Motion Drive - Deception EP [Iboga Digital 2007]
Review by: DJ Basilisk / http://www.ektoplazm.com

01 :: Motion Drive - Deception (8:23)
02 :: Motion Drive & Jetlag - Balanced Cargo (7:10)
03 :: Motion Drive - Borderline (7:09)

Motion Drive is the new project of Swiss producer Philip Guillaume, already known from his work with Andreas Märki as Rumble Pack, Natural Flow, and Blue Vortex. Guillaume’s previous efforts explored clean driving rhythms and subtle melodic themes, drawing influence from the morning-friendly style of progressive psytrance artists like FREq, Andromeda, and Zen Mechanics. Motion Drive’s first solo release is the Deception EP, a three track digital single released with Iboga Digital. The Deception EP is available from Beatport, where it recently achieved the #1 sales position, as well as Iboga’s own web shop Progressive Tunes.

Deception immediately establishes the tone for the release with an elegant combination of fat tribal grooves and smooth swirling melodies. The arrangement flows like quicksilver, effortlessly gliding through glimmering moments of reflective equipose and unforced emotion. In addition to appearing here, Deception is soon to be released with DJ Emok’s new 2CD compilation on the Japanese label Wakyo Records, Crossing Borders.

Balanced Cargo, composed alongside a producer named Jetlag, charts a course deep into mystic morning trance territory. Highly polished rhythms sprinkled with light tribal drums provide a solid foundation for the captivating interplay of melodic themes and luscious atmospheres. This is another solid piece of work.

Borderliner cruises along with greater restraint than the previous two, casting little more than residual hints of melody into the space above the steady flow of blissful beats. This calming production is composed as if it were seeking to suggest there is beauty in simplicity. The mood is captured in the warm reassurance of the vocal sample: “Yes I will.”

The Deception EP is a substantial digital release from Iboga Records, one of the leading labels in the field of progressive psytrance. Although these tracks may sound quite similar at first, repeat listening will expose the subtle differences that set them apart. Anyone who has heard and enjoyed the work of Natural Flow will enjoy this as well; this first offering from Motion Drive represents a step forward in terms of quality and style. DJs and listeners interested in the smooth side of deep and melodic progressive psytrance are likely to enjoy this satisfying release.

Full review:
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