VIRGEN SIDERAL

VIRGEN SIDEREAL ("Astral Virgin" in Spanish) began as a duo from Peru who took a 25 year long journey to create the visionary dreams of their psychedelic brand of progressive rock. Like many who flee into the escapism of such ethereal and cosmic infinity, Paul Saavedra Tafur and Nagel Diaz created their music project in response to the political and social repression occurring in their native land. The two met at the National Agrarian Univeristy in Lima with Paul's studies taking him into the field of zoo technology while Nagel engaging into the field of forestry. The two struck up a friendship with not only their love of philosophy, biology and all things academic but found that they shared a common thread with an interest in the psychedelic culture and the accompanying music that goes along with it. The duo spent many years off and on playing in the underground music scene before they finally managed to record their eponymous debut album that was released in 2014 by the Athens, Greece based G.O.D. (Garden Of Dreams) label that specializes in all things psychedelic. The duo became a sextet over the years and together deliver a true cosmic vibe that combines addictive melodies, trance like percussion and alien sounding sound effects to create a truly inspired album of cosmic trippiness.

The very first track "Adorativa" sets the tone for the album and begins with a lazy bass and more ambitious flute buzzing around as other percussive effects and tripped out psychedelic oscillations slowly fade into the forefront allowing the bass to pick up steam and then whispered voices add another layer of spaciness to the mix. Once all the retrospective sound effects are underway, the tempo picks up and the track becomes more frenetic especially the drum rolls while "Petalos De Flujo Solar" begins with an ear-piercing high pitched sound that fades into oblivion and allows an Amon Duul II type of bass line to play with the oscillation of the effect that wouldn't sound totally out of place on an early Hawkwind album. The two tracks establish a fairly refined sound for VS that replicates itself throughout the hour and then some long listening experience although despite a fairly uniform method of beginning and ratcheting up the tension, the tracks all have distinct personality and differ substantially from one another.

The bass line provides a stable background for the music to follow often with ethereal effects fluttering around it like acid ingesting butterflies on sparkly leashes that display the irregularities of flight patterns whenever the wind blows. Often the melodies are augmented with a beautiful flute counterpoint that adds a soothing touch to the driving rhythms and incessant drive towards maximum psychedelic attainment. While this music fully enters the rock arena with strong and excellent drum workouts of Shaheem Saavedra churning up visions of "Saucers Full Of Secrets" at times, the guitars always remain in a cosmic dream land and only are only employed for maximum spaced out effect so successfully that Steve Hillage would surely give his seal of approval.

VIRGEN SIDERAL offer the kind of lysergic psychedelic rock that welcomes you back to the oneness with the cosmos. The type of energy as experienced by the 60s visionaries such as Syd Barrett who was one of the primary influences into making this zeitgeist of true period escapism from the fragmented failings of the human race and into a more unified flow of zen fueled energy that trickles through the chakras and into the soul. While firmly rooted in pleasant inviting melodies, VIRGEN SIDERAL take the listener on a true cosmic journey and deliver the stuff psychedelic rock dreams are made of by keeping the flow of consciousness pure and never sidestepping into superfluous musical arenas despite various swirling aspects of the music often flirting with chaos. This is the type of stuff you can get totally lost in as the band jams along with no destination in mind and only allow the sprawling sonicscapes to focus on the journey instead. The closest band i can think of to compare them with would be the Texas trippers Yeti who released two albums with a similar vibe only they resided on a somewhat heavier side of the psychedelic spectrum. Highly recommended and one of my favorite new discoveries! And damn if that album cover isn't one of the most beautiful things i've seen in a long time and i'm determined to get that one made into a poster somehow!