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Korai Öröm - Korai Öröm (1995) CD (album) cover

KORAI ÖRÖM (1995)

Korai Öröm

 

Psychedelic/Space Rock

3.47 | 19 ratings

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Joolz
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars This is Korai Öröm's debut album, and a fine effort owing much to the organic textures of Brainticket and the more modern synths-and-samplers of Ozric Tentacles. These comparisons are valid, but the addition of unexpected instruments like brass, didgeridoo and jaws harp take them into the realm of ethnic-fusion veering through psych work-outs, via latin percussion to tribal-dance [think Baka Beyond]. It says something for the skill of the musicians that they can successfully combine elements from so many different disparate cultures and come up with a sound that is not only unique but entertaining too. Guitar, bass and drums form a familiar rock foundation for this mélange of sound, but surprisingly keyboards play a muted role.

Typically, the music employs slow atmospheric build-ups using ethereal flute and other ambient textures, leading to classic jams built on repetitive rock beats and delicate fills, though lacking the searing energy of bands like Hawkwind. Neither do the jams descend into endless wall-of-sound space-grooves as the traditional instruments are given space to breathe and flourish without ever becoming over-extended, while the power is often diffused by additional assorted percussion that accompanies many sequences.

The album abounds with exciting sounds and inventive ways of integrating them into a musical collage, yet ultimately it fails to be entirely satisfying, as if they have all these ideas but haven't quite worked out how they want to use them. Great for use as a backdrop for some other activity, but less stimulating as a listening experience than some of the band's later work. Partly, this can be attributed to lack of structure and vocals, and for me, is a common complaint with instrumental music of this kind.

Overall, an excellent album, but with few really stand-out moments to get the adrenalin flowiing, relying instead on atmosphere and subtlety to get its message across.

Joolz | 4/5 |

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