Antix - Twin Coast Discovery

The brothers Strom show a remarkable advancement of their sophisticated progressive style with their sophomore effort Twin Coast Discovery. The talent of Antix is widely recognized; Twin Coast Discovery became one of the biggest hits of 2005, earning the duo adoration and respect from all corners of the globe. It is entirely deserved—this is one of the most refined progressive albums in recent memory. Even the album art exhibits a certain kind of stately majesty. Pop the cork on a bottle of fine champagne and set this album to simmer on your player of choice. Here are my thoughts on each individual track…

The album opens with the Antix remix of Return of the Masters, originally made by FREq. This drifting song first came out on the Playground compilation in late 2004. Sprawling atmospheric hooks and complex drum programming intersect to manifest the alluring aesthetic that Antix is known for. The tough synthetic leads of the original have been polished to a gleaming finish. It serves well as an introduction, but hardly scratches the surface of what Antix can do.

The Inkling is smooth and seductive, weaving sublime atmospheric threads into an engaging stream of sound slightly more involved than the opening number. Even though this is merely foreplay, it is still an excellent song.

Forever Changing is where this album really begins to shine. Fat tribal beats and ticklish hints of future themes ground the journey early on. More than three minutes inwards, a heavy wall of bass is teased out of the aether, but only just. It takes a while to come out in full force, catalysing a kind of subconscious oblivion that wipes away all fears and concerns. Glistening layers of melody weave an intricate network of shifting harmonies. Much as the sample suggests, “it’s calm, it’s chaotic, it’s forever changing.” Beautiful!

Cold Night is a stunning masterpiece. Antix set new standards with this incredibly deep and emotionally rich odyssey into highly advanced sound design. Every detail shines exactly as it should, from the small percussive flourishes to that glorious bass line. Magnificent!

Little Honey is a brilliant song filled with genuine feeling and amazing production value. Tribal drums, cinematic atmospheres, and a hint of vocoded vocals give this one a classy touch. As with the previous two tracks, the bass lines on this one have a special resonance that seems to burrow right into the soul. This is another fantastic piece of music.

The album reaches an emotional peak with the arrival of Le Lascard, a melancholy song with a tasteful set of male vocals. Usually I dislike the presence of any lyrical content in trance, but the words of this song really work well with the contemplative atmosphere. I find it difficult to elaborate on my personal reaction to Le Lascard. It has the feeling of a solemn hymn echoing through the wide reaches of a famous cathedral; there is great passion expressed in the passage of this song. I will leave it at that and simply say it is my favourite from Twin Coast Discovery.

Quiet Is The New Loud angles downward into the deepest reaches of the album. The steady tribal groove is lightly feathered by calm atmospheric sounds. A driving lead slowly emerges as the track wears on, but damn is it ever subtle. The last few minutes drift on without much action, but the impeccable drum programming keeps it interesting.

Hiding Place is the anthemic finale to Twin Coast Discovery. Technically it is a remix of a tune by Rhian Sheehan by Fiord, an Antix side project. In truth, this is the only song on the album I don’t enjoy. My problem is with the vocals—they are far too much for me. Objectively speaking, this is actually a great piece of music, exhibiting all the class and style that Antix have shown all across this album. My loss, I suppose.

Twin Coast Discovery is a magnificent work of trance. Antix take few risks with this creation—there is nothing revolutionary here—but they do it with a nearly unparallelled level of craftsmanship. The sheer technical skill and degree of intelligence that has gone into making this album is extremely impressive and fully convincing. This is the sort of album I expect to last through the passing years, just as the name of the Antix studio—Slow Burning—would suggest. If you enjoy the deeper side of progressive trance music Twin Coast Discovery should be in your collection. Recommended.

Purchase Options

Saikosounds // Physical mail order shop based in Hong Kong.
Wirikuta // Physical mail order shop based in Austria.

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