DOM

The main sequence of Krautrock superstars cast a long shadow across the 1970s, and hidden in the darkness were some overlooked treasures. Like this minor but precious gem from early in the decade: a one-shot project from a band few people (myself included) know much about.

Background info about the group is sketchy, at best. It was formed by two refugee brothers from Hungary after relocating to Düsseldorf; their one and only LP was privately pressed (hence its relative obscurity); and the music on it was supposedly meant to represent an acid trip gone bad (don't they all, in the long run?)

But what a trip it must have been, and continues to be today. The album is structured almost like a soundtrack to the end of innocence, divided into four long segments but really a continuous 36-minute odyssey through inner space, ranging in mood from serene to chaotic and (almost) back again. Along the way is some truly beautiful, often haunting, and sometimes scary music, beginning with the disarming Krautfolk of "Intruitus": a friendly gathering of hippies, complete with bongos, flute, and gently strummed acoustic guitars.

But don't let your guard down too soon: the music gets progressively weirder as it continues. Some of it recalls the near-death nirvana of early KLAUS SCHULZE (imagine a slightly more organic "Cyborg"); elsewhere the album approaches the uneasy bliss of an out-of-body dream state. And an almost NEU!-like motorik undercurrent surfaces on the title track, just before the otherworldly stoned poetry reading, quoted in part on the bare-bones album cover.

Other bands have tried to musically recreate a psychedelic experience, usually ending up with a lot of self-indulgent nonsense. But these guys must have at least taken a road map along for this particular trip. Imagine if the surviving members of THE PINK FLOYD had followed Syd Barrett's sad example and developed a harder drug habit: they might have made this exact same album a year or two earlier. Edge of Time? Edge of Sanity is more like it, and listening to the album is as close as an old but sensitive fuddy-duddy like me ever wants to get to a tab of lysergic acid diethylamide.

Dom never released another LP. Either they said it all right here, or else never recovered from their chemical research and development. But the rarity of this one effort only adds to its uncanny aura, still effective over forty years later.

[ Consumer windfall: the bonus tracks on the CD reissue mesh well with the lysergic melancholy of the original album. The oddball track, and one of my favorites, is the last one: "Let Me Explain", recorded three decades after the "Edge of Time" sessions and sounding like a tongue-in-cheek HOLGER CZUKAY sampling experiment, or maybe a Krautrock outtake from the Eno/Byrne album "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts". ]

Edge of Time is one of the highlights of the folk-on-acid lineage in the Kraut dynasty. It's an amazing trip, one that has dreamy acoustic space-folk as well as far-out sonic experiments and proto-industrial noise. It's the only album of a somewhat obscure international Krautrock band Dom which united musicians from Hungaria, Poland and Germany.

The album was first issued on CD in 1994, a dodgy affair copied from a scratchy old vinyl. The issue to get is the 2001 'Second Battle' CD, which pairs the original 1971 album to a couple of 1972 demos and a one-off 1998 recording of the Hungarian v. Baksay brothers. It's amazing how perfectly it all blends in with the original material from the 70s.

But the original material is sure the focal point, offering four 9-minute improvisations that explore the pastoral-psych path that Floyd briefly touched in 68-69 but left all too quickly again. Fans of the style will hear the mood and quality of songs such as Julia Dream, Careful with That Axe and Cirrus Minor. They get mixed with the sonic chaos of the Ummagumma studio album.

The songs are mostly instrumental but for a few whispered words and wordless oohs and aahs that float along with the music. On the parts where drums join you will also hear flashes of early Hawkwind, most notable on the title track which drones along in true Master of the Universe fashion. But this album predated In Search of Space so here is where you look if you want to know what mr. Brock was listening to in 1970. Also the band Mythos owes a lot to this album.

It took me ages to track down a properly priced CD of the album, but at last I found one in a record-shop not even 5 minutes from where I live. The message learnt, never despair! (and go living in Antwerp:) This albums is a must have if you want to claim a Kraut collection of serious standing. A near masterpiece.

One of those albums you can really get lost into. A concept album about an acid trip, and it does sound like it. A very creative interpretation, expressing and evoking a host of different states of consciousness and deep internal emotion. The album is a trip to listen to, especially if you're already under a psychedelic influence, as this is psychedelic, tangential, breathing, pulsing, exploratory music. It took me a while to really appreciate, so i suggest at least a few spins (preferably in different mind states, and when you can really be present with the music). I echo luisman's remark that this album is meant to be experienced as a whole, a single journey.

Being mostly in the Psychedelic/Space Rock and Krautrock realm of sound, the music is also psych folk in places, and somewhat electronic in places, with no electric guitar just acoustic guitar in a number of places, and sometimes some delicate flute, some harp-like instrument, bells, assorted percussion in most places, with a few other sound effects I can't really classify or remember at the moment. The music is alternately or concurrently electronic, with very cool psychedelic sounds with pink floyd-like organ, and various other electronic instruments and sound effects. The music is mostly instrumental, with occasional singing or spoken word to varying effects and with various effects.

Compare to early Pink Floyd, Brave New World, Kalacakra, Tangerine Dream, Brainticket (Celestial Ocean), Emtidi (Saat), Popol Vuh, Between, Ash Ra Tempel, Cluster, the quieter and more downtempo moments in Agitation Free and Amon Duul II etc and generally to the genres of krautrock, progressive electronic, psychedelic/space rock, and acid folk.

My favorite track here is "Silence", though all three of the other tracks are generally excellent. There are a few (short) somewhat dull spots (usually involving aimless light melodic percussion or weird effects) on the album (which actually may be appreciated in the right state of mind), but it as a whole is very good.

The originally released lp and cd-reissue contain 4 tracks, each of approximately 9 minutes, a relatively short album at 36 minutes. Fortunately it was issued again by Second Battle in 2001 I think with 5 bonus tracks totalling almost 17 minutes! The sound and production are also significantly improved on this new reissue. The bonus tracks aren't as good as the music on the original album, with a more arcane sound, less quality and lower recording quality. 4 of them in close to the same style, like outtakes (production as the same quality as the original album) and then the last track, "Let Me Explain", is in a similar in aspects but distinctly different sound that is attributable to it's containing chopped-up speech, some uptempo disco/hip hop like drum machine pattern that starts halfway through, absolutely strange sound sequences, and generally a weird vibe with strange sounds, chords, juxtapositions, etc.. weird, and pretty trippy. The bonus tracks do add value to the album package IMO, if only as demo-like afterthoughts.

4.5!

ATTENTION all psychoanalysts and brain docs...a superb 1/2 hour zero point voyage just here to listen! a so underrated album from kraut e-scene, no doubt a top5 of the genre..i will not describe each song separately as this is to be considered as a whole - a v ery reflexive and insight experience. i mean this can even be used for tretment...well!!! almost, seriously a one shot delicious melt for a ease moment, pitty for the sole album. the only let down is the sound outcome, maybe the quality of the primal ecordings (200 pressed) as it is a 1970 lp). anyway magnificent record that would stay for a lon long time... the only thing, for sure, is that i dont doubt that i have a doubt whaaa! rgds

This was a real trip ! Actually it's a concept album (I guess you could say) about taking an acid trip.These four guys are very talented mult-instrumentalists.The percussionist and the bass player are brothers who escaped the Soviet invasion of their country Hungary, while the guitar player is from Germany and the organ player is from Poland.The music is very spaced out Psychedelic / Folk with the acoustic guitar, percussion, flute and organ leading the way.

"Intruitus" opens with acoustic guitar and gentle flute before strummed guitar and percussion take over.The melody stops as we hear various sounds until the organ rises out of this chaos and gathers strength.The guitar and percussion come back as the soundscape speeds up and gets louder. "Silence" opens with waves of organ as strummed guitar comes in. Words are spoken softly and we can hear vocal melodies as well. It gets kind of strange (acid trip) after 4 minutes with voices, odd sounds and flute. It ends with some spacey organ play. The first two minutes of "Edge Of Time" is a trip in itself, then the gentle acoustic guitar and flute arrive. A more aggressive sound comes in after 4 minutes. The mood and tempo changes continue. We get some spoken vocals with strummed guitar until the flute replaces the vocals.

"Dream" opens again with various noises and sounds before the guitar replaces them. Organ and percussion arrive and then it gets freaky again (like the intro) 6 minutes in. The bonus tracks are well worth having.The first track is a four part song called "Flotenmenschen". The first two parts are quite hypnotic while the third part is strange sounding and the final part is just plain spooky. The final bonus track is called "Let Me Explain" and the first 3 minutes sound really cool the way they have arranged and used the vocal samples, you need to hear this.Then we get a beat that reminds me of early PORCUPINE TREE.

This is a gem and if you're into Krautrock or Psychedelic music you may want to take this trip.

Privately released album that was Dom's sole output. This (standard prog) quartet from Düsseldorf was made-up of Hungarian-born Von Baksay brothers on bass and drums, guitarist Duzakowski (most likely of Polish origins) and keyboardist Stopka (there is a chance that he is from German stock), but most of them played two or three instruments, including flute for two of them. Musically, they sounded like Saucerful or Live Ummagumma-Floyd with many passages that the pink-years Tangerine Dream would not disown if it were theirs. Between ethnic folk, cosmic music and pure psychedelia, this album is really a product of its time. The album contains four fairly long mostly instrumental tracks and came with a very bland fuchsia cover (at least the limited Cd series of '92 did), a very basic production (but fitting well the climate of the album) and a real acid-trip soundtrack (the group's named referred to one).

The opening Introitus starts on a gentle flute-guitar duo that seems to come out from a hippie pastoral fantasy soon accompanied by superb percussion. After having derailed into a dissonant digression, the track is pulled back by a deceptively delicious organ bringing back the percussion of the start, then coming to a sudden stop. This is followed by Silence, which is a very spooky affair that started rather innocently psychey with some imbedded vocals, but soon reached Zeit-period Tangerine Dream nightmarish waves to end in a quiet Hammond layer. The title track is no less-spooky really starting where Silence had left off, but it soon develops in a Floyd soundscape (I am thinking of More, here) with spoken lyrics (printed on the front cover) and soft ambiances. The closing Dreams starts out with a lengthy percussive intro, before a bell brings the track to a halt, allowing for a quiet guitar and aerial Floydian organs (thinking of Eugene's Axe in this case) to rule for a few minutes before TD soundscapes appear again

Of all the albums in this database, I think that there are very few more mind-blowing albums than Dom's sole outing. While not really essential (you'll probably have a real hard time finding a copy unless a new reissue comes), this album is certainly worth a listen if you get a chance to lay an ear on it, so I'll easily give it a fourth star.

DOM is one of those "unknown" bands who released only one great album and disappeared forever such as: Yatha Sidhra, Arzachel, and Älgarnas Trädgård (even though they released a lost album not too long ago). Edge of Time will take you on a psychedelic journey in a matter of 36 minutes. What we have here is minimal acoustic material mixed with soft organs, lovely flutes, and strange sounds. So take a few tokes and start dreaming as the overall sound of this album gives off a "dream" like state.

With the use of limited vocals on this album, I think it adds more of an affect on the listener, where the only real vocals are on the title track and which it matches the poem on the cover of the album. Other then that, it's just faint whispers and moans. Even the vocals on the title track are very monotonous and dreamy, thus making it the most dramatic part of the album (at the 5:27 point) along with some of the most beautiful music, especially the flute solo, that I've ever heard. About half the album is filled with weird noises and sounds which are familiar in the Krautrock scene. Hell, if you listen closely in "Silence", they even used the drum fill from In The Court Of The Crimson King (title track) right before the ending riff. Any King Crimson fan will recognize that drum fill. Although it's very faint, you will have to listen closely for it. Most of the "actual" acoustic material is similar in a sense, but it will not disappoint. For the use of percussion, organs, flutes, and bass help keep things interesting throughout the album.

This album is a hard to find type gem, so if you are willing to pay over $500 or 200 pounds for the actual vinyl, it is waiting for you on eBay as of this moment. So I advise you to buy the cd if you can or download the album. For the extra tracks that are on the cd, they are nothing special. The first four extra tracks was material that was supposed to be on DOMs next album entitled "Flotenmenschen" I believe. The last bonus track "Let Me Explain" was a new song that was made for the CD release. Nothing spectacular here. So if you are fans of rare, obscure 70's rock/folk albums, this is something for you. Especially for Krautrock fans.

I give this masterpiece of an album a simple 5/5!

Edge of Time is a mesmerising psych acoustic « trip », blowing away Pink Floyd at their most « spacey » moments. This is really in German style, original kraut experimentations with organ.A very interesting release whose concept is based upon acid « test ». Their sound perfectly illustrates a psychedelic, meditative landscape. The approach is rather folk, poetic and dreamy, similar to Mythos self title album and others krautrock obscurities. The opening track starts with a peaceful acoustic guitar / flute dialogue, then comes the acoustic percussions, accelerating the rhythm. The track is punctuated by mysterious, deeply celestial organ parts, bells echoes and « weird » noises. « Silence » explores the labyrinth of our subconscious with soaring organ sounds, repetitive acoustic guitar parts and strange, atmospheric voices. After a short break of electric « chaotic » noises, mixed with flute, the climax gradually descending into silence with a heavy bass "drone". The title track begins with a bunch of hallucinatory, cacophonic noises suggesting the coming of a floating, tranquil atmosphere played on acoustic guitar and organs. The track ends with English recitative, explaining the concept of the album. « Dream » which closes the album features a fascinating, tranquil, melancholic mix for acoustic guitar and organ + a strange, psychedelic atmosphere created by manipulated sounds and xylophone. A very attractive, « primitive » acid folk album. A masterpiece that culminates the genre

Now here is a superb find for all those who love early experimental Krautrock. "Edge Of Time" is a pure holographic folk-avant garde album recorded in early 1970 by a quartet with members from Germany, Poland and Hungary. Dom definitely reside more on the acoustic dreamy side than on the electric side with soft hand percussion, acoustic instruments, space synths and lots of flute. No question these were a true astral quartet who thru their hallucinogenic music will take you on a voyage into space. I hear traces of early PINK FLOYD, AMON DUUL II and even CLUSTER in their music, but overriding DOM's music is original. Second Battle have done a fantastic job in preserving and re-mastering this album to perfection with tons of great bonus tracks and interesting artwork. Electronic progressive psychedelia at its finest.