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

 

Chakra Vimana - Feed My Soul limited LP/CD/digital download out now!

 

Today it is the official release date of our psychedelic, spacey and atmospheric prog rock project debut:

Chakra Vimana - Feed My Soul (Tonzonen Records TON177)!

The beautiful coloured vinyl is limited to 300 copies and comes with a download code. The CD is also limited to 300, comes in amazing digipack and has a bonus track (also available on digital download).

Chakra Vimana’s album is the debut collaboration of spoken word artist Shane Beck known as The Last American Poet from Astral Magic, Talking Clouds, Language of The Moon & more, Mark Cook from Herd of Instinct, Liquid Sound Company, The Forever Moment & more, Santtu Laakso from Dark Sun & Astral Magic.These three create a sound that delves deeply into different forms of space and prog rock with heavy influences of Porcupine Tree, Nik Turner, King Crimson, Bill Laswell, and Tangerine Dream.

You can order copies directly from the label in Germany:

www.tonzonen.de/shop 

If you are in the US/Canada/Mexico:

chakravimana.bandcamp.com/album/feed-my-soul-3 

 herdofinstinct.bandcamp.com/album/feed-my-soul

EU/UK orders from the Astral Magic Bandcamp page:

 astralmagic.bandcamp.com/album/feed-my-soul

 Plus of course from all psych mail-order companies who know their business.

Check out the YouTube videos my Mark Cook:

 

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 

Astral Magic news: new album coming up!

I have just received some lead guitar and violin tracks for the new album from my trusty collaborator Jonathan Segel. I will try to mix "In Space We Trust" by the end of the week and send the stuff back to Jonathan for mastering.

The plan is to release it on the next Bandcamp Friday, 2nd of May. Since hardly anybody seems to buy albums anymore, this will only be a limited, factory-made CD-R release of 50 copies. But it will be great stuff, I tell you!

 I might release an (amateur...) video before the release date.

Tracks on the 42-minute album are:

 

In Space We Trust

Anti-gravity

Martian Archives

Light-years Apart

Ancient Pilots

Alien Emperor

Stasis

Deep-frozen

Øresund Space Collective - Relaxing in the Himalayas

 Space Rock Productions (SRP087)

This OSC album was originally released on CD only in October 2021 and it was limited to 300 copies. It was initially available to the Bandcamp subscribers only, so I don't have that. It seems to be sold-out by now, as well! The LP version was released recently in two variations: 130 copies on clear and 170 on black vinyl. The open getafold cover with artwork by Robin Lindström is very cool too.

The album includes only one 45-minute track: "Relaxing in the Himalayas" which of course is now edited into two sections for the vinyl format. It's a pretty hypnotic, mystical and a bit Eastern styled, mid-tempo journey. The track comes from the 2014 sessions with seven talented and inspired musicians and was the first piece this line-up jammed together. Considering that, it's a very deep trip and highly enjoyable to listen to. This is another great OSC release for sure!

 oresundspacecollective.bandcamp.com

West Space & Love - Vol. III

 Space Rock Productions (SRP086)

As you probaby can figure out yourself, this is the third album by the trio formed by multi-instrumentalist KG West and drummer and percussionist Love Forsberg (both from Siena Root) together with synth wizard Dr Space aka Scott Heller. This time they also have Hasse Horrigmoe, a very frequent participant in all things Dr Space/Øresund Space Collective, as spaciel guest on shakers, bass and congas.

The totally instrumental album has a very hippie vibe, mostly due to the very fluent sitar playing by KG. They start off with the groovy and nice "One Step Ahead". Then we've got the the very Indian sounding "Mouth of Sand". Bluesy and relaxing "Time Expansion" ends side A, cool Fender Rhodes on this one. On the B side we've got just two pieces. First, the short "Lost Hippie in Africa" and then the long, more synth-oriented coscmic ambient piece "Explaining Reality" with some cool Mellotron stuff etc. The last number sounds like Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream or something, very nice. Only 130 copies were made on red vinyl and 170 on black. There are also 300 copies availbale on CD for those who prefer that format. I like this album a lot!

 

New Astral Magic video online etc.!

 Hi there!

Please check out the video for the title track of the next Astral Magic album Dance of Destiny! The album will be out 7.3.2025 and available on limited edition CD and digital download. Would also fit on LP, if some label is interested?!

Other news is that I just got frozen in Facebook again after a few group postings... Seems useless.

Oh, the Chakra Vimana album will be released on Tonzonen Records on 23.5.2025! 300 copies on coloured vinyl and also on digipack CD. I'm so excited!

 

Schizo Fun Addict - An Introduction to...

 Fruits de Mer Records (intro 7)

Schizo Fun Addict is one of the favourite children of Fruits de Mer. Well, actually they've been involved even since the  Bracken Records days releasing two singles on the FdM precussor label as well. On this double-CD-R we have most of the band's Fruits de Mer back catalogue along with some novelties for a good measure. I've always been a fan of the band's take on psychedelic rock that has elements and vibes from the 60s all the way to the 80s, 90s and beyond.

The first disc starts with the band's FdM debut single Volume One and I just love these cover tunes. Three cuts form the Suspiria EP are wonderful too, of course... Then we get the 7" postcard single track "Take a Heart" and several songs from their FdM album The Sun Yard. Then we have pieces from Sunny Spells EP and Head Music 3 3LP and even some rare promo etc. tracks that I have never even heard before! The disc one ends with three tracks from Love Your Enemies album. Wonderful psych pop tunes in there.

 The second disc starts off with even nine songs from the band's The Last Wave album released on Friends of the Fish together with the legendary Flicknife Records in 2020. I missed this one since there were sadly only 99 copies made on LP, so it's nice to have the tracks here, at least. One digital single and split cassette track later we get to the tracks from their El Shoegaze Bossa Nova LP that was actually released on Sugarbush Records, not on FdM. I'm not a big fan of bossanova, so I did not buy that one... But the real gold is saved until the end when we get to hear some alternative mixes and previously unreleased stuff! You'll definitely get your money's worth with this great compilation, warmly recommended. This will be available at the end of this month.

www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/sfaintro.html 

schizofunaddict.bandcamp.com/ 

 

 

Astral Magic - Dance of Destiny CD review in Dutch (with English translation)

 A great 4.5/5 review by Carry Munter of the next Astral Magic album out on the 7th of March:

carrysnewundergroundmusic.blogspot.com/2025/02/review-astral-magic-dance-of-destiny.html 

 

 Here's translation for those who do not speak Dutch for some reason:

 

Astral Magic from Finland is the solo project of bassist Santtu Laakso, a member of the psychedelic space rock band Dark Sun, which was founded in 1991.

On September 30, 2020, he released his first solo album, Pathway To The Stars, followed by 65 more digital releases, some of which were also issued on LP and CD through Space Rock Productions, Sapphire Records, Clostridium, Tonzonen Records, and Aumega Project. On March 6, 2025, Dance Of Destiny will be released on his own label, Astral Magic Music, both as a CD and a digital download. The album features eight tracks, with Laakso playing all the instruments himself, except for track 2, where his son Anton contributes on Moog.

The album opens with Intro - Open The Portal, a fantastic up-tempo krautrock piece, followed by the title track Dance Of Destiny, a brilliant space rock song with a steady tempo and a catchy recurring rhythm influenced by the music of Hawkwind.
Next is Distortion In Space-Time, a fantastic up-tempo progressive rock track with an Eastern vibe, space rock influences, a swinging rhythm, and tempo changes, followed by We Plunge Into Chaos, an excellent melodic space rock song with light space rock elements and an infectious rhythm.

In Transmission Psi, Astral Magic delivers a delightful, Eastern-sounding track at a moderate tempo, reminiscent of In The Labyrinth, while Slumber Of The Ancient Ones offers an outstanding space rock song with a not-too-fast pace and a hypnotic rhythm that induces a light trance.

The album continues with Zep Tepi, a swinging, up-tempo space rock song with an infectious recurring rhythm that makes it impossible to sit still, and concludes with Last Days Of A Time Cycle, a delightful electronic track at a moderate tempo, which could easily have been performed by Kitaro.

Dance Of Destiny by Astral Magic contains eight outstanding tracks, primarily categorized under space rock. I thoroughly enjoyed this remarkable album and highly recommend it to every fan of the genre.

Strange Vibrations - a new Astral Magic related project!

Okay, so what is Strange Vibrations and how it came into existence? 

A couple of weeks ago, I received my first new synthesizer for a few years, Stylophone CPM DS-2 Analogue Drone Synthesizer, to be exact. Of course I had to try it out... In a couple of days I ended up with nine experimental tracks all started with the CPM DS-02. I added other synths and then decided to ask Shane to join in, since this kind of experimental stuff always is more interesting (to me, at least) with some spoken word. This time I gave him all the subject matter ideas beforehand with some links to get inspired. Shane did a great job very fast as usual, and really delivered the goods like I knew he would! Later I added more stuff like electric guitars and more synths, even some percussive things. Now this all started to sound like something that should get out there...

I had recently decided not to put out new Astral Magic releases as often as before, so an idea was received from my friend Jaire to release this under a different project name. That I way I could still keep my promise without cheating (much...)! I decided to call this new project Strange Vibrations according to one of the tracks, and Shane liked that too. To shake things even more I did remixes of two of the most "normal" tracks and put those out first as "Astral Magic Mix" single. I added bass guitar and my vocals to these single versions, two of the most recognizable elements from Astral Magic that I have decided never to use in Strange Vibrations to keep some distance.

Jonathan Segel helped us a lot by mastering all the stuff while I came up with all the dodgy artwork myself (Andy was too busy making three different designs for my other projects...). Getting confused? No wonder... Anyway, this is more or less how it all happened. I hope you like it! The album will be out on March the 7th only on Bandcamp (and maybe YouTube) as digital download and limited edition of 33 copies on home-made CD-R. There will also be a new Astral Magic CD Dance of Destiny available then. The Longing for the Stars / Solarwind single was released last Friday when Bandcamp donated all their share to victims of the Los Angeles fires, you can hear and buy it here:

 

New Astral Magic interview online!

 Nick Pipitone has published a cool Astral Magic interview on his magnificent The Third Eye music blog!

 

 To read the interview and know what's going on, please go to:

thirdeyepsychrock.blog/2025/02/07/a-conversation-with-finnish-psych-rock-traveler-astral-magic/ 

Fift Daughter - Stellar Season

 Fruits de Mer Records / Regal Crabomophone (winkle 57)

 Fift Season is the latest new addition to the fabulous Fruits de Mer/Regal Crabomophone rooster. Stellar Season is their debut album and includes an excellent set of songs in the early 70s UK progressive psych folk fashion. They are actually a duo formed by Nicholas Whittaker (you might know him from the excellent prog band Diagonal) and James Howard (ex-member of Running Dogs). The album also features other Diagonal members Luke Foster and Dave Wileman as well as guitarist Will Hoves as guests. 

Like many albums of the original era, Stellar Season is a loose consept album about a rural society far from Earth that was in love with the Sun, Day and Summer with not so good end results. We have seven songs in 43 minutes and they form a very interesting, beautiful, well balanced and rather peaceful arch. We get plenty of acoustic guitars, sitar, great bass patterns, nice harmony vocals, soft rhythms, heavenly keyboards, synthesizers, woodwind and almost everything you would except from an album like this. Well, no clear-voiced female singers or violins, though. All in all, a very enjoyable experience that will give lots of aural pleasure to fans of progressive folk music. There are two different vinyl variants to choose from and the black one is the more limited version. Recommended!

www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/stellar.html

 

Sidewalk Society - An Introduction to Sidewalk Society

 Fruits de Mer Records (intro 6)

This great power pop trio from California loved their 60s mod/freakbeat/garage/psych influences from the US and UK. They were frequently involved with Fruits de Mer since the 2010 compilation LP A Phase We're Going Through until they went on indefinitive hiatus some time ago. Well, until sort of now, of course, when this double CD-R compilation was released last month.

The first disc features all the band's individual tracks for Fruits de Mer (mostly covers, 11 in total) plus nine bonus tracks that are all their own compositions. They cover for example The Bee Gees, Bowie, The Kinks, The Small Faces, The Pretty Things etc. and do a wonderful job at it. Six of the bonus tracks are from their 2012 album Venus, Saturn and the Crecent Moon. Then we get two demos of tracks from the same album plus a short piece recorded for the Strange Brew broadcast. There's lots of stuff to love here! The second disc includes their complete remake of the Strange Roads album by The Action, first time on CD format! I have previously reviewed that album, so please read my thougts over here. 

www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/sidewalkintro.html

 

Vibravoid - An Introduction to Vibravoid

 Fruits de Mer Records (intro 7)

Okay, I have a confession to make. Vibravoid from Germany is the best band that has ever released anything on Fruits de Mer and one of my favourite bands ever... With one constant member Christian (Dr.) Koch they have been around for 35 years and released a massive back catalogue also including numerous remakes and reissues. Vibravoid is one of the leading acts in the psychedelic rock in general and everyone into psychedelia and krautrock, old or new,  really should check them out.

This double CD-R compiles some of the best covers the band has recorded for Fruits de Mer on the first disc and some live versions (including previously unreleased) and studio album covers on the second disc. Many of the original limited edition 7" and LP releases are now almost impossible to get at reasonable prices and are totally essential, so it's very cool that you can now hear some of the best pieces in a very economic and easy way. 15 tracks in total on disc one, I love every minute of it. We have covers of Pink Floyd, Can, Amon Düül II, Iron Butterfly, Traffic, Kraftwerk, even Eddie Cochran etc., you name it.

The hard-core fans like me who already have everything are probably most intersted in the previously unreleased live stuff on disc two. "Colour Your Mind" was recorded at The Cavern Club in Exeter in 2016 and has a really great sound. Very cool version! "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" from Film Museum in the band's hometown Düsseldorf in 2017 rocks like hell... All 12 minutes of it. Then we are back at The Cavern Club with over 15-minute long version of "Mother Sky", splendid. "No Silver Bird" is from the 2011 Burg Hertzberg Festival and might be a different mix to the one from the live albun the band released from that gig. "Incense and Peppermints", "Magic Mirror" and "Oscillations" are the covers released on two of the band's studio albums in 2008 and 2013 and they are amazing versions for sure.

All in all, this is great album to get into Vibravoid and even if you have most of the stuff this makes a great listening experience. Just get it!

www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/vibravoidintro.html

www.youtube.com/@VibravoidOfficial 

Positive Wave - Metsälapsi

 Humu Records (HUMU041)

Positive Wave is a Helsinki-based prog rock band that has been active for a long time. For some reason some bands like them need a decade or more to make an album, and the self-titled debut was released already in 2010. They have had some draw-backs though, mainly the untimely passing of their original keyboard player Jani Häggblom in 2022. Jani is still very strongly present on the new album. So what can I say about the band? Like their name suggests, they spread positive vibes through their warm, happy and pleasureable music. The vocals of their charismatic and lovely singer Susan Karttunen are in Finnish, but don't let that stop you from chcking out their stuff even if you don't understand a word.

They are often labeled as progressive rock band, which is mostly true. They also play around with reggae, afrobeat and other world music as well as folk, funk, jazz, pop and a bit of psychedelia. I guess Wigwam is one of their influnces, but there must be lots of others as well like Santana. There's a certain early 70's vibe in there, but especially the latest stuff also has some more modern elements, so you can't really just label them as relics. All the 11 tracks on the CD are very well written, arranged and performed. These guys are really good players and can keep the stuff interesting and uplifting. Susan is one of the best female singers in this genre in Finland, for sure. The album took a long time to finnish, but it was worth it. It sounds just great, and I also love the suitable drawings by Eetu Pellonpää. If you like positive, nice progressive, creative and versatile music, this is a must.

www.positivewave.net

Astral news, good and bad...

 Hello and Happy New Year!

Some Astral news. Bad news first: my Facebook accounts are frozen, so my almost only channel for promoting my music is down again after hours and hours of hard work of getting connected to like-minded people again. A Bummer. I hope I can get it back this time, but let's see. That's the reason I'm now asking for help in spreading the message and sharing this post to all possible social media sites you are on, thanks and astral blessings to all those who are ready to help!

No new Astral Magic releases in the near future, but our album with Jay Tausig and Bridget Wishart as Astral Hawk Machine should be out soon on LP and CD. More news a.s.a.p. Also the true heavy space rock album Into the Cosmos should finally be out on LP and CD later this year. Just wait until you hear that one! There might also be a new Astral Magic magazine with a new compilation and at least one more Astral Magic album this year. Probably more, you know me...

Then to the good news: we have a new project album ready now; Chakra Vimana - Feed My Soul. Chakra Vimana is a new modern & jazzy prog/psych/space rock project by Shane Beck, Mark Cook and Santtu Laakso with special guest Steven Leak. Debut album Feed My Soul will be released in 2025. Album design by Andy Wainwright. We are now in the process of finding a record label for the album, please be in touch if you have any ideas?

You can listen to an album sampler on our bandcam site:

chakravimana.bandcamp.com

We also have a new Facebook site (Mark had to start again after mine was frozen yesterday):

 facebook.com/chakravimana/

 Mark also did a cool video of the album sampler: