6th Element Open Air: A Psychedelic Punch to the Face
Alright, let’s get one thing straight—6th Element Open Air isn’t your grandma's playlist. This 2001 Raniv Music release is a wild ride through the realms of Psy-Trance and Progressive Trance, with enough energy to power a small city. If you’re looking for chill vibes or something soft, keep walking. But if you want beats that slap harder than a caffeine overdose, this album’s got your back.
First off, kudos to Matt E Silver and DJYANIV for curating this chaos. The compilation feels like they raided every corner of the US electronic scene in 2001 and stitched it together with raw adrenaline. Tracks like "Bongoloid" hit so hard it’s like someone just slapped you awake at 4 AM after a bad trip. It’s relentless, gritty, and unapologetically weird—the kind of track that makes you question whether you’re losing your mind or finding it. I remember “Bongoloid” because it doesn’t just play; it owns you. You don’t listen to it—you survive it.
Then there’s “Shut Down (DJ Zigi Electro Mix)”, which flips the script entirely. Where “Bongoloid” is all about brute force, this track sneaks up on you with its hypnotic groove. Halfway through, it drops this filthy bassline that grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go. It’s not perfect—it’s got some rough edges—but that’s what makes it stick. When people talk about this album, this track will always be the one I bring up first. Why? Because it’s proof that imperfection can still be unforgettable.
The rest of the tracks aren’t slouches either. From the dreamy mess of “Olive Pictures In Stream” to the glitchy madness of “Bubble Trouble,” each song adds another layer to this chaotic masterpiece. And yeah, sure, some tracks feel like filler, but when the highs are this high, who cares?
Props to Krissy Schutte and Gerb for the cover art too—it’s as trippy as the music itself. Stephen Sprouse’s photography ties it all together with a vibe that screams early 2000s underground rave culture. Honestly, it’s wild how much personality this album has despite being a compilation. Feels less like a random collection and more like a statement.
So here’s the kicker: listening to 6th Element Open Air feels like stepping into a time machine where everyone’s high on life, cheap beer, and questionable decisions. It’s messy, loud, and occasionally brilliant. And honestly? That’s exactly why it works.
But hey, here’s the real question—how does an album from 2001 still sound fresher than half the stuff dropping today? Maybe we’ve been doing it wrong this whole time.
