SPACE BETWEEN THE DROPS

SKY CRIES MARY are driven by US couple Anisa and Roderick Romero. Formed in the late 1980s they work out ethereal dreamy (rock) songs often provided with exceptional vocal harmonies. Before I got this album the band was unknown to me - a new surprise quasi. While the Romeros are responsible for songwriting, lyrics and vocals they have excellent musicians alongside. 'Space Between The Drops' is a new compilation including their most spacey/trancy output so far - eleven tracks, predominantly already published material, but some songs are even new.

Starting with Cornerman they immediately catch you with an intriguing hypnotic behaviour. Interesting delayed drums are striking and a stoic bass which rarely gets out of control. Triphop adapted tricky effects, above all male/female vocals and guitars which are lost in reverie. The Elephant Song is puzzling because up-tempo and ponderous at once where Rain convinces with top-notch keyboard work speaking of decent organ, synth and sparkling piano.

The album's gem is Four AM - a 15 minute trippy cosmic example. It all starts similar to a typical soundcheck of a space rock band when opening the performance. Ambient keyboard patterns are initiating and after a while it all fades into a relaxed flow which I really like. Anisa's extraterrestrial vocals give me the shivers really, supported by a sensitive guitar work, obviously inspired by Pink Floyd. Okay, this is applicable for nearly every second album in the meanwhile. But this time they really make it, believe me.

Then I should mention the extended version of Want - initiated by a nice percussion drive - another worthy candidate for the album's crown comprising a cool bass. This is so melancholic and catchy - but dramatic pure as well! Gliding follows as an example for a mainstream psych folk orientation and Missing finally appears with two differing sections - the first wraps you up in a charming dreamy mood supported by trumpet and the second is folksy with acoustic guitar and accordion.

This album features wonderful melodic songs, hand-picked from their comprehensive ouput, provided with excellent musicanship and passion for detail. It's the trippy atmosphere headed by charming vocals and a bunch of psychedelic guitars which strikes. So it could be easily considered as a best-of compilation if you ask me. Would really like to know how this works on a stage. Another big hit offered by TRAIL Records. Suitable for special laid-back moments you definitely need in your life ... and which not necessarily must be proggy the whole way through.

A really nice and at times stunning compilation of tracks from the long career of this US band.

Sophisticated, dreamy compositions is the name of the game for this ensemble seemingly, with drawn out psychedelic tinged guitar licks and soloing as something of a key feature alongside the dual male/female lead vocals.

Rhythms are either subdued and meditative like the rest of the compositions or more energetic, the latter often with world music touches, and symphonic backdrops are used to good effect on select occasions.

While the musical canvas the band explores is a somewhat limited one, at least on this compilation, there's a high degree of sophistication to their dreamy excursions, and on tracks like opener Cornerman and the following Elephant Song the end result are stunning creations, managing to utilize subtle sophisticated features to perfection to create intriguing songs as well as interesting moods and strong atmospheres.

Those who enjoy the dreamier parts of the back catalogues of acts such as Hawkwind and Pink Floyd should investigate this outfit, if they haven't already.