In Depth Review of March 13th Alladin Party @ Club Exit BK

It has been a while since I went out to a proper Psytrance party, due to the overload of school, work, and life in general. The weather was perfect, and simply felt really great to get out, just as mid term exams finished, and I started my spring break :)

(Club Exit without any Decoration- click 2 enlarge)

I got to Club Exit in Greenpoint Brooklyn around 12:30am, and was greeted by several of my fellow Indian friends. We had a nice chat, as I was really tempted by the thumping bass that leaked through from the walls of the club. As usual, Exit was decked out in full UV decoration & back drops. As I entered the club, I was quite surprised to see my long time friend & DJ, Knob on the decks. He hardly plays at the beginning of parties, but was playing some really groovy tunes from his new project called Sublex. A little on the darker side, pacing around 135bpm, but not too deep or bright. Just perfect for the time of the night, as the dance floor was slowly filling up, and had everyone getting into the groove.

Andromeda then came on to play some brighter progressive psytrance. He had some quality tracks, really beautiful, to create a nice story as he got the entire dance floor into trance mode. Then came Orbit (Elnadiv and Knob) the organizers for Alladin Project. Needless to say, they droped their usual bombs after bomb, as they rocked the entire dance floor. Next up was the much anticipated Digital Talk. He was good, but I expected much more from him, since he is one of the most sought after acts in the scene these days.

Then came my climax of the night- Mad Maxx of Phantasm Records . I really liked his last album Afterworld, and was looking forward to hearing him play, as I too have played several of his tracks at my own previous gigs and had the crowd going. As he got up into the DJ booth, and started his set with a remixed version of the track Edge of Time, he simply turned the energy level of the dance floor up several knots. By the third track of his set, everyone was dancing like crazy, and not a single soul stood still on the dance floor. Mad Maxx's song selection was perfect, every track on point, and simply created smiles on everyone's faces. His music was spiritual, yet powerful & top quality production. Its been a while that a DJ/artist made me dance, and wouldn't let me stop.

(picture courtesy of Dogus A)

The party ended on a very positive note with Chromosome's short but yet smooth set. From everyone's facial expression, they wanted more, and didn't want the party to end. But it was past 6am, and the main speakers were turned down, as the DJ had no choice but to slowly kill the music. The lights came on as security slowly started to kick people out... Overall, people seemed to be very satisfied with the outcome of this party. My feet & legs were sore, but it was totally worth it. Thanx to everyone who came out to this party by bringing their positive energy and vibes to the dance floor. Also, to the DJs & artists who were involved, and last but not least to the Alladin Crew. Next Alladin party is scheduled for the April 11th.

New York psytrance events this week...

So this past week had been super crazy with midterm exams & papers to write for all of my classes. Thats why, I obviously stayed home and missed the party from last week's YogiBogeyBox & TDC party... However, I heard there was quite a nice turnout, and people seemed to have enjoyed the event.

Here's a quick video on what it looked like:




This coming Friday March 13th, there will be another Psytrance party, this time held by Alladin Project. They will have the party at the usual Club Exit in Greenpoint Brooklyn.
The lineup looks massive with 4 live acts and 5 other DJs. Anyone interested in attending the party should shoot me a message & I will put you on my guestlist.

http://www.alladinproject.net/

Here are some links to check out the artists music & info:

- Digital Talk- www.myspace.com/digitaltalk
- Andromeda- www.myspace.com/andromedamusicnet
- Chromosome- www.myspace.com/chromosomemusicnet
- Mad Max- www.myspace.com/madmaxxspace

This Saturday- March 7th, 2009... YBB & TDC

This coming Saturday March 7th, Yogi Bogey Box & Trance Dance Company come together once again for another unique gathering. This one being highlighted by an Israeli legend and an act from Brazil who will surely warm up the dance floor.


Main stage DJs:

STEREOGRAPHIC - Discovaley, Manic dragon / BRAZIL
http://www.myspace.com/stereographicmusic
*** First US appearance + speacial extended LIVE set ***

The project Stereographic is carried out by the musician André Santana Camargos. His career is highlighted by playing some of the largest festivals in the world, including Universo Paralelo and full MOON festival. Anfré has been a psytrance producer since 2001, and his project gained more shape and quality in 2004. Stereographic was one of the first producers of underground music in Brazil and in AMERICA. His music is played by a large number of respectable djs around the world. The style can be defined in 2 lines: Stereographic side a- full on night high-tech , fat bass, deep atmospheres and melodies - and Stereographic side b -night, dark, harder sound, also with fat bass, efx and obscure atmospheres. We will be showered with tastes of both projects ...


DARK SOHO - Warp Brain, Alchemy, B.N.E / ISRAEL
http://www.myspace.com/darksoho

Dark Soho are Sagiv Boxer, Elram Boxer and Lev, a psychedelic trance band originally from Haifa, Israel. The name Dark Soho comes from SOHO, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory. Being legends in the scene, Dark Soho has beuilt a reputation for quality sound and a very unique performances. Dark Soho have three albums out, Sun Spot, 2000 (on BNE and Sphere), Combustion, 2002 and Light In The Dark, 2004, (on Alchemy rec). On Dark Soho’s latest album, Light In The Dark, they collaborated with the world renown sitar virtuoso, Anoushka Shankar. The album Light in the Dark has taken Dark Soho in a new direction, winning them new fans with their original full on-rock sound.


DJ NIKI - Mighty Quinn / Japan
http://www.mightyquinnrecords.com

Dj Niki is a co-founder and owner of Tokyo based psychedlic trance label Mighty Quinn Records. Together with his partner Toshi they have released two well recognized and respected compilations and now working on future releases. Dj Niki has been Djing since 2004 and had played at numerous psychdelik partys around Japan. Sharing the decks with artists such as Penta, Osom, Jahbo, Kindzadza, Parus, Polyphonia, Dejan and Jellyheadz and many more, Dj Niki has aquired a full length and power collection of music and presents a complete psychedlik story to the dancer on the floor. His sets are described to be perfect for any time of the party and are usually smooth, rhythmic, mysterious and create a perfect atmosphere for body and mind. Trancers and dancers are usually put in a happy, easy going, relaxed state of mind.


NOMOLOS - Zenon / USA, ISRAEL
http://www.myspace.com/thenomolos

Nomolos AKA Yair Solomon, Currently based in NYC, is the Zenon Records representation in Israel. He specializes in the Zenon style of dark mystical minimal to grinding, experimental progressive. Some of his favorite acts include Krumleur, Sensient, Cujorius One, Mantik, Opsis and Igneous Sauria to name a few. He has performed in the UK, Australia, USA, India, Nepal and of course Isreal, supporting many fine acts including Sun Control Species, Perfect Stranger, Ticon, Pena, Koxbox, Hujaboy and many more. Lately Nomolos has been exploring Dubstep, and the more abstract sides of the Minimal Techno world and is incorporating these fresh sounds in to his DJ sets enhancing these deep musical journeys.


ENERTOPIA - Warp Brain Records, GeoIsrael, Krembo / Israel, Argentina
http://www.myspace.com/enertopiapsy

Emiliano Solazzi Griminger (Moti Griminger) was born in December of 1974 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Growing up in Israel, In 1992, Emiliano hooked up with Ziv Matushka, another pioneer in the Israeli electronic music scene and, together, they started to experiment with more Industrial music and eventually writing Goa and Psy trance. Ziv joined P.Cok, and Emiliano continued his project as ENERTOPIA. The first single by Enertopia was released in 1996 by B.N.E Israel in a compilation called DESTINATION ISRAEL, and after a few months he was signed by KREMBO records. Moti has released many tracks throughout the past 15 years, and is now running an east coast label: Warp Brain Rec.


PROGRESS CHILL - TDC, YogiBogeyBox / USA
http://www.iprogress.us

With a growing acclaim for quality live acts, Yuri Vaskevich, has been a regular at these events and with a late night, or better put an dearly morning event, it was only natural that we end this gathering amidst some mazmerizing sounds. Anyone who was around for the KoxBox/ Ocelot party will surely remember the early morning tunes that carried us off.



2nd Stage DJs

* Tony Unorthodox - 28th Day / NYC

* Gui"aum"etriX - Gaian Mind / NYC

* Andrey K - Polarlight / NYC

* Fumi - Yogi Bogey Box / NYC



Be ready for a special visually stimulating atmosphere
by the deco crews of TDC and YogiBogeyBox as well as
new and special Visual projections by VJ Plasmo !!!!

18 to enter 21 to drink with valid ID
Doors open@ 11PM- going till 8AM

Tickets:
$30 @ the door
$25 in advance @ http://www.yogibogeybox.org


Party Location:

The Hook (formerly Hello BK)
18 Commerce Street
Brooklyn, NY

Brief History of the PsYcHeDeLiC Trance Scene in New York.

I still remember the first Psychedelic Trance party that I went to in New York to this day...
It was by the legendary SYNTHETIC SADHUS @ the Amazura Ballroom in Queens NY in November of 2000. 　At the time, I was into the techno, hard trance, and Drum & Bass scene, and did not know much about the psytrance scene nor the music. The headliners for the event were: Hallucinogen, Raja Ram, Dimitri and Paul Taylor. 　All whom are well respected and active artists in the scene still to this day.

(Dimitri Nakov playing @ the Synthetic Sadhus party- click pic for full view)

I was shocked when I set foot into the venue to see the massive Ballroom decked out with never seen tripped out psychedelic UV deco & backdrops. It was as if I had walked into another dimensional world, and was simply blown away. Not only was the decoration and the vibe of the party top notch, but it was the music that put the icing on top of the experience. Since that day, my heart has been sold to Psytrance, and never looked back...

(HALLUCINOGEN playing his Live set from the actual party)

The Psychedelic Trance Scene in New York was at its peak around 2001-2002, where the bigger parties attracted anywhere from 500-2000 people per event. The two major organizations that threw these gatherings were Synthetic Sadhus and TSUNAMI. Both of these organizations have closed their doors since, as smaller events still take place on a regular basis. Organizers that still take an active roll in the scene today are: Alladin Project, TDC, Dreamcatcher aka Psycheground, 28th Day, Yogi Bogey Box, Spectra, Omni Tribe, Repsychle and Psybotik (sorry if I've forgotten any other groups). Many groups have come and gone over the years, as well as newer groups seem to pop up once in a while...

Since most parties are usually thrown in clubs in or around Manhattan, it takes away much of the vibe from what it should be, compared to the open air (out door) festivals in other countries. However, there are outdoor festivals and parties in New York during the summer time that usually attracts a larger crowd than the usual club events. Also the laws in NY make it difficult to throw these events, due to the Rave Act that was passed in 2003. Ever since, organizing events became difficult for promoters and organizers, but we still strive to keep it alive...

The Psytrance scene attracts a divrese mix of audience from different cultural backgrounds, such as Israelis, Russians, Japanese, Brazilians, Indians, and Eastern Europeans. You will not find a diverse cultural crowd in any other club/party in the city... I simply believe we need more Americans to join the scene to make it grow... As a result, the scene in New York has been underground, and will stay that way unless changes are made.

Psychedelic Trance a.k.a. Psytrance

Recently I've gotten several questions from my Viral marketing classmates about what Psychedelic Trance a.k.a. Psytrance is?! I was totally surprised since Purchase College is a Music/ Art Institute, but it seems as if most of the students don't know about Psytrance, or haven't even heard of it. Electronic Dance Music in general is huge in Europe, Asia, South America, and basically everywhere else BUT the U.S... Rock & Hip Hop still seems to dominate the mainstream, but I know there's a wave of Dance music that's coming sooner or later. Why?! I'll explain that in my future blog...

Well its really hard to explain Psytrance in just a few sentences because you really need to hear it on a proper sound-system, and feel it with your body and soul to truly understand it. Well in a few words, its a form of electronic music usually created with layers of synthetic melodies and riffs, with pounding kicks and bass lines. Some who don't know about it may judge it as Techno music, or even rave parties, but it is NOT!!! Its more than just a genre of music, but for many a spiritual experience, a life style, a culture, and a movement.

Take a look at this short documentary about Psytrance. I think you'll get a better understanding of Psychedelic Trance than my explanation...


A few more videos for your reference... Some of the pioneers of the scene. I believe many Psytrance enthusiasts wouldn't consider them psychedelic (anymore), but this is for those who don't know about Psytrance :p Afterall, after 10 years, they are still rocking dance floors across the globe.

Infected Mushroom



GMS- Theme from the movie "Requem for a Dream"



Skazi

First Blog

Ok. So I've been quite reluctant to start this blog for a few reasons. Why? I'll mention that in the near future. But I don't have any choice at this point, since its mandatory in my Viral Marketing Class. The professors are super cool, and what we learn is real good stuff. I know I have a slow start, but hope to keep this blog & twitter going.

Oh, by the way I have a gig tomorrow night, February 19th @ Sullivan Room.
The Party's name is Psycheground, and the music is Psytrance (Psychedelic Trance).
If anyone is interested, mention my name at the door, and you'll get a reduced entrance fee.
Contact me for more info.