DeathPosture
Fingering.Nuns.On.Mars
Space Tribe - Collaborations
High-res: artwork
Artist: Space Tribe (Australia) & collaborators (US, Ibiza, Germany, etc)
Title: Collaborations
Format: CD (digipack)
Label: Space Tribe Music (Australia) + Solstice (Japan)
Cat. #: STM001 + SOLMC-042 (Solstice version)
Distribution: Arabesque
Date: 17.11.2004 (Japan) 29.11.2004 (worldwide)
Track listing:
01. 07’42†Space Tribe / GMS – 3rd Eye (Spacebase Mix)
02. 07’33†Space Tribe / CPU – Single Dose
03. 07’39†Space Tribe / Electric Universe – The Acid Test
04. 07’14†Space Tribe / Psywalker – Twitch!!!
05. 07’01†Space Tribe / Safi Connection – Dinner with God (Remix)
06. 07’18†Space Tribe / CPU - Wacko
07. 07’50†Space Tribe / GMS – Alternate Future
08. 07’24†Space Tribe / Psywalker – Tall Poppy Syndrome
09. 07’59†Space Tribe / X-Dream – Turn On/Turn Off
Playlist: http://www.juno.co.uk/playlists/m3u/160424-01.m3u (all tracks)
Review:
Best of Byron Bay collaborations…
Everyone even remotely associated with the wonderful world of psychedelic trance knows about Space Tribe… The sonic sound wizard Olli Wisdom has been in the game since day one – his first album Sonic Mandala was released almost nine years ago back in 1996… And Olli is still very much active – he’s released one album each year since his debut… Collaborations is his 9th album, and as the title hints, this is a collection of tracks made in collaboration with friends and co-conspirators…
I’m a big fan of the Space Tribe sound, and especially the older stuff coming out of the Rainforest Space Base studios in Mullumbimby, Australia really kicked ass… This time it’s not Spirit Zone releasing SP-albums - this is the debut-release of Space Tribe Music… It was released back in November 2004 amidst limited attention, but I think it deserves a proper review. So here we go:
Let me take you thru the tracks…
#01: Space Tribe / GMS – 3rd Eye (Spacebase Mix) [142 BPM]
This is the remix to the ‘Third Eye’ track released on the 2003 Third Eye Records compilation Digital Eyes… I haven’t heard the original, so I can’t tell you how much was changed – what I can tell you though, is that this sounds way better than the usual GMS formulated trance that usually floods the market… The flute-ridden retro-intro is cool and the overall organic groove is pretty cool… Floating, building melodies and ripping acid-lines… Nothing revolutionary, but for a neo full-on track this is pretty damn nice!
#02: Space Tribe / CPU – Single Dose [145 BPM]
This track was already released on the 2004 3DVision compilation The Sound Syndicate… This is my first encounter with it however, so I can’t tell if it differs from the alternate version which was released as a collaboration-track under the moniker CP Tribe… Samy Guediche was pretty successful with his 2003 debut album Central Processing Unit, and this track is pretty much in the same vein – intelligent neo full-on avoiding the obvious stand-still pitfalls… CPU’s sound is pretty close to newer Space Tribe, so the guys balance each other out – creating a nice full on track with a tasty groove…
#03: Space Tribe / Electric Universe – The Acid Test [145 BPM]
This is probably the most well-known Space Tribe collaboration track… Released back in 2002, this track enjoyed massive support throughout the trance-communities worldwide… And how can you go wrong when dinosaurs Boris & Olli sit down together to create magic? And yeah, despite its age, I still like this track… Multi-riffed, complex melodies and fun bits and pieces… This is how I like my full-on to sound… I don’t care if it’s old; it’s still a stellar track!
#04: Space Tribe / Psywalker – Twitch!!! [145 BPM]
“Are you a dreamer?†Yeah, I’m a dreamer… On this track Olli collaborates with Digital Psionics label boss Luke Psywalker… It’s a great combo – we get Olli’s light, fluffy, melodic full on mated with the harder, wicked input from Psywalker… So this track is among the darkest here – riddled with flaring acid-lines and a deeper bass than usual… Kick-ass stuff!
#05: Space Tribe / Safi Connection – Dinner with God (Remix) [145 BPM]
“What if you thought a drug could sit you at the table with God?†The original to this remix was released on the 2004 Spliff Music compilation Digination's vol 01… As most full-on compilations, I haven’t heard it, so I can’t comment on what was changed in this remix. But Mishel Bitton & Olli has created a decent full-on track here… Pretty simple, but very effective… Uplifting, melodic, well-produced full-on… ;o/
#06: Space Tribe / CPU – Wacko [148 BPM]
Second collaboration with Samy Guediche/Central Processing Unit… Although this track is faster than the first one, it’s a tad cheesier and pretty formulated for the most part… However, there are good parts that prevent me from lighting the cheese beacon… I actually like the extremely psychedelic twirling acid-parts here… The rest is so-so… Decent track!
#07: Space Tribe / GMS – Alternate Future [148 BPM]
Another Bansi, Riktam & Olli collaboration… This was previously released on the 2003 Crystal Matrix compilation Awakening Soul and on the 2003 Spun Records compilation Pressure… A remix of it was also featured on Space Tribe’s last album Time S-T-R-E-T-C-H… And frankly – this track has been released enough now… As you’ve probably already guessed, this is fast-paced in-yer-face formulated full-on… A pretty standard bassline + synths + fluffy melodies… The only thing that stands out here is the climax part which is pretty entertaining… I would have much preferred the Space Tribe & Psywalker collaboration ‘Gathering of the Tribes’ instead of this…
#08: Space Tribe / Psywalker – Tall Poppy Syndrome [148 BPM]
Speak of the devil… Or rather, the combined forces of Luke & Olli… Ahh, this is much better… Again, Luke brings forth his dark approach to melodic full-on psy-trance… I will never get tired of the unique Digital Psionics sound – and when it’s mated with the classic sound of Space Tribe, you cannot go wrong… This is great!
#09: Space Tribe / X-Dream – Turn On/Turn Off [110 BPM]
Now this is interesting… Two psy-trance mammoths cooperating on a downtempo tune… You can really hear Jan Müller & Marcus C. Maichel’s thick influences on this deep, eerie, industrial-sounding intro with metallic hisses and cut beats ‘n breakz… Yeah, this is very different from the rest of the album, but a very interesting track nonetheless… More reminiscent of the gritty on X-Dream’s Irritant album, than of their newest We Interface… Frankly I can’t hear much of Olli’s input here though!? A very dark, gritty industrial, experimental track … I like it! =D
Right, as you may have noticed the majority of these tracks were already released in some form – so this is more like a compilation of Space Tribe collaboration tracks… Purists will most likely criticise that, but I for one, welcome an opportunity to own all these tracks without buying stacks of compilations… And you do get a handful of new, mostly brilliant full-on tracks + one very interesting, experimental X-Dream downbeat creation…
I’m not the biggest full-on buff around, but with a few exceptions, Olli have picked some of the very best neo full-on producers and the result is indeed nice… I wouldn’t go as far as calling this album an essential purchase, but fans of intelligent full-on should definitely check it out…
If I had to nitpick I would have included some of the older collaborations with Simon Posford and Avi Algranati on this album also. I mean – when The Acid Test is featured here, why not go all the way an include some of the older collaboration-tracks? Also, the obvious +50 bpm mistakes on the back-cover could’ve easily been avoided by an extra proof-reading before going into press… We do however get a handy DJ case insert – and an overall nice album… Looking forward to future releases from Space Tribe Music… Enjoy!
Favourites: 3(!!), 4(!!), 5, 8(!!), 9
DeathPosture
External links:
Space Tribe Music: http://www.spacetribe.com
Solstice 23: http://www.solstice23.com/newreleases/solmc-042.html
Psyshop: http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/stm/stm1cd001.html
Saiko Sounds: http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display_release.asp?id=4417
Chaos Unlimited: http://www.chaosunlimited.co.uk/cgi-bin/product.asp?LR=STMCD01
Juno Records: http://www.juno.co.uk/products/160424-01.htm
High-res: artwork
Artist: Space Tribe (Australia) & collaborators (US, Ibiza, Germany, etc)
Title: Collaborations
Format: CD (digipack)
Label: Space Tribe Music (Australia) + Solstice (Japan)
Cat. #: STM001 + SOLMC-042 (Solstice version)
Distribution: Arabesque
Date: 17.11.2004 (Japan) 29.11.2004 (worldwide)
Track listing:
01. 07’42†Space Tribe / GMS – 3rd Eye (Spacebase Mix)
02. 07’33†Space Tribe / CPU – Single Dose
03. 07’39†Space Tribe / Electric Universe – The Acid Test
04. 07’14†Space Tribe / Psywalker – Twitch!!!
05. 07’01†Space Tribe / Safi Connection – Dinner with God (Remix)
06. 07’18†Space Tribe / CPU - Wacko
07. 07’50†Space Tribe / GMS – Alternate Future
08. 07’24†Space Tribe / Psywalker – Tall Poppy Syndrome
09. 07’59†Space Tribe / X-Dream – Turn On/Turn Off
Playlist: http://www.juno.co.uk/playlists/m3u/160424-01.m3u (all tracks)
Review:
Best of Byron Bay collaborations…
Everyone even remotely associated with the wonderful world of psychedelic trance knows about Space Tribe… The sonic sound wizard Olli Wisdom has been in the game since day one – his first album Sonic Mandala was released almost nine years ago back in 1996… And Olli is still very much active – he’s released one album each year since his debut… Collaborations is his 9th album, and as the title hints, this is a collection of tracks made in collaboration with friends and co-conspirators…
I’m a big fan of the Space Tribe sound, and especially the older stuff coming out of the Rainforest Space Base studios in Mullumbimby, Australia really kicked ass… This time it’s not Spirit Zone releasing SP-albums - this is the debut-release of Space Tribe Music… It was released back in November 2004 amidst limited attention, but I think it deserves a proper review. So here we go:
Let me take you thru the tracks…
#01: Space Tribe / GMS – 3rd Eye (Spacebase Mix) [142 BPM]
This is the remix to the ‘Third Eye’ track released on the 2003 Third Eye Records compilation Digital Eyes… I haven’t heard the original, so I can’t tell you how much was changed – what I can tell you though, is that this sounds way better than the usual GMS formulated trance that usually floods the market… The flute-ridden retro-intro is cool and the overall organic groove is pretty cool… Floating, building melodies and ripping acid-lines… Nothing revolutionary, but for a neo full-on track this is pretty damn nice!
#02: Space Tribe / CPU – Single Dose [145 BPM]
This track was already released on the 2004 3DVision compilation The Sound Syndicate… This is my first encounter with it however, so I can’t tell if it differs from the alternate version which was released as a collaboration-track under the moniker CP Tribe… Samy Guediche was pretty successful with his 2003 debut album Central Processing Unit, and this track is pretty much in the same vein – intelligent neo full-on avoiding the obvious stand-still pitfalls… CPU’s sound is pretty close to newer Space Tribe, so the guys balance each other out – creating a nice full on track with a tasty groove…
#03: Space Tribe / Electric Universe – The Acid Test [145 BPM]
This is probably the most well-known Space Tribe collaboration track… Released back in 2002, this track enjoyed massive support throughout the trance-communities worldwide… And how can you go wrong when dinosaurs Boris & Olli sit down together to create magic? And yeah, despite its age, I still like this track… Multi-riffed, complex melodies and fun bits and pieces… This is how I like my full-on to sound… I don’t care if it’s old; it’s still a stellar track!
#04: Space Tribe / Psywalker – Twitch!!! [145 BPM]
“Are you a dreamer?†Yeah, I’m a dreamer… On this track Olli collaborates with Digital Psionics label boss Luke Psywalker… It’s a great combo – we get Olli’s light, fluffy, melodic full on mated with the harder, wicked input from Psywalker… So this track is among the darkest here – riddled with flaring acid-lines and a deeper bass than usual… Kick-ass stuff!
#05: Space Tribe / Safi Connection – Dinner with God (Remix) [145 BPM]
“What if you thought a drug could sit you at the table with God?†The original to this remix was released on the 2004 Spliff Music compilation Digination's vol 01… As most full-on compilations, I haven’t heard it, so I can’t comment on what was changed in this remix. But Mishel Bitton & Olli has created a decent full-on track here… Pretty simple, but very effective… Uplifting, melodic, well-produced full-on… ;o/
#06: Space Tribe / CPU – Wacko [148 BPM]
Second collaboration with Samy Guediche/Central Processing Unit… Although this track is faster than the first one, it’s a tad cheesier and pretty formulated for the most part… However, there are good parts that prevent me from lighting the cheese beacon… I actually like the extremely psychedelic twirling acid-parts here… The rest is so-so… Decent track!
#07: Space Tribe / GMS – Alternate Future [148 BPM]
Another Bansi, Riktam & Olli collaboration… This was previously released on the 2003 Crystal Matrix compilation Awakening Soul and on the 2003 Spun Records compilation Pressure… A remix of it was also featured on Space Tribe’s last album Time S-T-R-E-T-C-H… And frankly – this track has been released enough now… As you’ve probably already guessed, this is fast-paced in-yer-face formulated full-on… A pretty standard bassline + synths + fluffy melodies… The only thing that stands out here is the climax part which is pretty entertaining… I would have much preferred the Space Tribe & Psywalker collaboration ‘Gathering of the Tribes’ instead of this…
#08: Space Tribe / Psywalker – Tall Poppy Syndrome [148 BPM]
Speak of the devil… Or rather, the combined forces of Luke & Olli… Ahh, this is much better… Again, Luke brings forth his dark approach to melodic full-on psy-trance… I will never get tired of the unique Digital Psionics sound – and when it’s mated with the classic sound of Space Tribe, you cannot go wrong… This is great!
#09: Space Tribe / X-Dream – Turn On/Turn Off [110 BPM]
Now this is interesting… Two psy-trance mammoths cooperating on a downtempo tune… You can really hear Jan Müller & Marcus C. Maichel’s thick influences on this deep, eerie, industrial-sounding intro with metallic hisses and cut beats ‘n breakz… Yeah, this is very different from the rest of the album, but a very interesting track nonetheless… More reminiscent of the gritty on X-Dream’s Irritant album, than of their newest We Interface… Frankly I can’t hear much of Olli’s input here though!? A very dark, gritty industrial, experimental track … I like it! =D
Right, as you may have noticed the majority of these tracks were already released in some form – so this is more like a compilation of Space Tribe collaboration tracks… Purists will most likely criticise that, but I for one, welcome an opportunity to own all these tracks without buying stacks of compilations… And you do get a handful of new, mostly brilliant full-on tracks + one very interesting, experimental X-Dream downbeat creation…
I’m not the biggest full-on buff around, but with a few exceptions, Olli have picked some of the very best neo full-on producers and the result is indeed nice… I wouldn’t go as far as calling this album an essential purchase, but fans of intelligent full-on should definitely check it out…
If I had to nitpick I would have included some of the older collaborations with Simon Posford and Avi Algranati on this album also. I mean – when The Acid Test is featured here, why not go all the way an include some of the older collaboration-tracks? Also, the obvious +50 bpm mistakes on the back-cover could’ve easily been avoided by an extra proof-reading before going into press… We do however get a handy DJ case insert – and an overall nice album… Looking forward to future releases from Space Tribe Music… Enjoy!
Favourites: 3(!!), 4(!!), 5, 8(!!), 9
DeathPosture
External links:
Space Tribe Music: http://www.spacetribe.com
Solstice 23: http://www.solstice23.com/newreleases/solmc-042.html
Psyshop: http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/stm/stm1cd001.html
Saiko Sounds: http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display_release.asp?id=4417
Chaos Unlimited: http://www.chaosunlimited.co.uk/cgi-bin/product.asp?LR=STMCD01
Juno Records: http://www.juno.co.uk/products/160424-01.htm
