OUT Activa - Origins (Artist Album) [Black Hole Recordings]

Artist(s)
Activa
Release title
Origins
Label name
Black Hole Recordings
Release date
Oct 1, 2021
Release type
Artist album
Link to external store
https://activamusic.bandcamp.com/album/origins

Exodom

Senior Member
Oct 17, 2020
560 Posts
293 Thanked
First impression is that I love it! Some more plays this month I might give a real review. Thanks to Activa!
 

aSeb

Senior Member
Jul 13, 2020
589 Posts
312 Thanked
Brilliant album. Had time this week to listen it through and all I need to say is that we really deserve more albums like these. Love this guy.
 

leon92

Member
Jul 22, 2020
29 Posts
15 Thanked
Listening to this album for the first time now and I liked it but that break in Fade From view reminded me quite of Cass & Slide's Perception, so I like this track less now. Overall, a good effort for this album though.

 

Daysleeper

Lost in Trancelation
Jul 13, 2020
2,495 Posts
1,713 Thanked
Sweden
eminded me
Almost every track reminded me of some other og trance artist that I mentioned in my post. Its both a strenght and weakness of the album imo. For me its mostly a weakness because it just doesnt draw inspiration but intrude into the other artists sounds.
 

leon92

Member
Jul 22, 2020
29 Posts
15 Thanked
Yeah I agree with you for the tracks that sound like other artists. It's just less refreshing if you hear the track and you keep thinking where did I hear that track before.
 

Manofearth

Senior Member
Sep 24, 2020
436 Posts
242 Thanked
Almost every track reminded me of some other og trance artist that I mentioned in my post.

The album is name is 'Origins', and in the TF interview he mentions the inspiration is from his early days in Trance. That seems to be one of the main points behind the album. I didn't even think it was as bad as you are making it out.

Out of curiosity what is your feeling on the Enigma State tracks? Those are far more replicant of old styles, a much more obvious approach to mimic whats done before. No one seems to think that a weakness in the thread. It's the very fact it reminds me of the old style is why I like it so much.
 

Daysleeper

Lost in Trancelation
Jul 13, 2020
2,495 Posts
1,713 Thanked
Sweden
The album is name is 'Origins', and in the TF interview he mentions the inspiration is from his early days in Trance. That seems to be one of the main points behind the album. I didn't even think it was as bad as you are making it out.

Out of curiosity what is your feeling on the Enigma State tracks? Those are far more replicant of old styles, a much more obvious approach to mimic whats done before. No one seems to think that a weakness in the thread. It's the very fact it reminds me of the old style is why I like it so much.
Good question. You would almost think Im a hyporite. Who knows ;)

You've seen my reactions and opinion on the ES tracks. The difference IMO is that those are just a style of trance, while the activa tracks almost replicating old tracks. My mind almost immediately went to old tracks when I heard activas tracks one after the other. Almost all of them. Personally that was a weakness. Just my opinion. Others may think differently.
 

Juna

Senior Member
Dec 11, 2020
429 Posts
240 Thanked
So far I cannot make the decision on which is the album for 2021, Activa or Digital Blonde. What you forum folk thinking? Both are bomb albums and for different reasons. I love the Activa one for the clean sounds and all the variety in the mix. I still am listening and finding new favorites each time through. Z21 and Polestar are so good.
 

Freezer

Elite Member
Sep 13, 2020
1,194 Posts
593 Thanked
So far I cannot make the decision on which is the album for 2021, Activa or Digital Blonde. What you forum folk thinking? Both are bomb albums and for different reasons. I love the Activa one for the clean sounds and all the variety in the mix. I still am listening and finding new favorites each time through. Z21 and Polestar are so good.
Digital Blonde would win for me, cause there are a few standout tracks, which will probably make it in my top 20 this year. Activa work more as a whole piece...but there is noo such a huge standout tune.
Polestar, Fall In and Into Pieces are pretty good tho....
 

Archon

Gagi
TranceFix Crew
Jun 27, 2020
3,913 Posts
2,809 Thanked
Activa's album is a bit more accessible, I would certainly play it again (so it gets my nod), although creatively I have to give kudos to TDB even if it's not really my thing.
 

s3baman

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2020
397 Posts
219 Thanked
So far I cannot make the decision on which is the album for 2021, Activa or Digital Blonde. What you forum folk thinking? Both are bomb albums and for different reasons. I love the Activa one for the clean sounds and all the variety in the mix. I still am listening and finding new favorites each time through. Z21 and Polestar are so good.
Hard question to answer as I find both albums fantastic records for very different reasons. Before TBD came out of nowhere with N3ON I was ready to call Origins album of the year without any second thoughts, but I have to give it to Digital Blonde (by a whisker). Origins is a fantastically produced throwback to trance and it has a few styles (breaks, prog, uplifting, and overall a lot of spacey vibes which is what made trance great back in the day). However, I find N3ON has a bigger scope in mind and because TBD has such a unique sound, it will always sound fresh (unlike Origins which will always remind me of early 2000s trance - which is why I like it so much, but it loses a bit on the originality front)
 
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A.Brindiss

Member
Jul 14, 2020
107 Posts
30 Thanked
MX
Amazing album from start to finish, one of the best album of the year for sure and Activa is in the top 3 producers of 2021.
 

HTY

Member
Aug 5, 2021
231 Posts
136 Thanked
So far I cannot make the decision on which is the album for 2021, Activa or Digital Blonde. What you forum folk thinking? Both are bomb albums and for different reasons. I love the Activa one for the clean sounds and all the variety in the mix. I still am listening and finding new favorites each time through. Z21 and Polestar are so good.

I would choose Activa's, just. The DB album exceeded my expectations, but I went in with slightly lower ones. The Activa one met my expectations which were for a very solid Trance album and I especially enjoyed the overall flow from the mixed album (I usually prefer unmixed). My top tracks of the year will be from Activa. A very difficult decision though. I find Activa's more memorable at this stage because the DB one requires so many hours of listening before you've even heard a track 3 times, all of which sound very similar in nature. That's likely a redeeming factor in itself as the years roll on and longevity plays a part. DB also has a style unlike anyone else.
 

s3baman

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2020
397 Posts
219 Thanked
I would choose Activa's, just. The DB album exceeded my expectations, but I went in with slightly lower ones. The Activa one met my expectations which were for a very solid Trance album and I especially enjoyed the overall flow from the mixed album (I usually prefer unmixed). My top tracks of the year will be from Activa. A very difficult decision though. I find Activa's more memorable at this stage because the DB one requires so many hours of listening before you've even heard a track 3 times, all of which sound very similar in nature. That's likely a redeeming factor in itself as the years roll on and longevity plays a part. DB also has a style unlike anyone else.
Bottom line is we should be thankful we got such amazing albums coming out more or less at the exact time! They both delivered in their promises and will be enjoyed by many for years to come I'm convinced.