DeathPosture
Fingering.Nuns.On.Mars
Antix – Twin Coast Discovery
High res: cover
Artist: Antix (Australia)
Title: Twin Coast Discovery
Format: CD (jewel case)
Label: Iboga Records (Denmark)
Cat. #: IBOGACD30
Date: 25 April 2005
Track listing:
01. 08’26†FREq – Return to the Master (Antix Remix)
02. 07’56†Antix – The Inkling
03. 08’46†Antix – Forever Changing
04. 08’47†Antix – Cold Night
05. 08’18†Antix – Little Honey
06. 09’05†Antix – Le Lascard
07. 08’49†Antix – Quiet Is The New Loud
08. 09’11†Rhian Sheehan feat. Jess Chambers - Hiding Place (Fiord Remix)
Review:
Lush, plush, antics…
Antix is the brain child of Australian twins Barton & Hayden Strom… The debut album Lull was released by Iboga Records in 2003 and is still holds a leading position among the most acclaimed progressive trance albums ever released… That’s quite an accomplishment and the expectations for the long-awaited follow-up have been enormous… But if anyone can pull it off, it’s Iboga… Let’s find out what took them so long…
Let me take you thru the tracks…
#01: FREq – Return to the Master (Antix Remix)
Australians remixing a fellow Australian… This track was originally released on my all time fav’e prog album: FREq’s Strange Attractor released by Iboga in 2004 – and this remix was already released on the Playground compilation… So why release it again? It’s not a bad track at all; I would just have preferred more Antix…
#02: Antix – The Inkling
Prior to looking up the word ‘inkling’ I had no inkling what the hell it meant… *sS* Anyway, this is pretty much where there album starts – and we’re immediately exposed to the rich, phat, progressive Antix sound that we have come to love so much… Stripped down at first, but slowly more FX are added until the track is full-blown funky-ass progressive trance… I can’t wait to play that breakdown + take off bit during a hot summer day at the beach while sipping margaritas… And this track is dying to be mixed into a Buzzmonx or a Kooler track… Sexy choon!
#03: Antix – Forever Changing
Again we start out with a pounding rhythm section – tribal drums, rich percussion and an overall ass-wiggle-friendly atmosphere… After a couple of minutes we head towards more housy territory which leads us to the break… Reminds me of Krüger & Coyle in some aspects… The build-up creates tension sure enough, but the climax isn’t really a climax… Ah rats! Well, it’s still ultra-smooth, groovy progressive trance with almost epic qualities… Good but not amazing – I could’ve wished for more edge here…
#04: Antix – Cold Night
We’re definitely still in club-land on this very housey number… The basslines is super groovy – rich, deep and pounding… And the percussions works wonders… Actually everything is fine and dandy – and no matter how much I try to convince myself that this is too cheesy, I can’t help but like this track… There’s something hypnotizing about it… Very mesmerizing… Somewhere in between 12 Moons and the Saiko-Pod house remixes… Sweet!
#05: Antix – Little Honey
This track really shows how talented the Strom brothers are in the studio – I mean, just listen to the first couple of minutes… What the hell are those sounds used as percussion? Native American chanting? Some kind of filtered bell-sound? A frog? Whatever it is, it sounds very original – and very nice! The accordion & string arrangements are cool and so are the cut-up voice samples… This is highly melodic, multilayered progressive trance – with all kinds of cool FX thrown in… When I listen to this, I just wanna close my eyes and drift away… By far the most uplifting Antix track I’ve ever heard… ;o)
#06: Antix – Le Lascard
This is the obvious hit of the album – it has the widest appeal and it was the first track I really took notice of when I first listened to the album… It’s not as uplifting as Little Honey, but its close…The soundscapes here are wall-to-wall… Drenched in an equal amount of prog and melodies… Absolutely massive! The undecipherable voice-samples are strangely familiar and the dance potential is evident… Knob adjustment executed to perfection – the filtering and morphing is indeed impressive! Sweet track!
#07: Antix – Quiet Is The New Loud
Let’s turn the epic meter down a notch or three… This track takes a more minimal approach and gone are the flaring, epic melodies… The impressive rhythm section is still very much present though and I like the electro-tribal feel halfway through… This is a little darker and more introvert than the previous tracks – and I embrace that… I wouldn’t mind grooving to this tune in a dark abandoned warehouse somewhere… Nice!
#08: Rhian Sheehan feat. Jess Chambers - Hiding Place (Fiord Remix)
We continue down Epic Street, and take a left on Crossover Drive… This track was originally released by Kiwi Rhian Sheehan on his 2004 album Tiny Blue Biosphere – and the Fiord remixing it, is a more commercial Antix outfit… I haven’t heard the original, but I’m guessing that’s where all the cheesy elements stem from… The female voice-samples are a little over the top as are the overused strings… A little too Balearic for my taste, but besides from that this is a pretty nice track and the phat percussions save the day…
Loads of people have already dubbed this the best progressive house/trance crossover album of the year so far… I don’t agree… This album is indeed very good, but personally I prefer the more edgy Tegma and Beat Bizarre albums over this… But this comes in as a close third so far…
As always with Iboga, the quality level is extremely high… Personally I could’ve wished for more edge here – sometimes it gets a little too epic and well-polished for my tastes… But overall, it’s a nice album. The production is flawless and the cover-art stands out as highly original… Well done! I can’t say I like this album better than Lull – it’s equally good and they complete each other nicely… Fans of rich, groovy, well-polished progressive trance/house with immediate crossover potential will most definitely get pleasure from this… Enjoy!
Favourites: 2, 4, 5, 6(!), 7
DeathPosture
External links:
Iboga: http://tinyurl.com/bwd9n
CDx: http://tinyurl.com/be5ga
Loud: http://tinyurl.com/aamth
Chaos: http://tinyurl.com/cw7hk
Psysale: http://tinyurl.com/77zqu
Psyshop: http://tinyurl.com/cl9ew
Discobole: http://tinyurl.com/anf53
Beatspace: http://tinyurl.com/8pks7
Radiokiosk: http://tinyurl.com/83omv
Trance Shop: http://tinyurl.com/c6nxf
Saiko Sounds: http://tinyurl.com/bah4e
High res: cover
Artist: Antix (Australia)
Title: Twin Coast Discovery
Format: CD (jewel case)
Label: Iboga Records (Denmark)
Cat. #: IBOGACD30
Date: 25 April 2005
Track listing:
01. 08’26†FREq – Return to the Master (Antix Remix)
02. 07’56†Antix – The Inkling
03. 08’46†Antix – Forever Changing
04. 08’47†Antix – Cold Night
05. 08’18†Antix – Little Honey
06. 09’05†Antix – Le Lascard
07. 08’49†Antix – Quiet Is The New Loud
08. 09’11†Rhian Sheehan feat. Jess Chambers - Hiding Place (Fiord Remix)
Review:
Lush, plush, antics…
Antix is the brain child of Australian twins Barton & Hayden Strom… The debut album Lull was released by Iboga Records in 2003 and is still holds a leading position among the most acclaimed progressive trance albums ever released… That’s quite an accomplishment and the expectations for the long-awaited follow-up have been enormous… But if anyone can pull it off, it’s Iboga… Let’s find out what took them so long…
Let me take you thru the tracks…
#01: FREq – Return to the Master (Antix Remix)
Australians remixing a fellow Australian… This track was originally released on my all time fav’e prog album: FREq’s Strange Attractor released by Iboga in 2004 – and this remix was already released on the Playground compilation… So why release it again? It’s not a bad track at all; I would just have preferred more Antix…
#02: Antix – The Inkling
Prior to looking up the word ‘inkling’ I had no inkling what the hell it meant… *sS* Anyway, this is pretty much where there album starts – and we’re immediately exposed to the rich, phat, progressive Antix sound that we have come to love so much… Stripped down at first, but slowly more FX are added until the track is full-blown funky-ass progressive trance… I can’t wait to play that breakdown + take off bit during a hot summer day at the beach while sipping margaritas… And this track is dying to be mixed into a Buzzmonx or a Kooler track… Sexy choon!
#03: Antix – Forever Changing
Again we start out with a pounding rhythm section – tribal drums, rich percussion and an overall ass-wiggle-friendly atmosphere… After a couple of minutes we head towards more housy territory which leads us to the break… Reminds me of Krüger & Coyle in some aspects… The build-up creates tension sure enough, but the climax isn’t really a climax… Ah rats! Well, it’s still ultra-smooth, groovy progressive trance with almost epic qualities… Good but not amazing – I could’ve wished for more edge here…
#04: Antix – Cold Night
We’re definitely still in club-land on this very housey number… The basslines is super groovy – rich, deep and pounding… And the percussions works wonders… Actually everything is fine and dandy – and no matter how much I try to convince myself that this is too cheesy, I can’t help but like this track… There’s something hypnotizing about it… Very mesmerizing… Somewhere in between 12 Moons and the Saiko-Pod house remixes… Sweet!
#05: Antix – Little Honey
This track really shows how talented the Strom brothers are in the studio – I mean, just listen to the first couple of minutes… What the hell are those sounds used as percussion? Native American chanting? Some kind of filtered bell-sound? A frog? Whatever it is, it sounds very original – and very nice! The accordion & string arrangements are cool and so are the cut-up voice samples… This is highly melodic, multilayered progressive trance – with all kinds of cool FX thrown in… When I listen to this, I just wanna close my eyes and drift away… By far the most uplifting Antix track I’ve ever heard… ;o)
#06: Antix – Le Lascard
This is the obvious hit of the album – it has the widest appeal and it was the first track I really took notice of when I first listened to the album… It’s not as uplifting as Little Honey, but its close…The soundscapes here are wall-to-wall… Drenched in an equal amount of prog and melodies… Absolutely massive! The undecipherable voice-samples are strangely familiar and the dance potential is evident… Knob adjustment executed to perfection – the filtering and morphing is indeed impressive! Sweet track!
#07: Antix – Quiet Is The New Loud
Let’s turn the epic meter down a notch or three… This track takes a more minimal approach and gone are the flaring, epic melodies… The impressive rhythm section is still very much present though and I like the electro-tribal feel halfway through… This is a little darker and more introvert than the previous tracks – and I embrace that… I wouldn’t mind grooving to this tune in a dark abandoned warehouse somewhere… Nice!
#08: Rhian Sheehan feat. Jess Chambers - Hiding Place (Fiord Remix)
We continue down Epic Street, and take a left on Crossover Drive… This track was originally released by Kiwi Rhian Sheehan on his 2004 album Tiny Blue Biosphere – and the Fiord remixing it, is a more commercial Antix outfit… I haven’t heard the original, but I’m guessing that’s where all the cheesy elements stem from… The female voice-samples are a little over the top as are the overused strings… A little too Balearic for my taste, but besides from that this is a pretty nice track and the phat percussions save the day…
Loads of people have already dubbed this the best progressive house/trance crossover album of the year so far… I don’t agree… This album is indeed very good, but personally I prefer the more edgy Tegma and Beat Bizarre albums over this… But this comes in as a close third so far…
As always with Iboga, the quality level is extremely high… Personally I could’ve wished for more edge here – sometimes it gets a little too epic and well-polished for my tastes… But overall, it’s a nice album. The production is flawless and the cover-art stands out as highly original… Well done! I can’t say I like this album better than Lull – it’s equally good and they complete each other nicely… Fans of rich, groovy, well-polished progressive trance/house with immediate crossover potential will most definitely get pleasure from this… Enjoy!
Favourites: 2, 4, 5, 6(!), 7
DeathPosture
External links:
Iboga: http://tinyurl.com/bwd9n
CDx: http://tinyurl.com/be5ga
Loud: http://tinyurl.com/aamth
Chaos: http://tinyurl.com/cw7hk
Psysale: http://tinyurl.com/77zqu
Psyshop: http://tinyurl.com/cl9ew
Discobole: http://tinyurl.com/anf53
Beatspace: http://tinyurl.com/8pks7
Radiokiosk: http://tinyurl.com/83omv
Trance Shop: http://tinyurl.com/c6nxf
Saiko Sounds: http://tinyurl.com/bah4e
thoroughly recommended as good chill music and for dancing in the afternoon sun 
