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Various Artists: PHASE THREE (Etnicanet)
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Basilisk
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jul 20, 2005 19:46
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V/A - Phase 3 [Etnicanet 2005] CD
No need for much of an introduction to this review. Etnicanet has released the third in its series of "Phase" compilations, compiled by some guy, featuring some music. Here's what I thought...
The compilation opens with a promising remix of an old classic. Species takes on X-File, originally released in 1996 by Chakra & Edi Mis. This track was published on something like seven different compilations, and already received an extensive remix treatment in 1999 by several big names, with the best results courtesy of Quirk. So, did it really need to get another spin after all these years? Honestly, I've always loved this song... it's what you might have called a dancefloor-friendly track back in the day - not so deep but irresistably fun to get a groove on with. Blending it with modern techniques makes sense to create a new version suitable for current times. Species doesn't muck with the flow all that much - the big breakdown with that extra layered atmosphere is still present, as are the monkey sounds and overall vibe. Best of all, the electro-like melodies are fully intact, and sound great with a rumbling bass line beneath. Quirk still holds the title of best remixer to this classic, but this ain't bad. DJs should take note, as this does work well to throw in some old school flavour to a full-on set.
Pleiadians step up with another cosmic single, entitled Space Odyssey. Alongside Asteroids this track makes for a good argument that despite deviating from the old school formula this Etnica side-project can still provide some quality music for us psy-fi freaks. There is something of a full-on bass line romping through the seething underbelly of this track, and the percussion is all rather crisp and well-produced. It might sound weak compared to some other modern efforts, but I'd argue that the distinction here is that this isn't "over" produced. The sounds are delicate and spacious, and the melodies have an electro quality to them that provides a small trickle of the Goa essence into the mix. Compositionally this particular single seems somewhat restrained, and isn't as layered as I would have preferred... however, some of the melodies are very nicely arranged - especially in the last minute. Overall, this is rather good. Not outstanding or great, but certainly above average.
Following these two comment-worthy openers the album slides into filler territory. Compressor provides an utterly standard and unexceptional track - you've heard this a thousand times before. Bio-tonic deliver something a little more distinct but ultimately disagreeable - too squelchy - and is that yet another appearance of Neo's digital scream? Still, it's the best of the mid-album crap pile. Shanti's Like a Mother is pure Ibiza cheeze - take your shirt off and twirl those glowsticks if this is your thing. I think it is the kindergarten melody with the bass key changes that make it so offensively bad. Unison's track Slip With Me is one of the most uninteresting songs I've heard this year, loaded with an atrocious break point sample - "have I had sex with anyone in this room tonight?" - and the return after the break is notable only for how completely banal it is. The track from Predators vs Compressor sounds amateur and rather pointless - doesn't seem to be worth commenting on beyond that. Prosper, who has made some fine tunes in the past, delivers a slightly better track with Soundbuster, though there is nu-nrg flavour to this track that is somewhat annoying. Much like some of the rest of the tracks in this middle segment, it suffers from being too basic and indistinct, as if the artist were really out of ideas.
For the final song of the compilation P.A.N. teams up with the notorious Filteria to provide Psychedelic Non Stop. The debut album from Yannis released last year on Suntrip entitled Sky Input was a real surprise - taking inspiration from the Pleiadians, Filteria delivered a powerful set of modern Goa blasters. Evidently it made sense to bring him into the Etnicanet studio to collaborate, and this is the result. Predictably, what we end up with is a substandard Filteria sound with a bubbly full-on bass line tacked on beneath. Who thought that this would be a good idea?! Filteria does much better work on his own - there's no question of that. Nonetheless, it is still one of the top tunes on this dismal compilation, and isn't really a bad song, all things considered... the melodic riffs are large, though unlayered in places where some depth would have benefitted the sound. Overall I think Filteria is better off charting his own course - he clearly possesses far more creativity than the Etnicanet crew do if they think the bulk of this compilation is worthwhile stuff to listen to.
In conclusion, this is a disappointing throw-away compilation of full-on filler for the most part. I don't even understand why music this uninspiring can manage to be released. Purchasing an album like this totally reminds me to curb my impulse buying habits - I saw the X-File remix, Pleiadians, and a Filteria collaboration on the list and jumped at it, figuring there would at least be a couple more good tunes. No dice! This is a tired old formula for a compilation... and the tunes I had figured I would like weren't all as good as I thought they might be. Not recommended unless you've got money to burn.
Faves: 1, 2
Rating: 2/10
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Pavel
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Posted : Jul 21, 2005 23:53
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Nice review Basilisk, makes sense 
 Everyone in the world is doing something without me |
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kabooki_cat
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Posted : Jul 22, 2005 08:50
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why waste time to review this even?
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*Karma Cola*
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jul 22, 2005 17:47
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I agree with basilisk on the complete lack of quality on this comp.
The good one's only stand out coz the others are super boring!!
I loved the Ibiza 10 a.m comp and was expecting much much more from this one.
The pleadians is passable.. even nice when i feel generous..
The rest dont warrant space...
Filteria is good, and i liked the last track.
Pleae dont ever release a comp like this again. Etnica has a huge fan in me and this is just diminishing my awe.
~*** You can tell By the way i use my walk, Im a woman's man, No time to Talk***~ |
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Acidhive
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jul 22, 2005 18:40
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Almost nobody can consistently keep releasing quality. That said, they should've never released this as it is. The Ibiza 10 Am compilation was also shitty in my opinion, and even that shines next to this. Nuff said.
"Subconscious unravels at the point of death, and all time it has known erupts into a moment. As death extinguishes us, so we become it."
[Esoteric: Subconscious Dissolution Into The Continuum] |
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Dushan
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Jul 31, 2005 02:05
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Quote:
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On 2005-07-21 23:46, libra wrote:
Quote:
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On 2005-07-20 20:37, Code Red wrote:
This is no review but promo from the label artist so that maybe they sell more cd.
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bolestan si
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C'mon brothers Serbs ... don't get upset so easy ... Like first off all, compilation is OK release, very EtnicaNet ( like someone said, old forlmula ). Maybe i am patriot to much , and offcoutrse i will give my wote for serbian artist and their trax. X-Files and SoundBuster are dance floor killers, and ppl react very good on it, on parties. Generally, maybe this release could sound better, maybe someone like Etnica Crew could choice better, but one is for sure, we must trust in someones choice, specially if that choice comes from ppl that established all this. Etnica has a big respect world wide, and for sure their label have credit to release something that in the end is not by our taste.
D.
myspace.com/audionova |
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psychoill
Inactive User
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Posted : Sep 7, 2005 06:11
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Basilisk Etnicanet trying to release some non comercial music by some old and new projects.If u dont like dont buy it.I would love to read reviews like this one and for all the nonsenses realeases from a lot of stupid labels around us...U mean that T.I.P releases better music???? for example.... |
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Pavel
Moderator
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Posted : Sep 7, 2005 07:23
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Quote:
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On 2005-09-07 06:11, psychoill wrote:
Basilisk Etnicanet trying to release some non comercial music by some old and new projects.If u dont like dont buy it.I would love to read reviews like this one and for all the nonsenses realeases from a lot of stupid labels around us...U mean that T.I.P releases better music???? for example....
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What's the matter? The guy said his honest opinion. Are we against honest opinions here? Or every review should be like: "killer track, fat bassline, great for dancefloor" yada yada.
Thank god we have enough reviewers that do it for the sake of free cds or lack of taste or whatever. Please, if you have your own opinion on the cd please let us know. But do not try to shut ppl's mouth.
Everyone in the world is doing something without me |
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