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Buzzmonx - Toms' n Jerry (Plusquam 2004) CD
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DeathPosture
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jul 3, 2004 16:38
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Buzzmonx – Toms’n Jerry
Cover: http://217.160.138.169/pic_b/plu1cd104_b.jpg
Format: CD
Artist: Buzzmonx
Title: Toms’n Jerry
Label: Plusquam Records, Germany
Distribution: Cosmophilia & Wakyo
Cat. #: PQRCD104
Year: 2004
Track listing:
01. 08’27” Monkey
02. 08’37” Search
03. 09’10” Twinpeak
04. 07’21” Shift
05. 07’46” Funck Off
06. 08’10” Toms’n Jerry
07. 08’01” Tune
08. 07’20” K.Camper
Review:
Buzz + Bitmonx = Buzzmonx! …Next stop rocket-science!
Technoid Germans Sascha Haske (Bitmonx & Lube) and Sebastian Plehn (Buzz & ½ of Timetech) joined forces back in 2001 when they build their studio Keller.04, and ever since they’ve been releasing their highly acclaimed tracks on various compilations… Now they are out with their debut album on renowned German proggy-label Plusquam… Let’s see what they have in stock for us…
Let me take you thru the tracks…
#01: First up is the monkey track – a nice, minimal intro… Banging bass with a reverb effect – some smooth female house-samples and soon the groove is introduced – the PHAT sound of funky progressive trance… Pure beach-house trance for chilling at the beach… Beautiful!
#02: This one is a bit stompier – just a bit though… I really dig the rolling bassline and all the floating melodies and “peaks” that are present throughout the track… Very FREq’ish in nature – Same groove and energy! I’m impressed!
#03: She’s deeeeeead – wrapped in plastic! Nope guys – you’ll find no cheesy TP-samples here… I think Buzzmonx sampled something from Badalamentis’ Twin Peaks theme here – and that’s about the only reference to TP I can find… This track has a more tribal approach – the percussion sound acoustic at times, and that creates a cozy atmosphere… Very organic and very well-polished… Pure groove!
#04: Again, Buzzmonx touch up on their old minimal trance roots – nice flashback guys… ;o) However, this is not 2001, so this is minimal trance seasoned with 2004 beach-house funk! … Tribal percussion, housey hi-hats and funky reverbs and sweet little synth melodies… Sweet!
#05: More laid-back, tribal stuff… Juno Reactor-like bongos and nice, organic floating soundscapes… The pace is slow – almost dubby and lazy at times, but the groove is very much intact… This is cabana chill – and this track marks the change in pace, to the slightly more chilled part of the album… Boat-drinks!
#06: The title track is another laid-back percussion-driven tune… Slightly ‘darker’ and more metallic – but as always, the Buzzmonx groove is phatter than ever… Somehow the two talented producers makes the musical elements communicate – kinda like melodies… Funky!
#07: Tune is a great tune! – Ha! … This is even more stripped down at first, but soon more FX are added, turning it into a darkish, ‘minimal’ progressive trance tune… And the low BPM ensures that the Buzzmonx groove is never lost … I really like the clash between fluffy soundscapes and deeper than deep bass and other ‘dark’ effects here… Yummy, this one is soooo tasty!
#08: … The pounding bass makes a surprise comeback on this last track which is much faster than the previous 3 tracks… Well, pounding is an over-statement; the bass is just more minimal at first… This is definitely a progressive trance tune – which is somewhere in between chilled prog and dance floor prog… Those little acid-squelches really scratch my itch… Very nice track!
Oh what a great year it has been for progressive trance… High quality albums from FREq, Atmos, Son Kite, Etic and Kooler – and now this from Buzzmonx… We’re so spoiled… ;o)
This IS a good album… I’ve listened to it several times now, and besides a few “good-but-not-great” tracks, I cannot put my finger on any major flaws… Perhaps the flow of the album is kinda thrown off – I would have put tracks # 5, 6, 7 @ the end… But that’s nitpicking… If you’ve enjoyed some of the artist albums I listed above, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this as well – recommended for anyone surfing the progressive trance wave!
8.5/10
Favourites: 1(!), 2(!), 3, 4, 7(!), 8
DeathPosture
External links:
Plusquam Records: http://www.plusquam-records.de
Psyshop: http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/plu/plu1cd104.html (Audio samples available!)
Saiko Sounds: http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display_release.asp?id=4063
Chaos Unlimited: http://www.chaosunlimited.co.uk/cgi-bin/product.asp?LR=PQRCD104
Trance-shop: http://www.trance-shop.com/de/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=3853
  On really romantic evenings of self, I go salsa dancing with my confusion... |
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Zombi
IsraTrance Senior Member
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Posted : Jul 4, 2004 01:02
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well, the album is very nice for home but not fat enough i guess. previous trax from those guys were realy huge, here only 2 have intersting groove IMO, rhytm section nice at all tunes indeed.
Believe your soul ! |
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Kaz
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jul 4, 2004 12:37
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Yay, another progressive act gone clubby. I kind of expected this, but... still, I expected more than beach-house and tribal bongos. Buzz used to be a master of combining industrial sounds (from sawing to clanging to just plain old buzzing) in progressive music, but I guess it's fassionable to make fluffy stuff. Shame they can't compete with Son Kite at this.
Yes, Bitmonx always had flawless dancefloor structures, and Buzz never had a problem with thinking outside the box, what a shame that together they made another album that'll be forgotten in the next few months when the DJs decide to use something newer. http://www.myspace.com/Hooloovoo222 |
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Zombi
IsraTrance Senior Member
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Posted : Jul 4, 2004 12:52
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well kaz, the industrial buzz u talk about allready 3 years doesnt exist, if u follow his stuff all his last tunes were fluffy fat and cluby.
too bad this album just not as fat as its supposed to be IMO.
Believe your soul ! |
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Nachummm
Started Topics :
7
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186
Posted : Jul 4, 2004 16:45
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hey guys. i dont know what you'r talking about.
i really this album! just as expected. nice and clean as expected. |
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homsy
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
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Posted : Jul 4, 2004 19:48
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http://www.psymag.com Official review:
PLUSQUAM RECORDS(PQRCD104) - Buzzmonx - Toms'n Jerry CD
Track list:
1. Monkey
2. Search
3. Twinpeak
4. Shift
5. Funk off
6. Toms'n Jerry
7. Tuna
8. K.Camper
Released: June 2004
http://www.plusquam-records.de
Bitmonx along the years has been standing in the front of the progressive trance scene, known for his unprecedented productions skills, delivering one hit after the other.
BUZZMONX - Tom's & Jerry is the result of the collaboration between Bitmonx & Buzz, 2 bright musicians, based in Germany.
This is a totally exciting well balanced CD, full of spirit, warm breezes & loaded with intellect, another successful, well polished release by Plusquam records.
The selection, as expected from these fine artists is highly addictive, well suited for different kind of atmospheres - Home use (TESTED!!!), Automotive use (TESTED!!!), Indoor/Outdoor celebrations (TESTED!!!), last but not least - Passionate moments (TESTED!!!), all this and more just make this CD a super delicious catch & an easy decision while planning a purchase.
BUZZMONX manage to incorporate sounds & expressions of House, Techno fussed in lightly with a strong progressive backbone & astonishing drive which is highly intelligent, powerful, with a total flow of funkiness & groove. The sound is very smooth & east to relate to...
One of the best progressive albums released this year.
Highly Recommended!!!
Official release information:
Buzzmonx is the fusion of the projects BUZZ and BitMONX. Sascha Haske (Bitmonx, Lube) is one of the highest acclaimed producers in the Hamburg progressive scene. He is well known for the incredible sound quality of his tracks and is touring with his live sets all around the globe since quite a few years. Sebastian Plehn (Buzz) is already known from the legendary Timetech duo (with Mario from Haldolium). He is a trained pianist and he's doing electronic music since 1995. He also works as a media computer scientist and self-employed programmer. All of their projects are widely known for their unique style, a funky and groovy mix between Trance, Techno and House. Since Sascha and Sebastian build the Keller.04 Productions studio togehter in 2001, they've made more and more tracks in collaboration. After releasing tunes on labels like 'Save to Disc', 'Midijum' 'YSE' and Plusquam, this album is now the first full lenght extract of this work.
FOR THE COLOR ENHANCED VERSION:
http://www.psymag.com/modArticles/Default.asp?ContentID=3003
Trancelucent Productions
http://www.trancelucent.com
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Boa Distribution
| info@boadistribution.com | http://www.boadistribution.com | FAX: +972-46101463 | Tel: +972-524742297 |
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Kaz
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jul 5, 2004 02:30
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Zombi: His last track using industrial sounds and the such is about a year old (and no, I don't follow all his tracks anymore, I stopped even when he was in his darker phase)... but it doesn't matter - the production or the selection of sounds has never been my problem with music I hear. I'm just saying that both Kooler and Son Kite albums do the exact same thing only better, so there's no chance that this CD will be a classic.
If I'd give my comments about the music, I'd say that it's a sign of poverty that the psytrance scene calls this album psytrance.
http://www.myspace.com/Hooloovoo222 |
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homsy
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jul 5, 2004 09:09
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Quote:
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On 2004-07-05 02:30, kaz wrote:
I'd say that it's a sign of poverty that the psytrance scene calls this album psytrance.
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Well no one is selling it as a cutting edge PSYCHEDELIC TWISTED PROGRESSIVE SOUNDS MATE.
What you see is pretty much what you get.
Trancelucent Productions
http://www.trancelucent.com
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Boa Distribution
| info@boadistribution.com | http://www.boadistribution.com | FAX: +972-46101463 | Tel: +972-524742297 |
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PSYMAG.COM - GLOBAL TRA |
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russ
IsraTrance Junior Member
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35
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Posted : Jul 6, 2004 22:28
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kaz, you gotta chill with the arrogant attitude and stop taking everything so fucking seriously. what's up with this "sign of poverty" self-righteous bullshit?? first of all, no one is marketing this as psytrance, whatever that means. second of all, not every artist is trying to fry your brain like Plastickman, or create a timeless, genreless, classic work of genius that is so brilliant and orginal that even kaz would like it. it's just two dudes sitting around a computer making some cool sounds and music that they like, that they hope others will like, and people can groove to happily, either at home or at a party.
there's nothing twisted about this music in the least, and why does there need to be? should the whole world be as serious as Kaz? sounds like a frightening thought.
as for me, i like this release a lot. is it groundbreaking? no. is it huge and powerful? not really. is it psychedelic? no that either. but it's smooth and relaxing and groovy and well put together. most cd's fatigue me after a few listens but this one i've listened to several times in a row and didn't find anything annoying about it at all. it finished and i was more than happy to push play again, not something i do often... |
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Zombi
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
375
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5032
Posted : Jul 7, 2004 17:31
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and im back russ here fully. kaz dood get u a life and talk positive at least sometimes, once a week will be a good start!
Believe your soul ! |
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Kaz
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jul 7, 2004 22:00
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OK. You're right, I'm wrong. Sorry to ever give bad words about music someone might like. Hope I wasn't insulting to anyone here, because some people can get pretty passionate about music and care about how it looks - and surprisingly more about how it sounds. Criticism something may offend someone, so I really, really should stop. From now on, I'll just give only good comments, and live in a world where everyone just approves of what others do or shuts up, like the non-self-rightous people.
I mean, if I use one non-PC comment, look at the amount of levelheaded replies I get. That means that everyone else is so much better and nicer than me. http://www.myspace.com/Hooloovoo222 |
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Candy
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jul 8, 2004 07:14
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Enough ppl, the guy just expressed his opinion and u all raided down on him.
Zombi & Russ, why should he get a life just because he expressed his opinion? He should only give good comments? You never give bad comments? How would you feel if when you dared expressing yuor opinion, ppl would talk to you the way you did?
He did it in a civilised way, so pls respect his opinion.
Majority is never right!
"Without music, life is meaningless."
-Friedrich Nietzsche |
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russ
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
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Posted : Jul 8, 2004 12:29
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Kaz and Revergirl,
You both totally missed the point of my comments. For sure I overreacted and sounded rude myself and apologize, but I wasn't saying that negative comments are unwanted. I am an overly critical bastard myself, so I like negative comments. Feel free to say the album is boring or unoriginal. That's totally cool. It was simply the tone of the "sign of poverty" comment that got me going. The comment made it sound like his aprreciation of music is so far beyond others that he had the right not only to dismiss anything not up to his standards, but to dismiss an entire scene as "impoverished" that dared to even consider that this music was related to psytrance as defined by Kaz. Ravergirl, if you read that sentence carefully, you would realize Kaz is not commenting on the album; he is commenting on an entire scene surrounding the album, a scene he considers "unworthy" and beneath him. Criticism I love; arrogance I don't.
peace out |
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Kaz
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jul 8, 2004 13:13
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Russ: If you'd read my comments more carefully, you'd see that I started it with the words "If I'd give my comments about the music" before that, not "If I'd give any comments about the label/artists/djs/whatever". So no, I don't think my reply was out of place, I'd think you were too trigger-happy there. I still believe that creativity is a required attribute of psytrance, if you disagree, well, that's a matter of taste, not arrogance.
And Zombi - I know you probably don't look at album reviews like Rip Van Hippy's, Prometheus's or Eraser vs. Yojalka's, but I do give good comments about albums that I think deserve it. Grow up.
http://www.myspace.com/Hooloovoo222 |
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The Green Channel
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
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1025
Posted : Jul 8, 2004 13:58
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A mediocre album, almost boring at times, I grade it 7/10, mostly because of the good production. And come’ on people stop fighting over none-sense. Kaz and Zombi you are always getting on each others nerves, over nothing. And it's all because: Kaz = Dark-psy progressive Zombi = melodic, fluffy, house influenced progressive. GET over it guys  .
"Love is a way of life"
(Gaia, Love, Nature, Shamanism (.2A.y.0a.hu.1a.sc.2a.), Terence McKenna) |
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