Psychedelic World Music: Discovery

Ever since the late 1960s/early 1970s, when groups like Pink Floyd, Eloy, and Hawkwind were taking listeners to colorful new worlds, psychedelic music has been one of the most sprawling and bold genres. While newer bands like Amplifier, Oceansize, and Ozric Tentacles are noticeably keeping the field alive, there are plenty of other, lesser-known acts doing fascinating things within the same realm. Case in point—Psychedelic World Music: Discovery, an eclectic compilation of under-the-radar gems. Truth be told, this is some of the most wonderfully exploratory and vibrant music I've heard in a long time.

First up is "Aurora," an instrumental jam by Germany's Cosmic Vibration. With shimmering guitar lines, fierce rhythms, and recurring tribal chanting, it's a bold introduction for sure. Actually, it feels like an electronic take on some of Riverside's newer compositions, as it's packed with plenty of heavy riffs and soaring guitar patterns. Next up is "Origins of Life" by Triptych, who hale from the UK. More programmed and delicate than its predecessor, this track is very earthy and sparse; that is, until the guitar solo near the end recalls pre-Signify Porcupine Tree. There's a rainfall flowing throughout, as well as a very intriguing guitar pattern, making it feel refreshing.

Later on, The Misteriosos' "The Sun" is dominating and strongly Middle Eastern, as is "Snow (Spiral Walk)" by Grey Mouse, although the latter also carries a Cream vibe that makes it seem like it was plucked from 1968. Plootoh's "Caronte" is dreamily forlorn and reserved; it's also quite slow, as if to simulate the drifting nature of despair. It's definitely a standout track, as is "The Crazy Dwarf" by Belgian troupe The Narcotic Daffodils, which lives up to its trippy name with prophetic and dissonant (and slightly meandering) freakouts. "Fishing for the Stars" is a fantastic conclusion by Zhaoze. It feels apocalyptic yet calculated, like all of the best post-rock expressions.

Few album titles are as perfectly representative of its contents as Psychedelic World Music: Discovery. Enclosed are several standout pieces that, despite some similarities in technique and timbre, establish clear identities for their creators, and the entire collection feels like a grand journey into complex, thoughtful, and carefully directed lands. If you're a fan of the aforementioned genre favorites, you'll definitely enjoy what these understudies have to offer.

Track Listing

1) Cosmic Vibration: Aurora
2) Triptych: Origins of Life
3) The Misteriosos: The Sun
4) Mouches a L'Orange: Sixty Nine
5) Deti Picasso: Kele Lao
6) Grey Mouse: Snow (Spiral Walk)
7) Plootoh: Caronte
8) The Narcotic Daffodils: The Crazy Dwarf
9) Zhaoze: Fishing for the Stars

Added: June 21st 2013
Reviewer: Jordan Blum
Score:
Related Link: Label Website
Hits: 2103
Language: english

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