So right off the bat I should mention, electronic music is not really my area of expertise. Even though I grew up around the same time this modern musical direction found its way from obscurity into the mainstream, I've never been a huge fan of it. However, as it is the case with so many genres, even though the whole thing may not excite you in its entirety, there could be a few interesting exceptions that catch your attention. And that's exactly what happened to me with Infected Mushroom.
More Electronic Music Than One Could Ever Listen To
Let's face it, there is so much electronic music out there that it's a sheer impossibility to get your head around it all. A friend of mine who had been into it for years once told me that the way he listened to it was by getting exposure to a long list of names. The fact that many artist simply use their own names, such as Micheal Jones, makes it even more of a drop-in-the-ocean type exercise. (No idea if there is an electronic musician by the name of Michael Jones, but it wouldn't surprise me.) When something happens to catch his attention, he goes back to it, and tries to get more tracks by the same artist.
Another time when I was overwhelmed by the incredible amount of electronic sounds out there, was when I visited a Bulgarian connoisseur of electronica. He showed me a shelf of ... I estimate roughly 500 burned DVDs, all full of mp3, all electronic music, only from Bulgaria! Taking into account that this happened 20 years ago will give you an idea how long it may take to go through electronic collections, just to find something that you really, really like.
Goa, Psytrance, or Dream Trance?
What usually helps a little in this case, is choosing from among the various subgenres, such as House, Jungle, Trip-Hop, or Trance. Depending on the style and your taste, it may be quicker to find something that suits your moods. But there is also a great deal of overlap, and one artist may be placed in various categories, especially if they do their stuff well. The same thing applies to non-electronic music: crossover tends to be the most diverse and colorful style.
Music That Helps Me Think
Infected Mushroom is no exception in this regard, as it has been classified as Psytrance, and Dream Trance, while the people who introduced me to their sound called it "our favorite Goa". Okay then. So what is it about this music that I ended up liking so much? It's really not that easy to say, because ... well, it is made up of electronic beats, melodies, and other types of sounds, arranged in a particular way. Haha, okay, this doesn't say too much, does it? However, what I really liked about this certain arrangement, was how great it was for thinking! It sort of got me into a trance, whether I was walking around in the city, or relaxing at home. (So the name of the subgenre was well picked.) It almost felt like my thoughts bounced around on these perfectly placed sounds.
From Classical Mushroom to the Whole Discography
It was their album Classical Mushroom that I first heard, which I kept going back to over many years, usually whenever I wanted to clear my mind. It wasn't until recently that I actually got curious about what else they had to offer, so I got their entire discography to work myself through. - A dozen discs are certainly doable. At the same time I read up on their story, a duo from Haifa, Israel, whose musical background started at young ages, reaching from classical piano and organ to heavy metal and punk, as well as very early computerized music.
All Great Music, Until the Lyrics Ruin It All
Listening through their early albums, I realized that all of them offered the same thinking aspects as the one I had known until then. The Gathering, and B.P. Empire, all the way up to the first part of Converting Vegetarians. The second half of that double album, as well as all subsequent ones, started including something that ruined the whole experience for me: the use of words and vocals! I'm really sorry to say this, but as soon as any human lyrics enters the mix, the beautiful effect on my mind just collapses. And all for what? Lyrics such as "We're gonna run, run, run, to the city of the future..." Honestly, I've heard bubblegum pop with deeper lyrics! So at least for me, I'll stick to their first four albums.
