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V/A - Midnight Storm 3
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Trance2MoveU
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
50
Posts :
129
Posted : Jun 14, 2008 18:51:53
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Title: Midnight Storm III
Artist: Various
Label: Nexus Media
Release: May, 2008
1. Absolum - Hadracadabra (Shift Remix) (8:53)
2. Shift - Synesthesia (7:48)
3. Lost and Found - Octane (6:52)
4. Multistate - Nefarious (Shift Remix) (8:34)
5. Hydraglyph - To Lie And Wait (8:10)
6. Mantis - Self Deception (8:32)
7. Twisted System - Use Of Weapons (7:30)
8. Ctrl Alt Del vs Shift - Twists And Turns And 3rd Degree Burns (7:10)
9. Deliriant - Fusion (7:25)
10. Slug - Zombie (7:03)
This is the 3rd installment of the Midnight Storm series. The previous two have been outstanding forays into the hyper intensity that is South African psytrance. I make no apologies for saying that this is my absolute favorite type of psy. It is very energetic with "minor key" atmosphere that forces you to get out of your seat and dance like nobody is watching. Well, for me anyway. I suppose you would call this twilight full-on, but I think it goes beyond labels as it takes from many different genres. I cannot explain why I like the cover, I just do. The track list is a who's who of pumping night trance so let's check it out!
Absolum - Hadracadabra (Shift Remix)-- "This one is an example of go home and do it again." This is Chris Hoy's remix of Christof Drouillet's track Hadracadabra. I recall that track being a very good one. Right out of the gate we have a strong beat with related percussion. A nice touch is the shifting of the bass line. I'm already moving, when the lead sweeps in and plays a game of tag. The acid is dirty, and I feel I have gotten it all over me. This will never come out. The sample from Men in Black brings a smile to my face, as the track continues to crush with a new lead. Absolutely bestial! dance4.gif
Shift - Synesthesia- Chris's latest track here with a quiet synth worming it's way forward. Before you can say cool, the bass line is here and you can already feel the dread. Chris knows how to direct a track, it is a formula he has used with great success. This is no exception. The lead screams to be heard above the heavy beat, as new leads pop up. Out of that 2nd break is an undeniable groove. Suck it up and feel the goodness! Quality!
Lost and Found - Octane- This is Gerhard Olivier and I have really become a fan of his music. His tracks Ultimatum and Jet Black on Twilight Vision were outstanding. This one jumps right into the beat with some cool percussion. The lasers give it a spacey feel as the track rises into the first break. The leads swarm over me and guide me this way and that. I'm out of my seat moving to this, when he brings the next break. And boom, we are right into the aggressive groove. Full power all the way. Super!
Multistate - Nefarious (Shift Remix)- "Hey, now we're even!" This is a track by Multistate (Lost & Found and Xatrik) given Chris Hoy's special touch. Once again there is no delay getting to the bass heavy beat. The lead mimics the bass as lasers flit about. When another lead comes in it dominates. Nice filtering brings the track ever higher. Jeez, does this guy ever make a crappy track. I haven't heard it yet. The next break brings another lead and the sounds combine to form a juicy melange. Sweet!
Hydraglyph - To Lie And Wait - Andrew Morgan & Mark Ackermann have released 2 good albums and scores of compilation tracks.
This one growls, with screaming leads from above. They shimmer, as lots of background sounds fill out the track. When the beat gets going again, there are plenty of effects to keep your ears company. This one becomes a very powerful wall of sound. Where as the other tracks were quite intricate, this one was pound you in the face with a sledgehammer. Very nice!
Mantis - Self Deception- The only other track from this guy (guys?) is on the Future Cuts compilation. It seems like Mantis has taken a page from his fellow South Africans in that he has the same heavy bass and industrial leads. The sample is computer generated and long winded. I don't care for it, even though I an sure it is relevant. It just goes on too long. The bass line just creeps up on you, like it's stalking you as the leads weave their way around your cerebellum. Another winner.
Twisted System - Use Of Weapons- Shift + Phyx + Rabdom L = P.O.W.E.R. With a short outburst, we then get a scratchy sound as it makes its way. The lead bobs up and down amongst more leads as the beat plows forward. The scratchy lead returns and at the end of the track, there is so much going on, that you have to marvel at the detail. Great track!
Ctrl Alt Del vs Shift - Twists And Turns And 3rd Degree Burns- "They told me...and uh...that you had gone totally insane." Chris Teams up with whoever this is and brings us swirling leads with a metallic feel. The beat brings a cool melody that slams into the break with percussion. If possible, the beat comes back with an even richer sound, and as with most sHift tracks, they really fill out in the end. Super, super job!
Deliriant - Fusion- We are being introduced to the new breed of South African artists I see. This one starts slowly but at the 2:15 mark we get a sense of groove that infects. Nasty lead. Add new lead and simmer. Sprinkle of laser for effect and get baked. This was a very groovy track and a great start for this individual. We will be watching you.
Slug - Zombie- Bringing up the rear is Mr. Slug whose 3rd album is on the way if you are to believe the Nexus Media site. The sample speaks of zombies in New Haven. This track starts to grow with very acidic leads before it hits a short break. Pads float by, get filtered, and reveal some percussion. When the lasers dance with the bass line, it is infectious. The lead above holds time, and gives way to another that goes from one side to the other in my headphones. Very good track!
Conclusion:- Sold. As long as this series is made, I will buy each and every installment. It is that good. The producers are very competent, and know how to build and flesh out a track. The beats are heavy, the acid is plentiful and every track makes me want to dance. If you are a fan of South African psytrance, then this is a can't miss blind buy. There is no way I can pick a favorite, they are all good. If the 2nd generation of S.A. artists is as good as the 1st, we are in for a treat. Keep it up Nexus Media. 9.5/10
 Mdk |
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illusions
Erebus
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
626
Posted : Jun 15, 2008 16:08
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Couple of clarifications -
Mantis IS shift
and Ctrl-alt-del is Vishaal Turakhia from NY, signed with Nexus. |
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MorNinG MaGiC
Started Topics :
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1815
Posted : Jun 15, 2008 19:40
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Excellent release in my opinion and SHIFT (Chris) you shouldn't stop this series... MIDNIGHT STORM for ever  ....!
ThE stAndOuts for me from the album ...! n thT mAke thE mInD sWirl and bOdy awAke ArE:-
1.Absolum - Hadracadabra (Shift Remix)--The Original one was a bomber, the remix is also goOd... Shift has give it his own interpretation and edge razor cutting sounds, high energy solid intro to thE cD .. bangEr Of a TrAx to StArt WIth...!
2.Shift - Synesthesia-- ThE poWeR of thE leaDs... 
3.Lost and Found - Octane-- every lost and found trax is like a gem, gerhard has some tremendous amount of potential and everytime it reflects in his traxs and the layering and emotions are loaded with energy and vibe... hypnotic tuNE...! pOweRfUl as WelLL LOVE IT....! hiGhLiGht in the album foR ME ...!
4.Multistate - Nefarious (Shift Remix)-- i remember the original from the multistate album really well coz it was one of the stand out traxs for me from the album, the remix is as well loaded its hard gRroVy, pOWeRfull goOd work doNeby shIFt in thiS oNE..!
5.Hydraglyph - To Lie And Wait--WOW...! now this came as a surprise to me, and a pleasant one as well...! when i initially saw the traxlisting i was curious to knw tht a hydrglyph trax was choosen to be the middle or business part of the cd ...! and yess this trax is loaded a hypnotic lead and baseline give the intro to the trax like a slOw beginning ready to explode in the end the baseline is top notch go Go. Go..! thE prt after 3:00 is madness when the baSe coMes bacK...hypnotic gRooVy just the way u would expect a cd to fire upp...!
7.Twisted System - Use Of Weapons --- welll they are coming out with some really good work, last trax on yabai records compilation ministry of chaos was a bomber, so is this one a gyrating baseline ...typical intro of an twisted system trax scratchy leads rough cutting sound edges, you can feel the edgy sounds all throughout the trax...! I'm really lOoking forward to their next album..! Will be massive as usual..!
8.Ctrl Alt Del vs Shift - Twists And Turns And 3rd Degree -- WoW..... Vishal Turakhia has recently been signed to nexus and here we a collaboration with shift and yes its good nasty ride all throughout till in the end the traxx explodes the noisy atmosphere is prevalent all throughout the traxx..! will be keeping an eye on future traxs of CTRL ALT DEL...!
10.Slug - Zombie-- HONESTLY, i have never been a fan of slugs music, it somehow is a little always incomplete for me  ..! but this one has to be one of his best work for me atleast ...!
WoW thE mIDdLe pArt wheRe thE trax StoPs and leADs builD to takE oF.... this trax sits up very well as an outro trax to the cd, perfect after all the chaotic ridE tht u get fronthand of the initial traxs in the cD...! very very smooth ending especially the melody punchy baseline...! goOd one..!
Welll over alll nexus can never go wrong with the midnight series all lovers of south african twilight power muzik should not miss this one out, GALE FORCE for me definetly has been one of the VA's for the year, its hard to pick a favorite in here coz every trax has something or the other to offer for a listener, but overall you can hear the sense of direction and quality that nexus media are taking their music too...! I congratulate the entire nexus crew and all the artists for a job very well done..! and satisfying our brain CElLSzzz OnCE again, plEasE neVer StoP thIs SErieSs......!
MidNight StOrm - 4 ?? WhEn ? lEtS HOpe so it comes out SoOner Rather than later ..!
BiG boOOm... to AlLl...!
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squirm
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
254
Posts :
2638
Posted : Jun 15, 2008 21:16
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great review by both trance2moveu and morning magic. seems like you (trance2..) have reviewed just about all the cds worth reviewing at the moment . steller job . as for this cd - its simply putting it pure mayhem. i dig just about every track on it, every single one of them is filled with such intense energy, its hard not to admire the work thats been put into putting this cd together. big big up to shift and slug and all the acts involved with this cd - awesome awesome work.
oh one last thing - the twisted system track was written by shift and rabdom l
 www.soundcloud.com/ishikawa
www.mechanikrecords.com
www.phonix-records.com
www.mixcloud.com/ishikawa/ |
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Meta-Morphosis
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
216
Posts :
4980
Posted : Jun 19, 2008 19:22
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Shift remix of Absolum, Mantis, shift solo and Twisted system are mad mad tracks of this compilation.
Great one 
“What we need is the development of the Inner Spiritual man, the unique individual, whose treasure is hidden in the symbols of our mythological tradition and in man’s unconscious psych.” - CJ Jung |
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