X-Dream ‎– Radio

Basically this album defined a genre... yes a genre.
until this album saw light the forming electronic dance music genre was commonly called Goa Trance and included all kind of sounds that didn't necessarily include eastern melodies and spiritual vibes... but then came X Dream - Radio and set things straight! it was finally clear to both listeners AND artists, it was finally defined as Psy Trance! Deep, Hypnotic, Powerful, Uplifting, Mysterious sounds that no one can stay indifferent towards...

A top 10 electronic dance music release of all times.

This album raises the bar for all trance. Progressive, psychedelic, dark and pulsating with dance beats. Radio is X-Dream at their peak. They came close to achieving this greatness again in 2002 with Irritant.. But no.. not as original as Radio. Radio is outerspace, Radio is earth. Radio is the future, yet filled with samples from the past. Electromagnetic twists and morphs a female voice beyond recognition, turning it into part of the song. Meanwhile, on another station, The Frog presents trance in the middle of the jungle, with authentic frog sounds spreading all over. Psychomachine gives you a ride through your nightmare. You want to turn the Radio off? You can't.. As track 8 states, "It looks out of your control. Or what you think is your control."

I've been somewhat hesitant about commenting this album. How do you comment the essential album by a trance duo that has been in the business since day one? From the spooky radio sample (1:30) in Radio to the Frog, this is X-Dream presenting the darkest version of late nineties deep, down, and dirty psytrance. Überly psychedelic with so much going on this album will guarantee countless trips to outer space on the dance floors. Or tripping at home with a pair of high quality headphones and volume at a steady 6 o'clock.

All tracks here have their own personality, but my favourite is Psychomachine. Starting with a monster of a bass from the low frequencies, some creepy FX setting in at 0:55, all hail the dj podium from 1:58 and start moving in sync! Cause you wanna trip with good people around you to get the full effect of what X-Dream are ordering you to deal with here. Monster sounds, loads of different sections each with the X-Dream trademark insisting evil, and packed in flawless production, you somehow cannot help but to just obey this track.

Like the sample in Telegram (7:05) so explicitely puts it: Things are moving so fast in my head that I'm starting to edit ... like a telegram.

An absolute essential in any collection.

And 15 years along these guys still make interesting music ... Rough & Rush, take a bow!

This is THE album, the album that made me forget all about goa trance with joyfull bliss! The first time i experienced the tracks on this album was at a raveparty at amagerbio in Copenhagen, Denmark, and the first time i heard it i was not thrilled ... at ALL!!! I had to leave the rave almost imediately as they got on, this was not the kind of music i was prepared for at that moment. It was just too dark & hard, being used to melodic uplifting tracks like the classic Zebra etc. that they used to make. Ok to my defense it was early in the morning when they got on the stage, but anyways. Needless to say, i was very dissapointed in them the next couple of days. But then i stumbled into their latest record in a shop, and as they had been my favorite goa act for a long time, i had to buy it even though i didn't like it at the rave. Then i got home and listened to it, one thing i remember clearly and will never forget was the impact that especially 'Psychomachine' did to me at the first listen. The start of the track is really low-key, something i was not used to from the goatrance around at that time. So i cranked up the volume since it was so low, and then the beat kicks in ... unforgetable! I also remember clearly when i listened to 'Telegram' i was watching a program about hammerhead sharks on the television. The track and images from the TV completely entranced me, the constant pulsating bassline, the innovative pattern of the bassdrum, and the ingenious progression of the track is unmatched to this day in my humble opinion, and it is still my favorite track. Another classic on this album is the overly hectic 'Electromagnetic' , you better fasten your seatbelts because this is one aggressive piece of work. Ok this review is getting quite lengthy, but needless to say this album has a very special place in my heart, and is my favorite album to this date. These guys were before their time when they made this album, and completely reinvented the trance genre. Surely some people will fall of and be dissapointed by their change of style, like me in the beginning. But god am im glad i gave the album another listen, because it sure is worth it, it just has to grow on you. To me 'original' goatrance is hollow compared to this, once you get used to this style. A perfect 5/5 for an unmatchable thoroughly original and innovative album years ahead of its time ...

Top psytrance album from the Gods Rough and Rush!

X-Dream are always innovating their music, searching for the highest standards of quality, this piece or art called "Radio" should be in every psytrance music collector as this changed the roads of psytrance radically, and i will never forget the track "psychomachine", because when i first heard this track i turned into an X-Dream fan! Masterpiece!!

Best tracks : 5.The Frog, 6.Psychomachine

One of the best albums ever made!!

I don't know where to start... But I believe that this album changed the way that a lot of people listen to trance... And even the way that trance is made... Is this the birth of tech-trance?... Well, all I know is that this is among the godfathers of dark, techy, crunchy trance-albums...

Radio, Telegram, The Frog, Psychomachine are my fav'e tracks here, but that doesn't mean the rest is crap... All tracks are great, those mentioned just stand even more out from the crowd!

X-Dream truely are the masters of evolution... from the happy, joyfull melodies to the darkest realms of horrortrance... These guys knows their shit!

'Things are moving so fast in my head that i'm starting to edit, like a telegram.' ... That's right... I'm sure this review haven't given this album the respect it deserves - it's just so damn good! ;o)

Masterpiece, 9,5/10!

The album that changed the face of psy trance. X-Dream introduced a much darker, more techy and minimal sound full of 16th note basslines. There are short bursts of static between tracks as if you are tuning your radio. Most of the tracks are great making this a real classic.