Artist: Astral Projection Album: The Astral Files

Year: 1996
Duration: 1:16:30

A of The Astral Files by Astral Projection: A Journey Beyond Psytrance

There are few trance groups that have captured the imagination of psy-heads around the world like Astral Projection. From their back-to-back releases in the mid-'90s, the group has been pushing the boundaries of trance in ways that few others have. The Astral Files is, without doubt, one of their most critically acclaimed albums, boasting some unforgettable tracks. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the history of Astral Projection, the music genre of the album, the best songs, the most innovative parts of the album, and a final critical analysis of it.
Astral Projection was formed in 1989 by three talented musicians, Avi Nissim, Lior Perlmutter, and Yaniv Haviv. The group quickly developed their own unique sound, which put them at the forefront of the psytrance scene. Since their inception, Astral Projection has been known for their intricate layering of soundscapes, driving rhythms, and seamless production. The Astral Files, released in 2002, is the group's first full-length album since 1999, and it's a journey beyond psytrance.
The Astral Files is a fusion of different sub-genres of psytrance. It can be viewed as a blending together of all the best parts of astral projection's previous works, creating a more accessible, but still very deep sound. The album is a perfect balance between acidic basslines, organic percussion, and memorable melodies. It's an album that offers both peak-time bangers, such as One, and more introspective tracks, such as Aqua Line Spirit.
The best tracks on this album are One, People Can Fly, No One Ever Dreams, and Dancing Galaxy. These tracks perfectly encapsulate the signature sound of Astral Projection, with their intricate layering of soundscapes, futuristic melodies, and driving rhythms. One, in particular, has a deceptively simple melody that quickly transforms into an epic, mind-bending masterpiece. People Can Fly is a classic dancefloor anthem that still sounds fresh today.
The most innovative part of The Astral Files is not the production or style of the psytrance elements, but the use of live vocals. Dancing Galaxy, featuring a live vocalist, leads the listener from safe territories into a far-out dreamscape. The track is a ground-breaking innovation, and it demonstrates that Astral Projection is not afraid to push the limits of what's considered 'trance.'
In this , it's fair to give a subjective viewpoint as well. While The Astral Files is a solid release, it does have its moments where the album feels a bit disjointed and lacking in cohesion, especially when you compare tracks like People Can Fly and Dancing Galaxy. It feels like a case of tracks being placed next to each other and not following a well-crafted story. This said, it is still a great album with enough moments of magic.
In conclusion, The Astral Files by Astral Projection is an exceptional album, both in the psytrance world and in electronic music. It's an album that expertly combines different sub-genres to create an experience that is both accessible and earth-shattering. The use of live vocals in psychedelic trance was innovative and forward-thinking, and the tracks like One and Dancing Galaxy are still dancefloor killers. While it may not be perfect, it's still an outstanding album that will forever hold a special place in the hearts of psytrance fans worldwide. Astral Projection's The Astral Files is an essential album for anyone interested in the evolution of psychedelic trance music.
In conclusion, The Astral Files by Astral Projection is an exceptional album, both in the psytrance world and in electronic music. It's an album that expertly combines different sub-genres to create an experience that is both accessible and earth-shattering. The use of live vocals in psychedelic trance was innovative and forward-thinking, and the tracks like One and Dancing Galaxy are still dancefloor killers. While it may not be perfect, it's still an outstanding album that will forever hold a special place in the hearts of psytrance fans worldwide. Astral Projection's The Astral Files is an essential album for anyone interested in the evolution of psychedelic trance music.