Various Artists - London Landscapes (Furthur Progressions, April 2009)

Author: pr0fane
Date: Apr 8, 2009
Views: 4087
The new label Furthur Progressions is ready with their debut release, featuring tracks from Ace Ventura, Liquid Soul, Earsugar, Dick Trevor, Shadow FX and more.
Review by:
Jannick Andersen // DJ pr0fane (Iboga Records)
Artist: Various
Title: London Landscapes
Label: Furthur Progressions
Format: CD/MP3
Released: April 2009
Review:
In a time with rapidly declining CD-sales, we don't see many new
labels launching with lineups of already very well-known artists.
Furthur Progressions have done just that with the release of their
debut compilation "London Landscapes" though. A CD with 9 tracks
(mostly unreleased) made by a long list of international headliners on
the progressive psytrance scene such as Ace Ventura, Earsugar/Liquid
Soul, Shadow FX and Dick Trevor as well as newer artists like Cimi and
Dog Soldiers.
Behind the new label and compiling the compilation is the two
UK-based DJ's Bedouin and Hamish who are high in demand in their
homeland, as well has having played on major international festivals
like Universo Paralello and Boom. Let's see what they've selected for
us.
01. Insane Creation & DJ Shybe - Deep Mac [130 BPM]
First track is a Swiss collaboration between the DJ Shybe and
Insane Creation, who has released two albums on DOMO Records over the
years. The intro is somewhat promising at first, but it is quite
impaired by a cheesy and quite frankly silly voice-sample. The track
itself is a laidback outdoor-track with a quite standardized
electro-progressive bassline. Didn't really appeal to me.
02. Shadow FX - Exhale [135 BPM]
Next up is one of the Australia's most noticeable newer progressive
artists in later years, Shadow FX. With an interesting mix of
funky/jazzy grooves, psychedelic effects and heavy tribal percussions
he's managed to make some very outdoor-friendly music which really
comes alive when played on a big and powerful PA. "Exhale" is no
exception, and fans of his previous releases will definitely feel right
at home.
03. Dick Trevor - Zuffle Shuffle [134 BPM]
British Dick Trevor is one of the remaining pioneers of the
psychedelic trance, and his involvement in several successful projects
over the past 15 years, such as the Green Nuns Of The Revolution,
Tufaan, Bumbling Loons, AMD, Infernal Machine, Jumanji and Green Oms
speaks for itself. His contribution to the compilation is "Zuffle
Shuffle" - a deep, chunky progressive trance groover with a solid
afternoon groove and subtle hints of goa-esque synths in the
background. Great summer track.
04. Earsugar - Mindprint [132 BPM]
Like many probably already know, Earsugar is a collaboration
between Nicola from Liquid Soul and DJ Martin, both from Switzerland.
Together they have released tracks on labels like Iboga Records,
HOMMega, Plusquam and Blue Tunes, and "Mindprint" is another possible
summer anthem from the successful duo. Take a trademark pumping
bassline and some lovely arpeggios and you have a track destined to be
played a lot this summer.
05. Ace Ventura - Genesis [135 BPM]
To say the least, the former Psysex-member Yoni Oshrat has had huge
success with his soloproject Ace Ventura, and his contribution to the
compilation is the monstrous "Genesis". With its powerful full
on/progressive trance it has some resemblance to "The Spark", but the
real bomb here is the point where the bassline goes offbeat, spiced
with some male voice-samples (sounds like Raja Ram to me). Another sure
winner from Ace Ventura.
06. Etic vs. Orgapulse - Daylight Hookers (Cimi Remix) [133 BPM]
Cimi is the soloproject of Marchello Bacchesci, who is also part of
the full on project M-Theory. Here he has remixed "Daylight Hookers" by
Etic and Orgapulse, and the result is a very deep and atmospheric
afternoon-track. At first I didn't think much of it to be honest, but
over time it has really grown on me. Good track.
07. Liquid Soul - Perfect Day [135 BPM]
"Perfect Day" is the second track with Nicola Capobianco on the
compilation - this time with his Liquid Soul soloproject. In my opinion
it's one of the absolute standout tracks on the compilation, and it's a
textbook example of what has made him so successful; immaculate
trance-influenced melodies and crystal-clear, crisp and dancefriendly
basslines. Morning trance at its best.
08. Sentrafuge - No Words (Original Mix) [128 BPM]
Next up is "No Words" by Sentrafuge, the progressive-minded
sideproject of Protoculture. It was originally released back in 2007 on
an EP on Plastik Park Records and the EP was played a lot that summer.
A really good, deep progressive house tune with naive melodies. To me
it was a nice flashback to the summer of 2007, but to release a tune
already released 2 years ago is frankly filler-material to me.
09. Dog Soldiers - Denmark [120 BPM]
Last track is from the relatively new duo Dog Soldiers consisting
of Ed Hill (Presuming Ed) and Alex Harris (Alex Q-Bit). After 8
dancefloor-tracks, this is much more laidback and is a sort of
breakbeat/progressive house fusion. Fine little tune to close the
compilation.
Bottom line:
"London Landscapes" is one of the better progressive psytrance
compilations I've heard in a while. While most other progressive
releases at the moment seem to be very focused on either the German
offbeat-sound or be quite house/techno-oriented, Hamish and Bedouin has
selected 9 tunes which are more true to the roots and in the vein of a
label like Iboga Records. They don't break new ground with the release,
but as a progressive psytrance compilation it is - despite a few
blunders - a solid release.
Recommend release.
Favorites:
2, 3, 4, 5 (!!), 6, 7 (!!)
Verdict:
8/10
Links:
Furthur Progressions Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/furthurprogressions
London Landscapes on Psyshop: http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/fup/fup1cd001.html






no comments yet