Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #progpsy, aggregated by home.social.
Old review.
AKSHAN - The Tree Of Life
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2016/08/akshan-tree-of-life.html
This chap looked to be one of Altar Records' leading acts, but seemed to fade out at the turn of the decade, save a lone, recent two-tracker on his Bandcamp. Seems a shame when that happens...
Old review.
Various - SUMMER
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2016/02/various-summer.html
Wow, even ten years in the past, I'm talking up E-Mantra. Right, just a namedrop for being on this compilation from Altar Records, but still!
Old review.
ASTRAL WAVES - Magnetique
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2016/02/astral-waves-magnetique.html
The head of Altar Records remains a fairly consistent producer to this day, which is never a bad thing in this biz'. Wish I could say I've returned to this album of his more often tho'.
Old review.
ASTROPILOT - Fruits Of The Imagination 2
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2016/01/astropilot-fruits-of-imagination-2.html
The first of what would end up be many remasters/remixed/recontextualizations of his debut album. Always gotta' keep tinkerin'.
#ElectronicMusic #ProgPsy #ProgressiveBreaks #PsyChill #WorldBeat
Old review.
Various - FALL
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2016/01/various-fall.html
Heh, me nitpicking the 'overfamiliarity' of Altar Records' output has a familiar ring to it, doesn't it.
Old review.
AuroraX - Evolutionary Voyage
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2016/01/aurorax-evolutionary-voyage.html
Good news is this artist carried on long enough after such that more info on his career blossomed. Bad news is, like many, seemed to falter following The Shutdowns. Neutral news is I can't say I've come back to this one often, just another CD that blended in with usual Altar Records fare.
Old review.
ASTROPILOT - Star Walk
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2015/10/astropilot-star-walk.html
After all that tough trekking through the stars, how about a nice, leisurely walk?
Old review.
Various - SPRING
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2015/10/various-spring.html
Altar Records needed another compilation series, so went with something more seasonal. It'd... play out a lot longer than one season cycle.
Old review.
Various - Set/4 - Essentials
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2015/07/various-set4-essentials.html
After I chastised Iboga Records for calling their 'Set' compilation series 'Trance Classics' for a spell there, they apparently dropped the sub-header, and have simply stuck with 'Set #' ever since. Probably more coincidence than causation, but funny nonetheless.
Oh, and yes, this series *is* still running, up to 'Set 41' now. Can't say I'm much inclined to check out how the label's faring tho'.
Old review.
AES DANA - Season 5
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2015/06/aes-dana-season-5.html
I don't see it on Bandcamp, but I could have sworn this album did get a vinyl re-issue after all. Perhaps not, but as 'Leylines' recently did, perhaps this one's not too far behind.
Old review.
COSMIC REPLICANT - Mission Infinity
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2015/04/cosmic-replicant-mission-infinity.html
I namedrop HIA in this review, hearing similarities to the old ambient dub bleep style and all. At the time, I wasn't aware that style had been burbling in the perifery for some time, though would soon learn of it diving into Lee Norris' various projects.
Meanwhile, Cosmic Replicant became another fav', and was stunned to discover just how diverse he could get.
Old review.
Various - 6TH ELEMENT (The Missing Elements)
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2015/04/various-6th-element-missing-elements.html
*Another* 'nother wuther, brother, there is no other (Dominator!) in Altar Records' 'Elemental Series' of compilations. A bonus download with the main series this, but still holds its own despite the slightly less-polished state of these tunes.
#ElectronicMusic #PsyChill #ProgPsy #PsyDub #Ambient #WorldBeat
Old review.
Various - FIRE
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2015/04/various-fire.html
*Another* 'nother, brother, in Altar Records' 'Elemental Series' of compilations. Yeah, knocked off a bunch of those in short order, and by alphabetical decree, it would be a lo-o-o-ong while before I returned to it. Or would it...?
Older review.
ACE VENTURA - Rebirth
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2015/02/ace-ventura-rebirth-original-tc-review.html
Hasn't been up to much on the production front since, but is still active to some degree. Looks like he recently put out an 'In Dub' remix album, just in case you haven't heard 'The Light' enough times these past two decades.
Old review.
SOLAR FIELDS - Random Friday
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2015/02/solar-fields-random-friday.html
Even from artists with near-bulletproof discographies, some records have to bring up the rear. This was one of those records from Magnus, which was surprising considering it was a return to more uptempo tunes.
Old review.
ASTROPILOT - Iriy
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2015/02/astropilot-iriy.html
Was really getting deep into the Altar Records catalogue at this point, and with acts like AstroPilot being one of the label's staples back then, who could blame ya'?
Older review.
JOHN '00' FLEMING - Psy-Trance Euphoria 2
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2015/01/john-00-fleming-psy-trance-euphoria-2.html
Ol' John hasn't released anything much for a while now, but the chap's still making the DJ rounds, still plugging his labels, and still making the occasional 'State Of The Scene' rants on social media. 'Tis a good gig.
Old review.
AES DANA - Pollen
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2014/12/aes-dana-pollen.html
Is this my favorite Aes Dana album? Sure seems like it, given how enthusiastic I come across in this review. It definitely was my most favorite of his for some time after.
#ElectronicMusic #Ambient #Downtempo #DubTechno #Glitch #ProgPsy
Old review.
AES DANA - Perimeters
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2014/11/aes-dana-perimeters.html
Definitely a dated review now, proclaiming Aes Dana, Asura, Solar Fields, and Carbon Based Lifeforms the Big Four of Ultimae. Guess that now be Aes Dana, Martin Nonstatic, Miktek, and, um, Cell? Something like that.
Anyhow, this was the last time Vincent went 'dancefloor', such as it is.
Old review.
ASTROPILOT - Here And Now
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2014/10/astropilot-here-and-now.html
Where I finally took the plunge on Astropilot's music, which lived up to the hype I set out for it. Oddly, this album's not available anymore. He remastered a bunch of his other stuff for Bandcamp self-release, why not this one? Too many collab's making rights issues tricky business?
Old review.
Various - Greenosophy: Collected By MIZOO
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2014/06/various-greenosophy-collected-by-mizoo.html
Most significant thing about this comp' was my introduction to Liquid Stranger, who's #Downtempo and #Dub stuff became a fav' of mine. Then I learned he was also part of the #Brostep Rottun crew. I... wasn't quite so fond of that.
#ElectronicMusic #ProgPsy #PsyChill #Ambient #AmbientTechno
NEW REVIEW!
KIPHI - Divine Flux
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2024/04/kiphi-divine-flux.html
Then suddenly, I realized there was a little bit more to this side-project from the N:L:E camp, something I've neglected to mention in all this time.
#ElectronicMusic #AmbientDub #ProgPsy #PsyChill
NEW REVIEW!
KHETZAL - Corolle
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2024/03/khetzal-corolle.html
Would the rise of Neo #GoaTrance have been as successful without this album? Oh, probably, but Khetzal's debut certainly gave it and Suntrip Records an early, significant boost in interest.
#ElectronicMusic #PsyTrance #ProgPsy
N:L:E - Caravan Of Healing Sounds III
Again starting out as you'd expect with big synth pads washing over everything. Doesn't take long, however, for additional sounds like bell tones those rattling poles you flip over and over.
And what's this? Pulsing synth rhythms? Oh my, is this gonna' turn into an upbeat number? Not quite, though adding a kick drum could turn this #Ambient piece into #ProgPsy
Then things go #minimalist for the back-half. Wait, I thought these pieces went the other way.
Old review.
AES DANA - Leylines
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2014/01/aes-dana-leylines.html
This was my first review of an Aes Dana record, and boy did I have some things to say. Surprisingly (or not), they still hold true a decade later. Man, if I thought this would be the 'darkest, most-minimalist' the project would go...
#ElectronicMusic #Downtempo #DarkAmbient #ProgPsy
NEW REVIEW!
DISTANT SYSTEM - Astral Map Error
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2023/11/distant-system-astral-map-error.html
A final bit of business from one of my all-time favorite #PsyDub side-projects? I hope not, but probably so.
#ElectronicMusic #ProgPsy #SpaceMusic
NEW REVIEW!
E-MANTRA - Arcana
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2023/10/e-mantra-arcana.html
That whole 'neo #GoaTrance' movement needed a few early classics to sustain its run to this day, and general sentiment posits this particular album is among said items in that discourse. Yay, highbrow dialect for wiggly, squiggly #Acid synths!
#ElectronicMusic #PsyTrance #ProgPsy
NEW REVIEW!
ETIC - Touch Ups
https://emcritic.blogspot.com/2023/05/etic-touch-ups.html
#ProgPsy got chasing #Minimal #TechHouse trends, but before then, some artists were bringing deeper sounds to the genre with solid results. Etic was one such chap.
#ElectronicMusic #PsyTrance