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Sh'mantra - Formula Orange CD (album) cover

FORMULA ORANGE

Sh'mantra

 

Psychedelic/Space Rock

3.75 | 8 ratings

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Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer
4 stars This is Psychedelic music at it's best. These Australians really impressed me with this double album released in 2003. Lots of melancholic and spacey soundscapes contrasted with outbursts of pounding drums and fiery guitar. These guys can play but they also have some great ideas, and yes PINK FLOYD did come to mind several times. Oh I should mention they thank Greg Dixon "for instrumentation, inspiration and turd polishing".

"Kiuti" opens with these loud hums that come and go with a spacey backdrop. A vocal sample from "Mission Control" follows before the main melody comes in. This sounds so good with the thick atmophere floating powerfully in the background while a guitar line is repeated. Drums 3 1/2 minutes in. It kicks into gear after 5 minutes. This is great ! It turns experimental then spacey. Drums are back to the fore 7 1/2 minutes in as it builds. Here we go ! It then settles with vocals before 10 minutes. "Robots On The Beach" opens with bass and then percussion joins in. Guitar then almost whispered vocals follow. I like this. Drums before 4 minutes. Nice. Heaviness follows. Amazing ! "Pit And The Pendulum" opens with laid back guitar. Drums and a spacey soundscape before 1 1/2 minutes.This is FLOYD-like and it building. Vocals after 2 minutes as it settles. Love his vocals (reminds me of ANEKDOTEN) and the way this sounds.The tempo picks up 8 minutes in then it fades out. Great tune and one of my favourites. "74040S167.20E04:46:18" opens with slowly picked guitar as synths ping then this hum comes in. Spacey winds after 8 minutes.This is a trip. "Sweat Of The Sun,Tears Of The Moon" opens with strummed guitar as a second guitar comes in then drums. Good song. "<~~>" is 5 seconds of noise. "Sunburst On The Cayman Trench" opens with gentle guitar before a darker sound with drums takes over. It's building. Spoken word samples before 4 minutes. Electric guitar after 5 minutes as it kicks into gear.

"Absence_Substance_Quantity_Quality_Relation_Action_Affection_Position_Time_Lo cation_Condition_Place and State_Presence" is a long song title. Guitar feedback as vocal samples come in and FLOYD-like synths that come and go. Drums and a change after 2 minutes. Love it ! It kicks in heavily before 4 minutes then the guitar starts to solo 2 minutes later. It turns spacey 9 minutes in.Drums are back.FLOYD-like organ after 11 1/2 minutes. What a song ! If I was rating disc one alone I would seriously consider 5 stars. Disc 2 begins with "Recurring Nocturnal Habit II" a shortish song that opens with some cool bass before the guitar joins in. Keyboards too as it builds. A TANGERINE DREAM vibe here. "Inanimate Articulate" is all about the beat; bass joins in then a guitar line.The guitar starts to make some noise then it settles again. Contrasts continue. "TWS" is the almost 25 minute closer. This is spacey. Drums before 3 minutes as guitar comes in too. A calm with electronics 5 minutes in. Piano comes and goes starting around 8 1/2 minutes. Eerie sounds also come and go as well. Guitar and drums lead the way 19 1/2 minutes in as the sound changes.This is killer ! The guitar is excellent. Vocals before 22 minutes. What a way to end it !

A must for all you space cadets out there. I'm really impressed. Easily 4 stars.

Mellotron Storm | 4/5 |

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