TERRAGAIA

Belgian band QUANTUM FANTAY was formed back in 2004 by Pete Mush and Jaro, and was fairly soon expanded into a proper band project. They released their debut album in 2005, and since then two live albums and an additional four full length studio productions have seen the light of day. "Terragaia" is the most recent of the latter, and was released through Progressive Promotion Records in 2014.

More or less exotic folk music details blended into a setting with driving bass, energetic rhythms and liberal use of keyboards and cosmic effects is the name of the game for Quantum Fantay. They do have their calmer and mellower passages of course, and also venture into more distinct neo progressive oriented landscapes at times, but by and large they explore just about the same universe as the veteran UK band Ozric Tentacles: Energetic space rock, of the kind that you can dance too. Recommended to fans of the Ozrics and other bands of a similar nature.

A race around the world, a detour to the ancient East and a trip to deep outer space pretty much sums up spacerockers Quantum Fantay's approach perfectly! The band take ideas and themes similar to bands such as the Ozric Tentacles, Hidria Spacefolk and even a dash of Hawkwind, but add plenty of their own individuality, mostly in the form of frequently up-tempo melodies, more typical progressive rock styled epic guitar soloing and little surprising moments of crisp Neo-prog styled keyboard sheen and sophistication. Their fifth album `Terragaia' may not set out to reinvent the sub-genre, but you'll hopefully be enjoying the all instrumental sounds too much to notice!

Opener `Journey to Earth' offers some creeping, maddening alien menace that perfectly compliments the moody cover artwork, as oceans of ambient synths, ferocious drumming, aggressive bass, glistening flute breezes, chiming reggae guitars and dub beats with heavy guitar blast attack the listener. Some lighter sounds drifts through `Azu Kene...', playful electric guitar licks dance around percolating emulated marimba Pierre Moerlin's Gong-like sounds, then the ancient world meets modern electronics in the dazzling and relentless `Desert Rush', all rippling synth bubbles and whirling dervish manic electric guitar riffing. `Aargh' is a Moog/synth driven Celtic jig that darts back and forth in tempo, only sadly let down by lack of a real ending. There's lots of tension and perfectly executed builds in the ancient eastern drama that pervades `Instant Karma', with droning tablas, hypnotic female chants, sitar and some delirious nimble acoustic guitar runs.

Unsurprisingly, Oriental themes race through the plucky `Chopsticks an Gongs', mysterious koto and tranquil flute twisting between heavy searing electric guitars, loopy synth spirals and murmuring bass that glides like fluid. `Indiegofera' is more meditative and ambient, droning didgeridoo and deep throated tribal groans with some very subtle groovy mellow electronics.`Yah Roste Fooroap' is a nice slow-burn reggae/dub piece mixed with German band Eloy's weeping lost- in-space `Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes'-era styled synths. Outer space goes Wild West in `Cowdians' , harmonica and banjo duelling it out with inspired electric guitar soloing in the slightly cheesy first half, but the dance beats, glistening tip-toeing electric piano run and a soothing Camel- like flute outro save it. `Journey From Earth' closes the album more in a symphonic prog manner, several lush and grandiose synth and keyboard themes that alternate between stirring and frantic to blast us back into space once more.

Some will likely feel Quantum Fantay are not offering the most original take on the spacerock style, but the album is still a perfectly enjoyable and well-performed work. `Terragaia' offers listeners ten tracks of colourful, atmospheric and carefully composed psychedelic/space rock with endless instrumental thrills that always remains melodic, lively and instantly pleasing to the ear.

Four stars.

By the time I came across this Belgian band they had already released four studio and two live albums prior to 'Terragaia', which came out in 2014. I was a little surprised that they managed to escape my attention for so long as these guys have been heavily influenced by one genre in particular, and one band especially, the mighty Ozric Tentacles. Given just how long the Ozrics have been around, perhaps it is surprising that there aren't more bands that have decided to create their own version of a sound which is instantly recognisable. They aren't mere copyists though, and have brought in some more ethnic and folk elements, particularly on songs such as "Azu Kénè Dékè Lepé" which contains some wonderful tribal drumming combining with clear guitar lines.

There is an energy and passion contained within the music, and the listener is soon transported into a magical world where woodwind, keyboards, guitars and drums combine to create something that is very special indeed