| Author
|
Shadow FX - Direct Influence (Zenon Records)
|
psyreviews
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
71
Posts :
204
Posted : Aug 8, 2007 03:22
|
shadow FX
Most albums that pass through the psyreviews sphincter of taste get played five times if they’re lucky. Direct Influence I’ve been listening to solidly for three days. It sounded so good through the (admittedly, quite modest) stereo at Psyreviews Acres, sounded good on the headphones, and even sounded good in the car. There’s something very special about this indeed, and I’m thoroughly enjoying the fact that I can’t quite put my finger on what that very special thing is.
Shadow FX comes from the Sensient heritage, that postmodern meta-progressive trance. His sound is deeply elastic, baggy-grooved stuff that transports you to a dusty summer dancefloor with a beer in one hand and another beer in the other.
The sheer spaciousness is addictive. Sounds warp around you, leaving you in this dubby vacuum where the slightest change (of which there are many) has a huge effect. It’s like it’s music that you don’t listen to so much as have a relationship with.
The drop at 6:35 on Alkhemist is so effortless, and so micro-subtle, it’s hardly there – yet it is staggeringly effective. The melodies on Full Floyd Rig are weaved together in such a way that you don’t hear them, you feel them.
Comparisons with Sensient are inevitable: Shadow FX is less psychedelic, in the true sense of the word, but the main difference is in the presence. Where Sensient creates this incredible bed of sound that you get drawn into and eventually fall over on, Shadow FX has what appears to be a more tender emotional side – which is not to say that the man is a bit of a softy. The way that he flits between intimate and distant is probably the best way to put it – the music touches you, then shifts back to his addictive, spongy platform. It really is as though you’ve witnessed something a little bit magical.
The best example of this, and my personal standout track on the album, is Woodlander. Organic, flowing, warming stuff with a melodic section that’ll make a grown man cry.
This is something very, very special. I can’t see myself getting bored of it for a while yet, and it’s the best reason in a while to invest in some big fuckoff speakers.
TRACKLIST
1. Full Floyd Rig
2. Left Of Centre
3. Funktion One
4. Alkhemist
5. Intermission
6. Altered Perception
7. Liquid Crop Duster
8. Brain Glitch
9. Woodlander
 
http://www.psyreviews.com/clothing/ |
|
|
|
full_on
IsraTrance Team
Started Topics :
279
Posts :
5475
Posted : Aug 20, 2007 23:24
|
Yes, this is an awesome album. Highly recommended and worth buying cause you'll still be listening it years from now.
I think my favorite right now is Alkhemist, everything is right on its spot here and the sample from the classic "Invasion from the body snatchers" (just watched it again because of this track) had an incredible effect on me:
"Don't be trapped by old concepts... We adapt... We survive..."
Many other tracks present more subtle samples surrounded and well fitted inside the track's elements, like Intermission: "The mushroom is the teacher... I want to see what the mushroom offers to me..."
If anyone knows from where the samples from Brain Glitch were taken please tell me!
Congratulations to Shadow FX and Zenon Records, please keep them coming!
Respect!
.
...Be gentle with the earth...
...Dance like nobody's watching...
.
...I don't mind not going to Heaven, as long as they've got Coffee in Hell... |
|
|
|
Magox
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
20
Posts :
2095
Posted : Aug 21, 2007 03:43
|
Brilliant album......been listening to it for 3 dayz now.....
Still keeps it psychedelic, maybe not as crazy as sensient's music.....but at the same time it's a lil more groovier....
Fantastic
one of the better albums i've heard this year
"On the path of spirituality, one ventures to vanquish one’s own faults rather than to judge others" |
|
|
|
poncho
Started Topics :
2
Posts :
60
Posted : Aug 21, 2007 12:05
|
This is a very nice album...
Lots of space in the tracks, with plenty of warm groove.
Not as industrial sounding as most of the zenon gear...
Check it out for sure if you like prog!!
|
|
|
|
thail
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
20
Posts :
148
Posted : Aug 21, 2007 22:36
|
|
Sturdy grooves with refreshing atmospheres. Intelligent music. Thanks for this. |
|
|
|
-Abatwa-
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
42
Posts :
1087
Posted : Aug 22, 2007 05:50
|
One of the best releases this year until now, if not the best. Impressed me much more than the SCS album, which is to say a lot. Minimal psychedelic grooves painted with beautiful soundscapes and atmospheres.
Would love to hear this with a giant soundsystem outdoors!
postmodern meta-progressive trance eh? soundz good to me. Thanks Zenon crew, australian sound is very distinct when it comes to progressive. More innovative releases like this pls.
`Bottomless wonders spring from simple rules, which are repeated without end` Mandelbrot |
|
|
|
klaxer
Koan / Vacuum Stalkers
Started Topics :
11
Posts :
380
Posted : Aug 24, 2007 11:05
|
Very good album!  |
|
|
|
Justin Chaos
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
117
Posts :
3086
Posted : Aug 24, 2007 16:08
|
Brilliant!!!
My fake plants died, because I did not pretend to water them. |
|
|
|
Minimal Monster
Minimal Monster
Started Topics :
50
Posts :
951
Posted : Aug 24, 2007 21:11
|
|
brunoazalim
Started Topics :
3
Posts :
89
Posted : Aug 27, 2007 21:01
|
one of the best releases in 2007, for sure!
the "intermission" voice samples and that pink floyd's guitar chords on the first track are simply amazing! |
|
|
|
PlutoDelic
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
12
Posts :
244
Posted : Sep 6, 2007 20:46
|
the best pink floyd remix , im in love with that track 
PSYKS |
|
|
|
NextWorld
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
12
Posts :
397
Posted : Sep 7, 2007 13:26
|
After having this album on heavy rotation on my MP3 Player, PC and Home Stereo, i have to agree with everyone here and admit:
Tis is da stuff. Best album this year until now....might be beaten by some of the upcoming progrssive releases, but still....wow.
Shadow FX and Zenon Records ROCK! |
|
|
|
NirI
Started Topics :
8
Posts :
52
Posted : Sep 7, 2007 21:53
|
What can i say?
You just all wrote evrything that has to be written. MINIMAL PROGRESSIVE, which no-one makes anymore.
I'm addicted, and invite u all to take part of this journey. You just won't let it out of your c.d player. |
|
|
|
Andrey
Inactive User
Started Topics :
62
Posts :
1221
Posted : Sep 14, 2007 01:25
|
Waiting to buy ....
Sea>Israel>Ben-Gurion>Tel-Aviv>Ramat-Goa>Marom Neve
is this pure reality could we be led?
25500 NIS for 1 hour DJ set
30500 NIS for 45-50 minutes of Live~ |
|
|
|
Magox
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
20
Posts :
2095
Posted : Sep 19, 2007 06:20
|
i know i posted earlier, but been listening again for last 2 hours back to back  top notch shiaaaat
prolly my favorite album this year
"On the path of spirituality, one ventures to vanquish one’s own faults rather than to judge others" |
|
|
|
