Enigma State - Of The Essence (Artist Album) [Transtate Records]

[HTY]

Producers are simply not going to use the 'soft' kicks of '99 classics anymore....i think you need a bit more 'oomph' nowadays so a producers track can mix with modern stuff,even though they are producing in a classic style

To clarify, it's not the oomph that is the issue, it's the loudness combined with the modern steroid feel. Plenty of underground tracks have huge kicks and modern beats. I don't want to overstate the issue on this album, because mostly the kicks sound good, but not great. Its borderline steriod, too plastic, compressed, unnatural. I don't know how to describe it. The underground guys have less of an issue with this, and the old-school guys not at all. Listen to tracks from 2006, it was loud but more organic and balanced.

 

[HTY]

Sounds much warmer than current stuff, you're comparing it with old classics from different era mate, of course it's going to sound like that during a-b.

Yes, it is a big improvement from most modern stuff. The arrangements and space in the mix is very much appreciated. But I see no reason why music from now and music from then needs to be different in quality. Something in the modern process of making, mastering or exporting music is holding it back, that's just what I believe.

 

[EnigmaState]

@NameLessYet and @Shivace
Pleased that they have arrived and you like them

 

[EnigmaState]

This is a fair comment, I agree it actually is more diverse in sounds than I implied. I think I came off too strong in my criticism. I like the album overall, just am not blown away by it, and mostly thats because of the sound design, which is a B+, but not an A+, like I hope for. Still, I encourage future releases from Enigma State bring more creativity to the melodic stuff, and not just homage the more simple nostalgic riffs.

Hey we're all entitled to an opinion and view . I always say music is subjective.
I mean just because I think the Beatles are crap and overrated, doesn't mean they're not legends right? Ha.
But seriously, if it's not for you that's cool with me. I can't win over everyone's hearts and minds. For me, I just want to music the way I like doing it and if some people like it along the way that's great.
The over compressed thing you mention, it's funny cos I don't use much compression at all. If anything I probably use it too little. Back in the day, you wouldnt use compression in the way it's done today. After discussions with some artists from back then in a lot of cases, compression wouldnt take place until the pre-master.
All the tracks have been mixed down in the old skool way through an analog mixing desk and then on mastering, the max I push my tracks is -8 LUFS which is low by today's steroid Trance which is anything between -4 and -6 LUFS.
For me the music has to be translated on to vinyl, so over doing it on compression and loudness is something I avoid.

 

[Sean Cong]

@NameLessYet and @Shivace
Pleased that they have arrived and you like them

I love the album too. Thanks for your sincere letter in English and Chinese, I have also received my copy from @Lawn Jarre . Really love the album!
By the way, I'm the "灵秀之韵" in the letter.
Although this album may not be better compared to the real old classic, it's very good to hear high-quality trance tracks out of the present-day norm, and Nath' is definitely an explorer of trance music and treasure to the scene.
(Apologies for my mistakes in English if there is any)

 

[Jetflag]

gottem thanks @EnigmaState

 

[EnigmaState]

View attachment 2749

gottem thanks @EnigmaState

Fantastic!!!

 

[Freezer]

Listened to the whole thing two times so far:
Mijmering - one of the best ones for sure and really a great start of the album 8,5/10
Legion - already heard that one many times, its simply great, typical ES massive track 8,5/10
Elevate - more agressive melody, very good album track, not standout tho 7/10
LSD or XTC - this one is huge and quite different from the rest of this album, very powerfull, slightly Push-like, biggie 8,5/10
Emotions - another typical ES offering, good one 7,5/10
Essence of Life - nice change to breakbeat, the melody aint the strongest tho...still pretty good 6,5/10
illuminate -nice vocal chop, overally super-fine track, about the same as Emotions 7,5/10
The Moonman - very authentic sounding Moonman tribute track, one of the best tracks on the album 8,5/10
Should - same as Elevate, solid album track with in your face type melody, not a standout track, but good enough for 7/10
Wanting - tribute to early UK house I guess, not the style that I prefer 5/10
Discover Way - tribute to PVD surely, also not really my favourite, although its very well done 6/10

Overally a very good album, although im missing some massive standout trtack like In My Fantasy or State Of Mind.
The weakest point is Wanting, but I understand that track like this was nessecary to have a little variety on the album.
There are a few great ones like XTX, Moonman, Mijmering or Legion which makes me think about a very high mark of 8/10 overally

 

[dmgtz96]

This is basically what late 90s trance would have sounded like had it been allowed to evolve with modern sound production. Well done. It reminds me of some of the trance tracks from the Sonic Frontiers (2022) OST:

 

[Debrvka]

This was the kind of sounds that got me in to Trance, we love to see it return.

 

[Breach]

Finally listened. You're delivering the real goods. No wonder why you are so popular in this place.