A QUESTION FOR THE SOMNAMBULIST

A new sign of life from avantgarde space rocker F/i after leaving mother earth for some years. This album marks the return of Richard Franecki (guitar, electronics) who had left the crew in 1990 to move on with his new band VOCOKESH. But now he's back and besides the diversified electronical goodies the dual guitar appearance matters a great plus for this production.

They are starting off with Uber-Wizards Of The 88Th Meridian, a relaxed grooving space jam with driving drum work by Darwin Grosse, typically provided with ups and downs, smooth but also excited parts. The hypnotic bass loop is electronically generated I assume. Lots of swirling synths and a clarinet solo included. Franecki and Wensing are alternating with distorted and fuzzy guitars provided with echo and delay effects. Great start so far!

Hit the Kill Switch, Eugene opens with excellent tribal drums. The other instruments come in by and by - alienated voices appear and then they are back on the jam once more. It's the second song which is faded out by the way. The somewhat balladesque Keep The Third Eye Open comes as the first one to get out of the range - feeding into the avantgarde realm for what the band is known for. Most of the instruments are looping along which serves a special hypnotic mood and only the synths are varying. Surgical Procedures on the Ship is completely dominated by Grant Richter's electronical skills and even the trippy Using Enemy Weapons works without any guitar accompaniment ... no not correct in the end. For the last minute a guitar solo finishs the on electronics reduced excursion so far to switch over into a somewhat oriental raga part with sitar and percussion.

Prelude To The Afternoon Of A Daisy Cutter will probably stir nearly every krautrock fan's blood. Here we have another trippy track with some industrial sounding electronics and fuzzy guitars based on a blues theme. The regular album released by the Canadian Submergence label now ends as it begins - the title track is another long spacey improvisation but this time without drums and much more way-out ambient hallucinatory. The Strange Attractors release from 2006 contains one bonus track offered by another line-up featuring John Helweg and Rick Drake. The Hot Shop is a fine groovy addition played with a genuine bass and excellent guitars in a somewhat happy optimistic mood.

'A Question For The Somnambulist' is a highly recommended album when you have a preference for acid space and krautrock. If you feel comfortable with a repetitive song structure and a proper portion of electronics you are right here then as for that matter.