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Various Artists - London Landscapes (Furthur Progressions, April 2009)
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pr0fane
Multiphase
Started Topics :
418
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3816
Posted : Apr 7, 2009 12:24:46
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Artist: Various
Title: London Landscapes
Label: Furthur Progressions
Format: CD/MP3
Released: April 2009
Cover: http://217.160.138.169/pic_b/fup1cd001_b.jpg
Review:
In a time with rapidly declining CD-sales, we don't see many new labels launching with lineups of already very well-known artists. Furthur Progressions have done just that with the release of their debut compilation "London Landscapes" though. A CD with 9 tracks (mostly unreleased) made by a long list of international headliners on the progressive psytrance scene such as Ace Ventura, Earsugar/Liquid Soul, Shadow FX and Dick Trevor as well as newer artists like Cimi and Dog Soldiers.
Behind the new label and compiling the compilation is the two UK-based DJ's Bedouin and Hamish who are high in demand in their homeland, as well has having played on major international festivals like Universo Paralello and Boom. Let's see what they've selected for us.
01. Insane Creation & DJ Shybe - Deep Mac [130 BPM]
First track is a Swiss collaboration between the DJ Shybe and Insane Creation, who has released two albums on DOMO Records over the years. The intro is somewhat promising at first, but it is quite impaired by a cheesy and quite frankly silly voice-sample. The track itself is a laidback outdoor-track with a quite standardized electro-progressive bassline. Didn't really appeal to me.
02. Shadow FX - Exhale [135 BPM]
Next up is one of the Australia's most noticeable newer progressive artists in later years, Shadow FX. With an interesting mix of funky/jazzy grooves, psychedelic effects and heavy tribal percussions he's managed to make some very outdoor-friendly music which really comes alive when played on a big and powerful PA. "Exhale" is no exception, and fans of his previous releases will definitely feel right at home.
03. Dick Trevor - Zuffle Shuffle [134 BPM]
British Dick Trevor is one of the remaining pioneers of the psychedelic trance, and his involvement in several successful projects over the past 15 years, such as the Green Nuns Of The Revolution, Tufaan, Bumbling Loons, AMD, Infernal Machine, Jumanji and Green Oms speaks for itself. His contribution to the compilation is "Zuffle Shuffle" - a deep, chunky progressive trance groover with a solid afternoon groove and subtle hints of goa-esque synths in the background. Great summer track.
04. Earsugar - Mindprint [132 BPM]
Like many probably already know, Earsugar is a collaboration between Nicola from Liquid Soul and DJ Martin, both from Switzerland. Together they have released tracks on labels like Iboga Records, HOMMega, Plusquam and Blue Tunes, and "Mindprint" is another possible summer anthem from the successful duo. Take a trademark pumping bassline and some lovely arpeggios and you have a track destined to be played a lot this summer.
05. Ace Ventura - Genesis [135 BPM]
To say the least, the former Psysex-member Yoni Oshrat has had huge success with his soloproject Ace Ventura, and his contribution to the compilation is the monstrous "Genesis". With its powerful full on/progressive trance it has some resemblance to "The Spark", but the real bomb here is the point where the bassline goes offbeat, spiced with some male voice-samples (sounds like Raja Ram to me). Another sure winner from Ace Ventura.
06. Etic vs. Orgapulse - Daylight Hookers (Cimi Remix) [133 BPM]
Cimi is the soloproject of Marchello Bacchesci, who is also part of the full on project M-Theory. Here he has remixed "Daylight Hookers" by Etic and Orgapulse, and the result is a very deep and atmospheric afternoon-track. At first I didn't think much of it to be honest, but over time it has really grown on me. Good track.
07. Liquid Soul - Perfect Day [135 BPM]
"Perfect Day" is the second track with Nicola Capobianco on the compilation - this time with his Liquid Soul soloproject. In my opinion it's one of the absolute standout tracks on the compilation, and it's a textbook example of what has made him so successful; immaculate trance-influenced melodies and crystal-clear, crisp and dancefriendly basslines. Morning trance at its best.
08. Sentrafuge - No Words (Original Mix) [128 BPM]
Next up is "No Words" by Sentrafuge, the progressive-minded sideproject of Protoculture. It was originally released back in 2007 on an EP on Plastik Park Records and the EP was played a lot that summer. A really good, deep progressive house tune with naive melodies. To me it was a nice flashback to the summer of 2007, but to release a tune already released 2 years ago is frankly filler-material to me.
09. Dog Soldiers - Denmark [120 BPM]
Last track is from the relatively new duo Dog Soldiers consisting of Ed Hill (Presuming Ed) and Alex Harris (Alex Q-Bit). After 8 dancefloor-tracks, this is much more laidback and is a sort of breakbeat/progressive house fusion. Fine little tune to close the compilation.
Bottom line:
"London Landscapes" is one of the better progressive psytrance compilations I've heard in a while. While most other progressive releases at the moment seem to be very focused on either the German offbeat-sound or be quite house/techno-oriented, Hamish and Bedouin has selected 9 tunes which are more true to the roots and in the vein of a label like Iboga Records. They don't break new ground with the release, but as a progressive psytrance compilation it is - despite a few blunders - a solid release.
Recommend release.
Favorites:
2, 3, 4, 5 (!!), 6, 7 (!!)
Verdict:
8/10
Links:
Furthur Progressions Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/furthurprogressions
London Landscapes on Psyshop: http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/fup/fup1cd001.html
  DJ pr0fane (Iboga Records) | Multiphase
www.sunrisesupplies.com | www.iboga.dk | www.soundcloud.com/pr0fane |
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J
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
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3858
Posted : Apr 7, 2009 22:55
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Sounds phat... 
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hamish
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
29
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176
Posted : Apr 8, 2009 18:53
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Thanks for the review Jannick. Your help and feedback has been truly appreciated.
aXis - believe it - its real. Every track has been selectively chosen for the album (even those which appear to be fillers hehe lol!)
Just over two weeks to go!!
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Justin Chaos
IsraTrance Full Member
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3086
Posted : Apr 14, 2009 20:17
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Hamishings!!!
My fake plants died, because I did not pretend to water them. |
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J
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
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Posted : Apr 25, 2009 23:41
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This is a gem!
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J
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
193
Posts :
3858
Posted : Apr 26, 2009 21:54
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Quote:
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On 2009-04-07 12:24:46, pr0fane wrote:
05. Ace Ventura - Genesis [135 BPM]
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Can't stop hearing it.
Awesome Yoni.
J. |
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phasetech
Float
Started Topics :
58
Posts :
531
Posted : Apr 27, 2009 23:21
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shadow fx sounds awesome, can't wait to hear whole va
support for this great new label, keep it up like this
www.soundcloud.com/float |
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laserflip
Started Topics :
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115
Posted : Apr 28, 2009 20:17
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Wicked comp! Good grooves and melodies. No bad tracks here imo, but I think Yoni should put more new sounds into his tracks. |
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Steve00
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
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Posted : Apr 29, 2009 00:53
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My big criticism is for the "famous" Ace Ventura, "Genesis" appears to be a runway recycled from previous works, it is as Yoni took some ideas from previous tracks and put them on Genesis, the track still good and above of pretty much all the artists around but when the expectations are high, you expect new and fresh ideas, although the track will be a summer bomb I guess so.
The Cimi remix and the Earsugar work, incredibly sounds for me a little bit flat, in somehow something is missing in the structure and also in the ideas of, you expect a little bit more from an Earsugar tune for sure.
I've to say also that I found as a lame action, release a track from two years ago, to be honest, the "Sentrafuge" track is not a super bomb, but is a nice move to keep lower the costs.
The Shadow FX track is one of the two tracks that really incorporates interesting arrangements and also the combination of ideas are stunning, from chunky and jazzy sounds to some industrial influences, a cool tune.
Dog Soldiers contribute with a decent track to end the compilation, it is a nice fusion of house and breakbeat layouts a more chill and laidback tune.
Two big highlights comes from the maestro Dick Trevor and Liquid Soul both tracks are the big highlights of the whole compilation.
Generally the compilation is good, not above of some previews compilations from Blue Tunes, Echoes, or Iboga (Which for me are the best labels realising good psy-progressive music) it is a good debut but I was expecting another thing coming from this two experienced dj's to be honest... they just are one more on the ship.
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pfc
Started Topics :
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Posted : Apr 29, 2009 10:50
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The only bad moment on this CD is Yoni track...same sound same formula...no too much work and passion in his last tracks.
Favorities- 1,2,3,7,8. All in all very good comp. |
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J
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
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Posted : Apr 29, 2009 14:38
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Maybe it does.
But Coke's formula is the same for over 20 years, and I still love it, and drink it every day. 
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Ah-sid
Started Topics :
2
Posts :
610
Posted : Apr 30, 2009 17:15
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after a long time a proper proggy album worth listening again and again.......
keep em comming fellas |
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Hugo
Started Topics :
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339
Posted : May 4, 2009 08:56
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I haven't heard the compilation yet but as far as concern to the Ace Ventura track (Which is the only one that I have heard). I don't think that is a recycled track, at all. Although I understand to the people who think in this way!
Yes, the track sounds (Perception) very familiar of his previews tracks but nothing is the same. There is just a small "sound" that he use at the M.A.R.S. track, which is not the same either, although I have to admit that sounds very similar, the idea probably came from the same synth, don't know. The rest is a 100% new content but maybe for too much people based in their perception will hear the track similar of his latest stuff because yes.... this is the usual Ace's trademark full-on in guise of progressive sound, heavy kick, crips sounds, strong bassline, intelligent breaks and so on. For me is an "ok" track not really outstanding but will be very effective for those who will use it at the summer!
Michael Jackson "Some people prefer to take life as it is without complications, some others we like to take life from the cornice of the wildest jungle"
http://www.myspace.com/traffikmanagement |
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full_on
IsraTrance Team
Started Topics :
279
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Posted : May 4, 2009 16:22
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Quote:
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On 2009-04-29 14:38, John Doe® wrote:
Maybe it does.
But Coke's formula is the same for over 20 years, and I still love it, and drink it every day.
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Is it so? Why didn't you stay with your first girlfriend forever?
Or maybe let's release the same album over and over again... Steve00 has a valid point IMO.
Anyways, this release is very, very good.
Congrats for the artists and the label.
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... |
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J
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
193
Posts :
3858
Posted : May 4, 2009 17:24
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Quote:
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On 2009-05-04 16:22, full_on wrote:
Quote:
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On 2009-04-29 14:38, John Doe® wrote:
Maybe it does.
But Coke's formula is the same for over 20 years, and I still love it, and drink it every day.
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Is it so? Why didn't you stay with your first girlfriend forever?
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She asked me once: "You have to choose between Coke and me..."
Stupid bitch!! 
But seriously, I do like it.
I believe it sounds like his past stuff, but it was good, so this is good.
Not fresh but still good. |
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