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Darshan - Mind Merge / Ephemeral
Flying Rhino Records 1997 (Vinyl Single)
(Reviews) Author: Basilisk :: Posted: February 15th, 2008 :: 113 views
B :: Ephemeral (7:09)
Darshan exploded on to the scene in 1997, signing with Flying Rhino Records to become one of the hottest new acts in Goa trance. Headed up by Grant Collins and Mark Robinson, Darshan seen as the spiritual successors to the Green Nuns Of The Revolution, a legendary act that had been slowing down since the days of the Afterburner EP (1995). Trance listeners—especially in the UK—continued to demand high-energy acid trance, and this is exactly what the duo provides on this, their debut release.
Mind Merge is an intense piece of psychedelic trance that assaults the listener with fast rhythms and screeching high-end leads. The central sample, taken from the movie Scanners is key to the experience: “Telepathy is not mind reading. It is a direct link of two nervous systems separated by space. I want you to make a link from your brain to his heart. I want your brain… to make his heart… beat faster.” This is the cue to increase the speed of the song—the BPM surges upward, eventually reaching something ludicrous like 155. Naturally, all of the psychotic acid melodies that have been swirling around begin to explode, and the energy level shoots through the roof. The results are dazzling even if this classic sounds very dated by now.
Ephemeral isn’t really any different than Mind Merge. This is another blinding tune loaded with sinister melodies and bristling hard trance beats. It comes to a somewhat unexpected conclusion and doesn’t manage to distinguish itself in the same way as the A-side.
This record might sound a little rough around the edges but its an acknowledged “golden oldie.” Darshan provides an ecstatic piece of trance history here. Serious collectors will want to own a copy for sure.
