Tathata 1 is the third compilation from Germany’s Spirit Zone Recordings, one of the original mid-90s Goa trance labels. This particular compilation is a “mid price” sampler, blending album teasers and tracks previously released on vinyl with the addition of one exclusive tune. The front cover claims that the compilation includes four unreleased tracks, but this was only true when it came out. Such releases were not uncommon in the early days of trance, as labels sought to promote their upcoming releases and vinyl singles with cheaper CD-only compilations. Collectors seldom value sampler compilations, but this means that they tend to be far more available than other more lucrative old school releases.

Phyt, credited to Volker König, is lifted from Ololiuqui’s debut album. It has a very distinctive sound: deep and tribal, with a rippling organic groove. Mystic melodies with an Eastern feel chime in at all the right moments. Be sure to check the first Ololiuqui album for more great trance like this.

Train Ticket, later released on Spicy Moments, is one of the very first tracks from Shiva Chandra (Daniel Vernunft). Intricate drum programming and scratchy acid leads can easily be discerned, but attentive listening will truly open up the magical storyline behind the beats. The sound of a train flares up now and then, while a wide assortment of other noises make this a real psychedelic journey. Shiva Chandra’s production skills had not yet matured, but his creative spirit is abundantly evident on this noteworthy production.

Psy Phy 6 (Marco Rademacher) is an obscure German artist known to some for his soft style of Goa trance. Basswall, taken from the tenth Spirit Zone vinyl single, has the feel of a decent song struggling to break free from the murky confines of poor production value. The rhythm section has very little power, and the melodic direction is not entirely convincing. It has not aged well.

S.U.N. Project opened their debut album Drosophilia with Tribolus, a surprisingly impressive piece of old school Goa. The production quality is raw, but the artists still manage to generate a sense of theatre. Ethnic samples—suggestive of classical spiritual themes—add character to the piece. This classic is a pleasant find.

Online Information was a major hit for Electric Universe in 1996. Boris Blenn, with some help from Michael Dressler, originally released this anthemic slice of breakbeat-laden trance on the Sunglider EP. It was later featured in mixed form on the Stardiver album, and has been released on over a dozen other compilations including Transient 4. There really isn’t much to it—bubbling acid lines and a raspy breakbeat loop cycle and flow above a standard trance rhythm for the duration. It may have been groundbreaking at the time of its release but it has never sounded all that special to my ears.

Etnica’s Fractal Gates—previously released on The Italian EP—is a commendable early effort from the legendary group. The Juggling Alchemists Under The Black Light was released in the same year, and the style is similar. The rhythm section does not make a strong impression, but the twisted interplay of numerous layered melodies and frantic acid riffs ensure a lasting appeal amongst old school fans. Fractal Gates is very well composed and arranged.

The second track from S.U.N. Project, Crazy Stories, originally appeared on another early vinyl single from Spirit Zone. Tribolus is better, partially due to the weak production value of this particular offering, but it is not without charm. As with Tribolus, there is an obscure epic quality to this acidic tale. The sample, “Jesus, I’ve been told crazy stories tonight,” works well in context. Crazy Stories is not great, but it may interest some old school fans.

Flommi is the only truly exclusive song on the compilation; it is released nowhere else. This time around, the producer is the other half of the early Ololiuqui: Oliver Elschenbroisch. Volker seems to have been the main talent of the group, but Oliver still manages to write a decent piece of trance. The rhythmic programming is much less intricate than in most Ololiuqui songs, but the drums still sound good. The ethnic samples in this one will be recognized by many listeners; they appear in a number of other old school classics. There are a few interesting melodic flourishes near the beginning, but then the storyline begins to drag. Mediocre.

The German act Evolution provides the final track, which is apparently sourced from a vinyl single on Spirit Zone. Genetic Engeneering [sic] is a slow and ponderous tune, crawling along at 130 BPM with tribal drumming and strange melodies. The sound design is similar to what was heard from Psy Phy 6; it seems somewhat ugly and washed out in some ways. Easily overlooked.

Tathata 1 is an adequate old school compilation. Spirit Zone certainly had a sound of their own back in the day: a mystical tribal-electronic fusion that is the essence of Goa trance. There are a few good tracks here, but most of the better ones are commonly available elsewhere. Flommi is an interesting curiosity for Olo