VIA LA MUSICA

Three years since disappointing debut 'Heavenicetrip' and Colorstar have moved the goalposts onto a different playing field with 'Via La Musica', from conventional trippy space rock to something much more modern, a very successful career decision culminating (to date) in 2004's superb 'Komfort'. The spacey hooks and jams are still there, but grounded on a bed-rock of what the band's own website describes as "experimental dance music strongly influenced by electronic pop, ethno- and world music" which sums it up pretty well really. In other words, solid Ozric Tentacles country but with an eastern twist to give them a distinct personality.

The result is a much stronger album than 'Heavenicetrip' with hooks that stick in the mind as well as grooves that get the muscles twitching. Apart from 'Waterfront' there isn't much vocal melody - that would come with the next album - but use of voices plays a significant part in the varied cocktail of sound, adding an extra layer of interest to the soundscapes. Indeed, 'Waterfront' is the only track that would conventionally be considered as a song with melody and melodic structure, though in itself the melody isn't particularly memorable.

'Via La Musica' gets off to a rather slow start. The constantly evolving 'Morning Call' is nice enough without really hitting the spot, and neither do the next pair of tracks. But then you get to four absolute beauties in a row. 'Aalomadalom' is a masterpiece of its type, a progressive piece with fat beefy hooks, lovely twangy Hank-Marvin-guitar, jams to die for and a thrilling finale that leaves you panting for more. Next up is the lively, eastern tinged 'Petite Adele' awash with acoustic instruments [including sitar], more twangy guitar and a strange little 'café-france' song near the end. 'Control The Moment' returns to a more straightforward techno-dance style, while 'Waterfront' heads more into space-psych territory that gets better the longer it goes on.

Overall, then, a mixed bag and a partial recommendation with four 'very good' to 'brilliant' tracks accompanied by four others that are a little less creditable. If you like the Ozrics modern approach to space-psych, then you should like Colorstar. 'Via La Musica would be a fair representation of their new style, but 'Komfort' is really the first one to go for.