One thing that has often confused me is the fact that psy-trance is very healthy in Japan, yet there seem to be next to no Japanese psy-trance artists releasing music. Phi is one of the new generation of Japanese psy-artists and their debut album starts things off right for these future monsters.

While the general "style" of Phi is full on, the term doesn't really do them justice. The full on power is covered with a heavy dash of acidy goa lines and the term "new school hard goa" that was used in a lot of the Japanese press about this album fits very well. Imagine modern full on beefy basslines dripping with a mixture of full on leads and thick acidy old school goa leads and you have a good idea of where Phi is.

All the tracks are quality here. Henro starts us off stomping right out of the gate and things only get crazier from there. Afrobad is a monster track that should destory any dancefloor with its steady throbbing bass line and nasty busy leads. I Don't Need Your Justice kicks things up even higher (at a full 148 bpm) and mixes all the best of full on with the best of old busy goa.

Its only the last track on the album, Desert Legend, that I have any issues with at all. Desert Legend is a bit of a down"er" tempo number (its not downtempo by any means) and in an of itself is it s very nice track. However with the pure madness of the rest of the album it does some a little bit out of place. That said, it is really a minor point on what is otherwise a fantastic debut for Shuji and Shin of Phi. Keep an eye on these guys, there's something good a brewin' here.

Highly recommend