CELESTIAL OCEAN

Retaining only the drummer and vocalist from the previous album, Joel Vandroogenbroeck steers his Brainticket project into entirely different directions again for this third album. Two years have past since 'Psychonaut' and the 60's adoration has been tuned down in favor of a more experimental and electronic sound.

'Egyptian Kings' is a solid opener, immediately recognizable as a Brainticket track, with it propulsive organ-driven rhythm, whispered vocals and hazy atmosphere, much more relaxed and mature then previous work. Two short tracks follow with an ethnic flavor, putting the sitar upfront in the mix. 'Era of Technology' starts with lots of percussion and 'sampled' talking vocals, it almost seems to return to the stoned drone of the debut, but it's much more concise and gives way to a very contrasting end section with Wyatt-alike vocals.

Every other song seems to bring new ideas, and also 'To Another Universe/The Space Between' keeps the album fresh and surprising. It's an electronic piece a bit in the vein of what Cluster and Kraftwerk were doing in the same year. The ethnic accent returns on 'Cosmic Wind', offering a very reflective and dreamy vibe. It flows beautifully into 'Visions', where the piano takes over and changes the melancholic mood to subtle major keys.

Brainticket offer a new trip with every new album. I'd say this one is the best and most consistent, slightly preferred to the preceding 'Psychonaut'.