CERIMÒNIES

The second album from this band from Spain. Originally a guitar/bass/drums trio but now featuring a sax/clarinet player and a guest female vocalist. The guitarist (who also sings) plays other stringed instruments, like sitar. There is some keyboards but mostly it is spacey synth noises. Although spacey, the music here can be just as jazzy. You could say the sound here is somewhat 'retro' but nothing sounds very derivative. "Fins que el sol es torni fum" fades in with some spacey goodness before a syncopated drumbeat, sax, wah-guitar and bass join it. After some vocals we are treated to some 'classic rock' style guitar soloing. Gets a little free form in the middle before going very jazzy. "Sa clau" is the shortest track but seems longer than it is. Features a memorable vocal line and what sounds like slide guitar.

"On els sants es tornen esclaus" is the longest track and most traditionally 'psychedelic'. Lots of drones, percussion sounds and sitar. Grooves along with vocals for awhile. Towards the middle is an interesting sound - not sure what it is. A steady beat and some chanting for a bit. A repetitive riff dominates for awhile. "Ouroborus" opens and closes with a call to prayer. Has an easy going space rock vibe that picks up. Sounds like some electric piano and organ in this track. Everything kind of floats around before another groove gets set up. Very Hendrix style guitar playing before it gets more 'stoner rock' sounding.

"Batec" opens very electronic sounding. On this track you hear guest vocalist Christina Garrett, whose voice is multi-tracked. The majority of the song is in a spacey groove with some fluid bass playing. The last minute is made up of orchestral sounds from a symphony or some such. "Stockhausen Melancolic Jazz" has a great title but is more jazz than Karlheinz Stockhausen. The guitar is at its most jazzy on this track. Lots of spacey effects going on. Eventually there is arpeggios on guitar, the sax gets skronkier, the synths get more trippy and you hear someone talking. Some harmony vocals near the end. Overall, a decent effort and fairly consistent with no real highs and no real lows. Recommended to those who enjoy the more 'retro' sounding modern space bands. I'll give this a 3.5 and round it up to 4 stars.

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