10 TO THE POWER OF 9

Haunting. This is the dark, strange, rough, raw side of space. LPD says that they "will subject you to depraved but memorable rituals", and this is a perfect description of their sound and style. This is a bleak, dour, odd collection of chants, rituals, and avant garde experiments that don't always feel like they are of space rock, even though they most certainly are. This chills, but at the same time draws in inexorably. "Open Season" is one of the best tracks, and an excellent example of the style. Drums lead, various chants drone in and out, unexpected sounds arrive at times. It feels like the coldest night is making itself at home in your head and your heart. Without drums, the album would be nothing, but they are the best part of a brilliantly composed and performed record. Perfect, and a great companion piece to the works of Univers Zero, Art Zoyd, X-TG, and the darker releases of Bass Communion.

Core members Edward Ka-Spel und Phil Knight are representing the LEGENDARY PINK DOTS first and foremost. They are from the United Kingdom, originally constituted the band, or project if you will, over there - however meanwhile having settled down in the Netherlands. Their musical legacy, since the early 1980's up to now, is comprised of a huge amount of albums, which in general deliver experimental, avantgarde oriented psychedelic/space/kraut stuff. Now it was about time, '10 To The Power Of 9' - released on Italian label Rustblade Records - is my first attempt to review one of their recordings.

This album appears in three incarnations so to say. There's a standard compact disc and vinyl release given with differing tracks, and additionally a CD deluxe version which includes another second disc. Who might expect rock music as such should be on the watch here, as the tracks are featuring more dark ambient and trancendental soundscapes all the way through. Well, what is required to get in touch? An open-minded approach as it is not easy getting access to. The tracks definitely need time and concentration, you should be in a good mood also, preferably have your headphones at hand ...

... and then the PINK DOTS - who are truly legendary in the meanwhile - will send you on a gripping trip which is spiritual, weird, beautiful ... eh, different at all events. Synths, minimalistic halting beats, guitars and Kaspels characteristic voice, that is needed to produce such a cinematic exploration when it comes to the ingredients. Just in order to name some extraordinary examples, the short new wave infected Your Humble Servant is nested by two amazing spacey trips named Primordial Soup and Freak Flag featuring synth loops, soaring guitars managed by Erik Drost. This is effectively designed overall, here and there reminds me of David Sylvian.

While taking more than 17 minutes the broadly conceived The Elevator is finally closing this new LPD chapter. When listening to this I felt like being on sight and insight, relaxed without having fear at all, buried in a capsule spinning around traversing outer space with ease, offering a fantastic view on spiral galaxies aso, plus extraterrestrial voices repectively sounds coming from the aether. Wow, they obviously know how to give us space cadets a treat. So here we have an album with easy-going chill though not simple-minded approach at all, assuming a lot of experience to make it in this successful way.