SARASWATHI-LOUNGE ... NO ONE FLIES AROUND THE SUN (PINK FLOYD)

German artist couple Edda B. Lang and Werner Osterrieder now have fullfilled their passion to record an album containing private interpretations of PINK FLOYD songs. Both are influenced by the band for a longer time and this matching preference was obvious soon when they eventually met. Osterrieder is also known for his collaboration with the psychedelic band BACKSTREET ROMEOS. This group produced the album 'Flight To Metaluna' in 1997 which can be seen as an insiders' tip where he's playing moog, diverse guitars and especially arranges the album's oriental components.

So they both began to start their project SARASWATHI-LOUNGE and composed ethno/trance songs with the preference on indo/raga coupled with modern electronic beats. The debut album 'Aarti' was released in 2007. The wish and idea to play PINK FLOYD music grew alongside what they implemented for their live performances more and more. In 2008 multi-instrumentalists Lang and Osterrieder started to record songs for this album which was planned as a single compact disc first but finally reached for a playing time of 160 minutes. Besides some other tracks especially the two albums 'The Dark Side Of The Moon' and 'Wish You Were Here' are completely reinterpreted.

As for the main differences to the originals (they never had the approach to simply cover the music) you will detect a more folksy orientation here and there based on acoustic guitars, Edda Lang's female vocals and oriental exotic sounds coming from the sitar for example. Osterrieder's guitar contributions are gentle here, rocking there and even experimental psychedelic. To mention one aspect he's playing the Sahi Baja, sounding like a synergy of electric guitar and zither. Both musicians are caring for the keyboard/synthesizer elements which are often getting near to the originals with Mini Moog and Solina String by the way. And then bass player Freddi Rösler should be mentioned of course who completes the line-up for some recordings.

Their homage starts - or better to say is embraced - by the eponymous title song of 'A Saucerful Of Secrets', directly pointing to PF's space rock roots. This is followed by the mysterious interlude Basket Case until they finally turn into the whole 'Dark Side Of The Moon' suite. Speak to me holds the electronic beat compared to the original but is also provided with crazy laughs and spoken words by narrator Garry Joynson. The transition into Breathe is perfectly adapted and then the wellknown melody is taking you away for an acoustic interpretation with female vocals and saxophone. The following title Off For Fun is not part of my DSOTM listing but 'On the run'. Never mind - a spacey piece which is excellently performed based on guitars and the bass who offers some hints to the original.

It's a great challenge to interpret Clare Torry's wonderful voice from The Great Gig In The Sky. Edda Lang avoids the slightly hysterical touch and appears a bit more relaxed here. The funny Money holds a special funky groove forced by Rösler's bass and loses its mainstream innocence because of Osterrieder's psychedelic guitar contributions. Great one! Any Colour you like should be mentioned provided with a jazzy note but also being the starting point for the use of eastern oriental instruments and the emphasis on a folksy mood furthermore. High Hopes is getting out of the range a little bit because coming from the 90's album 'Division Bell' and No Way Out Of Here is only used for Gilmour's solo experiences what I know.

The second CD is overshadowed by the album 'Wish You Where Here' but starts with a convincing extended version of Echoes as long and spacey as offered on 'Meddle'. Osterrieder reaches the peak here as for the electric guitar work. The first part of Shine On You Crazy Diamond sounds more melancholic as the original to me. The cheerful spacey Welcome To The Machine is enlarged to ten minutes. Dirge Of The Last Ministrel surprisingly breaks up the 'Wish You Were Here' suite and expresses their sense of humour with funny mixed up speech recordings underlaid with weird noise samples. The second part of 'Shine on you ...' (here devided in four sections once more) is worked out with a nice groove partially and oriental flavoured showing the Sahi Baja in action really. Eclectic crimsonesque guitars plus samples are also interspersed - this is really fascinating!

SARASWATHI-LOUNGE offer a quite personal interior view when reflecting their passion. The songs are adapted for listeners who are open-minded enough to leave the common Pink Floyd paths and like to explore new versions of their favourite songs. This is courageous - at least concerning the commercial aspect. However - '... No One Flies Around The Sun' is made up very professional, musically skilled. It takes time to explore this cornucopia of impressions and I'm sure you will always detect something new when starting another spin. A blend of psychedelic/space rock and folk/indo/raga elements, as for some original mainstream tendencies even cleaned up. Cosmic/futuristic images are decorating the art work made with passion for detail. Recommended - 4 stars really!