The third digital single from N.Division Media features a pair of older tunes written by Andy Yakovlev alongside Liron Atia, his original partner in the Sound Field project. Web Zero and Inside The Pattern dwell within the loose confines of progressive psytrance; both songs blend funky synthetic rhythms and light tribal drumming with casual melodic flourishes. The approach is upbeat, confident, and well-suited for the morning hours. Be sure to check the Afro-Dust EP if you enjoy this one!

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DJ Sascha AKA Bitmonx compiled Stereoide in the midst of the golden age of minimal psytrance. As one of the movement’s leading proponents, Sascha selected tracks for their overall sound quality and extreme level of reserve. Stereoide is nearly uniform in style—every song is deep, hypnotic, and groovy. Sascha emphasizes the central European sound. Aside from Fabel (from neighbouring Denmark), every producer involved in this release hails from Germany. Rumbling along somewhere around 138 BPM, this compilation offers eight exquisitely monotonous productions that may seem difficult to differentiate at first listen. Patience and careful listening may be rewarded.

Jacques Gelee sets the tone with Texas Flanger, dealing out pensive rhythms manipulated with ornate effects modules. Bitmonx’s It captures the essence of the minimal sound with a pulsating groove, elegant hints of melody, and considerable attention to detail. Every sound is completely controlled. The grim austerity of Auricular’s Wasp Or Fly is as dark as it gets on this compilation. Daniel Vernunft (Shiva Chandra) and Mapusa Mapusa serve up a tasty sample of their debut album Audion with this piece. Prisoners Of The Sun share their vision of “scientific darkness” on Lima, pumping out fat and chunky beats glazed in an assortment of sneaky noises. Fabel (Alhad and Jeppe of Phony Orphants) provide a taste of the early Iboga Records sound with Trunk, a song that chugs along with considerable squelch but not much else.

Timetech is Mario Reinsch of Haldolium and Sebastian Plehn AKA Buzz. The compilation really starts to get serious with Nothing Else. Monstrous kicks and a beefy bass line provide a strong backbone for slick synthetic leads to develop. The sample fits perfectly: “nothing else but life.” Very cyberpunk. Peak Pilots (a side project of Intact Instinct) continue in this vein with Twisted Fancy, a moody piece of techtrance similar to early offerings from Midi Miliz and Spirallianz. Deadly haunting stuff, but it could have used something more. Lube is the project of DJ Sascha (Bitmonx) and Mark Lorenzen—the other half of Haldolium. Frog Rock is perhaps the most memorable song from Stereoide. Intricate tribal drum programming creates such an irresistible groove that the rest—what little of it there is—doesn’t really matter. This is very nice for the dance floor.

Stereoide is a reasonably good collection of minimal psytrance tunes from 2001. It never really seems to take off, although it comes close with Timetech’s Nothing Else. Then again, pure minimal isn’t necessarily supposed to make much of an impact. Bitmonx fans are sure to love this, but it isn’t the kind of release that is likely to convince listeners who aren’t already into the style. For something a little more upbeat, have a peek at the next compilation from Medium Records, Vibration 4.

Release Data

Title: Stereoide
Label: Medium (Midijum Records)
Format: CD/Vinyl compilation
Released: 2001

In the history of German Goa trance, few early albums are as enduring as Electric Universe’s debut full-length release, One Love. A product of the combined talents of Boris Blenn and Michael Dressler, One Love shimmers with cosmic energy and authentic spirit. Through the use of bubbling acid lines, emotional melodies, and ethereal atmospheric pads, Blenn and Dressler capture the essence of the old school vibe.

One Love is neither difficult nor challenging. There is little variation in terms of rhythm or melody within any given song, but somehow—perhaps through the innate simplicity of Electric Universe’s compositional style—the album’s propensity for repetition almost never hinders the flow of the music. There is always some kind of hook for the mind to grasp; some sort of lead to follow. Since there are few instances of anything untoward that might cause disengagement, One Love promotes the realization of an authentic state of trance.

With these conditions in place, the sublime appeal of this album should become clear—One Love exemplifies the finer qualities of the old school Goa trance style. As with a number of other classics, it is possible to direct the experience of listening to One Love inward in order to stimulate the imagination in subtle ways. When the conditions are right, a transcendent sense of “travelling without moving” seems entirely possible. This is what the old school sound is all about!

The eponymous album opener is a classic slice of dreamy “space age” Goa trance originally written in 1994 after Blenn and Dressler attended the inspirational VooV festival in Germany. One Love is to Electric Universe what LSD is to Hallucinogen—an early break-out hit that defined the group’s sound and established them as one of the early legends of Goa trance. Exceptional!

Out Of Time draws the listener deeper into the cosmic mystery at the heart of the album. Whereas One Love begins with the main theme in full bloom, the first few moments of this piece are much more haunting. As the sharp acidic tang of the leads pierce the darkness, the pressure builds, and the journey truly begins. Very nice.

Orange Night incorporates light breakbeat rhythms into the existing cosmic trance template. Bubbling acid lines and nostalgic melodies combine to yield another solid trance experience, but it isn’t quite as effective as the two previous outings.

The shorter tracks have their weaknesses. Both Equilibrio and Galaxia suffer from pacing issues—they drag, overwhelm, or don’t quite manage to flesh out their central ideas. They sound convincing in context yet don’t quite hold up under scrutiny.

With Electronic Pulsation, the tempo drops, and the album slides into the deeper end of the spectrum. The slick drum programming heard here is perhaps the best of the album; Blenn and Dressler employ a number of appealing hooks in the arrangement of the pulsating rhythm of this song. The pristine acid lines are just as refined—beautiful melodies waver in the air like shining crystals transformed into sound. Aside from the title track, this is the best song on the album.

Virtual Landscape drifts along, pregnant with hidden meaning and significance. Again, despite the rather simple composition, every element is brought to bear in such a way that a kind of synergy takes place—the sum is much greater than the parts. Too bad the spell is shattered in the last few minutes; the use of a hard snare really interferes with this otherwise luscious piece of downtempo trance.

Visiting Venus has long been regarded as one of the finest old school chill out songs, and I would have to agree. Backed by a bass-heavy set of electro-breaks, this song sways with serene melodies and smooth atmospheric sounds. There is a very visual quality to this music; it seems tailor-made to inspire thoughts of alien worlds. Gorgeous.

Nexus rounds out the album with another strong piece of ambient trance. This piece evokes the feeling of floating in a tropical sea—sparkling atmospheres flow in and out with luxurious ease. It provides a satisfying finish to Electric Universe’s first full-length album.

One Love is one of the finest Goa trance albums of 1995. With its soft analog sound, luxurious atmospheres, and blissful melodies, One Love is a cosmic trance gem that has withstood the test of time. Admittedly, the album is not perfect—it sages toward the middle, and it certainly could have been much more polished. Considering the year of release, these deficiencies are easy to forgive—after all, Blenn and Dressler were still learning the ropes at this stage. It is a testament to their raw talent that One Love still sounds as good as it does! Anyone with a taste for the cosmic style of old school Goa trance is likely to love this album to pieces. Good luck tracking it down!

Release Data

Artist: Electric Universe
Title: One Love
Label: Spirit Zone Recordings
Format: CD album
Released: 1995