HOMO FRACTALIENS

There's a lot pointing to a cosmic background here, isn't it? At first glance. No doubts, the concept appears to be quite obvious, not really something new to the table. But COSMIC TRIGGERS are carrying out an advised plan, are doing well with that anyhow. I mean producing six trippy hypnotic space rock tunes for their debut, this garnered with some proper native ethnic touch as well as kosmische musik leanings. The album title suggests a play of words. Food for thought most certainly. And furthermore, according to the cover art, the band members are probably picking up the theory that humans do not come from earth, that mankind has its origin in aliens.

Hence, just like arriving from outer space or the ether, Anastasia Skabelkina for example will recitate 'We are all fractals of ourselves, we were created to create, so do it' on the album's title track. Life, the whole universe, eternally destroying and reproducing itself. Musically this is provided with a relaxed repetitive flow, implemented by the rhythm branch composed of Russel Petrov and Tagir Khisamov. Finally this leads into a dub feel with a lively synthesizer appearance as well as two guitars, one soloing, the other supporting the rhythm task. But not to forget, there's still some really delicate guitar work to notice on the opener Introduction beforehand.

Then based on didgeridoo, flute and minimalistic drums the shamanic Undermind is somehow crawling through the Russian steppe, accompanied by a rather delirious mood. The also intriguing Quant Um shows them more on uptempo groovy krautrock paths close to Can, Neu!, Amon Düül 2. Recommended! Based on an inspired execution and an accurate production (Eroc involved concerning the mix again) this is a versatile space rock album which makes a lot of fun. I would say on the same level with the likes of Polska Radio One, Ciolkowska, Sonora, Ole Lukkoye and similar.

Wonderful space/psychedelia from Russia. Many times listening to this album I am reminded of early BRAINTICKET or even the mellower side of GONG and definitely mirroring the work of American band MIDDAY VEIL.

Tracklist: 1. "Introduction" (3:31) a slow introduction into space with the sexy voice of Anastasia Skabelkina reciting poetic verse to us through a effects box. (8.5/10)

2. "Homo Fractaliens" (7:16) a more upbeat, driving piece of kosmische musik over which Anastasia gives us her best CAROLE MUIR impression. Then the song turns almost SpaceReggae! Not VESPERO, but freaky close! The guitar work is more like West Coast psychedelia. (9/10)

3. "Undermind" (9:32) droning sounds, notes, chords, float in and out of the soundscape with didgeridoo-like and Middle Eastern reed pipe sounds (Vladimir Skabelkin's "ethnic" instruments?) appearing and traipsing in and out over the first four minutes. This is awesome! I'm in Tibetan (or Egyptian?) heaven! Rhythmic, tribal drums pulse their way into the fabric and we are approaching hypnotic bliss! By the seven minute mark it almost seems as if the song is beginning it's fade--soundscape simplifying and emptying, as if the shamanic journeyman is walking away, walking out of town, leaving the rest of us to carry on, carry forward the healing bliss they shaman brought us. Wonderful song! (10/10)

4. "Syndicate" (9:05) a great groove over which the "wrong" guitar effect and Ray Manzarek organ weave their gentle soli for the opening four minutes. Anastasia's dreamy, trippy vocalise are in the vein of the Gilli Smyth school of psychedelic vocals. Very much like the current American band MIDDAY VEIL. (8.5/10)

5. "Quant Um" (4:20) and the MIDDAY VEIL party continues! Nice groove (part U2 "Boomerang," part PROPAGANDA/Trevor Horn); nice, tight weave among all of the instrumentalists. (10/10)

6. "Shutsuryoku" (6:13) monotonous bass and organ and lack of drums hold this song back from ever properly taking off. It's like it's stuck in Bar-do. (7.5/10)

A band with a lot of promise. Though Cosmic Triggers have put together a wonderful album, I can see lots of room for growth.

Four stars; a wonderful display of spacey progressive rock music. A short album but enough. Like a GONG album.

COSMIC TRIGGERS are a young new band out of Russia playing homage it would seem to Krautrock especially and Psychedelia. I was surprised how often I thought of some of the classic underground bands out of Germany from the late 60's to the early 70's. AMON DUUL II, CAN, BRAINTICKET and more. We get English vocals from the only female who also contributes with analog synths. There are ethnic instruments as well although they aren't listed specifically. They are a five piece band. Interesting to me that it was mastered by Eroc who knows a little about Krautrock.

"Introduction" gets us started with this slow moving piece that is mellow with percussion, bass and guitar. There's some cool sampled transmissions from space that will come and go as well. "Homo Fractaliens" has some energy as guitar and drums standout with female vocals. This sounds a lot like BRAINTICKET to my ears. A good uptempo track that's mostly instrumental.

"Undermind" has these spacey experimental sounds to start. This is interesting as sounds drift and drone. An ethnic instrument arrives after 2 minutes sounding abrasive as it comes and goes. "Syndicate" is such a great sounding tune with spacey guitar melodies and plenty of other sounds too. The female vocals melodies after 4 minutes really add to the enjoyment.

"Quant Um" is a little lighter and mid-paced with vocal melodies, keyboards, synths, drums and bass. It's very repetitive but excellent. "Shutsuryoku" is 4:20 in length not so surprisingly. Man this really brings CAN to mind, especially the drumming and groove. Female vocals before 1 1/2 minutes and keys will join in as well after the vocals stop.

What an enjoyable slice of psychedelia this is and I especially love the Krautrock references. And at 40 minutes this is just right. A very solid 4 star album.