it may lack the complexity shared in previous works, it does get me moving. I like the chord progression.
You can't help but love Netz's solo line. Every time it's played live it gets everyone jumping as the beat falls back in. I do think they suppressed it a bit too much though in this recorded version. I liked the guitar more "present" and forward. Still grooves though.
Grade: B/B+
6. Forgive Me: A-/B+
Huh? Where'd this come from? I'm smiling though. It's groovy. It's different. It's kinda disco-y. Then the beat breaks and there's some nice synth work brought in. You know, that wondefully face-melting synth work that Infected can do so well.
In a previous review this album was called "perplexing". Well this is one of those wondefully perplexing tunes. This song is... pretty damn sweet. The synth'd vocal work is rad. The harmonies come sudden and surprising. And there's those heavy guitar strokes, on top of that..almost goofy.. synth line. Has me laughing a little, while still taking the song seriously. Good stuff.
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Hazzy
Started Topics :
8
Posts :
36
Posted : Mar 17, 2007 07:04
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7. Special Place: B-
Nice. Back to the basics. Raw sounds and thumping good beat. I love that gradual, rolling first build. Up up up and away! Definitely a track I'd love to dance to. This song shows that these guys still know how to get the floor stomping and screaming.
But wait, the build leads to.. a dark and minor chord change to vocals? Wow...unexpected. Pretty cool though, I'm still nodding my head to the beat. Infected is definitely paving a new style for themselves. It's fresh. Another build, this time with vocals, slowly synthesizing more and more. And.....
Another downer. Back to that slower beat and chorus. I think people on the dance floor may be disappointed by this point. There is no definitive "Release". I do feel that while this track is uniquely different and on the whole, solid, it does lack that powerful release that the builds showed so much potential for.
Grade: B-
8. In Front of me: C-
Ehh... this is getting a bit old. I think by this point in the album IM's used up their non-dance emotional song cards. Though the chorus and harmony isn't bad, that heavy guitar strum is getting to be repetitive. And the lyrics could definitely use some work. I do hope that this is not the direction they plan on heading, or we could see the end of their dance days and the beginning of these electronic/guitar/emo ballads.
I've heard it all before. This song holds little to know original material, and begins to lose that distinctive IM sound. As I said, if this is the new IM sound they will be hard pressed to find a unique niche, as a million other rock/metal bands have covered this.
Grade: C-
9. Eat it Raw: A
Cool intro. Haunting. Nice heavy beat drop, clean synth. Another song that screams impeccable production. Creeping down a tunnel towards an unknown end, with clean synth and a heart thudding beat. Ooh, and here comes a raw guitarish melody from the synth. Very sweet. Industrial-ish and consistant.
Then the break.. the distorted sound with that GMS-like melody (ever heard the song beetlejuice?) on top of the build. And.. explode! Sick! I'm dancing again. A great combination of effects. Leaves a very heavy and raw, yet CLEAN sound to this hard packed dance track.
Back to a calmer, more predictable beat. But the synth keeps bringing in an original sound! I love it! It's creepy and mind bending.
Grade: A
10. Change the Formality: A+
Cool. Some more comfortable classic Infected sounds, accompanied with that more groovy experimental touch. Turn-tablish sounds are a nice touch, and I love how they maintain that metalic psy-ish feel at the base of it all, as if holding your mind steady to comfort you while they change things up and flip you upside down. I REALLY like that xylophone/steel drummish effect.
Back to the heaviness! It starts to get a little much with the guitar-metal sounds, but it brings you back with some -awesome- percussion. Things are really heating up, and suddenly it shatters!
A BEATIFUL break here. Whatever instrument they are using during this break is fucking awesome. It reminds of...wind chimes... really great.
Then back to the raw beat. Sweet. I love how they keep that caribbean style sound on top of it. And then come lyrics again. Not bad.. I feel that this song could do well without them, but it passes just fine with. It does change up the style though. It brings back that groove.
The sounds and effects used on the synth in this song are unmatched. I can't get enough of it. And we're thrown right back into the crazy mix that makes you want to rumble the ground with your stomping feet. FACE MELTING! Nice breaks, steady thumping rythm, liquid synth work (Erez you're my hero), this song is sweet. FULL of energy. Full of unexpected twists and turns. Full of sounds we haven't heard before. Another crazy journey by our beloved Israelis.
Grade: A+
11. Before: A-
Wow..I'm already at the end? That went by quick.
Well..
Soothing tones, then an unexpected beat drop. Cool. Oooh.. nice break! Wacked effects and a dripping melody. Ok..we're grooving again. A break with an Asian-ish backdrop. Kung Foo fighting or street car racing? But it's not that simple.. they bring back the emotion with some different chord changes. I could DEFINITELY dance to this. Ahhh... smooth...beautiful synth work... emotion filled.. makes me feel like floating. Then the beat comes back in and we're stomping again.
This song seems.. sensitive, almost.. like we're being shown a very secret and private place. It's really nice. Comforting. But the badass comes back with some heavier rythm and grinding effects. Then it suddenly peaks and we're slapped with a really nice chorus of melty synth work. Again there's that Asian sound to it, and it's fresh. Like a previously untasted slice of juicy fruit.
Yummy.
A wonderful finish.
Grade: A-
Wow. After the first two tracks I will admit I was feeling a bit worried, but I've been soothed. This album takes you on a unique glorious ride. Perplexing indeed! There is some experimentation that goes rotten, but there is MORE experimentation that goes fresh and delcious. Viciously delicious. A great album, my faith in Infected is held steady and restored. Good stuff guys! I look forward to seeing some of this played live.
OVERALL VD GRADE: A-/B+ |
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Psyco Zaika
Zaikabeat
Started Topics :
6
Posts :
59
Posted : Mar 17, 2007 14:09
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One of the first albums when trance musicians try to sing and the album is still enjoyable, however I would still suggest hiring a professional vocalist. Listened with interest. Good luck with MTV, I believe that popularization of trance culture via popular information networks is important for all of us, I would love to see Penta on MTV one day. Liked the first song, reminds me of Robert Palmer – Addicted to Love.
 www.zaikadelic.com
myspace.com/zaikadelic
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8078944187 |
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Alias
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
32
Posts :
984
Posted : Mar 17, 2007 16:39
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i tried to like it........but i can't
i agree with psyco zaika about duvdev's vocals....
also
his israeli accent dont suitable
only once i liked his vocals in "dracul" from the "classical mushroom"
anyway....they are great musicians and producers wich is rare this days
every album they try to do something new.....so
good luck to infected mushroom.......and
big respect!
p.s: nice review hazzy and psytones www.myspace.com/aliasix |
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Pavel
Moderator
Started Topics :
312
Posts :
8646
Posted : Mar 17, 2007 16:59
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Infected Mushroom for me are the Psy Trance equivalent of the Hollywood duo from the 80's and the 90's Don Simpson & Jerry Bruckheimer. They both seem to suffer some sort of an artistic megalomania, each in their field. For Bruckheimer & Simpson it showed up in their trademarked "let's blow as many cars/planes/space shuttles as possible, depict the craziest stunts and let's see if the crowd would love it regardless absolute lack of a plot or coherency" agenda. The dynamic Israeli duo's agenda is "let's put 300 hundred effects on Duvdev's vocal, pitch up everything and put some ridiculous hair metal riff behind and let's pray that the stupid American crowd will like it and vote for them on MTV TRL". Simpson's and Bruckheimer's dogma came into perfection in their 98 Armageddon movie. Although Simpson didn't participate in the making cause he died from drug addiction but his hot headed partner finished what must be their best work ever. A movie with absolutely no logic, sensitivity or plot but with lots of explosions and cult appearances by Peter Stormare and Steve Buscemi. It was their best and worst movie. Such work is IM's recent album. It has absolutely no plot, no story and zero sensitivity. What it has is Hollywood quality production that can make BT squeeze an embarrassed smile. It seems that the race on how much abuse Duvdev's vocal chords can take has finally reached the top mark. But where Armageddon succeeded this one fails. It doesn't deliver entertainment. It's not good in being bad. It's just an extremely well conceived product who's target market is yet to be found. It's a candy with a strange taste. The last time I've had the same feeling about an album was with BT's "Emotional Technology" album. The only difference between the 2 is that Duvdev is not on the cover with an Armani suit. And that's good.
Final mark: 10/10 for the production and for the crazy ideas. 0/10 for everything else. If you got any brains in your head you'll go for something with more sensibility and plot cause not everything that shines is gold.
Everyone in the world is doing something without me |
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Sputer
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
315
Posts :
2709
Posted : Mar 17, 2007 17:33
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0/10 ?
beside the lyrics songs u have here good trax like
vicious delcious
before
eat it raw
change the formality
and what about Heavyweight ? for u this one just an good production track ? come on . . .
..."Be yourself, let your conscience guide you...
Follow your heart, not the people around you"... |
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psywerk
Started Topics :
0
Posts :
39
Posted : Mar 17, 2007 18:29
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becoming an insane fan of infected pavel from now on... |
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Electrip
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
16
Posts :
138
Posted : Mar 17, 2007 19:35
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alla trancim la panim!
phhh, sorry. |
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full_on
IsraTrance Team
Started Topics :
279
Posts :
5475
Posted : Mar 17, 2007 22:41
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Worse Infected album in my opinion. This album was ready almost a year ago (it was supposed to release 06/06/2006) and they delayed it for promotional reasons.
Vicious Delicious' build up is very similar to their remix to Astrix - Coolio. I'm in a hurry and without strenght to comment the whole album, specially because I don't think it's worth the trouble.
Infected Mushroom stated in a interview here in Brazil that they are not comfortable with being called "psy artists" anymore, and that they're on the "entertainment business". So they left psy behind, and now moved to another thing.
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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Acidhive
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
76
Posts :
2014
Posted : Mar 18, 2007 03:30
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Can I be brief and say I think this one sucks? No? Well, too bad. I just did.
"Subconscious unravels at the point of death, and all time it has known erupts into a moment. As death extinguishes us, so we become it."
[Esoteric: Subconscious Dissolution Into The Continuum] |
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Sound Surgeon
Crater / Mish-kah
Started Topics :
250
Posts :
2244
Posted : Mar 18, 2007 09:46
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I just gave it a quick listening, so far no good. Only super quality sound but nothing else, no soul behind of the sounds.
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Shahar Indepth
Indepth
Started Topics :
16
Posts :
416
Posted : Mar 18, 2007 13:44
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Quote:
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On 2007-03-17 16:59, Pavel wrote:
The last time I've had the same feeling about an album was with BT's "Emotional Technology" album. The only difference between the 2 is that Duvdev is not on the cover with an Armani suit. And that's good.
Final mark: 10/10 for the production and for the crazy ideas. 0/10 for everything else. If you got any brains in your head you'll go for something with more sensibility and plot cause not everything that shines is gold.
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Pavel bro, i didnt really get the BT analogy, care to elaborate?
(pm is fine too..) 
S.
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www.indepth1.com |
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Chen Eilat
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
37
Posts :
366
Posted : Mar 18, 2007 15:40
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you should hear this album few more time
sorry but all the tracks
GRADE : A+++
the best production i hear in this 2 years
Red Means Distortion :) |
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Nathan
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
301
Posts :
3605
Posted : Mar 18, 2007 18:38
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All i have to say is rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrra ta ta ta ta rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrra ta ta ta ta
Has some nice parts here and there but....ye...i miss the old sound for the 111000000 time.
-=The Meaning Of Life Is To Give Life A Meaning= |
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