Speaking of a goa trance revital, 2009 had plenty of releases focused on that aspect of psychedelic trance. Some got the deserved recognition, some slipped under everybodies radar. Count in "V/A Alternative Colours" with the latter. For a debut release of Turkey's Ezel-Ebed Records, it is not bad, although it leaves a lot to desire for.
Most tracks just don't captivate, and despite a well struck balance between some established artists (Filteria, Merr0w), promising newcomers (Agneton, Liquid Flow, Goalien) and relative unknowns (Alienapia, Yan Etki, Ebt, Travma), nothing stands out. Not even Suntrip Records' golden boys Filteria and Merr0w deliver as good as we are used to hear from them. Filteria goes all out with a cheese fest, with a tune which is seriously too unfocused. Merr0w is not far off, though I expected more from him after his tracks Utopian Society and Pixelized Sight. Still didn't listen to his album "Born Underwater", so I don't know how does this track stand in comparison to his work there.
Nice surprise comes with the second part of the compilation, where the music is more nitzho orientated. Agneton, while not usually producing music I like, drops an irresistible tune, which conquers dance floors with pulsating energy, swirling melodies and gorgeous, playful acid sequences. Well done, I might even give that album a shot.
Other than that, Travma and Goalien drop those bombastic drum kicks with cheerleader melody work trance anthems which I hate. Liquid Flow once again shows he is a name to watch for, as he continues to make music determined to make its way through to any self respecting DJ's case.
Overall, as an entrance to the scene, this isn't bad. At any given moment, most tracks here can work quite well on the dancefloor. That said, on the downside, the promotion which followed this release was nowhere to be found, so despite the presence of some big names here, it took me about six months to realize this was even on the market. Also, som tracks here are just way too formulaic and unimaginative. I mean, do my a blindfold test and I could mistake most tunes here for for any given tune release in the 1996-1999 era. Not in a good way, though. It's like these guys produce text book goa trance, if you follow. Two thumbs up for Agneton, who takes a step towards glueing together the more banging, nitzho style with the psychedelia. He does succeed, but he's not quite there yet.
To conclude, this is actually better than some similar releases from 2009, although no light has been shed on "Alternative Colours". Undeservably so, because I think that any goa trance head will dig at least one track here. I know I did, and it was a track I initially thought I'd just skip, due to my relative acquaintence with his work.