Prānā* – Cyclone

Proper tribal trance, where the drumming is an integral part of the music and not just its accompaniment. Out of the entire mid-nineties Goa era, I find Cyclone uniquely funky, uniquely non-Western in its emphasis on percussion and cross-rhythm. The tribal samples are well done too, never overstaying their welcome or making me cringe with the clichedness of it all.

Of course, a Goa album lives and dies by its synthwork, and I'm happy to report that Cyclone excels in that department. Insectile analog synth chirps, complex lattices of melody, unusually fluid and long lead lines (check out the almost jazz-like ride on Indigo). These are real compositions, made by musicians that can actually carry a tune when they want to and that take you somewhere by the end of the track. It may not have the flash of Geomantik, but it's a better album, written to warm the heart, entertain the mind, and move the feet.

Production is fine too, barring a couple of overly loud beats. Quite raw sounding, but that's part of the charm here.

Perhaps I have my nostalgia glasses on too tight to see its flaws, but keep in mind... this is goa from 1994-95, before it became overly clean, DJ-friendly and studio-massaged. Putting this record on, I can almost smell the incense. 5/5

As infatuated with midnineties Goa as I am, there are albums from this period that doesn't really grab me. Cyclone belongs to this category, I'm afraid. It has its moments, no doubt, but over all seems a little out of focus. It's head on psychedelia too fast for both my feet & mind. Except, perhaps, for closing track Taiyo, where everything seems more focused.

Still, I will leave open the option, that put on at the right hour of nostalgia, more than just Taiyo could make me give the old bones a good shake. It may not have aged with grace, but it sure carries memories from the days.