X.Dream* – We Created Our Own Happiness

Classic album from a classic group. This is an easy album for me to recommend to people who have no idea what goa trance is (or have preconceived notions). Firstly, it's a very well produced album full of nicely mixed and stratified sounds. Then, the tempos and textures are fairly middle of the road. And it also has little in the way of goa "cheese" like overused ethnic samples and basic use of the phrygian scale that sometimes sucks in second-rate goa.

X-Dream's sound started getting heavy as early as this album. With deep basslines and wide, thudding kicks from probably an SH-101. Still, this music is not out to throttle the listener. It is very trancey in a traditional sense. Just like most of their first album, it is rare for them to accent the 2 and 4 beats with a percussion hit, like a snare or clap. As such, the synth lines and cadence of the rhythms have a very cascading feel to them. The first half of the album I'd describe as well-paced, almost to a fault. There are no epic builds or breakdowns or wild b-parts to them, just tastefully methodical and well crafted in all areas.

The second half is where the money is. The title piece has got to be one of the most famous goa trance songs ever made. Off the top of my head this might be the first time (and only time) on the album where they break out a clap on the 2'n'4. And when that clap enters, I know it's going down. A very well planned track that is effectively segmented into exposition, rising action, climax, and resolution. Straight up banger, what else can I say that hasn't been said already. For years I chalked that up as the highest point of the album and has been a track I've sent to many people uninitiated with trance. But, in the past year or two I think I've found that Eleven is my true favorite on this album. It involves the heavier, punchier sound of the rest of this album with the ever-expanding trancisms from their first album; I think it's a masterwork. This LP mix is the best version, imo. The AM mix is good too but the gated opera vocal isn't as good of an element as all the acid layering they've got on this version. Aurorix is favorite #3 for me and also falls in line with the style heard on Eleven, but Eleven probably would have been better as the album closer- Aurorix is more of a track 2 or track 3 kind of track.

If you love this album then don't forget about the Panic In Paradise CD which gathers several comp appearances and b-sides from this era.

A clinic in mastering and production aside from the fact that it's composed of some of the greatest tracks in trance's 30 or so years. It's very gentle on the ears and brims with elegant melodies and well thought out compositions. The album flow and arrangement is stellar too. Detach yourself from reality for awhile and really absorb this release. Essential!

'Their songs were created by God himself' - said youri22. Agree, full of agree. It's absolutely masterpiece, music for the generations. Wow!

This is one of the best album i've ever heard, all the song are excellent and provide an unique atmosphere. I include this album in my top 5 of the most important electronic music masterpiece. X-dream have their particular style focusing on the structure of their music.The harmony of musical elements is legendary and incredibly well built, it seems that their songs were created by God himself, particularly Do you believe, The Second Room (A-Trip) and Aurorix. Their style is moving a little bit to the psy-trance and make sure you listen to their album Radio that I categorizes more like psy-trance.

Legendary tracks:
The Second Room (A-Trip), Do You Believe, Aurorix.

Key tracks:
Every f*cking tracks !!!

Wow man, I don't think there is another old skool psytrance release wich is as choky and sultry as this one..
I agree with the comments below, but the sultry sound of this album makes it really jump out to my ears.
Especially The Second Room, but really all tracks here have their quality.
Very sexy!

X-Dream has been one of my favourite psytrance acts since being introduced to them with this album in 1997. Everything reeks talent, psychedelic craziness and innovation here. Two youngsters entering with a shitload of ideas and balls to carry it out. The amount of hairraising moments is almost endless, while their later taking to darker psy/tech-trance also reveals itself just below the surface.

Our Own Happiness makes out the backbone of this record, but every track really has its own to offer, and my favourite be either one on any given day. Recommended to all psytrance listeners, and a sure must for old skool lovers.

This is as good a sample of classic Psy-trance as any. Lots of long, building synth sound with a bit of variation and a few samples thrown in to keep things going. Best track IMO is The Second Room, and Relaxed Vortex is great for the slow driving vibe.