Hibernation

One full year after the release of Set 4, Yuli Fershtat returns with another compilation on Iboga Records: Hibernation. With a frosty winter theme, the energy level is quite mellow, although many of these songs are quite warm and upbeat. Israeli artists provide the bulk of the material, scooping up six out of nine slots. This compilation is lightly mixed.

Veterans James Monro and Dickster (Dick Trevor) are up first. Wash Out is slow to develop but the long wait is worth it. The song begins to satisfy shortly after the four minute mark as a dazzling set of classy atmospheres blossom over the casual groove. As the track wears on, a fat bass line begins to twist around, adding a subtle rhythmic hook that will prove to be a delight on the dance floor. This is deep and funky progressive house for the sunshine hours, crafted with skill and sophistication.

Yotopia’s New Born sticks to the group’s typical style: groovy, punchy, upbeat, and quaintly simplistic. Serene morning sounds glaze the upper reaches while a ponderous tribal textured beat meanders beneath. The break introduces a happy melody that invites comparisons to a pitched down Protoculture. It is nothing special.

Morax—here to present Out Of The Blue—is one half of the excellent Israeli techtrance group Triac. Superficially, this is a standard progressive tune featuring soft chords and drifting melodies. Attentive listening reveals a raspy edge to the production, crispy effects, and a technoid shuffle in the rhythm. It is a good attempt, but the results are not memorable.

Ace Ventura’s R.I.S.E. is a stunning tribal progressive trance anthem. The highly textured drum loops are simply incredible! There are several moments where the vibe is dark and almost minimal, but the tough rhythms and subtle atmospheric sounds maintain engagement while clever tension-raising techniques are introduced. Seductive melodies, flowing in sinuous waves, are teased from the depths for powerful results. The clean arrangement, logical progression, and smooth production style help make this one of the most satisfying songs of the year. Excellent work!

Perfect Stranger’s Bliss is an epic piece of trance music with considerable emotional depths. It cruises along with a serene grace, soothing the soul with wistful melodies and seductive atmospheric hooks. The arrangement is divine, casting a hypnotic spell with an expert use of layering and a slow yet dynamic progression. Bliss is a testament to Yuli’s mature song-writing abilities. Simply gorgeous!

Annarchy, Dickster, and George Barker collaborate on Eargate, another solid track loaded with class and style. The drum programming is detailed and captivating, metallic snarls pierce the air, and a sublime assortment of vocal snippets and digital effects keep it interesting. The big sample that leads the track into the second half is weird and delightful, ushering in another round of deeply synthetic grooves. I am reminded of FREq when the energy picks up, although this is not quite as overproduced. A stand-out song!

Sun Control Species – Push Through may be the fastest track on this compilation, but it is surprisingly mellow. Digging into deep realms of sound, the artist dabbles with tribal rhythms, spacious atmospheric surges, and vaguely Oriental themes. Relaxing material for the late afternoon. Charming!

Buggy One is the debut release from Elegant Universe, an Israeli progressive group formed by Miki Litvak and Amir Hardon. Miki has a long history in the trance scene, but has not released very much in the last few years. This track is deep and serene, with calming atmospheres and a sparse breakdown. It is too meek to make much of an impression, perhaps due to the softer production technique.

Fish is a new project from Yuli and DJ Zombi. Gotta Get On seems to take a few hints from the Antix side project Fiord, dealing in moody tribal drums and droning progressive sounds. A touch of breakbeats and clubby vocals gives it some mainstream appeal, but the production approach is fuzzy enough to appeal to psytrance listeners. Not bad for a first offering.

Yuli has good taste in progressive trance music! There are no bad tracks here. R.I.S.E. and Bliss are outstanding highlights, but the old Flying Rhino veterans provide quality tunes, and I have a soft spot for anything by Sun Control Species. Even though the compilation is not consistently amazing—some of these tracks drift along without much personality—the quality level is remarkably consistent. Another quality release from Iboga, well-suited for progressive psytrance fans who enjoy softer morning grooves.

Release Data

Title: Hibernation
Label: Iboga Records
Format: CD compilation
Released: 2006

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