Everyone's preferences differ, but here are my '07 'psy'lights -- albums that not only moved my molecules, but connected on a deeper level. Including compilations in this list would take forever, so I'll let someone else tackle that.
~~~trance~~~
Cosmosis "Psychedelica Melodica" // This album could just as easily be called "The Second Coming of 'Synergy'" because that's the last time Cosmosis kicked this much ass! From the goa vibe of "Dance of the Cosmic Serpent" to the funky riffs of "Martian Blues", Bill Halsey reminds me of what got me into this music in the first place : energy, mysticism and a genuine sense of fun.
Logic Bomb "Sonic Algebra" // Gives me that feeling of something pulsating deeeeeeeeep out in the universe. Appreciated the variety of moods and atmospheres here. Otherworldly!
Tristan "Chemisphere" // Possibly Nano's strongest release this year (with the possible exception of AMD's "Big Fish.") Just great, driving, memorable trance.
Shadow FX "Direct Influence" // Zenon Records continues to compel with its unique brand of moody, minimal psytrance. This album had a particularly outstanding format/feel which shows a true maturation of the music.
Braincell "Transformation of Reality" // With other exciting albums like Trold's Time of Illusion", Glowing Flame Records really has their priorities straight. "Transformation of Reality" is a no-fluff exercise in awesome. Funny that '07's Rastaliens album "Back on Earth" wound up being a lesser triumph.
ITP "Lose Your Illusion" // I can't help but like the way these guys handle the butt-rock guitar tracks. Sorry, there it is. Full-on at its full-onniest (but perhaps a litte too sample happy with the George Carlin). The Flamenco vibe of "Guatemala" will always conjure memories of change and upheaval in this new Texan chapter of my life.
Solar Fields "Earth Shine" // Listening to this gives me momentary flashes of early Platipus releases, but much smoother and gentler -- more wise and grandiose. The tracks are longer, but never boring.
Decoy "Push Button Pony" // My favorite progressive album of the year! What sets Decoy apart, other than thoughtful songwriting, is their live instrumentation. A true soundtrack for the sunrise.
Kiwa "On The Frequency" // Fat and juicy party sounds abound on Kiwa's proggiest outing to date. Love the electro-breakbeat influsion. And "Way Back" ?? -- just twisted! Lump this in with Hypersonic Whomen's "Push The Limit" and you can see Exogenic Records has made their mark this year. New Haltya in 2008, please!!!
Etic "Zooming Out" // Nice 50/50 split between atmospheric progressive and ambient tunes on here. Solid concept and execution.
Sound Field "Audio Surfin'" // The sheer amount of sonic novelty on this album -- idm-ish intros, breaky interludes, fun sound effects and samples -- makes it something really quite special. Oxygen Records never disappoints.
Eat Static "De-Classified" // For a time it seemed like the aliens had left our music. Thanks Eat Static for continuing to watch the skies!
Xenomorph "Demagoguery of the Obscurants" // I'm a big fan of industrial, and this album delivered on the level I was hoping The Star Shrink Shooeters' "Tanz-Demokratur" was going to (but didn't quite -- despite having Tim Schuldt and Kris Kylven on board).
Scorb "Ipso Fvcto" // Holy shit, was this album ever worth the long wait! 2007's crown gem!!! Even the packaging was 100x classier than any psy release this year. Scorb's sound can be described as devious, mischievous and not the least bit timid -- flirting with breaks, d'n'b and smoother sounds to counteract the evil! I get the same goosebumps listening to this as I did when I first heard Infected Mushroom's "Classical Mushroom." Oh Infected Mushroom...
~~downtempo/midtempo~~
Flooting Grooves "Upside Downe" // Was going on about Flooting Grooves earlier this year, but I stand by my initial appraisal. At the very least, it should have helped the Shpongle fans get through the year with a heaping serving of flute-driven psychedelia. Light up some Nag Champa for this one.
The Peaking Goddesss Collective "Organika" // Another quality Peak Records downtempo release. Has a sort of jam-band quality...you can close your eyes at times and really envision you're out in a forest or field somewhere listening to a live pa. A real sense of the sacred on here.
Liquid Stranger "The Invisible Conquest" // Was there a better psy-dub album released in 2007? Because I don't think Ashtech or Pitch Black came close to this masterpiece. "Djarum Express" is sexy as hell.
Evan Marc "Emotional Ecology" // Minimal tech-house Bluetech! Need I say more?
Nagual Sound Experiment "Invisible Movement" // This album gets props for being the first to successfully combine psychedelic sensibilities with dubstep.
Kuba "Through a Lense" // Making a switch from Liquid Sound Design to German label Chillcode, Kuba's Balearic-style lounge makes you want to forget your troubles and escape to somewhere warm and sunny.
Asura "Life Squared" // Breathtakingly epic and scorish at times, "Life Squared" prompted me to backpeddle through Asura's discography, but I'll be damned if anything there comes close to this. Certainly my #1 pick for psy-ambient/downtempo this year.
~~~Jury's still out~~~
Younger Brother "The Last Days of Gravity" // I'm continuing to evaluate this one. It's got a bit of country twang to it that I'm not sure I'm totally on board with, but "I Am A Freak" is pretty fun. Makes me think of the nonconformists' strained effort to separate themselves from the pack. At the end of the day, "A Flock of Bleeps" is tough act to follow. Maybe this one will grow on me.
Shulman "Endless Rhythms of the Beatless Heart" // I guess I'd hoped Shulman would continue to gravitate more toward an idm-like sound (i.e. "Zero Degrees") so was somewhat disappointed when he pulled out this fairly standard, cannned-world-music-sample-soaked album. "Mia Nihta Mono Den Ftani" is possibly its most redeeming track, but even that outstays its welcome after the first 7 minutes.
~~~Let-down of the year~~~
Ananda Shake "Inside The Sound" // What happened, Ananda Shake? "We Speak Music" was great. This is the most disappointing full-on album since that turd of a Quadra album that came out last year. Both acts have just gotten too clubby and -- dare I say -- cheesy.
~~~Eagerly anticipating~~~
-new Phuture Primitive / Telepathik
-new Distant System (new project from Androcell)
-new Ghost (new project from Protoculture)
-new Ghreg on Earth
-Anything from Biogenesis
-Anything from Bliss
-Anything from Delirious Noon
-Anything from Decibel
-Anything from Vibesquad
-Paul
{{underfoot}}
www.audiognomes.com
~~~trance~~~
Cosmosis "Psychedelica Melodica" // This album could just as easily be called "The Second Coming of 'Synergy'" because that's the last time Cosmosis kicked this much ass! From the goa vibe of "Dance of the Cosmic Serpent" to the funky riffs of "Martian Blues", Bill Halsey reminds me of what got me into this music in the first place : energy, mysticism and a genuine sense of fun.
Logic Bomb "Sonic Algebra" // Gives me that feeling of something pulsating deeeeeeeeep out in the universe. Appreciated the variety of moods and atmospheres here. Otherworldly!
Tristan "Chemisphere" // Possibly Nano's strongest release this year (with the possible exception of AMD's "Big Fish.") Just great, driving, memorable trance.
Shadow FX "Direct Influence" // Zenon Records continues to compel with its unique brand of moody, minimal psytrance. This album had a particularly outstanding format/feel which shows a true maturation of the music.
Braincell "Transformation of Reality" // With other exciting albums like Trold's Time of Illusion", Glowing Flame Records really has their priorities straight. "Transformation of Reality" is a no-fluff exercise in awesome. Funny that '07's Rastaliens album "Back on Earth" wound up being a lesser triumph.
ITP "Lose Your Illusion" // I can't help but like the way these guys handle the butt-rock guitar tracks. Sorry, there it is. Full-on at its full-onniest (but perhaps a litte too sample happy with the George Carlin). The Flamenco vibe of "Guatemala" will always conjure memories of change and upheaval in this new Texan chapter of my life.
Solar Fields "Earth Shine" // Listening to this gives me momentary flashes of early Platipus releases, but much smoother and gentler -- more wise and grandiose. The tracks are longer, but never boring.
Decoy "Push Button Pony" // My favorite progressive album of the year! What sets Decoy apart, other than thoughtful songwriting, is their live instrumentation. A true soundtrack for the sunrise.
Kiwa "On The Frequency" // Fat and juicy party sounds abound on Kiwa's proggiest outing to date. Love the electro-breakbeat influsion. And "Way Back" ?? -- just twisted! Lump this in with Hypersonic Whomen's "Push The Limit" and you can see Exogenic Records has made their mark this year. New Haltya in 2008, please!!!
Etic "Zooming Out" // Nice 50/50 split between atmospheric progressive and ambient tunes on here. Solid concept and execution.
Sound Field "Audio Surfin'" // The sheer amount of sonic novelty on this album -- idm-ish intros, breaky interludes, fun sound effects and samples -- makes it something really quite special. Oxygen Records never disappoints.
Eat Static "De-Classified" // For a time it seemed like the aliens had left our music. Thanks Eat Static for continuing to watch the skies!
Xenomorph "Demagoguery of the Obscurants" // I'm a big fan of industrial, and this album delivered on the level I was hoping The Star Shrink Shooeters' "Tanz-Demokratur" was going to (but didn't quite -- despite having Tim Schuldt and Kris Kylven on board).
Scorb "Ipso Fvcto" // Holy shit, was this album ever worth the long wait! 2007's crown gem!!! Even the packaging was 100x classier than any psy release this year. Scorb's sound can be described as devious, mischievous and not the least bit timid -- flirting with breaks, d'n'b and smoother sounds to counteract the evil! I get the same goosebumps listening to this as I did when I first heard Infected Mushroom's "Classical Mushroom." Oh Infected Mushroom...
~~downtempo/midtempo~~
Flooting Grooves "Upside Downe" // Was going on about Flooting Grooves earlier this year, but I stand by my initial appraisal. At the very least, it should have helped the Shpongle fans get through the year with a heaping serving of flute-driven psychedelia. Light up some Nag Champa for this one.
The Peaking Goddesss Collective "Organika" // Another quality Peak Records downtempo release. Has a sort of jam-band quality...you can close your eyes at times and really envision you're out in a forest or field somewhere listening to a live pa. A real sense of the sacred on here.
Liquid Stranger "The Invisible Conquest" // Was there a better psy-dub album released in 2007? Because I don't think Ashtech or Pitch Black came close to this masterpiece. "Djarum Express" is sexy as hell.
Evan Marc "Emotional Ecology" // Minimal tech-house Bluetech! Need I say more?
Nagual Sound Experiment "Invisible Movement" // This album gets props for being the first to successfully combine psychedelic sensibilities with dubstep.
Kuba "Through a Lense" // Making a switch from Liquid Sound Design to German label Chillcode, Kuba's Balearic-style lounge makes you want to forget your troubles and escape to somewhere warm and sunny.
Asura "Life Squared" // Breathtakingly epic and scorish at times, "Life Squared" prompted me to backpeddle through Asura's discography, but I'll be damned if anything there comes close to this. Certainly my #1 pick for psy-ambient/downtempo this year.
~~~Jury's still out~~~
Younger Brother "The Last Days of Gravity" // I'm continuing to evaluate this one. It's got a bit of country twang to it that I'm not sure I'm totally on board with, but "I Am A Freak" is pretty fun. Makes me think of the nonconformists' strained effort to separate themselves from the pack. At the end of the day, "A Flock of Bleeps" is tough act to follow. Maybe this one will grow on me.
Shulman "Endless Rhythms of the Beatless Heart" // I guess I'd hoped Shulman would continue to gravitate more toward an idm-like sound (i.e. "Zero Degrees") so was somewhat disappointed when he pulled out this fairly standard, cannned-world-music-sample-soaked album. "Mia Nihta Mono Den Ftani" is possibly its most redeeming track, but even that outstays its welcome after the first 7 minutes.
~~~Let-down of the year~~~
Ananda Shake "Inside The Sound" // What happened, Ananda Shake? "We Speak Music" was great. This is the most disappointing full-on album since that turd of a Quadra album that came out last year. Both acts have just gotten too clubby and -- dare I say -- cheesy.
~~~Eagerly anticipating~~~
-new Phuture Primitive / Telepathik
-new Distant System (new project from Androcell)
-new Ghost (new project from Protoculture)
-new Ghreg on Earth
-Anything from Biogenesis
-Anything from Bliss
-Anything from Delirious Noon
-Anything from Decibel
-Anything from Vibesquad
-Paul
{{underfoot}}
www.audiognomes.com
posted by:
|
-
Re: most meaningful psy albums of '07
Mon, December 17, 2007 - 6:21 PMI loved Penta's, Portuguese Abduction.
Smooches!
Nani
-
Re: most meaningful psy albums of '07
Sat, May 10, 2008 - 11:05 AMI like your taste man..
I agree with you on all the ones I have.. and I've written down the albums I should have got but didnt.. so much psy so little time.
chill wise I think you are dead on with your assessment of kuba and solar fields, I know through a lense has been a favorite of mine this year, and earthshine keeps growing on me every time I hear it.
its going to be a great gaian mind this time around
