Mr. Peculiar - Mind-dala

Mr. Peculiar continues to make his mark as one of the rising stars of psychedelic trance. Mind-dala is a strong return for Dustin Saalfield, following up on the Syncrosect DVD project of 2004 and his debut CD release Elements back in 2002. Having followed Dustin from his humble beginnings, it brings me satisfaction to observe his growth as an artist. With every passing year, Mr. Peculiar improves his technique and develops his style. Mind-dala, being his third major release, displays a sophistication of sound that can only be achieved through years of hard work and dedication. This album is an uncommonly cohesive journey into deep psychedelic trance. Every element is highly polished, crystal clear, and arranged with care. In this way, Mr. Peculiar has become one of the elite artists worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Silicon Sound and the legendary Orion. Although considered part of the full-on movement, these artists produce music with far more intelligence and subtlety than most of their peers. Mind-dala is one of the finest modern releases to take this approach; it is enough to restore faith in the creative vitality of psychedelic trance.

Mind-Dala is a very cohesive album in that every track shares very similar kicks, percussion, bass lines, and melodic sounds. It can become difficult to differentiate one song from the next without attentive listening. This is the kind of album that rewards repeated exposure; don’t give up on it so soon if you find yourself disappointed. Due to the similarity in sound between tracks, I will not be writing a very thorough analysis of each individual song. Instead, I believe a short description of unique qualities should suffice.

Born On Mars opens the album, introducing Mr. Peculiar’s production style in a deliberately gradual fashion. Sequences of silky smooth psychedelic melodies unfold as the track wears on, strong beats pounding underfoot. The catalytic moment occurs in a short break towards the end, as a woman asks “ever been to Mars?” A man replies, almost indignantly, “I was born on Mars!” Compressing Time blends right in, so there is not much to say about it. The ride is pleasant. African Soul features hints of tribal vocals, shimmering atmospheres, and flowing euphoric melodies. It has just enough of a special touch to make it a favourite. Brainsnake is lighter in some ways, with playful high-end melodies and a simple progression of notes.

The title track Mind-Dala is another nice one, this time integrating some squelchy riffs and subtle Arabic-sounding vocals. It grows to be very dreamy, with floating atmospheric sounds drifting across the rolling beats. Timeline features fragrant hints of something similar to acoustic guitar in addition to all the usual features. The results are stunning! Crystal Energy is where the album really starts to peak. This excellent track has a beautiful mix of epic melodies, slick atmospheres, soothing voices, and intricate bass lines. The epic qualities of Silver Clouds are remarkable. Choral voices, tribal drums, and a gorgeous progression of melodies make this another powerful piece of trance. Yellow Solar Human eases off, as the last of the album. It remains as entrancing as any other song here, but takes a more subtle approach, gently letting the listener come back to Earth.

Mind-dala is a voyage into a pure realm of genuine music: real trance! Many fans have mentioned, in reviews and postings online, that this album reminds them of why they got into this music in the first place. Mind-dala is uplifting without seeming trite, emotional without ever becoming cheesy, and full of spirit without laying it on too thick. Mr. Peculiar has created an incredibly streamlined piece of art, balanced in every respect. This comes highly recommended for all full-on fans, and should appeal to everyone who enjoys the deeper side of psychedelic trance. After coming to appreciate this album as I do—as many do, all around the world—you will know what to say when someone asks, “ever been to Mars?”

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