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Syb Unity Nettwerk - Life Support System / Sun Invaders

Review Single | October 21, 2007 | Posted by Basilisk

01 :: Life Support System (Mindscape Mix)
02 :: Sun Invaders (Full Moon Mix)

Syb Unity Nettwerk (Kris Kylven) released several vinyl singles in the early years of Goa trance. This particular record was released on the obscure British label Sirius Records, also known for putting out early singles from Slide, Satori, and Lunar Asylum. The sound is somewhat atypical of the mainstream UK Goa trance labels of the time; Kylven has always possessed a distinctly “cyberdelic” style that has set his productions apart from the rest. That being said, his seminal work as Syb Unity Nettwerk abides by contemporary conventions far more than his later projects UX or Element Over Nature.

Life Support System sounds like a rough prototype of Life Support Technology, one of the most famous productions from Kylven’s UX project. The similarities are remote—but the connection can be heard. With an aggressive rhythm powered by hard snare strikes, this song meanders through a muddy montage of spiralling acid sounds and psychedelic guitar riffs. Curiously, it comes to a jarringly abrupt conclusion, suggesting that this isn’t even a finished track. There are a few good moments—chiefly in the midst of a big transition—but Life Support System feels too unpolished to have lasting appeal.

Sun Invaders is far more substantial, incorporating higher production value, stronger melodic themes, and a more dynamic arrangement. As a result, the listener response is liable to be far more visual—rippling analog bass lines seem to allude to churning cells of plasma while strange warbling leads erupt into the air like fiery prominences. Kylven changes the key in a central sequence, instantly pitching the song into deeper territory—a technique also heard on the UX album Ultimate Experience. It works well here on Sun Invaders.

As one might expect, this obscure record is only going to be of interest to dedicated collectors. Sun Invaders is rather decent, but the flip-side is a mere curiosity. It is interesting to note that neither track was ever released in full on compact disc; Sun Invaders appears in mixed form on Distance To Goa 4, but Life Support System can only be heard here on this single. Vinyl junkies and Kris Kylven fans might wish to pick it up, but that’s about it.

Rating: 5