DANCING IN LIMBO

Formed in Belgium, colourful and dynamic psych/space-rockers Quantum Fantay have been playing their mix of instrumental prog, psychedelic and electronic rock with ethnic flavours and eclectic textures for over a decade now. Very much influenced by the Ozric Tentacles (with just a little pinch of Hawkwind) and comparable to other modern groups such as Mantric Muse, Hidria Spacefolk and Korai Orom, `Dancing in Limbo' is their sixth studio album that sees the group experimenting with consistently longer pieces for the first time, the four works on offer each running just over eleven minutes each for a welcome vinyl-length disc.

Truthfully the lengthier workouts here are really just made up of the little fragments that dart in all directions the band usually offers, but here they weave from one through the other with a cohesion and perfect sense of flow that means the longer twists and turns are a natural extension for the band. Far from being a mere clone band of the Ozrics that the group is sometimes dismissed as being, Quantum Fantay isn't adverse to including symphonic passages, heavier blasts and darker, more dramatic moods here as well, directions never really explored by `that other band'!

But nonetheless, opener `Nimbo' is easily the most overtly Ozrics-flavoured moment with plenty of looping electronic trickles, bubbling liquid synth gurgles, gentle flute drifts, up-tempo driving guitar alongside fiery drum bursts and skittering ska saunters all heading in a dozen directions. Ironically, Ed Wynne of the Ozric Tentacles guests on the second track `Rimbo', offering his usual phasing electric guitar soloing and some choice glissando moments, but the piece diverts quite significantly from the template of that group. A bombastic symphonic theme drifts in and out of the piece soaring over gliding synth breezes, and a foot-tapping beat charging the piece ever forwards brings endless empowering strength to the tune, with an addictive and dreamy middle-eastern flecked finale over dancing chiming keys.

Frequently victorious themes drift in and out of the up-tempo and propulsive `Cacimbo', a gutsy piece full of constant stomping momentum, overloaded with mysterious and pretty synth trills, sweetly pulsing bass, fiery electric guitar with some lovely reverberating fuzzy distorted delay and heavy grunting bursts, reflective gentle flute tranquillity and sly reggae ventures all thrown into the psychedelic stew. Closer `Limbo' is more of a slow-build, synths rising with a dramatic symphonic, almost orchestral grandiosity over dusty eastern textures grafted to the twisting guitar bite, drifting flute and an abundance of fizzing electronic breakdowns.

Quantum Fantay deliver exciting instrumental space-rock, always unpredictable and exotic, full of colour and energy whilst remaining endlessly melodic, and `Dancing in Limbo' is their strongest album to date.

Four stars.