HAMBURG CONCERTS

Here we have a nice limited edition release by the always reliable Dr Space and his Oresund Space Collective, a collection of favorite live performances from 2012. It contains all the unpredictable and colourful psychedelic spacerock the band is known for, and every single new release from the OSC reveals new facets and unexplored directions. Fully improvised as usual, and despite the four pieces being taken from different performances, the album still flows as a cohesive whole and makes for a sumptuous cosmic trip.

`Viking Stew Catastrophe' begins as a slow burning dark alien reggae groove in the furthest reaches of space, subtly moving through brooding unknowing black-hole tension, pulse-quickening electronic danger and finally aggressive maddening attack in the finale before you even have time to breathe. Imagine David Gilmour in his late 60's/early 70's prime jamming in the corner, with Tangerine Dream standing at the bar before being crushed and pushed aside by the stomping Hawk Lords themselves. A seamless performance that floats through a range of moods and emotions effortlessly.

The pulsing synth bubbles that open `The Church Goes To Space' sound so much more like a deep sea aquatic voyage that it makes me want to take on Bubble Man and his underwater lair in `Mega Man 2' all over again (man, that takes me back about 20 years)! Tranquil and dozy chiming electric guitar delay ripples around the speakers, brooding slinky bass slithers along the ocean surface, before gentle blowing winds lift us up and fling us towards the space lines. We spin and weave around the aural tornado, lonely yet comforting crystalline electric guitar majesty and the hint of rumbling drum thunderclaps make our heart skip a beat. We are guaranteed safety here, but the protection is soon to be tested.

`Monster Jam (excerpt)' is just that, all snarling snapping attacking danger, guitars and drums charging right for the throat of this traveller, stomping down hard and heavy, intimidating organ and howling monster wails crushing all in it's path. Soon otherworldly forces begin the difficult task of reshaping this damaged planet, dubby bass, scratchy lively searing guitar and swirling synths our colourful, playful and finally proud and joyous soundtrack that hints at the excitement and opportunity of creating life anew, full of possibilities and potential.

New life moves through `The River Flows Through Me', fused with a mix of human and alien DNA emerging from the ruins of this wrecked world. A new dawn of spiritual enlightenment and peace, the driving and melodic guitar jamming filled with renewed purpose, the glorious synth washes and strident drumming moving us ever forward. Gulping swallowing bass draws in the negative energy and disperses it into a positive humming life-force, a raging whirlwind of synesthesia as our sensory pathways are blurred as one. Time slows down, thoughtful bluesy guitar makes us ponder who we are and stops us from losing ourselves, we reflect on this altered state of being with pulsing repetitive disorientating electronic waves and beats to numb our thoughts into hypnotic bliss. The final passage is a truly moving, emotional and victorious send off, rarely before have the band sounded so uplifting, before a roaring guitar solo brimming with confidence closes the piece that might be one of the greatest moments the OSC has ever committed to disc. Waves of time, hold me close, and carry me floating into the New Age.

Although housed in a simple cardboard slipcase, special mention must go to the insane galactic rainbow explosion cover artwork, and I'm pretty sure that's some kind of cosmic rooster buried in the swirling patterns! Hopefully we see more of these limited edition live performance releases in the future, and as this one is limited to 200 copies, space cadets better get a move on and snap it up right away!

Four exploding stars.