BRIDGES OF THE OLD FISHINGMINE

There's really no better place to experience psychedelic music than in a lie setting. If that fails, then a recorded performance should suffice, at least in the case of these Belgian spacemen. Although it may be less than ideal for me to be introduced to the music of Quantum Fantay through a live album, 'Bridges of the Old Fishingmine' is a strong manifest of what the band is all about. Upbeat rhythms fuse with explosive leads and quasi-metal riffs plant Quantum Fantay on the heavier side of the space rock spectrum. Their style may not feel original, but they execute it with excellence.

The one band that comes to mind when listening to Quantum Fantay is the quintessential space-jam rock band, Ozric Tentacles. In many ways, it feels as if Fantay picks up where the Ozrics left off, circa their 'Jurassic Shift' opus, and before they ventured into more dub- oriented territory. Luckily, Ozric Tentacles happen to be my favourite space band, so despite my usual apprehension against bands that sound too much like another, I do not find myself yearning for these guys to 'go their own way'. The lack of an 'original' sound aside, 'Bridges of the Old Fishingmine' demonstrates this band's fantastic skill and talent for playing this sort of music. Whether they are playing a laid back 'world music' interlude or a fast-paced rock theme, the performance is tight, especially considering that 'Fishingmine' presents the band in a live context.

As a live album, 'Bridges of the Old Fishingmine' is an oddity. On top of the anticipation of hearing a band do something 'new' with their compositions, I often associate live albums to hearing applause before and after a song begins. 'Fishingmine' has very little in the way of audience interaction, instead focusing on the music itself. The instruments are very well mixed, often to the point where I would not have blinked twice under the impression that I was hearing a studio recording. Pete Mush's keyboard work is performed and produced excellently; the recording manages to pick up all the nuances of his sequencers, as well as some of the more blistering 'solo' work that pops up.

I feel that Quantum Fantay are a little too comfortable to rest on Ozric Tentacles, and while not quite as mind-bending as the sounds they emulate, there's no doubt that Quantum Fantay have plenty going for them. Strong production, tight performance, and some surprisingly memorable melodies make 'Bridges of the Old Fishingmine' a worthy recommendation.

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