NIK TURNER & YOUTH: INTERSTELLAR ENERGY

The former HAWKWIND member continues to release solid albums late in his career including one from this year. That would be 8 studio albums in 10 years and he seems to be able to get just about whoever he wants to play on them. He's very much revered in the Psychedelic and Krautrock worlds but also among some of the Jazz community as seen on his "Space Fusion Odyssey" album where Cobham, Goodman and Etheridge hopped on board along Jazz guitarist Chris Poland and some Krautrock legends. Nik also likes to bring in these talented young musicians for a few albums then change it up, keeping it fresh.

Of the four I own of his eight since 2013 this is my least favourite but it's still a solid record. He brought in a musician named YOUTH who plays bass, drones and synths plus he produced this album then we get this young band called THE SPACE FALCONS. YOUTH was also featured on an earlier record. I do like the overall sound of this album as it's very much a sax driven album and quite spacey. I'm surprised at the lack of guitar as it takes a back set to even the violin which I'm just not big on here preferring Simon House's sound and style from the earlier days. Still despite sounding samey I just like Nik's style of playing and I love spacey music so it's all good.

Six songs over 38 and half minutes is just about right feeling he was starting to lose me on the second last song called "Syrnus" but then the closer surprised me sounding like old school Psychedelia early on. Catchy too. Yes an all instrumental affair and the one track I'd sample is "Tesla" which I just can't get enough of despite being the shortest one on here. A lot of atmosphere and synths on this recording as well and the other track that I really like is the opener "Space" at 10 1/2 minutes opening with spacey winds before the atmosphere rolls in followed by sax and this catchy beat and the ride begins.

This seems like a long way from Nik's debut solo album "Exitintoday" from 1978 but even on that one he had Howlett, Hillage and Blake from GONG helping out and of course the unique circumstance of playing in the Great pyramid in Egypt and recording it for that album. "Interstellar Energy" is a must for sax fans out there.