B Trance

A joint venture between HomMega and Israel’s Radio bu 99, B Trance is a nice package – one unmixed CD, one mixed by Guy Salama – that doesn’t quite deliver what it promises. Astrix & DJ Highguy’s Chaos veers on the cheese, with a particularly l a r g e  leadline, but its power and production can’t be sniffed at. Next, and the prospect of Michelle Adamson – vocalist with Shpongle, Younger Brother, Infuckted Messroom (thanks pickle) – teaming up with Sub6 is a groovy one, but or some reason it doesn’t quite push the buttons it should… luckily Space Cat more than makes up for this with Trance Former. Vintage Avi, it’s pacey and spacey, with melodies you want to shag and a 303 that – well, that you also want to shag. It’s just that sort of tune okay? Alright. Cosma’s Yok Yok is a bustly, gnarly bit of nighttime music that poignantly reminds of the soup of styles and emotions this guy had at his disposal. PsySex’s Dirty 80’s (rmx) is reasonable, it’s sub their normal output and doesn’t really have an awdul lot to write about. So we move to Black & White’s Animaldo, a stripey and shuffley bumwiggler, that’s largely otherwise nondescript. Shulman’s Small Grey Creatures getting the remix treatment from recent trance darling Illumination had me foaming at the mouth – until that break, with the ambient arpeggios sending the dancefloor off to the bar, and nothing on the backend to bring ‘em all rushing back stella in hand. PsyCraft’s Top Gun is a slight saving grace, with a nice groove but again lacking in real substance. Finally, Chakra’s Liquid Troll 2004 Remix is a delight, provided you remember the original… but those who were still in short trousers at the time, this isn’t likely to turn many heads. File under “nostalgia.” Much as it pains me to say it, as I love HomMega and have done for years, we’re looking at one killer tune and three reasonably-decent ones, out of a possible nine. On those statistics alone, it’s a disappoitment.

2/5