Twisted Trance [Import]

Twisted Trance [Import]

Track Listings

1. Hydra

2. And Diven

3. Jericho

4. She Can

5. Full Ogic

6. Encounters

7. Flamboyant

8. Planet One

9. One Nation

10. Earshot

11. Dk03

12. Feel The Vibe

13. Autoprogression

14. Moitor Mask

15. Keep On Rockin

16. Steffan

17. White

18. Stimulax

19. Modular

20. Virgo

See all 27 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Unique Mix of Trance Tunes.

Twisted Trance,Various Artists,Insol,Dance

Tales of the Inexpressible
Average customer rating:

Top-five All Time album

Aural Revolution

Q: Are we not MEN? A: We are Shpongloids. TEN Stars!!!

As good as it gets

This Summer's Best Album

Tales of the Inexpressible
Shpongle
Manufacturer: Twisted Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Are You Shpongled?

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Tracks:

Dorset Perception
StarShpongled Banner
New Way to Say "Hooray!"
Room 23c
My Head Feels Like a Frisbee
Shpongleyes
Once Upon the Sea of Blissful Awareness
Around the World in a Tea Daze
Flute Fruit

Customer Reviews:

Top-five All Time album.......2007-07-01

I have owned this album for about five years.

It's brilliant.

Simon Posford (The brainchild of Shpongle) is a modern Mozart: unconventional, brilliant, inspired.

Note that this is heavily electronic music, and tends toward the styles you can dance to (techno, trance), but has a strongly psychedelic bent and some stints into ambience. The vocals (female vocals, on about three tracks) are flawless, moving. The ethnic elements are well-done and not overstated. But what really makes this music work is the subtle complexity, brilliantly mixed into a coherent and absolutely enjoyable whole.

Do note that there are samples (spoken) that ... err... condone the use of hallucenigenics. So be warned. :)

But if you are at ALL into heavier electronica, you will--beyond doubt--count this album among your favorites. ...In fact, the longer you wait to buy it, the angrier you will eventually be once you realize what you've been missing.

And for those of you that already own the album and came here to see what other people were suggesting, I say: more Simon Posford. There are few things that come close to his style. Note that Posford has over 30 (!) aliases. Start with Younger Brother and go from there.

Aural Revolution.......2007-05-18

Listening to this is like having your mind torn apart with heaven rushing in to caress your soul. This cd truly is inexpressible and no amount of words would ever do it justice. It has a warmer feel to it than Are You Shpongled. Are You Shpongled has more of an alien and strange vibe to it which while also beautiful is different than this. Tales of the Inexpressible makes you think more of some sort of rebirth in paradise. While an amazing experience in an unaltered state, in an altered it is truly life-changing. I can't recommend enough to get this cd, this is how music is supposed to be.

Q: Are we not MEN? A: We are Shpongloids. TEN Stars!!!.......2006-11-26

It's interesting the way God/Fate/Life has lead me into the music of new artists. I was listening to a Pete Namlook CD in my iTunes library, and decided on a whim to see what Namlook CD's were available in the iMusicStore. They had more than I expected...I was unaware that Namlook was such a prolific musician (who I recommend highly, incidentally). I then decided to come over to Amazon to read some reviews of his other CD's, and one reviewer somewhere alluded to Shpongle. That name set off a little memory bell in my head--I remember someone from my past mentioning that Shpongle was a group I needed to look into. So: back to iTunes I went, to see if Shpongle was available there. Lo & behold, all 3 of their CD's plus the Remixes disc were there. I started sampling their music, and proceeded to get knocked out of my chair. I then did something I've never done before: I proceeded to order all 4 discs as downloads from iTunes since I couldn't WAIT to have (virtually) everything they had. I am now absolutely NUTS over Shpongle's music, and only a handful of bands have ever grabbed me as immediately as this (examples: YES, SIGUR ROS, PORCUPINE TREE).

Many have already said that words fail them in attempting to describe this band, and I have to agree, but they are definitely at the top of the electronica heap. Simon Posford is an absolute electronic genius and the warm flutations of Raja Ram are icing on an already delicious cake. (Is he, by the way, the same Raja Ram who used to belong to the early 1970's Krishna-Rock band called QUINTESSENCE? If so, cool, and hi, Raj! "Upon the Sea of Immortality/Keep your raft afloat with Harmony...")

It should go without saying that if this is the first Shpongle CD you've treated yourself to, you WILL want to own everything they've done. As someone who's been an electronic music freak since first hearing Tangerine Dream's PHAEDRA in the sweet summer of '74, I can truly state that this is some of the most innovative electronica these ears have ever heard...very difficult to just listen to this disc in segments, as its very nature begs you to go for the entire journey each time you put it on. And trust me...at the end of each listening, you feel as if you HAVE been on QUITE a journey (with or without the use of psychedelic stimuli). It's hard to draw comparisons, but in my own field of experience, I can recommend Shpongle to those who love Future Sound of London's LIFEFORMS, the wonderful extended instrumental passages on Junkie XL's LIVE FROM THE COMPUTER HELL CABIN, the earlier Enigma and Delerium releases, and in their softer moments I even hear traces of the underrated Norwegian electronic ensemble Amethystium. On a grander scale, though--and as has been stated already--this will appeal to not only electronic music fans, but also to those who are sick of the pablum that's being shoved down our throats by major-label "artists" who have all the originality of a fast-food hamburger. Listening to Posford and Raja Ram execute their music on all 4 of their releases gives one serious pause to question whether they are, indeed, from this planet.

So be brave, musical pioneers, and check out Shpongle with an open heart and mind. The chances are very, very good that you will walk away feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, blessed, and with a very big smile on your face after your first listening. I know I did. Peace/Love/Om Shanti.....Doug

As good as it gets.......2006-11-11

This album is just the best I've ever heard. Far and away. Most of my friends prefer Simon Posford's most recent venture with Prometheus as Younger Brother which feels significantly more digital, but I love Shpongle's more organic side with accoustic sounding strings and digital lines that seem to really have someplace to go and something they want to teach you on the way.

If you listen closely, you'll hear God. She has something to tell you.

This Summer's Best Album.......2005-08-04

My 28 yr old son turned me on to this album (he actually got it at the last Bonnero Concert. I absolutely fell in love with it. I have to play it at least once a day. I love the quote from an early Pink Floyd (Piper at the Gates of Dawn, I think) album, "the gnomes have learned a new way to say whoraaaaaaaaay...". A must album.

Average customer rating:

messing with time
intelligent and subtle
I have heard the sonic frontier...and it is good, very good!
Brilliant... Simply brilliant
if i only could rate it 7 stars....

Are You Shpongled?
Shpongle
Manufacturer: Twisted Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tales of the Inexpressible
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ASIN: B00000I3V3
Release Date: 1999-02-16

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Shpongle Falls
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Behind Closed Eyelids
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Customer Reviews:

messing with time.......2005-12-21

This is the first of the 3 Shpongle CD's. The others are indeed awesome however, the way these guys mess with time signatures is incredible. And the way they play with processed vocals on this disc is unlike anything I have ever heard before or since. Truly cutting edge! The use of computers allows them to change the way phrases are accented and musical phrases sort of morph from one phrase to another before your very ears. If you're into cutting edge music that is recorded expertly, with incredible production values and you appreciate the music of Gong, Ozric Tentacles, Motivation Radio circa Steve Hillage etc.... you will love this disc.

intelligent and subtle.......2003-07-25

i have listeneed to this cd so many times, and each time it flows by so smoothly and easily. it is a perfect companion for those times when you want to relax deeply and let your mind drift into another dimension. enjoy the trip!

I have heard the sonic frontier...and it is good, very good!.......2001-12-01

This is truly one of the best collections of sound you will ever lavish on your ears. A true audio-alchemical delight. It is without doubt the most moving and intelligent albums I have ever heard. If you want to move out onto the edge of sound get shpongled!

Brilliant... Simply brilliant.......2001-07-07

Normally, I review CDs with a great deal of depth and heavy description, but for Shpongle, I just want to repeat the word "brilliant" until I hit the word limit. It's the sentiment I've had ever since I purchased the album... Gosh, was it really one year ago? It seems unbelievable that I've listened to this album as many times as I have, yet I love it as much as (if not more than) any other disc in my collection.

The reason for that is that Are You Shpongled? is simply so unique. Simon Posford and Raja Ram reportedly wrote this album while high (most likely on marijuana, considering some of the album art), and it shows. This is something that took the ultimate, mind-freeing experience to write.

Are You Shpongled? packs the CD with over 77 minutes of mind-bending, trippy ethnoambient experimentation. It covers everything from smooth dub to wicked drum 'n' bass to mellow jazz to spaced-out lounge to energetic trance, sometimes within the course of a single track. There is NO genre that typifies this sound, since it borrows a little from everything.

That may at first suggest that the album is jarring and disjointed, but that is hardly true. In fact, Are You Shpongled? should win an award for its seamless and unbelievably smooth flow. Somehow, Posford and Ram manage to work rhythmic and stylistic shifts that take place over such long stretches of time (without being boring) that they seem not to happen. Any producer in the world could stand to learn something from this duo.

I personally feel that the album hits its peak toward the end, but then, all that means is that the last three tracks deserve six stars instead of five. ;) It builds to a slow peak and then cools off quickly, especially with the 20-minute "...And the Day Turned to Night" wrapping things up. This track was written to reflect Posford's emotions while watching an eclipse, and it recreates that powerful experience vividly.

I tried this album purely on a recommendation, since the sound files seemed only moderately interesting. I have never been so thankful that some random force (whatever it was - fate, chance, whatever) prodded me in the right direction and made me get this album. It's just a milestone for music in general, and it deserves that amount of recognition.

if i only could rate it 7 stars...........2001-06-24

a must buy to everyone who likes music. the most inspiring album i have ever heard, simon posford and raja ram at their best. cant wait to another one that should be published by the end of the month (june 2001). in one sentence: "DIVINE MOMENTS OF TRUTH..." most highly recommanded.

Average customer rating:

534521 times better than Ibiza
Psychidelic, euphoric and mesmerizing
Classic World Class Goatrance!
One for the time capsule
hallucinogen-twisted

Twisted
Hallucinogen
Manufacturer: Twisted Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000IWX0
Release Date: 1999-05-25

Tracks:

LSD
Orphic Thrench
Alpha Centauri
Dark Magus
Shamanix
Snarling Black Mabel
Fluoro Neuro Sponge
Solstice

Album Description

Mid-price reissue for the classic 1995 debut album from the pioneering trance producer who's worked with Paul Oakenfold.8 tracks including 'LSD', 'Orphic Thrench' and 'Alpha Centauri. 1999 release. Standard jewel case.

Customer Reviews:

534521 times better than Ibiza.......2006-04-13

I downloaded LSD and Gamma Goblins (a track not on Twisted) in 1997 and went out and bought the CD shortly thereafter. I've been listening to it ever since, maybe not on a day to day, week to week, or month to month basis, but still with more frequency then dozens and dozens of other albums I've listened to in the past. I don't listen to any other trance, but I do like good music. This is good music. It is also good programming and I believe that it was done on mostly analog equipment. The guy uses a Arp 2600, for chrissakes! If you like complicated, sequenced melodies played on gritty, analog oscillators, this is for you.

Psychidelic, euphoric and mesmerizing.......2005-11-02

It seems these days that a lot of psy/Goa trance artists are either rehashing what has been done before or are experimenting with new sounds that, whilst comendable (and something that results in great music), is prone to missing the point of being either psychidelic or entrancing. This release from Hallucinogen however is straight up yet top notch psy trance. The way this album makes me feel is unlike anything else.

Dark and driving yet also uplifting, huge in both sound and scope yet at its core rather simple, cathy yet not at all catchy and mechanical yet somehow very human, Twisted is an epic and engrossing album that is essential not just for trance fans but for anyone who enjoys psychidelic music. The way the music climaxes and flows means its just as enjoyable for a sober night in as it is at a rave (the true test of good electronic dance music), something that cannot be said for most drug-induced (non-)experiments with a keyboard and a drum machine. The music can both hover over you and sweep you off its feet with its impressive sonic layering and manipulation. The structure of the music is also remarkable. Simon Posford knows how to break a song down and bring it back up again, ensuring that the repetitive lines don't outstay their welcome and the overall feel of the music doesn't become stagnant.

When I first heard Twisted I wasn't immediately swayed but it has since wormed its way into at least my top 20 albums. Highly recommended.

Classic World Class Goatrance!.......2005-08-03

Sonic waves permeate the membranes of perception whilst one undergoes audial absorption and integration. Welcome to the paradox of illuminating darkness. This one is going to be hard to beat. Ever. Surely a milestone in the ever growing library of Goatrance music. A strong five star album. Your Goatrance collection would be incomplete without it.

One for the time capsule.......2005-07-23

Absolutely text-book Goa trance, every wah-bleep, drum crescendo and drug-addled vocal sample in its place. In years to come this will be one of the records to play to people who want to hear what the genre (or sub-genre) sounded like.

Sounds like I'm damning 'Twisted' with faint praise, but at its best Goa trance is an exhilarating and absorbing thing, and this is it at its best. I only gave it four stars because it's not among my favourite kinds of music; if it's one of yours, add the fifth star and don't hesitate.

hallucinogen-twisted.......2004-03-18

twisted is the most amazing fusion of sound i have ever heard. this album deserves 6 stars because simon posford has put together a miracle with this work. the layering of elements work perfectly and it sends you on a journey of sound, no matter how cliche that is. the best songs on this album are shamanix and flouro neuro sponge, just in that they are absolute perfect songs, but in total, the entire album is full of songs, that can be enjoyed by themselves, but the album is better from beginning to end. you must get this album! even if you dont like psychedelic trance, or even electronica in general, this is a perfect album and it need not be passed up!

Average customer rating:

Meh.
Shpongle/Hallucinogen for the masses
The Legacy Lives On!
Brilliant
Sick, Sick, Sick

Flock of Bleeps
Younger Brother
Manufacturer: Twisted Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Evil & Harm
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Customer Reviews:

Meh........2007-04-03

I guess it's an above-average psytrance album, but it just didn't do it for me. I should point out that I came to this album hoping it would deliver music similar to Shpongle, and while there are some similarities this is more along the lines of formulaic dance music: aggressive, repetitive, and, well, rather dumber than Shpongle.

Bottom line: it's good for what it is (a dance album), but don't expect another "Are You Shpongled?" or "Tales of the Inexpressible."

Shpongle/Hallucinogen for the masses.......2007-02-24

The beginning of the album is absolutely brilliant; Simon's artistic and sound engineering skills shine through -- the first song would go perfectly on any Shpongle album. The next two (or so) songs are a little bit of a let-down. They almost sound like "Shpongle/Hallucinogen for the masses". They are easier to listen to than earlier Posford work. Not my style, but I can appreciate the effort. I am guessing that Benji Vaughan and possibly other people's influences are at work in these songs. I am not familiar with Vaughan's work, so I can't really say for sure.
Starting with track 5, the album picks up and changes direction towards Hallucinogen-style psytrance. Tracks 6-7-8 are hard, fast, and beautiful. They culminate with an uplifting 4-minute auditory feast: "It's like a finger that points to the moon... Don't look at the finger, or you will miss all the heavenly glory!..."
Starting with track 9, the album cools down, and finally ends with a 2:40 minute chill-out "Bedtime story".
Even though I'm giving it only 4 stars, I definitely recommend this album. Tracks 1 and 5-8 are its backbone and well worth the bucks.

The Legacy Lives On!.......2004-03-28

This CD is great, a superb follow-up to earlier Simon efforts!

Brilliant.......2003-10-30

"A flock of bleeps" is as difficult to categorize as Shpongle. it's more dancefloor-oriented, but ranks right up there with "Tales of the inexpressible".

This beautiful bit of the first song just keeps playing in my head, again and again..

"You may have noticed..that I am not all there..myself!"

Sick, Sick, Sick.......2003-10-08

Posford and Co prove again why he is pushing the limits of trance music. Great incorporation of organic elements while keeping the trance alive. The album starts out real thick and shpongle-ly then picks up pace in the twisted records tradition.

Tracks:

Shpongle Falls
Monster Hit
Vapour Rumours
Shpongle Spores
Behind Closed Eyelids
Divine Moments Of Truth
...And The Day Turned To Night

Customer Reviews:

Are YOU Shpongled?.......2005-08-03

This album is like a breath of fresh air. But do not think that it is hardcore Goatrance, for it is far from it. It is more like ambient with a smidgen of drum and bass. A very mellow, classy chill out CD. Layers of well-placed sound, exotic melodies, and vivid effects come together seamlessly to elicit a very pleasant experience for the listener. The combination of wispy flutes, powerful baselines, and modern synth is very interesting indeed. Designate a room designed for relaxation and then play this CD on a good stereo system in that same room. Smudge with incense for added ambiance. You will not be disappointed.

The call of the jungle to the lost tribes..........2005-07-22

The call of the jungle to the lost tribes...

In their first venture as Shpongle, Simon Posford (aka Hallucinogen) combines with 70-year old flautist Raja Ram to blend a unique range of genres ranging from Middle-Eastern, Latin, Celtic, African, tribal, drum n bass, psychedelic trance, dub, and ambient into a lush psychedelic jungle soundscape.

This is my favourite Shpongle album, and I own all of them including the 2005 release Nothing Lasts...But Nothing is lost (which is not yet listed on Amazon), and the Shpongle Remixed compilation. For those who have listened to Shpongle, this is not the club killer "Nothing Lasts...But Nothing is Lost", nor is it the round-the-world epic of "Tales of the Inexpressible", but more of an ambient soundscape. Think of voyaging though an unknown alien rainforest.

Those new to Shpongle or the ambient genre may prefer their later, more upbeat albums;
I'd strongly recommend "Tales of the Inexpressible" as the first place to start with Shpongle unless you are specifically looking for an under-the-stars, feet up experience. Those looking for a dance/club experience would be better directed to buy "Nothing Lasts...But Nothing is Lost", or "Shpongle Remixed". Those who are already shplongled (you know who you are!) will be able to fully appreciate this work to its extent.

As pre-mentioned, this is Shpongle's first, rawest, and most ambient work. From the first track we are in "a circular vortex...spinning...spinning...", then into the jungle with "Monster Hit", which goes from drum n bass into trance and dub, with beautiful vocals and a magical flute solo played by Raja Ram. More upbeat, "Vapour Rumours" starts off with samples about UFOs before a 3-and-a-half-minute long flute solo launches the track into a Celtic/dub/psytrance hybrid with even more flute riffs and trippy UFO sighting samples. "Shpongle Spores" is back to chilled-out dub, this time with middle-eastern sitars in the background. The last three tracks are the best on the album. "Behind Closed Eyelids" launches the dub into goa/psytrance, which just builds and builds in to a trip-out fest by the end and features more flute melodies. The horse "neighing" sample in this song is awesome and makes me think of "The Lone Deranger".

My favourite track "Divine Moments of Truths" starts off with tribal vocals and what sounds like a digareedoo followed by hypnotic melody which magically appears to change (but doesn't!) as the 4/4 kick changes to breaks. Then a funky baseline surfaces with sounds a bit like turntable scratching before Mayan/Amazonian-sounding vocals come in followed by African vocals, then the tribal chanting of "DMT". The track then builds itself into a tribal frenzy of such intensity that makes you yearn for an open campfire on a beach, or a jungle or desert or mountain rave with multitudes of deliriously dancing bodies. Owning all the Shpongle albums this is without a doubt my favourite of their songs (imagine an African/Mayan tribal version of "Dorset Perception" for those who have their second album).

The album closes with the 20-minute epic "...And the Day Turned to Night", a soundscape of middle-eastern, tribal, trance, and drum n bass, which is arguably Shpongle's greatest work.

Throughout the album, which is really more like one giant track, Simon Posford's godlike production and songwriting allows for the multiple genres to seamlessly blend together: for example, at any one time you might have drum n bass beats, dub bass, middle-eastern guitar, goa melodies, accompanied by tribal/shamanistic vocals and psychedelic sound samples. However never once does the mix feel cluttered, on the contrary, the way the sounds are layered so intricately to sound so clean is a credit to Simon Posford's masterful production skills. This has to be some of the best production I've heard.

What's really interesting about Shpongle's music is the organic vibe from use of live (or live sounding) instruments (most notably Raja Ram's flute and the KILLER bass that works its way through the whole album), and the tribal vocals. Special mention should also go to the percussion section. The beats are all tribal sounding and Simon is not afraid to make use of exciting time signatures such as 5/4 and 6/8, 11/8; the 4/4 kick which psytrance/goa usual employs is all but non-existent for the majority of the album.

Overall this album is a genre-defying debut classic that will be enjoyed by many generations to come. I would dub it the modern-day "Dark Side of the Moon" from the way it incorporates a range of sounds to form a psychedelic experience in one solid movement. All of my friends, who are into a range of music including psytrance, trance, reggae, metal, rock, and hip-hop, as well as my mum who listens to world music, have thoroughly enjoyed the Shpongle experience.

I would recommend "Are You Shpongled" to anyone with taste in non-mainstream music, especially world music, tribal, ambient, psytrance/goa, dub, who wants to listen to a unique music that effortlessly bridges genres and has the power to change how you think of and appreciate both music and life.

One more thing.

I strongly OBJECT to the reviewer who states that this album can only be fully enjoyed under the influence of drugs. I can believe that this album WAS intended for listening under the influence of psychedelic drugs: with the Terence McKenna quotes, trippy effects/vocals, the cover art, references in songs like "Behind Closed Eyelids" and "Divine Moments of Truth" ( DMT is a highly potent hallucinogenic drug), and of course the fact that it was written by Simon Posford (aka the psytrance godfather "Hallucinogen" whose most known song is titled "LSD"). However, it is such a masterpiece that when listened to in the right circumstances it takes you out of your body even when you're sober. Of course for psychedelics this is ESSENTIAL trip-out stuff and Shpongle's most psychedelic album (although you need to get "Tales of the Inexpressible" to hear the gnomes' new way to say "Hooray!").

PS. Sorry for the long review but I really wanted to do this CD justice.

Reviews are like opinions..........2005-07-12

Everyone involved has one, and only 2% of them are educated. From listening to and researching a large base of abstract and accessible artists, you get a feel for what the normal level of production, creativity, etc. is out there.

This CD strikes an AMAZING balance between excellent (not just excellent, some of the best I have ever heard) production, accessibly songs and complete creativity.

Every sound is incredibly detailed, tailored to the track and on point. The rhythms are intricate, solid and executed with perfection. Every track sounds as though every recorded instrument and synthesizer is under more control than I can fathom.

The review on here where the person says you need to be high is a blatant example of a completely uneducated review. Just because someone did a load of drugs and now can not enjoy something sobre does not mean it is unenjoyable - it means the person has issues with drugs. I mean this is the same person that tried to say that a ditzy girl is 'normal' on a couple beers or an angry person is like a calm person on PCP. That is some of the most unintelligent, non thought provoking, shallow and utterly ignorant observations I have heard.

My point is to listen to this CD and decide for yourself, I can assure you that if you have a QUASI open mind and appreciate music, you will be impressed. Whether you download a couple albums a week or go to used cd shops and scour for hundreds of hour collecting rare gems, this CD has something to provide you.

Even with the thirty-dollar US price tag, I am going to buy this CD. It is NOT around in used shops on the east coast. If you like this, check out other work under hallucinogen on the twisted records label.

And remember - crack is wack.

This is the future!.......2005-04-25

I'm at a loss. You see, I don't like to gush out superlatives when describing something. Euphemisms like "Best Ever" and "Definitive" betray the ingorance of the one who employs them. But seriously... if I'm to avoid sounding like a gushing fanboy, how am I to ever do justice to something like this?

This is a stunning, timeless work of complete and utter genius. Simon Posford and Raja Ram have earned the right to be mentioned next to Sergei Rachmaninoff and J.S. Bach. They are among the first people to realize the boundaries of endless invention that electronic music is capable of. You see, when you're not bounded by an instrument, where any sound is at your disposal, all bets are off. And when you're listening to Shpongle, that's precisely what you should expect - all bets are off. This is music that refuses to conform to any single genre, transcending the boundaries of electronica with reckless abandon, and yet doing so with an unerring alien inner logic that tells you that the end result isn't senseless experimentation but a finely crafted musical idea.

There are rumours that this album has been created entirely under the influence of LSD. This is possible.

So, what kind of music is this? I suppose if you try to file it away under a single label, "ambient electronica" might be close, but this music has only some things in common with other more traditional ambient artists like Future Sound of London. There are many psytrance elements here - hardly surprising since both Simon Posford and Raja Ram have (or had) permanent psy-trance projects. Indeed, Posford's Hallucinogen has many similarities to Shpongle, but while Hallucinogen is purely psytrance, Shpongle uses psytrance as one of the many tools in it's diverse sonic portfolio. There are elements of drum'n'bass here, elements of dub, breakbeats, Native American chants/percussion (?), lots of other ethnic influences, and general all-out weirdness. And flute. Raja Ram's flute is all over this one, giving us a nice contrast between electronic manipulation and impressionistic melodic instrumental musings.

With an array of influences this diverse, you would expect the end product to be a discombobulated mess, but here, the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts. Shpongle isn't about it's musical influences - it transcends them, and uses them as building blocks in order to construct... something else.

Really. My powers of description fail me. We typically describe things by analogy, but there's simply nothing that I could compare Shpongle to. Is it like a more concise, more melodic Lifeforms-era Future Sound of London? Yes, and more. It is an ambient, experimental rendition of psytrance? Yes, and more. Is it a cross between ethnobeat, dub, and drum'n'bass? Yes, and more. Instead of being merely influenced by a particular genre, Simon and Raja Ram prove to us that they can do that genre better than the masters of it can themselves. Their trancier interludes are every bit as good as anything that Astral Projection and Infected Mushroom ever put out. And, they have a sophisticated melodic sensibility that goes far beyond what most electronica artists are capable of, at least those without classical training.

Production has held up really well over the years. In some ways, this is even better produced than the follow-up. There's more deep bass, and ambient queues are clearier and easier to discern. A good system can go a long way to help you fully appreciate this music. On my Stax SR-404 electrostatic headphones (sorry, earspeakers!), this sounds utterly amazing. Of course, you don't NEED a good system to enjoy this disk, but you haven't heard the limits of this music until you've put it through an audiophile, reference quality setup. Simon and Raja Ram have used a predominance of analog synths here (that's right, NO PRESETS), and much of the recording was done entirely in analog. It shows - their attention to detail is meticulous. Everything sounds perfect.

Every track is excellent, but the standouts in my mind are "Shpongle Falls," a perfect drum'n'bass-ey flute-covered gem, "Divine Moments of Truth," which stands somewhere in between a tribal chant and... well, I don't know what exactly, and "... and Day Turned to Night," which is a psychedelic mini-epic, and a complete emotional journey from beginning to end.

Should you get this disk, if you have no idea who Shpongle are? Yes. Without reservation. I've seen people who weren't especially impressed by this disk, but they're few and far between. As long as you have at least some interest in, and appreciation of, electronic music, this is a mandatory item in your collection. As is the follow-up.

Final rating: this is beyond ratings. This is the future of electronic music.

Eghy Likes It, So It Must Be True!.......2004-11-08

I agree with Eghy on this review, however it is ironic that what he likes is ranked 75,000 on Amazon and what he hates- "Gartels- Trance, Dance and Other Living Things" is ranked 3,500." I liked Shpongled, and I liked Gartel's Trance, Dance and Other Living Things. I guess that puts me at odds with Eghy (again)- see my Gartel Review.

Average customer rating:

Hallucinogen EP finally available at amazon...
Hallucinogen is Simon Posford...
Paul Oakenfold is the best!

Mi-Loony-Um
Hallucinogen
Manufacturer: Twisted Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00004TSAR
Release Date: 2000-07-04

Tracks:

Mi-Looney-Um!
L.S.D. (Oliver Lieb remix)
Beautiful People

Customer Reviews:

Hallucinogen EP finally available at amazon..........2005-04-25

Mi-Loony-um and Beautiful People were tracks that Hallucinogen has produced since 2000. That said, they pretty different from his earlier work on "Twisted" and "Lone Deranger." These songs are even more oriented for the dance floor, as the bass is emphasized more-so in these songs than any of his previous work. These songs do have that Hallucinogen magic, but it takes a lot more listening to find it amid the bigger beats. If you are a previous Hallucinogen fan, you will like these songs, but will probably be turned off initially; give them time, they are good.
As for the L.S.D. remix, I was not really impressed, but the other 2 new songs that were previously only available on compilations are more than enough to make up for it. My problem with the remix is that it does not really redefine the song and make it exciting in a whole new way. It is good, it just is not upto par with the rest of the Hallucinogen catalog, which I consider great. This EP is not his best, but it is still excellent as a whole with the exception of the remix.
On a sidenote, "Mi-Loony-Um" was written by Hallucinogen for a New Year's Eve party on the brink of the advent of 2000 in South Africa. That was the first time it was played to a live audience.
Conclusion: I recommend this album if you are a Hallucinogen fan; if you are not, but curious, check out one of Hallucinogen's albums first as they are more accessible. Then get this one.

Hallucinogen is Simon Posford..........2000-07-13

...not Paul Oakenfold! No offense, but Oakey couldn't produce this quality of music if his life depended on it. That aside, this should be a great album. I haven't heard this particular cd, but I've heard all of the tracks elsewhere, and they're all great, especially the new ones: "Mi-Loony-Um!" and the remix of Manson's "The Beautiful People". It's a shame that my favorite classic Hallucinogen track, "Orphic Trench", is not on it, but then again I like "Gamma Goblins" and the new tracks just as much. Anyway, enough talking, if you don't have "The Long Deranger" and "Twisted" albums, buy this for a great taste of both. And check out the Shpongle CD if you wanna hear Simon Posford's absolute masterpiece and, in my opinion, one of the greatest musical achievents of this century.

Paul Oakenfold is the best!.......2000-06-24

NO matter how low the volume is... every song on this CD is just pulsating..in one phrase, it's just the best trance out there. I just hope that more Hallucinogen comes out in the U.S. because I'm addicted. I loved Angelic Particles, LSD (especially how it turns into this progressive beat and rhythm not at the beginning, but in the middle of the song), and Snarling Black Marble. Some of the same songs came from "Twisted", but I really don't mind. I would like to see more remixes, but right now I'm really craving some of Paul's "Space Pussy" and "Jiggle of the Sphinx"

Average customer rating:

Amazing Stuff
Excellent Follow-up Album
A Goa Classic
Deranged and lovin it!
Hallucinogen makes the best trance that exists. Period.

The Lone Deranger
Hallucinogen
Manufacturer: Twisted Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Electronica | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Twisted
Classical Mushroom
In Dub
The Gathering
Sub Conscious

ASIN: B000024U1T
Release Date: 2001-03-20

Tracks:

Demention
Snakey Shaker
Trancespotter
Horrorgram
Sharling (Remix)
Gamma Goblins (Part 2)
Deranger
Jiggle Of The Sphinx

Customer Reviews:

Amazing Stuff.......2004-01-19

man the first album i heard of goa trance was b.p empire from from another greath goa and psy trance exponent infected mushrom and really get impresed,this man is so dark and so deep,the whole album is a master piece,and songs like snakey shaker are like breath fresh air,this dude really know what is doing is not only a greath composer also a greath audio enginer,if you dont have this album better go and buy right now cause this is the real deal,i give a 10 to this album and this hallucinogen dude :P i hope someday i will can do something similar on the fruity loops, LONG LIVE TO GOA¡¡¡¡¡

Excellent Follow-up Album.......2003-08-12

I recommend this album for the following reasons: It is complex and interesting to listen to, with lots going on. At the same time, however, there are catchy melodies and rhythms that are extremely appealing to listen to. Though classified as goa trance, I wouldn't consider this dance music, as the timing of the beats on this album is constantly changing and unconventional, thus making traditional club dancing a little difficult. Though this was my first "goa" album, I wouldn't consider this music entry level; try Hallucinogen's other masterpiece, "Twisted," beforehand if you want something more accessible and catchy. "The Lone Deranger" is very dark and atmospheric, and constantly leaves you waiting to see what will happen next; this music is extremely creative and unlike anything else I have listened to. The last thing I love about this album is that it is like a journey that builds on itself and is extremely varied; the first track starts the album at a slow pace, but from there on, the music speeds up and doesn't let up. A great album with no throw-away tracks or no two songs that are alike, yet somehow it still flows . My favorite piece: Snakey Shaker.

A Goa Classic.......2003-01-25

Simon Posford, the man behind Hallucinogen and Shpongle, has an excellend reputation for being a really good goa trance DJ, and a lot of it is because of this CD. It has clean, clear sound and the loops are more like spirals - the melodies keep changing in an intricate way, just right to let you get into that trance state when dancing but yet changing all the time. The sound 'morphs'. Posford manages to do this very well, even better than Astral Projection. There are samples that conjure up images, like a running water sample in Gamma Goblins. If you want to hear what psychedelic trance is all about, you need Posford's stuff. This CD is a classic.

Techno and goa especially seems very underground in the US, so let me add a note for Americans: This music IS for dancing, and it's not underground. This IS big and commercial. This is part of the techno dance culture. Be ready to leave the bump 'n grind behind, because you need to meld with the music and move much faster. Give this a try - there's a reason this is a huge movement elsewhere.

Deranged and lovin it!.......2002-12-21

Simon says, get trippy!

This is a great album with Gamma Goblins being the standout tune. While not something I'd dance to, it is great music to lose yourself in. I think it is more refined and cohesive than Hallucinogen's previous release Twisted. This is a must buy for fans of the trance/goa genre or those into "heady" music.

For an even more intense experience, get Shpongled!

Hallucinogen makes the best trance that exists. Period........2002-12-18

And that makes "Trancespotter" the very best trance song that exists. Period. That's it.

Average customer rating:

Sadly Disappointing

Divine Moments in Truth
Shpongle
Manufacturer: Twisted Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Are You Shpongled?
Shpongle Remixed
Tales of the Inexpressible
Sub Conscious
Nothing Lasts... But Nothing Is Lost (27 May 2005)

ASIN: B000050A9L
Release Date: 2000-11-28

Tracks:

Divine Moments Of Truth (Instrumental Remix)
Divine Moments Of Truth (Shpongle Trance Remix)
Divine Moments Of Truth (Original Russian Bootleg Mix)

Album Details

Trance: The instrumental side is a mix of ricochet like percussion that rides in a massive bass vibe. The Shpongle Trance Mix features extracts of the familiar reversed vocal samples & D.M.T. utterings from the original.

Customer Reviews:

Sadly Disappointing.......2001-01-29

I want to make my biases clear before I begin. First, I'm a big fan of Shpongle, even though Simon Posford and Raja Ram have released only one CD under that name. Are You Shpongled? is one of the prize releases of my collection, and one album that will probably never wear out its welcome. I love the album from beginning to end, and although none of the songs are weak, I feel that the last few tracks - a group that "Divine Moments of Truth" belongs to - are especially strong. I generally hate singles, but a remix disc of this track is more than welcome in my home.

But the more and more I listen to this single, the more I'm convinced that it's an effort to cash in on one of the best songs off the Shpongle album, instead of an effort to reward devoted fans with great music. And I KNOW Shpongle has some great "Divine..." mixes on hand, since a few bootleg copies are floating around on the Internet already. In fact, I purchased this single in the hopes that they would be on it.

The reason I say that it's a cash-in is because two of the three mixes are essentially club hits from a project that is made not for dancing but listening; you can't get more transparent than that. The "Instrumental Mix" is very close to the original, except for the removal of about 2 minutes of the introduction. The main alterations are the addition of a muted dance beat and the subtle background effects that seem to pepper a lot of Hallucinogen (Posford's reknowned psychedelic trance project) tracks.

Then there's the "Shpongle Trance Remix." As the name suggests, it is more strongly based in trance structures, and it winds up having more of a dancy than meditative aura to it. This remix is really not that bad, but again, it's not what I expected in light of the original mood of Are You Shpongled?, which focused more on trippy chillout music than psytrance. For for those who want a hyper-peppy trance mix of the song, this is it. But unlike the "Instrumental Mix," which actually removes some material, the "Shpongle Trance Remix" seems to leave the original song intact and merely compresses it to fit into an 8-minute space. As a result, there are some very uptempo segments in the track, which ruin the original feeling of the song.

Personally, I feel that the "Original Russian Bootleg Mix" is the only remix on the single that holds true to the original "Divine Moments of Truth" - and that's because it IS the original "Divine Moments of Truth." I honestly cannot find a single difference between this version and the original, except that this "remix" is 10 seconds shorter. I'm mystified as to why this is even on the disc.

In a nutshell, I feel ripped off. Eight bucks isn't a huge loss in the scheme of things, but the six months of anticipation is harder to get over when it turns into disappointment of equal magnitude. I'm especially angry that, for a release that claims all the remixes were done by Shpongle, two of them sound more like Hallucinogen and the third one isn't even a remix at all.

If you're looking for trance versions of Shpongle material, this will definitely quench your thirst. But don't buy Divine Moments of Truth with the expectation that you'll hear anything new in the Shpongle style. I hate criticizing Posford and Ram, since their first release was just SO AMAZING, but I have to criticize this single for not being Shpongle. That's fair, right?

Average customer rating:

Twisted Beats
Pete Tong
Manufacturer: Wea International
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Trance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00005KFVJ
Release Date: 2002-01-08

Tracks:

Caveman (AKA Trogolodyte)
Groove Is in the Air [Simon's Future Dreams Mix]
Know You Can [Rick Pier vs. Dave Moss Bittin' Jazz Mix]
Latinstatic [Original Mix] - Sound 5
Lack of Dub - Tony Hewitt, , Doc Martin
Revolution - Superchumbo
Meet Her at the Love Parade 2001 [Pete Heller's Stylus Style Mix] - Da Hool
Breathe [Lexington Avenue Mix] - Erire, Science Dept.
Penetration - Madam
Losing Control - Saeed & Palash
Sputnik [Mainframe Mix] - Pete Heller, Stylus Trouble
Bedford Street
Passive Aggression [Brothers in Rhythm Remix] - Placebo
Pure [Six Speaker Remix] - Justin Scott Dixon
Hide U [John Creamer and Stephanie K Remix] - Kosheen

Tracks:

Silver Screen Shower Scene [Lead Vocal] - Felix da Housecat
Wave 3 [Original Mix] - Josh Gabriel
Mindcircus [Tarantella Dub] - Way Out West
Heavy Fluid [Original Mix]
Beats, Vol. 2 [The Cricket Mix] - Harry "Choo Choo" Romero
(Always) A Permanent State Tom Stephan's Superchumbo Mix] - David James
Phase One [Futureschock Mix]
Scorchio [S.K.'s Scorched Mix]
Jade [Original Mix]
Outlaw [Praha Mix]
Redemption [Max Graham's Dead Sea Mix] - Conjure One
Horizons [Way Out West Dub] - James Holden
Secrets [Ian Wilkie's C-Bit Dub] - Mutiny UK
Thrust 2 - Natious

Album Description

UK dance release compiled by the don of British dance DJs. 29 tracks, The Neanderthal 'Caveman (AKA 'Troglodyte')', Tijuana 'Groove Is In The Air', Whatever Girl 'I Know You Can', Sound 5 'Latintastic', Doc Martin & Tony Hewitt Present Left Coast Selections 'Lack Of Dub', Superchumbo 'The Revolution', Da Hool 'Love Parade 2001', Science Dept 'Breathe', Madam 'Penetration', Saeed & Palash 'Losing Control', Pete Heller Presents Stylus Trouble 'Sputnik', Hatkhan O'Nal 'Bedford Street', Placebo 'Passive Aggression', Justin Scott 'Dixon Pure', Kosheen 'Hide U Disc Two', Felix Da Housecat 'Silver Screen (Shower Scene)', Josh Gabriel 'Wave 3', Way Out West 'Mindcircus', Yun Yum 'Heavy Fluid', Harry Choo Choo Romero 'Beats Vol. 2', David James '(Always) A Permanent State', Critical Phase 'Phase One', Sasha & Emerson 'Schorchio', Jade 'The Safar', Fu Man Choo 'Outlaw', Conjure One 'Redmption', James Holden 'Horizons', Mutiny UK 'Secrets' & Natious 'Thrust 2'. 2001 release.

Album Details

Double Disc Set from the All-world DJ and BBC Radio Program Host Tong. Features Cuts from Caveman, Tijuana, Da Hool, Placeo and a Great Deal More!

Average customer rating:

Twisted Sessions mixed by Tristan

Twisted Sessions, Vol. 1
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Efa Imports
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000669SK
Release Date: 2002-07-23

Tracks:

Blue Sky on Mars [Alternative Mix] - Twisted Allstars
Beloved Icecream
Dark City - Tristan
Snakes and Ladders - Prometheus Process/Hallucinogen
Things to Do
Spiritually Correct
Head Candy - Aphid Moon
Audio Evangelists
Monkey Business - Tristan
Silent Running

Customer Reviews:

Twisted Sessions mixed by Tristan.......2002-07-26

If you are someone who remebers Trance Music from the late 80's and early 90's. Before there were labels of what music was what-then this Cd is for you. Lots of drive, energy and fun to listen to.

Music:

Recommended Music:

Green Street [Import] [Limited Edition]

Music: Portraits of Praise, Vol. 2 [Live]

Do Me Right [CD-single] [Enhanced] [Import]

Crowbar

Flamenco Nuevo

Dandy Warhols Come Down

Etherias

Extended Versions (Live)

Christmas Collection

Et Si C'etait Moi [Import]

Gonna Let U Know [CD-single]

A Splash of Pops

The Concord Jazz Heritage Series