PsyPneumatix Records: Press

Short review for 'About Time' from tribe.net

V/A "About Time" // This third compilation from Aussie label PsyPneumatix was compiled by Jon Kenobi & Fresh, who clearly have awesome taste. Tracks have nods to progressive, goa and breaks with standouts including contributions by Telepathik (aka Rain/Phutureprimitive), Sinewave and Beatnik -- my god, ESPECIALLY the Beatnik. "Kazoodle Beach" is going down as a favorite psy-anthem. I don't need to think twice about it. It's nice, after so many years of listening to this music, to still be so affected.

Track by track review of 'About Time' by Pandemonium over on www.psynews.org

I saw this gem first in the labels/anouncements category. It deserves more attention, and thats why Im shedding a bit more light on it. Plus some people were complaining about not having enough releases in the 2008 reviews section. The music speaks for itself. Listen to the samples to make up your own mind. Lots and lots of atmospheres, which I love in mostly every type of electronic music. And when those atmospheres float along ever so gently with melodies it creates a magical experience. That is what I feel with the refreshment of this release. About Time is a perfect name for this because it is about time a sound like this was released. Amazing work from all of the artists IMO. Its worth a mention and a listen

1. Prosect-A Dream on our way to death BPM 118

The first thing that I feel when this track starts is that Im in the forest surrounded by nature and dancing with elves. A slower bouncy beat with insect sounds. This is the track that I could invision being at an outdoor festival and hear. The only downside is that it lasts a bit to long for my taste. This track could have had the same effect if they used 8 minutes,(IMO) but its over 10.


2. Telapathik-Silent Soud BPM 142

A rather epic melodic start. And then a fat deep bass line drops which I love. Crunchy machine sounds come next with some groove and a hint of atmosphere in the back drop. And then a build up that puts the whole track in perspective. This is like an old school trance build up. At the end a trancy streched out melody comes through accompanied by a catchier twist. Possibly my favorite track on the album.

3. Sinewave-Retroplex BPM 145

This track starts right of the bat with great potential. Lets see where it goes. It takes a bit to get going and then some basic psy sounds come in. A small break. Now a bit more progression. And then chanting from a tribal man. Wow was I wrong about this track!! More chanting. And then a rather strange break down with some ambient and accoustic guitar sounds. Next come zippier sounds, then faster guitar riffs. A good comeback, but then it really goes nowhere in my opinion. Solid track but besides for the middle not a favorite of mine.

4. Decibel-Possess The Origin BPM 143

Sounds like a track you have to move with because the beat is tight and bangin. Some swishing sound that come in and out and across come some crisp zangs, streaks and other combinations of refreshing sounds. Male chanting comes in and repeats itself as it fades out."Its when there comes here" followed by a rhythm and spiritual like atmosphere. A less suttle build up again towards the end and then it takes off full power again when you least expected it to. Great production and a superb track imo.

5. Sinewave-Solar Plexus BPM 142

This track is rather boring imo and sounds very generic, some iteresting moments but not enough to make it unique or stand out in any way. Next!

6. Beatnik-Kazoodle Beach BPM145

Some very funky sounds blended with an array of tribal and simple sounds. Ethnic sounds sum this one up pretty good for me. Not a real stand out track for me but thats not because its bad, its just not my taste or style.

7. BlueMD-Dessus Galaxy. BPM 141

Great powerful start once again, this time followed By a bit of break beats, then this track starts to feel like Im floating with the female chanting vocals in the background. A bitt on the chill side with style though. Some talking about journies, and galaxies and different places come in and I didnt really catch what it really said. To sum it up, I would say that this could be a nice ending for a party with a smile.

8. Fromem Ory-Altitude BPM 139

Im already digging this sound. I was interested to hear this one as in the past I have liked this guys stuff. Melodic with Chopped up edgy sounds and in the middle of the track I feel like a zombie just lost in the sound, its a bit hypnotizing for a bit which I really enjoy. A spacey and harmonic track with makes me feel great. I feel as I can breathe more clearly when listening to this. Hypnotized=breathing?
Another favorite!!

9. Fitalic-Shadow Run BPM 129

Not thats its of any importance in relevance to this review, I has personally met and talked to this guy and he seems like a very chill person. And thats exactly how this track makes me feel, relaxed.
A down tempo track that feels slower than the first track but is actually not. This is a very warm and dreamy track. This would be great to hear if I were lying on the clouds. OUTSTANDING ending to a great compilation.

FAVORITES, 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9.

VA - Future Shock - Compiled by Fresh (Psypneumatix)

Australia joins the full-on fray as newcomers Psypneumatix harvest a cross-section of current Oz talent. Often associated with oddball outfits (Demon Tea) or harder party monsters (Fractal Glider), 'Future Shock' aims to prove there's a distinctive flavour to the new sound developing down under. Label head Syzmix kicks off with powerful synth builder 'Silicon Tears', satisfying needs for twist and melody, followed by Nexus Crawler, whose sound has clearly matured in the past couple of years. Mexican Barak and Blue MD hold the energy levels high, followed by Psyboriginal's most melodic tune to date. Back into the weird with Liquid (Fractal Glider & Ozzy) pushing all the right buttons for brain-bending joy. Bionic Empire slow things down for an ethno-sample heavy Goa number, and Cyanescens finish with a sparse clubby number. A suitable testimony to a lively outdoor party scene and a promising new label to keep an eye on.

VA - Future Shock - PsyPneumatix Records

Being a bloody nice collection of Australian psytrance in its thank-god-its-not-space-tribe form. Syzmix’s Silicon Tears builds nicely into a striking midrange riff that whips up the energy and drives it all along. The final run is deeply psychedelic, a genuine stomper that ought to work well on the dancefloor. Nexus Crawler’s Vapour Trail is a breezily loveable quirker, with this insane acidic run that comes out from nowhere. It builds up nicely but finishes a little too soon – there’s a little bit of unused ceiling that I was ready to be bouncing around in.


The one non-Australian artist here, Barak, does a fair job with Brazilian 4:20. It’s not his best, but his trademark screeching works well over a shifting, more developed backbone. Blue.Md’s Future Shock is a bloody nice tune. It’s got that sort of morning, floaty vibe that Silicon Sound used to be so strong at producing. The melodies are fluid, the glide is effortless, and it closes with just the right amount of twist and whirl to keep you happy. Very classy stuff.

Psyboriginal’s Take All Three straddles nighttime music but has a clear, shiny linearity to it that lifts it out of the Azax doldrums and makes for a pretty tasty prospect. The final run, prefixed by a cheeky “let the bass kick” sample, is pure trancetastic delight. Liquid’s Texas THC is chock full of Simpsons samples, firmly legitimising it for novelty value. Other that this, the production seems a bit more lo-fi than the rest of the tracks here.

Nexus Crawler’s Emma O isn’t far off Shift-meets-Protoculture. Breezy and positive, it’s not as strong as his other track here, but it’s well-produced and well-executed in its own right. Bionic Empire’s Kingdom Of Heaven is tasty as. It’s messy, it’s got a baggy groove, it’s confident, it’s ballsy, and it’s kickin. Plainly, simply, kickin. Finally Cyanescens’ Dusk brings in some of that Byron acid into a more freestyle tune that doesn’t so much as play from the speakers as stalk you around the dancefloor, preying on the vulnerable bits of your mind and hoofing you squarely in the paranoia circuits.

All in all Future Shock is a nice collection of Australia’s emerging artists, with little if any reliance on cliché or standard doof fodder. And I managed to review it without using a single Australian cliché…………………………………………………………………………………..mate.