Andromeda (4) - Temptations

After a listen at a friends place, I got curious and ordered the debut album by Andromeda, despite the cheesy cover art we get on this one. Andromeda is Anders Nilsson from Sweden, also known as Chromosome, and Nikos Kostoglau from Greece. It is out on the very productive UK based label called Yellow Sunshine Explosion (YSE), which is the side label of Millennium Records. YSE is known for releasing tons of compilations, but has also started releasing a few albums lately.

The first track starts slow and floating with a Japanese voice saying something. Then a really groovy bass line starts drifting. This album is a pure progressive trance album. The track builds up. A deep groove with totally trippy sounds jumping above. This is the kind of progressive trance I like. Track 2 is a pumping, groovy track. Pretty minimal, but massive at the same time. It builds up, and after a while we get some warm little melodies, which really lightens it up. Track 3 is a deep track going a bit faster. Totally groovy bass line with very pleasant sounds jumping above. Very drifting and it will for sure make people float on the dance floor. We also get a beautiful break in the middle. Definitely one of several progressive favourites on this album. Track 4 is more hard pumping, still in a very drifting, trancey way. We get some nice floating sounds and some voice samples. In between these voice samples it sounds like a girl is having an orgasm too! The melody we get at the end here might sound a bit too fluffy to some.

Track 5 starts really nice with some violin and an ethnic voice. This is the most ethnic sounding track on this album, but most of it is pure groovy progressive beats and sounds. Massive, trippy trance that is nice for the progressive dance floor and for listening to at home. Nice one. Track 6 continues the tripped out vibes. The bass line on this one is totally massive and the sounds are really crispy. Groovy as hell. Track 7 has a jumpy bass line and some weird floating sounds. After a while it becomes pretty melodic. A nice little jorney. Some of the vibes I find on this album reminds me a bit of Logic Bomb, but in a more progressive way. In track 8 they have also added some ethnic influences, some sort of sad violin sound, with the massive pumping bass line. At the end, this track becomes very floating and melodic. Maybe a bit too fluffy for some, but I think it sounds pretty good. The last track they give us on this surprisingly strong album is a chilled down tempo track, with laid back dubby beats, relaxed floating sounds and even some flute! Nice finish after eight pumping progressive tracks.

This album surprised me. Definitely one of the better progressive trance albums I have heard lately. So don’t get fooled by the cheesy cover art...