Infected Mushroom - Classical Mushroom

Classic Mushroom

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Feb 5, 2006 | 2 out of 2 found this Classical Mushroom review helpful

Pros: "Intelligent trance"

Cons: not everyone likes trance

What is a 40 something doing listening to goa/psy trance? Chanced across these guys rummaging around for more new indie brit pop (as is more befitting). This has album has changed me - I am now that annoying car next to you at the traffic lights with... the dph, dph dpd.... pulsing at 145 bmp. Having heard IM I have trawled for more of the same - and so far I haven't found it. Not only do we have the standard issue heart-rate levitating drum and bass patterns, the obviously telegraphed snare transitions, the sampled cinematic vocals etc - but we have genuine musical talent coming through in both instrumental ability and compositional construction - with layer after layer building to euphoric signatures. I am going to be very critical here. Part of the trance thing is to let it wash over you - I am looking at each track as one would would consider a more conventional piece. I like it all - but this is a review - so knives out Bust A Move is for me the strongest track on the album. Superb all the way through from the "aliens infected us" chant, through the heavily distorted lead lines, pulsing bass to the almost beautiful swirling keyboards at the end. This track is infectious None of this is real (or should that be Israel - haven't they gone to the US?). Now I like guitar - and the acoustic sound in the first track sounds right. I am not sure about the heavy riff in this - but hey - they dare to be different. Sailing in a sea of mushroom (where do they get their track names from?) Perhaps a bit obvious at the start - but by a third of the way in IM are weaving their magic - and the distorted vocals add some fun and distraction. The Shen. Again if I were to be unkind I would say that the pattern at the start is a little annoying - and you find yourself waiting for IM leave the blue slopes and to go "off-piste" - as you know they will - and do. Disco Mushroom is another very track. Not quite as immediate as Bust A Move - and the Gothic chants are a bit worrying. But this is soon displaced by innovative percussion - and we are off again. Just when you think things are safe - we are transported into an 80s electronica pop record - but with some layering and a strong theme the lads pull it back around and we are into more enjoyable IM. Dracul. I presume you need some classical sounding strings if the album is called "Classical Mushroom". To me the track lumbers along like a laden donkey. Sanctuary is to found halfway through, though at the very most, it is a mixed bag. Nothing comes easy: And this track isn't. At the start I was reminded of playing computer games in my youth Mush Mushi. More standard trance - its god to listen to but the lines aren't as strong and don't burn their way into your subconscious as in some of the other tracks The missing symphony (do they just make these track names up?) Again strong - but more of a "grower" than the others - worth a listen and consideration. Not all IM is for me - The Gathering I am finding hard work - and my non-dance background has me recoiling from some of the vocal elements linking their output to more obvious club filler, But this album is a must - strongly recommended. Less Classical Mushroom - more Classic Mushroom. Now how do I get the music out of my head!!! Read more Less