Psytelligence

Various

Psytelligence

Organic Records (UK)

A pretty unbeatable showcase of the new UK trance that’s been evolving over 2003: a confident, nonchalant progressive sound that’s oddly urban, though still acknowledging the wide-open spaces from where the music gets its roots. Kicking off with Aphid Moon vs Organik’s chuggy and expansive Are Mutants; Aphid Moon’s sound mixes nicely with Chris Organic’s, in a tune with great flow and that certainly sorts out the crowd as it raises the temperature. Organik’s Need A Drink is pacey and spicey and gets you buzzing, before eyes are really opened up with Voice of Cod’s We Are Free: great flow, plenty of surprises, a really expansive sound with top-notch production. Organik’s Jellyfish is like a curling beastie at ankle-level that’s freaking you out. subtle changes make it come alive with a snarling, earthy topend. Oh yes. Miraculilx’s Sophisticated is pure instant energy: great runs, awesome sound, really expansive and begs to be turned up; yes folks, it’s a tune and a half and, on that topic, so is Slim Shady from Mr Biscuit. Creating quite a “nobody listens to techno!” stir lately, its playful stop-start motion, sprinkled with sweet samples all underpinned by a driving, foreceful midrange does the business on the dancefloors, and the moment it picks you up by the scruff of the neck for that delicious final stomp is sheer class. POTS vs Chris Organic’s Bring Back The Sunshine is sweet resuscitative trance for the belunched and beloved, and closing track SuperString from Indidginus is purely gorgeous: contemplative morning music, with loads of ticklish melodies to get those hairs on your neck standing up. Which thinking about, is something Psytelligence does several times over, in different ways: this is a wise, effective, blinding compilation — evidence that London still appears to be swinging.

5/5