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