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Radical Distortion - Psychedelic Dreams (Suntrip Records)
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Jon Cocco
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
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Posted : Oct 19, 2009 18:16:47
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Radical Distortion – Psychedelic Dreams
Suntrip Records
October, 2009
01. Psychedelic Dreams
02. Spacecraft
03. Amorphia
04. The Dreamer (Orient Mix)
05. Transparant Joint
06. The Other World
07. Communication (Rmx)
08. A New Home
09. Star Dance
10. Dying Earth
Psychedelic Dreams is the new Psychedelic Goa-Trance main album by Radical Distortion. It aims to top their previous album, 2006's Regenesis, which proved that these artists are extremely talented when it comes to producing Psy/Goa-Trance. A full review ensues.
01. Psychedelic Dreams begins the album with deep, euphoric ambient via intro. Voice samples indicate a story about a planet that's been destroyed; few people remain and are now faced with the challenges of surviving the aftermath. The set up is strong, creating a post apocalyptic world. A harmonious sound of beauty/sadness compliments the driving, fluid, and distorted Goa waves. The beat disappears around 4:45, and the haunting notes carry the wave into a catchy interlude. The song has a few sounds and/or inspirations that remind me of old Astral, MFG, and Miranda, only with a more modern edge, approach, and production. This is an intriguing opening and the ambient notes compliment it. Good track. B
02. Spacecraft follows up with more energy. A strong and fairly intense sound enters around 0:43. The beat kicks in sooner and the vehicle instantly moves, collecting layers. A shuffling sound at 1:24 is well done and tightens the backdrop as more delectable sounds arrive. The first two minutes are pretty good, mainly buildup. It's at 2:33 and again at 2:49 that a real pocket of emotion begins, followed by a cloud floating interlude, and then an arguably inspired Filteria-esque moment before take off. Past the peaceful center, various ingredients are soon added, complicating the broth. The energy returns more psychedelic than before and attempts some catchy alterations. The one from 5:08 to 5:12 is stylish, adding drive and rhythm emphasis. Another effect sounds like a pocket of wind, lifting the waves up into into its twisting turbulence. Such effects keep the song interesting and involving. Yet another buildup is soon formed, pulling back around 6:25 to accommodate a ominous backdrop. Suddenly the rhythm takes off; my favorite part is from 6:45 to 6:50, a climactic moment that is just wonderful. Radical Distortion likes to twist, distort, and make psychedelic so many sounds, and they do it well in this number while engaging the listener with more gentle sounds that accompany them. Although the song gets better as it progresses, I wish they invested just a little more into their climactic elements towards the end. Otherwise it's excellent. A-
03. Amorphia enters the beat within the opening, avoiding much of an introduction. The voice samples appear to be from a popular film; they're effective. The song involves numerous change ups, primarily one at 3:26 that's engaging, and sounds very different than the previous track. The sample work well in this number, adding to a sweet build up, climax at 4:49. Radical Distortion never seems to overdue their high energy. The climaxes never seem to achieve such highs as to off-set or cause drastic changes to the song’s fluid direction, and for this reason I find their work, such as in this track, so fluid. The second half changes gears, sound; it sounds fresher before fusing old rhymes with new. The song however appears less intricate than the previous number. But it remains catchy throughout. My favorite parts are the strong Goa hooks, such as the one around 1:00 and another at 1:03. These hooks let the liquid sound of Goa be manipulated, opened, experimented with, and breath. They remind me of ideas present in old school classic': Cosmosis - Cosmology and Doof - Let's Turn On. This isn't the most groundbreaking track, but it's strong and the samples really compliment. B+
04. The Dreamer (Orient Mix) is the first remix to my knowledge of the group's original, on 2008's VA - Opus Iridium compilation. Though similar in many ways to the original, this remix involves numerous changes. For starters, they changed (altered differently) and/or redid a powerful, skipping melody that began at 2:03 in the original; I greatly preferred the original's sound, and find this reworking less juicy/infectious. That said, some of the additions are good/great. The oriental influences is basically a combination of sounds/melodies that are integrated into the mix, creating more colorful, sound animations. The original I felt, was energetic, aggressive, and intense, but became tired and somewhat repetitive as it continued. This remix however provides a foreign influence that cleverly grows, supports the grittier textures as the song progresses The result is a fresher, less repetitive, and more varied overall track. It's as if the number took a trip overseas and returned with more intellect, more to tell. The last third introduces newer sounds, also enhanced; the remix appears more crisp and psychedelic, as if the general structure of layers were enhanced through various software filters. The only alteration I'm disappointed with is the first major notice around 2:03. Otherwise, the female voice is nice, little details around it are good, and overall the remix is better in my opinion, than the original's grittier but less involved texture. I do prefer newer tracks over remixes in general, but this is a solid remix nonetheless. Good work. B+
05. Transparant Joint returns more psychedelic, possibly than any track I've heard on the album so far. Haunting sounds become more prominent around 1:33 and add mystery, edge; they create a dark component. Not much introduction is present though which would have been nice. Unlike the previous track, which developed harmonious art around a work out on the dance floor, this one returns to Radical DIstortion’s newer, more trippy numbers. The song has an ominous tone a la BotFB, though different in style/sound. The song grows richer, more psychedelic, layered, and twisted as it progresses. Not much of an evolution seems to take place here, other than the building, manipulating, and developing/moving walls on acid, but the potency of the alterations is smart and unpredictable. The song is very psychedelic; it does develop. The part around 6:00 is superb for instance. Wow. It's impressive how mushrooms can grow on a tune so effectively. Previous songs seemed to have more substance, more to tell, while this seems more focused in being psychedelic and artistic. More moments such as the one around 6:00 would have been amazing, and possibly awarded a higher score from me. As it stands, this the song is great fun to listen to, and one of the most psychedelic number's of the year. A-
06. The Other World begins with a strong, sustained of ambient, followed by a powerful voice sample about a man wondering the fate of his people, and his own. I'm scratching my head trying to grasp the potential movie that this is from. The introduction is simply yet effective, tempting the mysteries unknown that lies beyond the opening gate to the dark path. The male’s voice echoes an abstract mind in a vast gateway to the abysmal unknown. The song continues the alien delicacy with momentum and an even wider range of sounds that those on the previous track. It develops into an arguably darker, more intense, and melodically varied/distorted trip to dark wonderland. While it misses a potential opportunity to end the song on an amazing note, the layering, creative additions as the song progresses is great. The track follows one set path towards the end, and for that reason I find myself going back and forth, whether this is a B+/A-; I like to encourage artists to push the imaginative factor and do some wonderful unpredictable things (development/evolution) as the song progresses. That thought doesn't come by default though, as many artists produce simple, higher effective work. After hearing the previous track though, and at 6:03, I was hoping for something more memorable towards the end. Nonetheless, the song is gripping from start to finish. I suppose more unpredictable elements could have given this a higher score from me to compensate the 6:00 running time. It's still good, if not great. B+
07. Communication (Rmx) is a zippy, energetic, and startling remix from Suntrip's first compilation: Apsara. I actually favored the original of this remix from the 2005 compilation the least, though it was a good track. In comparison to the original, this is modernized and arguably just as good, arguably. For starters, the remix appears to be the least groundbreaking track on the album, not far from The Dreamer (Orient Mix) that is, which is better I feel. The good news is, the remix is fast, fluid, tasty, and risk free, though the latter shouldn't cause worries. This is a healthy, fun number with elements of beauty. My gripe is that the sounds/melodies in the original sounded more juicy; they sound squeezed here to compensate for a more metallic, psychedelic approach. The alterations, changes appear to do little that impresses the original that I enjoy more when comparing this to that. The remix is cool nonetheless; fans of the original will generally enjoy it. The space floating part from 4:45 to 5:15 is great, and considering the album has ten tracks, this one is almost like a bonus around the middle as opposed to the album's end. I just find the newer tracks so much more refreshing compared to the remixes, so I'm glad that there's only two here, though they're cool. This is a good, psychedelic remix. It's just nothing spectacular. B
08. A New Home grows from the same gorgeous flower that I find most present in the non remix tracks, i.e; the majority of the album. This number goes deep into the mind; sound particles emerge to confront bigger ones in a new world filled with intoxicating sounds and fusions, such as the one around 2:00, for starters. The sound combinations, distortions, skipping, alterations, and more within this song are excellent. The middle has a Pleiadian/Filteria-esque influence combined with Radical Distortion's that is wonderful. It's amazing how the marrying of just a few sounds can deliver such an infectious head rush of pleasure. The song's mixing work is articulately crafted; small details are recognized; dynamic approaches to psychedelic sentences elegantly shift sound currents into seemingly different rhythm and waves. The song gives the brain a workout, as its extremely danceable like virtually all songs so far. It devilishly moves forward, like a beautiful dolphin cutting through elegant waves, forming many of its own. There are numerous melodies, bursting flavors, and delectable psy sounds throughout this possible masterpiece. It's one of the reason's why I love Goa-Trance, the fluidity of a song's art in motion is beautiful to both listen to and experience. I haven't even gotten to the part around 3:23 yet, which is excellent. This is a smart, beautiful track. It raises the bar on what the artists can achieve. While I detect some Pleiadian/Filteria influence, a little inspiration can go a long way, and Radical Distortion adds several pre-existing ideas to their own, with wondrous results. Delicious track. A-
09. Star Dance is an excellent Psychedelic Goa-Trance number with juicy, jumping out and attention grabbing Goa/melody work. Think Doof, Cosmosis, Dimension 5 (from the golden era); with strong and psychedelic backdrops, gorgeous textures, and a light, flavorful, and uprising atmosphere. The melody/sound work is so catchy on this one. It makes me miss the golden days of Goa, yet this song is a rebirth in a sense, to one of the most wild and artistic creations of the human heart, mind, and spirit. The only thing missing is possibly an ending (though this one is great) that leaves my jaw on the floor the way Filteria's Earthrise did. But that's a small gripe when compared to the whole. Excellent work. A-
10. Dying Earth begins with a strong wave of ambient, like a child running up a hill towards the fireball sunset, only to reach the top and witness the tragedy of an annihilated city. Through the eyes of a child, the over stretched horizons bring all types of weather, natural disaster, and brooding energy from death after man has has all but withered away entirely. Gone. Lost. Fading memories echo around a haunting, powerful rhythm and backdrop. A gritty and skipping sound/melody is accompanied soon by others, in addition to a strong beat. What appears to be synth piano notes slowly works itself into the engrossing atmosphere. Gothic sounds, whispers, echoes, and ghosts inhibit this wasteland in a superb retelling of the end of perceived times. This is an excellent track, downtempo or mid-tempo; both appear to share influences. The song develops, though remains on one powerful path. It's atmospheric, interesting, and rewarding. Superb track. A
In conclusion, Psychedelic Dreams is the album that many of us have been waiting for. It showcases the groups best work to date, some of the best songs psytrancers will hear all year. The album provides nine psychedelic goatrance songs; the tenth is a wonderful mid/down-tempo closing. The album really focuses on the psychedelic aspect of psytrance which many artists now days seem to exploit for more general trance. It's heavily involved with catchy and distorted melodies/sounds, twisted rhythms, 303's, atmospheric elements, and more. There are some intriguing/alien introductions too. If I were to complain, I'd say that the remix of Communication, while being more psychedelic; I enjoy it less than the original on the Apsara compilation. Furthermore, a track or two could have had an amazing ending. But these may seem like nitpicks when compared to the whole. Fortunately, the artists took risks to startle, twist, and turn the senses while provoking the mind. So many of the melody/sounds are distorted and tripped out that the general listener who likes his/her music more psychedelic than most psytrance albums should be pleased. The album starts good and gets better, more fun as it progresses, packing high replay value due to the strong track variety. Voice samples are good too; not overused. Compared to the previous three Psy/Goa albums by main artists that I have heard in 2009, Psychedelic Dreams is better than Merr0w - Born Underwater in my opinion. Some may consider this better than Filteria's - Daze of Our Lives. All in all, Psychedelic Dreams is a very psychedelic, imaginative, infectious, and enjoyable release, and one of the best albums of 2009. Thank you Radical Distortion for taking the time to make an excellent album.
Favorite tracks - 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10
A-
Samples / Order here
http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display_release.asp?id=8168
http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/sut/sut1cd016.html
http://www.suntriprecords.com/shop/
http://www.goastore.ch/product_info.php?products_id=3415&osCsid=da8af7a579d9607f42c63f78d5180c34
http://www.beatspace.com/dettagli/dettaglio.asp?id=5243
http://www.neptunwave.de/product_info.php?cPath=62&products_id=920
http://www.play.com/Music/CD/-/8/33/-/11630683/Psychedelic-Dreams/Product.html?searchtype=genre
http://www.powerplaydirect.co.uk/asp/itemdetails.asp?prodID=1965538&currsec=mu
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PlutoDelic
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
12
Posts :
244
Posted : Nov 23, 2009 16:48
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awesome album, very good artists 
 PSYKS |
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MahaVoodoo
Started Topics :
1
Posts :
21
Posted : Dec 8, 2009 09:31
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Sounds a bit outdated, but I've listened to it a hundred times! It's not just an album, it's a beautiful trip to India. |
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goaren
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
60
Posts :
1151
Posted : Jan 5, 2010 11:08
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awesome album for sure... i just love their sound |
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