Cosmic Fall - In Search of Outer Space

Self-released

This is the third album by Berlin-based psychedelic stoner rock band Cosmic Fall. I have somehow missed their two first albums as well as the split with Aphodyl that was released last year. I really should have payed more attention as this is great stuff! As my readers know, I tend to prefer the really trippy, out-there bands out there and Cosmic Fall might not exactly be one of them, but they have a cool, groovy and mind-altering enough style. Their line up is now just a three-piece of guitar, bass/vocals and drums so don't expect spacey synthesizers or full orchestration here. It's more like back to the basics but done with style and emotion. The jamming and use of guitar pedals make sure that there still is enough psych vibes.

This new album that is already out on CD (vinyl version will follow at the end of next month) has seven tracks on it. The lenghty opener "Jabberwocky" is a groovy heavy stoner rock piece somewhere in between Monster Magnet, Gas Giant and Earthless. This track also has vocals unlike most of the pieces. I'm a sucker for long guitar solos and this is one of the bands that I enjoy the most during those. There are also some more laid-back, dreamy moments in there to keep things interesting and varied. Very nice! "Narcotic Vortex" is another heavy, mid-tempo stoner rock blast with some very cool jamming. On "Purification" the band stays rather tranquil and easy and I like it. "Lumberjam" has some more energy and brings to mind Earthless a bit. Never a bad thing, mind you! One of the most psychedelic tracks for sure must be the hypnotic and experimental "Spacejam" where the band gets closer to space rock. The last track "Icarus" still wins my vote for the album's best track. It starts off in a rather intense way, then gets spacey and chilled-out with some vocals and then bursts out into heavy psych again towards the end. Excellent! If you are a fan of heavy stoner jamming then this band definitely should be on your radar.

www.facebook.com/cosmicfallband

Us and Them - From the Corner of My Eye 7"

Mega Dodo (Mega 17)

This is a brand-new 7" by my favourite Swedish psych folk duo Us and Them. As always with Mega Dodo this is a limited edition release and there are only 250 hand-numbered copies made. The actual 7" has just two beautiful, emotional songs but the download has two more. The melancholic title track "From the Corner of My Eye" is perhaps the one I love the most: it really is touching and pretty. Nice acoustic guitar and organ, slow drum beat, simple bass and amazing female vocals, what else do you need? Okay, some string sounds in the chorus and more instrumentation later on, of course! Just wonderful. On the B-side, "The Iron Maiden" has a more traditional folk vibe that I also really like. I didn't even first realise that it's a 1970 Barclay James Harvest cover.

The download includes one more original and one cover song. The just over two-minute "When Life Begins" has a more positive mood and David Bowie's "All The Madmen" has received a very cool folky Us and Them treatment. This one also features guests on flute and drums. Too bad that these bonus tracks are not on the vinyl, since they would have fitted on 33 1/3 RPM. Get this 7" soon before it's gone and while you're at it, the new full-length On Shipless Ocean is also now on pre-sale so you can get them both at the same time to save on postage!

www.facebook.com/usandthemmusic
 

Timetable for Berlin Desertfest online!

You can now check out the full timetables for Berlin Desertfest (4.-6.5.2018) over here:

www.desertfest.de/timetable

Astral Visions Mixcloud Show #79 now online

New Astral Visions Mixcloud Show #79 now online with tracks by Dungen​ & Woods, Dreamweapon, Stephen Bailey, Pharaoh Overlord​, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs​, Crypt Trip, Anthroprophh​, Permanent Clear Light​, Beautify Junkyards​, Domboshawa, The Oscillation​, Cosmic Fall, ZONG - Band​, Sound of New Soma & Malditos. Have a nice trip!

www.mixcloud.com/AstralVisions/astral-visions-079

Tracklist

• 1 Turn Around (from Myhths 003) by Dungen & Woods
• 2 Monte da Virgem (from SOL) by Dreamweapon
• 3 Demure (from Silo) by Stephen Bailey
• 4 Revolution (from Zero) by Pharaoh Overlord
• 5 Sweet Relief (Feed the Rats) by Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs
• 6 Soul Games (from Rootstock) by Crypt Trip
• 7 Omegaville/Thothb (from Omegaville) by Anthroprophh
• 8 Maurice (from Maurice N'est Pas La 7" EP) by Permanent Clear Light
• 9 Shelter (from The Invisible World of Beautify Junkyards) by Beautify Junkyards
• 10 Saturdaze (from Minds Electrix by Domboshawa
• 11 Flight Sequence (from U.E.F.) by The Oscillation
• 12 Spacejam (from In Search Of Outer Space) by Cosmic Fall
• 13 Giant Floating Head (from S/T) by Zong
• 14 Weinende Eidechsen (from Live at the Green Mushroom Festival) by Sound of New Soma
• 15 Disparu (from II) by Malditos

Magic Bus – Phillip The Egg

Back to the Garden Records

Once again I'm about one year late with a review but better late than never I guess... Magic Bus is a new U.K. based progressive rock band playing a very cool version of Canterbury Scene Caravan styled jazzy, psychedelic prog rock fusion. I have reviewed their previous album over here and they have also released a couple of excellent 7" singles on Fruits de Mer.

This 45-minute CD includes eight tracks. The album kicks off with the almost nine-minute "Mystical Mountain" that has a lovely, sunny and positive vibe before the more mystical, heavier instrumental ending. I'm mostly reminded of  Caravan and later all also Gong and I really can't complain about that. "Fading Light" is a shorter, slow and peaceful instrumental piece that somehow brings to mind Mahavishnu Orchestra, very smooth and nice. Next we've got the semi-acoustic, beautiful "Trail To Canaa" and I'm in Camel wonderland. I really like the vocals and flute on this one and the solo part towards the end is killer. "Zeta" has a cool, swinging rhythm and bit Oriental vibe. "Distant Future" is the second longest track on the album at 7:11 and it must be one of the most progressive. Things get rather intense and heavy at times, but there are also more atmospheric parts. Superb! The space sounds later on bring to mind Gong. "Kepler 22b" is another rather long track and perhaps closer to King Crimson than Canterbury Scene. There's maybe some Gentle Giant influnces in there too for good measure. On "Kalamazoo" the band chills out for nice, acoustic moods. The great album is finished with "Yantra Tunnels" that starts with a minute of drone before going into very cool, sort of Indian style prog rocking. The end of the track seriously rocks out! A good way to end an amazing album. I just realized that this is out on vinyl as well, I really need a copy.

www.facebook.com/magicbusbandofficial

Various Artists - Goldfish

Fruits de Mer (crustacean 84 & 85)

Goldfish is a massive 3LP + 7" set of some of the best tracks that Fruits de Mer Records have put out since rising from the sea in 2008. Since most of the original releases are long gone and highly collectable this is a very welcome addition to their catalogue. There is only one previous compilation LP with tracks from different early Fruits de Mer releases: Plankton put out by Record Collector in 2013. Keith himself states that "Goldfish focuses mainly on what Fruits de Mer originally set out to deliver - classic and wilfully-obscure songs taken from, or heavily influenced by, the 60s and early 70s".

It would take me whole night to go through all the tracks included here and you can see the song list with data where they originate from over here. Fruits de Mer have been one of my favourite labels since the beginning but only listening to the promo CD-R version of this release has made me really understand what an enormous amount of magnificent, beautiful and mind-blowing music they really have put out during their ten years of existence. Also, most of my favourite modern bands have been covering most of my 60s and 70s favourites! In addition, several 60s/70s psych rock/folk masters have contributed with some fresh, new recordings as well as rare tracks from the past. It really is almost too good to be true. I would have possibly picked a few different tracks for the compilation, but I still like them all a lot. It's actually impossible to even pick ten favourites among the 30 tracks included. Let's just say that this a perfect opportunity to get some of the very sought-after songs that Fruits de Mer have released and also a great introduction to the label for the uninitiated. Goldfish should be available at the beginning of May. The price is not too bad either for such a massive release so I'd warmly recommend preordering it right away!

www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/index.html

Permanent Clear Light - Maurice N'est Pas La 7" EP

Regal Crabomophone (winkle 31)

Finally a new release by Finland's moody psychedelic masters Permanent Clear Light! While drooling in anticipation for the band's long overdue second album fans of PCL can soon caress their ears and minds with this very cool 15-minute EP on Fruits de Mer's sister label.

On side A there is an eight-minute track "Maurice" sung in French. The track has a very 80s vibe bringing to mind Nick Nicely and even some mainstream 80s pop/post-punk/funk bands. But fear not: it's still 100% psychedelia. The dirty, killer bass line and steady, almost disco beat is enhanced with cool, airy keyboards and weird synthesizers and surprisingly little guitar. The vocals are drenched in mind-blowing effects and the eight minutes go past like a blink of an eye leaving you wonder what the hell just happened. This is a psychedelic dance classic from some other dimansion, I love it!

On the flip side we've got two little beauties. "One in Five" is also rather up-beat and tells about Finland's common mental issue, depression. One out of Five Finns suffer from that, sadly. Maybe it's in the genes but I bet the long, dark wintertime and insane alcohol consumption rates don't help. More cool guitar on this one! The great EP is finished with the slower "This Quiet Smiling Man" that sounds more like the band's debut album. It's about Robert Oppenheimer, so not very positive lyrics here either. There are some pretty far-out moments in there, and I especially like the melancholic, beautiful instrumental outro. Wow, what a great little release! This limited 7" EP is put out with two different covers, collect them both and make your neighbours jealous. Sad news is that the band will apparently stop making music after the second album is released sometime later this year... They will be missed!

www.facebook.com/PermanentClearLight

Traffic - Where the Poppies Grow

Vogon ‎(VCD2005) 

This is a nice present for all you early Traffic fans and lovers of 60s psych pop/rock in general. The CD is filled with restored and newly mastered tracks now available on CD for the first time. Nine first tracks are from the band's two BBC radio shows in 1967. The first show was aired October 1967 and the second one December of the same year. Now I just got to say that the sound quality is not that great compared to modern standards but still very good and the excellent music is still highly enjoyable, warts and all. Included is of course the band's first hit "Paper Sun"  and I just love that song. Other highlights include "Coloured Rain",  "Dear Mr. Fantasy", "Heaven Is In Your Mind" and "Dealer". I'm only a little bit disturbed by the occasional Dj introductions, but I can live with them.

The last seven songs were recorded live at Radiohuset, Stockholm, also in 1967. This is another radio broadcast and the sound is pretty similar but no dj talk here. Because these tracks were recorded in front of a live audience they have more live vibe with for example some cool, bluesy jamming  on "Giving To You". Some of the tracks are the same as on BBC radio shows but we do get for example their second early hit "Hole In My Shoe" (my second favourite Traffic track!) starting off with a nice sitar intro and the nine-and-a-half-minute "Feelin' Good".  "Paper Sun" is a rather energetic version! It would have been amazing to be in the audience during this gig... All in all, Where the Poppies Grow is a great historical document of one of the greatest psych pop groups in the 60s. Check it out!

vogon.bandcamp.com/ 

Star Sponge Vision - Crowley and Me

Mega Dodo (DODOLP28)

Now this is something very interesting... British writer, occultist, magician and mystic Aleister Crowley (12.10.1875 - 1.12.1947) is of course known to most rock fans out there and has been honored by many artists from The Beatles and Led Zeppelin to Ozzy Osbourne and Reverend Bizarre. This might still be the most profound musical tribute to The Great Beast ever. The seeds of this album were sown in 1974 when John Povey of The Pretty Things sat with Jimi Page in the Hyatt hotel on Sunset Boulevard watching Kenneth Anger's movie Scorpio Rising, listening to Page's music and talking about Mr. Crowley. In 2016 Povey's old band mate Twink asked him if he ever had thought about writing music to Crowley's poetry thus getting the wheels turning. This album that was recorded in Colchester features Povey and Twink along with Max Gibson, Nick Ferris, and Ed Sykes and the band name comes from a personal spiritual experience that Crowley had.

At least 13 tracks were recorded for the project, since that many are included on the download and apparently also on the limited edition CD. The  highly limited (300 copies only) LP version that comes in a beautiful open gatefold cover only has eight of them. The great lyrics can be found printed on the inner sleeve which is essential. Musically, this project has been labeled by somebody as Adult Oriented Rock, a term that may bring a bad taste to your mouth. If you consider Blue Öyster Cult an AOR band then I think it's okay since there are lots of similar vibes here. I'd describe the music as deep, soulful and melodic classic/hard rock with some psychedelic, pop and folk elements.The ritual begins with the melancholic, both powerful and beautiful title track "Crowley and Me" and I'm already feeling my third eye opening. This was also the first track that was written for the project. Just amazing. Second track on the LP is the heavier and doomier "Logos" that has lush keyboards as well. This sounds like something that Tony Iommi could have written for the Seventh Star album. Now, this is a good place to state that I really enjoy the solo guitar work on the album. "The Mantra" has a more New-Age vibe going on with acoustic guitars, percussion and keyboards. Also the keyboard-driven, peaceful "Clouds Without Water" has a bit similar mood.

Side two begins with a faster hard rock piece "Lament of Al" and the BÖC vibe is at maximum here. A true masterpiece, one of the highlights for me! "The Buddhist" is another killer track that mesmerizes you and makes the shivers go down your spine and soul. "The Pentagram" is perhaps one of the more AOR oriented tracks on the album and I love it too. The LP version is finished with the longest track "Hymn to Pan" that the devoutest of you have already experienced in my latest Astral Visions Mixcloud show. This is perhaps the most psychedelic track on the album and naturally my favourite. The download has five more tracks and a whole different track sequence. "The Tent" is a soft rock number, "Kathleen Divine" a Beatlesque piano ballad. "The Gypsy" is a mystical spoken-word piece with synthesizers and acoustic guitar and "Grave Grey Eyes" a pretty, slow AOR number. Also the last non-LP track "Why Do You Wait" is rather laid-back but a bit deeper and spacier. Very Nice! All in all, this is an absolute must-have for all Al-lovers out there who can also appreciate great music made by some of the veterans of the original psych rock scene with some younger but seamingly as talented musicians. Check it out and get inside, you won't be dissappointed...

www.facebook.com/jontwinkmaxnicked

Unimother 27 - Acidoxodica

Pineal Gland (PG 006)

This is the sixth solo album by Italian multi-instrumentalist Piero Ranalli. Piero interprets the realms of psychedelic, space rock and krautrock in his own unique, home-grown style as always. What we have here are seven new instrumental tracks made with guitars, bass, synths and electronics that take you "somewhere out there". The album was releases only on CD in February 2018 on Piero's own Pineal Gland label, one year after his previous album Fiore Spietato.

The album starts off with the almost 11-minute "Osesso" and it's a real trip indeed. Pierro's solo guitar work brings to mind Nick Saloman from The Bevis Frond and is the best part in his music. "Opporti A Me Non E Mai Troppo" is another slow acid blues rock number. On "Allunare Era Nulla" Piero gets more spacey and goes to the Moon. The track also has some more prorgessive stuff in there. "A Valle Tra Masse Essa Martellava" has a droney beginning and then it goes into a bit mystical, sort of oriental vibe. Nice! The shortest track on the CD is "E'corta e Atroce" at 3:25 beginning with some experimental keyboards until the acid solo guitar work takes control again. "Arte Tetra" is a sort of weird, almost jazzy/fusion thing with cleaner guitar sound than usual. The album is finished with "Eterni Attici Di Citta In Rete" and it must be the most beautiful track on the CD. If you can dig the bit cheesy programmed beats this is a very enjoyable album. Personally, I would really like to hear Piero as a lead guitarist of a real live band, that would be awesome.

www.facebook.com/Unimother27

Desertfest Berlin 4.-6.5.2018!!!

Taking place between May 4th - 6th 2018 at the ARENA BERLIN this time, legendary DESERTFEST BERLIN has set up their most special & exciting edition to date:

With headliners MONSTER MAGNET, GRAVEYARD and HIGH ON FIRE alongside highclass acts such as EYEHATEGOD, NEBULA (re-union show!), ELDER, RADIO MOSCOW, WEEDEATER, CHURCH OF MISERY, MONOLORD, DEATH ALLEY, JEX THOTH, LUCIFER and many many more, the capitol of Germany will turn into a psychedelic heavy music wonderland & the capitol of the almighty riffs!

Tickets for DESERTFEST BERLIN are available at:
www.desertfest-tickets.de/produkte

For More Info Visit:
www.desertfest.de/news
www.facebook.com/DesertfestBerlin/
www.instagram.com/desertfest_berlin/

Lucille Furs - Another Land / Leave It As You Found It 7"

Treehouse Record Co. (TRC001)

Lucille Furs is a dreamy psychedelic baroque pop band from Chicago. They have previously released one 7" and one album last year, but the first time I heard about them was when I got sent this new 7" single that was recently released. The band has taken quite a lot of influences from the 60s psych pop/rock scene but they still have a fresh, melodic and interesting style of their own. If you know artists/bands like Jacco Gardner, Balduin or Temples and remove the modern technology you sort of know what to expect. I guess you could call this 60s inspired psychedelic baroque indie pop.

This new single has two new simple but catchy songs: "Another Land" backed with "Leave It As You Found It". "Another Land" starts off in a slow, mellow mode bringing to mind The Doors and The Beatles, but soon goes into a hypnotic, mid-tempo verse. I really enjoy the soft dreamy vocals. The slow intro returns for a while after the short chorus and then we go again. There's a little lead guitar part and the track is over. Simple but brilliant! You just have to put it on again, since you are hooked right away. The B-side is a funny little, fully orchestrated number that I don't find that captivating but it's still okay. It only lasts under two minutes, anyway. This single comes on tasty green vinyl and is available now on Treehouse Records. I'm already looking forward to the band's next album! Check them out.

www.lucillefurs.com

Dj Astro's Playlist @ UFOP Psychedelic Easter, Bar Lepakkomies, Helsinki, 31.3.2018 (Warp Transmission, Albinö Rhino, Laserdrift & Hadal Sherpa)

Wow, what a night! Great bands, amazing visuals and sound, sold-out and wild going! This is what I spinned:

Aphrodite's Chils - End of the World
The Byrds - She Don't Cre About Time
Pink Floyd - The Scarecrow
The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
Cream - White Room
The Beatles - Pebby Lane
Blues Magoos - Pipe Dream
Amboy Dukes - You Breath Sunshine, I Breath Fire
The Bubble Puppy - Hot Smoke & Sasafrass
Eloy - Time to Turn
3rd Bardo - Five Years Ahead of My Time
The Electric Prunes - I Had too Much to Dream (Last Night)
Thirteenth Floor ELevators - Slip Inside This House
Hawkwind - Hassan I Sahba
Deep Purple - Hush
Blue Öyster Cult - Godzilla
The First Edition - Just Dropped In (to See What Condition My Condition Was In)
Cosmic Triggers - Homo Fractaliens
The Spacelords - Plasma Thruster
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown - Fire
Fever Tree - San Francisco Girls
Can - More
Fonex - AX100
Barrows - Entrada
Chemistry Set - Legend of a Mind
Plastic Crimewave Sound - Wasted All the Time
Vibravoid - Om Gang Ganpaye Namah
The Jimi Hendris Experience - Foxey Lady
Nik Turner - Fallen Angel STS-51-L
Hawkwind - Night of the Hawks
Chrome - Firebomb
Helicon - Seraph
The Black Angels- Comanche Moon
Dreamtime - Brujeria