THE CURRENT

A modern psychedelia-extraordinaire group carrying forward the Krautrock traditions of CAN and BRAINTICKET, this album is at times a bit crippled by the fact that their music is really meant to be accompanied by their multi-media stage show and, therefore, at time gets a little repetitive and drawn out. But, heck! Isn't that true of all Krautrock? The album, however, has an utterly awesome, engaging, multi-layered fullness that is different from its ancestors, especially in the first two and last songs, "The Current" (6:56) (10/10), "Choreia" (6:02) (10/10), and "Great Cold of The Night" (11:16) (10/10). The album's first three songs are more akin to a cross between the spiritual trance music of JONATHAN GOLDMAN and the pop of modern psych-poppers WEST INDIAN GIRL. Definitely trippy trance music on the upbeat, happy side. Even the first four minutes of the dream-like "Remember Child" (7:18) (8/10) has some gorgeous organ play, vocal chanting, and Blade Runner-like drum and keyboard "explosions" all playing over an oscillating, R-L channel-surfing keyboard loop, it's the final two minutes that get a little tedious. All songs bleed one into the next, carrying forward some themes and sounds while gradually morphing into new songs. It is with the finale, however, that the band steps up to show its strengths: incredibly dominant vocal from Emily Pothast, great driving, crashing drumming from Garrett Moore, and searing lead guitar from Timm Mason. Quite an amazing song.

The Current is a wonderfully engaging, entrancing album that makes me only want more to experience Midday Veil's show live. Plus, I am so glad and appreciative of the gorgeous female voice that reminds me so much of those of BRAINTICKET's trio of charismatic singers, Dawn Muir, Carole Muriel and Jane Free.

A 4.5 star effort--one that I think deserves a listen from everybody.