Transwave ‎– Helium

One of the finest albums ever ! Transwave have always been one of my favourite acts, mainly because of their "Ulysses part II" which I have been listening way before being able to put a genre on it, but with 'Helium' they just went one step further.

Helium is quite a strange album to experience. It has more to do with a long mystical journey rather than a collection of goa hits. In fact, the whole album sounds like a musical act separated in several chapters ; it is way more enjoyable at home in the good conditions (I won't tell you more about those as I don't want any policemen to break into my flat) rather than in any outdoor party.

As for me, the first chapter embraces tracks 2 to 6 after the chilling prologue. It tells a lot about shamanic rituals but also about spiritual aesthetics - don't forget that trance will ever remain something sensuous and evocative while the real mystical experience using functional music (such as Voice of Eye or Halo Manash) can be way more frightening. Anyway, it's a kind of safe and pulsating path that is offered here, from excellent acid assault like 'Trashish' to Etnica-like melodic stompers ('Zero Density') . Climax often bursts two minutes before the end of each tracks, which is very erotic to my opinion as it works just like those steps in male ascension to orgasm.

Second chapter : slower, heavier, more dense. 'Hypnorhythm' begins with a nightmarish sub-bass intro, then drives you into a spiraling state you won't forget that easily. 'Biolab (Epilogue)' is my favourite here : a very long and meditative trip with incredible chorus lines and a finale to die for. It sounds just as if Biosphere would have tiptoed into psychedelic trance.

Hard to find, hard to forget...

I wouldn't call this "Goa Trance" at first listen; nor at second or third listening. This is really more like hypnotic shamanic trance with Goa elements interspersed about the tracks. From beginning to end is a pulsating 'journey into the outerspace'. This is a very well-done album and certainly some of the best music Matsuri Productions put out. And while there are Goa elements throughout, it's not "Goa" like Doof Goa or The Infinity Project Goa. Completely different- these aren't floor stompers through and through- Transwave wasn't afraid to have nice smooth breakdowns and intros. Each track has a story. Very nice.