Solar Transmission Agitato

Previous Virtual Trance releases have been good, consistent compilations that never really got the credit or recognition they deserved. The eight tracks, compiled by DJ Indica, are sort of half-mixed; they fade into each other, so it’s good for home listening and, if it’s not quite DJ-friendly, it’s at least DJ-polite. Synchro kicks off with Atomic, after too long an absence. It’s pure synchro in his clattering brilliance – a bassline with more 16th’s flying around than ought to be permissible by law. Groove-A-Tech’s Arise is a chuggy, atmospheric tune that to my mind needs to be pitched up a touch; still, it’s effective and has a couple of surprises and fits well in the mix. Wizzy Noise’s wonderful Process sends things into metallic, bladerunner territory which rises and peaks nicely around a textures, robotic groove. Lemurians are up next, Moment signalling a change in trajectory as we have a delicious filtered synthlead building up, and catapulting out into a frenzied dirtkicker. Bamboo Forest’s Spektral changes the pace again and has the present writer salivating at the prospect of the album. Funky, ballsy, positive, and dynamic with a groove you can wiggle your arse to. The sounds are huge and deep, they’re thrown around the speakers with shaolin precision and deftness, all in all jolly nice whichever way you look at it. Psydrop’s Afrotech races for the dawn, it’s glistening and defiant with huge runs and a seriously energetic spine with some surprises in the melody that’ll have your hair standing on end. Overfly Zone from Space Buddha is full on with progressive touches, and packed to the rim with energy, and closing tune Lies from Hamasutrance has melodies soaring high, and a groove that’s tight but baggy. Virtual Trance 3 is alright, but it doesn’t catch the real spirit of 2002 full power stuff as much as other releases around at the moment.