TRIPWAVE 2 - COLLECTION OF MODERN RUSSIAN PSYCHEDELIC MUSIC

The first Tripwave sampler saw the light of day in 2011 already. Man, how time flies! When this CD arrived, I still can remember that, it was a pleasant surprise for me. Five years later now I have the second edition in my hands. As is usual worked out with passion, concerning the sleeve and the musical content either. About half of the bands are already added to the PA database. The others are featured with previously unreleased songs recorded this year, without exception. Predominantly tracks by young bands who want to express their bright and affecting ideas concerning the psychedelic/space genre.

So probably we have to await some newcomer albums soon, released on the label Trail Records, which is run by Vlad Milyavsky and Alex Tsalikhin from New York. Both have excellent relations to the Russian psych / space / ethno scene. Genre fans definitely can rely on their taste, this manifested by a sought out catalogue. Female vocals with ethereal, ethno, shamanic expression are properly represented on this album. Nine bands and songs are offered in total, and the compilation starts with a CIOLKOWSKA contribution taken from their debut album, showing a distinctive interplay of two guitars, a common electric one as well as the ukulele.

A highlight for sure is the extended Ethno Song featuring expressive guitar appearance and Rada singing in a rather ecstatic manner. Wow, this one is worthwhile alone! SONORA comes with Canyon, stylistically akin to Sky Cries Mary a bit. And OLE LUKKOYE veterans won't be missed of course with an excerpt from their current album. Rounded up by POLSKA RADIO ONE with the retro styled Shagri-La, 'Tripwave 2' is a neat appetizer overall, calling for some attention with reason.

US label TRAIL RECORDS has a good track record of being a high-quality label, specializing in psychedelic progressive rock in general and Russian artists active in that genre in particular. They have released several compilation albums over the years, and "Tripwave 2" is the follow-up to the first "Tripwave" album-project from 2011, showcasing some well known and quite a few lesser known Russian artists. This second CD in the series was released in the fall of 2016.

"Tripwave 2" is a solid collection of contemporary Russian psychedelic progressive rock. The album manage to showcase that there are many bands exploring rather different types of this music in Russia today, and while the more established bands does come across as slightly more interesting with their contributions this CD as a whole comes across as a worthwhile, quality product. If you have a taste for psychedelic progressive rock in many flavors, this is a production that merits an inspection. Especially if you are curious about music of this nature from the Russian scene, to state the obvious.