X-Wave - Direct-X

X-Wave (DJ Miko) from Israel is out with his third album. He has previously released albums on Phonokol, Balloonia and Arcadia Music. This guy is known for following a little bit of old school Israeli style, and mix it with a bit of commercial sound. He has also been a part of California Sunshine... The cover art on this one didn’t impress me very much. It looks like a trance cover from the beginning of the nineties, but it actually reflects the music...

The first track we get on this album is originally made by Power Source. It was released on Transient Records in 1996, and it is actually quite a classic. Here we get a remix done by X-Wave. Very uplifting, melodic trance, done in an old school way. Reminds me a lot of California Sunshine and some of the fluffier things Astral Projection did. It seeems like DJ Miko rarely makes tracks completly by himself. Track 2 and most of the other tracks on this album is made together with Melicia (Aviram Iluz). This track goes the same uplifting direction with a bit more rough sounds. You might call it modern nitzhonot. Quite easy digestible ”take off” trance. Track 3 is darker, but with some light melodies. Something for those who wants intense, uplifting melodies. But some parts reminds me too much of hard house, especially the vocal samples they have put in here. Some of these tracks also reminds me of Yahel. Track 4 continues the same style. Somewhere between commercial trance and psytrance...

Track 5 goes back to more uplifting vibes again. Pure morning trance. One of my favourites on this album, but still a little bit too fluffy for my taste. Something for those who enjoyed California Sunshine back in the days... Track 6 is surprisingly made together with Sandman (Izik Levi) who hasn’t released much the last couple of years. But you don’t get much Sandman vibes with this one. Same uplifting, melodic, full on style, but in my ears one of the better tracks on this album. Track 7 is a typical Israeli full on track. Pure morning trance with a light melody lifting us up. We also get some voice samples, which makes it even more cheesy, but some uplifting old school trance can be a little refreshing now and then too. Track 8 is a remix of an older X-Wave track called Get Ready. Full on fluffy trance with intense, almost nagging melodies. The last track on this album is made together with Roy Sela. Here they slows the tempo down a little bit. A pumping track with more interesting sounds.

This album should fit your taste well if you have enjoyed the previous X-Wave releases or California Sunshine. You rarely hear this kind of uplifting trance at psytrance parties anymore, but if you miss old school trance and also a little bit of nitzhonot, then you should probably check out this one. Personally, I don’t listen much to this kind of trance anymore.