Elske & The Vagabonds - Travel Songs EP

 Seaheart Music (EV001)

Okay, this CD EP was released already in 2022, but I still promised to write a review when I received a copy from Elske after her solo gig at Love Potion Club in Helsinki a few months ago, so here we go. I must admit I had not heard of her or her little band before that event. My friend Jaire (Octopus Syng) just suggested Elske to organizer Daisy to fill in for another artist that could not come and Elske bravely accepted the offer on that very same day! Brave lady. And I liked her gig too!

This 14-minute EP has four folk/Americana songs all penned by the singer/guitarist Elske Seaheart. Other musicians are Noora Nurmi (backing vocals and percussion), Joakim Lehikoinen (guitars), Veikko Pohta (bass, hey, I know this guy!) and Elisa Järveläinen-Koivusalo (violin). "My Heart Is Gone" is a nice mid-tempo Americana/Country Rock song with great chorus. Also some Latin influences in there. I must say that I still really prefer the touching, somehow innocent sounding folky love song "Thinking of You". Very emotional, somehow, and the vocals pour into your soul. Even though this is not that melancholic I notice tears falling form my eyes, not sure why... "Travel Song" is again more into the Country/Americano style and not really for me, although it's still a cool song. "Close to Happpiness" closes the EP with sad but sweet moods and my eyes are getting wet again. Wonderful folk song with 60's/70's vibe. Very beautiful chorus on this one. I really enjoy the playing and especially Elske's vocals. I hope these guys will release more stuff soon!

www.facebook.com/elskeandthevagabonds

Antero Mentu - Näin unta kaukaisesta maasta

 Eclipse Records (ECD-2024215)

Antero Mentu is a Finnish guitarist/sitar player that has mixed experimental/ambient sounds with ethnic folk influences and rock and jazz elements for many years now. This is his fourth solo album and he has also recorded and performed in various groups. On this album he plays guitar, electric guitar, keyboards & percussion and is joined by Jesper Anastasiadis (contrabass), Amanda Blomqvist (drums & percussion), Markus Pajakkala (flute) and Otto Eskelinen (shakuhachi, keyboards & percussion).

The under 40-minute album has just six tracks, "Unia I-VI". It's all instrumental, dreamy, warm and very pleasant sounding, soft and jazzy stuff. The album starts off slowly and organicly. Then we go into more mysterious dreams in part II. III is more up-tempo going with a bit ethnic vibe. Nice mix of folk and jazz. "Unia IV" is rather minimal and tranquil, lovely. It grows a bit along the way and is rather long at 7:37. "Unia V" is a very ambient piece and the last, long track rather hypnotic and psychedelic, maybe my favourite. It gets close to some post rock bands later on, I think. All in all, this is a very enjoyable and dreamy album and recommended for fans of jazzy folk vibes with psychy touch. The CD comes in digipack that also includes a booklet with cool paintings from all over the place and time.

anteromentu.bandcamp.com/music

New Astral Magic YouTube videos!

 One video each of the two new albums out 6.12.2024!

 

Available from: https://astralmagic.bandcamp.com/

Sendelica - Requiem for Mankind

 Fruits de Mer Records (winkle 56) / FRG Records

It seems a bit strange reviewing albums that you are on but since I'm only guesting I guess it's okay... Requiem for Mankind expands the previous trilogy about man's relationship with religion, magic, myths, himself the planet into a  quadrilogy.  The Welsh space/psych rockers are in a realm of their own nowadays with long, atmospheric and (almost) instrumental tracks that evolve peacefully. Now we have a 78-plus minute piece of art  that has four works that each fill one side of the 2LP version. So no short hit singles! All the other sides except side three have two different titles, though, but just presented as side-long pieces of music to keep the listening experience as continuous as possible. You will still need to change the sides, though! Unless you of course get the CD or USB stick version with lots of bonus stuff.

Side A starts off peacefully with "Cosmic Slop" that has jazzy, even spiritual vibes. At some point we get to "Let There Be Light" that turns into some of their hardest rocking with double bass drums etc. Phew... "Let There Be Life" is a bit kraut-styled piece with cool hypnotic, electronic vibes. Loving it! After some bird-song it turns into the melancholic and beautiful track "Requiem for the Planet". Here we also are treated to some wordless female vocals that fit in just perfectly. Pink Floyd fans will enjoy this... "Downfall" has at first some church organ sounds and Gilmour-like guitar with cool sax and string sounds joining in. Very sad and gloomy stuff, actually, especially when the slow beat and heavy guitar riff begin. Like a funeral march... Some killer soloing by Pete on this one! Side four starts off with "Chaos" that also features me on synths. A very cool, sort of dub inspired track! It changes into the title track "Requiem for the Mankind" that is a dark and emotional piece with a decending chord pattern. What a great, sublime ending for this quadrilogy! There are several versions of this album available including a book and extra album, so go ahead and have a look...

sendelica.bandcamp.com

Dr Space's Alien Planet Trip - Vol 8- Space with Bass IV: Purple Rose Powder

 Self-released (DRAPT2024-01)

So this is the fourth Dr Space's Alien Planet Trip album with Hasse Horrigmoe on bass and effects. Dr Space plays synthesizers, Hammond, Mellotron and modular synths. There are only four instrumental trcaks, one of which is the over 30-minute title track. Apart from the last piece the music was improvised and recorded live in studio in 2023 by the duo. Purple Rose Powder is a very peaceful, meditative and minimal album. Experimental? Sure, especially the first track "Draptomaniac". Spacey? Yeah, that too. I don't think Ive heard anything exactly like this by anyone else. The CD comes in digisleeve as usual and is limited to just 100 copies.

drspace1.bandcamp.com

Astral Magic news!

 Hello Astral Magic fans!

As it happens, I'm back in Facebook (but no Instagram this time)... You can send me a friend request over here.

You can also follow Astral Magic again or, even better, join the new Astral Magic group.

Okay, a few words about the next releases, then! All these will be out on the next Bandcamp Friday 6.12.2024.

Wizard's Euphoria is a brand-new album that we have been working on with Dr. Space (Scott Heller), Jonathan Segel and Shane Beck. The music varies from electronic and hypnotic atmospheres to more rocking stuff. Some great songs in there! 100 copies on digipack CD and digital download.

Also album will also be available from:
drspace1.bandcamp.com

Mental Collapse
Harness My Whispering Words
Agents of Entropy
Abyss of the Soulless
Deranged Memories
Wizard's Euphoria
Voice of the Sleeping Sitar
This Fluid Motion
Lead Me to The Sky
Shaman's Lullaby

Echoes form a Star Cluster is done together with Shane Beck.  It has new versions of some tracks that have previously beenw released on Shane's solo albums but most are totally exclusive to this release. Some really trippy and hypnotic stuff on this one! Just 50 copies on home-made CD-R, 70 min of music.

Echoes from a Star Cluster
Voice of the Cephalopod
This Reflection
When Planets Copulate
Psychedelic Butterfly
This Sphere of Magic
Exploding Sun
Invoking Persecution
Pondering Below the Mist
Alluring Slow Jam
This Bleeding Sunset
Whispering Eyelids
Shadow Garden

Eternal Flashback / Exploding Flowers split CD-R is a factory-made disc including these two Astral Magic related project albums that have previously only been available on digital download. Both albums have just one, almost 40-minute long piece! 75 copies made.

All these will be available from

astralmagic.bandcamp.com/music

Dr. Space - Music to Disappear to

 Self-released (OSC2024-LS022)

This new CD (limited to 100 copies) includes four long tracks recorded at dufferent times in 2023. Scott plays lots of different synthesizers on his own with some occasional singing bowls etc. All tracks are completely improvised and are very repetative and hypnotic.

"Life Is Hell" was recorded after a very depressing day in Fabruary 2023, and it has a pretty desperate, monotonic vibe to it. There is also some spoken word in it, not easy to figure out what he's saying, though. "Smile and Rotate" starts off in a very minimal way. It grows a little bit with weird synth sounds and light percussive sounds as well. Okay, I'm startung to disappear already! The title track "Music To Disappear To!" comes next and it's a weird one for sure. Minimal, spacey ambient. The last piece "Frozen Hypothalamus Pie" is even more minimal and peceful. This is great stuff to chill out to, just close your eyes and disappear into it.

drspace1.bandcamp.com

 

Visions of the Future!

 

Doctors of Space - Wisdom of Clowns

 Doctors of Space Music (DOS-008)

Doctors of Space have released a new, massive double CD since my previous review of their Adventures in the Deep Seas of Sound disc in September. Unlike last time, this albun was recorded all live in studio at once without overdubs. In addition to the standard duo of Dr Space (Hammond, Mellotron, analog, modular and digital synths) and Dr Weaver (guitar, drum programming) we also have the frequent Øresund Space Collective etc. collaborator Hasse Horrigmoe (Tangled Edge) on bass guitar which is always great and adds some more grooviness to the great sounding recordings.

The first CD has just two long trcaks. "Wisdom of Clowns" is very atmospheric and tranquil (no drums), while the closer to 40-minute-long "Needs of the One" sees the good doctors returning to space rocking realms in a very successful way. Great! Excellent guitar playing by Martin in there and Scott keeps things spacey and psychedelic all the way. The second disc starts off with the little dub-oriented "Mystic Challenger". "Ascari" is a beautiful, acoustic guitar-driven piece and "Dance Floor Hit (for Freaky Creatures)" a bit funky, sort of funny number that ends the album in a hypnotic and repetative way. The album has a great mix and mastering so sounds really good too! Get it while you can, only 100 copies made which seems to be the standard these days.

doctorsofspace.bandcamp.com/music

Timo Pääkkö: They Never Made It Volume 2

 Psychotron Records (PR1015)

They Never Made It Volume 2 claims to be a compilation of lost early 70s psych tracks. Actually it's a tongue-in-cheek album by Finnish guitarist/singer/songwriter Timo Pääkkö, who the most educated music fans remember from his bands like Kinsky, Penniless People of Bulgaria, The Electric Crayon Set, Love Messengers etc. He also run a record label called Soundhawk Records, that released one Octopus Syng album, for example.

This is a vinyl-only release, and limited to just 100 copies (plus a few promo copies, I suspect, since I was lucky to get one). The album is releaaed on the UK label Psychotron like the Volume 1 in the series and comes in hand-painted cover with clued info sheet on back and on coloured vinyl with white labels.There's even an insert with fake histories for all the imaginery bands involved. A real private-press feel!

So how about the music? Well, I've been a fan of Timo's songs, vocals and especially guitar work (reminds me of Nick Saloman a bit...) since The Electric Crayon Set times, so of course I like it. Some of the songs COULD be written in the late 60s/early 70s, but of course the sound and especially the use of programmed drums reveal that this is actually a modern production. There are seven tracks on the album. "Don't Vent All Your Frustration On Me, Girl" by an imaginary artist Peter Timothy Willful opens the album in an energetic but melodic mod style. Nice! "Bearded Jack" (by Concentration Storage Five...) has a fuzzy guitars, organ and a cool 60s psych vibe and is one of my favourites. Based on a poem by Wilfred Owen, "Strange Meeting" is another highlight with a spacey and hypnotic, Amon Düül II-like atmosphere. I'm impressed! I only wish that The Bavarian Illuminati would have been a real band somewhere in time and space... The side A is finished with an instrumental called "Chase Around Sirius" by Intergalactic Guitars Unlimited (!). This one has a groovy late 70s/early 80s space funk rock vibe and Timo plays some killer lead guitar.

The B side is started with "UAP" by The Devilment (how did he come up with these band names?). Again Timo's love for UK mod music shows clearly. Next, The N-Sults offer a cool cosmic piece called "Magic Is Found Within", I really like this one. The album is then finished with the 12-plus-minute guitar/mellotron freak-out "All My Bullies". The "artist" name probably is the best: Thymothys Yn Unig! This track has a groovy, folky and bluesy, almost Led Zeppelin styled groove and also some vocals. All in all a very enjoyable album and the vinyl sounds great. Timo even went to UK to play a solo album release gig at the Psychotron Records's store and I heard it was a success! It seems the only way to hear this whole album is to buy a copy so please be fast. Timo might have one of two left but at least Psychotron seems to still stock it.

www.timopaakko.com/ 

psychotronrecords.co.uk/product/they-never-made-it-volume-2/

 

 

Astral Magic gone from Facebook and Instagram!

Out of the blue, my personal Facebook and Instagram accounts as well as Astral Magic (and all other...) accounts were deleted. I have no way of getting them back, so goodbye evil Meta Universe.

Well, more time for real life and making music, even if not so many people will hear about it anymore!

Since my main marketing tool is gone now, let's try this... Get all four albums on either of these pics for 30€ plus postage. Email me at astralzoneblog @ gmail . com

 You can also contact me through the Astral Magic Bandcamp site:

https://astralmagic.bandcamp.com/

 

Doctors of Space - Adventures in the Deep Seas of Sound

 Doctors of Space Music (DOS-007)

 

Okay, another new album by Doctors of Space (Dr Space: synths, Fender Rhodes. Mellotron, Hammond, mix & mastering, Dr Weaver - drum machines, synths, bass, electronic & acoustic guitars)! Dr Space things this is their best yet and I must agree. At least it's the most coherrent and worked on.

This 60-minute album is based on three jams by the duo. Dr Space then recorded short synth interludes, then Dr Weaver added guitars and bass and afterwards Dr Space mixed it all together during several weeks. The mix also includes some gong samples from Luis Simoes from different (OSC) recording sessions.

The albun is divided into four parts. "Part One" is mostly hypnotic, repetitive space rocking. "Part Two" sees the duo going into electronic trance music direction, it gets rather danceable, but still very cool and spacey. And hypnotic! "Part 3" starts off in a peaceful, bit experimental way. Trippy stuff. At six minutes we get a funny rap/funk beat and the track gets pretty groovy! Sort of surprising way to go but I enjoy it. "Part Four" is clearly the shortest at under 10 minutes. It's an relaxed ambient ending with some more intense sounds layered on top. Very nice! Stops very suddenly, not sure if intentionally or by mistake. Just 100 copies of this made so get it fast.

doctorsofspace.bandcamp.com/music

Eternal Flashback - I out now!

 

Eternal Flashback is a new psychedelic project by Shane Beck, Vince Cory and Santtu Laakso (yeah that's me...). Out debut album is out now and includes just one, 38-min long track "Trip One"! Only available in digital format, at least for the time being. Check it out below.

Shane Beck (The Last American Poet) - spoken word.
Vince Cory (Sonic Trip Project) - guitars, theremin & multi effects.
Santtu Laakso (Astral Magic) - moogs, percussion.

All music by Cory and Laakso, poetry by Beck. Mixed by Cory and Laakso, mastered by Jonathan Segel. Cover design by Andy Wainwright.

sonictripproject.bandcamp.com

Øresund Space Collective – Espaço

 Self-released (OSC2024-LS019)

This limited edition CD must be the most tranquil release by the band yet. The albu includes just two loooong jams that were recorded in September 2023 at Dr Space's studio in Portugal. In addition to stellar synths by the good Dr, we have Jonathan on guitar and violin, Hasse on bass, Luis on guitar, gong and noisebox, Larry on rhodes and Tito on brim-brau, drums and pecussion. Hey, three of them are also Astral Magic collaborators!

The title of the opener, "Umma", might bring to mind Pink Floyd, and there are some similarities in the peaceful, meditative vibes it brings too. This is very relaxing but also super spacey track that really acts as an espace from all your earthly troubles and stress. Something like this is very much in demand sometimes! It transports the listener into another dimenion altogether. just wonderful... "Birim Magic" starts off in a weird Ethnic/World Music style, but a lot of stuff happens during this, almost 43-minute-long ride. It is also very peaceful and dreamy in the middle, but some rhymths got added later on: first percussion and then a drum beat when we get closer to the end. The violin and bass espcpeially remonds me of Mahavishnu Orchestra a bit, so some jazzy/fusion vibes in there too. Not very common sounding OSC jam, which is a good thing in my books. After some cosmic dreamspaces the jam gets more intense towards the end without never really starting to rock out. Another very cool piece! It's nice to see OSC still putting out high-quality releases after all these years. There seems to be still 16 copies left on their Bandcamp site...

oresundspacecollective.bandcamp.com/

Astral Magic stuff!

 Hello!

Quite a lot has happened in the wonderful world of Astral Magic since my last post. 

Since the Astral Magic with Paul Roland - Mind Melt Machine CD EP there have been already SEVEN new releases!

 Strange Sensation CD, limited to 100 copies, was released in April the 5th. This album is a sort of successor to Am I Dreaming?, so more in the vein of 60s/70s psych/garage rock. Jaire Pätäri from Octopus Syng plays the drums, and the CD also includes a unique mix of Mind Melt Machine from the previous EP as a bonus track. Also featured are Perttu Lindberg – drums on “You Can’t Hear Me” and Jasmin Anglén – backing vocals on “Haunted Mansion”. Eye-popping cover art by Andy Wainwright, as usual.

Then we released a very limited edition home-made CD-R The Secret Paths: More Rarities with Shane Beck. This one has new versions of tracks that were originally made for his solo albums as well as plenty of totally new stuff. Very deep and psychedelic!!! Still a couple of copies left, but be quick...

Cruising the Celestial Highways has been in the works for years... It is the instrumental krautrock album of Astral Magic! It was ment to be an LP release but we'll have to settle for a limited edition CD for now. Just 100 copies in cool digipack.

The Highwaymen:

Santtu Laakso: music, mix, production, bass, synthesizers, motorik beats.
Jay Tausig: live drums, guitar, saxophone.
Pete Bingham: guitar.
Fred Laird: guitar.
Jonathan Segel: mastering.
Andy Wainwright: cover design

 

 Shadows over Jupiter was originally released on tape in 2021. I also made a 2LP version with three extra tracks, but it has proved to be too expensive to manufacture... I recently decided to remix all the tracks for a better sound quality. So a limited CD edition called Shadows over Jupiter Remixed was put out. Art by the original graphic designer Juha Takalo. Some great and quite different Astral Magic stuff on this one. Also features Jay Tausig and Fred Laird! Just get it.

After Shadows over Jupiter Remixed I decided to do limited edition of the previously vinyl only 2022 album Magical Kingdom on factory-pressed CD-R. Just 50 copies and going fast! Some fans do not buy vinyl and have been asking for this, so... And with three bonus tracks!

Floating in Space is a long-time project with my old friend Vesa Partti. We started it in 2021 or 2020 but it was put aside for some time... We finally decided to release it this Summer! First a digital single of the title track, then the whole album on limited edition CD. Vesa plays all the guitars and also does some vocals. I just love this album!

Floating in Space CD also includes the latest single recorded in analog studio with the Kultti-25 guys Tapio and Aki and some new faces: Joonas Soini on another guitar and the legendary Pentti Dassum on modular synths! The single Emerald Tablet / Taste of Sunlight (in My Mouth) was released in digital form last Friday but unfortunately the lathe-cut 7" version is a bit delayed. There will be only 50 copies of these made! Amazing art again by Andy on Floating and the new single...

I recently went to UK for almost two weeks. I visited the wonderful Kozfest for the second time, hang around with my friends Custard Flux and also finally got to Cardigan, Wales, for the Fruits de Mer Records festival 20th Dream of Dr Sardonicus. I also had a dj slot there playing only Astral Magic stuff! What an amazing journey… Astral Magic compilation Different Dimensions was included in the goodie back, I think I have sold all my copies now.

Other forthcoming releases include the CD's Interstellar Relations and Those Who Came from the Stars as well as a limited edition 10" lathe-cut version of the Mind Melt Machine EP with Paul Roland... Stay tuned!!!

Anton Barbeau - Dogstar / Queen of Eyes 7"

 Fruits de Mer Records (winkle 51)

I bet most readers know my pal and Astral Magic collaborator Anton Barbeau by now. Anton seems to live about  equal amounts of time in Berlin and California and why not. He's almost as productive as I am with several albums a year released. His latest single has a new original "Dogstar" on side A. This is a great, hard rocking glam rock stomper that brings to mind Marc Bolan, in a good way. One of Anton's biggest heros, along with Syd Barrett, David Bowie, Robyn Hitchcock, Julian Cope and lots of others, I suspect. Things don't stop here, since somehow, Anton managed to get Barry "The Fish" Melton (Country Joe McDonald and the Fish) to play some loud lead guitar through his custom-built Mesa Boogie! Very impressive. This song really works. For the B side, Ant chose a more atmospheric and melodic cover by Robyn Hitchcock called "Queen of Eyes". Wonderful! This single is also limited to just 300 copies so hurry up if you want one and I think you should.

www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/dogstar.html 

www.antonbarbeau.com 

 

The Sand Pebbles - Sometimes A Great Notion / Desire Lines 7"

 Fruits de Mer Records (winkle 53)

The Sand Pebbles form Australia are one of those bands that I have to thank Fruits de Mer Records to even know about. They have been around for over 20 years and released seven albums. This new single is limited to just 300 copies which is sort of sad since it has hit potential. The three-minute A side "Sometimes a Great Notion" brings to mind The Who or something similar, a 60s vibe but with a bit more modern sound, though. The violin gives a nice extra mood. I must say I still prefer the B side taken from the previous album, though. "Desire Lines" starts off like a perfect Neu mash-up in a very motorik manner. Amazing! The vocals are quite low in the mix. There's a great break in the hypnotic beat and then they go again. Lovely little release!

www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/pebbles.html

www.facebook.com/thesandpebbles/ 

nick nicely - Mike Hall Is Calling 7"

 Fruits de Mer Records (winkle 52)

Yes! The big underground psych pop hero from the 80s, Nick is back! A brand-new limited edition 7" single is out now. Only 300 made on black vinyl! I've been a huge admirer of nick nicely for decades so it is always a big thing for me.

"Mike Hall Is Calling" is a hazy, beautiful, melodic and psychedelic song that only Nick knows how to produce. It is adventurous but pretty easy to digest in a same time. Lushful orchestration, dreamy vocals and clever sound manipulation , it's all there. What a marvellous piece! On B side, things get a lot more experimental and wild with "Wonderful Day", what the hell just happened? There's even some free jazz vibes in there, totally trippy stuff. Another excellent nick nicely single, just get it!

www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/mikehall.html

nicknicely1.bandcamp.com/music 

Hanford Flyover - Garden of Earthly Delights 7"

 Fruits de Mer Records (crustacean 101)

Fans of the legendary US 60s experimental/psych rock band The United States of America will be delighted to know, that two of their best actual songs have now been covered by the duo Hanford Flyover! And they do a splendid job at them, as well. A side "Garden of Earthly Delights" sounds pretty musch like the original down to the clear female vocals, but the synth bubles are a nice extra. I just love this version! More analogue synth LFO madness continues on the B side. "You Can Never Come Down" is another up-beat mind-blower, this version a bit more different from the original. I wish I had these songs as an original single for dj use, but these great cover versions will work very well for that too. Amazing!

www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/earthly.htm

hanfordflyover.bandcamp.com/

Custard Flux - Einsteinium Delirium

 Friends of the Fish

Gregory Curvey (ex-The Luck of Eden Hall) from Detroit has been pretty active and constant with his new band Custard Flux releasing about an album a year and also playing some live gigs. What started off as a mostly acoustic solo project has now turned into fully electric band thing on the new album Einsteinium Delirium. This is the fifth album by the band and possibly their best effort so far. It is also a concept album based on our historic atomic madness, einsteinium being the highly unstable element first discovered after the first hydrogen bomb explosion.

There are ten songs on the album that flow into each other effortlessly. On the CD version there are just two tracks, A and B side of the vinyl version. Like before, the music is rather progressive with weird scales and also some not so standard rhythms, but somehow everything still sounds very enjoyable, smooth and together. We get complicated riffs, plenty of psychedelic guitar solos, tight and groovy drums and bass, heavenly Mellotron passages and great vocals. This is probably the heaviest album by the band yet, which suits the rather dark subject matter. The sound quality is crystal clear down to the atomic level and I just love every and each song. There are also two very limited lathe-cut singles from the album, "Equinox" with a different version of "Transmutation" and one-sided single of "Right Now Here in Time", but both already sold-out.

The LP version is limited to just 200 copies and made in the UK. The band will also do a mini UK tour in July/August playing for example at Kozfest in Devon and The 20th Dream of Dr. Sardonicus in Wales. I will just happen to be at both, can't wait... Gregory has also contributed to a several Astral Magic releases so it will be great to finally meet him in person. Also his excellent drummer Nick Pruett will be featured on one track on a future Astral Magic album Interstellar Relations... Great musicians. Anyway, do yourself a favour and buy Einsteinium Delirium before it solds out, you will love it. Some copies will be saved for the UK dates as well. The official release date is this Friday!

custardflux.bandcamp.com/music

Us and Them - If the Summer Lingers

 Withdrawn Records (008)

After working on other project for a while our favourite Swedish folk duo Us and Them is back with a new single! I think the final product will included three tracks, since the promo copy I received has two and there are two on their Bandcamp site now but the second being entitled differently to the promo edition. But is says it's a "Limited edition  3-track CD" there. Mysterious, right? Anyway, let's see what we've got here.

The opening title track is a nice, shortish, summery folk rock piece. You immediately recognize the duo's wonderful style and vibe, marvellous! Just too short, if you as me. "Tear Apart" is a longer, slower, hypnotic and darker piece that also has some instrumental passages. Acoustic guitar and brilliant female vocals, yes, but also synths and mellotron etc. The chorus is a bit more melodic and lighter. I really enjoy this extended, magical piece! "In the Waiting Room" on the Bandcamp site seems to be the same track, so not sure which one is the right title of if the track is devided into two parts on the actual CD single or what. You will ove this one, anyway!

www.usandthem.se/

 

Doctors of Space - Astral Sessions Vol 6- Summer 2021

 Doctors of Space Music (DOSASCD 006)

Doctors of Space (Scott Heller and Martin Weaver) released a new limited edition CD (just 100 copies) last month. This is volume 6 in their Astral Sessions jam series and a pretty heavy one. I don't have all the albums in this series, but have enjoyed all I've heard. The four LOOOONG jams were recorded in two different sessions in June and July 2021. I love Martin's guitars on these, sad thing if he really does not plan to play any more guitar in the duo's recordings? I hope I just made this up, but that's what I remember hearing. Here he also plays bass guitar and does the drum programming, so there must be some overdubs on there I guess, or he just switches instruments ultra fast and uses loops. Scott's (Dr Space) synths are as spacey as ever, wonderful. He also plays some (digital) Mellotron and Hammond organ. There is 74 minutes worth of trippy instrumental space music so definitely worth the 10€ the CD costs! You can just buy the digital download, of course. For some reason not all tracks are available for listening on their Bandcamp site at the moment.

doctorsofspace.bandcamp.com/music

 

The Honey Pot with Crystal Jacqueline - An Introduction to The Honey Pot with Crystal Jacqueline

 Fruits de Mer Records (intro 4)

The Honey Pot as well as Crystal Jacqueline are some of the Fruits de Mer Records dearest sweethearts and most released artists by them, so no wonder they are also featured in this CD-R introduction series. This collection features 10 tracks that have been previously released on FdM singles, LP's and CD's as well as three bonus tracks. 

Most pieces are cover songs (Mighty Baby, The Fleur the Lys, Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Kinks, Jefferson Airplane etc.) but the album also includes five originals for good measure. The music has a very late 60s/early 70s vibe. The last two tracks were recorded live and at least "Shangri-La" by The Kinks is exclusive to this compilation. These guys are great musicians and singers, so you just can't help liking their music! There is nothing thag trippy or spaced-out, so you could even play this on mainstream radio, I guess. Pleasant, rather peaceful and melodic stuff with some folk elements. Check them out!

www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/honeyintro.html

 

Jet Jaguar - Brain Stun: The Collection, Part 1

 Magritte Records (MR 245)

Jet Jaguar was a cool space rock band from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and they first were active from 2001 to 2011. I used to get review copies of their CD releases back then and loved their stuff that was a hybrid of spacey Hawkwind and cybernetic industrial post punk of Chrome. There was also a double LP/CD Space Anthem on Black Widow Records in 2007 that I really love. This one was mostly recorded live on the group's 2005 Solar Anthem tour but also included some covers recorded in studio. The band later resurfaced with a different crew apart from the commander Charles Van De Kree (guitars, vocals, synths, electronics) and released one more CD, Mysteries of Antimatter in 2015.

This compilation puts together some of the band's best tracks along with a couple of great cover songs. The straight-forward rocker "Dogfight" is maybe more or less a copy of Robert Calvert's "Ejection" but so what? Space rockers get what they need! A super-charged opener. "Autopilot" starts off with a spacey sequencer/vocoder intro and then rocks out in Chrome style. Loving it! In similar vein, "She's an Alien" was always one of the band's stand-out tracks and still sounds cool and exciting. More 90's Hawkwind-styled "I.C.U." is wonderful too like the A side's final, slower piece "Shades of Noir Descending". All tracks on side A were first released in 2002.

On the flip side we have two tracks from the 2004's album Billion Year Spree: the mercilessly rocking "Future Martyr on Supersonic Waves" and the classic "The Last Kings of Space". Next comes an excellent cover of Hawkwind's single track "Lord of Light" and I'm in ecstasy! This was originaly released on Black Widow Record's Daze öf the Undergröund, Tribute to Hawkwind. Also my old band Dark Sun was featured on the Chrome tribute You've Been Duplicated, Burning Chrome To Disc In The Cyberage and that's where the Jet Jaguar's ultra-fast version of "The Need" originates from. This whole tribute was put together by Charles, if I remember correctly (it was twenty years ago...). One more original to finish the album: "Count Geiger's Blues" from "Future Tense". This was strangely the only track I did not remember but it's a really good mid-tempo rocker bringing to mind Farflung and Pressurehed. Phew! What an amazing collection of spacey and cyper punky hits, I just have to start dreaming about the Part 2 right now!

jetjaguarmissioncontrol.bandcamp.com/album/brain-stun-the-collection-part-1 

J. Vdek - Earthwake

Magritte Records (MR230)

According to online sources, J. Vdek is a Danish guitarist/analog synthesist born in Copenhagen in 1981, studied at Copenhagen University where in late 1990s he was involved with groups Kloroform and Free Mechanist Orchestra. He emigrated to U.S. in 2010, now living in NYC. This limited edition lathe-cut 12" and tape (100 copies each) seems to be his first solo album, though.

James De Leigh helps out on drums and gong on the more rocking opener "Drone Strike by Inferno's Light" that could be easily passed as psychedelic post rock. The rest of the stuff is more eexperimental for sure... The closer to 13-minute "Deadlands" is just dark, ambient soundscapes made with ARP, MiniMoog and Signal Generator. On side B, "Radioactive Sewage" is a bit noisy, electronic, banging and experimental, short thing that ends suddenly. The last track is the 15:42 long "Thermonuclear Mass for 10,000 Cities (Parts I-II) that has a ominous, post-apocalyptic vibe. This one was composed together with D. A. Gardner, who also plays alto & baritone saxophones, ARP Odyssey, tape and effects on the track. The sax adds some jazzy modes for the very experimental and hypnotic web of sound. Later we also get some tribal synthesized beats and the track gets going in a spacey way with also lots of distorted guitar. Again, not exactly my kind of music, but I still got to appreciate this stuff. Check it out!

jvdek.bandcamp.com/album/earthwake

Sines Of Exquisite Pleasure - Music For Hospitals

 Magritte Records (MR 231)

Sines Of Exquisite Pleasure is a solo project of multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Douglas Em. This minimalistic ambient album was recorded in 1983-84 using MiniMoog, guitar, tapes, electronics, Alpine cow bells and analog & digital delays. It was originally released on tape in 1984 in edition of 100 copies, reissued on tape again in 2022 on Fantasy Audio Magazine and finally on limited edition vinyl LP on Magritte Records last year.

Douglas has been inspired by the tape expreriments of John Gage and  modal minimalism of John Adams as well as modular sound esthetic of Robert Fripp and Brian Eno. This can be heard on this album as well. There are seven very peaceful and relaxing compositions that give you a sort of healing vibe. Maybe that's where the title comes form. This is  not exactly my kind of music (I'm not patient enough...) but I still enjoy the album and music like this aboslutely has it's place in human experience and life. Only 250 copies pressed but still available!

sinesofexquisitepleasure.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-hospitals 

 

Å - Åtråvärld

 Self-released (ÅLP003)

 

Åtråvärld is the third album by Swedish prog/psych rock band Å (meaning stream in English). I have previously reviewed also their eponymous debut album and second album Ånyo.  After those there was quite a long pause, but this one was released in December 2023, maybe this vinyl version limited to 300 copies came a bit later. The main band is still Joel Öhlund (vocals, guitar), Milovan Fredriksson (bass, guitar) and Erik Wallin (drums) with some quests on sax, flute, synth etc. The album was recorded in their home town Uppsala and the band still sings in their native language.

The strong folk roots are very clearly audile on the first song "Fredmans epistel 9" that is actually written by traditional Swedish poet & musician Carl Michael Bellman (1740-1795). A very nice interpretion with also some World Music vibes! The almost eight-minute "G​å​ngl​å​t i femtakt" starts off with some farm animal sounds and then goes pretty mystical and progressive. The sax is a nice addition, and there's a cool early 70s jazzy prog vibe.  "Transversale varelser" has a nice acoustic guitar and brings to mind some of the more atmospheric songs by Dungen (especially when the flute is added) still sounding pretty original. It also goes rather psychedelic which is cool.

Side B starts off with "Elden" that goes in 7/8 and has some heavier guitar as well. Maybe some King Crimson feel in here and I like it. "Intryck och uttryckt" are two different tracks on the digital version but marked as one track on the LP. The first part is nice, acoustic stuff, but then things start to rock out more in a groovy, psychedelic folk rock way. Some cool jamming and hippie vibes. I really enjoy this album and it is definitely worth checking out if you like well produced, 70s styled Swedish folk/psych/prog rock with great vocals and skillful instrumentation.

swedishstream.com

 

Anton Barbeau - An Introduction to Anton Barbeau

 Fruits de Mer Records (intro 5)

I've been following Anton Barbeau's career for decades and reviewing a lot of his releases. I was also lucky enough to get him to play on two of my Astral Magic albums, Magical Kingdom and Sacret Mysteries. This CD-r is the first  compilation of Anton's pretty extensive back-catalogue, although only stuff he has relesed on Fruits de Mer Records. This of course means lots of cover versions too, but Keith even allows original tracks on his releases for his special artists like Anton, Bevis Frond, Nick Nicely etc.

An Introduction to Anton Barbeau is a massive, 76 minute album with 19 tracks. Three of the last ones are marked as bonus tracks. The album starts of with one of my Barbeau original favourites: "Psychedelic Mind of Moses". Then follows covers by Hitchcock and Cope, both big influences for Anton. The stream of Anton's own songs as well as more great cover versions (Bowie x 2, Orange Bicycle, Big Star, Traffic, Donavan etc.) is just perfect. The tracks have previously been released on 7" singles, LP's and CD's except two of the last bonus tracks. "Third Eye" is previously unreleased and "Trouble Was Born" has previously only been available on Fruits de Mer Records Live in Glastonbury DVD. The album also features two collaborations: "Dr. Crippen's Waiting Room" with another FdM sweethearts The Honey Pot and "Pleasant Valley Sunday" with The Fishheads featuring Astralasias Marc Swordfish. Nice! All in all, a great compilation to both long-time die-hard fans and new Barbeay listeners as well! Only limited numers available.

www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/antintro.html 

www.antonbarbeau.com/index_new.html 

Soft Hearted Scientists - Waltz of the Weekend

 Fruits de Mer Records (winkle 50)

The magical Welsh psych folk/rock/pop band Soft Hearted Scientists is back! The recordings of this triple LP started already in 2019 but lots of things happened in between. I've been a big fan of the band for years so was really thrilled when Fruits de Mer announced this release somtime last year. The CD version of the album was already released last year on The Hip Replacement but this version has four extra tracks, most of them pretty long (especially "Waltz through the Weekend" at 16:42!).

Like always, the Scientists conjure up a magical combination of wacky, whimsical humour, simple but highly effective melodies and psychedelic soundscapes in the best tradition pioneered by The Beatles, Syd's Pink Floyd, The Moody Blues, the Stones and many other masters. The sound is still pretty modern and really great. Spreading 16 tracks to 3 vinyl albums is big task but the Soft Hearted Scientists really pull it off. I just love every moment of this album and I can play it several times in a row, no problem. There are some faster songs but mostly we get moody, melodic and atmospheric stuff with great harmonies and beautiful vibes. I've got no difficulties in understanding why Fruits de Mer's Keith is so much in love with this band since so am I... Totally mesmerising stuff and of course highly recommended.

www.softheartedscientists.com/ 

New manifestations in the Astral Magic universe

 Hello!

 It's been a while since I last told you about what's going on with Astral Magic. Since the release of Sacred Mysteries CD (still available!) there was the very limited lathe-cut 7" Virtual Fixtures / Kinder der Sonne on the Irish label Fuzzed Out & Astromoon. A side from the album We Are Stardust, B side a previously unreleased kraut oriented instrumental. Like before, it sold-out in few minutes.

Then I put out the second 7" lathe-cut single recorded with the Kultti-25 guys in analog studio: Mind Eater / Lurking in the Dark. Only 50 copies made but some still available so be fast! It's a heavy Hawkwind worship thing...

On the 1st of December something really special was released... I've been in contact with ex-Hawkwind singer Bridget Wishart for years and reviewing some of her releases but now it was finally time to work with her on an album! Ad Infinitum is a progressive space rock album that also features Vince Cory and Lauri Kajander on guitars. The CD includes the previous single as bonus tracks. The first 100 copies were sold out in a month but we now have the second pressing available from our Bandcamp site. Fresh news is also that a limited LP edition of 100 copies with new cover design is now on pre-sale in the US! Just be fast to get a copy as they are going fast.

This year's first release was The Hidden Way CD-R limited to 50 copies. As you know I've been working a lot with Shane Beck The Last American Poet. This album has several tracks that I have made for his solo albums as well as one compilation track and several brand-new ones. Musically it is more electronic and experimental but very psychedelic! It seems people have liked it since I only have two copies of the CD-R left, so again, act fast if you want it!

End of Time is an album that was already recorded in 2020-21 and planned as a successor to Magical Kingdom on Tonzonen Records. Since this never happened, I thought it was now time to put it out on my own!  It's a cool progressive and psychedelic space rock/pop thing with lots of input by the excellent Jonathan Segel on guitars, violin and mandolin. He also mastered the album again for maximum quality. As usual, only 100 CD's were pressed and for some reason lots still available over here!

I bet many of you are familiar with the author and psychedelic musician Paul Roland, right? He sent me some of his CD's and books about the occult for review years ago, so I sort of got to know him. Been a fan for years, of  course. It was still a bit of a surprise when he suddenly contacted me and said that he wanted to make psychedelic space rock with me! Well of course I was in. Within a week or two we had a five-track EP together. Again, Jonathan Segel joined in for some electric guitar, violin and viola, thanks for that my friend. I also want to express my gratitude for the amazing Andy Wainwright who does most of the Astral Magic art nowadays. Contact him if you need some cool psychedelic designs! The creative collaboration with Paul went so smoothly and fast that I'm sure this was not the end of it. 150 copies of the EP have been made on CD and they wil be released on the next Bandcamp Friday March the 1st. There is also a new T-shirt design and plans to also put four of the tracks on a limited edition 10" lathe-cut so follow the Astral Magic Bandcamp site regularly for updates... Check out the EP teaser video for now.

Over and out...