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Vibrasphere - Exploring The Tributaries (Tribal Vision, June 2007)
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pr0fane
Multiphase
Started Topics :
418
Posts :
3816
Posted : Jun 17, 2007 22:50
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Artist: Vibrasphere
Title: Exploring The Tributaries
Label: Tribal Vision
Format: CD
Released: June 2007
Cover: http://217.160.138.169/pic_b/tvr1cd014_b.jpg
Review:
After 3 albums on the two Swedish labels Spiral Trax and Digital Structures, Rickard Berglöf and Robert Elster are now ready with their 4th full-length album "Exploring The Tributaries" on the Czech label Tribal Vision - a label which in the last couple of years has marked itself as one of the best and most important new labels in the progressive scene. The Swedish duo, which is widely known under the name Vibrasphere, has been around for far longer than Tribal Vision Records, releasing some of the best and most emotional progressive trance, and is an act which has always had huge impact on me personally.
After the 3rd album released last year, "Archipelago", Vibrasphere released a track called "Floating Free" on Tribal Vision, and it turned out to be a huge success, getting plays by some of the biggest DJ's in the wide trance scene like Armin Van Buuren, Paul Van Dyk, Christopher Lawrence and Markus Schulz, and the new album is promising to be a more experimental and targeted towards a wider audience than the usual progressive psytrance crowd. So Vibrasphere is definitely a bigger name now than they were just one year ago - but are they any better? Read along for my opinion.
01. Heading North
The album starts with "Heading North" which is a 5-minute chillout intro. This can't really be a surprise, since all the first 3 albums also started with one chillout-tune to set the mood for the tracks to come. Surprising or not, it really does the trick - the theme is around leaving the civilation behind, with the sound of a train in the background and atmospheric voice-samples by Jasmine Ntoutoume. Great opener.
02. Erosion [117 BPM]
"Heading North" fluidly and effortlessly transitions into the steady beats of "Erosion". Running at only 117 BPM, this has a lazy, underwhelming feel to it, yet still with a sense of class and big, mesmerising sounds. It contains vocals by Irina Mikhailova who, truth to be told, never really impressed me with her singing, but this is an exception. Warm and stellar music suitable for both the chillout, as well as openminded dancefloors.
03. Isolation [125 BPM]
The tempo is raised a bit with "Isolation", the first of the really dancefloor oriented tunes on the album, and with vocals by Lisa Larsson. It has a big, trancy sound but with a more lazy approach, and an underlying trendy hint of electro in the low-end, compared to the material on "Archipelago". A bit anonymous at first, but when the Vibrasphere-trademark melodies come in the last 3 minutes, it does turn into a pretty good tune.
04. Vertical [130 BPM]
With "Vertical" the intensity is given a notch up - a trendy electro-groove gives it a bouncy, dancefriendly touch, yet still with the wide, trancy sound. With the current electro-trend in mind, this is bound to be one of the tunes from the album getting most plays at parties this year, but to me it seems a bit lacking some of the epic qualities to really make it a winner. Good, but not amazing.
05. In Control [134 BPM]
"In Control" was released as a single prior to the album with remixes by Chris Micali and Duca, and it's no surprise why it was chosen for a single-release. It's the first and only track on the album running over 130 BPM, and in sounds and structure it sounds pretty close to the hit "Floating Free", meaning phat and rolling electro-inspired bass, simple, yet effective vocals and catchy melodies. Good stuff.
06. 102 Miles From Here [128 BPM]
After some good but not excellent tunes, "102 Miles From Here" is, to me, the first track where Vibraspheres brilliance really shines through. The groove is so funky, yet not stressful in any way, and the immaculate Jean Michel Jarre like melodies and atmosphere in the peak of the track is the moment of the album for me. Simply a beautiful track - a tribute to the good times in life.
07. Wasteland [127 BPM]
The dancefloor section on the album ends with "Wasteland" - probably one of the most experimental trance-tracks Vibrasphere has made over the years. Gone are the intense rhythms that'll have the dancefloor in a frenzy, and instead we're treated with some lazy, minimal techish grooves for the after-hours, but still embellished in rich, trancy pads and melodies. Great track.
08. Forever Imaginary
Okay, on to the downbeat section on the album - Vibrasphere has always made some great chillout, and people have been hoping for a pure chillout album from the duo for years. "Forever Imaginary" starts out quite ok with uplifting and optimistic melodies, but over the 7 minutes it almost gets too much, bordering towards the too naïve and cheesy. Not a bad track by any means, but not great either.
09. Ensueño
Things get drastically better with "Ensueño". It has much deeper approach, with some truly beautiful acoustic guitar play by Mattias Johnsson (who also contributed to "Forever Imaginary"), subtle layers of blissful melodies and once again some beautiful vocal-work by Lisa Larsson. In my opinion one of the best downbeat-tunes Vibrasphere has ever made.
10. Mountain Lake
"Mountain Lake" is a fairly organic tune, with the calming sounds of water and with elements of both acoustic guitar, melodica and electric bass. The mood is melancholic, almost depressive, but still with an underlying hint of optimism. Nice track.
11. Yaku
The finale on the album is "Yaku" - a short (running for just over 2 minutes), but really emotional piece of music with voice-samples by Tina Casana Colque, spoken in the ancient Inca's language Quechua. Fairly interesting ending to the album.
Bottom line:
"Exploring The Tributaries" is no doubt the most experimental of the Vibrasphere albums so far, with a generally much slower and laidback approach than the first 3, a bigger emphasis on downbeat/chillout and elements from electro and even minimal - and surprisingly enough it doesn't sound as rushed as I had feared, since their last album was released only a year ago. That being said, I'm not as impressed as with the last two - there are moments of brilliance, but they aren't as frequent as on "Lime Structure" and "Archipelago".
Saying I'm disappointed in this album would definitely be wrong though - being a huge fan of their earlier releases, I'm guessing I was quite critical in my review, but overall I still think this a solid album, where Vibrasphere manages to evolve their sound. Recommended buy.
Favourites:
1, 2, 6(!!), 7, 9
Verdict:
8/10
Links:
Vibrasphere: http://www.vibrasphere.com
Vibrasphere @ Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/vibraspheremusic
Tribal Vision Records: http://www.tribalvision.cz
Tribal Vision Records @ Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/tribalvisionrecords
  DJ pr0fane (Iboga Records) | Multiphase
www.sunrisesupplies.com | www.iboga.dk | www.soundcloud.com/pr0fane |
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Nathan
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
301
Posts :
3605
Posted : Jun 17, 2007 23:10
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What an album!. They changed to more housey music but gr8 housey music. i like those reversed bass lines, morning melodies and all the concept. In the past almost every track they made sound the same. not in this album!
 102 Miles From Here -=The Meaning Of Life Is To Give Life A Meaning= |
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Zombi
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
375
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5032
Posted : Jun 18, 2007 02:41
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some very nice moments here, i play wasteland for weeks and its allways make a good waves all around!
Believe your soul ! |
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rumble pack / motion drive
Rumble Pack
Started Topics :
23
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270
Posted : Jun 18, 2007 10:05
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Banel
Behind Blue Eyes
Started Topics :
96
Posts :
415
Posted : Jun 18, 2007 14:54
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Djones
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
267
Posts :
1766
Posted : Jun 18, 2007 16:14
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I think it sounded a bit more towards mainstream music  than his latest album.
As the Psyshop description says that some of his tracks were played by Armin van Buuren.
I don't know if that's such a compliment 
But maybe I should listen to it a couple more times. |
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Pavel
Moderator
Started Topics :
312
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8646
Posted : Jun 18, 2007 19:56
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Instant classic. At first few listens i think, oddly enough, it sounds like the most complete Vibrasphere album ever. Hit after hit after hit. Full review soon.
Everyone in the world is doing something without me |
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Alias
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
32
Posts :
984
Posted : Jun 18, 2007 20:23
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didnt listened to full album yet!
but only one word i can say: BEAUTIFUL!
this is the real deal!....this is MUSIC....
not like dnox&beckers ....with stupid video games sounds!
its melodic beautiful music.....also they are not like other prog acts...that almost not using acoustic instruments!
i agree with djones ....they trying to be more mainstream!
i dont care .....i like the music not the mainstream!
www.myspace.com/aliasix |
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Acidhive
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
76
Posts :
2014
Posted : Jun 18, 2007 20:32
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Quote:
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On 2007-06-18 16:14, Djones wrote:
I think it sounded a bit more towards mainstream music than his latest album.
As the Psyshop description says that some of his tracks were played by Armin van Buuren.
I don't know if that's such a compliment
But maybe I should listen to it a couple more times.
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Yes it is a compliment. It means Progressive music is hitting the mainstream and acts like Vibrasphere can make more money, an opportunity they will take. It means more income for artists that make this kind of progressive and rest assured more artists will take this chance. Why? Because it's only natural. Dedication to the underground is all bollocks. As an artist you make music because you love it (at least that's what most artists do) and if you can make a fair amount of money of it you do so. And why? Well, maybe because being able to earn money with music is great, that's why. And because of the fact that you can keep on making music and doing it fulltime is even more attractive to most artists. So there.
Anyway, great album. Haven't given it a real solid listen yet but I can tell this is going to be one of my faves for the upcoming time  Great work.
"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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diskOtek
Entek
Started Topics :
70
Posts :
953
Posted : Jun 19, 2007 01:56
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Quote:
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On 2007-06-18 16:14, Djones wrote:
As the Psyshop description says that some of his tracks were played by Armin van Buuren.
I don't know if that's such a compliment
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actually floating free also received support from van buuren and other dj's of his class' so it's not something so new!
and in my opinion it's a big achievement for them!
the new album is really sweet!thumbs up!!
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Djones
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
267
Posts :
1766
Posted : Jun 19, 2007 09:33
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I'm finding the album sounding too smooth.
For me it misses the growling 'psychedelic' sounds and stabs.
I'm not saying it's a bad album, to me it's just to clean sounding.
And I don't really agree that it's a possitive achievement to receive support from van buuren.
As if that's the ultimate goal you're aiming for.
If so, you might as well make armin-trance to start with.
Problem for me is that this album is too much of from his old work or 'regular' progressive trance.
I just hope Vibrasphere really only made this album to make some extra cash, but will hopefully return to make some more 'Psychedelic'-Progressive Trance. |
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PlutoDelic
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
12
Posts :
244
Posted : Jun 19, 2007 10:36
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i liked the chill side more, Ensueño & Mountain Lake are masterpieces, especially Ensueño, just like a mate sad to me the 2nd Tierra Azul
PSYKS |
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duodenumz
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
15
Posts :
116
Posted : Jun 19, 2007 12:40
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I'm waiting for this one to hook me...
It is unique in the cold, smooth vibe. Not so keen on some of the basslines - Very monotonous.
I actually think the D-Nox & Beckers album would be better if it just left out some of those cack vocals. That album is the grooviest I have heard in ages. |
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NextWorld
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
12
Posts :
397
Posted : Jun 19, 2007 12:48
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I gave it a first short listen this morning, and i´m rather surprised by what i have heard. At first i´ve been quite unsure if Vibrasphere+Electro+Clubby touch will work...
So far i´m pretty surprised, the Style-transitions between the first 3 trakcs, from Ambient to Downtempo to the Dancefloor stuff is a nice introduction to the Album. From track 3 there are stellar morning tunes all the way....can´t wait to groove to Vibrasphere this summer
I´ve still got to listen to the last 3 Songs after work, and i can´t await quitting time.
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Ulterior
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
35
Posts :
531
Posted : Jun 19, 2007 14:03
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I dont agree that minimal sound is present on the album like in the info is writen.. And for the music, this is the most mature album of the guys, album with a story, with a reason, get u up and down. Wonderful music as always from them.
Music is the only language that come very close to silence (OSHO)
http://www.myspace.com/boxiulterior |
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