Fiction is certainly not your typical trance album. Elements of goa, psy and progressive trance are effortlessly fused with house, classical and electro to form one amazing electronica album. The track titles are dead ringers for what vibe you can expect. Orchestra 2.0 uses classical elements, From Toyko has asian influence while Rouge Marine has some aquatic references. The Gate tracks serve as interludes and intros to the longer ones. This album marked a huge leap in sound compared to the 1998 "Blue Energy" album which was more or less strictly goa trance. The only thing unchanged is the fact that Jaïa continues to make quality music.

Incredibly detailled album by a true musician. It's not just psy-trance music, this is truely an experience.
From experimental cross-over with classical music in "Orchestra 2.0" to downright groovy house in "Rouge Marine" this whole album just oozes with quality. Tracks like "Eyengui" & "From Tokyo" feature infectious percussion and "Electric Sunrise" & "Out Of Control" keep refusing to make a choice between house or trance.

"Fiction" was voted "Album of the Year" in 2005 in several polls & it doesn't take a genius to figure out why. Simply outstandig! It's not just a collection of tracks neither: its different components are linked together into 1 thight concept through the different "Gate"-interludes.
This album is so mature,I think it will age very well. Let's just hope it won't take Yannis the same amount of time to come up with the next one...

This is an interesting release to comment. I bought it only because of reviews on the net saying this, Phony Orphants' It'cetra and Antix' Twin Coast Discovery were competing with only a handfull of other releases to be best progressive release of 2005. Well, what a splendid opportunity for me to unbiased compare some of the most outstanding progressive trance releases of 2005!

I might be a little carefully categorizing Fiction as progressive trance, though. Deep/electro house might be a better categorization. Still, here we go.

Fiction contains 16 tracks but every other track works as a bridge between the main songs lasting from 35 seconds to 3½ minute. In reality, therefore, there are 8 "real" tracks on this cd. About the "fillers" between the real tracks. I'm not fond of them I have to say. I appreciate the idea trying to create a journey with down-tempo fillers and sounds between the main tracks, but this could have been done differently. In any case, this cd rocks and I would rather have had an extra track or a rmx.

Like I said, Fiction has a very housey vibe to it and fits in the house/trance/club hybrid. But don't worry - no cheese alarm setting off here even if this album won't intimidate your average club people (aka trance no'ers)!! I wouldn't be surprised to hear any of the tracks here in a club, and I'm sure they would pack the dance floor. Like track 1 serial groover. Smooth, energetic, sexy. Or the single Orchestra with its Wagner inspiration.

In a trance perspective, this music would be played on main stage on festivals, I presume. Personally, I'd rather hear it at the chill out stage, though, just around the time when it's getting dark. The tracks here have all the energy you want for recharging your batteries. Relaxing, chilling, chummying. Or make your body start twitching, even if involuntarily. And set you gently off if you feel for it. Cause it's smooth. It's controlled. And it's so damn freaking pleasant to listen too!!

One of the best progressive releases of 2005 in my opinion. But check out Phony Orphants and Antix too ;o)