MYTHOS

Mythos is a space-rock gem from the Berlin Kraut scene. The sound is built with equal parts of 60s Pink Floyd, early Hawkwind and ethnic influences. The production isn't always up to snuff but the creative ideas were surely running wild.

Mythoett is a surprising opener, for a Kraut album at least. It's a very melodious and gentle classic theme for flutes, bass guitar and drums. It reminds very much of Jethro Tull's Bourrée. It's light-years apart from the psychedelic splendor that follows on Oriental Journey. Indian percussion and sitar create the Oriental atmosphere and strong emotional vocals make it into an outstanding track.

Hero's Death is very indebted to Pink Floyd, getting the clashing cymbals from Set the Controls / Saucerful of Secrets, and the main riff from Gilmour's Narrow Way pt II. In true Black Sabbath style, the plaintive vocals sing along with the main riff. The production puts the drums very much to the background which makes everything sound very subdued and slightly chaotic. Only the volume knob offers a way around this.

The second half of the album consists of fine instrumental space-rock, fit for Floyd Hawkwind and Ash Ra Temple fans.There's some environmental spoken word at the end explaining how man is destroying the earth. It sounds a bit preachy and besides, I'm not one who needs to be further convinced we're a destructive bunch. Luckily we have such fine music to make us forget all doom and gloom.

Nice kraut/space-rock gem not to be missed for fans of early Floyd, Hawkwind and Ash Ra Tempel.