Mystic Lounge 'Magical Dream' Review

Artist: 

Mystic Lounge

Title: 

Magical Dream

Released:

27^th November

Mystic Lounge is a collaboration between Berlin based producer Mystic Crock and the UK based dj Liquid Lounge that came to life after a guest appearance by Mystic Crock on Boxfrequency.fm's Chill Out Sessions and 'Magical Dream' is the result.

It commences with a slightly bleak and industrial feel but almost immediately this is joined by a choral voice that stretches over the piece. Shortly after chimes, bells and other ambient pads are added to the mix and the groove begins to bubble slowly to the surface, dropping in and out in appropriate places. Add a few guitar licks, bells and other fx and the overall mood is achieved.

Personally, I found this piece strangely alluring the more I listened and could well see it being a grower given half a chance. I'd certainly be interested in seeing what other material this project unfolds in the future.

Magical Dream is available on Bandcamp only from the 27^th of November.

Links

Liquid Lounge -

Mixcloud - https://www.mixcloud.com/LiquidLounge/

Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/liquid-lounge-1

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Liquid-Lounge-304264666292176/

Mystic Crock -

Bandcamp - https://mysticcrock.bandcamp.com/music

Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/mysticcrockmusic

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mysticcrockmusic/timeline

Thank you for supporting this project…

Track credits -

Written and Produced by Liquid Lounge and Mystic Crock

Mastered by Mystic Crock

Cover artwork by Cat Savery - http://catsaveryartist.wix.com/innersensedart

A short preview is available here

Suns of Arqa 'All Is Not Lost, All Is Dub:The Remixes' Review

Artist: Suns of Arqa

Title: All Is Not Lost, 

All Is Dub

The Remixes

Label: Liquid 

Sound Design

Released: 

28^th November

The Suns of Arqa's released 'All Is Not Lost, But Where Is It?' On Liquid Sound Design back in April this year. This wasn't a stereotypical S.O.A. release of Carnatic Indian music fused with Rastafarian Niyabinghi drumming but enhanced and focused on the dub elements with Youth, the Orb and Raja Ram on production. Label manager Robin Triskele has drafted in a wealth of talent to dub-the-dub so to speak and add a fresh lease of life to the tracks.

The proceedings kick off with Total Eclipse's version of 'Mother Tongue' which initiates with a tripped out raga fused with NASA samples and fades in and out of some beautifully melodic synth sequences and guitar licks. I must confess I'm not really familiar with Total Eclipse but I like the way they've stepped back and mellowed this track out but retained the original drive of the piece. The Saafi Brothers put their stamp on 'Sadrayama' which again seems to take a step back into a more eastern dub and dropping the squelch of the original.

Following on Kakan Dub Lagan add's his magic to 'Eramus Dub' which retains plenty of old skool reggae dub flavours alongside laid back synths, samples and scratches which he modesty but effectively tweaks I definitely got a soft spot for this one. Tor.Ma In Dub's take on 'The Fool Ascends' begins with a dark atmospheric intro with slow piano bass notes, before the reggae is slowly introduced, gaining volume and then is dubbed out in alluring and dream like fashion along with the eastern instruments and vocals.

Once again it seems like a step back from the initial release with Kuba's version of 'Discordant Dream' with a more dream like quality to the piece and the tribal drumming more of a pitter patter nestled amongst the dub. This theme follows once again somewhat surprisingly with Eat Static on 'The Truth Lies Therein' where you might expect a more full on approach he utilises the poetic spoken word perfectly throughout this frankly excellent eastern dub. The release concludes with Youth's re-mix of 'Pablo's Lament' which if you've brought either of the two previous S.O.A. releases on L.S.D. you will already have if not it's a harmonica fused piece of reggae dub with some interesting twists and turns.

As I mentioned previously this is not a stereo-typical S.O.A. release however, I would imagine most long-term fans of Michael Wadada's Suns of Arqa are fans of dub and will accept this for a S.O.A. in dub release. Personally, I'm definitely taking that view even though the Indian vibes take a back seat and I have to say I actually prefer this re-mix album to the original release.

Reviewed by Woodzee.

Links

 https://liquidsounddesignuk.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/LiquidSoundDesign/?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/RobinTriskeleDJ/?fref=ts

Drumspyder 'Sound Sigils' E.P. Review

Artist: Drumspyder

Title: Sound Sigils E.P.

Released: 24^th October

Ever since Scott Sterling A.K.A. Drumspyder came to my attention on Dakini Records Tribal Matrix compilations I've been an avid follower of his releases. Scott blends the sounds of the Middle East, Africa and Mediterranean with deep house, bass and dub. However, unlike other acts such as Acid Arab for example who fuse the middle eastern instruments with dance music, Scott actually plays the percussion on his tracks rather than solely using session musicians, samples or drum machines.

This E.P. continues in the same vein as previous releases and as with any other artist some tracks stand out more than others, but overall I feel it's apparent each approach on these tracks whether it's the Arabic psy-bass fusion of 'Fingerbeat' or the accordion dub of 'Spyder Step' the production has matured and he's got the fusions down to a tee. The other thing that appeals to me is although he employs bass it's mostly a subtle use that doesn't over power the melodies in the pieces which I find off-putting in some of the releases in the scene lately.

To summarise if you're already a fan you won't be disappointed and those who like their Arabic fusions who are unaware of his work delve in you might be pleasantly surprised.

Reviewed by Woodzee.

Links https://drumspyder.bandcamp.com/album/sound-sigils

Twelve Albums You Maybe Should Have Brought In 2015

Astropilot – Lost & Found (The Organic Remixes)
 [Altar Records]

Woob – MXV [Bigamoebasounds]

Vakula – A Voyage To Arcturus [Leleka]

Various – Strange-Eyed Constellations [Disco Gecko]

Various – A Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble

 (Exploding In Your Mind):

The Wizards of Oz [Warner Music]

Another Fine Day – A Good Place To Be [Interchill]

Adham Shaikh – Basswalla [Black Swan Sounds]

Various – Varja Mind: Meditative Soundscapes [Desert Trax]

Don Peyote – Blue Lotus [Don Peyote Recordings]

Sequentia Legenda – Blue Dream [PWM Dist]

DF Tram – Illegal Lingo [Subatomic]

Various – Moon Rocks Vol 3 [Throne of Blood]