Man With No Name – Moment Of Truth

Man With No Name's Moment of Truth: A Retrospection on Classic Goa Trance

Man With No Name's Moment of Truth is a captivating exploration of classic Goa trance, released in 1996. While some may find the album's sound somewhat dated today, it's an important piece of the genre's history and offers a nostalgic trip back to the early days of psychedelic trance.

The album kicks off with the title track, "Moment of Truth," a hypnotic and driving tune that sets the stage for the rest of the album. "Floor Essence (Dayglo Mix)" follows, with its infectious energy and pulsating rhythms, making it a standout track that still holds its own on dance floors today.

While some tracks may feel like filler, there are undeniable gems to be found. "Azymuth" is a beautiful ambient piece that provides a welcome respite from the album's more intense moments. "Sugar Rush (Refined Mix)" is another highlight, with its euphoric melodies and driving bassline.

Moment of Truth may not be Man With No Name's most groundbreaking work, but it's a solid representation of the classic Goa trance sound. It's an album that rewards repeated listens, revealing subtle nuances and hidden depths with each playthrough.

Highlights:

Floor Essence (Dayglo Mix): A high-energy dance floor anthem.
Azymuth: A blissful ambient interlude.
Sugar Rush (Refined Mix): A euphoric and melodic journey.
Overall:

Moment of Truth is a nostalgic trip back to the early days of Goa trance. While it may not be as innovative as some of Man With No Name's later work, it's still a worthwhile listen for fans of the genre.

"Evolution" - simple, melodic, melancholic ... what more do you want?

I agree with the other reviewer that Floor-Essence's intro is ridiculous although the song in its entirety is actually pretty decent. The beginning makes me raise my eyebrows every time I hear it, but then as the song progresses you get sucked in. It's still a night and day compared to something like Dawn Chorus or Low Commotion.

I think the composer's earlier trance background haunts this album for the better or worse. The songs of Moment of Truth may not be as unique sounding as many 90s pure Goa blasters are (like Transwave - Phototropic, for example), but they are very well structured when it comes to building up for the exciting and important melodic parts that stick with you. As much as I love the blender of crazy sounds and weird rhythms of 90s Goa, I think many artist are way too quick to throw too much on the listener's face without proper build-up and preparation, and that is when the whole song and it's elements may get too saturated and suddenly nothing sounds impactful anymore.

Moment of Truth is indeed a weird mix of 90s Goa and various trance elements that, at least to a modern listener, sound often very cheesy. I guess this quirk is one of the reasons why Moment of Truth stands out from the rest and is considered a classic by many people.

Just brilliant. One of the few artists to really understand Goa and how to utilize it to make art that transcends genre. Very interesting how he developed as a DJ. His early techno stuff was really goofy (not entirely terrible but not exactly great at all). Then he discovered Goa and took it to another level with that all time masterpiece "Teleport." This album doesn't quite reach those heights but still delivers an amazing consistency few can emulate.

Great album just sit down shut your eyes and drift back in time 25 years 😊

There is a nice balance of Yin and Yang in this music which I feel is lacking in todays Psy trance which is tilted to the yang. Goa Trance can open the heart when this balance of masculine and feminine is there and with the analog sound it hits you in the heart and the head. Some people don't like music which is emotionally and spiritually emotive. I have known Dj's to cut out the intro's and the breaks in the songs in their sets, not because it is cheesy, but rather that they have an uncomfortableness with their feminine or spiritual side. Yes, it can be a fine line sometimes in regards to a song being cheesy, but what some call cheesy can sometimes be an inability to connect or perceive the deeper, subtle, spiritual beauty within a song.

4 years ago Moment Of Truth blew me away with its purity and simplicity and today it still remains one of my favourite albums up 2 date.
Man With No Name in a nutshell:Maybe his tracks are not as dark and complex,but he shows u how genuine and effortless goa can be.Amazingly simple yet instantly intriguing are the two most important aspects of MWNN IMHO and most of his works are trance-friendly as they do not show typical psy groove or twist.
My favourite tracks here are Floor Essence & Sugar Rush,timeless masterpiece.

For me this album is a real masterpiece of the trance music,maybe is no so fast and trippy like other producers of goa/psy music,
but that is not a problem, MWNN can prove that the real deal of make amazing tunes born in the melodies,for example Floor-Essence is a amazing tune the beat and the bass are mind blowing and is better if listening that tunes, when you are in a rave with a little bit of rain,
in a few words this is a masterclass album and one of my favorite´s

If you ever have searched for a soul or a deeper heart in trance and techno music: Here it is, unawakend, pure and without any side effects reported.

Martin Freeland is the rare kind of guy who invites you not only to ride his electronic fury, he gives you an honest hug at the same time. His messages are "All is full of fluff", "Be not afraid in the dark, I'm with you" and "Where is the beast? I'll kill you, pigwang!".

Yep, this is no stuff for the real tough guys out there who think about coolness all day. Freeland does not fear the simple melody, the bigger emotion, the 4-to-the-floor thing. He burns down all the barriers between music genres within an arpeggio. Who cares about EBM, Club Techno, Dance Pop or Trance, if you get all of them together?

This is an album you can listen to whereever you want - it just works fine. The club tunes don't yank your chain at home and a title like "Floor-essence" defines the functional blueprint for itself. The version of "Sugar rush" invites you straight to the fast-lane on an never-ending motorway. On the other side, "Azymuth" introduces me to a sort of Psybient stuff that seems to be totally new when I heard it for the first time back in '97. And it works in a club environment, too - as I've spot a few months later.

A lot of people say "Dance music sounds all the same to me, cheesy and monotone". They're right most of the time maybe, but this one here is different.

Man with no Name is an artist who has it's very own signature in composing music. His song structures are assembled very clever, always with the thought of prolonging the climax. His kickdrum is a special one, hitting hard and melting soft. His melodies and sequences come from another world, so simple, pretty and unforgettable.

Believe me: No other Psytrance album has got the qualities of this one - and I've heard a lot of them through the years. Freeland never ever has been so fresh and intense as on this. His other work is still outstanding and unique, but that looks quite like another story to tell. Do I really recommend you his dozens of remixes which he'd produced during the nineties?

Here you go.

Firstly, in reference to the previous couple of reviewers - accessible trance doesn't always mean 'cheesy' or 'fluff'. Just because MWNN's music isn't as dark or trippy as the likes of Hallucinogen or Total Eclipse (both of whom I also love), doesn't mean that it cannot be enjoyed for the more 'feel-good' side of goa/psy-trance that it represents.
This album, and indeed MWNN's music in general, is something you can enjoy no matter what mood you're in. Give the guy a break. There's no rule saying that psytrance can't have chord changes.
Plus, 'Azymuth' is one of the best downtempo tracks I've heard, floating and lilting, it takes you on a journey from start to finish.
If it's a good slice of upbeat, uplifting, non-monotonous goa/psy you're looking for, this album will not steer you wrong.