Six years
after the release of West Space and Love Vol.l, the three key members (the ØresundSpace Collective’s sonic shaman Dr Space and current and former members of the Swedish
Heavy Prog band Siena Root, Love Forsberg and KG West) reunited in a studio to
lay down some 70s krautrock influenced tracks for a brand new album. Whereas
the previous collaboration was more of an acoustic, Indian music inspired album
with five sitar based tracks that were totally improvised, Vol.ll is far more
synthesizer based with WS&L conjuring up soundscapes that take inspiration
from bands such as Tangerine Dream, Pink Floyd, Popol Vuh and Agitation Free.
Another major difference is that this record is less of a collection of
improvised pieces, having far more focus and a much stronger structure from
more judicious self-editing than previously. It’s a fantastic listening
experience as it twists and turns through the dimensions in sound, taking in
early 70s Krautrock, Eastern flavoured Space Jazz, post-Psychedelic Pink Floyd,
Indian music inspired improvisations and experimental percussion pieces………..we
suggest you roll a few before this one hits the turntable.
Making it
clear right from the outset where the influences lie with this record, the
opening track is titled ‘Floyd’s Dream’ and like the title suggests it is a
blend of classic Pink Floyd and Tangerine Dream……………the sound of pulsing
sequencers and spiralling synths from TD’s mid 70s heyday underpin Gilmour-esque
guitar playing, setting the controls for a journey through a burning brain
which pulls you straight into WS&L’s infinite universe. There is a change
of mood for ‘Khan Paan’ which taps into the Indian vibes of the first album and
with the addition of violin and santoor from Jonathan Segal and Moa Danielson on
this track and ‘Øscillations In D minor’ really takes everything up to another
level. ‘Khan Paan’ with its jazzy violin has a the feel of John McLaughlin’s
Eastern musical explorations with Shakti and the Mahavishnu Orchestra (once
they slowed down enough to take a breath) while ‘Øscillations In D minor’
sounds more improvised, gently ebbing and flowing before exploding into a
squalling Space Rock breakdown. ‘2002’ is an exhilarating improvised percussion
led track full of bubbling and squelching synths and ‘Pig In Space’ again
features Love Forsberg’s drumming on a track that would not sound out of place
on Chrome’s Alien Soundtracks. Flip the disc and as well as the aforementioned ‘Øscillations
In D minor’ there are two more excellent Kraut inspired ethnic musical
excursions with more than a passing nod to post Syd Pink Floyd. ‘Anybody Out
There’ is a mix of subtly pulsing synths/ethnic percussion and swirling
synthesizers which sees WS&L moving into Popol Vuh territory which glides
seamlessly into the albums closing track ‘Time Compression’. ‘Time Compression’
is a track that FloydHeads will really dig as it blends Richard Wright’s
swelling Hammond sound with Eastern flavours………it’s a postcard from Sufi
mystics with Wish You Were Here writ large. West Space And Love Vol.ll is an absolutely
stunning mix of the not so very Far East and the very Far Out, blending
together the core elements of pioneering early 70s German electronic music and
evocative Eastern influences mixed with a substantial amount post Syd acid
burnout and pre Roger Waters megalomaniac dickhead Pink Floyd which flows
beautifully from start to finish………fans of the more spacy Psych bands, 70s
ProgHeads and children of the bong need to check this record. Shine on you crazy
Potheads.
West Space
And Love Vol.ll is due for release by Space Rock Productions sometime in July
(check the Space Rock Productions website for more details and distribution info) and will be
available in a variety of formats……………..there will be a limited run of 600
vinyl copies (120 clear, 180 white and 300 black) and 500 copies on CD. Dig it
People, it’s a corker of a record.
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