Goodfellas

Although DJ Bim had previously released Vibration 1 and Vibration 2 with Com.Pact Records, Goodfellas is the first official compilation on Medium (later Midijum) Records, his own label. Medium was heavily involved in the rise of progressive psytrance in the aftermath of the golden age of Goa trance. This compilation straddles the boundary; it features a blend of minimalism with hints of the old school sound.

Goodfellas did not receive a full vinyl release; instead, four tracks were put out on a sampler EP from Medium. Several of these songs can also be found on the 2CD Reincarnation compilation, an early “best of” compilation also from Medium.

The compilation opens with Return Of Shalam by Amourphous, better known as Noma to Scandinavian trance fans. This is deeply minimal and very forward-thinking for its time. Every sound has its place; the arrangement is about as stylish as can be. Pulsating rhythms and alien sound effects warp time and space into an all-consuming nothingness. This is a quintessential example of minimal psytrance in action.

Vapour is a one-off collaboration between the original line-up of SBK (Linus Wessel & Sebastian Krüger) and Jeppe Ornkilde of Phony Orphants. Sneaky Spasm isn’t much to speak of; it has a plodding tribal groove and a smattering of errant synth-lines, but doesn’t manage to muster up a memorable moment.

Next up, Tim Schuldt’s snarling masterpiece Pretty Poison receives an interesting remix treatment from Oforia. Taking the edge off, Ofer has crafted a devilishly effective alien epic. The wailing guitars are drowned in muddy atmospheres and a fiendish bass groove, conjuring a very unusual sound. The only thing missing is that last powerful moment when the guitars really kick in, but given that this remix is intended to be much more ethereal, it isn’t that much of an issue. This is an excellent reinterpretation of a great song.

Something Weird is easily the best of the compilation. Tim Schuldt and Space Cat join forces to deliver a darkly melodic example of psychedelic trance. Much like Schuldt’s collaboration with X-Dream (as The Groupie Syndrome), this collaboration brings out the best in both producers. Just listen as that sinister bass line crawls up from the depths of the main breakdown to a metallic blast of full-on energy. Awesome!

CHI-A.D. (Dave Young) digs deep with Machine Brain, an entrancing piece of psychedelic trance that straddles the borderlands of progressive and old school Goa trance. If you’ve heard Anno Domini you will know what to expect here. Quality stuff!

Johann Bley’s remix of an otherwise uninteresting old school Goa track by Evolution doesn’t really do it for me. The spirit is there all right—but the production style is rough and unpolished. The same could be said of the Mark Woods track; Goa fanatics might get a kick out of it but the rest of us aren’t likely to. Both tracks can be safely relegated to the dustbin of history.

M-Sphere concentrates on a cheerful, easygoing mood on Space Cam. Bubbly melodies progress through a series of pleasing transformations while simple beat structures loop and repeat beneath. Not bad, but nothing extraordinary either. I prefer M-Sphere’s later work.

Many of the early Medium compilations are a mixed bag in terms of quality and style, and this one is no different. I’d say this fares a little worse than most of DJ Bim’s releases for one simple reason: the old school tunes really flounder. Instead of tracking this one down it might be more worthwhile to grab Goa-Head 8 and the aforementioned Reincarnation compilation.