DJ Solitare's Retro Goa Explorations, Episode 57: Wicked Wasp/Shanti Druid: Insect-A-Traction

The 57th in my Retro Goa Explorations series of videos in which I present some of my favourite 'Goa Trance' tracks from the '90s.
In this series, I go back to my first experiences in the Goa Trance electronic dance music movement starting in late 1994, drawing upon my recollections of hearing specific music at certain events and using my classical music background explore the elements that I believe make these tracks so great.
We are now into music I first encountered in the '96-97 season, starting in September 1996, and this track comes from one of the first compilation CDs I bought after moving to London that month: Insect-A-Traction by Wicked Wasp... according to the CD, but on the vinyl the project name was Shanti Druid. And as the video reveals, one key musician was not credited on the CD although they were on the vinyl. After I share some of these details, I present my observations while playing the track; I then give a few closing comments before presenting the track on its own without any commentary.
I played this sorely overlooked track in Ottawa, Canada in November 2022:
/ dj-solitare-live-mix-b...
For written features and mixes, go to my website at djsolitare.com/
and my Soundcloud at / djsolitare

[@shivaindica8411]

I love Old school Goa Trance. We have to keep it alive!

[@Clone604]

What a blast this one is. Just keeps going up and up and up!

[@tomekroehr]

DJ Andre is the forgotten master of the goa trance scene

[@pedrocarvalho2311]

All the bells and whistles, and never over the top. Just killer!

[@ParallelIUniverse]

Epic track....for once more wherever Simon is putting his hands turns into gold....

[@WhenThePandasGoMarchingIn]

Maybe my favorite oldschool track!

[@pepoelectra5439]

Hey There Goa teacher Wow another massive one Imagined myself on the dance floor while listening in with closed eyes on this one. The track made me feeling like I am on a roller coaster ride, it moves nice and slow at the beginning, but i really dont know what is waiting for me The gradual acceleration take us though a journey of quite varied scenery I see brightness in the starting section with a nice rhythm. I am like yay, happy Oops there are quick turns ahead, what is it on the other side ? I go through a pleasing but a dark tunnel - real quick, and then to a powerful downwards splash on the big dip into the water, then up again, going up towards a lot of hope, light and energy. Back again down and a rush back with those powering riffs, and its pulling me deeper into the journey, nice... I am immersed into the music now and the music is kinda moving to the background, as I am now enjoying the hypnotizing rhythm and dancing to the rhythm, so nice again … Okay, I get a knock by the sudden jolt of the roller coaster, startled me a bit and the energy pulls me me right back. ⚡🔥 That was a sharp reminder I was on a roller coaster ride, oh oh What a ride And then the Massive ending, which takes its time. I only realize I was on such a gigantic vehicle and the heaviness of the track is felt when only the ride is coming to a halt. Thank you once again Mark, never would have heard this one without you.

[@pedrocarvalho2311]

Another amazing track, you spoil us...

[@leotex26]

High energy 🌀👌

[@timothyhilton3408]

Yea Mark……great track. That’s one I overlooked. There is a Sid Shanti mixed Cd that has an edited version of this track that I bought a few years back for the great track by EnTrance called The Golden way. So thanks for re-surfacing this track for me and when I return from India, I will definitely be purchasing this vinyl for the full 7:42 version of this track. This track is very hypnotic as you say and very deep and contemplative. It’s a track to put on around 2am when the non serious dancers have gone to bed and the deep, close your eyes, tripping phase has begun. It’s a simple rhythm, as you say, but it’s very trancey with that very effective recurring blip sound. You mentioned that one elevating riff that comes in a few times in the second half of the track and said you have heard it before but couldn’t remember where. I know that riff. I have heard it in several tracks but I also can’t place it. It’s one of the signature sounds of Early and mid 90’s Goa Trance and when I hear it, it brings up some feelings of nostalgia, but more than that. For me it triggers a memory of peak moments in the early years of Goa Trance and so for me there is a feeling of longing and maybe even a bit of sadness, remembering those beautiful moments we experienced in the early days of the scene when we first heard that sound and experienced the immensity of those moments. That sound triggers something very deep doesn’t it? Thanks for the review of this very great track Mark. Hidden gem for sure. I leave Arambol next week for Kerala. There is a restaurant here on the beach that has been letting me play Goa Trance on their Sound System at sunset for a couple hours at a time. Just playing tracks off of KZbin on my phone via blue tooth. No mixing. Doing one last iphone\youtube set tomorrow night. People are just eating dinner not even knowing there’s someone playing these tracks. It’s been fun. Hey Mark…..we all gotta start somewhere. Lol. It’s been great…….just to hear these tracks on the beach again…..in Goa…..,.a real gift here in Arambol from the Goa Trace Gods. I’m gonna play this track tomorrow night. I’ll be thinking of you Mark!! Cheers!

[@pepoelectra5439]

I wished I could have dinner at that restaurant ❤️

[@sonicule]

love the acid groove, nice distortion

[@kalhiade1196]

awesome track! thanks

[@UHUmon]

Thanks for this! I had not heard this one before

[@The_Great_Beyond]

Great track, Mark! Hope to see you soon in Portugal ❤

[@DJSolitare]

I sure hope so - I'll be there!!!!

[@eketjall]

6:02 But we listened in the record shop before buying. At least in in my local shop in Sweden. They had like 3 or4 listening stations with headphones

[@DJSolitare]

Lucky! I would have saved money spent on a few substandard releases if we had that!