voomzap Reviews

Slipstream (2007)

One for the minds-eye

[9/10 · 22 February 2008]

A brilliant work and watch for those fascinated with subconsciousness, dreams, hallucinations. One to see when you're in a suitable mood, preferably alone during the small hours, or at a night-cinema.

• There's thousands of people who will absorb this experience and appreciate it, but millions who most likely will never even have a clue about it. Ah well, Many guitarists will always be disgusted hearing Jim Hendrix play. Many lover of jazz will suffer heart-attack if they'd have to stay awake on an all-night acid dance-floor. Some are fascinated by abstract paintings while others love the sharpness of a shiny apple on canvas... And thats okay. However, this movie isn't made to interpret from a rational standpoint.

Here's one for the Mindseye...

Liquid Crystal Vision (2002 Video)

Liquid Crystal Vision is an unique kind of multimedia experience and a good reminder of the ideas behind the goa "movement".

[1 November 2004]

Liquid Crystal Vision is an unique kind of multimedia experience and a good reminder of the ideas behind the goa "movement". It consists essentially of footages mixed with computer-generated 3D "psychedelic" visuals which are extremely well made and not "cheesy" at all. Also, instead of having 3D as the main focus, which can get boring after a while, the computer animations usually act more like an additional layer which follows the movie and makes it psychedelic!

In addition to that, there is, of course, the music (made by some of the best psychedelic chillout & goa musicians like Shpongle) and the exclusive interviews featuring System 7, Raja Ram, Goa Gil, Youth, Swami, Alex Grey and others, all very interesting, especially for those interested in consciousness and psychedelics. Just like for 3D, the interviews are almost always mixed with the footages, which often results in 3 layers of visuals on the screen and, surprisingly, it doesn't look too messy.

A part of the interviews is dedicated to the "role" of music and visuals and will surely interests VJs looking for inspiration. Ideas like language of creation, sensory experience, understandable package, music visualization, mystical frequencies will provide good food for thoughts for what the future of "VJing" (in the broad sense of the word) may look like, working eventually as a role of unification between image, sound and other senses (as we can already see with "VJs" experimenting with sensors, body movement, etc.)

The exclusive film footages have been taken all around the world, in India, UK, Portugal, Cambodia, Lao, Himalaya and of course at the famed Burning Man festival. Dancers, fire breathers and mystics can be seen all the time, as well as some beautiful landscapes which are really well filmed. It sometimes reminds of Baraka although Liquid Crystal Vision is a lot less static. It is more concerned by movement.

This is also the first "documentary" I have ever seen which didn't bore me at one point or another. The whole one hour and an half flows right in the brain thanks to the perfect mix between images and sound. Interviews never really cut this flow either. Instead, the interview video is merged with psychedelic visuals and images of people dancing and the voice continues in rhythm with the goa music in the background. A reviewer at the back of the DVD compares this to being "lifted up as on a wave and carried". A possibly interesting application of "VJing"?

Anyway no matter how you look at it, this is a fantastic movie and no one should miss it. The DVD or VHS can be ordered from the website and it can even be viewed online if you can't wait anymore ;)