ORION AWAKES

German 5-piece Golem's only album sees its theme of space travel acting as a metaphor for spiritual and psychological growth. The tracks here broadly represent a hero's journey; something that American mythologist Joseph Campbell called a ''monomyth''. He had a profound influence on Grateful Dead (funnily enough he lived next door to rhythm guitarist Bobby Weir) who in turn had an influence on Krautrock. Campbell argued that mythic patterns carried through into contemporary life, and his monomyth schema of self-transcendence incorporated stages of Departure, Initiation (meeting the godhead, or all-knowing presence), and Return. A cursory glance at the track-titles here confirms that ''Orion Awakes'' represents a similar psychedelic or spiritual experience.

The music is entirely instrumental and most tracks seem to adhere to a musical template of soft, moody introduction, the music then gradually taking shape and becoming loud and rhythmic with treated guitars and throbbing pulses. The last two tracks don't really follow this well-worn path though, with the epic ''Jupiter And Beyond'' beginning in urgent mood and developing into a montage of contrasting sections. The dirge-like ''The Returning'' sounds like The Velvet Underground's ''Sister Ray'', complete with psychedelic organ. And it's nothing like Jonathan Richman's ''Roadrunner'' homage to the same Velvets' song. Worth mentioning is the fact that Karl and John have questioned whether this is an authentic '70s release. Be that as it may, for fans of this type of music ''Orion Awakes'' is definitely worth checking out.