AGAPANTHUSTERRA

'Agapanthusterra' is the debut of this space rock band from Belgium headed by composer and keyboarder Pieter van den Broeck. He uses the alias Pete Mush which is not unusual for this species of musicians being more along the way through the universe than staying on their home base. This private press release shows the band in the vein of the earlier OZRIC TENTACLES sound distinctly.

That means the songs are mainly grooving, controlled by Mush's spacey keyboard/synthesizer contributions and propelled by the excellent drummer Gino Bartolini. You really can search for a genre album where the instruments are mixed with such a clearness. The songs are instrumental of course and the flute plays a prominent role too. As in the nature of things you won't detect much complexity - this is played straightforward in the whole. Also not surprising - Jaro's bass lines are often provided with a raggae/dub style.

The album has its best moments in the first half. The smooth opener T.N.S.F.P is starting atmospheric ambient accompanied by a flute and vocoder deformed voices. With Lantanasch the tempo increases to a typical space rocker backed with repetitve keyboard patterns. The tile song Agapanthusterra strikes because of great dynamic coupled with breaks and heavy guitar dominated parts. Wintershades appeals much to me because of a special melancholic gliding flow. QUANTUM FANTAY also presents oriental flavoured songs - Wais Dame Dilamp once more with flute and the fascinating hallucinogenic hidden track Amoevha which finally turns the ballance to give another half star.

'Agapanthusterra' is a good debut - lacking of a stylistical independence a little bit. Anyhow - if you like the music of the TENTACLES or HIDRIA SPACEFOLK you can't make a mistake when you order this album - 3.5 stars.