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Various Artists - Aerocruz (Groove Zone, June 2005)
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pr0fane
Multiphase
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Posted : Jun 20, 2005 18:23
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Artist: Various Artists
Title: Aerocruz
Label: Groove Zone
Format: CD (Jewelcase with standard 4-page inlay)
Released: June, 2005
Review:
The Japanese label Groove Zone launched last year with the self-titled debut compilation "Groove Zone", and have since then released 2 other compilations – focusing on both basic progressive psytrance ("Groove Zone"), more house-oriented psytrance ("Back To The Future") and darker, slightly more minimal sounding psytrance ("Magnetic Storm"). Their newest compilation “Aerocruz” has just hit the market, now concentrating on blissful morning tunes somewhere on the border between progressive and full on.
1. Side-A - Hybrid Rise
First track is from the up-and-coming producer from France, Side-A, who have had releases on labels like Tatsu, Sub Machine and of course Groove Zone in the last year. "Hybrid Rise" is in my opinion his best track to date – building on a static groove and more or less the same theme of bright sounds as used in his first releases. It feels a lot better executed here though, and the excellent use of blissful female vocals really is a perfect addition to his uplifting sound.
2. Natural Flow - Flying Toaster
"Flying Toaster" (not exactly the best track-name of the year) is the first release fro Natural Flow – a new sideproject of Blue Vortex and Rumble Pack. Like with the more well-known main-projects, this is pure uplifting trance – progressive, but with several layers of slightly Israeli full on inspired melodies. Good work, but perhaps a bit too naive for my liking.
3. Son Kite - Let Us Be (Vibrasphere Remix)
Vibraspheres remix of Son Kites epic "Let Us Be" was already released last year following the “Colours” album, and here we find it re-released. "Let Us Be" is my favourite track from the album, and Vibraspheres version is almost equally stunning: the atmosphere is very lush and more dreamy than in the original, and the theme-melody is simply amazing – less subtle, and more straightforward. Great remix.
4. Counter Tech - Aerocruz
The japanse act Counter Tech get his first release with "Aerocruz". The track seems a bit to fast at first, but gets more balanced later on with the introduction of a hint of a melody. At the breakdown in middle of the track it gets really pleasant – a simple, naïve melody is accompanied with some different bright stabs, and the track takes of again. Not the most original track, but with simple means it leaves a very good impression.
5. Soul Surfer - Bonzai Beach Of Magic
Anders Nilsson is surely one of the busiest producers at the moment, and last year alone he released 3 full-length albums under the projects Andromeda, Chromosome and Soul Surfer. His sound is very distinct on "Bonzai Beach Of Magic", and though it perhaps isn't as formulaic as some of his earlier works, I didn't find it that interesting. Still looking forward to the new Andromeda album though.
6. Visua - Stage Of Evolution
“Stage Of Evolution” is the first release from the Mexican project “Visua”, and it's a quite fine debut. He combines a crunchy, minimal-sounding bassline with a simple melody and some very pleasant pads. My only criticism with the track was the already overused "We are now seeing the beginnings of another stage of human evolution" sample from "X-Men"
7. Triptych - Two Ears And One Mouth
Triptych (who also did the mastering on the compilation) appears with one of his usual full on'ish tracks. If there ever was a style called freestyle full on, this would be it. Fun and funky, and with a very entertaining Triptych-trademark voice-sample as the final touch. Not my favourite to come out of the Triptych studio though, but a quite enjoyable track that will surely cause a lot of smiles on the dancefloors.
8. Sync - Cursor
Sync is a new sideproject of the German progressive duo Vaishiyas, and "Cursor" is pretty decent. Compared to much of the earlier work of Vaishiyas this isn't nearly as deep and pounding, but instead with much more focus on melodies – perhaps most similar to "Babe Watch" released last year. But even though the melodies are very catchy, the track never really reaches the excepted climax, and therefore doesn't fully live up to my expectations.
9. S>Range feat. Z-Man - Wonderful
Last track is "Wonderful" from S>Range and Z-Man (old member of Logic Bomb). I completely love the first 2 albums from S>Range, but haven't really liked his recent move towards full on, so it was certainly a nice surprise that this track was only running at 134 BPM. It's by far the most laid-back track on the compilation, and is a very pleasant come-down after the more dancefloor oriented tunes – good, mellow morning-groover.
Bottom line:
"Aerocruz" is no doubt a good purchase, and most of the tracks will work wonders on the dancefloors in the morning hours. None of the tracks are bellow the standard of the average morning tune, but after the massive "Back To The Future" compilation I was perhaps expecting a few more tracks of really spectacular "hit-quality". That said, "Aerocruz" is certainly no waste of money – not the most essential releases of 2005, but certainly very enjoyable.
Favourites:
1(!!), 3 (!!), 4, 9
Verdict:
7/10
Link:
Groove Zone: http://www.groove-zone.com
  DJ pr0fane (Iboga Records) | Multiphase
www.sunrisesupplies.com | www.iboga.dk | www.soundcloud.com/pr0fane |
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rumble pack / motion drive
Rumble Pack
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Posted : Jun 22, 2005 11:39
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very good review profane...
i think its a different comp. than the last GZ cd...but i really like to listen at home and in the sun...easy morning sounds...
Quote:
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2. Natural Flow - Flying Toaster
"Flying Toaster" (not exactly the best track-name of the year)
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hehe...you are not completly wrong...the name is from one of the first screen savers from pc...so we thought it fits the track...but our attention was to make a good track..and not winning the award for the best trackname..hehe..anyway...its only a name
cheers |
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Ron Lyner
Ron Lyner
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Posted : Jun 22, 2005 12:10
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Quote:
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6. Visua - Stage Of Evolution
“Stage Of Evolution” is the first release from the Mexican project “Visua”, and it's a quite fine debut.
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well i dont think its their/his first release.
check soulseeker 3 from midijum rec.
http://www.o-zen.com/art/ranal
-------------------------------------
You wanna dance?!...I know a tune...it´s called stick and CUT!!
V.L |
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pr0fane
Multiphase
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Posted : Jun 22, 2005 17:49
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Ron Lyner
Ron Lyner
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Posted : Jun 23, 2005 14:13
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nahimoff
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jul 12, 2005 21:27
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hi folks little late but better late than never! first of all its a great Compilation very different from the first Groove zone releases but then again each one of their releases was different from the other, and the whole 4 releases cover completely the whole progressive/minimal music genre quite efficiently!
This is without a doubt the most powerful release from groove zone, beside 2 slower tracks and 2 faster tracks all the commpilation is on 140 BPM. the style as described before is the upper side progressive closer to soft full on.
Tracks I liked the most: 1,3,5,9
The CD is available as of tomorrow for sale on krembo shop in shenkin 18 street Tel Aviv or directly through me if you want PM me about the details I promise a very attractive price for it 
Enjoy
DJ NADI EarPeaks music Group (Domo/Tupan/Gat music)
www.domorecords.com info@domorecords.com
www.tupan-records.com www.earpeaks.com |
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Dai
IsraTrance Junior Member
Dai aka Amatti
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Posted : Jul 12, 2005 22:58
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DeathPosture
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jul 14, 2005 02:20
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V/A – Aerocruz
Hi-res cover: http://tinyurl.com/7lppe
Artist: Various
Title: Aerocruz
Format: CD (jewel case)
Label: Groove Zone Records (Japan)
Cat. #: GZCD-004
Distribution: File Records
Date: July 2005
Track listing:
01. 08’16” Side-A – Hybrid Rise
02. 07’35” Natural Flow – Flying Toaster
03. 08’26” Son Kite – Let Us Be (Vibrasphere Rmx)
04. 09’03” Counter Tech - Aerocruz
05. 09’00” Soul Surfer – Bonzai Beach Of Magic
06. 07’28” Visua – Stage Of Evolution
07. 06’21” Triptych – Two Ears And One Mouth
08. 06’27” Sync - Cursor
09. 08’14” S>Range feat. Z-Man - Wonderful
Review:
Afternoon sushi…
This is the fourth release by the very productive Japanese label Groove Zone Records… I really liked the previous compilations: The smoothness of Back To The Future and the darkish night-time tool Magnetic Storm. Again Taku Yoshihaya has carefully selected these tracks which in his own words are ‘perfect for the morning and afternoon dancefloors under the sun’… So yeah, this looks like a pleasant, uplifting experience… Let’s find out!
Let me take you thru the tracks…
#01: Side-A – Hybrid Rise [133 BPM]
Side-A is Olivier Cambier from Paris, France and his track on previous Groove Zone compilation Back To The Future was pretty decent… This is very mellow, well-polished progressive trance… Melodic in nature and very uplifting… The epic female vocals really top it off and send this right into crossover land… Like a lo-fi version of Antix really… It’s all very fine and dandy, but I prefer my progressive trance to be edgier…
#02: Natural Flow – Flying Toaster [140 BPM]
Natural Flow is the combined forces of Swiss producers Rumble Pack & Blue Vortex. To be honest I don’t know much of their work, but I do know that Blue Vortex released the debut album Mirage on YSE in 2004… Again this is melodic progressive trance – and this time with a little more bite! Yeah I really like the retarded main melodic lead – it’s funny really – it’s usually one of those things that piss me off, but it seems very well-placed here… That lead literally makes this track… Refreshing! The tribal break-down with the synth-stabs is also very well executed… Yeah, my head is definitely bobbing along to this track…
#03: Son Kite – Let Us Be (Vibrasphere Rmx) [140 BPM]
Vibrasphere remixing Son Kite – that sentence alone is enough for me to cream my pants… We’re dealing with progressive royalty here – two of the very best and most talented progressive outfits Sweden has spawned… Anyway, this remix was already released on last years Colours Remixes EP – and it still rules! The vocals from Son Kite’s original track are still here, and so are the melodies – though they’ve been cleaned up a little… Vibrasphere has rebuilt this track into a rich, groovy progressive gem of Balearic descent… Omnipotent crossover material… Very nice track!
#04: Counter Tech – Aerocruz [140 BPM]
Counter Tech is the alias of Japanese producer Daisuke Inoue and this is his debut release… We’re on the less-melodic, more experimental side of progressive trance… To be honest I wasn’t too impressed with the first part of the track here… Weird cuts and off-beats – sounds a little too experimental for me… Also, the melody line doesn’t sound very original… Things pick up after the breakdown though… It even gets interesting for the last couple of minutes – too bad it’s not all like that…
#05: Soul Surfer – Bonzai Beach Of Magic [140 BPM]
Anders Nilssen from Sweden is the personification of Yellow Sunshine Explosion Recordings… He has released three albums on this label under his monikers: Soul Surfer, Andromeda and Chromosome – and to be honest none of them has impressed me too much… It’s all fine and well-polished, but that’s it… Not enough edge for me! But on this type of compilation it fits in perfectly… Epic, floating, well-polished progressive trance – with enough uplifting melodies to be played @ Ministry Of Sound… The breakdown is the attraction here – I like how tension is build through both digital and organic FX… Pretty sweet… Also the melodic lead in the last three minutes rules! It helps lift this track from the bottomless pit of cheese despair… Nice one!
#06: Visua – Stage Of Evolution [140 BPM]
“We are now seeing the beginnings of another stage of human evolution…” Mexican producer Rodrigo Roggi Montiel is all over the place now… He debuted on the Soulseeker 3 compilation released by Midijum earlier this year and has a track on the new Cosmic Conspiracy compilation Contact Lens… And now here! Ahh yes – this is more like it… Though still epic and uplifting, this track is much more down my alley… A very impressive rhythm section, reverb-FX and a tribal-slash-industrial-slash-electro approach toward progressive trance – with a splash of melodies thrown in just to please the ladies… Sweet! A very, very fine track here!
#07: Triptych – Two Ears And One Mouth [142 BPM]
“Activate dance mode countdown. Five… Four…Three… Two… One! … We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak!” Charles Michaud from France is one of the veterans on this compilation… He’s released two albums, two EPs and a number of compilation tracks and remixes… This is one of the fastest tracks here – and also one of the most experimental… We get a funky hybrid of EDM/electro/progressive trance here… As always Michaud is quite the risk taker, but he pulls it off here… I dunno about the dancefloor potential, but it’s definitely a very original track…
#08: Sync – Cursor [142 BPM]
Sync is Hasse Klitta – one half German outfit Vaishiyas… We’re in the deeper end of uplifting progressive morning trance now… There melodies are still here, but this is less cheesy than some of the previous tracks… I like how this track has sort of a raw edge – without venturing too far away from the melodic, progressive trance theme framework of this CD… A pretty nice track – but way too short!
#09: S>Range feat. Z-Man – Wonderful [134 BPM]
“It’s necessary for us now to go beyond…!” Sweden representz! S>Range is Anthony Sillfors who has released two albums and a number of EPs and compilation tracks… His third album Another Theory is in the pipes… Z-Man is Jonas Bergvall (one half of Logic Bomb and is closely associated with Hux Flux)… These guys go hand in hand… On the Liquid Records compilation Build Your Own Reactor they hard two very similar tracks – and now they working together… As the BPM count indicates, this is a very subtle, laidback morning tune… Very smooth and very groovy – and a great way to end this compilation… Nice one!
I actually have a hard time grading this compilation… I mean, it’s all high-quality progressive trance with melodies en mas – but somehow parts of this seems a little too dull for my taste… Whereas Magnetic Storm focussed on the darker side of progressive trance, this focuses on the lighter sides… And as I’ve mentioned several times, I prefer to take my progressive trance a little edgier than this… However there are also some very fine tracks here… I just wish all of them were fine… It’s hard for me to explain. Luckily we get a bunch of stand-out tracks… And they rock in their own way!
I like the previous Groove Zone compilations over this one though, and I don’t consider this an essential release… The cross-over potential however is huge here – and as such this compilation already has a higher fan-base than anything released within the psychedelic trance scene… So yeah – fans of epic, uplifting progressive trance sprinkled with melodies will dig this… Enjoy!
Favourites: 2, 3(!), 5, 6(!!), 8, 9
DeathPosture
External links:
Groove Zone Records: http://www.groove-zone.com
Saiko Sounds: http://tinyurl.com/b93qb
Tower JP: http://tinyurl.com/cg7px
Psyshop: http://tinyurl.com/85wno
On really romantic evenings of self, I go salsa dancing with my confusion... |
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Dance N Dust
Dance N Dust
Started Topics :
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419
Posted : Jul 14, 2005 13:38
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some realy great stuff in that cd..
most i like :"side a" track
i also like the s-range track here,, sound like his old music when its best..
and track 5 is great too..
cd cover is look realy nice,,
8/10 for me that cd , i play some tracks here in my sets and its great for the dance floor
out now:
Aumrec – Before The Beginning ,EP
V/a Beat Wins , Compiled by DJ Asherun
Embargaa - Slova . EP
www.myspace.com/dancendustrecords |
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aje
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jul 15, 2005 09:38
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Atomic_Future
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Jul 31, 2005 18:18
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Triptych track is the best on the compilation and one of the best i heard from him, very original and well structured. Great, great track. I get a smile on my face evey time i hear it |
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m3x1co
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Aug 7, 2005 07:47
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Nice review pr0fane,
Hard to decide wich is the best track of this compilation but for me 1,3,6,7,9 are the best ones but whole CD is awesone the best one from GROOVE ZONE RECORDS so far. |
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uvego
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Sep 12, 2005 22:05
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fantastic album !!!
groove zone DA BEST !!!
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uvego
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Sep 13, 2005 00:20
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sorry mods
this is the best groove zone release IMO, coz i like morning music in all that stile of psychedelic, and this album have some GREAT music for my test
Sade A - such a great track for opening, what a rmx by Vibrasphere on that lovely Let Us Be...Soul Surfer also so good, Visua grat debut indeed and amazing amazing full morning-melo track by Triptych – Two Ears And One Mouth !!!
must have A? what you think ???
go for it !!!
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Lior_machine
Started Topics :
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Posted : Sep 16, 2005 14:56
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this album has been really incredible, congratulations by the compilation Taku, you really made a good selection of artists
= ) |
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