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LUMERIANS

Psychedelic/Space Rock • United States


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Lumerians picture
Lumerians biography
It was 2006 when LUMERIANS was founded by Tyler Green (guitar, keys), Marc Melzer (bass), Jason Miller (guitar, keys) and Chris Musgrave (drums). Early rehearsals and recordings were made in San Francisco, but the group has since relocated to Oakland/California where they have their own recording studio in a converted church.

One year later the band finished a self-named 12'' production, released on Subterranean Elephants. Multi-instrumentalist Luis Vasquez joined in 2008 to complete this five-member band on synth and percussion. In 2010 the band was discovered by talent scouts for Knitting Factory Records from listening to their music on MySpace. On the the full-length 'Transmalinnia' album (2011) they manage to refine their unique style again and then 2012 saw the new effort 'Transmissions From Telos Vol. IV', consisting of four new session recordings.

The band's aim is to create trancelike ecstatic music. The sound is influenced by psych and space music from the 1960s and 1970s, groups such as Sonic Youth as well as Krautrock bands like Can and Neu!. LUMERIANS received positive critical attention not only for the psychedelic sound, but also due to transcendent live video projections during their performances, just trying to make the experience a real happening.

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LUMERIANS discography


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LUMERIANS top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.67 | 6 ratings
Transmallinia
2011
3.93 | 8 ratings
Transmissions From Telos: Vol. IV
2012
3.81 | 8 ratings
The High Frontier
2013
4.00 | 5 ratings
Transmissions From Telos Vol III
2014
3.67 | 3 ratings
Call of the Void
2018

LUMERIANS Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

LUMERIANS Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

LUMERIANS Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

LUMERIANS Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

4.00 | 2 ratings
Lumerians
2007
3.50 | 2 ratings
Burning Mirrors
2010
4.00 | 3 ratings
Horizon Structures
2012

LUMERIANS Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Transmissions From Telos Vol III by LUMERIANS album cover Studio Album, 2014
4.00 | 5 ratings

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Transmissions From Telos Vol III
Lumerians Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by Rivertree
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions

4 stars Tyler Green and his colleagues are in good company with the Electric Orange crew somehow, if only because they are also placing riddles, as there is the wondrous order to mention concerning their 'Transmissions From Teleos' series for example. And the facebook page briefly reports this Oakland based oufit playing doom jazz ... okay ... maybe ... I'm not sure if they really take this seriously though. However, probably this is put to reflect the direction of development music-wise in general?

Just in good tradition already 'Transmissions From Telos Vol III' marks another LUMERIANS release which is solidifying a preference on a keyboard emancipation. Yes, again the synths rule, electric guitars are mostly reduced on some rhythm work, just in case of a (definitely nice) side effect more or less. Composed of four tracks their new album is admittedly hypnotic, assigned with a trance vibe, which usually means a clear reference to the related space and kraut rock genres. Playing decidetly monotonic, a strong rhythm fraction builds the band's backbone, like being on a perpetual loop.

Despite or maybe even just because of the hypnotic flow this album is a pleasant relaxed listen, equipped with four very melodic explorations. By way of example let me highlight the captivating Turiya - a halting slow-tempo exemplar - which is departing from the plan a bit, quasi showing synth and guitar enjoying emancipated rights. This sounds close to, or is - as for the approach at least - comparable with German neo kraut bands Camera and Electric Orange. Recommended - fantastic to notice that they do not run out of inspiration.

 The High Frontier by LUMERIANS album cover Studio Album, 2013
3.81 | 8 ratings

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The High Frontier
Lumerians Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by Rivertree
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions

4 stars LUMERIANS stick up with their new album 'The High Frontier' in spring 2013. This appears in the tradition of the 2010 effort named 'Transmallinia', which means the seven songs are coming less improvised overall. So they've concentrated on song writing again, featuring clear structures and more catchy melodies as for my impression. Guitars and synths are equally appointed, though not within every track as such. What stays is the clear affinity to krautrock, predominanty to be manifested by the rhythm section, which - obviously with intent - often loops and works typically monotonic, accompanied by a slight deep-toned industrial touch.

Due to bass line, vocals and the global drive the synthesizer dominated opener Dogon Genesis reminds me of UK act New Order in some way. The title track follows immediately ... hey, don't know how they make it ... this is presented in a somewhat swinging mood. While contrasting with the industrial kraut flair this constitutes the band's special sound and attraction basically, I would say. In between they turn into another drive which guarantees more variety. An outstanding sample for sure. With more than seven minutes the longest track here, and more from the improv side of life, the gripping Smokies Tangle attracts my attention especially. Well, this comes like psychedelic/space dominated krautrock should sound like, wonderful.

Life Without Skin opens in a somewhat chanson mood due to a mysterious female voice, whispering a message in French, soon switches into other different outfits though, just like a chameleon so to say. The hypnotic Abudhabijhab in the end shows some Arabian influence as the title implies. While showcasing psychedelic, space, kraut and some synthy new wave ingredients. LUMERIANS unique sound is comprised of an interesting attractive mix, which they surely have refined during recent years. Thus 'The High Frontier' is another recommended album offered by this outstanding band.

 Transmissions From Telos: Vol. IV by LUMERIANS album cover Studio Album, 2012
3.93 | 8 ratings

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Transmissions From Telos: Vol. IV
Lumerians Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by Rivertree
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions

4 stars LUMERIANS are a contemporary group from the States, founded in 2006. Their music sometimes is labeled as retrospective, however - although surely referrring to the inspired 1960/70s - this sounds quite modern on this occasion. I have taken enough time in the meanwhile in order to sink into their approach, and now I can say that they are another big discovery for me in 2012. Thematically referring to the Star Wars space opera, 'Transmissions From Telos Vol IV' appears to be the newest and most delightful effort deriving from their recording collections. This album clocks around 34 minutes - which obviously is rather short - but holds four challenging transmissions from extraterrestrial messages anyhow, where they - for whatever reason - have failed to provide them with distinct titles.

Nevermind, not really a surprise on the other hand, a proper trademark so much the more considering this music genre, one can say. Well, what strikes here ... although listed I honestly have problems to detect electric guitars when listening, which normally are very effective and virtuoso instruments on psych/space productions. This time the songs certainly live from the multiple keyboard/synth work first and foremost. And a trippy mood is recognizable right from the start, paired with a strong Krautrock touch à la Can, NEU! and similiar, speaking of hypnotic bass lines and the stoic drum/percussion appeal.

The synths are another attraction, playfully appointed, the extended closing track is the best reference here. But first of all let me praise their self-evident interaction to the highest degree. So overall this album keeps a fantastic trance mood coupled with an (industrial) kraut touch which appeals to me extraordinarily. Man! ... would like to know how this works delivered live from a stage. I strongly recommend to give them a try.

 Transmissions From Telos: Vol. IV by LUMERIANS album cover Studio Album, 2012
3.93 | 8 ratings

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Transmissions From Telos: Vol. IV
Lumerians Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by Guldbamsen
Special Collaborator Retired Admin

4 stars "Groovy man! I like really dig your stylo brother - it's like totally far out and cosmic, y'know? I was like tripping all the way through the album...."

Short passage between a left over hippie who just got out of the ground with the help from a small archaeology crew who were digging for dinosaur bones in the foothills of old Cisco, - and this new act called Lumerians who sound like a time machine on steroids.

All the signs are here: the band plays in an old abandoned church with the add on of colourful light- shows terrorising your eyeballs with laser beams and bubbling oil secretions. The music is heavily influenced by the Germanic way of playing psychedelic music - taking its cue from whatever feel and jam that happens to be prevailing at the time. This is instant composition right here, and just like Swedish star fighters My Brother the Wind, you too sense a musical freedom with Lumerians that seeks to enhance the untethered and improvisational character of what psychedelic music once was.

Retro? Yes, absolutely - but not in a derivative manner. Sure you are most likely going to spot the obvious nods to several of the head honchos inside Krautrock, but to these ears this venture only borrows small fragments of a once tried and tested formula. The thing is, how is music that relies on improvised atmospheres and jams ever going to be derivative? Still, there's a motorik drive to the proceedings here that sound so tight and groovy, that you can't help but think of CAN - even if the music hiding underneath the rather exotic bird art work sounds nothing like the old masters. Over this tightly played rhythm section, you get tons of quaking and croaking synthesisers, brooding organs and fiery guitar patterns that swirl around in the music like wasted gold fish dancing an upside down waltz in a coffee-maker. This is genuine psychedelic music right here!

Thankfully we've seen a lot of modern bands that've taken it upon themselves to resurrect the Krautrock of old, and in many of these cases the music sounds passable and close to it's opening intentions, but a lot of the times it falls shy of being really great. It remains a jam based psychedelic music that never leaves the comfort of the individual performers - amounting to something rather nice but without any real grunt to it. This album feels different. From the opening cut, the music builds itself up into a self suspending structure that lives only to be destroyed. What I mean by such a silly remark is, that when you decide to revolve around music that basically is jamming, you need to approach it with the intent of killing it whilst performing it - transforming it whilst executing it, - it's still the same thing. If every band member just stays the course - within this little reverberating field of echoes and repetitions without any need for a small death in the music, the impression of it all then more than often is non-existent. Dough and sauce..... The music needs death to live - just like those species of grass down in Africa that are designed by nature itself to end their lives in fire and flames. It kills one form of expression only to make way for several new sprouting sonic free-ways.

The production of the album is what really makes it flow though. Every musician here is deeply democratic in his approach, and you won't find much in the way of solos and instrumental gymnastics. Feeling like a live album recorded directly in the "studio", which it also is, the music develops and plays itself with every band member ornamenting an expression of warmth and rhythm. Small but highly effective touches of synths, percussion, - an incessant grooving herd of sound monstrously utilising every little bit of imagination. Everything is audible - it feels warm and fluid just like many of our most beloved 70s productions, and speaking personally here, I just love the fact that music like this, unrehearsed and structurally neglected, still is being made.

If you are sitting around out there with a strong penchant for honey sticking rib sauce psychedelics that sound like the 60s and 70s returning back into your living room by way of speakers, then you should take a chance on this wonderful resurrecting Frankenstein of an album, that proudly and very beautifully takes what went before it and unleashes it as something fresh and vibrant. I haven't come across any new psych music this good in a while, but I sure am planning on getting more of the stuff!

Thanks to rivertree for the artist addition.

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