Electric Universe - Silence In Action

The most vivid image in my mind of the psychedelic trance festivals I’ve attended is approaching mainstage on a sunny afternoon with a pocket full of money, no commitments whatsoever, and a mainstage ahead of me that seems to jump with every beat. Parts of Silence In Action could very well be the OST to that movie.

When opening track Mind Of God takes off at 1:39 any objections that this is of the shelf psytrance can’t reach me – I’ll be too busy dancing my ass off. Track 5 Super Position belongs to the same category, with EU’s self titled track 7, Solar Storm, and Future Excursions trying the same only less accomplished. Thus, the above reference to my experiences from psychedelic trance festivals. This music has a *huge* crowd and is easily able to keep a party going.

Having said that I have several issues with Boris Blenn’s take on psytrance this time around. One major objection is his choice of samples that are simply too cheesy for my ears. Even the amazing opener is haunted by an annoying sample and only makes a homerun because of its’ relentless energy. Tune Up is not this lucky which is a shame since I enjoy large parts of it. But I just can’t see past the sample and so constantly I'm waiting for the next sample section to combat. One sample even ends ”Listen to the white noise in your ears ... it fades away” and then the voice fades away with a delay effect!! Could I ask for something a little more challenging!? Or some UV-pants, at least.

Moreover, many of the tracks doesn’t identify themselves strongly enough which makes a full listen of SIA tiresome after a number of listens. Well, track 6 Science and track 8 The Bomb certainly identifies themselves, but the identifying factor being guitar leads I’d rather have had them fade in grey. If you like guitars, on the other hand, these could be your favourite tracks. The guitar sections aside they work pretty well.

Summarizing, I’m sure a lot of newcomers will appreciate SIA for its’ energy and danceability. And fans of full-on in general should appreciate at least a couple of tracks here. Overall, though, I’ve heard full on executed more challenging and interesting. In this direction try Altöm, Phi, Slum, Quadra, Hydrophonic, Alien Project, early Astrix ...

Disappointing to some, excellent to others.
This album goes in the hard 2006 Fullon direction, but you still get the special Electric Universe vibe. Many of the melody sounds are oldskool Goa.

First track comes with a nice rolling bassline, pushing forward. Hard Psy melody stabs and then a wonderful TB-303 Acid bassline. The break comes with a good voice sample and an excellent build-up. Great final with a new melody. Strong track! Track 2 starts with space sounds and robot voices until the typical rolling Fullon bassline. Anne Clark's voice appears and assists it. The vocals are really nice, the melody is okay but does not stand out until the full multi-layered sound atmosphere is created at the end of this track. Bomb track!

Track 3 is the fastest track on this album with an excellent bassline. A little breakbeat comes very soon and together with the aggressive open hihat, this is really something to drive the dancefloor wild. The later melodies are all weak in my opinion. Track 4 goes straight to the dancefloor. Rolling bassline, breakbeat power. Lovely goa melodies and the break with a drum roll is skillfully dropped. Track 5, good start, but it gets even better with a multi-layered floating goa sound atmosphere. The final variation of the melody reminds me of oldskool Astral Projection. Many clever ideas make this one a strong track!

Track 6, Electric guitar! This track is the 'younger brother' of Meteor (1999) The guitar sounds are full of variety. Track 7, finally a track with the artist's name... and it's the hell of a track. The 'space' Goa intro leads to a great evil bassline. The snaredrum breaks coming at 1:30 min are just brilliant and probably the best rhythm idea ever in recent Psy-Trance. Again a floating atmosphere with variations of one melody idea. First appearance with Goa synthesizers, second by an evil 303 drill. Really great track, just the last minute could be skipped.

Track 8, happy party Fullon. Many will hate this track with the electric guitar in a cheesy AC/DC way. At 4:20 the bassline transforms into a large break with many attempts to go full power again, incredibly well carried out. Amazing melodies in the middle part. In the right party mood you can accept the electric guitar like it is and just enjoy 'The Bomb' on the dancefloor. Track 9 is a filler track. The 303 sounds too wriggly. Track 10, nothing really special but altogether a nice mixture of oldskool Goa melodies and Fullon bass.