"I have come to the unalterable conclusion that Man is unfit as yet; to receive such knowledge--such almost limitless power."

I feel that the above quote--featured in a recurring sample on this album, and taken from one of the best sci-fi's ever made--in which Dr. Morbius refers to the unlimited power prominent in the machinery of the Krell, has somehow managed to become incorporated into this album. Tightly packed, reality-altering bursts of pure energy, which is available for tapping into every time this album spins in your player.
(just keep an eye on those dial levels! ;)

To call this album a psytrance masterpiece would be a gross understatement.

As other reviewers have noted, the energetic buildup that takes place during the first three tracks--'Apex' (which provides a great opening to the album; discreetly portending things to come) & 'Crystal' (which instantly transports you off to some immaculate island formation in the South Pacific), and finally culminating in the spine-chilling 'Alidade'; ensuring instant elevation for both listener and possibly even equipment--when things get pushed up several notches beyond apex; or what would otherwise be deemed safe levels.)

'Open Sea' is also a noteworthy piece which I feel brings you back to the same thematic environment as 'Crystal', but with a more defined--edgier--presence. Undoubtedly the third best track on this release.

The subsequent soft landing provided by 'Atoll', 'Roma' & 'Arcana' brings the album to a perfect conclusion and ensures excellent flow throughout. (and without whose presence I believe the listener would be left suspended in mid-air.)
The reason I have not talked much about 'Micromega' and 'Dialect', is that they do not in my opinion exhibit the same degree of quality as the rest of the material on this album (and seem somewhat out-of-place considering the context and overall flow provided by the others), but are decent tracks nonetheless.

As to the favorite track on the album, I am genuinely torn between 'Crystal' & 'Alidade'. The former is such a luxurious uplifter with its goosebump-inducing seabreeze effects. It truly delivers every time. But as far as true rawness goes, it pales in comparison to 'Alidade', a track which prospective listeners can risk sending their speakers into orbit unless proper restraint on the dial is exercised. Its spine-rippling force is not diminished despite how many times one listens to it.

The only other work from this artist that can compare to the flawless symbiosis of these two is the delicious 'Lubiantia' on the Second ep (and yes, I am including Overbloody Flood in that comparison.)

All in all, a very high quality piece of work that will certainly not be eclipsed in its genre; and probably not in any other for that matter. (Man, do I love declarative statements!) ;)

Best album ever done in my opinion! It starts off with a standard progressive trance-track, nothing special...
Number 2 though, is so beautiful and smooth and dreamy and well-produced and hypnotic and......More trance than that is pretty imposible...
If #2 was amazing, then check out #3: Alidade...Words can't describe how beautiful this track is...It's like a drug, once you heard it, you want it even more...And a big + that it lasts for almost 11 minutes..=)

Some more great uptempo tracks floats away, before the cd reaches the last climax: Open Sea...Probably the best feel-good track ever, without being cheesy at all...Try to sit still to this awesome masterpiece !


To conclude it all, Gabriel Masurel made an album that really takes you on a journey...Starting off smooth, the intensity gets higher, it reaches a real climax, and then two brilliant downtempo-tracks that calm you down...It's trully a work of a musical genious...Gabriel Masurel is my (and a few others) musical secret...=)

Some of this is genius, most obviously 'Alidade', and some of it is filler material, but generally a very safe 'morning trance' cd to buy, it's very 'stylish' music, and very likeable. A shame some of his early stuff like 'Over Bloody Flood' didn't get onto the cd, but perhaps it wouldn't have fitted in so well with this semi-relaxed, semi-goa collection. I like it. 4/5

I don't know why I have this strong affection towards electronic music from france... be it Air, Laurent Garnier, Total Eclipse or Gabriel Masurel aka Blue Planet Corporation. they're all very special. This album is an all-time classic in goatrance, no doubt. We don't know if it was the producers intention to have that "build" over the whole length of the album, but it is definitely there - the soothing, downtempo opener "Apex" drifts into the fluffy trance delight of "Crystal" which rises into a first peak with "Alidade" and its hammering stakkato bassline sending ripples down your spine as it builds and builds and builds and builds. One of the hardest tracks is "Open Sea" in my opinion, it leaves you totally restless and the album finds a wonderful ending in "Arcana". You have to listen into this one!