AKASHA

This one took a while to really get a handle on and absorb. It's hard to believe this was released in 1977 because it sounds more like something from the late sixties. I think that's half it's charm while the other half is the mellotron. Haha.Yes mellotron is all over this one,along with plenty of synths and spacey sounds. Vocals are in English and suit this psychedelic music just fine.

"Isle Of Kawi" is the longest track at 11 minutes. It opens with spacey sounds that are joined by a quickly strummed guitar. The guitar stops a minute in as spacey sounds dominate. Mellotron floods the soundscape 2 minutes in with more spaciness to follow. Themes are repeated. Vocals after 4 1/2 minutes remind me of FLOYD as mellotron flows. A keyboard melody follows 5 minutes in reminding me of FRUITCAKE. It sounds like the same keyboard ! More mellotron 9 minutes in with keys to end it. "Bondage" opens with strummed guitar, vocals and spacey sounds. The tempo picks up with melotron a minute in as well as guitar, drums and lots of spacey synths. Slow paced vocals come in until the uptempo melody returns 4 minutes in. The song changes to a brighter sound 5 1/2 minutes in with vocals, keys and mellotron. Nice. "Regitativ" features some gentle guitar with background sounds. Vocals followed by an uptempo melody follows. The drumming is prominant. Nice guitar solo with mellotron to end it.

"Electronic Nightmare" is pretty much 2 minutes of electronic sounds. "Death Hymn" opens with drums as synths swirl about. A change 2 minutes in as spoken words come in reminding me of ELOY. The instrumental work here is tasteful with mellotron waves. Some singing before 4 minutes is brief before the spoken words come back. "Light And Darkness" is a cool song that opens quietly with cymbal sounds then reserved vocals. A minute in the vocals are passionate as is the raw guitar. It becomes 60's sounding 2 1/2 minutes in but also reminding me of some of the nineties alternative bands i've listened to. I like it. It's like he shouts out the lyrics. It ends with laughing. "The Trip" features vocals, FRUITCAKE-keys, drums and a storm of mellotron. Great tune. Some outstanding drumming. "Man Of The Void" is pastoral with vocals and mellotron. The tempo changes quickly a few times. The best part of the song is 2 minutes in when he sings slowly with spacey sounds, gentle guitar and light drums. A 60's flavour follows with mellotron. It ends with waves of sound coming and going.

Barely 4 stars. A must for fans of both psychedelic music and mellotron.

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