CHICKENCAGE EXPERIENCE

Yep, the CHICKENCAGE EXPERIENCE crew has enlarged the ominous Röchelverzeichnis once again! In 2012 they significantly irritated the world, the UNESCO especially, with their splendid space rock tongue twister debut 'An Eggspoiltation Movie'. This time the message is concentrated by definition, more of a common song oriented outfit, less extended - musically closer to the former Polytoxicomane Philharmonie approach, while also including a proper amount of Zappa-esque respectively Canterbury-esque moments. Hereby the vocal sister act Michaela Flame and Howling Mad Fishli is operating way more earthbound and charming ... but ... don't worry ... still emphatically against the mainstream and 'The Temple Walls Of Pop Music', as they promise.

Mayday Sister Mayday ... I'm not sure if they totally could chase those galactic outlaws with success since then, namely Krokko Redd, Spacecop Goodbad and Agent Froggenstein. This subjects must have made a lasting impression at least, to cut a long story short, as they still get a mention in between. Even one song title directly refers to their former dangerous trip. However, the show must go on, now they are on their next ambitious ride, reaching for the black belt in kama sutra ... any questions? Which excercises do we need for this? A proper groove overall, crazy excursions, blatantly melodic parts, an OH! here, a WOW! there, some surprises all over the shop ... you have to make the game safe, you obviously have to impress. And finally you will need a 'let's do it again!' by way of explanation.

As for that the CHICKENCAGE EXPERIENCE succeed, if you ask me. 'KamaSutra BlackBelt' marks a new rounded affair, stylistically unpredictable, where the closing instrumental jam Whitewash - while featuring wonderful electric piano and guitar.- will impress space rock afficionados first and foremost. I would also emphasize the lovely Thousand Miles - showing the vocal sisters in best form - and standing for their typical 'psychedelic pop tunes from the vault' ... wait! What did they actually promise? A contradiction? Nada, just another sign, that their music is reputable enough, but please, please don't take those messages too seriously which are continuously arriving from the chickencage .

Furthermore you frequently will hear support coming from cello, xylophon and especially diverse wind instruments. Eh ... maybe this is caused by the mysterious Apocryphal Special School Orchestra, which is listed for the line-up... however ... I won't be surprised if this turns out to be a new chicanery. Thus I would prefer to bet on Onkel, performing some magic with synthesizer and samples. But who knows? Here we have a prolific presence over the course, exorbitant song-writing qualities, excellent musicianship, an album full of humour and thoughtfulness including unique funny illustrations - this shadowy combo undoubtedly belongs to the cream of the crop which is available at the moment when it comes to jazz tinged psychedelic/space prog. Well, it's your own fault if you still decide to miss the train!

Unobtrusive but with style!?

Well, if you should fall into dispair when being faced with an album that shows such a hilarious band name and cover art ... eh ... don't bother, it's part of an infinite plan, you should know. A plan we'll never comprehend. A plan which can't fail as long as they continue - yeah, promised. The more you try to understand the context, the more you're puzzled afterwards. Believe me, all such attempts will ultimately fail. So what's going on here? I really dont know - however, at the least I can give a little clue. CHICKENCAGE EXPERIENCE is a Polytoxicomane Philharmonie offshoot, just a collateral damage ... oh no!!!! Yes, those creatures who are constantly acting on the border of genius and delirium. That means some like-minded musicians are back, always situated in the Frankfurt region when temporarily returning to Mother Earth.

Are they confused human beings ... or disguised aliens which still have some problems to assimilate as rumours tenaciously circulate? Who can say that? Just watch the included DVD or try to explore the instruction leaflet, and you will get a valid snapshot how they interpret existence. In any case 'An Eggspoiltation Movie' comes as a totally spaced out thing in best Polytoxicomane Philharmonie tradition again. Some aspects are different nevertheless, which probably forced the decision to act under a new unbiased project name. Hi, welcome ... for example the otherwordly (officially Austrian) singer/keyboardist MichaeLa Flame is on board, perfectly complementing with Howling Mad Fishli. Mysterious and ethereal impressions are the result - even the vocal output is improvised most certainly.

Of course the Philharmonie's instrumental core appears again - nearly under the radar though - while acting as the 'Gebrüder Schlimm' on this occasion ... which means a new incarnation of the honourable Emir Of Quaver on the drums, space guitar cadet Wum and driving force Onkel on bass and keyboards. On the other hand saxophone virtuoso Matelot Au Vin seemed to be on vacation somehere on the Milky Way during the recording sessions. Some will regret his absence - in any case it has a big share that the jazzy aspects are reduced to a minimum on this album.

'The whole of the universe is a cluster of hopeless situations' ... oh, I really do hope this is not their final word. That statement may have been massively forced as a reaction on some UNESCO interventions in order to prevent the release of this album, after they came back from their planet-hopping recording sessions. And this points to the video DVD most notably due to the presence of the galactic outlaws named 'Krokko Redd', 'Spacecop Goodbad' and 'Agent Froggenstein'. Stay cool, please still believe in mankind. Why? Because at least the German NASONI Records label had the courage to exploit this wondering stuff. Hip, hip, hooray!

Keep going ... seriously though ... so - this might be obvious in the meanwhile - the package contains an audio CD which offers their somewhat concentrated musical message covering 76 intriguing minutes, and a way more extended video medium which either shows the band acting at their chickencage capsule, also called 'Smith's Bunker' ... or alternatively the new vocal half-sisters while trying to establish themselves. Musically we are introduced to an entertaining blend of groovy affairs and hallucinatory floating episodes all over.

Where the opener The Eternal End convinces due to a nice drive which serves a little jazzy vibe, the following segment Lascivious Dungeon Tales shows them going into a tailspin finally, deeply descending into psychedelic space, with excellently corresponding voices getting close to something oriental or even shamanic. By no means I want to open a competitiion here, but I have to make a special note of that - besides Electric Orange and those diverse Sula Bassana collaborations this currently reflects the peak when it comes to psychedelic space rock productions, at least in Germany.

Based on Emir's excellent drum presence, Wum's soaring guitar activity and Onkel's guiding bass they deliver a fantastic musical journey throughout. This is decorated with nice organ respectively piano contributions here and there. Especially the floating moments are dominated by extraterrestrial female vocals. As usual the production is way back from something amateurish. As you will rediscover the complete audio CD content on the DVD there's no way to miss the video sequences. Absolutely worthwhile to follow them on their self-concentrated trip, sometimes interrupted by weird interludes - 4.5 stars.