MOIRA (AKA REISE NACH IXTLAN)

This is such a great album that it really needs at least one review on here. I have heard both Moira albums and Crazy Countdown is excellent but this second album is a significant improvement because it's a more cohesive musical statement. Crazy Countdown features a series of shorter instrumental pieces that are good on their own but don't have a consistent sound and so it's more like a collection of musical sketches rather than an album that holds together as a unit. Not so with Reise Nach Ixtlan ? the first three pieces on this album contain some incredible fusion. In terms of comparisons, the music on this album is reminiscent of electric Miles Davis, Speed Limit, or Secret Oyster. Finally, don't be fooled by the fact that this album was released in the mid 1980s ? there is nothing "eighties" about the music. I've read that this album was likely recorded in the 1970s and then shelved for several years, which would explain why the sound is so warm and genuine.

My only problem is that there is a sharp drop off in quality with the last two cuts, mostly due to the vocals on "Einsame Schatten" and the narration on "Resume", but those two tracks only account for about 7 or 8 minutes and the rest of the music is so good that I can forgive it. I would highly recommend this to any fan of 1970s-style jazz fusion.

MOIRA were a German band who released two albums six years apart with two completely different lineups creating some controversy when it comes to how legit this second album is. Well check out Tom Hayes article on Discogs for more about that while I stick to the music. I reviewed their debut almost 2 years ago and was left feeling a little underwelmed considering Hofmann from EMBRYO and Fischer from MISSUS BEASTLY were a part of that. This recording has no big names although the main composer Michael Stoll the bass and flautist would become a main stay with FAUST starting back in 1997 or so. This second album is so much better in my opinion. Released in 1984 it certainly bucked a trend with how it sounds and for me it's a solid 4 stars.

"Reise Nach Ixtlan" gets us started and it begins slowly with jazzy guitar and bass as it slowly builds. Synths and drums join in then organ around 3 1/2 minutes. Great sound when that organ arrives boiling away. The bass is outstanding throughout this track. The guitar starts to solo over top after 7 minutes and it sounds pretty amazing. So fluid. It stops around 9 minutes. Very busy drumming here with the bass and organ helping out. The tempo slows after 10 minutes and synths will return. "Oase" is a 3 1/2 minute tune of drums and flute throughout.

"Kristall" opens with some depth and nasty organ here and I like it! The guitar is just as good too as it starts to solo after a minute. Okay the bass and drums impress as well. It then settles back before 5 1/2 minutes but then it kicks back in 2 minutes later. One of my favourites along with the opener. "Einsame Schatten" opens with bass, drums and organ before we get some nice guitar work after 2 minutes along with synths. I like the way the guitar and keys trade off briefly followed by a calm. Vocals in German for the first time on the album 4 minutes in. "Resume" is the just over a minute closer with spoken German words along with experimental sounds.

1984 wasn't exactly a stellar year for adventurous music so this is a breath of fresh air.