| Author
|
Megalopsy - The Abstract Macine (Review)
|
jap0
Pragmatix
Started Topics :
11
Posts :
125
Posted : Mar 5, 2005 01:55
|
hey friends !
very nice debut album !!
i like very much the story of that, and the music i very powerfullnight trance!
keep on bosting brodas!
  .:: www.pragmatix.com.ar ::.
.::www.facebook.com/pragmatix1 ::.
-----------------------
.:: www.heterogenesis.com.ar ::.
.::www.facebook.com/heterogenesis ::. |
|
|
|
talishka
Started Topics :
0
Posts :
6
Posted : Mar 5, 2005 03:45
|
|
Congratz filter and z1p, you deserve it.. Great album, it's dark .. it's "twisted". |
|
|
|
scobbah
Kiriyama
Started Topics :
35
Posts :
991
Posted : Mar 14, 2005 16:51
|
Here's my review, originally posted in swedish at Mandarin.nu.
Trishula Records delivers their second release, and it's Argentinian Megalopsy's debut album who's up for the bounce this time. For once, there's a considerated concept offered within the release, which I personally think is something all too rare among today's releases. The Abstract Machine welcomes the listener with an introduction to chaos, and from there guide the listener thru its four chapters and finally cut the rope with some Argentinian cosmos.
Welcome to the abstract machine.
01 – Intro / Chaos (02:03)
The disc introduces itself on a little weird dubby wise with a piece of distorted melodies. A voice introduces the abstract machine during the later minute. This is not something peculiar but quite OK and a bit different as for being an intro to start a disc with.
02 – Obscure Warlock (07:32)
Now there's finally time for the disc's first chapter (Chaos), and it's time to move your legs to rhythms adapted for training sessions at night. At times, the evil melodies feels like something who could've been born in infamous Örebro, and every now and then you can almost feel the smell of moss in the summernight when a forestgiant like this one is streaming through the speakers. I face a hard time what yets happens melodically about six minutes into the track, and someone with worse tinnitus than I have may please be friendly and explain this. It sounds awfully bad, but fortunately it doesn't last long before the word is passed on to a conceptually long outro.
03 – Fractal Circus (08:24)
It changes to a lower gear in aggressiveness and we're entering the realmos of the fractal circus. I do not like to use the expression "warped" all the time, but so far during the listening session of the disc that word has occupied my sense. You don't know what's going on, if it's beautiful or not - Megalopsy is bending the borders of the mind and makes the brain totally flipped out. The result becomes a journey at night with a lot of rhythm and aggressive leads who's considered passed by far, but it still nothing that feels sensationally good. The first chapter ends with one and a half minute of concept friendly outro, and I really like the feeling who's spreading in the body of storytelling, that the whole album is more of a long story from A to Z than a heartbeatin' steamroller who's frustrated til it's out of gas. So far it feels like everything has a touch of deep consideration.
04 – Goblin Grins (08:48)
The second chapter (Chaos Fade Out) embraces us with a doublekick as tool, and the trip bumps on wildly through playful dark atmospheres. What many tracks adapted for the night faces as a problem today in my humble opinion is that they lack keeping a red trace through the track, a feeling of being a total journey, a story. Even if this track doesn't get me screaming, the red trace is very strong here through out the whole session and it's evident even if you're deaf and the track liberates itself from following specific patterns. This is pure love for ending the mind both once, twice and even three times!
05 – Juggling Spheres (09:27)
The disc's fifth ingredience invites my ears for the best massage so far. It's a wild rumble going on as aggressive leads is taking over, well accompanied by dark atmopsheres and a heavy bunch of drummerbass. The trip consists of all possible qualities whom a real dancefloorgiant should be able to tempt with at night, and just like the previous track the red trace is very evident. A couple of sweatdrops later it's time for the concept to put it's touch to the story again, and for each long outro who passes by through the speakers, the concept appeals to me even more.
06 – Pachamama (08:42)
The time has come to clear path for the disc's third chapter (Cosmos Fade In), and the track's power is identified after a couple of sessions as the deep atmospherical leads. Fundamentally, it feels a bit mediocre with a boring bassline and durign some parts the loss of some real action is total, such action as the trio has previously been delivering during the disc's playtime.
07 – Monkey Supernova (07:29)
The seventh track does highly deserve it's title when it introduces itself, and with a fresh grip on your ears it takes start with a groovy foundation. Megalopsy once again ties up the concept in a perfect way and does here deliver a track who's marching in true Parvati spirit. Besides speed and twists the track contains a whole lot of aggressive leads and charming trippy moments. The track's finishing part is unbelivably magnificent and with its last minutes it totally runs you over. This is how it's supposed to be done!
08 – Space Cadet (08:10)
The fourth chapter (Cosmos) rattles on after an atmospherical presentation, and even if this track is sort of groovy it doesn't feel like something that's best experienced at the dancefloor. In fact the track's character makes this track not suitable as an element on a compilation, but a track of this kind serves only on an album, and then the question is how well is suits is function as an excursion. Happily this track is working fine as an excursion, and the track creates a sweet element on the disc. This track isn't meant to make people scream and flip out, but this is an evident segment of consideration. As I mentioned earlier, not just full madness from the beginning to the end. Thumbs up!
09 – Devenir-Cosmos (08:27)
Here you'll find my definitive favorite track on this album. It's hard and emtional, with leads who entangles one another. A real woodsman who invites for a dance, not especially hard mentally but instead it radiates vibrational energy and joy. An impressive demonstration of power of what does crazy freaks are capable of, a display whom I listens through many times and for each time I discovers new things in this musical picture. More! More!
10 – Outro / Cosmos (04:14)
I not getting as charmed by the disc's outro as I got by it's intro, but it's still four relatively atmospherical minutes where Megalopsy guides us on our trip. It's slightly experimental and there's some elements here for sure who ends up the total journey perfectly, even though I'm not that impressed here.
Summary
The music silences, the speakers returns to their sleep and it's all of a sudden very empty in the room. Megalopsy's debut album is a very different experience, and I have to admit that it's been nice to get the chance of reviewing an album where the expectations has been set to zero before, due that I haven't heard much of Megalopsy before. All of this to be able to recieve the concept with an clean open mind. Even if some vibrations from the album isn't that innovative, even if not every second is plesuring my consciousness, the piece as whole is impressive. They have really succeeded with their concept, and those long outros on each track makes nice elements who really raises the feeling of that this is an ongoing journey from the very first track to the very last.
Even if not all tracks are perfect, there's still not one single product on this CD who doesn't get passed. The level of quality is fairly high and with it's convincing concept this disc is well worth to spend its lifetime in your record collection back home. Are you looking for something who's completely different compared to the most releases on the market today and are prepared to compromise with that your toes might not dance every second - well then this is something for you.
More information
- http://www.trishula-records.com
- http://www.megalopsy.com.ar
- http:///www.theabstractmachine.com.ar |
|
|
|
Morbidelic
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
56
Posts :
3074
Posted : Mar 15, 2005 07:49
|
|
..::Sc!zOpHrEn!kZ::..
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
87
Posted : Mar 15, 2005 19:43
|
This CD is great!!!
really something powerfull fresh and DARK!
My masterpiece for some time 
Greetz to Megalopsy crew! Keep the good work, wish You many many soo good albums in future 
Boom!!
KiLLER.iNSTiNCT project
Dark Life Records |
|
|
|
-Rudra-
Started Topics :
5
Posts :
146
Posted : Mar 16, 2005 14:32
|
|
Lii
Megalopsy
Started Topics :
8
Posts :
29
Posted : Mar 19, 2005 17:45
|
Thank you very much guys. Im really impressed by the reviews and comments. Really happy too. They are truly insightful and encouraging. The most interesting thing about your insights is to see deep apreciations from other people and compare them to my own, or our own. Its amazing how so many of you reacted so precisely to the flash we had ourselves, percieved it so clearly in its simple yet open to variation concept, and going even further percieved things we didnt ourselves. Thats the beauty of this album I think: The chaotic symbiosis of it. Well, I guess this happens with all albums, hehe, Im just surprised to notice this.
I thought this would only happen during the making of, but aparently it goes beyond to you guys too. Really, im impressed. It shows that there is a lot of dialect and flash possible between what people have to offer artistically and what people can recieve. A lot can be said, and a lot can be appreciated.
Just glad this kind of phenomena exists...
Thanx again!
The best to all! BOM |
|
|
|
DeathPosture
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
142
Posts :
547
Posted : Mar 25, 2005 20:20
|
Megalopsy – The Abstract Machine
Cover: http://217.160.164.51/pic/trr1cd002.jpg
High res: http://tinyurl.com/4gosv (front) http://tinyurl.com/49f56 (back)
Artist: Megalopsy (Argentina)
Title: The Abstract Machine
Format: CD (jewel case)
Label: Trishula Records (Germany)
Cat. #: TRISHCD 02CD
Distribution: Arabesque
Date: 14 February 2005
Track listing:
01. 02’03” Intro (Chaos)
02. 07’32” Obscure Warlock
03. 08’24” Fractal Circus
04. 08’48” Goblin Grins
05. 09’27” Juggling Spheres
06. 08’42” Pachamama
07. 07’29” Monkey Supernova
08. 08’10” Space Cadet
09. 08’27” Devenir-Cosmos
10. 04’14” Outro (Cosmos)
Review:
Extraordinario Psytranco muy oscuro de la Argentina!
Dark psytrance from Argentina… yeah, that’s right Argentina! Megalopsy has the members Alejandro Santander, Matias Benamo and Nicolas Dibernardo and this is their debut album. Newly established German dark psytrance label Trishula Records is out with their second CD after the very nice compilation Ignis Fatuus released in December 2004…. I really liked that comp and the Megalopsy track ‘Zacatlocozipitl’ was a yummy taster of their deep, dark and pounding style… The album has a cool theme, as it’s divided into four chapters – taking us from chaos to cosmos in four easy steps… Right, I’m ready for a dose of gaucho trance… Let’s check it out!
Let me take you thru the tracks…
#01: Intro (Chaos)
“Welcome to the abstract machine. Our dark network of twisted and magic nodes. Darkness as a form of energy twisting between all things and unpredictable force of thousands of strange beings. This is our multiple dimensional cosmos spiralling from chaos to complexity. This is our dark platform. Drawing its lines in the endless void. Pulling its energy out of the abyss and multiplying it. Come one and come all and meet the creatures who live within the elements that will form the never-ending combinations of this warped world (…) Once you’re in, you are in. There are no doors around here. Welcome to the abstract machine.” The intro sets the mood instantly… You’re not gonna expect feather-light cheddar-trance after this… This is daaaaaaaark! Static, freaky noises and a naïve melody laid on top a mean-ass dubby beat… Could easily be the soundtrack to The Ring 3… Spooky, but nice…
#02: Obscure Warlock (Chapter I: Chaos)
This track starts with a very Matrixesque theme that soon evolves into the meanest bassline I’ve heard since the Kemic-Al album Twisted Parameters… Oh yes, this is rich tech-trance with obvious hints to the crude Boshke sound… Sick, repulsive, mean ultra-dark psytrance… I dig the chaotic feel and the constant evolving – the acid runs thick here, and damn that demented melody @ 6’00 will trip you out! Be careful! Highly psychedelic and extremely dark… Sweet!
#03: Fractal Circus (Chapter I: Chaos)
We drift seamlessly into the next track which is a little less chaotic – the bpm has decreased, and we’re in tech/dark night-trance border territory now… This has a very wobbly, bouncing quality to it… Very organic and very industrial at the same time… It’s a WTF?-track… You can’t really figure it out, and you have no idea where it’s going next… I like little surprises like that, but as a whole the first part of the track doesn’t do a great deal for me… The second part is much better, and the lengthy transition to the next track has a nice old-school touch to it… Decent track!
#04: Goblin Grins (Chapter II: Chaos Fade Out)
20 seconds into the 2nd chapter, and Megalopsy has already graced our ears with 30 different twisted FX… Oh yes, this is a very hectic track – in fact even more chaotic than the chaos tracks before it… Chaotic in the typical Finnish/Australian sense – this could’ve easily been on a Freakdance Records release… I’m not sure whether to like it, or to be repulsed by it… It definitely has its moments – both cool and annoying… Scores high on the weird-o-meter! Again the transition into the next track is notably cool, and damn I like that concept of tying the tracks together like that… Sweet indeed!
#05: Juggling Spheres (Chapter II: Chaos Fade Out)
“Oh I’m sorry, did I break your concentration?” This is another very dark, industrial-sounding night choon – with a distinct teKK_QUality to it… Reminds me of the track ‘Zacatlocozipitl’ of the Ignis Fatuus compilation… Very teKknoish, but still übercool… The energy put forward here is simply impressive… And Jules has never sounded better! The last three minutes have a totally different, yet cohesive sound – track transitions rule!
#06: Pachamama (Chapter III: Cosmos Fade In)
Enter the cosmos… A new chapter and a new sound… The sound is sharper now – it’s time to zip up and pay attention! This is very fast and more focussed – with a blunt, repetitive bassline… The combination of a really fast pounding beat and hints of melodies is unorthodox, and this track works more like a long transition into the next and you know which way it’s going when the monkey-madness starts… Decent track!
#07: Monkey Supernova (Chapter III: Cosmos Fade In)
The monkey track! After the transition, we’re soon exposed to a phat, twisted bassline… Yes, we’re back on track! This is what I love about this style – the rich, deeply twisted bassline… Hundreds of psychedelic effect and one phat acid-line after the other… Constant changes in pace and direction, but never loosing the overall focus of sheer nocturnal psychedelic bliss… Fucking awesome track!
#08: Space Cadet (Chapter IV: Cosmos)
After another very cool what-the-hell-is-wrong-with-my-speakers transition, we enter the last chapter of this CD… So get ready to hurtle through the cosmos! This track has a weird laid-back, yet totally pumping quality to it… Hard to describe really… Funky dark psytrance perhaps!? I never thought I should use ‘funky’ and ‘dark’ to describe the same track, but that’s one of the very cool things about this album… For the most part it’s very unprecedented stuff – and I always embrace new ideas… So this might not be the best track here, but it’s definitely something out of the ordinary… Cool!
#09: Devenir-Cosmos (Chapter IV: Cosmos)
My Spanish may be incredibly rusty, but as far as I know ‘devinir’ translates into ‘to happen’… So yeah, we must be well into the cosmos now… And the cosmos is indeed haunting… This track will leave you hanging on the edge of your seat… It’s a big, brutal powerhouse of demented, horrific, deeply psychedelic night-trance… Another highly original tune – this doesn’t sound like anything I’ve ever heard before… The closest I can think of is Overlap on the 6th Sense album – but even that is far from how this sounds… Again a magically spooky transition… You’ve been warned – this *will* mess with your mind!
#10: Outro (Cosmos)
Damn, if the transition didn’t totally freak you out I dunno what will… This outro is a very experimental piece of music… Kinda dubby with breakz and razorsharp frosty cuts… Electro-sauna-dub-skate-punk-fusion! Weird, but fitting to the album… A truly worthy ending to a very unique album in our scene! Diversity rules!
Woow – it’s been a while since an album have left such an impression with me… It’s not the best album I’ve heard this year, but it’s just so fucking different from what we’re used to hearing… I like music that challenges me – forces me to pay extra attention and heighten my perception… And in that sense, this album is a masterpiece… Musically it’s just good! And as a DJ tool it’s worthless… There is no compromise here – either play the whole album, or don’t play it at all!
The whole concept of chapters and long transitions between tracks is simply cool and I wish more artists outside the chill-spectre would do that… It makes for a very interesting listening experience – and justifies listening to an entire album from start to finish despite the weaker tracks…. And there are plenty of highlights here to justify that anyway… Also, let me mention the very cool conceptual art in the cover that correlates perfectly with the music… Well done Trishula!
This is not a psytrance album as we’re used to… This is an album that uses dark psytrance as a skeleton for an extended musical journey – and it really succeeds in that. Any fan of experimental electronic music should check out this album – I guarantee you an extraordinary ride! Enjoy!
Favourites: This album should be listened to as a whole… But 2, 4, 5 and 7(!) are stand-outs for me.
DeathPosture
External links:
Trishula Records: http://www.trishula-records.com
Psyshop: http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/trr/trr1cd002.html
Juno Records: http://www.juno.co.uk/products/169105-01.htm
Saiko Sounds: http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display_release.asp?id=4605
Chaos Unlimited: http://www.chaosunlimited.co.uk/cgi-bin/product.asp?LR=TRISHCD02
On really romantic evenings of self, I go salsa dancing with my confusion... |
|
|
|
z1P^
Megalopsy
Started Topics :
28
Posts :
535
Posted : Mar 29, 2005 15:40
|
(www) DarkPrisma.com.ar/ ~ FranticNoise.com.ar/ ~ Megalopsy.com.ar/ ~
providing shamanic euphoria until the end of the days! |
|
|
|
jaramogi
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
15
Posts :
918
Posted : Mar 29, 2005 15:54
|
Quote:
| And as a DJ tool it’s worthless… There is no compromise here – either play the whole album, or don’t play it at all! |
|
hehe, no no - specially track 5 (with pitch + 2-3...) is absolute dancefloor compatible
|
|
|
|
Moksa
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
34
Posts :
347
Posted : Jun 22, 2005 22:47
|
This is an essential album for all lovers of the new "darkpsy" sound. I really can't recommend this album enough. So much character and originality.
My favorite artist album of the year so far!! 10/10!!
|
|
|
|
Le Lotus Bleu
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
114
Posts :
438
Posted : Aug 9, 2005 13:20
|
It’s nice to see a country like Argentina very few talkabout in the trance scene providing artists like Megalopsy.
Their sound reminds me sometimes Tim Schuldt productions through their frequent use of heavy metal guitar riffs or fatty loudy harmonies (T 2,5,7,10) .
The intro & outro things are a sympathic idea, not too frequent but unfortunatly i didn’t dig them.
Fractal Circus it’s quite rare in the psytrance scene, fits well with its content, although Psychedelick Circus would be beter but more cliche ; btw it’s a nice one with a mischievous & hypnotic feeling like a sarcastic clown.
Goblin Grin reminds me several other artists productions like Audialize (the oscillating electrified lead at 2’45 ), some early 3D Vision tunes through the dry-picked bassline, not a bad track but it’s its main worry an evident lack of personnality for my ears.
Juggling Spheres has around 4’00 a very little something of The Violet Ray from Four Carry Nuts but after it completly vanishes. Once again i’m sorry from 6’25 i’ve got the impress of listening Infected Mushroom .
Curiously, this always changing style along a same tune quite pleased me despite some more or less evident influences previously mentionnned.
In Pachamma, the happy-go-lucky twisted short shrill tone makes a funny & thrilling contrast with the austere bassline.
Monkey Supernova & Space Cadet didn’t draw especially my attention & i’m not bothered about them.
Devenir-Cosmos is probably one of the most trippy for me in an Halloween rave party feeling.
climaxs :2,3,5,9
It’s not a bad debut album but it’s obvious Megalopsy lacks a bit more of personnality through their sounds & maturity to fully exploit their evident musical potential.
6,5/10
|
|
|
|
*Karma Cola*
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
113
Posts :
2314
Posted : Aug 11, 2005 00:00
|
Very impressive album with lots of stuff for a hardcore psychedelic fan.
My fav wud be Juggling Spheres and Space Cadet.
~*** You can tell By the way i use my walk, Im a woman's man, No time to Talk***~ |
|
|
|
Greennun
Started Topics :
6
Posts :
151
Posted : Sep 21, 2005 17:13
|
|
Very Very good and for a first album wow, just could'nt stop listening to it reminds me when i heard hallucinogen for the first time i was blown away same with these guys fresh sounds and fresh new ways to twist our minds.Boom megalopsy. |
|
|
|
Syntax442
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
12
Posts :
350
Posted : Oct 13, 2005 20:53
|
ONE OF THE BEST RELEASES THIS YEAR!
Yeah, these guys from Argentina burn da house for sure!!!!
:roxx:  
Le Lotus Bleu
You kidding  |
|
|
|
|
