ANDALIB SUKUT (FABLE D'OMERTA BUCCO)

'Andalib Sukut' was announced as the first part of a trilogy in 2007 and I'm wondering now what follows after getting into it. This is a very impressing start by THE URSULA MINOR which is headed by two brothers and their cousin and therefore can be titled as a family band in the widest sense. Musically and technically skillfull with some pointers to THE MARS VOLTA not only because of Sami Aloulou's voice and style. The basis is psychedelic/space though and Ali Aloulou is responsible for that first with his excellent guitar work. The band offers some common genre stuff with jam character but more eclectic elements sometimes with an avantgarde attitude as well as jazzy rocking or canterbury infected sections. This debut is one song in fact which is devided in six parts. Someone might say 30 minutes are not really enough to give a useful judgement - veto - it depends!

The ambient Triolism makes the kick-off. Several samples and a guitar with lots of echoes are serving a cosmic mood. Very sentimental I can say - later followed by vocals, some piano snippets and last but not least a droning synth part. That makes curious anyhow. And suddenly the band shows power and strength. Silentium Post Clamores is dominated by a compelling groove additionally spiked with trumpet, saxophone and organ fading into the long track Bribes. Beginning with nice north african percussion this is really working as a spaced out jam further on. The instruments are meandering and fluttering around each other and it all ends in a furious weird finale - fantastic!

It's hardly possible to overtop the first twenty minutes now further on. The intensive Embryoglio and Elephante Culte with wonderful organ are showing a more jazz rock respectively canterbury touch whereas Msiloirt rounds the album up with a fairground organ melody.

'Andalib Sukut' comes relatively short but as a substantial introduction and THE URSULA MINOR is partially acting like a Mars Volta light version (this is meant as a compliment!). Psych/space lovers will also be satisfied when they are open for a more eclectic style and have nothing against the excessive use of brass instruments.