10 Essential Selections From Cytopia

Cytopia is the leading digital download shop devoted exclusively to psychedelic trance. Unlike some of the larger operations out there, Cytopia is a genuinely underground business. Read their about page to get a feel for their ideology. They provide equal exposure for big names and new producers alike, fostering the development of up-and-coming talent through their in-house label, various contests, and other initiatives.

For the end-user, Cytopia is among the more inexpensive download shops around (although their sliding scale prices may confuse some first-timers). Payment is processed via banked credits with significant discounts available when you purchase in bulk. Full-length previews are available so you always know what you’re paying for. Of course, CD-quality downloads are readily available–I wouldn’t be posting this if there weren’t!

Cytopia’s ever-expanding catalogue features music from labels like Iboga, Digital Structures, Trishula, Triplag, D-A-R-K, VaporVent, PAR-2, Dacru, Shivlink, and MindFunk. It is too bad that more labels have not signed up as the relatively sparse selection is the site’s main drawback. This is particularly inexplicable given that Cytopia offers some of the best rates in the industry (up to 70% of net earnings). The next time you hear a label owner complaining about lost sales check and see if they’ve bothered to put their catalogue online. If not, tell them to get a move on–absolutely every psytrance label out there should sign up with this service.

If you’re interested in the idea but don’t know where to begin, here are ten personal favourites from the Cytopia catalogue (in order of dark and heavy to light and fluffy):

Procs – Big Fat Large Lamas
Fast, funny, and gnomish–this whirling excursion into the ancient heart of the forest will leave any dance floor bemused and bewildered.

Atriohm – Paranormal Amplifier
Released on Parvati Records, this track exemplifies the more intelligent side of darkpsy. Far from melodic, this piece focuses on developing unspeakably alien moods to deliver a next-level sonic experience.

Random – Cosmic Puzzle
Cosmic Puzzle is the very definition of psychedelic trance: a mind-bending odyssey that shreds reality into a haze of dissociated particles. Random makes great use of a set of female vocals that sound curiously like those of Hallucinogen’s classic tune “Angelic Particles.”

Para Halu – Shivas Breakfast
This is Para Halu with a morning twist! Heavy rhythms and noise play in the first half give way to stunning female vocals in the second.

Hux Flux – Post 100
Prepare to have your synapses tickled! This fantastic tune can be heard in the midst of my popular Live At Dark Matter 2 mix.

Digicult – Awaken The Dream
Dazzling old school Goa melodies and energetic full-on rhythms. This combination has been done before but seldom with as much panache.

6th Floor – Moonstroke
This deep and deadly progressive/full-on hybrid is hauntingly beautiful. Swirling melodies and eerie atmospheres conjure a magical feeling for the midnight hours.

Beat Bizarre – Stalactite
Here is the remastered version of Beat Bizarre’s modern-day classic. It is no secret that I am absolutely in love with this song–you can read my full review here. Pure genius!

Fat Data – New World
This is a clean morning tune in the style of Liquid Soul or Lish. Deep striding rhythms and smooth melodies ensure a graceful comedown.

BLT & Danny Makov – Patterns Of… (A Balter Dub)
A clever interpretation of the pumping original that verges on glitchy minimal techno. This “dub” version lacks the wordy samples from the original but you can grab the extended remix if you’d rather have them in there.

This should get you started! Oh, and in case you were wondering–I wasn’t paid to write this. I support Cytopia because the psytrance movement truly benefits from having a successful digital download shop that honours the unique history and countercultural roots of our scene. Although I am deeply involved in legitimizing the free distribution of music online, it is important that artists and labels have commercial options in the digital world–and Cytopia is the best such service in the psytrance market today.