Dragon :: Psychedelic Trance Project

Having been involved in one way or another with the psychedelic trance scene for nearly ten years, I have had both the pleasure and disappointment to hear and experience countless tracks of music and artist performances. However, one artist that has always been an influence and inspiration to me from my earliest days, even years before I had the pleasure of first meeting him. From the caliber of his artist talent, to his impeccable, untiring work ethic and integrity which spans over a decade, Dragon has been moving dancefloors across North America and has built himself up a solid, well-earned reputation as a signature stand-up artist who delivers the goods both in thought and deed. It certainly is no wonder why he is so widely recieved across the States and his colleagues describe him in terms such as "The South's best kept secret", and if you've ever seen him in action, you'd know why. This man has time and again raised dancefloors up from the dead. With his long-awaited and anticipated debut album, "In.Formation", hosted by equally innovative and dedicated label Dharmaharmony Records of New Orleans, the secret is out, and not one to be missed. Folks, if you ever get the chance to see this amazingly talented artist perform his sounds, by all means do so, and no matter what your personal flavor of trance, you will walk... or crawl... away glad you did so. In a nutshell, of all the promos and reviews I've written, I am proud to have the opportunity to write about this album, for it was every inch worth the listening experience.

Rumble In The Jungle

To say that this introductory track is apropo to the mood of the new album would be saying too little. From the crunchy sweeps and leads to the squelchy effects all to the tune of a diesel-powered bassbeat, "Rumble" throws you straight into the thick of its musical shadowlit wilderness. Ever evolving layers keep your feet moving and your hairs standing on end in this emotive outdoor thumper of a track.

Dragon Planet

The action certainly doesn't cease with this piece. The bass and kicks hit you with the force of a sledgehammer as intricately arranged audio flutters through the panorama. Each sound is powerful and aggressive and changes from one iteration to the next. This music is bred to be heard outdoors, as its combination of groove technique and masterful suspense arrangement grips you, shakes you, and doesn't let go.

Inside The Grid

Dragon obviously took his time with this one, weaving his own divergent expression into the mix. Beginning with a kicking breakbeat and leading straight into four-on-the-floor mayhem, Dragon serves up a heaping serving of flavorful tension and keeps the courses coming in a musical Thanksgiving feast. Rumbling distortions push you up from below as filtered sweeps slice through your psyche with the grace of a sushi chef. Dueling basslines keep the sounds fresh and the mood changing, always for the better.

Data Flux

Fresh and funky, this informaiton comes with a medley of enlightening audio anecdotes. Squishy sweeps curtain the background as crunchy leads integrate with dissonant horns and sharply resonant lead rhythms. Haunting, throbbing, and heavily psychedelic, "Flux" flows like a wave, with buildups and breakdowns throughout. Making sounds that feel very real seems to be a proud hallmark of Dragon's unique technique, and from beginning to end, this track makes for a shining example of his prowess.

All That Remains

Building low and slow from the beginning, this track comes up from underneath, forcing your feet to twitch in unconscious anticipation. It isn't long before the layers are in full bloom, however. Resonant leads bounce upon a growling bassline like eerie hobgoblins, punctuated by chilling pad arrangements with hair-raising vocal messages. What follows is a buildup of sinister resonant glitchwork and sixteenth-note straddling rhythms which keep your head bobbing.

In.Formation

The title track to Dragon's debut album certainly delivers the goods. Conjuring up rippling basslines and groovy rhythms which never stay still, this musical sorcerer invokes beat after beat and loop after loop that simply do not stop... in more ways than one. Gusty pads push and prod you like foggy winds of sound as dimension-wandering rhythms and leads provide your body the vertical motion it craves in the foreground. This track emphasizes quality over quality, with each sound built to arrest your attention and keep your brain and body busy.

Timewave

Lifting off with a slightly different sound than its predecessors, "Timewave" starts out less crunchy and grinding and more ethereal and just plain out there. As this track evolves, however, you realize what you heard before was only an encapsulation filling up with thick, fluid layer after layer. Before you know it, the current of sound is at full strength. Distorted, mean rhythms turn what was a gentle tube ride into a thrilling whitewater rapid adventure accentuated by a menacing undertow of low, wide pads. Overall this one is an engaging safari ride of masterful progression and equally rich production quality.

Gravitron

Eastern dissonance and spongy synth waves usher in a constantly morphing array of bassbeat coupled by ghostly pad and sweep work. Distorted digitalism pingpongs across the stereo spectrum and each progression of loops changes at just the right time to add additional doses of dark-tinges tension and release. The basslines here certainly do their part to keep things fresh in their ever changing self arrangement. Octave-surfing gate rhythms add otherworldly cultural flavor as cleverly manipulated vocal waves make this sound seem alive.

Kauai

Dragon's finale track to this stellar album is certainly not one to be passed over. The unique expressiveness of these sounds make it stand out against its mates, yet retains oodles of flavor and dancefloor potential. If anything, "Kauai" is a showoff of its creator's truly diverse potential. Perfectly placed in the tracklisting, this piece returns you from this sonic safari back to earth with a gentle and compassionate, yet loomingly mighty descent, as only a Dragon with the flying skills such as this one can.