MALACHAI (SHADOW WEAVER PART2)

Here's a band who released their first studio album back in 1981 and they just released their latest in 2022, well over 40 studio albums along with a mass of live and compilation records. So where do you start? For my tastes the sweet spot is 1990-1995 but in my wheel house would include the 90's to the early 00's. These guys ruled the 90's psychedelia airwaves and this particular release from 1993 is one of the reasons for that. Man their 90's stuff is where they get real inventive and experimental adding soundscape stuff and more. I actually thought of THE RESIDENTS a few times believe it or not.

Top five would include the opener "Joey The Canary" who cries "Is there still anybody out there!" I like that twisted guitar solo after 4 minutes. It begins with dark atmosphere and builds to a powerful sound with vocals joining in after 1 1/2 minutes. "Kingdom Of The Flies" is one I liked right away. Kind of folky with acoustic guitar, bass and vocals leading the way. A horn replaces the vocals for a while. It does turn dark and the vocals are haunting late. "Encore Une Fois" and Wildlife Estate" remind me of THE RESIDENTS. Third top five is "Pavane" opening with bass and keys before the atmosphere builds and the guitar joins in and echoes along with a horn. It's all so relaxed though. The sound of children can be heard after 3 minutes and it gets creepy late. Such a cool tune. Some of the craziest sax I've heard is on the almost 12 minute "Window Of The World". I mean I'm laughing when I hear this every time.

"We Bring The Day" is another top five and this one is 19 minutes long. Opening with a walking bass line we can hear things going on and people talking and this continues for some time as a beat joins in along with brief vibes. Violin takes the lead before 2 minutes as the sound builds. Blasting horns as the sound changes quickly. Dark is the word and atmospheric before 4 minutes but it brightens a minute later with strings and atmosphere. Child-like keys follow before 6 1/2 minutes as whimsical vocals join in with violin. A few moos along with other farm animals before 9 minutes then it's haunting and spacey before 11 1/2 minutes. A bass horn comes and goes then electronics later as it drones late. "Paris 4am" ends it and it's my final top five. Tons of atmosphere and a horn that solos and how about the snoring that ends it all. Hey it''s 4am it's time.

A very strong album and while this is part 2 to the "Shadow Weaver" album from the year before it doesn't take a back seat to it in fact I like this one better.