While browsing Youtube for interesting trance-related content I came across this excellent music video for Lost In Translation by the genre-defying New Zealand group Pitch Black. The song is taken from their album Ape To Angel, originally released in 2004. The video is quite tasteful—unlike a lot of the rubbish that floats around the trance scene. I really like the distinctive visual aesthetic in use here—it meshes well with the music and shows the producers in action but doesn’t overdo anything. Flash is required to view this video:

While we’re on the subject, don’t miss out on Pitch Black’s latest album Rude Mechanicals; it has been in regular rotation around here for months now and shows no sign of losing its lustre. I hope to get to a full review soon, but the short version is that I heartily recommend it for anyone seeking something a little different from the norm. They’ve also got a video out for the title track, but this one might be a little more inaccessible for trance fans than Lost In Translation. Check it out if you’re up for some deep dubby rhythms and ecologically conscious lyrics.

Welcome to another edition of the North American Summer Festival Guide! Festival season is not far off, and many trance fans across the continent are beginning to plan out their summers. Several organizers have already announced dates and line-ups whereas others are still working out the details. I have gathered a list of festivals along with their dates, where announced, and linked back to the home page of each festival where applicable. This list is certain to grow as spring unfolds and information rolls in. Be sure to check back for updates!

Sacred Earth :: May 30/31, June 1 (Black River Falls, Wisconsin)

Fairies Gone Wild :: June 6/7/8 (Somewhere in Quebec)

Gemini :: June 13/14/15 (Somewhere in California?)

Om :: June 16/17/18/19/20/21/22 (Somewhere in Ontario)

Gaian Mind :: June 19/20/21/22 (Central Pennsylvania)

Entheos :: June 20/21/22 (The Sunshine Coast, B.C.)

Orb :: July 10/11/12/13 (Echo Lake, New York)

Motion Notion :: July 17/18/19/20 (Drayton Valley, Alberta)

Eclipse :: August 1/2/3/4 (Maniwaki, Quebec)

Shambhala :: August 6/7/8/9/10/11 (Salmo, B.C.)

Natura :: August 28/29/30/31 (Somewhere in Quebec)

El Hal :: September 12/13/14 (Somewhere in Quebec)

T.O.U.C.H. Samadhi :: September 19/20/21 (Somewhere in the Appalachians)

Harvest :: September, TBD (Somewhere in Ontario)

In addition to the list above, here are a few more festivals for which dates have not yet been announced. Keep an eye out for more information about Symbiosis (CA) and Space Gathering (PQ).

For reference, this is version 1.3 of the guide, updated on May 9th, 2008. If you have any tips or info, feel free to contact me.

The very first batch of Ektoplazm netlabel releases is nearing completion! This is what we have lined up for the coming months:

EKTEP01: Ekoplex – Enter The Dragon EP
The long-awaited debut release from Ekoplex, a producer from Toronto, Canada. Mastered at Timecode Studios, South Africa.

EKTEP02: Soul Kontakt – Deliverance EP
Blissful morning tunes from a talented Maltese duo that you are sure to be hearing a lot more from in the future. Mastered by Silicon Sound.

EKTEP03: Anakoluth – Dwelling In The Void EP
A captivating blend of hypnotic Goa trance and minimal psytrance mastered by Sensient (Zenon Records).

EKTLP01: Proton Kinoun – Apeiron
Space music and cosmic ambient. Remastered by Akhentek with new cover artwork.

EKTVA01: Ektoplazm Volume 1
This unconventional compilation will feature stellar contributions from Filteria, Eraser vs. Yöjalka, Clone, Jikooha, Intriga, Jikkenteki vs Katapult, Phobosphere, Ekoplex, and others (to be confirmed). The style is an intriguing blend of new school Goa trance and melodic psytrance with a few excursions into other areas of sound.

Each of these releases will be available for free download in MP3 and CD-quality WAV format. High-resolution cover art suitable for printing will be included in every package. In addition, we plan to make professionally-printed physical CDs available for purchase! Stay tuned for more information.

Great news! A slightly remastered version of Cybernetika’s album Neural Network Expansion is now available for download in lossless WAV format. The 320k MP3 package has also been updated to reflect the increase in sound quality. Originally released just over a year ago, Neural Network Expansion has made a huge impression on many listeners, and it rapidly became one of the early successes here on Ektoplazm. At long last, it can now be appreciated in CD-quality audio! Download it here and be sure to leave some feedback if you enjoy the album.