Sunyata

With their first CD Mega-Single, Sunyata, featuring incredible tracks by such remixers as Lush79, KiloWatts, 3PM, Pedestrian and others, Basic Pleasure Model delivers on the best of what was Psykosonik while forging brand new ground. The result is a highly original blend of lush intelligent electronic pop with early 80's British analog heaven, all wrapped-up in a tasty stew of heady Taoism-meets-Budhist-meets-Paganism.

Customer Reviews:

Psykosonik is back..........2004-10-16

...Kind of. After a long hiatus, Paul, founding member and singer for Psykosonik has returned with his new project, Basic Pleasure Model.

What we have here is a single from the fourth-coming album. On this single there is 8 total tracks of different versions of the song. BPM, is nowhere near as dark as Psykosonik was, but its very enjoyable never-the-less. Definitley something Psykosonik fans are gonna want to check out.

My personal favorite remix is the Lush79 version.

A brilliant return from a longtime favorite.......2004-01-18

The release of Sunyata marks not just the introduction of Basic Pleasure Model, but the return of 90's underground band Psykosonik. Founder Paul Sebastian returns here with Caesar Filori (aka Pedestrian and 1/2 of synthpop duo Wideband Network) to create what can only be described as a masterpiece of lush and epic proportions.

The original version sets the tone appropriately. The production is tight and clean, Paul's voice is clear and refined, the harmonies are appropriately layered, the bass is crisp, the effects are well-placed, and the atmospherics deserve a standalone release (and can be found on BPM's website). When you hit the chorus, Sunyata fires on all cylinders of a well-balanced engine.

The Lush79 Remix is actually a solo exploration by Paul Sebastian as I understand it. The mix, pushing close to deep house, utilizes bits and pieces of the the vocal chorus and intertwines enough new melodies that while it's far from my usual style, it unexpectedly became my favorite remix off the disc.

Third up is the KiloWatts Remix. Having heard his work prior to this (remixing DPP - m3x1k0 and working on an upcoming album with Vanek), I wasn't surprised to find the usual dizzying array of effects aided by a variety of destruction and granulation plugins. This mix is not for the feint of heart. Breaks are dropped unexpectedly, edits come from nowhere, and the first thing that comes to mind is how someone could possibly have envisioned a mix like this. Following a line of downtempo glitch-hop, it caters exclusively to a niche crowd of electronic enthusiasts (most notably fans of Telefon Tel Aviv and Prefuse73). Fellow producers will love it. For the average listener, it will take some growing. Give it time, it's worth it.

The 3pm Mix (Casey Clark, the other half of Wideband Network) is somewhat of an epic eurotech variant, flying along with a pulsing bass line, a new layer of melodies, unafriad to use the chorus hook. The effects are solid and the breakdown rocks. My only complaint is, clocking in at a mere 4:13, that it's too short.

Pedestrian Mix -- This is Caesar Filori's indy project, much like Paul's Lush79 music. Taking a totally different course, this mix gives a surprising package gift wrapped for fans of KMFDM, Nine Inch Nails, and Gravity Kills. It's industrial to the core. The key elements of the original are all there, but processed, filtered, and reinterpreted, paying homage to the goth scene from a very unexpected source. A great touch for rounding out the single.

Not much to be said about the final three mixes -- the Lush79 night version is a slightly different arranged version with less vocals, the radio edit is self explanatory (I much prefer the full five minutes), and the instrumental holds it's own during concentrated listening, not usually the case in many songs.

The original Psykosonik blueprint is still here, from the original ambient self indulgent intros to the mystical, escapist vocal work. What's new in this first reincarination in 8 years is a new level of technical proficiency and artistic harmony. Sunyata represents everything we loved of Psykosonik and the evolution of what we look forward to seeing it become.

To sum it all up -- it was ten dollars well spent, and I look forward to upcoming releases.

Amazing!!.......2004-01-18

This is the best music I've heard in a long time. "Sunyata" is truly rocking my world. I can't wait to hear more from these guys! Buy this single!!!!

Fantasmagorgasmlicious.......2004-01-17

If you were ever a fan of Psykosonik, and wished for a second coming, well here it is. This first CD is their springboard single to what is undoubtably going to be a fantastic album. If that wasn't enough, you have 5 outstanding remixes each with a distict flavor from the same tasty aural dish. Throw in 2 edits, one being an instrumental that shows off the fantastic production skills. If you thought Psykosonik was done, think again. It's better then ever. It's your Basic Pleasure Model.

Average customer rating:

into nothingness

Sunyata

Manufacturer: Hypnos/Soundscape
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000055XA1
Release Date: 2000-10-01

Tracks:

Dervish Dreamtime
Oak Spirits

Album Description

Available for the first time, a crucial early work by ambient/drone master Robert Rich. SUNYATA was Robert Rich's first solo release, dating back to 1982. It has been out of print for 15 years, and has remained one of his most obscure recordings. SUNYATA came from the same period as Robert's first Sleep Concerts, and reflects a similar deep slow motion. Carefully remastered by Rich in 1999, this reissue complements next year's release of the seven-hour SOMNIUM, summarizing Robert's excursions into the slowest realms of psychoactive music.

Customer Reviews:

into nothingness.......2001-01-15

Robert Rich-

Sunyata

(Hypnos)

Buddhist term implying emptiness

I think that for a musician like Robert Rich, it's maybe a good thing to look back at the past. Just to be able to say that this is where he came from, and that the path that he explored was indeed the right one. Not ever having heard Sunyata prior to its current reissue on Hypnos, I'm struck by the thought that for a piece of drift or sleep music which was written twenty years ago, this still holds up remarkably well. One piece of course turned up on the Extreme release Trances and Drones back in 1992, but with Sunyata come the other two tracks. You get to hear a very young nineteen year old Robert Rich performing on analog synthesizers no doubt buzzing with ideas re where he wanted to take his audience. The ideas are all here, long deep drones lulling the listener into an intense sleep (I'll vouch for that many times over), improvised pieces of great depth and darkness, dark minimalist musical structures which seem to keep evolving and reinventing themselves for what seems like an eternity. Having said that, some people have said that for them nothing is happening at any time, but the point I raise time and time again is how do we listen or better still how do we not listen, especially for someone who is not into exploring this type of music. That glurpy aqueous sound which he is now well known for is, as usual, evident on the longest track Oat Spirits, which gets downright dark at times. I've listened to this a lot since it arrived, and I have to say that this is not a 'pretty' Robert Rich release by any means, compared to some of the Hearts Of Space recordings. In fact for me it contains some of his darkest moments to date, yet at the same time it's an exceptional piece of work . There is something about it that keeps me wanting to hear it again and again, a dark organic substance of sorts which feeds the soul. Than again, that has always been what it is about Rich's work which appeals to this listener, the ability to not only go beyond certain states, but also to give back some sort of musical 'elixir'. At a time when so much of what we hear on the radio is so utterly vacuous ( and ironically downright successful) this comes as a welcome change for those like me who want much more out of what we are listening to. I often say life is too short to listen to uninteresting music. Robert Rich has certainly developed his own unique sounds into a more subtle and graceful palette with the passing of years and the availability of new technologies, but as I said earlier on, this stands up remarkably well. And as usual the production on this is first rate. I'm looking forward to the seven hour release I keep hearing about. Now THAT should test my audience.

Sunyata
Average customer rating:

psycho-stimulating

Sunyata
Robert Rich
Manufacturer: Hypnos Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music
World Dance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005NOXV
Release Date: 2001-08-14