ALMAGEST

This wee release, almost EP length by current standards, is not exactly what you'd call space rock, not if you are looking for big riffs and cosmic guitar solos. It actually borders on ambient, but unlike some other reviewers, I think it actually achieves its aim fairly well. The album is dominated by waves of synth and gentle flute solos. Don't look for lots of melody, and especially don't look for virtuoso drumming...the beat is here just for the beat, slow and ponderous, as all the pieces are. A brief futuristic monologue by a lady with an American accent neither adds nor detracts. The closest reference I can find is some of 90s Hawkwind's synth instrumentals, like "Going to Hawaii" on Electric Teepee...since I always enjoyed those pieces more than the actual songs on the albums, this is quite a treat for me. Not particularly strong as ambient music or as space rock, but still quite pleasant to listen to, I think it bodes well for this group as they develop in the future.