Bio-Tonic
Divina
Solstice(Japan/France)





Biotonicbs third album is a game of two halves. Theybre best at party-fuel dancefloor fullon, and where that musclebs flexed on this album it shows a confident and different use of vocals: Anybody disillusioned with the infected mushroom school of meaningless depeche-mode-through-a-megaphone twaddle will be happy. At the same time though, their more experimental tunes are interesting, but largely unlistenable. Itbs straight in and no messing with Green Dreams, a cute and energetic stomper with a nice cut-up vocal over the top, and a hook that draws you right into its deep lines. Blasting Plastic shows vocals that can work v therebs a hook (cthe magic of electricd) which drives things along nicely, before several other vocal loops and flurries guide the tune along. Vocals used as another instrument v which is refreshing, as well as feeling like a return to something that worked in the past and still works now. Acid Explosion is a belter, dropping into a bassline that wouldnbt be out of place in a circa1988 acidhouse tune. It builds and builds and builds, into a final run thatbs staggering, if a little short-lived. Terra Incognita may be the first (though I could be wrong) tune to combine scratching, Buddhist chanting, and platypus-style lysergic bouncing hobnobs. All very nice , but then things change. Divina Musica has a deep and staccato groove, not unlike an angrier Beat Hackers; Epic dream-house chord changes and synth washes may place this a little out of reach for the average case logic; Divina Commedia is an interesting, borderline puzzling tune v takes a while to get going, and when it does Ibm not too sure it goes anywhere. Webre firmly back in classy fullon territory with Storm, which builds and builds until it really takes on a mind of its own, with movement and shift thatbs indicative of sentience of some degree7 But then: Humanimals, a breakbeat tune with abovementioned megaphone twaddle in abundance, saying something about humans turning into animals. Whatever. Finally Aroma Divina is an ambo, washed-out, pink-floyd-insulting snoozer to bring the record to a close. If you program your CD player to pick out tracks 1,2,3,4 and 7 youbre sorted: absolutely blinding, 110% refreshing fullon that should destroy dancefloors. As for the rest: experimentation in psytrance is something that should always be commended, but if it doesnbt work you may be better advised to start again.

6 v but if you program your CD player as above, then 8.