THE QUINTESSENTIAL

In the beginning of this record, divine duo guitar drones quietly start announcing the quintessential song cycle by Tia Carrera. The opening mantra leads to massive presence of "The Unnamed Wholeness", first shimmering in a raw electronic wall of sounds, then starting to roll euphorically to vast pacific reaches of psychedelic seas. Sacred vibrations flow powerfully and in convincing manner, players communicating in focused and valid way for the listener's enjoyment. The influence of Jimi Hendrix and Cream is audible in the crying solo parts. The heavy riff manners of stoner rock style are not present very much, allowing the jams evolve to more vintage-oriented directions, yet staying in a heavy rock context. Calmer sequences bring also space and contrasts to this pleasant voyaging in realms of imagination, deepening the hypnotic surge of sound, finding the core source of my fascination for this group. From other tracks, "Gypsies" delivers a shorter wahwah riff-killer, and "New Orleans" starts as a very down tempo bluesy wanderings in dark alleys, later elevating to bit more grandiose heights in in guitar driven spheres. "Hazy Winter" ends the album to folksy moods with acoustic guitar, blurred vocals and uplifted feeling.

There is much improvement to the 2006 record due presence of more interesting tonal elements in the jams. Also the psychedelic qualities are more powerfully implemented to the sound with oriental scales, longer focusing to spontaneous playing, and more sacred feeling in the lengthily rolling spiritual stoner rock tracks. Very fine music, and recommended for anybody interested of raw vintage oriented acid rock.