INVISIBLE OPERA COMPANY OF TIBET (BRAZIL)

This is a consistent record though which I appreciate. INVISIBLE OPERA COMPANY OF TIBET is part of the global GONG community of bands and features the incredible talents of Fabio Golfetti and his band VIOLETO DI OUTONO. My favourite INVISIBLE OPERA COMPANY OF TIBET album is "UFO Planante" which is a masterpiece in my opinion. This live record though is very good too just not on that level. Tracks like "Radio Gnome Intro" and "Flying Teapot" reveal their GONG appreciation. And I'm wondering with Daevid Allen gone if this project will continue. There's not a lot of vocals on here but enough to make it interesting and I appreciate the chanting and wordless vocals especially. Lots of spacey sections and atmosphere. Some sampled words too that sound like a space transmission for example. A very entertaining album and more psychedelic than anything else. Easily 4 stars.

Getting a private message from Fabio back in 2011 was a starstruck moment for me and having him thank me for the review I did of "Volume 7" that his band VIOLETA DI OUTONO created was a thrill. He then asked me if I'd heard of this project I'm reviewing now which I hadn't moving him to send me "UFO Planante" from 2010 an absolute masterpiece of psychedelic/canterbury music. I was able to track down some lesser known stuff later on like this 1993 release "Glissando Spirit" which is pure psychedelia. A different lineup than that 2010 release but Fabio adds so much with that Glissando guitar plus synths and some vocals. There's keys, drums and sax too from this trio.

A long one at 71 1/2 minutes but the original vinyl was under 40 minutes so nine songs were added from those sessions and they are worthy additions to say the least. Especially "Inner Voice" one of my favourites and reminding me a little of HAWKWIND when they are mellow. Another favourite of the add on tracks is "Wizard's Garden" the longest piece at just under 10 minutes. Of the original tunes there's five that really stand out including the opener "Landing" along with "Electric Bird", "Baliman-Energy", "Stars Can Frighten You" and "Eastside" that has become the closer of the expanded disc. This is a very spacey record with the Glissando guitar crying out often plus the synths and even the sax are all creating atmosphere. Not much in the way of vocals at all.

A beautiful album of spacey music what's not to like? Easily 4 stars.

UFO Planante (2010) is their fourth album (3rd studio) and follows up Glissando Spirit (1993).

I was waiting for the next Violeta De Outono album back in 2010 so this album came to me as a surprise and initially a disappointment. But boy, oh boy, how I was wrong. UFO Planante (2010) takes the same lineup from Violeta De Outono: Fabio Golfetti (vocals and guitars), Gabriel Costa (bass) and Fred Barley (drums) and goes in a trip, a WONDERFUL trip.

'First Contact' starts the album with more than 27 minutes long. In this record the instrumental and the structured improvised themes are the most important thing, that's what makes them different from Violeta De Outono. 'Sal Paradise' is still quite lengthy with its 9 minutes but with vocals.

'Stars' and 'Spirits' are a bit smaller in length (bit more than 3 minutes each) and they bet in ballads and melodic musical landscapes. 'Landing In Shambhala' has over 11 minutes and it's more unexpected. Big emphasis to the last guitar solo. As a bonus the album has a live version of 'Moon In June' (Soft Machine).

Universal trips, focus, concentration and tranquility are some of the sensations listening to UFO Planante (2010). One of the best albums released in 2010 and unfortunately, forgotten. Highly recommended!

Key track: First Contact!

"First Contact" is the over 27 minute opener.The guitar to open is so beautiful that i can't help but be moved. Bass and drums join in then we get a second guitar that starts to solo so tastefully over top. It turns more aggressive a minute later. Check out the bass and drums 4 1/2 minutes in ! It settles before 10 1/2 minutes then kicks back in after 12 minutes. Hell yeah ! Killer drum work then the guitar is crying out in a powerful way. Drums and bass only after 16 minutes.The guitar is back and Fabio is lighting it up 19 minutes in.My God ! It then settles back as they jam.

"Sal Paradise" has this pleasant and drifting sound to start. Marching styled drums come in around 2 minutes which signal a change. Bass and drums take over then the gutar joins in. Nice. Vocals come in around 3 1/2 minutes and they remind me of early FLOYD. So good ! Some whistling 5 1/2 minutes in then the vocals return a minute later.This is such a feel good track just like the opener.

"Stars" has this beat with the guitar playing over top. It reminds me of early PORCUPINE TREE. "Spirits" has this relaxed trippy sound and I love the tone of the guitar.The drums do get aggressive.The guitar late reminds me of FLOYD.

"Landing In Shambala" opens with drums as the bass comes in along with spacey sounds.The spacey sounds end up taking over and they echo 3 1/2 minutes in.The drums and bass then return to the fore but it's still spacey. "Moon In June" is of course a SOFT MACHINE cover and it was done live in Brazil September 8th 2007. Man the guy singing sounds like Wyatt too. Just a fantastic cover. Love the guitar after 9 1/2 minutes and check out the bass before 11 minutes as the drums and guitar continue.Vocal melodies follow. Freaking perfect !

This is an absolute joy, that's the only way I can describe the experience of listening to this album.