Astral Year 2024

 It’s been another very productive year for me in 2024! These are my all releases on Astral Magic Music this year. In addition, I play synths on one track on the new Sendelica album Requiem for Mankind. That’s all, I think…

My New Year’s resolution is to cut down on my releases… I might do some other projects with other people or let real labels put out my stuff but releasing this much stuff without any distribution or real help from anyone is just insane and has to stop… We are living in hard times and people just don’t have money to spend on music like they used to, it seems. Sad but true. I won’t stop making music just yet, though! Thanks to all collaborators, my small but loyal fanbase, dj’s and reviewers for support, I love you all.

Happy Holidaze and Astral Blessings for everyone…

astralmagic.bandcamp.com

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