MASTER MUSICIANS OF BUKKAKE

Western Horizon

Ethereal, Transformative, meditative. While it sounds like words from the mouth of a Yoga instructor, they are put to much better use in describing the new outing from Seattle's Master Musicians of Bukkake collective. Far West is a landscape that extends very far, and over all sorts of terrain during the two sides of the LP. A somewhat more refined and wise effort from the group, with a gorgeous cover by Simon Fowler that deserves to be seen in the 12" format, it starts out with static-like noise leading into a very Pink Floyd "Welcome To The Machine"-esque pulsating synth sounds with acoustic guitar parts chiming in above. The production is very good, the instruments all being easily heard and picked out in their places. The stereo effect is nice too, many things are panned to the extreme left or right, setting themselves apart amid the sometimes dense layers. This is all based on the mastering for the vinyl edition mind you.

The music is both ancient and futuristic. Sometimes sounding like middle eastern world music and other times the soundtrack to a horror film. Slow building instrumentals like "White Mountain Return" lead to songs with chant-like vocal parts, a little like that of Grizzly Bear, that are just low enough in the mix to blend in ("Gnomi"). There's a steady fuzz of electric guitar laying in the background, with acoustics coming to the forefront for their texture and ringing, natural tones, much like they've done the previous trilogy of albums, but with more finesse this time. "Arche" is more rugged and pounding, invoking the snake charmer in my dreams, while "Cave of Light: The Prima Materia" is more like clouds floating overhead ' in a sort of menacing way. You know that their movement symbolizes the passing of time, and accept this readily, but know that it eventually leads to your own demise.

The last track is almost upbeat by comparison, and makes me think they perhaps didn't want to leave the listener in too dour of a mood ("The Circular Ruins"). It is based on the story of the same name by Jorge Louis Borges from 1940, that fittingly enough, deals with immortality. I have a feeling this Western adventure is only beginning.

This stuff will guide you into a special trance mood - in the case that you really take your time. Ideally you put the headphones on, relax and open up your mind when listening. MASTER MUSICIANS OF BUKKAKE have created a new age drug here, still legal yet, but who knows ... Probably it makes addicted, but I couldn't detect side effects so far. This album sounds as if they've been to the most isolated regions of Indonesia for a year or so and then came back deeply inspired by Gamelan and diverse ritual dances demonstrated by native inhabitants.

This does not mean you should expect tracks reduced on ethno/world impressions alone. This is all decorated with many synthesizer goodies and electric respectively acoustic guitars here and there, which turns it all to a modern outfit. I recommend to listen in one go anyway. They offer a dark mooded, maybe even slightly creepy start with multiple chimes, tribal percussion/drums, subtle spacey synth patterns - a preview of the mantra-like, hypnotic album content which will wrap you up if you're in the right mood - promised.

Don't know what equipment they used in particular. Later they add more hallucinatory coloured oriental impressions, Saz and as for the flute it sounds like Nay or Nagasvaram. Guitar drones are leading over to People Of The Drifting Houses with vocals by Alan Bishop from the 'Sun City Girls', a band which was specialized on gigs with a mystic performance art including weird costumes and make-up in the same way. Schism Prism is a killer track which contains a halting repetitive (Turkish?) dance rhythm. Coming towards the end it all loses structure, glides into a weird cosmic flow and then leads into a fantastic furious finale - wow!

And then the wonderfully charming Cascade Cathedral gives you time to relax afterwards featuring flute and acoustic guitars. It took some time for me to make friends with 'Totem One' - in some way similar to Dragontears as for the trancey behaviour, but surely more out of touch with things. Additionally I would count the Russian band Kalutaliksuak when it comes to a comparison. The ethno flavour they present appears surprisingly authentic. This album deserves some appreciation due to the courageous approach ... so much the more because it's successful in the end.