MALESCH

I love how melodic and atmospheric this record is.They used little snippets of things they had recorded on their recent trip to Egypt and added them to the beginning of some songs, to act as dividers between songs.

"You Play For Us Today" takes awhile to get going like some of the other songs here. It features layers of keyboards with guitar sounds scattered throughout, but it's the last 2 minutes where the guitar really takes it up a notch as we are treated to some beautiful guitar melodies. "Sahara City" opens with an Eastern sound that is over quickly as we get outbreaks of guitar and drums and noises for the next 5 minutes. Included in this soundscape are silent moments as well as a haunting atmosphere at times. There is no flow at all until 5 1/2 minutes in when the guitar and drums come to the fore and we are treated to some of the best music on this record during the last 2 minutes of this song.

"Ala Tul" features some good drum work as the organ and bass come in, but it's the percussion that steals the show on this song. "Pulse" sounds like someone left the power on and it's pulsating as the guitar and drums come in on this hypnotic tune. "Khan El Khalili" has this low sounding synth and a vocal melody as the drums come and go, things settle down as the guitar comes in and it sounds fantastic with the drums. "Malesch" is a song that builds with the focus on the bass, drums and guitar. "Rucksturz" is way too short, as it just seems to be hitting it's stride with some amazing melodic guitar and drums when it's over.

I love this record because it's such a trip.