HYPNOSIS OF THE 12TH DEGREE

This is the third album of the Finnish psychedelic rock band, and again there are some changes in the line-up, concerning mostly vocal duties and bass. Musically the group hasn't taken a radically new route. Their fairly accessible combination of Psych/Space Rock and Classic Rock sounds as confident as ever, occasionally with a charming elegance in which the question of prog substance becomes irrelevant. Especially the use of multiple (three-man) vocals nicely enriches the feeling of vintage Classic Rock in general. Saxophone is still present, a feature that I would have been quite happy without in the soundscape of this band, but other listeners may wholeheartedly appreciate it.

The opening song has a Hawkwind-like drive that keeps pushing forward like a steam train, a bit monotonously. It was the second piece, 'Acid Rain', that I immediately found myself enjoying the most. The layered guitars sound very classy and refreshing, reminding me of Wishbone Ash and somehow also B.Ö.C's 'Don't Fear the Reaper' in the spirit. Relatively calm 'Fractions' is perhaps the finest one for the vocal harmonies.

The album's instrumentally oriented, 9-minute title track relies on the repetitive psychedelic jamming and may get slightly boring for the listener. The shortest song 'Lost in the Medina' has a hint of Raga Rock in its lazy tempo, in a Kingston Wall reminding way. The second longest track 'Saharan Lament' is imho better than the title track. The psychedelic space rock repetitiveness is combined with hazy and more emotional moments, and also the mightiest guitar solo is in it.

My rounding down of three and a half stars is not necessarily indicating this is anyhow weaker than their previous album. Definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a more Classic Rock sounding Psych/Space Rock than the likes of Hawkwind.