I had never heard of this before it was recommended to me but the cover looked cool & I liked the track titles so I though I'd give it a go. When I opened the CD I was treated to a little booklet telling the story for each track. Nice Idea & it made me think this might be a very nice story of an album (which it is).

1 Gloopy Theme
Sound like the title of the album. A dark, slow lullaby. Some slow strings & bells & then some hard orchestral kicks before...

2 Disease In The Shadows
We pick up into trance, a fullon baseline fits in well although the track itself is not high paced. Dark ambient sounds in the background make this sound like I'm in a forest at night, scared of what the forest might hold.

3 A Heavy Responsibility
We pick up the pace a little more here. This track is definately more moving, it has a sense of urgency to it& the changes in it are superb. Fullon Trance -> Lullaby -> Classical Orchestra -> Fullon Trance again -> Drum & Bass beats.
This for me is such an amazing track. Throughout all the changes the atmosphere stays the same. It never loses it's dark, urgent feel.

4 On This Journey To The Human World
A slow intermission connects the tracks well

5 Never Talk To Strangers
Sounds like Cramina Burana at times, this does. I has am urgent pace again but also manages to sound like it's doing something bad. A great atmospheric track again, love the chanting in it, very dark temple of doom stuff.

6 Sorcerer's Theme
Drops right down into another intermission. A very classical sounding piece with cello playing a funky bedtime story kind of tune. Short but excellent

7 The Escapee
Back to trance, this track sound very tecky to my ears, the background sounds may give an outside organic feel but the main synth sounds very retro tech.

8 Strange Woods (Featuring - Phonic Request)
Another energetic, atmospheric, outside track. The baseline really moves this track & the synth work is absolutely out of this world amazing. Lots of cool background noises give this a running through an enchanted forest atmosphere.

9 Harky's Swarm
Very alienesque voices throughout the track as if some weird creature is trying to communicate. After 3 minutes the track changes in to something like infected mushroom circa Classical Mushroom with the melodies & atmosphere but changes again when soft strings come in & again with weird tech sounds. This track progresses strangely but it's good & sounds quite a lot like a battle.

10 Song Of The Forest
Another downbeat intermission. Quite nice but that's it

11 Gloopy Is Missing
Another baseline driven track, sounds more urgent again. More very strange sounds which to me sound like monsters talking. This "conversation" also manages to sound urgent. That is until it slows down to lullaby pace in the middle. This to me sounds a really dark, night time atmosphere. When the beat kicks in again it seems less urgent and more plodding but continues to build before the end.

12 Growing Hatred
Another short slowbie, bells, strings sounds like it's leading into battle, think Lord of the Rings when in the battle scenes with huge armies marching.

13 Battle Of The Great Oak
Well, this is the battle track. Growing Hatred served as a brilliant introduction leading into this one & it really sounds like a battle. Just as much as Harky's Swarm does. The progression of the track, how it slows down & kicks back in again really gives this a movie feel. Very nice!

14 Gabriel's Theme
Very short, slow, sound like the end of a battle.

15 Shivering At The Sound
This track has a slower pace than the previous trance tracks. You can tell we are coming to the end, the end of a story. There is no baseline driving this track & all sense of urgency has disappeared.

16 The End
The End! Another slow lullaby paced track track to finish the story. Beautiful strings & bells round us off!


All in all then this is a fantastic concept album. It's dark and atmospheric all the way through. It has a lot of classical & orchestral influences & it really does sound like a story, a lullaby maybe but told through trance.
The intermission tracks really help with the storytelling element here, they act as bridges to the next chapter of the story.
I think that listening to samples of this would never do it justice so if you are a fan of dark, atmospheric up tempo music then get yourself a copy of this. It sounds a little similar to Infected Mushroom's Classical Mushroom but IMO this is better & sounds more like a work of art.
I've listened to this so much since I got in this month. Definately one of my favourite releases this year.

This is just how psytrance should be, enchanting, mysterious and inviting. Its plain that a lot of thought went into making this album one complete journey. You won't even feel the start and end of tracks.

When listening to the album I felt I was being taken through a strange journey, like through a toy factory filled with all sorts of wondrous toys. All the layers fit very well and complement each other, and throughout the all the aura of mystery pervades.

This album has many different elements, and none of the usual psy sounds. Its something different, and remains interesting throughout, definitely a must-hear.

This is a nice concept album. It's dark and atmospheric all the way through. It has a lot of classical & orchestral influences & it really does sound like a story, a lullaby maybe but told through trance.
The intermission tracks really help with the storytelling element here, they act as bridges to the next chapter of the story.
I think that listening to samples of this would never do it justice so if you are a fan of dark, atmospheric up tempo music then get yourself a copy of this.
I've listened to this so much since I got in this month. Definately one of my favourite releases of 2006.