space rock / psychedelic rock / krautrock

There is always something magical about cooperations. Somehow, many of these albums have brought out more of each artist or band than you would have expected, often with surprising outcomes. So when I found this gem in my mailbox, I was immediately interested. 

3rd Ear Experience is a respected psychedelic jam band and Dr. Space (Oresund Space Collective) has been lifting my spirits for quite a few years now. Although living in different continents, both acts have managed to create an energetic and cohesive album, a quite varied one, too.


Everything begins with a solid rocker. 'Screams Of Eagle Bone' quickly comes up with the uptempo drums, the groovy bass and the immersive saxophone. Butts will shake and heads will bang, be it mildly. Like 'Anam Cara' and 'Dreams Of A Caterpillar', this opener was created out of jam sessions by 3rd Ear Experience. Later, Dr. Space jammed along with the basic recordings before Rabbi added a few overdubs and mixed the whole thing. 'Anam Cara' continues the kraut/space rock feel, a bit slower but certainly as immersive as its predecessor.

With 'Dreams Of A Caterpillar', the project delves into the world of psychedelic ambient, with space sounds and sequencers. This long track is perfect for a trip, and even to dance to. With this, the cooperation jams along with legends like Ozric Tentacles. 'Coin In The Desert' is cut out of the same sheet (*). It carries the same immersive bass lines, soundscapes and rhythms and just makes you happy. It's like a mild LSD trip without the LSD. In the end, 'Sue's Dream World' closes off in sheer ambient style, beautiful and mesmerizing. 

In all, this is a fantastic album. Psychedelic music you can dance to, shake your head to or just enjoy while lying on the floor with your eyes closed and your mind open. So, my psychedelic friends, put this in your pipe and smoke it. You know you want to.


Serge

(*) free translation of a Dutch expression.

psychedelic rock / space rock

With a bandname inspired by an enigmatic gemstone and a geographic history of shamanic activities, this band from Altai, Russia, Sonora Sunrise delivers a mystic and enjoyable album. Altai in Siberia is a sacred land of ancient mountains which are said to be still keeping the secrets of ancient shamanic rites.
Sonora Sunrise's music is inspired by these landscapes and atmospheres. 'The Route Through The Canyon' is a partially improvised album, recorded over the course of a few days with extra recordings and vocals done afterwards. This gives the whole thing an organic jam-feel and a nice sense of unpredictability.

Musically, the band borrows elements from ambient, stoner rock, krautrock and psychedelic rock. Opener 'Ancient Stones (Sundown)' is a short ambient improv with vocals that remind me of some Massive Attack songs. Later on, in songs like 'Welcome To The Sandland' and 'Unexpected Trip' the influences nudge more towards space and psychedelic rock icons like Hawkwind, Pink Floyd, Gong or Ash Ra Tempel. Armed with guitars, drums and rare, vintage synthesizers from the Soviet era, these musicians paint an amazing musical picture of their mysterious surroundings, and I absolutely love that.

In today's psychedelic rock scene, Sonora Sunrise definitely deserves a place in between albums by Caudal, Hypnodrone Ensemble, Vibravoid and Øresund Space Collective, all well oiled jam-machines, capable of taking their listeners on an elaborate trip through time and space. I'm not going into a song by song description but 'Poison' is a brilliant piece of work. If I have to pick a favorite, it will probably be this one. This certainly is a must-have for fans of seemingly neverending psychedelic rock, no doubt about that.

The sounds of those vintage synths give the band that extra edge that might be needed to stand out in a massive pool of psych rock bands. Everything else is as classic and convincing as the first space/krautrock albums that have been made. If you are fan of immersive guitar solos, gently pulsating rhythm sections and amazing musicianship, you do not want to miss out on this one. Hurry up and get your hands on a copy. There are only 300 copies made and I am bloody happy with mine.


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psychedelic rock / space rock

Trail Records

In recent years, there has been a kraut/space/acid rock revival, boosted by bands like Caudal, Lumerians and Minami Deutsch. However, as I have tried to explain people a thousand times before, genres never really die. Every day a band pops up, inspired by something from the rich history of music making. Back in the nineties, when everybody was getting excited about grunge and nu-metal, bands like The Spacious Mind were born, honoring a older tradition. That of krautrock, psychedelic rock, acid rock and space rock. This band has been around since then, continuing their sonic journey for decades on heaps of albums and EP's.

'The Drifter'  is a collection of rare cuts, two live takes and previously unreleased tracks. Six songs long, this record is a pleasant addition to their collection, preferably to be placed near their Hawkwind and Pink Floyd classics. The songs are long, with traditional rock 'n roll tunes expanding into elaborate jam sessions. It's as if the members of the band wrote one short song and freely improvise over the foundation. The result is a musical trip, immersive and adventurous. It somehow fits perfectly well with my new-found interest in old Star Trek series.

My favorite track on this album is 'Euphoria, Euphoria', and organic piece of music, loaded with surprises and variation, with spaced-out twin guitars and dreamy keyboards having an orgy over the drums/bass foundation. Something like that. You could actually say pretty much the same about every track on this splendid collection. I mentioned one favorite, but this whole thing is incredibly enjoyable for everyone who loves a good dose of acid rock once in a while. So yep, this comes highly recommended.


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psychedelic rock / space rock

I don't feel so good, probably flu or something. As a token of their empathy, my neighbors decided to start drilling holes in the wall again. Those fuckers have been doing that on a regular basis over the course of a year now. I have no idea what they're doing. Yet, I'm not the complaining type. I look for solutions. Luckily for me, there are two huge Magnat speakers and a mailbox full of awesome music to overrule the neighbours' noise. After all, it's easier to cope with a headache from loud music than a headache from drilling holes in the wall. So I downloaded this album by Deep Space Destructors, twisted the volume know and flew off into the galaxy.

Formed in 2011, Finnish space rock combo Deep Space Destructors have played gigs allover their country. They also released plenty of albums and EP's so far and it seems that their journey is far from over. Their latest effort, 'Visions From The Void' contains five tracks and comes in an interesting array of colored vinyls, plus  digital. So you have plenty to choose from, and if you're a space rock fan, I see absolutely no reason why you should not purchase this album.

This is one of those albums that feels like an EP, even though the average track length is over eight minutes. Inspired by acts like Hawkwind, Eloy, Camel and so on, these Fins come up with elaborate instrumental passages, along with some splendid vocal krautrock parts. That sound already highlights in opener 'Psyche Remade', a near perfect space rock song. Another absolute highlight is 'Tyhjyyden Mantra'. I just love the saxophone solo here.

Perhaps in today's scene, Deep Space Destructors could be compared with a mix of Monkey3, Caudal, Øresund Space Collective and Ozric Tentacles. Yet, as a song like 'Floating' proves, this music can easily stand its ground on any atmospheric music festival. I can easily imagine this band playing Dunk! festival and taking everyone on an epic journey, especially with that brilliant closer 'From The Void'.

So yeah, space rock from an intensely high quality, that is what you get here. You can even download the album for free, but I'd suggest you give these guys some credit and some digital cash. They deserve it. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to twist the volume knob some more and drill space rock holes through walls and skulls....


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space rock / psychedelic rock

I kicked off today's writing session with a paragraph about the human race, mother earth and dangerous things from outer space. Well, I'd like to stay in outer space for a bit longer, partially because here on earth things are getting weirder by the day.

However, I also want to float around the galaxy to hear some immersive music, dedicated to and inspired by our incomprehensible universe. Space rock is still one of the most captivating musical styles this planet has ever seen and the Øresund Space Collective is perhaps one of the most interesting acts within that genre.


Øresund Space Collective is a loose Danish and Swedish collective, specialized in long, improvised jam sessions. On this album that is no different, except perhaps for the fact that Gary from Yawning Man decided to join in on the fun. They spend a couple of days jamming, having fun and making love to their instruments and eventually came out with 'Chatoyant Breath', an album containing some elaborate space rock tracks that is too nice to ignore.

Although I have to say, opener 'Peaceful Patterns' seems to start somewhat hesitant. For some reason it feels like the first few minutes of this track are warming up practices. However, not to worry, halfway through the song the band has lifted off with great flair, resulting is fantastic guitar solos, immersive bass lines, trippy keyboards and a constantly forward pushing set of drums. The band seems to be floating alongside the spaceships of Ozric Tentacles and Pink Floyd.

They continue the blissful journey throughout the other tunes, highlighting frequently. In fact, I really have no favorite on this album. As far as I'm concerned, this is simply one massive jam session, one that I will definitely be playing a lot in the foreseeable future. Actually, I ended my previous review with a Dunk! festival reference. Well, I'd like to do that here too. I doubt that there will be better space rock to be found than this one, honestly.


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