K-X-P - III Part 2

Svart Records ‎(SVR450)

These Finnish experimental krautrock/electronic/IDM heroes released their fourth album last month, so I'm a bit late again. Maybe I'm just having difficulties in reviewing their stuff, since this group  really is a pretty unique entity altogether. K stands for Timo Kaukolampi (electronics & vocals, ex-Dun-delion, Ex-Larry and the Lefthanded, ex-Op:l Bastards, you name it...), P for Tuomo Puranen (bass, keyboards, ex-The Elevators, ex-Op:l Bastards etc.) and X for the "mystery" drummer, usually Tomi Leppänen (Aavikko, Circle, Pharaoh Overlord etc.) and/or Anssi Nykänen (one of the most famous and talented Finnish session drummers since the 80s). They often also have some guests both in the the studio and in live environment. I must say that I usually enjoy their mysterious, energetic, ecstatic, empowering and cult like live performances more than their albums. They have the power to drive the audience wild and dance like crazy. Having said that, their studio output is also excellent, maybe apart from their Easy 12" EP released in 2011 that I find a bit dull. Just my opinion, of course... These guys have tons of creativity and talent, and it sure shows in their music.

III Part 2 starts off with the atmospheric, uplifting "Winner" that works out great as an introduction to the hypnotic, motorik and electronic mayhem that follows. "Freeway" is probably the "hit song" of the album and also one of my favourites. After about 50 seconds of quiet synth drone the fast, driving krautrock beat begins, and when the great vocals join in, I'm in sonic heaven. Lasse Savola is playing a bit of guitar as well. This is a very simple but totally brilliant track that works like magic. "To Believe" has some hypnotic, tight caveman vibes that always works for me. This song also has some female backing vocals, and great synth melodies. I think I'm having some Joy Division flashbacks as well? "Sub Goblin" is a mid-tempo, rhythmical instrumental with weird sequencer stuff and a groovy bass line. The orchestrated chord progression towards the end is very powerful... The longest track on the album is "Siren" and this is at first more ambient, experimental stuff and also sounds very orchestrated. This would be suitable for a soundtrack to some art film about the nature of Iceland, for example. Okay, the beat and vocals begin soon enough bringing in a very danceable vibe, but there is still this pompous, harmonic orchestral element in there from time to time. This track also features Alexandra Babitzin and Paula Vesala on vocals but I don't hear them that much. Some great melodies on this one, sounds like something that you could almost expect to hear on radio. The vocals are giving me some U2 vibes around the 5-minute-marker, but it still works... "Air Burial" starts off in a rather ambient way, but shortly after one minute the VERY fast beat begins, and this almost sounds like some modern space rock band just without the heavy guitar! Seriously, this rocks. Wonderful! Definitely one of the highlights for me. The album is finished with the minimal, synth-driven ambient instrumental "Transuranic Heavy Elements" that is a perfect sedative after your endorphin, serotonin and dopamine levels have been pumped up during the ride. I'd say III Part 2 is K-X-P's best release to date, check it out. The band will play their record release party next Wednesday (4.5.2016) at Bar Loose, Helsinki, take part in the ritual if you can.

k-x-p.com/

Electric Orange - Morbus

Adansonia Records (ar009)

I’ve been a big fan of the German kraut/psych/space rock band Electric Orange since Delerium released their Orange Commutation CD in the mid 90’s. I'm happy they got soon over the electro/techno style that they had on a couple of CD's released in late 90s/early 00s that still were excellent. All their later albums have been superb spacey krautrock including experiment stuff  and many long improvisations. I was also lucky too see tham live at Roadburn Festival in 2008!

Originally released in 2007 on CD only, Morbus was their best and most coherent work at that point. The band had a steady line-up and their sound was better and bigger than before. Morbus is close to 80 minutes long, but there are no fillers, just pure cosmic, hypnotic, psychedelic bliss all over the place. Organs and synthesisers have always played an important role in their sound, and they are of course still there, but now many of the 12 tracks also include vocals or narration. There are also female backing singers, Mellotrons and flute to give the album a celestial feel at points. Some of the tracks are also pretty heavy, which is great. ”Flohfunknest” is a bit groovier, jazzy track but still psychedelic. I love their way of composing the tracks in the studio while recording, but on this album some of the tracks really sound they were pretty well constructed. One of their advantages is having their own studio where they can use just as much time as they want and use old gear from the 70’s with new recording technology. So the vibe is very groovy and psychedelic and the sound quality top-notch!

It’s really hard to pick any highlights from this album since I really like all the tracks, so let’s just say that ”Krautschock” reminds me of Brainticket, Ash Ra Temple and Cosmic Jokers and that ”Wald” turns into superb, hypnotic, energetic space rock after two minutes... Plus that ”Sarau” is a very effective deep-trance machine and that ”Reaching” sounds it was played by some stoned angels in 1968... The early Pink Floyd feel is also still there. I'm grateful to Adansonia Records for finally putting this album out on double vinyl /like Krautrock from Hell and Netto Before, not forgetting the brand-new groovy 10" last year) and the most limited edition is really something special with cool poster, incense sticks and "Electric Orange" branded wood-made holder for the incense sticks. The track list is the same as on original CD but some of the tracks are in different order to better fit them on the four vinyl sides. A must have for all vinyl psych/kraut/space heads!

www.electric-orange.com

Barış Manço & Kurtalan Ekspres - Sözüm Meclisten Dışarı

Pharaway Sounds (PHS031/PHS031CD)

Anatolian rock is a music style that started to bloom in Turkey from the mid 60s combining Turkish folk music and Western rock and pop music. The roots of this music genre are perhaps already in the 50s when The Shadows made an impact also on Turkish soil. I'm not that familiar with this genre, but most of the psych rock fans must at least have heard about  the legendary Turkish psychedelic guitar player Erkin Koray. Barış Manço (born 2 January 1943, Istanbul - died 1 February 1999 of a heart attack) is one of the biggest and most famous names in Anatolian Rock. He started his career already in the early 60s releasing a lot of pop / rock'n roll singles in Turkey and France, where he also lived for some time. His first album came out in 1971, and by this time his music also included lots of progressive and psychedelic elements. You can expect to pay hundreds of euros for an original copy these days... He also worked as a TV host which of course helped making him popular.

Sözüm Meclisten Dışarı was originally released in 1981, and during this phase Barış played and recorded with Kurtalan Ekspres, a band he co-founded. By this time, the music also included lots of groovy funk influences. This album still includes some psychedelic guitar work and spacey synthesizers that along with traditional Anatolian vibes, a great rhythm section and amazing vocals in Turkish make this a very enjoyable album. The album starts off with a great duet with Deniz Tüney called "Alla Beni Pulla Beni", and I really like the combination of female and male vocals on this one. The next few tracks are perhaps not really that exciting and sort of reminds me of the more mainstream stuff that Demis Roussos released after his debut album. Some of the vocals are also in English. One of the highlights is the beautiful, cosmic and mystical ballad "Gülpembe". The groovy funk/boogie stuff begins on the B side with "Adem Oğlu Kızgın Fırın Havva Kızı Mercimek"! It's almost impossible not to dance to this sexy masterpiece... I also love the exotic melodies and vibes on "Ali Yazar Veli Bozar". The longest and most spacey track on the album is the instrumental "2025 (Üçüncü Ve Son Yolculuk)" that starts of with some weird, spacey Moog sounds. This brings to mind Vangelis or even Tangerine Dream! After four minutes a funky bass and beat is added to a great effect, and later on we also get some pretty progressive stuff. Amazing! Also the last piece "Dönence" is a marvelous, spacey, progressive and psychedelic number in the 70s space/prog rock vein (a bit like Eloy?!) and also has some spoken word before the vocals start in the middle. There's also a brilliant guitar solo in there when the funk starts again. Very nice and atmospheric stuff! The music has been remastered and the album is now released on both CD and vinyl so be sure to get a copy if you are interested in a cool example of genuine Anatolian rock.

www.lightmillennium.org/biographies/bmanco_biography.html

Black Rainbows - Stellar Prophecy

Heavy Psych Sounds Records (HPS037)

Black Rainbows, the heavy psych/stoner rock trio from Rome, just released their fifth album Stellar Prophecy and oh boy do they rock out. I was really impressed with their previous album Hawkdope they put out only last year, and the band continues to deliver the heavy psych goods within just one year. Like before, they mix together influences of early 70s hard rock, space rock and stoner rock to a great effect.

The new album includes seven tracks in 44 minutes. Fast, furious and hard rocking "Electrify" starts off the riot bringing to mind MC5 and Fu Manchu (especially the vocals). Fuzzy, wild and pounding stuff, perfect for drinking a few beers and letting out some steam. The slower "Woman" sounds like some long-forgotten bluesy heavy psych rock group from the late 60s/early 70s. We also get some Hammond to enhance the 70s vibe, nice! There's also a cool guitar solo in there. "Golden Window" is the longest track on the album at 11:39 and has also organ, synth, spoken word samples and trippy tape echoes to enhance the psychedelic, moody atmosphere. The track really starts after two minutes and I'm in heavy stoner rock heaven. I'm reminded of some early Monster Magnet stuff that I really love. What an amazing journey through space, time and mind! Then it's time for a short, straight-forward heavy rocker "Evil Snake" that seriously kicks ass. Some space sounds and Iron Maiden -styled guitar melodies are added for a good measure. "It's Time to Die" is a groovy 70s styled stoned hard rock piece, and on "Keep the Secret" the band gets even groovier not forgetting the cow bell and some more epic and floating parts will follow later on. Excellent! The album is finished with the long, spacey and lysergic "The Travel" and travel we must. What a great and trippy ending for a fine album, I love it! Don't miss this great release out on vinyl, CD and digital.

www.theblackrainbows.com

Jupiter - Interstellar Chronodive

Self-released

Jupiter is a young progressive & psychedelic hard/stoner/retro rock band from Finland. Interstellar Chronodive is their second album following 2014's Your Eccentric State of Mind CD and a split 7" with Centipede in 2013. I've sort of been keeping my third eye on them since the beginning and been happy with their progress. This album was first release on tape and then on vinyl a few months later in late 2015, so I'm a bit late with my review, but it took a while to get this LP.

The album starts off with "Stonetrooper". First we get some bluesy jamming, but before the three-minute-marker the heavy rocking begins, and soon the vocals join in. I often find the vocals the weak link in young bands like this, but now they are okay and in tune. There is a certain Black Sabbath vibe, but the music is more progressive and energetic and not really that doomy. Nice, long & groovy solo ending in this one! "Spirit of the Leech" is a tight and pretty heavy hard rock tune bringing to mind some of the millions of Swedish 70s styled hard rock bands out there. Again there's some hot guitar soloing and some nice, proggy jamming going on. The playing is very good on this album by all. On "Premonitions" the band cools down a bit at first, but then the rocking starts again. This is a heavy one, also including some cool, trippy jamming and soloing. The shortest track is "Dispersed Matter/Astral Portal" at 4:31. It's rather progressive, moody going that reminds me of Kingston Wall a bit. Not a bad thing, of course! "In Flux" is the longest track (14:08) and includes some cool, heavy & groovy 70s guitar riffing as well as a long, quiet, trippy & experimental end section. Great! The album is finished with the strong & heavy "Vantage Point" that is probably the best track on the album. Along with Kaleidobolt and a few others Jupiter is definitely one of the most promising young progressive stoner rock bands in Finland so be sure to check them out!

jupiterhobo.bandcamp.com

Astral Visions #63 online!

Hello folks!

 

Here's Dj Astro's new Astral Visions psych mix with tracks by Nicklas Sørensen, Causa Sui, Doug Tuttle, Stay, Octopus Syng, Crystal Jacqueline, Sounds of New Soma, Ecstatic Vision, Blaak Heat, Telstar Sound Drone, July, Sendelica, White Hills & The Myrrors. Enjoy!

 

www.mixcloud.com/AstralVisions/astral-visions-063

Liquid Generation - Quarter to Zen

Green Monkey Records (GM1034)

I've got to say I'm not the biggest fan of raw garage punk, but every now and then it's good to really get your blood running and adrenaline levels up with some good old, trashy, high-energy psych punk pounding. Liquid Generation was one of the first neo-psych rock bands from Seattle and only stayed together for about one year (1984). The band was very inspired by the 60s garage psych bands that were just making another round with compilations like Nuggets and Pebbles. They released just one 7" single in 1985 on Green Monkey Records with original songs "I Love You" and "1/4 to Zen" and then they were gone. They did how ever record some other tracks as well and play gigs with their repertoire mostly consisting of 60s garage psych covers.

This CD released in March compiles all (?) of their studio recordings and include 16 tracks in total. The recordings were made with 4 & 8 track analogue tape recorders and sound pretty raw but that just suits the music style perfectly. You could actually pretty easily think that this was recorded in some basement in the 60s! Most of the songs are rather fast and furious with almost screamed vocals, but there are a few exceptions. "1/4 to Zen" that starts off the CD is actually a pretty great tune, and it was penned by rhythm guitarist Bob Blackburn who started his garage rock career already in 1966 playing some mean Farfisa organ in a band called The Hardtimes. Some songs sound almost like The Misfits or The Ramones, so not really that psychedelic and more punk than garage rock. I like the fuzz guitar solos and the playing is actually pretty good by the whole band. The album ends with "Endless Summer", a pretty and more melodic and downbeat original by the singer Jeremy Meyer that also has some very nice organ. One of my favourites. This is wild, loud, raw, honest and energetic rocking and friends of garage punk really should check this album out.

greenmonkeyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/quarter-to-zen