TRIPSWITCH - Circuitbreaker
Here's my first review, I've just sent this over to Isra under my walter-ego 'intrees'. Enjoy
TRIPSWITCH – Circuit breaker
Liquid Sound Design Recordings.
Cat bflcd78
Released : April 2005
Track listing:
1. exiled (manta mix)
2. shamanic tea
3. indigo
4. roll your own
5. tachyon
6. cartwheel
7. silver (robot baby mix)
8. tomahna
9. viscous
10. deer park
Liquid Sound Design. The next step up from Lucy’s Sky… Dragonfly Records present Nick Brennan’s debut full album release, after teasing us with his offerings across several of their recent compilations. I have found his earlier works to be very outstanding and I was keen to listen to this new chapter in sound who is fast becoming one of my favourite artists.
The journey opens with the familiar sounds of ‘exiled’ which calmly lead us into a gentle mixture of tight djembes and lazy synths that wander blissfully inbetween some male (hindi?) vocals and really sets the scene for what is about to unfold over the next 70 minutes. This remix is slightly more shanti than the original, kind of like the whole track has been stretched out over a lazier groove. Really great track.!
Next up is ‘shamanic tea’ which bends beautifully into the dubbed out essence of Nick’s sound. I have always loved this track, and the new mix of real drum kit sounds and longer echoes greatly enhance this track’s appeal. The shpongled liquid lead synths that pour out over the beat at 2:28 twist and melt their way into the atmosphere as more hindi vocals soar through the mix delightfully. I don’t know who this woman is, but she really pours her heart out for us on this really special track. I love the way her voice delays across the deep dub bass. Really great stuff.
The new track ‘indigo’ follows, with a nice intro with some lovely whale type noises melting over a trancey riff. The beats begins to pick up at the 2 minute mark and leads us into a nice groove, some cut-up female vocals adding to the build. We get a break at around the half way mark, with what sounds like some Donna Summer (!?) vocals… Sure brings a smile to your face as you float along with this tune!!
‘Roll you own’ follows with some Hawaiian guitar and effortless piano twinklings, again with the faint hint of vocals soaring in and out of the sounds. This tune has a real summer vibe, would probably mix really well with some Abakus and soda at some inter-galactic hammock festival some-when in the not too distant future J
The dreamy ‘K-Pax’ sampled interlude that is ‘tachyon’ rolls neatly into ‘cartwheel’ which is indeed good-natured and loving as it spins us further into dream land… By now you are drifting further into your wolly hammock as the music trips over itself to make you relax and enjoy yourself; something this music does with effortless ease.
The ‘robot baby’ mix of ‘silver’ is next, Nick lets his baby daughter play with the vocoder, a nice cute intro into what I feel is my favourite tune on the album. This is the first 4x4 track here, and really builds up into a psychedelic treat, especially at the break at 4.17, where you are left hanging amongst delicious bubbles and wo(i)bbles before being breathed out over a fantastic display of colourful noises and effects that will keep you dancing at any chill-out room no matter what state of consciousness you are in! This is a must-hear track, every psy-chill lover will adore this one!
O.K, (I’m nearly done!) ‘tomahana’ is next, another soft tune with some peaceful guitar and rhythms, a very uplifting tone pulstates here, keeping you engaged and happy.
The next track ‘viscious’ was recently released earlier this year on the new ‘Indica’ compilation ‘Namaskar’, another 4x4 effort but one that carries a bit more weight than the ‘silver’ mix. I’m sure some of the throat sounds on this have come from Shpongle’s last album, actually this is probably the most ‘S’ tune on here, I love this tunes chunk and energy, another one to wake you up in the chill-out! ! Top stuff. .
‘Deer park’ closes the album, a long ambient intro leads into a nice tune, but nothing here really keeps me inspired, I’m far too gone by this point anyway, I think I’ve floated way too far from the speakers to really notice anything outstanding J
Well there you have it, a really nice journey into relaxing psychedelic spheres, I wholeheartedly congratulate Nick on this beautiful piece of work. The album takes you far and away into the L.S.D sound, in a very English careful manner, never really taking any risks with new sound effects or time structures, just delivering you with a peaceful blend of sounds that keep you smiling, happy and free.
Buy it at :
www.chaosunlimited.co.uk
www.saikosounds.com
