All Boundaries Are Illusion

All Boundaries Are Illusion is the first full-length release from 21-3 Records, an influential label that briefly emerged as a key player in the UK trance scene during the “psybreaks” explosion of 1997 and 1998. Legendary UK labels such as Matsuri, Symbiosis, Blue Room, and TIP were also heavily involved in exploring the broken beat frontier, but 21-3 rapidly became synonymous with the new movement. Adopting a release philosophy adeptly expressed in their motto “all boundaries are illusion,” label founders Jaki Kenley and Simon Wild successfully broadened the scope of psychedelic trance in the late-nineties to include breakbeat rhythms. Despite their original intention to continue exploring the leading edge of psychedelic dance music, the efforts of Kenley and Wild were cut short in 1998 with the collapse of Flying UK, a major distributor. Subsequently, several prominent labels (TIP and Symbiosis among them) were forced to declare bankruptcy with devastating consequences for the nascent psychedelic breaks movement. Since then, 21-3 has faded into obscurity, but their contribution to the development of psytrance should not go unrecognized. Luckily, Nova-Tekk re-released 21-3’s two compilations as a double-CD package in 1998, dramatically increasing the availability of this otherwise rare CD release.

Tristan begins the experimentation with the tweaked-out Space Sage, an anxious breakbeat tune filled (in customary style) with countless little sound particles that squirm and writhe to the rhythm. It makes for an intriguing introduction. Process (Sean Williams) provides an interesting remix of this tune on Tristan’s Inside Out EP.

Factor, an infrequently used alias of AM Synaptik AKA Volker König of Ololiuqui, provides Pol Zirkular: a gripping tribal trance anthem loaded with ethereal melodic flourishes and an irresistible groove. This is a special sort of song—perhaps the most outstanding to be heard on All Boundaries Are Illusion. Reaching into the starry void as much as it delves deep into the far reaches of the primeval jungle, this awe-inspiring tale captures the imagination and sends it travelling. Although few other reviewers have expressed praise about Pol Zirkular, I consider it an overlooked classics of Goa trance.

Double Helix is a standard offering from Digitalis (Seb Taylor), who is also known from his work as Shakta and (much more recently) Kaya Project. Primarily a pumping 4×4 tune with bouncy beats, analog acid lines, and sizzling percussion, it is good but not nearly as memorable as some of his other work from this time.

Eat Static tone it down with Elektro Implant, a coyly titled downtempo remix of their well-known 1994 hit Implant. The B-movie samples and strange Arabic flourishes meld well with droning tones and lazy breakbeats. Sublime.

Similar in many respects to his work as Digitalis, the sole release made under Seb Taylor’s Chaos By Design moniker attempts a wholehearted fusion between psychedelic trance and spaced out drum ‘n bass. Playful bass tones cavort beneath rattling breakbeat loops while oscillating acid lines flutter wildly in the upper reaches. At times it may seem generic, but I’d say this experiment is a successful one. Both influences shine through loud and clear.

Taken from Brainwashing Is Child’s Play, the debut album from UK producer Deviant Electronics (Ciaran Walsh), First Machine is as close as this compilation gets to energetic Goa trance. The frantic broken beat breakdown firmly establishes its crossover credentials, however. Rippling acid lines, thumping kicks, and a smooth UK-style arrangement make for a solid piece of work.

Also released on a vinyl single from AAA Recordings, ManMadeMan’s Karmaflage is an enchanting piece of Goa trance that features gorgeous guitar work, tribal chanting, and blissful morning melodies. This is easily one of the finest offerings from Paul Baguley and Sonya Bailey. Wonderful!

Skwirm is accredited to Andy Guthrie (a former Prana collaborator) on the back cover, but it was later released on a vinyl single as Funkopath (his psybreaks alias). Skwirm is widely regarded as Funkopath’s big hit, largely due to the prominent use of samples from the patron saint of psytrance, Terence McKenna, who can be heard to declare “consciousness expanding… bursting!” Although it is superficially appealing to the ear, I have never been exceedingly enthusiastic about this particular piece. Drowned out by shrill acid riffs, the beat has no bite, even if it is nicely programmed.

Andy Guthrie returns on Medicine Drum’s Slipstream Dub, a track that appears in its original form on Supernature and Transient Dawn. This shorter version lacks the main melody and ethnic singing of the original, which have been stripped away to create a less distinguished final product. Despite lacking some of the more interesting features of the better version, this one is still quite decent.

Pan (Matt Katz and Si Wild) provides the finishing touch to All Boundaries Are Illusion with the melancholic Adios Amoebas. This is a comedown tune: a song for the last moments, when thoughtful reflection overtakes experience. The arrangement steadily grows, weaving complex breaks together with deep thrumming bass, capping it all with mysterious hints of melody. The results are captivating, artistic, and genuine. I have sometimes wondered how much 21-3 contributed to the growth of the nu skool breaks movement, of which TIP side-label 10 Kilos was an instrumental part. If there were in fact any sort of cross-genre infection, I would cite Adios Amoebas as one of the key instigators. It is surprisingly sophisticated for its age.

All Boundaries Are Illusion is a commendable release gathering a diverse arrangement of songs into a cohesive whole. As a result, the overall quality of the compilation is greatly strengthened, and it remains highly listenable a decade after conception. The music of All Boundaries Are Illusion is not universally groundbreaking—what makes this compilation stand out is the sheer variety of influences that can be heard on a single CD (or triple LP). 21-3 would go on to greater success with the release of their second compilation, Elastic, but this early effort is still worth hearing. Tchankov I.V. makes an accurate assessment of the historic importance of All Boundaries Are Illusion, describing it as a “good tiny step forward for the time it was released” on the Psynews review thread. For those listeners and collectors keen on the intersection between breakbeats and trance, this is an essential purchase. It is also likely to appeal to those with a taste for the experimental side of late golden age Goa trance.

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