SYMBIOSIS
Hidria Spacefolk
•Psychedelic/Space Rock
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Studio Album, released in 2002 Songs / Tracks Listing 1. Terra Hidria (7:03) - Sami Wirkkala / electric, acoustic & Midi guitars, mandolin, sitar, jawharp, synthesizer
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HIDRIA SPACEFOLK Symbiosis ratings distribution
(109 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(27%)
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(50%)
Good, but non-essential (21%)
Collectors/fans only (3%)
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
HIDRIA SPACEFOLK Symbiosis reviews
Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings
Collaborators/Experts Reviews
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog Folk Researcher

In fact, that band may have been an influence on Hidria Spacefolk, and Ozric Tentacles certainly were, plus possibly some early Gong and even a bit of early Santana on the guitars and keyboards. The sound is a hypnotic mix of space rock, acid rhythms, lots of sound effects (including bird-like chirping all over the place – a didgeridoo?) and percussion, and a strong middle-eastern feel with liberal sprinklings of mandolin, jawsharp, flute, and of course the ubiquitous sitar, although this instrument seems to fade from the mix on the almost funk-riffs of “Kaneh Bosm”.
The flute is especially strong and up-tempo on “Kaikados” and “Nasha Universo”, which has some very spacey synthesizer and melodic guitar riffs with marimba that is quite reminiscent of Santana and even some very early Journey (pre-Steve Perry of course). Most of the album is instrumental, and this is one of those rare occasions where I don’t really miss a vocalist.
Pretty much the entire album is very up-tempo with driving rhythms and plenty of strong percussion. “Jahwarp” is full of jawharp and vibraphone, very delicate without sounding trite. The piano is almost jazzy, but strident enough to keep you from getting too comfortable or bored.
Just when I’m starting to get pretty comfortable with the overall sound of the album, “Agents Entropos” comes along with pretty much the same rhythm as “Jahwarp”, but with a much more hypnotic guitar riff and some heavy space-rock synthesizer that turns into a kind of electronic storm before fading out.
“I-Mantra” is totally hypnotic space-funk, with a slowly building bass line that morphs into a pulsating beat overlaid with a series of instrumental variations with guitar, synthesizer riffs, all manner of percussion, and a vibrato fadeout that leads into the final and most extensive track, “Pangaia”. The liner notes show credits for violin and cellos, and this is actually the only track since the opening one where I can actually make them out from time to time, although certainly not in the flowing, extended way you typically hear these instruments on progressive or metal albums. They’re used more to augment the percussion, with brief snippets in between the keyboard sounds. By the time this one winds down after more than ten minutes, I feel like I’ve been on a short journey through the cosmos, and I haven’t even been smoking anything! A very seductive instrumental with plenty of variety to keep it interesting.
This isn’t the kind of album you’re likely to play all the time, and it definitely is meant for some very specific moods, some of which probably involve alternate mental states. But overall it’s a fun album to listen to, especially if you’re looking for a record that doesn’t dominate the mood, but rather helps to gently form it into a casual evening of relaxation and no worries. I have to say that this is just above good, but probably not an essential album, so four stars is a good place to rate it. Well worth picking up if you’re into space rock, heavily percussive music, or just some up-beat, lightly psychedelic sounds to brighten up a dull day.
peace
PROG REVIEWER

PROG REVIEWER

PROG REVIEWER

Things get started with "Terra Hidria" opening with an atmospheric guitar melody that slowly builds until 2 1/2 minutes in as drums and a vocal melody from Sabrina come in. I really love the sound here as flute and synths come in, and mandolin later in the song. "Reversion" is a short haunting and spooky soundscape. "Kaneh Bosm" is an upbeat tune with synths, sitar and some fantastic drumming. "Kaikados" opens with the rain coming down with synths and guitar as thunder rolls in. This is another uptempo ride in space as the stars whiz by. The guitars are great and check it out 4 minutes in. Vibraphone enters the song before it ends with the birds singing.
"Nasha Universo" has a very catchy melody. The guitar is beautiful and although they're not quite soaring, I am, these guys are so good ! The flute and drumming is amazing. "Jawharp" opens with the birds singing and vibraphone, drums, guitar, bubbling synths, piano and cello are all part of the mix. The melody speeds up on this fantastic tune. "Agents Entropos" has such an intoxicating sound to it with more great drums, vibraphone and amazing guitar. "I-Mantra" opens with percussion that just builds and builds until you know something has to give, and then the guitar comes in guns blazing in this uptempo song with terrific drumming and synths that seem to riccochet around in the melody. The final song "Pangaia" features hypnotic and mesmerizing melodies of synths and drums. The song slows down and ends with cello and violin.
I came close to giving this a five star rating, it's that good ! I highly recommend this band and this album. Especially if you like the OZRIC TENTACLES.
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

Finnish band Hidria Spacefolk are reasonably well known in these parts, thanks in no small part to the availability on their website of a free download of their first EP HDRSF- 01. Look a bit harder on that site though, and you will that their first album "Symbiosis" can also be downloaded in full.
Released in 2002, the album is an exciting, pulsating affair. As the opening track "Terra Hidria" gets going you could forgiven for thinking you had stumbled across a long lost follow up to PORCUPINE TREE's "The sky moved sideways", such is the similarity between the tracks. Here though, there are no vocals to speak of apart from the occasional vocalising of guest singer Sabrina. There are Eastern influences to "Terra Hidria", especially in the flute and sitar parts, but the overall effect is somewhere between Europe and Asia.
There is some nice guitar work on tracks such as "Kaneh Bosm" and "Kaikados", the latter having distinct Santana overtones thanks to the nature of the percussion. "Jahwarp" reverts to the "Sky moved sideways" feel, the track being heavier than much of the album.
"I-Mantra" is a frantic, pulsating number with real energy. The final track "Pangaia" is the longest at just under 12 minutes. There are passing similarities here with the work of Tangerine Dream around the time of "Force majeure" (when they allowed lead guitar to infiltrate their sound). The track has a hypnotic repetitive rhythm with evolving themes which develop as the back-beat slowly climbs the scales. Think perhaps of HAWKWIND plays the TANGS!
The music tends to follow the same pattern, with lengthy part improvised jams over a strong repeating rhythm. At times that rhythm can be reminiscent of HAWKWIND, but the sound is generally looser. Inevitably, given the style of music, comparisons are going to be made with OZRIC TENTACLES. Those comparisons are certainly valid, particularly in view of the repeating nature of the tracks and the predictability of the album as a whole. For me though, the music here is far more dynamic and enthusiastic.
The general production is clean and distinct, with good separation between the instruments. There is an excitement to the performances which indicate a real determination among the band members to deliver something which represents them well.
The space rock tag stems as much as anything from the many floating sound effects which adorn each track, with liquid bubbles and laser fire aplenty. Take those effects away though, and what is left is far more earthy, with strong links to jazz, fusion and avant-garde.
PROG REVIEWER

PROG REVIEWER

Then the rest of the album hits and only ''Kanem Boss'' and ''I-Mantra'' can even sniff what ''Pangaea'' did. That ''same-y'' feeling that I get by the time ''Jahwarp'' is rather disappointing considering the psychedelic promise of the epic finale. It's one of those decent albums that really frustrates me when I try to describe it because there's plenty of great potential in the whole bubbly space rock, but the dynamic level never really elevates except on the last track.
PROG REVIEWER

First studio album from HIDRIA SPACEFOLK, "Symbiosis" is in continuity with their free debut EP and confirms the band's talents. The musical style is still mainly inspired by OZRIC TENTACLES and, to a lesser extent, GONG: an ambient psychedelic / space rock jungle, but in a softer, folkier manner than their british elder brothers. The compositions are rather homogeneous, do not contain any vocals and feature numerous various instruments.
For example, the opening track, "Terra Hidria" has some middle-eastern touches, while the short ambient transition "Reversion" introduces "Kaneh Bosm", an electronic piece with indian sitar. The dark "Kaikados" alternates agressive and acoustic passages, whereas "Nasha Universo" is softer with its flute incursions. Back to middle-eastern lands with "Jahwarp", maybe a bit too lengthy and repetitive. "Agents Entropos" possesses a catchy hypnotic bass line, and "I- Mantra" could stand for a lost OZRICs tune. The last and longest track, "Pangaia", also sounds like their elder british brothers, however displaying a more vaporous and mystical atmosphere.
"Symbiosis" is a consistant first album, propelling the finnish band to the front of the modern space rock scene. The musical style and quality of the compositions are constant, while the ambiance and the inspiration are present. A good record to start with, and which should please all OZRIC TENTACLES or GONG fans. The succession is insured.
Latest members reviews
A very solid space-rock album, with everything that makes space-rock great. The music melds acoustic with electric and
synthesized, Eastern music with Western. Experimental and extremely trippy, with the musical chops to back it up. It sounds
almost like a lost Ozrics album with the swirling sy
... (read more)
Report this review (#150823) | Posted by MonkeyphoneAlex | Wednesday, November 14, 2007 | Review Permanlink
I think this is their best album. It's not as heavy as their last two albums, and not as structured. It sounds more "organic" to me.
Very active drumming, and intense guitars. And the amount of synths is just right for my taste. Kaikados and Nasha Universo (great
flute by the way) are very aler
... (read more)
Report this review (#149686) | Posted by symbiosis | Friday, November 9, 2007 | Review Permanlink
Very good space rock from Finland!
These guys are clearly very much influenced by the legends of space rock, Ozric
Tentacles. The sound is, although there aren't any obvious rip-offs, very similar. But if
you like that sort of music, it doesn't matter. To describe Hidria's music a bit more
ac
... (read more)
Report this review (#55769) | Posted by | Thursday, November 10, 2005 | Review Permanlink
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