Aural Hallucinations - Flocking to the Nozone

 Self-released (AH003)

 

Flocking to the Nozone is the third CD by duo formed by synth wizard Scott "Dr Space" Heller and Matt (ex-Elder) on multiple instruments like guitar, drums, bass and here mostly synths. They also use field-recordings recorded by Luis Antero in their home country Portugal.

The closer to full 80-minute CD has seven tracks. The title track is very ambient in nature and has cool field-recordings like bird-song. "Vincy's Primero Viagem" is also ambient in nature but a bit more experimental even with some industrial vibes. The minimal "Curps" sounds to me like some psychedelic hospital room sounds... Weird stuff... The long "Stow It Away Here" continues in the experimental, ambient weird soundscapes way. Not much change in the next tracks either, not much melody at all, vibes get darker and more pressing at times. There's a slight relief on the last track "Vespas Aqui!". What a weird and experimental album. Only 100 copies pressed on CD.

 

auralhallucinations.bandcamp.com 

 

3rd Ear Experience - The Twilight Sutra, A Space Rock Ballet

 Space Rock Productions (SPR090)

 

I've been a fan of the American psych/space rock band 3rd Ear Experience since I first heard them in 2014 when Space Rock Productions released their third album Incredible Good Fortune. This is their latest album, released on 2LP and 2CD, and quite a massive production all in all. The word ballet made me a bit scared at first since I'm not a big fan of that art form, but no worries, this is still proper, progressive space rock music. I have the marvelous splatter double vinyl, and the album is split in four acts that all take one side. I think it's better if I'll let themselves explain the concept:

"Twilight Sutra: the concept.

Twilight, is where night, and day light, blend - a great metaphor for the union of opposites. Twilight is also a deceptive time, shadows and light play tricks on your eyes – mind sees things that are not there, and sometimes not seeing things, that are there.

The word Sutra means; a thread of minimum words, with maximum meaning. Many ancient wisdom doctrines are delivered in Sutras.

Twilight Sutra: the music:

The music is constructed for a modern dance ballet, in the way that Lou Harrison the great American composer would supply choreographers with “musical kits” - Twilight Sutra is composed of; clusters of musical ideas that can be re-combined in countless different ways depending on what the choreographer requires. This process of creating music to a dancer is different than creating music that a dancer interprets."

The album tells an adventurous story about a Viking boy but is too long to tell here. The music is very interesting, sort or "artsy" and mostly pretty slow and atmospheric. Most of the tracks have vocals that carry the story very well. I'm sometimes reminded of 70s Pink Floyd or Eloy. The instrumentation is pretty varied: guitars, bass, drums and percussion, keyboards, flute, saxophone & pedal steel. This is (luckily) definitely rock music and not classical music, apart form maybe some passages. Maybe more progressive/symphonic rock than psych/space rock, though. Anyway, I really like the album and there's a lot to get into here. The lyrics are not printed anywhere, but the main story is, so it's pretty easy to follow what's happening where. A cool idea and excellent execution as well!

www.robbirobb.com/thirdearexperience/ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sula Bassana - Time Travel - Rare & Obscure Tracks From The Decades

 Sulatron Records

This is a new Bandcamp-only digital compilation of tracks by our dear friend Dave Schmidt aka Sula Bassana. The oldest tracks are about 30 years old and the latest from 2024. That's where we start off on our Time Travel: a live version of "Ridin'" recorded with the Sula Bassana Band in Hamburg in April 2024. This was the gig that also gave us the Sula Bassana side on their split LP with the Finnish band Skyjoggers. I wonder if there is some other stuff from that concert recorded? I'd like to hear!

Then comes a 2012 out-take "Krachgarten" that was only released on 2020 Bandcamp sampler Here Comes The Sun. Great track, I think! Then a couple of shorter pieces: "Arkelanfall" from 2009 has never been released and also features Modulfix on some electronics. Short but sweet! Also previously unreleased, "Animal Farm" was recorded in 2008 as a joke, using some animal sounds from a library CD. A sort of funny sounding track! "Was Du Denkst" is another unreleased track, probably from 2006. Nice bass playing and cool psychy vibe. "Soulcake" was recorded during many years, in between late 90's and 2005. It has only been released on a CD sampler of Peace Frog Magazine in Greece, in 2011. A bit Ash Ra Temple vibe in the first part, nice. Those of you who have the rare Sulatronics CD-R ( I do, of course!) have already heard "Fiebertraum" and "Paranoid?" originating from the second half of the 90s. Cool to have a more synth/electronic based tracks in here as well! "Suomenlinna", recorded in mid-90s was inspired by Dave's childhood wintery, foggy walk in a fortress island by the same name in Helsinki (one of my favourite spots in town!). Very ambient and atmospheric in nature. Previously unreleased. The album is finished with the over 30-minute "Pilzwald" that was recorded in the late 90s with Liquid Visions singer Alexander Bulgrin with lots of different instruments and effects. This is a real trip for sure and cool way to end this album. It's a real achievement to use tracks from different ages and recording techniques and still make the album sound as a coherent whole! Also proves that Sula Bassana has been on the right, psychedelic path all along.

www.sulabassana.de 

 
 

Astralasia - An Introduction to Astralasia

 Fruits de Mer Records (intro 10)

 Phew... This is a massive four-disc compilation of stuff by Astralasia. A big part of it has been released on Fruits de Mer on their albums, singles, cover releases, remixes, but we also get some previously unreleased tracks and mixes. I've been a fan since the early 90s so I absolutely love this treasure trove. It has something for everyone. Hawkwind fans will be interested to know that there is also an unreleased alternative mix of "Flesh to Fantasy" from the Hawkwind's Solstice Remixes maxi single. Some of the tracks were also released under various other names (The Fishheads, The Mushroom Project, Magic Mushroom Band) that Mark Swordfish has been/is part of. The oldest bits were recorded in 1982! (Too bad that my promo package has disc one two times and no disc three, so I will miss that...). So we really have over 40 years of psychedelic music history stored on this compilation. The band's most electronic, ambient/dub/house/trance album tracks from the 90's are not included, and maybe that's a good thing. But I do enjoy them too! One of the highlights is the Brainticket cover "Cotton Wood Hill/Places of Light" from Postcards from the Deep, I think I have played my copy of the box of flexi singles only once... Anyway, over four hours of excellent music, so just go and order it!

www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/astralasiaintro.html 

www.astralasia.co.uk/ 

 

Soft Hearted Scientists - The Phantom of Canton

 Fruits de Mer Records (winkle 62)

 I've been a big fan of the Soft Hearted Scientists since I first got introduced to them by Fruits de Mer way over ten years ago. Their psychedelic pop/rock/folk music has a weird appeal that I can't really put into words. There's something whimsical but at the same time deep in their vibe. This is an expanded 3LP set of their latest album originally released on CD last year on their own The Hip Replacement label. I don't own the CD and always prefer vinyl so I am really happy about this release that also has an extra LP with sort of reconstruction of the song themes on side E and three instrumental mixes on the side F as bonus tracks!

The actual album (sides A to D) has 13 new tracks, some shorter interludes and reprises, some in the "normal" pop song range of 3 to 5 minutes, some longer, around 10-minute trips all leading to the 18-minute bonus track (side E). Nathan Hall really still have his talent to write great, catchy songs and all the musicians play really well. It's hard to think of what other bands this might sound like, but I can hear some echoes of The Byrds and The Beatles, for example. But there's plenty of more influences in the mix, for sure. Anyway, this is one of the band's strongest albums without a doubt and no fan will be disappointed. Melodic, trippy and haunting, wonderful stuff.

www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/canton.html 

www.softheartedscientists.com/ 

 

 

Peel, Palmer, Tausig & Gould - Synesthesia

 Fruits de Mer Records (winkle 63)

 

This is a cool prog rock album collaboration by Fruits de Mer stalwarts Icarus Peel, Steve Palmer, Jay Tausig and Rob Gould. There are four, long instrumental pieces that feel like they were recorded in the early 70s! Even the titles are pretty convincing: "Coral Correlation", "Superpurplesunshine", "The Ochre Cobra", "The Turguoise Shards of Atlantis"... If you love the early 69-73 prog/Centerbury music originally released on Vertigo, Harvest etc. and want to know how the same vibe is achieved today this is a must-have for you. Great playing by all the masters who really know what they are doing here. LP on splatter vinyl out in mid March, get your copy from your favorite FdM dealer, I know I will.

 www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/synesthesia.html

 

Gregg McKella - Songs from the Underground

Self-released

 

Songs from the Underground is the first solo album by Gregg McKella, the singer/guitarist of UK space rock band Paradise 9. I've been in contact with the man for many years and was also lucky to see the band perform live at Kozfests in 2023 and 2024. At least Gregg also was involved in jamming with several other musicians at those festivals, if my memory serves me right...

 Anyway, on this CD he concentrates on acoustic based "space folk" style. Gregg has a long history of also playing acoustic stuff while busking in the 90s and that's where most of these songs are coming from. The album was recorded and produced by another UK space rocker Martin Litmus from Litmus, who also plays bass, keyboards, synths, Mellotron, guitars, drums and percussion, with Gregg on vocals, guitars, glissando guitar, clarinet and synths. The album also features guest musicians Nick Pynn on violins, Jeanette Murphy on BVs along with Paradise 9s Tyrone Thomas on lead and slide guitars and Mr Eugene also on violins. So it's not just acoustic guitar and voice we have here, some tracks even rock a bit. Most of it is still pretty folky stuff.

 The album starts off with the beautiful and melancholic folk song "All Said and Done" and I really like this one. I must have heard this somewhere before. The violin is a nice addition. "Gone so Silent" has drums and rocks a bit more. "New Horizons" is the longest track on the album at 8:25 and the spacey synthesizers add some Hawkwind vibes especially in the first part which is never a bad thing in my books! Also "Face in the Crowd" has some synth noises etc. Nice vocals on this one. "It's Come to This" has more electric guitar, bass and drums and a sort of jazz/funk rock vibe. The instrumental "Sacred Space" is a dreamy number bringing to mind some of the more peaceful Daevid Allen pieces. Wonderful! Then we have "Charlie Don't Mind" that reminds me of something but I just can't name what. The deep "One More Touch" brings to mind Daevid again, maybe mostly for its slide/glissando guitar work. Also "We Took the Wrong Step Years Ago" by Hawkwind, a bit. Great tune. "New Dawn" is a shorter, instrumental acoustic folk piece. "Time to Go" has a sort of ska rhythm. "Motherless Children" is a traditional folk tune that for example also Dave Brock has recorded. This is a rather different version, though. The very nice album is finished with the seven-minute "Woman Like You", a very beautiful love song, I would say. All in all Songs from the Underground is a highly enjoyable album for all those who enjoy the more folky side of space and psych rock. Available on CD and digital download.

 greggmckella.bandcamp.com

 

The December releases by Fruits de Mer Records

 The Chemistry Set - The Tragic Fridge Magnet / STP (winkle 61)

Okay, FdM ends the year with a triple bang! Three 7" singles, and that's the way the label started all those years ago. First we have a new single by the label stalwarts The Chemistry Set who have been involved since 2011, but they started already in the 80s. This UK band is one of my favourites among the modern torch-bearers of the 60s psych vibe, and they never disappoint me. "The Tragic Fridge Magnet" is an uptempo garage rocker that gets your ass shaking immediately! I can easily indentify with the vocals since we have a (un)healthy number of fridge magnets in out kitchen as well... This rocks! The B side is bit more psychedelic, slower "STP" (stands for Space Time Perception...). Could almost be a long-lost classic of Syd's Pink Floyd, it's that good! A must-have, naturally.

 

The Owl Service - A Tribute to Sandy Denny (Crustacean  103)

The Owl Service is a new act on Fruits de Mer, but backing vocalist Alison O'Donnell is probably more familiar. The single is a tribute to the music of folk rock singer Sandy Denny and has two beautiful interpretations of songs originally sung by Sandy: "The Sea" (Fotheringay) and "Genesis Hall" (Fairport Convention). Just amazing stuff and exquisite vocals by the lead singer Dorothy Chappel. Very well done! This single suits the Fruits de Mer Records catalogue perfectly.  This will be sold-out very soon, so try to locate a copy if peaceful folk-rock is your thing. 

Behind the Sun Collective - Children of the Revolution / Maggot Brain (Crustacean 102)

 Behind the Sun Collective is another new band for the Fruits de Mer. Some of us have witnessed their set at the label's summer festival in 2024. So, we have two pretty common covers songs here, but presented in a relatively original way and I like them. Marc Bolan's hit song "Children of a Revolution" is hard-rocking and pretty dirty, it really works. "Maggot Brain" is of course shortened quite a lot from it's original 10-minute-plus length but sounds really cool and enjoyable as it is here. This act is obviously something to keep on eye on!

More info on all the singles and where to get them from:

fruitsdemerrecords.com 

Doctors of Space - Astral Sessions Vol 7: Lost Souls Synthesized

 Self-released (DOSASCD007)

 

 Oh wow, this is already the seventh CD in the Astral Sessions series by Doctors of Space (Dr Weaver - electric guitars, bass, drum programming; Dr Space - synthesizers, hammond, mellotron). As always, the stuff is improvised on the spot, this time in the summer-winter for 2020 in Dr Weavers home studio and mixed and mastered later at Dr Space's studio.

Aug 2020 sessions give us the lengthy, mid-tempo space rocker "Ride on Freaky Father" and the at first bit more mellow "The Motherlode". The programmed drums join in after the four-minute-marker and a groovy heavy and heady rocking starts. Great stuff! Next we have a couple of tracks from jam sessions that took place in Sept 2020. "Fear the Light" has a spooky, ominous atmosphere and stays pretty experimental and weird with no rhythm. "Dark Is the Cloud of Indecision" has a techno-like beat with hypnotic synth arpeggio and heavy guitar. The last piece is the title track "Lost Souls Synthesized" and it is a more atmospheric, spacey number. If you have enjoyed the previous albums by the good doctors you will for sure also enjoy this one! Limited edition, as always, so be fast.

doctorsofspace.bandcamp.com 

 

Dr Space - Music for Italian Restaurants on Neptune

 Self-released (DS2025-001)

 

Dr Space (Scott Heller) played a solo gig at his local pizzeria in Portugal last March and this limited edition CD is composed of material he prepared and rehearsed in his studio before the performance. Also the gig was recorded but the rehearsal material was better so it got released instead. I'm glad that this was the case as this CD sounds fantastic! Scott really is getting better and betters with his ultra-spacey soundscapes.

 All the nine tracks (from "Ambient 1" to "Ambient 9") were started with arpeggios from Novation Ultranova, Nord Lead 2 or Poly D and Scott then played his modular synths, digital Mellotron etc. on top of them. This results in very hypnotic, mesmerizing atmospheres with at first no actual beats or anything else except the synths. A drum machine makes an appearance later on. I really enjoy listening to this amazing sounding CD on headphones in vertical position with my eyes closed. It surely takes you to places, just like this kind of music should. I'm sometimes reminded of early 70s Klaus Schultze (just listen to "Ambient 3", for example) which is definitely a bad thing. Also Tangerine Dream comes to mind and I know Scott is a big fan. This is still original enough and not that many people make music like this nowadays. Can't wait to jam with Dr Space in this studio one of these days! You can also hear his synths on a recent Astral Magic album Wizard's Euphoria, a few CD's still left. Scott also has some over here!

 drspace1.bandcamp.com

 

Urtidsdjur - Fågelsånger

 Self-released (DRR003LP)

 

 Urtidsdjur is a Swedish folk/prog/psych/retro rock band from Uppsala. I have reviewed their eponomos LP in 2020. This new album released on limited edition vinyl, 60 black and 40 red(ish). All come with cool, hand-marbled and hand-numbered covers making them all different. Very nice touch!

The debut album was very much influenced by Neil Young and this is pretty much still the case. But there are also some other vibes and the band has matured and progressed a lot. There is also some violin and saxophone as well as Moog, so the sound is rather varied and interesting. The te tracks flow fluently into each other forming an organic whole. The music is very pleasant and I like the vocals that are in Swedish. Some songs are a bit heavier , some more folk orieted. Playing and production is excellent too so I do really like this album. Give it a try!

urtidsdjur.se 

 

The Chemistry Set - An Introduction to The Chemistry Set

 Fruits de Mer Records (intro 9)

 

The Chemistry Set from UK started already in 1987 and definitely are one of my favourite bands that have released stuff on Fruits de Mer. This double CD-r compilation is the ninth in the series on the label including 25 tracks mostly released by FdM, all remastered for the release. Dave and Paul chose the tracks that were the best and closest to their hearts and made a great job at it too. When the disc one starts with the amazing cover of Del Shannon's "Silver Birch" you know you are in for a real treat... These guys really don't let the listener down!

I don't have the time, space or energy to get through all the tracks here, but I have reviewed all their FdM releases here before, so you can search the old reviews. Let's just say that this compilation is full of killer covers of the old psych classics and their own compositions are of just as high quality. We also get some cool remixes by Astralasia's Swordfish and other rarities and oddities. As their releases usually are sold-out very soon, this double set is a very welcome and useful addition to any psych rock fan's collection. Unfortunately I'm a bit late with my review (the release date was last month), and the album seems to be already sold-out at Fruits de Mer shop, but I'm sure you can still locate a copy somewhere! Best of luck.

thechemistryset.bandcamp.com/ 

 www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/chemsetintro.html

La Nouvelle Music - S/T

 Friends of the Fish (87)

 La Nouvelle Music is a London-based (neo-)psych folk duo formed by Joanna Beck (vocals/bass/piano) and
Ian de Silva (guitar/vocal). This LP to be released next week on Fruits de Mer Record's sister label is their first album. They have put out a couple of digital single tracks and one sold-out 7" before.

To my ears there is nothing very psychedelic about the duo's music. They sound pretty commercial and radio-friendly and it's strange that they are not on some major label. Some of the acoustic driven tracks have a more late 60s/early 70s vibe (like the beautiful "Time Ticks Slowly"), but some have a pretty modern vibe. There also also drums, orchestration etc. on some of the songs. I really enjoy Joanna's clear, excellent voice which is the best thing about this duo. There are 11 tracks on the album and all pretty good, some even superb. Nice melodies and emotional, cinematique atmospheres. The album is very well produced with crystal clear sound. All in all, a very enjoyable album with great, original compositions. I'm sure the album will sell out rather quickly.

newmorningblues.bandcamp.com/music 

www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/lanouvellemusique.html 

 

Himmelaya - Lost Horizon

 Regal Grabomophone (winkle 59)

Himmelaya is a new krautrock oriented project by Astralasia's Swordfish and Jochen Oberlack (Bellerephon Records, Düsseldorf). First, it was supposed to be an instrumental project, but Britt from the Swedish psych folk duo Us and Them was also asked to join on spoken word (in Swedish and English...) and vocals (in English...), which is wonderful. There are also some other friends guesting and the 2LP comes with a bonus double CD full of bonus tracks and remixes by the likes of nick nicely, Schizo Fun Addict and the Lost Stoned Pandas.Wow!

Now, all this sounds too good to pass already on paper, but I can tell you that the music is really great on this one in reality too! I'm not going to go through all the 11 tracks on the double vinyl, but I can say that there are definitively vibes of of 70s krautrock and experimental electronic acts like NEU!, Kraftwerk, Amon Düül (II), Ash Ra Tempel, Brainticket etc. It is all done with a modern touch, though. Some of the stuff is pretty up-beat and motorik, but we also get slower, dreamy ambient tracks, some acoustic stuff, all in good balance. All this makes me wish they would have asked me to join as well... Would have been so cool! Anyway, this seems like the most important Fruits de Mer Records related release this year, so make sure not to miss it.

fruitsdemerrecords.com/himmelaya.html 

 

Babal - Running in the Gutter

 Fruits de Mer Records (Friends of the Fish 86)

 

I'm not that famiar with UK alternative/post rock act Babal and I don't have any of their previous albums. I do know they have played some of the Fruits de Mer Records related festivals and I saw them at The 20th Dream Of Dr Sardonicus Festival in Wales last year. Anyway, their music is not exactly made for me, anyway, it seems, but they still are good.

Running in the Gutter is already their 13th album, and the first one on Fruits de Mer, or to be more exact, on their sister laber Friends of the Fish which might also mean that they really do not have that much to do with the production or sales of the album, but just do some promotion etc.  I guess this is the case here too, since the album is only available form the band's Bandcamp site. They have previously released a split 7" lathe-cut with Astralasia on Friends of the Fish that I have. Their music has some definitive prog and jazz elements but for some reason I can't really get hold of it. Some parts sound nice to my ears, but then come something else comes up that leaves me scratching my head and wondering what happened and why? Maybe I need some more time with Babal, that's all! Anyway, only 100 copies of this LP will be made so order fast if you want one! Also available on limited edition CD.

babal.rocks/ 

 

Sendelica - Nirmata

 Fruits de Mer Records (Friends of the Fish 85)

 

This is the next Sendelica album (the first one in many years NOT including me as a guest on synths...) and will see the light of day sometime this Summer. This has a bit different, more positive vibe after the albums about human kind, and there's a good reason for it. I'll let Pete explain himself:

"Well its been quite a year for Colin and myself, Colin surviving his liver cancer and myself, with first of all my heart condition, (Enlarged Heart) and then a further scare at the end of last year when I suddenly became very anaemic which turned out to be a severely inflamed, blocked and bleeding bowel. But out of adversity comes inspiration, as Colin was travelling around Asia we started working on a new Sendelica album remotely, we were joined by Glenda and Lee, who recorded in Cardigan and also by Calli on vocals, Kate Riaz on Cello, and by The Last American Poet, Shane Beck, on spoken word. I used some audio samples of my ultra scan, who knew that heart valves opening & shutting could sound so trippy!, and off course my talking blood pressure monitor at hope, which funnily matched Colins Asian Journey. Colin took some amazing photos on his journey through Asia, some of which feature on the album cover. 'Nirmata' is the sanskrit word for architect / creator, and seemed a fitting title for such a project as we both felt we had come out of a very long tunnel into the light."

So I guess this could be considered as some kind of victory over potential death album. I'm so glad these lovely guys are still with us to make their amazing music! Okay, so what do we have here. Six new, mostly instrumental tracks. Programmed drums, as usual, which is fine. The tracks are shorter than on the previous albums, so no 20-minute epics. Actually it seems to me that these would maybe just fit on on LP, but I'm not sure if they'll end up doing a 2LP anyway for maximum sound quality. "Wish You a Good Health" includes cool samples of Pete's talking blood pressure monitor (I want one too!) and heart valves and is a rather positive, relaxed number in the Spiritualized vein. There's also a short section of spoken word by my constant Astral Magic/Strange Vibrations/Chakra Vimana collaborator Shane Beck! The mid-tempo title track has a groovy beat. One of my favourites is "Singled Out and Strangely Left in Limbo" that has some beautiful synth leads and a bit trip hop like beat. "Blood One" is the longest track at over ten minutes. It's a quite slow one, soulfull sax by Lee. "Save Your Breath" is a short ambient pice with the other guest Calli on vocals. Pretty! "Peyote Sunrise" starts of with trippy Shane section and grows slowly. Nice sax again, and cello. A very wonderful soft ending for yet another great Sendelica album!

www.facebook.com/people/Sendelica/100063315062559/ 

 

Quasars of Destiny - Music to Listen to While Eating Planets

 Self-released (QOD001)

Quasars of Destiny is a new duo project of Scott Heller aka Dr Space (ØSC etc.) with his cousin Craig Wall. I've known Scott since 1998 but have never heard of Craig, but I'm glad they joined forces for this one! While Dr Space plays synths and keyboards Craig proves out to be a great guitarist and drummer. He also plays the bass and some Rhodes piano. The album was improvised and rcorded in five days at Scott's studio in Portugal while Craig was visiting.

There are just three instrumental tracks, "Colossus Approacheth" (6:17), "Colossus Consumes" (32:18) and "Colossus Seeks a New Planet" (6:14). The whole album has a sort of early to mid 70s Pink Floyd feel which is very cool. Things do get heavier and more psychedelic at times, though. I must say I really enjoy this album and it is a bit different to many of the other projects and bands Dr Space is in, but also a lot similar in that it is mostly improvised jamming. Very cool stuff and I do hope they will make another album sometime!

drspace1.bandcamp.com 

 

More Experience - Horizons of Events

 Old Hippie (XII MMXXIV)

Horizons of Events is the fifth album by Polish psych rock group More Experience and a great continuation to the psychedelic journey of the previous album I reviewed over here. Like before, the band pours out wonderful late 60s/early 70s psych/prog/folk vibes and really shines.

So the story started on the 2022 album Electric Laboratory of High Space Experience continues with four new tracks. "Deep Cosmic Kisses" is a 14:30 long trip with tablas, sitars, backwards guitars, drums, bass, synths, pretty cosmic vocals etc., everything you could ask for a very nice oldies style psych trip. Amazing! "Death" starts peacefully with bird-song and acoustic guitar & bells, and slowly builds up with organ etc. I'm loving the soft,  effected vocals too! 1969 era Pink Floyd vibes. On "Wait a Moment" the dreamy, hippie and peaceful vibe continues with some cool Fender Rhodes sounds and the the jazzy beat and bass joins in with some sitar and bluesy vocals. This one has a very jazzy, lazy mood for sure. It is the longest track at 14:50 and the hypnotic, extended jamming takes you out there... Some King Crimson vibes in there as well, and a killer fuzz guitar solo, among other cooliness. They must have been listening to some John Coltrane as well. Love Supreme at least. Wonderful! The last track "Lunatic Space Diary" is a bit more progressive in nature and very good too. Vocoder is added to the arsenal at one point. Apparently the 2LP version also has an additional fifth track but I have not yet been able to find copies... But this very cool CD version is available at several places and comes much recommended.

www.facebook.com/more.experience.music

 

Doctors of Space - Fusing Your Synapses

 Doctors of Space Music (DOS-009)

Doctors of Space are Scott "Dr Space" Heller (synths, keyboards) and Martin Weaver (guitar, bass, drum machines and synths). Unlike some of their other albums, this was formed putting together older tracks along the years from 2022 to 2024 rather than being the fruit of one or two studio sessions. I think it's a good thing because we get more variety. It's a real pleasure to hear Martin play some killer guitar which is something he apparently can't do much nowadays due to his arthritis.

We have eight, instrumental tracks in about 70 minutes. Things start with the minimal four-minute synthesizer piece "Intro". The title track "Fusing Your Synapses" has a steady drum machine beat but is rather experimental in other ways with tons of electronic noises. No guitar nor much melody here yet. The pretty dark and slow "Doomstar" is the longest track at almost 16 minutes. It also has guitar, quite heavy. Then we get some more electronic, hypnotic and trancey stuff ("Down the Ferret Hole You Go"). A very ominous vibe, somehow. "No More Bombs (Only Bongs!)" has bass and a bit more chilled out atmosphere, although it also is slow and sort of heavy when the guitar joins in. Nice name, as well! "Pinned Codes" is more synthesizer-based again. Later on it also has some lead guitar and then bass. "Chicken Shit Burger Boy" wins the funniest title competition... Another long piece, has an up-beat drum machine as well making it closer to space rock. I'd say this is my favourite with some soaring lead guitar. The album ends with the spacey, two-minute synth piece "Outro". 

The official release date is May the 5th but the album is already available on the band's Bandcamp site. I guess it's limited to 50 or 100 copies, so hurry up!

doctorsofspace.bandcamp.com/music 

 

Øresund Space Collective - Espaço 2

 Øresund Space Collective (OSC2025-LS022)

 

Like the Pink Floyd-isnpired Espaço CD the band released last year, Espaço 2 is a Bandcamp subscriber album recorded by the group in 2023 at Dr. Space's studios in Portugal. The line-up is:

KG Westman - sitar

Mattias Olsson - drums

Hasse Horrigmoe - bass

Jonathan Segel - guitar, violin

Luis - guitar, gong, noise box

Larry - rhodes

Dr. Space - synthesizers, mellotron etc.

 The CD starts off with the rather special, sitar-lead 30-minute experimental track "Wholetone Breakfast Circle". It has an unique, tranquil but weird vibe to it, but still being spacey in the OSC style. It's a very ambient, floating thing without any definitive drum beats. Strange stuff! After that, we've got two shorter pieces. Well, if you can call the 12-minute "The Darkness Beyond the Mind's Eye" shorter... But shorter in OSC terms, anyway. This is even more minimal and hypnotic stuff. I can't hear any drums, and same with the even more minimal/monotonic ambient piece "Espaco Para Você" that lasts "only" little over five minutes. If you prefer the more rocking OSC stuff this might not be for you, but those who enjoy the weird and dreamy stuff should definitely try to score a copy. I guess the extra copies will be on sale on the band's Bandcamp site in a few months, so keep on eye out!

 The band is celebrating their 20th birthday in Copenhagen next week, go there if you can! Should be a lot of fun.

oresundspacecollective.bandcamp.com