TOTEM ONE

This stuff will guide you into a special trance mood - in the case that you really take your time. Ideally you put the headphones on, relax and open up your mind when listening. MASTER MUSICIANS OF BUKKAKE have created a new age drug here, still legal yet, but who knows ... Probably it makes addicted, but I couldn't detect side effects so far. This album sounds as if they've been to the most isolated regions of Indonesia for a year or so and then came back deeply inspired by Gamelan and diverse ritual dances demonstrated by native inhabitants.

This does not mean you should expect tracks reduced on ethno/world impressions alone. This is all decorated with many synthesizer goodies and electric respectively acoustic guitars here and there, which turns it all to a modern outfit. I recommend to listen in one go anyway. They offer a dark mooded, maybe even slightly creepy start with multiple chimes, tribal percussion/drums, subtle spacey synth patterns - a preview of the mantra-like, hypnotic album content which will wrap you up if you're in the right mood - promised.

Don't know what equipment they used in particular. Later they add more hallucinatory coloured oriental impressions, Saz and as for the flute it sounds like Nay or Nagasvaram. Guitar drones are leading over to People Of The Drifting Houses with vocals by Alan Bishop from the 'Sun City Girls', a band which was specialized on gigs with a mystic performance art including weird costumes and make-up in the same way. Schism Prism is a killer track which contains a halting repetitive (Turkish?) dance rhythm. Coming towards the end it all loses structure, glides into a weird cosmic flow and then leads into a fantastic furious finale - wow!

And then the wonderfully charming Cascade Cathedral gives you time to relax afterwards featuring flute and acoustic guitars. It took some time for me to make friends with 'Totem One' - in some way similar to Dragontears as for the trancey behaviour, but surely more out of touch with things. Additionally I would count the Russian band Kalutaliksuak when it comes to a comparison. The ethno flavour they present appears surprisingly authentic. This album deserves some appreciation due to the courageous approach ... so much the more because it's successful in the end.