SIDDHARTHA

Those who know me well, also know about my fascination and adoration of psychedelic music. Much of what I´ve reviewed here on PA reflect my wild out there leanings - those albums that melt away your brain like throwing a piece of lard on the barby. I guess these writings could lead you to believe, that I detest musical patterns and melody, but that is far from the truth. The truth, at least in these regions of music, is that my initial love of music was Pink Floyd. They were pioneers in terms of creating music that was both psychedelic but also very song based - meaning that the listener much of the time had story lines, choruses and returning melodies (Oh yes I hear you in the back: That´s not progressive matey!!! - well who bloody cares?, and yes it can in fact be progressive as well...). When I hear modern bands trying to emulate that kind of approach, I must admit to feeling a tad untouched, bored and I start looking around the room for the nearest Floyd album to get the real deal - the real fix.

Katjing! This album suddenly pops into the picture, and whilst drowning myself in contour less and eroding music - I suddenly hear strong melodies combined with a sense of nouveau Floyd soundscapes, that tickle my fancy like a midget alzheimers patient in a feather suit dancing the jig at the end of my bed. Rrrraaaauuww! Now you are probably thinking: Oh goody another copy cat band with loads of buttery Gilmour soloing.

I will put your minds at ease, and start by saying that you need not to worry: Of course there´s buttery Gilmour soloing....., but not like you´d think that is...

Siddhartha is a Turkish band, and even though I pride myself with having music from the far side of the globe, the only other album I have from this country, is by a symphonic act called Asia Minor. Compared to Asia Minor that perhaps wields the most peculiar of all English accents known to prog, you´d be hard pressed to hear where Siddhartha hail from, if it wasn´t for those small sneaky Arabian melodies that from time to time are played by an elegant sounding electric guitar. These are very effective sections by the way and furthermore constitute a small part of what makes this album so good: a multitude of different characteristics.

You´ll hear spacey synths steaming and oozing from behind the tracks like some sonic back draft from an invisible door. They are there, but then again not really. Just like those waves of sound you´ll get from a pensive Richard Barbieri, they exist like musical ghosts hovering ballet instructors. In the front of these surrealistic vacuums of sound, you´re treated to melodies led mostly by electric guitars(one track is with an acoustic). Using massive build ups, without ever getting in the vicinity of post rock, these guitars utilize swaying and fluctuating riffing that orgasm in - yep, you´ve guessed it: buttery Gilmour solos! But not quite, as this ax man is far more fiddly(in a good way though), and he relies on completely different musical ideas. In fact, I am quite sure the third track is a spacey psychedelic rendition of the melodic guitar refrain from Metallica´s Unforgiven, without being a rip off. That´s diversity for ya right there. As a natural musical eruption of these soft wailing guitars, you quite often also get another solo intertwining itself into the main line, and beautiful things are afoot - shooting you right out of your sofa and into the skies. This guy is a real treat, and the way he infuses his culture into the notes is masterful and subtle, just like a Persian ninja sneaking his hand up your skirt. Swish!!

What definitively shifts the focus away from the Floyd, and adds a deep bountiful and rawkous foundation - is an incredibly heavy drummer. This dude sounds like a cement mixer! He changes the face of the music, which by itself would be soothing and psychedelic, - and puts a hot poker up its backside. I could say something ludicrous along the lines of: This is a rocking Pink Floyd on steroids, and whilst being close to the truth, - it would also diminish what this band has successfully achieved, and that is to have created an astounding piece of psychedelic tinged song based music.

There are no duds on this album, and the farther you get into its bosom the more enthralling and alluring it gets. The soft bitter sweet vocals are another hit, which brings a fragility to the mix that is highly intoxicating and used very effectively in all the right places. Soaring male siren singing in a world of grunts, coarseness or whiny margarine.

Needless to say, that if you´re into Floyd and how they rolled in the mid 70s, you should need this like a parrot needs a pirate´s shoulder. Fans of Porcupine Tree and Vespero should definitely also try this album, as it conveys a way of developing and enhancing a form of music that once was monopolized by a single artist. Well not any more boyo! 4.5 original stars.

What we're dealing with here is refined space rock; where the dominating elements are floating synths and driving bass pretty similar to what you'll find on German act Eloy's album Ocean and the gentler excursions of late 70's Pink Floyd. Spiced up with heavier passages at select times; mostly courtesy of slow, powerful riffs and riff patterns.

The tunes, in particular the longer ones, offers frequent changes of pace, atmosphere and mood; with frequent build-ups to richly textured or majestic sonic tapestries taken back to sparse, slow and mellow themes with a gradual build-up to the next monumentous top. Skillfully done, with spacey synths and searching drawn out guitar licks providing the space in the space rock here.

An intelligent and well crafted production, that sounds relevant even a decade after it was made.

"A Trip To Innerself" opens with spoken words as spacey sounds come and go. Drums and a fuller sound come in as the guitar cries out. It becomes fuller after 4 1/2 minutes with some outstanding guitar. A spacey calm before 6 minutes. Drums return and the tempo picks up after 8 minutes and the sound builds. Here we go ! The intro to "The Explorer" sounds great with the bass and drums leading the way in a psychedelic haze. Vocals a minute in. Love the gentle guitar after 1 1/2 minutes. The guitar is ripping it up a minute later. Themes are repeated. Check out the guitar 6 minutes in ! "Desert" is a cool track with intricate acoustic guitar melodies and reserved vocals. Great sound ! "Kervin" has a good rhythm with organ. Guitar 1 1/2 minutes in trades off with the organ. The percussion is prominant 2 1/2 minutes in to the end. "Baroque" is such a beautiful track. Very intricate and melodic. It changes before 2 minutes to become heavier and darker. It gets pretty intense 3 minutes in and then returns to the original melody with a more prominant guitar line.

"Nervous Breakdown" opens with psychedelic sounds that come and go. It settles 2 minutes in with spacey winds. It kicks back in before 3 minutes with some excellent drumming. The guitar is leading the way 4 1/2 minutes in. It calms down before 6 1/2 minutes before the guitar is at it again. Nice. Intense after 8 minutes with yelling and laughing before it settles with dreamy vocals. Gorgeous section. Organ 9 1/2 minutes in and then the guitar lights it up after 10 minutes and goes on and on. So emotional ! "Beyond Destiny" has this slow swirling melody. The vocals before 1 1/2 minutes remind me of the Norwegian band THE USE OF ASHES. The guitar winds it out after 4 1/2 minutes. Piano later. Amazing track ! Great lyrics as well. "Distant Cry" is a beautiful PORCUPINE TREE-like song with reserved vocals, piano and tasteful guitar. It does get fuller. "OM" is trippy and spacey with female vocals. Piano 3 1/2 minutes. Organ before 6 minutes as the sound builds. Some male spoken words come in briefly. It stops 9 minutes in and then a hidden track appears before 12 minutes. This one has an ethnic feel to it at first then it settles. Some prominant guitar and organ late.

If I had to pick my top three they would be "Nervous Breakdown", "Distant Cry" and "A Trip To Innerself". A must for Psychedelic fans out there.

They should not be confused with the eponymous 70's german krautrock act which released the obscure album 'Weltschmerz'. This SIDDHARTHA band comes from Turkey though featuring six musicians. Unfortunately they were disbanded in 2001. Besides the rhythm section two guitarists and keyboard/synth players are caring for a lush sound. You will also find some additional artists who are bringing more versatility to the sound. Every song is differing, provided with other facets. Additionally they are interspersing some native oriental elements here and there.

It's surely correct to say that SIDDHARTHA have a dominant spacey and psychedelic fundament. The long tracks are the album's highlights in any case - floating with some jam character. You will detect a lot of synthesizer patterns, echoing guitars and some Pink Floyd leanings. Crossing the ten minute mark the title track is an excellent example here provided with a cosmic vibe plus a gripping progress.

But their music is equally reaching for the art rock territory getting near to some Porcupine Tree output. The mellow Distant Cry comes probably as the closest one. The Explorer is provided by a grooving skeleton and this develops to a high energetic performance in the end with crashing guitar riffs. As for the contrary the ballad Desert follows immediately based on acoustic guitars. Baroque consists of some nice spinet similar moments. And Beyond Destiny is representing an eclectic style coupled with funfair organ.

The album's longest track Nervous Breakdown shines with diversified guitars when alternating between floating and rocking parts. The suitable title comes from a short interlude where it all gets weird accompanied by a crazy overburdening voice. No worry - the band is able to recollect soon. The closing Black impresses me because of the melancholic mood, emotional guitar work and fascinating female vocal appearance by Nil Karaibrahimgil. The hidden track mania does not even stop here. Officially noted with a length of less than nine minutes you are surprised with a bonus which enlarges the song involving an ambient flow arranged by synthy patterns and mellow guitars.

TRAIL Records have released another high quality album - shrouded in mystery a little bit because re-served after 10 years. 'A Trip To Innerself' contains quite diversified material offered by a skilled band and is worked out with an excellent sound mix. It's worth it to have a listen.