Etnica - Nitrox FLAC

What can I say, coke will make you more aggro than e or acid, let alone organic psychedelics. This imight be an ok album if you like harder tech-trance, with amazing production values that result in astonishing levels of micro-detail. However, it is quite cold, and a galaxy away from the warm Goa sounds and alien melodies of their previous work, especially when you consider Pleiadians and Crop Circles. It raises, to my mind, the question of whether I dislike this more because of the contrast than I would do otherwise. I might be more forgiving of this album if it weren't Etnica (or at least the 2 of them left). On the other hand, I'm not sure it works as tech-trance; I prefer my other psytek albums by Midimiliz or X-Dream or UX a lot more. Another meta-critical issue that it raises is whether we should judge an album by its best track or its worst. Here the real stinker is "Technoshit", aptly named. However, in this instance, most of the other tracks are not much better. The only good Etnica track from this period is "Be Serious" on the 12" that appeared the year after this album. As the zen master said, sometimes you need to be hit with a shitty stick to attain enlightenment... my take away is that this album makes me appreciate Etnica's previous stellar achievements even more than I already do. Whether this album is to your taste or not, it is not in the league of Etnica's previous lauded discography. ~*~

I was reading the only comment about this album and i got shocked with the comments of skeleton, cause i think his opinion can apart to other persons to listen this album and specially the track "ritual plants" which is one of the most beautiful tracks i´ve ever listened. It´s what i expect for a trance song, incredibly beautiful melody, plenty of energy with minnimum bass, such a trip, really. Also "trip tonite" is very nice although i prefer the famous remix, much more energetic. i wanted to give my opinion and recommend very very much this tracks, for me, ritual plants is in the top 20 of my trancer life. Sorry skeleton, but i´m not agree with you.

What went wrong with Etnica on this release?! This album is awful! I have tried over and over again to get into this album but hardly anything in it does it for me. As much as I loved Alein Protein as much I dislike this album. And what's up with track two Technoshit?!? I'm sure they had fun while making it in collaboration with Dino Psaras cause they must have been on some magic mushroom high I'd give my right arm to try, but it sucks wonders! I mean, they start the track off with a sample "When the fuck are you gonna get sick of that lousy technoshit" and then present the what must be ultimate lousy technotrack ever. Period! Had it been the last track or a hidden track I'd might have given it a laugh but as track two?! Jesus, what gives?

In all fairness, there are passages I like on this album. Nitrox, for instance, has an okay middle and track 5 Small Doses does have a certain appeal (though the hi-hat production is kind off hopeless), but there's a mile and a half between the high pointers on this album.

Worst: 2(!!), 1. Chanceworthy: 5

The first six tracks are tech-trance. Track 1 samples an old EBM track. The remix of Robot Rebellion is much better than the original and though it seems monotone at first, it reveals many layers after repeated listenings (gotta love that sample "Exterminate all humans"). Track 6 is an absolute bomb. Very tight layers, great acid lines, awesome breakdown. The last 4 tracks are downtempo, chill out stuff that uses acoustic instruments. A lot of people like Beastman but I find it kinda cheesy.

The remixed version of Trip Tonite is a real wonder, mixing analog piano and flute melodies (Trip Tonite's theme) with well-balanced drums and you will also enjoy the mystical meaning of the voice, inviting you in the beginning of the track, to a marvellous trip into the "dew sweat jungle to the swift summits for looking the sea"...