MANTRIC MUSE

Intrigued by both the deliciously vivid cover (Yeah Rocky, that trick does work!) as well as the 2 reviews I had read up to now from spacemeister Rivertree and Kingsnake, I embarked on the galactic journey to search for this tantalizing celestial asteroid of sound. Recently, perhaps due to the recent passing of my father, I have been attracted to interplanetary sonics from Moonwagon (Finland), Pymlico (Norway), Giorgio C. Neri (Italy), Centric Jones (USA) and now the Danes from Mantric Muse!

This is a killer recording, closer perhaps to Ozric Tentacles and instrumental classic Gong (Hillage era) than say Hawkwind. The sounds detected are highly warp-speed groove oriented with bassist Michael Kroglund carving the deepest seismic furrows a la Zia Geelani, kept into auto-gyro mode by proton drummer Soren Holm Hvilsby, making sure there is no deviation from the flight plan. Guitarist Magnus Hannibal and keysman Ola Eriksson interweave intensely, both firing off an array of 'lasersonic' weapons that sizzle into the outermost horizons. Chirping, bubbly and tortuous, the synths offer a kaleidoscope of sounds and textures that keeps the listener on edge and enthralled. The guitar work is far from slick (like Ozric leader Ed Wynne) as Magnus prefers some filthier tone selections that run the gamut from Hendrix and Moonwagon's Joni Tiala to sweeter lines like Hillage and even Hackett. All the tracks have the same premise, a voyage until you drop from exhaustion, with no syrupy ballads to sweeten the mood, just wham-bam, compulsive interplanetary travel.

On a track like the comically titled 'Spunx', the intrepid audionaut is phasered into submission, as the material is obsessively funky and alternatively beastly. Hannibal does some serious growling here, as Eriksson liberates his synthesizers to roam freely, a startling contrast of brilliant sonic stars exploding in front of the windscreen, propelled viscerally by the fanatical rhythm section. On 'Azur' the sky is blue, the sea is green, fluffy white clouds and streaming panoramas abound, the adventure profound, merciless and ultimately very satisfying. Check out the thinly veiled humor, with titles like 'Deep Sea Cheops' (awwww!) and 'Gnoxience'!

One of the main attractions of the space/psychedelic genre is the unceremonious sense of escape and timeless travel it so proudly proposes, no flirtation with current fads or more acceptable forms of popular music. Plus its perfect driving music, slip the disc into the car stereo (my 2 door Honda Civic 2012 spacecraft has 6 speakers, yum!), set the controls to the heart of the sun and boom, turn on the ignition, head on down the highway and be a star. Vrooooom! Flying through rural Alberta farmland with clear blue skies and no discernable traffic, this is as close to navigating heaven's earthly corridors one can find.

5 Repetitive Ruminations