Astral Projection - Another World

Astral Projection were one of the most well-known and influential trance groups ever. Their popularity has waned in the post-millenial era, so new listeners may not be aware of just how much impact AP have had on psychedelic trance. I shall therefore begin this review with a bit of a history, to better underline the importance of this album.

Astral Projection made their first releases in 1995, although band members Lior Perlmutter and Avi Nissim had already been working together for half a decade under a variety of pseudonyms, including the project SFX. In 1996 they made their major international breakthrough, with the Trust in Trance 3 compilation, with help from Yaniv Haviv. This compilation was licensed as a full Astral Projection album to the legendary TIP Records for a worldwide release. The next few years saw their popularity soar to incredible heights, as they came out with The Astral Files and Dancing Galaxy on Transient (in Europe) and Phonokol/Trust in Trance (in Israel). For many trance listeners, Astral Projection was the gateway to the entire world of psychedelic trance.

Astral Projection provide access to a rather limited state of mind: a cosmic realm filled with sparkling layers of melody, science fiction samples, and a seething analog underbelly. There is absolutely nothing twisted about their sound; it is direct, accessible, and easy to understand. I tend to prefer artists with more versatility, but AP are so good at invoking the “traveling through outer space” feeling that I still enjoy their focused approach. However, this does pose a significant difficulty for listeners who don’t connect with their fundamental approach.

Anyone who has heard Astral Projection is going to know what to expect from Another World. The group has made no serious advancements beyond the style and sound that won them so much acclaim in 1996; those who were hoping for an evolution of the concept will be sorely disappointed. Five of these tracks are derived from older material, but I don’t find this to be a problem. All of the updated material melds comfortably with the cohesive theme of the album.

As for the rare trance listener who has not heard Astral Projection, consider this essential should you enjoy melodic trance or old school Goa. Thousands upon thousands of listeners have found something to love in the music of this famous Israeli group, and it would be a tragedy to miss out on the possibility of activating one’s mind with these timeless songs.

The album opens with what is widely considered to be one of the album’s finest: Nilaya. This is a fantastic piece of uplifting melodic Goa trance that gathers power through several mystic melodic sequences that are adeptly placed throughout the song. As the storyline unfolds, the bass line begins to drop with increasing frequency, catalyzing a growing emotional response. The results are gorgeous!

The title track Another World is a remake of an old tune from the SFX days, originally released back in 1994. There is a delicate simplicity to the composition and arrangement, as the song leads through the basic themes to the mid-point break. The brash build-ups and soaring cosmic sounds make this sound a bit dated, but it remains effective, though not a favourite.

Visions of Nasca exposes a somewhat uncommon facet of the Astral Projection sound. While it would be inaccurate to describe this as dark, there is certainly a deeper and more mysterious mood at work on this one. The layers still grow to complex heights by the very end, but there are many minutes spent with a more brooding atmosphere. The shamanic voices nicely compliment the piercing psychedelic noises that come up every now and then. It proves to be a great song.

Searching for UFOs is the real hit of the album thanks to a gorgeous mystical melody that spirals around in the upper frequencies. Samples of an aircraft pilot speaking of a close encounter gives substance to the name of this track. At ten and a half minutes in length, it is also the longest piece to be found on Another World, but it never gets boring! Intense melodies surge for short rushes of energy, simple trance pads fill the air with elegant atmospheres, and that stunning mystical lead strikes up at all the right moments. Many people will tell you this is their favourite trance song, and there is a reason for that. I can easily say it is one of Astral’s all-time best. Enough said!

Tryptomine Dream is one of the more indistinct pieces of the album, but there is no reason to get up and skip forward. For the most part, it conforms to the group’s standard approach, seldom wavering from established techniques, but still sounds great. It does differ in one respect: the bass line is a heavy pulse rather than a smooth series of notes. It becomes especially noticeable after a strong build-up in the last third, which carries a satisfying emotional impact. Not bad at all, but not the best here.

Trance Dance was originally released by Trilithon aka Huib Schippers, who is credited as being a huge inspiration for Astral’s early efforts. This should explain the idea to remix this song, which was originally released in 1991! Everything has likely received a total overhaul, although aspects of the blunt and smashy early techno percussive style has survived the transition. The lead is a powerful one, cycling up the scales to reach a huge peak. Much like the title track, this one seems authentically old school and somewhat dated, but the artists still manage to deliver a full sound. Decent!

Mahadeva ‘99 is a remix of one of Astral’s all-time classic tracks. Compared to the hyperactive original, this is much more smooth and polished. Vintage reviews indicate many listeners considered this a ‘commercial’ remix, but I have a hard time making that connection. Astral spend the first few minutes smoothly building the melodic layers by weaving themes from the original into an incrementally intensifying array, only letting it break close to the fourth minute for the famous “Mahadeva” and “Aum Namah Shivaya” samples. The rest is remarkably straight-forward and almost repetitive in the way that the melodic themes cycle endlessly. I do not find this to be an improvement on the original or the 1996 remix, but this track does fit comfortably into the flow of the album.

Aqua Line Spirit is a tribute to an obscure piece of classic Goa trance authored by Boris Blenn (Electric Universe) and DJ Sangeet – together known as Rainbow Spirit. The original is actually called Aquarian Spirit, and can only be found on a vinyl released in 1995 by Germany’s Polytox Records. A luscious introduction occupies the first minute or so with dreamy trance lines, but it isn’t long before the strong themes of the original begin to unfold. Melodic layers are once again the main strength of this piece, as AP exhibit their best tendencies with a ceaseless series of luscious melodic sequences that are amongst the best of the album. Just as with Nilaya, the bass line begins to dip after the half-way point, entrancing the listener before dropping into the deep space of the big breakdown. There are no surprises in the final moments, but it remains good. Overall, this is a great remix, and one of the best pieces of the album!

Still on Mars is the traditional low-BPM trance finish. This one re-examines the themes of Life on Mars, from their Dancing Galaxy album. I never really liked these slow tracks by Astral back in the day, but I will admit they sound quite powerful now that I am more grown up. The euphoric voices and mysterious leads form the backbone for one last mystic trip.

Another World is a fantastic piece of trance, capping a phenomenal career, but I recognize that it is not going to appeal to everyone. Perhaps one needed to be an Astral Projection fan in their glory days to appreciate this as much as I do, or perhaps not. The idea here is to throw the album on and drift off into an imaginary dream world populated by benevolent alien lifeforms, ancient travelers between the stars, and the innumerable mysteries of the universe. If this sounds like a state you wish to experience, then I suggest you treat yourself to some time on the couch with a good pair of headphones, and let your mind wander with the assistance of Another World. The criticisms leveled against this album—mainly revolving around the failure of the group to evolve their sound—are valid, but that doesn’t change the fact that this remains one of the last great albums of Goa trance. If you’re looking for a taste of the classic cosmic sound, Another World is certainly an album worth investigating!

Release Data

Artist: Astral Projection
Title: Another World
Label: Trust In Trance Records
Format: CD/Vinyl album
Released: 1999

More Information

TRiP: Vintage review (1995 to 2003).
Discogs: Detailed release information and user-submitted reviews.

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