CELESTIAL OCEAN

Brainticket are a group from Switzerland. Celestial Ocean is their third album and is more modern sounding than the first two which almost sound like something from the 1960s rather than the 1970s. The use of synthesizers here clearly places this album in the mid-70s. Although the album is made up of individual songs, this really sounds like two epics since there are no breaks between the songs.

"Egyptain Kings" is the best song here and possibly the best song Brainticket ever made. I just love this song. It starts with random noises before a completely awesome riff on synth which continues for the rest of the track. A male voice speaks then a female voice repeats what he says. There is some good organ along with the synth. Later some wordless vocals and the drumming gets louder. An overdubbed organ solos over top of everything for the last minute or so. "Rainbow" starts with acoustic guitar and the sitar from the previous song, "Jardins". The volume increases, then gets quieter. Ends with sequencers.

"Era Of Technology" begins with dramatic organ. Then three voices can be heard: 1) a female (English), 2) a male(German), and 3) another male(French). I assume they are all saying the same thing. This is a very spacey and trippy song. Later some pounding percussion comes in. Near the end the percussion stops and then some melodic zither(?) and some flute. Then male vocals that remind me of Robert Wyatt. "To Another Universe" starts with xylophone, then rhythmic synth and zither(?). More synths come in. Two synths do a call and response thing. Some percussion, later organ.

"The Space Between" continues with the same music as "Universe". The three voices in English, German and French come back again. Some cool synth in this song. After the talking stops a synth solo. "Visions" begins with two pianos. At first they are playing two different things, but later compliment each other. The pianos change and then some percussion. Music stops and then some zither(?), then synths come in. Song ends with a reprise of the vocals from "Egyptian Kings".

This album is worth hearing for "Egyptian Kings" alone. Fairly consistent and a good sounding recording. Nothing truly original I guess, but a great mix of instruments. Almost equally spacey and melodic. I've only heard Brainticket's first three albums, but this is the best out of the three. 4 stars.