Label Profile - Equinox Records

Introduction

 Equinox is a great japanese label that not many are familiar with here in Europe. Fortunately the reason of this has nothing to do with the quality of Equinox releases but only due to marketing and promotion lack (after all it is a japanese label aiming in the japanese market).

Party History

 Equinox started as a party team (still is) and the events history is very impressive indeed. Some of the highlights include the fantastic Strong Sun Moon Festival (July 17,18,19, 1998) and the Autumnal Equinox Festival (September 23, 24, 25, 26, 1999). The first party took place back in 1994 and was named Long Snows Moon. Over the years Equinox organised parties and established itself as a major player in the trance scene. Djs from all over the world played in an Equinox party including big names like Mike Maguire and Ray Castle. Famous bands like Koxbox, Spectral and Juno Reactor have joined the Equinox family and made an Equinox party an excellent experience.

Strong Sun Moon 1998, night time photograph of the decorations during the Strong Sun Moon Festival in 1998. Center piece decorated by Avikal.
Strong Sun Moon 1998, Mabi Thobejane plays away on the Congas during the Juno Reactor live. Juno Reactor are one of the best live acts in the trance scene.
Strong Sun Moon 1998, sunrise time at the Strong Sun Moon Festival. Who would have imagined that the rainy season 'tsuyu' would end just a day before.













Most of the big names have played several times for an Equinox party and their opinion about these parties is always possitve (Mike Maguire is a great follower of Equinox parties). So if by any chance you get to visit Japan in the near or distand future search for an Equinox event you want regret it. For those of you that are highly interested you can visit this page regarding the Smile Open Air Party.

Releases

 Equinox has been a productive label though the years but all its releases are very carefully picked up and the quality is in healthy mode. No cash-in compilation and the like just plain good music. Further follows the complete release schedule of Equinox in table form. Also you will find the tracklisting of the CDs plus a short review.

EQ 14 Kay Nakayama / "Inner Radiance" Tracklisting
A great ambient chill-out CD. Mixed by Kay Nakayama in a way that enhances the aural pleasure. All the tracks are top quality and are great for listening in a lazy summer afternoon. Music for your ears rather than your feet but you could shake some booties with some of the material. Top stuff buy at first site. 1. John Beltron / Soul Sketching
2. Washida / Open, Ver 2.
3. Purple OM / Ormageddon Dub
4. Alien Soap Opera / Voradores, Black Star Liner Mix
5. Something Wonderful / Celestial
6. Intelligent Jazz / Astrogate
7. Move D & Namlook / Remember the Days
8. Extended Spirit / Caprice
9. Kay Nakayama / Free Your Mind, (Light Side mix)


EQ 13 Juno Reactor / "Shango" Tracklisting
Already album of the month in Chaishop. "Shango" is one of the best albums released this year. I f you are into tribal drumming you will reach paradise with Amapondo and not only on percussions. This CD guarantees your audio pleasure. Classic material from a well respected producer like Ben Watkins. 1. Pistolero
2. Hulelam
3. Insects
4. Badime
5. Masters of the Universe
6. Nitrogen Part 1
7. Nitrogen Part 2
8. Solaris
9. Song for Ancestors


EQ 12 Ray Castle / "Gourmet Genre" Tracklisting
Ray Castle is an enormous producer with so much smash hits in the psychedelic scene. This time he selects some fresh cutz from the psychedelic underground. Rip Van Hippy, Reflecta and other top acts deliver some funky to the bone tunes. Top quality, top tunes and gradually moving feeling from on the floor and funky to trippy and crazy. 1. Sinister Association / Influx
2. Arkane Trickster / The kid from kun lun
3. Ray Catsle / The Majesty of the Muse
4. Nam Shub of Enki / Geektronix
5. Sinister Association / Nude
6. Unthinkable / Time travel for beginners.part2
7. Juju space jazz / The next level
8. Rip Van Hippy / Cut Lunch
9. Reflecta / Qualitat im Interfera
10. Meta-pod / Exit Ericsson


EQ 11 Domino DJ Mix Tracklisting

Review Not Availiable
 1. Nerve / Channel 59
2. Hallucinogen / Beautiful People
3. Genetic / Alpha State Synthesis
4. Bamboo Forest / Own Way
5. Total Eclipse / The Years of Trance
6. Nerve / Nervous
7. Jaia / Factory Mind
8. Lennie Lazer Bean / Bionic
9. Atoms / Qualitat im Quadrat


EQ 10 Spies / "Notinism" Tracklisting
Two french men deliver one of the best concept albums I have heard ine my life. Gloomy industrial oriented production, FSOL style textures and atmospheres, plus a never ending inspiration in orchestration of the tracks makes this a REALLY classic release. Awesome material from a group that I wouldn't concider very famous at least in Europe. Seriously collectable!!! 1. Babel Bum
2. Inorganic Being
3. les Ailes du desir
4. Instead of...
5. Time Riders
6. Headless Angel
7. Dust Reality
8. The Allegory
9. Characters
10. t.d.r.o.s.
11. Reminiscence


EQ 9 Spies / "Notinism" Tracklisting
Maxi single CD in EP form containing four tracks from the "Notinism" album, two in original state and two altered by Kylven and Tim "Aurinko" Shuldt. 9. Characters
2. t.d.r.o.s.
3. Headless Angel (Tim Shuldt remix)
4. les Ailes du desir (Kris Kylven remix)


EQ 8 Ubar Tmar / "Live at Autumnal Equinox" Tracklisting
Live CD with Ubar Tmar at the Autumnal Equinox Festival, most tracks performed here are from Ubar Tmar's debut album on Matsuri. Remixed for full live effect, odd filters and crazy builds make you wish you where there. Good old entertainment. 1. Rhithmism
2. Rhithmism5
3. C13H18N20 pt.4
4. Rhithmism6
5. C13H18N20 pt.1
6. C13H18N20 pt.2
7. C13H18N20 pt.3


EQ 7 Xavier Morel / "Dust and Wind" Tracklisting

Review Not Availiable

CD comming soon


EQ 6 The Strong Sun Moon CD2 Tracklisting
The second CD from the Strong Sun Moon Festival is a bit more techno and deeper than the first. Ree K and Charm deliver two intense trancefloor monsters with Charm making a drastic turn in sound and style than their old GOA tracks. Big names like Genetic and Spectral sum this CD in true perfection. Finall I would like to mention that this and the next CD are in the same package. 1. Something Wonderful / In the Dark
2. Clip / Tumbler
3. Masa / Grand Cross
4. Ree.K / Planet #4
5. Charm / Periodic Bound
6. Carcharodon Megarodon / Red Pointer
7. Higher Self / 2012
8. Genetic / Drive
9. Spectral / A Wonderful Feeling
10. Artman / Cosmic Dub (edit)


EQ 5 The Strong Sun Moon CD1 Tracklisting
The first CD from the Strong Sun Moon Festival is a very good collage of sounds and styles. Graham Wood, Ray Castle and the front assault machinery of the japanese scene deliver some energetic and some how diverse vibes. The whole package is worth your money since both the music and the package are great. 1. Excess Head / Nudge
2. Monka / Water Swell
3. Syzgism / Synaptec
4. Asteroids / Shiva Hunger
5. Ubar Tmar / C13H18N20
6. AOA / USAOA
7. UNI / Sarasvati
8. Sonics / Orcathm
9. Padmasana / Holistic Resonance (Pulsar Mix)


EQ 4 TIP Records 3D Tracklisting
Re-release of the legendary TIP compilation, 3D. Most of you will already own this CD since it rocked the floors by pioneering the breaktrance sound. Top producers like Lorenzo Zoeter, Psychopod, Orichaclum, The Deviant and others are on board delivering such classics like "The Egg", "Dawn of Epsilon" and "Uncle Mavis". 1. The Infinity Project / Mindboggler
2. Z / Uncle Mavis
3. Psychopod / Frigram
4. Growling Mad Scientits / Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep
5. Germinating Seeds of Doda / Dervish
6. Orichalcum / The Egg
7. Process / Cryogen
8. The Deviant / Dawn on Epsilon
9. Sandman / Highway 101


EQ 3 Graham DJ Mix Tracklisting

Review Not Availiable
 1. The Infinity Project / Intro
2. Part 4 / The Mystery of the Yeti
3. Woodski / Woodski
4. Excess Head / Hopscotch
5. The Infinity Project / Noises from the Darkness
6. Excess Head / Strange Thing
7. The Infinity Project / Mysterical Experiences
8. Excess Head / Subcurrent
9. The Flippy Dippy Project / Outro


EQ 2 Andrea DJ Mix Tracklisting

Review Not Availiable
 1. The Infinity Project / Noises from the Darkness
2. Hallucinogen / Soothsayer Remix
3. Orichalcum / Wicked Mille
4. Organic Noise / Labyrinth of Colors
5. The Infinity Project / Mindboggler
6. The Deviant / S.T.C.
7. The Antidote / Sunrise
8. Psychopod / Dreampod
9. Sandman / Starfinder


EQ 1 Domino DJ Mix Tracklisting

Review Not Availiable
 1. Jakov and Sebi / The Last Block
2. Hallucinogen / Gamma Goblin
3. Somaton / Mutate and Survive
4. Technosommy / Electron Bender
5. Doof / Mars Needs Women
6. Jaia / Brainstorm
7. Mammal / Fire in the Sky
8. Zodiac Youth / Atoms (Angel Fish Remix)
9. Hillarium / Hillarium 10. Technosommy / U.T.O.L.


Equinox DJs

 Though the years many DJs from around the world have played in Equinox parties. Big names like Dino Psaras, Mike Maguire, Ray Castle plus a team of not so known DJs have created a wonderful atmosphere in Equinox nights. The fact is though that some of them feel like part of the family and can be considered in-house DJs. The following four boys and one girl are your audio saviours in an Equinox night.

Domino Biography
Born November 28 in England.

First started DJing in Goa with cassette tapes!

Member of the Sun Moon Goddess Project.

Has been DJing for Equinox since 1996.

Domino has 2 compilation CDs released from Equinox.

Spending most of the winter in India where she grew up.

Also studies film.


Biography Mike Naguire
Born October 17 in London, England.

Collaborator of Juno Reactor.

Early influences includes T.Rex, Prince, and Parliament.

Has various collaboration works inlcuding those with Paul Jackson and Eternal Basement.

Has own record label called Qube Records.


Xavier Morel Biography
Born July 12 in Paris, France.

Started DJing in 1990.

Former collaborator of Juno Reactor.

Former A&R man for Blue Room Released.

Launched own record label called the Atomic Reactor.

Releases include Male or Female, Black Lung and Earth Nation.

Has also collaborated with Kox Box and Eat Static.


Biography Kotaro
Born September 6th in Tokyo, Japan.

Art director for Tokyo's "Twilight Zone" in 1991.

DJing since 1992; resident Equinox DJ since 1995.

Also does A&R for Techno Flux launched April of 2000.

Big fan of Devil Man.

Also photographer.


Ray Castle Biography
Born February, 1955 in New Zealand.

Awarded Arts Council Travel grant in 1983, to travel to America and Europe.

Has been DJing in Goa from 1987.

Rap and hip hop performer/writer during the mid 80s.

Has DJ'd for Equinox since 1996.

New album "Gourmet Genre" just released from Techno Flux / Equinox.


Visit oficial Equinox Site at : http://www.equinox.nu

Label profile by Sequential-X for Chaishop

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