Whether you are a fan of Eat Static or not, you need to sample their sound to judge any of their albums. Their production and creative energy has heavily influenced psytrance, trance and electronic dance music in general.
De-Classified is no exception to this rule and the artists show their creative flare from the beginning.

The CD kicks off with Invasion, a retro style ambient track with all those spacy sounds that remind of chill-out trance in the 90s.

Sucker Unit signals the first introduction to a fuller sound with a unique structure and bleeps that bounce between 90s psytrance and today's minimal trance and house music.
Trantaloid keeps the rhythm in similar tones with a complex set of sounds that bring to mind older Koxbox tracks. A lot of sampling here including clever quotes as well as a subliminal conversation in the background.

Deadly Amphibian brings another twist with a muddy bass sound and a distorted noise drum element. Everything is mildly distorted and the sound is big and dominant without a strong kick.
Sin-Quest is more conventional in that it follows a pattern, stronger kicks, heavier sounds and percussion. The album is really taking off at this stage. This is a morning monster for any psytrance floor.

Tractor Beam is a very different affair. The jungle sounds and breakbeat base contains a fusion of lounge sounds great on a winter afternoon.
Pachama follows in similar steps and closer to what Ninja Tunes is outputting. A strange blend of eclectic sounds laid on top of a funky but twisted beat.

Visitors goes back to one of Eat Static's favourite subjects: alien activity. The music here reflects that mood and enters psytrance space once again. Strong beats with a driven sample set and more random bleeps.
Brassneck is similar in texture and drives the comp forward. Heavy use of 303s gives the track a retro look. Favourite melody unfolds here.

De-Classified is a free-form track with singing voices heavily sampled and a unique lounge feel. Nice touch for an ending.

Do Eat Static earn a top spot in the psytrance world?

The Antaris Project celebrates it's 13th consecutive year of gatherings in 2007. The German festival that takes place between the 20-23 July has grown into not just a respected event in the European summer party scene but has also established itself as one of the most significant.

The importance of this celebration is again reflected in the line-up this year.
Headlining are no others than GMS, Johann Bley and Star Sounds Orchestra. The list of DJs is equally impressive with Kai Mathesdorf, Alice D Joana, Beauty & the Beat, Klangstrahler & Tarzan and Magical & FM.

The alternative floor has grown even further with melodic trance maister Sangeet leading the live acts followed by Flugbegleiter and Symphonix. Some of the DJs taking part are no other than top notch German DJ Mapusa Mapusa, Yaniv, Phillip, Fred Freshroom and psytrance heart-throb DJ Doc (Candyplip Rec./Greece).


You might want to keep an eye out for the New Generation floor, a great Antaris initiative that hosts young talent so don't hesitate to catch up with the future.

What other events or features would be good to see in the summer trance festivals?