MUZAK

I've listened to this album quite a few times over the past couple years, and I've come to the conclusion that I just don't quite "get it". I've never been a huge fan of music that was largely psychedelic at its base, but I gave this album a shot regardless.

My main gripe with Muzak by Saturnia is the lack of development in both the songs as individuals and the album as a whole. The songs just kind of drone and beat through their duration, often with touches of Indian music. I've also never been a fan of Indian music in general, so anything influenced by it is sure to leave a bad impression. There are a few nice sounding electronic elements present on this album, but that isn't enough for me to give this album more than one star, unfortunately. I tried really hard to enjoy this album and view it objectively, but I suppose this just isn't my cup of psychedelic curry.

"Muzak" is the fourth album of a Portuguese outfit SATURNIA, released in 2007. Realized mysterious addiction to magical, tribal sound dimension around this album, not only the sleeve (needless to say). Their soundscape can be defined as heavy, floating goblet drum stamps vouched by convoluted, hypno-driven rhythm showers. It's their mystic point and agonistic musical behaviour for us to get immersed in it definitely.

From the beginning of the first track "Mindrama", we can get risky, dangerous riffs and upbeat ballooning pumps. This repetitive melodic effect reminds me of some lectures by a religious organization, which attract persons mentally in trouble. The atmosphere turns over a spacey channel upon the following "Organza", featuring bongo's brilliant rhythm prints and mystic rites. Not only upon this stuff but also upon the fourth chord "infinite Chord", it's such an antagonist for pure "rock" fans enough to get kicked away, and should absorb some Indo / Raga fiends obviously. "Hedge Maze" sounds similar to the title itself ... tribe fire flying might be seen just in front of us. Via "Kite" or "Analapsis" soft, smooth spiritual experience is heard, but not difficult to realize ... some say "this just isn't my cup of psychedelic curry" though (sorry Alan :P) ... they've seasoned this spirit with catchy phrases, and this phenomenon should be heard through "Aqua" or their expectation "Nipple". One of their masterpieces in this album, launches simple dull hollow sounds flooded with internal psychic power, such a hallucinogenic agent, and pop essence. The last "Syrian", that might have anticipation of the current nation or the worldwide environment I imagine, possesses complex motivation of rhythm and melody mixes (maybe inspired by Daevid, a speaker in this track), and this should be appropriate as the last presentation revealed by them.

Recommended for psychedelic progressive rock freaks who hope to escape from the bustle of the current world, let me say.

"Muzak" was love at first listen and SATURNIA are easily my favourite band from Portugal. Funny I went into town for supplies listening to "The Sound Of Muzak" at one point. Yeah different album. This is the project of multi- instrumentalist Luis Simoes who specializes in the electric sitar but man it's a long list of instruments that he plays on here. He also sings and has five guests filling out the sound including Nik Turner adding flute on track #2 and Daevid Allen adding spoken words on "Syrian" the closer. The depth of sound, the layers, the exotic vibes with the sitar and tambura, that early 70's psychedelic vibe is strong here as in "A Saucerful Of Secrets" and mellotron. Come on! There is some variety but this is fairly uniform which I like. They have released 8 studio albums since 1999 and I have some catching up to do, this is the third release.

"Mindrama" is a great opener bringing FLOYD to mind with that urgent sound with mono-toned, low key vocals. Very much a sign of 1971. He repeats "Mindrama" over and over on the chorus. But man this is experimental to start and finish. This is such an amazing headphone album, the sounds are all over the place. "Organza" continues that vibe and we get Turner adding flute and there's also some guest electric piano that I love. "Kyte" reminds me of that song off that MORTE MACABRE album with a female going "La la la la la...." same here. Catchy stuff. "Infinite Chord" has some delay and sitar and then it explodes into an uptempo groove. Crazy synths and mellotron too along with some wordless vocals.

"Analepsis" opens with what sounds like people playing tennis as guest acoustic guitar joins in then it becomes spacey with vocals. Such a cool and drifting track, I like this one a lot. "Aqua" is powerful to start, experimental too before becoming this flute-led piece late, quite beautiful after 5 1/2 minutes. "Nipple" opens with samples before heavy beats take over and organ. Vocals are laid back as they sing over top, flute too. So much going on instrumentally once again as this plays out. "Utterly Luminescent" has a nice slow heavy beat with sitar and sounds that echo and more. It's dark as soft vocals join in. I really like "Hedge Maze" a trippy tune with echoes and beats, sitar too and vibes. Yes I'm hearing mellotron too. Love this stuff. And what a great way to end the album with "Syrian" the longest track at almost 11 minutes. So much atmosphere and Daevid speaks!