GABRIEL'S WALTZ

Their first album 'All About Satellites And Spaceships' bears some popular elements while getting close to Richard Ashcroft and his band The Verve. Three years later though they were reduced to a quartet then. Bassist/guitarist Julian Capps had replaced Dwayn Moore. With a bunch of live experiences in the back it all sounds more matured and unique on 'Gabriel's Waltz'. This one is dedicated to US poet Anne Sexton who committed suicide in 1974. And so it all starts with emotional melancholic sentiment.

Glockenspiel and Beeman's awesome vocals wrap you up on Dear Anne - lack of percussion is indicated here. The triple pack 3 to 5 builds the album's core for me. Carousel holds tribal drums and repetitve spacey guitar stuff, relatively simple but effective anyhow. The subsequent Bruise shows them on the move to traverse the Milky Way at the latest - an essential space rock song, if you ask me. A rumbling bass, hallucinatory voice samples, screaming and soaring guitars are bouncing back and forth - wonderful!. This went straight on to my personal treasure chest.

Provided with a relaxed groove Threshold follows - so charming and lovely that you are willing to switch the repeat modus on ... forever and a day. Not necessary though because some songs are still following, including the instrumental title track - reminiscent of Wishbone Ash's intriguing twin guitar presence a bit. The Lone Starfighter release offers a special bonus track, adopted from Can's 'Tago Mago' album, also released on Hidden Aggenda as 7'' - lively to the contrary, a good interpretation (except somebody really misses Damo Suzuki's vocals).

End of inspiration? Although they had started to work on a follower album ... this should be their final effort - unfortunately. Melody and atmosphere - this music is coming close to 100 Percent Solution I would say with magnificent compositions and cosmic ambience. Lost in reverie - something to relax. They are the masters of an echoed guitar sound here, definitely trippy, respectively even shoegaze. You won't miss the synthesizers at all. Recommended!