Pixel - Reality Strikes Back

Hommega Productions in Israel is back with a new album, this time by Pixel (Eli Biton Tal). This guy has got some good feedback for his full on trance lately. In this album, he has collaborated with several other trance artists, so let’s see what his album sounds like.

In a way, the first track says it all. A quite full on (140bpm) track with a groovy, heavy bass line just rolling through, with a few jumpy sounds above. Not much variation, just a groovy drift, not pure full on, but not progressive either. He has made this one together with Silent Sphere (Simon Weber). Track 2 is originally made by Astrix (Avi Shmailov) and a guy named Guy Salama, but Pixel has remixed it. This one goes the same direction, but slightly more drifting and trippy. He has made track 3 all by himself. Not much variation and creativity here, but again, a groovy drift that just makes your feet moving. Track 4 is made together with Intelabeam (Danny Keinan). This one sounds more full on and massive. Some intense beats and sounds in there. We also get a drum in there that reminds me a bit of a track by S.U.N. Project. One of my favourites on this album.

Track 5 is a collaboration between Pixel and dj Goblin (Psysex). Another massive, full on track with some voice samples, but nothing unusual to be found here. Track 6 is a collaboration between Pixel and Wrecked Machines (Gabriel A.Serrasqueiro), who is a quite talented full on artist from Brazil. This is actually my favourite track on this album. A better melodic drift and a little bit more variation. Track 7 is a collaboration between Pixel and Sub6 (Ohad Aharaoni and Golan Aharoni), which is two brothers who made great success with their debut album in 2004 called Who Needs Lovesongs. Here we get a massive, pumping beat, echoing sounds and some really weird voice samples. Definitely one of the better tracks on this album. Track 8 is a track he has made all by himself. This is another rolling monster, with some massive, jumpy sounds, but not much melody. The last track we get on this album is a track he has made together with a guy named Ran Shani. This one goes more towards progressive trance, with a much slower tempo and with some nice tribal percussion.

This album could easily have had some more variation in my opinion. You get some groovy tracks that will probably do well on the dance floors, but this album isn’t that good for home listening. Interesting to see so many collaborations on an album though.

Pixel. He's on the verge of commercial cheesey psychedelic and whatever else exists. Compare him to GMS, Yahel, Astrix, Sub6 and so on. Basically, all the big name, more melodic, psychedelic guys. He is, however, not after money in his music. He just happens to be on a label with alot of more mainstream psychedelic acts, but not to the extent of groups like Infected Mushroom or Hallucinogen. Hes one you either love or hate.

What I think sets people off form this album is the small amounts of sampling and melodies. Most 'true elitist oldskewl' psy fans like the old goa sound, which has long since died out, as most music tends to progress over the years, and like all genres, progress somewhere bad for a small amount of time (which feels like forever). Reality Strikes Back is a dancefloor album. Danceable melodies, bearly any lyrics - just pure (modern?) psychedelic trance.

Eli Biton samples a few movies in this album...'oh no, more samples' most people think at first. However, he manages to use samples - from movies - and use them well. Unlike most psy producers who screw around with the lyrics and let them run 2/3's of the tune, Pixel only uses small doses (with the exception of one track). Upon listening, one will recgonize the samples almost immediately. The first track contains a short sample from the movie Contact, strategically placed in the track, and not distorted to hell. The 4th track has samples from a love or hate movie, 'Waking Life', which pretty much any psychedelic fan has watched. Some guy rants on about politics and lack of freedom, etc etc. Typical thing in psy, but this fits. There isnt much sample wise, as the album is more melody based, rather then a bunch of trippy noises and Terrence McKenna samples.

Reality Strikes Back is built with the help of various other guys. Wrecked Machines, Intelabeam, Guy Salama, Sub6 and so on, adding a slight personality to each track. Which comes to my next point. The whole album flows together so well. It sounds like you're listening to a mixed set rather then a track by track artist album. The tracks aren't mixed, however, each one managed to sound perfect right after each other (such as the first two). So, upon listening, it's 64 minutes of music bliss - for those who can appreciate it.

The album isnt one for underground elitist heads, but rather for somebody who can appreciate anything that sounds good, despite who has produced it or who is connected to it. It is definetly one to pick up if you've not come across it yet, and like the melodic based 'full-on' stuff. It's got its trippy psychedelic sounds, yet is melodic, but not to the point where it sounds like 'epic' DJ Tiesto remixing Yahel trance.