Artist: X-Dream
Title: We Created Our Own Happiness
Label: Tunnel Records
Date: 1997
01. 09'04" Screw [The Truth]
02. 07'45" Do You Believe
03. 08'23" The Second Room(A-Trip)
04. 09'09" Zebra
05. 07'16" Relaxed Vortex
06. 08'06" Our Own Happiness
07. 11'07" Eleven
08. 07'39" Aurorix
This is an odd project for me. I barely remember what Trip to Trancesylvania sounded like and I hadn't heard Irritant. So that left me with Radio which...how can I put this politely...wasn't for me. People described it as a perfect album and I just didn't see it. A perfect album to nap to. Did the original come with tabs of acid? Not for me as I said, but this album is a whole nother story. Like all groups their sound has evolved (although these days I can't tell you what they sound like today) and they didn't do goa trance forever. They had some good EP releases from like the Brain Forest EP and the last track on the Frog EP and I would like to think that their sound is an acquired taste. Then along comes this beast and it has something that appeals to everyone. Known as the zebra record, it is in my opinion, their highest achievement.
Screw(The Truth)- Thunder cracks as effects leave this in a dark place. Howling synths fly overhead like a model plane and it ain't until 2 minutes that we pick up the momentum. It's a slow builder as new sounds come in and add to the thick atmosphere. The little break has so many textures and synths that trying to focus on the whole thing is a treat. Beautiful layers where no one lead dominates, but they all fit together in a chorus of melody. The moody pads and the robotic voice near the end are the cherry on the cake of this progressive goa treat. Superb.
Do You Believe?- Yes sir. Yes I do. And the soft melody to begin the track definitely helps. Soothing and calm, but at the same time deliciously clear and evil. It just growls with intent while also floating innocently above. The main lead that all goa heads know and love streaks high above your ears, carefree and shiny. Call it another slow builder and what it builds is tension. We get that goa flavor at 4 minutes but it's not overwhelming. Just enough to keep you in tune. It pulsates, rising and falling, when another lead is twisted like a pretzel. Very spinworthy and mystical. Again not a stomper but more of the thinking mans goa.
The Second Room(A-Trip)- Perhaps the most well known X-Dream track. Glitchy effects surround a ringing as the tell tale beginning, but all you need to know is the main melody which curls around the arms and legs as if it were a python. I'm sure it could kill you quickly, but where's the fun in that? It's not heavy, it's light and airy, with a practiced agility, but it has the effect of a bulldozer. Persistent bounce is here as new leads unfurl keeping the feel with the slow twist of the filter cutoff. The break at the end combines "that" melody with some spacey effects to bring it home. Stellar.
Zebra- Geez, another 9 minute track? They love to build don't they? This track comes right out and says, "Hey I'm goa, nice to meet ya." The break has a 80's analog Miami Vice feel to it. I dunno, it's just the way I felt. A hypnotic ringing moves up and down above a 303 which sounds interesting. It's very clear and I really like it, but it doesn't have the same...grabbing quality as the other tracks. So instead of working with melody to entrance it went a more circuitous route. Loved it.
Related Vortex- "This is a very old song. It's about ganja."
Know what a forest in space sounds like? Me neither, but this could be it. It's a downtempo track with a pulsating bass line and a glitch like quality. Very cold and isolating. The sample about ganja comes in with some tribal drums but it didn't really appeal to me. I also felt like this should've predictably been placed at the end. Who knows, maybe that's why they put it here.
Our Own Happiness- See, now this is how your supposed to handle a title track. Own it. Another very famous lead bounces about carefree as the track begins to thicken out. Feel it building? You know something great is coming, kinda like when I would drop my breakdancing moves. Yeah, just get out of the way. This is their stormer, with a chip-on-the shoulder attitude. They allow it to deconstruct and then sure as hell build it right back up again. They.Mean.Business. Pure class.
Eleven- Do you think they named it this because it is over 11 minutes long? A bubbly 303 takes its sweet time...I mean it's got 11 minutes to sort itself out. As another sound rises and pans across your ears, it takes an almost minimal approach. 5 minutes in and it is as smooth as silk if not a little boring for me. I love how well placed all the sounds are and how fluid it is as it is most definitely a progressive goa track. The goa melody at 9 minutes fits in so well, I wish it could've been a bigger part of the effort. Not my favorite, but I can appreciate it.
Aurorix- The foot is definitely back on the gas pedal and with the price of gas these days, this track could never have been made today. The bass sound is super rich and bouncy below the sticky synth sounds. A speedy leads compliments the bass as yet more leads collaborate in a very full meal. The break showcases the leads' pinpoint accuracy as the track changes direction. It's still a bubbly affair though, as it makes its way through the 2nd break. Subliminal, not heavy handed, but of rapid pace. Super stuff, gut I think this should've been where Related Vortex was.
I loved this album. Absolutely loved it. Every sound was so shockingly clear that you could focus on each one and that just added to the enjoyment. It's like it was quiet, but I could hear EVERYTHING sharply. Not to mention all the well known melodies and drifting leads that just continued to build throughout the track. Even the tracks that I thought I would dislike were pretty damn good. No stompers per se (maybe the title track), but a definite classic. This was X-Dream at their peak. You should run, not walk and go get this. If you can find it...
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This post was edited by boognis on Jan 11 2013 01:12pm