MOIRA (AKA REISE NACH IXTLAN)

MOIRA were a German band who released two albums six years apart with two completely different lineups creating some controversy when it comes to how legit this second album is. Well check out Tom Hayes article on Discogs for more about that while I stick to the music. I reviewed their debut almost 2 years ago and was left feeling a little underwelmed considering Hofmann from EMBRYO and Fischer from MISSUS BEASTLY were a part of that. This recording has no big names although the main composer Michael Stoll the bass and flautist would become a main stay with FAUST starting back in 1997 or so. This second album is so much better in my opinion. Released in 1984 it certainly bucked a trend with how it sounds and for me it's a solid 4 stars.

"Reise Nach Ixtlan" gets us started and it begins slowly with jazzy guitar and bass as it slowly builds. Synths and drums join in then organ around 3 1/2 minutes. Great sound when that organ arrives boiling away. The bass is outstanding throughout this track. The guitar starts to solo over top after 7 minutes and it sounds pretty amazing. So fluid. It stops around 9 minutes. Very busy drumming here with the bass and organ helping out. The tempo slows after 10 minutes and synths will return. "Oase" is a 3 1/2 minute tune of drums and flute throughout.

"Kristall" opens with some depth and nasty organ here and I like it! The guitar is just as good too as it starts to solo after a minute. Okay the bass and drums impress as well. It then settles back before 5 1/2 minutes but then it kicks back in 2 minutes later. One of my favourites along with the opener. "Einsame Schatten" opens with bass, drums and organ before we get some nice guitar work after 2 minutes along with synths. I like the way the guitar and keys trade off briefly followed by a calm. Vocals in German for the first time on the album 4 minutes in. "Resume" is the just over a minute closer with spoken German words along with experimental sounds.

1984 wasn't exactly a stellar year for adventurous music so this is a breath of fresh air.