DEEP SPACE

This album has touched the deep space in my soul... this is yet another album that is hard to place in one single genre for it has fluidly encompassed several (classic prog, psychedelia, electronica, hard rock and metal) and merged them together creating a sound that is unique and fantastic.

Chris Gill is the lead guitarist/founder member/writer for Band of Rain. According to him the album is about space - room to move - and that is one thing he has managed to do. He has created a sense of space for the listener - space in which one can move to get in touch with oneself. He has also created space for himself - to move without boundaries and limitations. For those who loved Hawkwind's Doremi Fasol Latido and Space Ritual this album is a must have.

This record's title describes the music far better than its somewhat pedestrian, terrestrial cover art does. It is indeed deeply spacey. By definition, space music is a series of textures and wide sonic landscapes, ethereal and without substance, often without rhythm or melody or conventionally sung vocal components, leading to a floating ambient sense of consciousness. It's easy to imagine space music in movie soundtracks - and you've probably heard a lot of space music in that context. On its own, it sometimes challenges the patience, which probably explains why the genre has a somewhat specialized audience. Think Ozrics and Hawkwind. That space music definition describes many of the elements on Band Of Rain's debut CD, but fortunately for most of us, many sections on most tracks rescue Deep Space from being too spaced out. With occasional singing, nice guitar work and good bass lines, it's a tad more approachable than most space music. There's plenty of electronica here, but the band injects enough analog components to give it character. Despite an insistent percussion, "Casanova Of The Cliff Dwellers" is 4 minutes of repeated soft electronic lines, an interesting but repetitive guitar riff, then on to more electronica with a repeated piano motif and a series of odd effects, all far back in the mix. Yet the very next song has a pleasing dual guitar line that rescues the record it from the formless waffle that is the trap of so much space music. The first 3 minutes of "Last Wave Goodbye" features a British maritime weather and conditions report laid over formless ambient music, and the rest of the track follows that stream-of-consciousness kind of sound that goes through various changes but never really develops into anything stronger. There are places in the record where it seems you can actually hear the start and end of the loop, and the programmed percussion might frighten some listeners off. "Cloudburst" is the standout track here, going through several clearly defined sections with well managed tempo changes, a good 'groove' and an underlying theme that guides the piece through its full 4 minutes. "War and Peace" is quite fun as well, with control of the song alternating between war effects played over crunchy power chords and blazing lead guitar, and an elegantly peaceful motif. Rather progressive, somewhat spacey. There is singing on four of the tracks, with the voices being soft and relaxed and somewhat folksy. Songwriter and founding member Chris Gill claims influences from '60s psychedelia and '70s prog, and given the style of this music it's no surprise that he confesses that his favorite bands are Gong and Ozric Tentacles. Band Of Rain has completed their second CD, and we already have a copy for review. Early indications are very favorable, so watch this space...

BAND OF RAIN began as the one man project of Chris Gill from England. There's quite the story about him in the bio here and the man continues to release albums as he has eight so far including his most recent from 2021. "Deep Space" is his debut from 2004 and here is a guy who takes pride in his album covers. Thankyou!

Chris began as a bass player before turning to guitar then after getting into a car accident and having both hands broken he turned to synths. So the man can play all these instruments very well but it's the drums that are lacking here but not enough for me to not give this 4 stars. I just love the sound here. So much depth, layers of sound which I like and we do get some guest vocals but like most psychedelia he sort of mumbles along(haha). Guest flute as well on one track otherwise this is all Chris and what a job he did. I'm not normally into the "do it your self" musicians stuff but we have a winner here.

This is a long one at just under 69 minutes and we get 13 tracks and I have a top five to talk about. There are no weak tracks by the way or songs that make me cringe even a little bit thankfully. The opener "Cloudburst" sets the tone and although it's just outside of my top five I need to mention it. I dig those contrasts where we get this spacey sound which is overwelmed by some heaviness led by the guitar. "War And Peace" with those deep bass lines, keys and riffs really get me going especially how surprisingly heavy it is 4 minutes in. Oh my!

"Criggion" is so spacey with beats coming half way through. The title track has some cool contrasts and lots of synths. Powerful at times and the guitar makes some noise 1 1/2 minutes in. The final two songs "Castle Walls" and "Svengali" round out my top five. The closer is so uplifting to start as vocal melodies join in. I noticed Chris has an album called Svengali so he clearly is influenced by him and a fan.

Well I'm a fan of BAND OF RAIN even if this is the only record I have by them. It's been a fun week listening to this one, it's all about that spacey and drifting sound with those guitar leads and the depth of sound as well. Great album! I can't believe Chris played with Lol Coxhill and his band back in the day.