Del Bosque is the second full-length album by Argentinian psytrance producer Cipro Status, founder of Kutral Records. Here we are invited to dive into the depths of the earth to discover dark moments in the roots of the psychedelic trance genre. Blending darkpsy with playful Suomi influences and full-on energy, Cipro Status achieves an original sound that is sure to delight your inner gnome. Cover art by Lucid Dreams Project.

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Released under a Creative Commons licence for noncommercial usage. Email fun_cipri@hotmail.com for booking inquiries.

Track Listing

01 - Turbalastiasca (150 BPM)
02 - La Samba Cuchi Leguizamon (147 BPM)
03 - Índigo (150 BPM)
04 - Tío Cucu (150 BPM)
05 - Espacio 150 155 (150 BPM)
06 - Caída desde un Árbol (148 BPM)
07 - Triplicado (147 BPM)
08 - Loopergame (145 BPM)
09 - Ciproconexion (147 BPM)

©2010 Ektoplazm; click here to view the original post or read what others are saying about it (1 comment so far).

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Neurotrance Records presents Psycho Talent Freak Show, a compilation featuring talented psytrance artists from all over the world who have come together to remind you with music that we are only passing through the great show of life. The stylistic emphasis of this release is hard and heavy night-time full-on with scratchy leads and pummelling rhythms that will awaken the senses and move dance floors across the planet. Compiled and mastered by Erofex with cover art by Heidacraft. “Libera la musica por que la musica te libera.”

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Released under a Creative Commons licence for noncommercial usage. Visit the original posting on neurotrance.org and be sure to download more from Neurotrance Records here on Ektoplazm.

Track Listing

01 - Erofex - Talent Show Begins
02 - Tropical Energy - The Real Secret (145 BPM)
03 - Soundless - Sing It (147 BPM)
04 - Erofex - Construction Waves (148 BPM)
05 - Iliuchina - Reality Testing (146 BPM)
06 - Pinky and Brain - Lala Lend Games (150 BPM)
07 - Stereopanic - Space Time Gravity (150 BPM)
08 - Organikka - How To Become A Superhero (148 BPM)
09 - Ctrlz3ta - Nice Shit (150 BPM)
10 - Chakraview - Mutant Mayhem (158 BPM)
11 - Oblivion - Simba (146 BPM)

©2010 Ektoplazm; click here to view the original post or read what others are saying about it (17 comments so far).

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Mastering is the penultimate stage of audio post-production. Mastering engineers balance levels, apply compression, and tweak the sound to achieve professional results. It is always necessary to master music prior to release. Some producers are skilled enough to master their own music but this is the exception, not the rule. Even when a producer possesses the technical know-how to master their own music it always helps to have another set of ears involved. In essence, mastering is that final layer of gloss and polish that needs to be applied to any piece of music intended for public consumption.

Mastering services usually comes at a cost–which poses a slight problem for those of us involved in the free music movement. Nevertheless, I cannot understate the importance of professional mastering for netlabels and independent artists. If you feel your music is worth hearing then it is certainly worth paying to have it sound as awesome as it possibly can. I feel so strongly about the quality of free music that I have made professional mastering (or its equivalent) one of the technical requirements that must be met before a release is considered for distribution via Ektoplazm.

What should you be looking for in a mastering studio? Opinions vary, but I look for clear communication, prompt delivery, proper qualifications, good references, and a competitive rate. If you already know exactly what you are doing some of these criteria may be irrelevant but I find it is often useful to go back and forth a few times to arrive at a final product that sounds just right. Of course, mastering isn’t miracle work–you need to provide a good mix down for the engineer to work with. New artists should be very careful to select a studio willing to offer tips and suggestions. Some studios will simply master whatever you send them–even if the source material is suboptimal. It is wise to ask just how interactive the process is going to be. If you think you might benefit from a little assistance from a pro I suggest you ask whether this could be included in the fee. Generally speaking, any mastering studio worth their salt will work with you to achieve the sort of sound you desire.

Standard rates for mastering in the psytrance scene usually range from 20€ to 40€ per track, with full albums costing about 250€ to 400€ depending on the studio. Some studios may offer a small discount for non-commercial releases but this varies. It might help to mention Ektoplazm when you enter into negotiations–we have some allies out there! Be sure to investigate a studio’s homepage for technical requirements and other production advice. Most studios have a page listing what file format and amount of headroom is needed to achieve the best results.

As always, caveat emptor (buyer beware). Before dropping a bunch of money on mastering be sure to scope out the options, ask your friends for testimonials and recommendations, check the forums (starting with Isratrance and Psynews), and investigate the specific services offered by whatever studio you are interested in.

Below I have prepared a directory of links to a number of different mastering services catering to the psytrance scene. There is no shortage of mastering studios on the web but I prefer to work within the psytrance subculture. (I figure that engineers familiar with the conventions of the genre will had a bit of an edge but you may find this to be unnecessary.) At any rate, here are some studios I have worked with and would recommend, in no particular order:

• Colin Bennun @ The Stooodio, Bristol, UK
• Kri @ Audiovalve, North Carolina, USA
• Akhentek @ Ilum Studios, B.C., Canada
• Jeremy @ Attitude Recordings, Montreal, Canada
• Dark Elf @ KGB Labs, Greece
• Liam Dorff @ InYourPhaze Mastering, Sweden
• Tim Schuldt @ 4CN Studios, Germany
• Jay/Southwild @ Trailer Park Studios, Toronto, Canada
• Makus (Overdream), Sweden

Here are many more psytrance-friendly mastering services I have come across in my travels but have no personal experience with, roughly in alphabetical order:

• Anti Logic Studio, Berlin, Germany
• David Jewer @ Audio Voodoo Mastering, Canada
• David Mostoller @ Foods Librarys Studio, USA
• Electrypnose @ Intellinoise Studios, Switzerland
• Mind Distortion System @ Mad MaXstering, Belgium
• Jeremy Starseed @ Mothership Studio, Sweden
• Tommi Sirkiä @ Planetaria Studio, Finland
• Charles Michaud @ Preference Mastering, France
• Breto @ Psyks Studios, Kosova
• Andreh Torres (Bash) @ Rotten’s Dungeon Studio, Brazil
• Sonic Vista Studios, Ibiza, Spain
• Artifakt @ Timecode Records, South Africa
• Tim Larner (Sensient) @ Zenon Records, Australia

I am positive there are more mastering studios out there so I will be adding to this directory in the next few weeks. Testimonials, recommendations, suggestions, and horror stories are welcome in the comments! Have you worked with anyone you would strongly recommend? Let’s share this knowledge!

Photo credit: ‘Neve 8108 Mixing Console’ by johnnyalive.

©2010 Ektoplazm; click here to view the original post or read what others are saying about it (7 comments so far).

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Etnoscope is a legendary Swedish tribal trance project founded in the year 2000 by Martin Colin, Rasmus Alanne, and Ludvig Engelbert. Their debut album Drums From The Dawn Of Time was originally released on Digital Structures in 2003 to great critical acclaim. Harnessing the universal power of the drum, one of humankind’s most ancient instrument, Etnoscope has created a timeless classic of progressive psytrance. Organic rhythms, evocative vocals, and highly stylized synth-work combine to manifest a primal trance-dance ritual that transcends the boundaries of time and space. Featuring vocals by Carola Szücs, Lotta Hedberg, and Lisbet A. Lanne as well as didgeridoo by Linus Zättervall.

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Re-released under a Creative Commons licence for noncommercial usage with the full consent of Etnoscope and Digital Structures. You are encouraged to share, copy, broadcast, and perform this release! Coming soon: Way Over Deadline, the long-awaited second album from Etnoscope, soon to be released by Ektoplazm in partnership with Panzar Produktionz.

Track Listing

01 - Dawn Of Time (120 BPM)
02 - Sunrise (140 BPM)
03 - King Size Rizzla (140 BPM)
04 - Megastamp (142 BPM)
05 - Sneaky Drums (143 BPM)
06 - Metalixir (140 BPM)
07 - Qula (140 BPM)
08 - Silent Agreement (135 BPM)
09 - Ki Lan (120 BPM)
10 - Harmony (94 BPM)

©2010 Ektoplazm; click here to view the original post or read what others are saying about it (12 comments so far).

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Critical Moments is the companion piece to Alternative Energysource, the recently re-released classic debut album by Highpersonic Whomen, a pioneering progressive psytrance act from Finland. This EP includes the previously released song Space Elevator as well as three unreleased tracks written and produced by Justin Space AKA Tommi Sirkiä (Haltya, Headphonics) and Frank Further AKA Jürgen Sachau (Haltya, Outolintu) at Tube Studio in Helsinki, 2002. Mastered by Tommi Sirkiä at Planetaria Studio, 2010. Cover artwork by Basilisk.

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Released under a Creative Commons licence for noncommercial usage with the full consent of the rights owner. You are encouraged to share, copy, broadcast, and perform this release!

Track Listing

01 - Space Elevator (142 BPM)
02 - Critical Moments (142 BPM)
03 - Critical Moments (Daytripper Mix) (142 BPM)
04 - Homegrown Human (110 BPM)

©2010 Ektoplazm; click here to view the original post or read what others are saying about it (2 comments so far).

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Tsabeat joins forces with the Ektoplazm free music portal to bring you Galactic Synthetic, a cutting edge psytrance compilation featuring an assortment of collaborations and solo productions by Guinea Pigs, Tsabeat, Wizack Twizack, and Progress. Together these artists bridge the gap between full-on and darkpsy with intricately creative psychedelic dance music designed for the night-time hours. The darkly layered melodies and driving beats heard on this interstellar voyage will appeal to sophisticated galactic travellers as well as the more earthbound among us. Cover artwork by Sierra Designs.

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Released under a Creative Commons licence for noncommercial usage. More music from Tsabeat, Wizack Twizack, and Progress is also available through Ektoplazm.

Track Listing

01 - Guinea Pigs - Have A Nice Flight (Wizack Twizack Remix) (150 BPM)
02 - Wizack Twizack - Expanding (145 BPM)
03 - Guinea Pigs - Damage Check (Tsabeat Remix) (149 BPM)
04 - Tsabeat & Wizack Twizack - Kipodim (148 BPM)
05 - Progress - TransNRoll (148 BPM)
06 - Guinea Pigs & Tsabeat - Cant Find A Name (150 BPM)
07 - Wizack Twizack - Tingel Tangel TDC (Progress Remix) (148 BPM)
08 - Tsabeat - Like Summer Breeze (146 BPM)

©2010 Ektoplazm; click here to view the original post or read what others are saying about it (14 comments so far).

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Underground Alien Factory Records invites you to take a trip back to the old school with their first label compilation, Goa Overdose. This release showcases ten songs selected by Imba to induce a deep sense of nostalgia and rekindle the cosmic spirit of mid-nineties Goa trance. With tracks by veterans and newcomers alike, the approach is soft and hypnotic with an emphasis on spiralling melodies, emotional atmospheres, and electro-tribal rhythms intended to entrance and enthuse. Featuring a cover design by Imba using the fractal art of CoaGoa. Mastering by Trogdor the Burninator.

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Released under a Creative Commons licence for noncommercial usage! Visit the Underground Alien Factory Records discography for more new school Goa trance releases.

Track Listing

01 - California Sunshine - The Gate to the Past (Remix) (128 BPM)
02 - Nolax - Bioavailability (145 BPM)
03 - Hybrid FX - Higher State of Mind (140 BPM)
04 - BlackStarrFinale - Rabbit Marker (144 BPM)
05 - Celestial Intelligence - Real Worth (140 BPM)
06 - Grand-Cheff - Dirty Trance (140 BPM)
07 - Space Elves - Tribute To The Wonderboy (148 BPM)
08 - SETI project - Space Invaders (2010 Remix) (141 BPM)
09 - Dhamsuta - Lucent Venture (147 BPM)
10 - Somnesia - When Kali Meditates (120 BPM)

©2010 Ektoplazm; click here to view the original post or read what others are saying about it (22 comments so far).

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Dinsha Prana Records presents Sonika, a newly remastered sampler featuring four full-on psytrance songs selected by Teknical Ikon. Prepare your ears for the bright and sunny sounds of Spain and Brazil as these artists express their smooth and clean style of psychedelic morning trance with solid bass lines, deep melodies, and loads of energy.

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Released under a Creative Commons licence for noncommercial usage. Visit Dinsha Prana Records on MySpace to find out more about their releases.

Track Listing

01 - Quantica - Chica Atomica (145 BPM)
02 - Creactive - Modul C (145 BPM)
03 - Teknical Ikon - Shamanical (145 BPM)
04 - Echoactive - Do You Believe In Faith (144 BPM)

©2010 Ektoplazm; click here to view the original post or read what others are saying about it (6 comments so far).

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Unwashed Tomato is a collaborative psytrance project founded in late 2006 by two American producers, Andy Aylward and David Mostoller. Their main focus is creating an intensely psychedelic, groovy experience which is both quirky and powerful, containing motifs from many musical traditions. Released by the Swiss label 2to6 Records, Before Thought features three new Unwashed Tomato songs that expand on the grinding power of the group’s 2009 debut, Shovel Ready. Mastering by Andy Aylward and David Mostoller with artwork by Ayalien.

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Released under a Creative Commons licence for noncommercial usage. Visit the 2to6 Records discography on Ektoplazm for more free releases from this fine label.

Track Listing

01 - Before Thought (152 BPM)
02 - Koan #3 (154 BPM)
03 - Drop Into The Momentary (154 BPM)

©2010 Ektoplazm; click here to view the original post or read what others are saying about it (5 comments so far).

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Antagon is Lars Peter, a darkpsy live act and DJ from Hamburg, Germany. Released on Electrypnose’s 2to6 Records, Myesis features five pulsating darkpsy tracks including a collaboration with Nyama, another German artist. The Antagon style combines intense rhythms and driving bass lines with glitchy noise and dark spacey atmospheres to yield an enticing set of results that will carry any listener into the depths of night and through to the first hints of dawn. With mastering by Dark Elf and artwork by Ayalien.

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Released under a Creative Commons licence for noncommercial usage. Visit the 2to6 Records discography on Ektoplazm for more free releases from this fine label and be sure to check out Antagon’s full-length album Cybernetic at Saikosounds, Beatspace, or Psyshop.

Track Listing

01 - The Swampthing (feat. Nyama) (150 BPM)
02 - Kiss The Sky (153 BPM)
03 - Approach (153 BPM)
04 - Wack Leg (155 BPM)
05 - Salvation (154 BPM)

©2010 Ektoplazm; click here to view the original post or read what others are saying about it (7 comments so far).

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