ALCHEMY

Third ear Band remains unique in the history of progressive rock. This band reveals an eclectic, colourful, inspired musical "mantra", a multi influenced musical profile and consequently difficult to classify in a specific subgenre. "Alchemy" develops an achieved sense of multi-influences dialogue. Despite that Third Ear Band first started their career as a convnetional psychedelic prog-ish band, a large part of their discography (with this album included) is reserved to semi-acoustic improvisations, combining with talent medieval and "Eastern' raga harmonies into the formula a chamber music ensemble. By consequence acoustic elements prevail, all mixed in a rather medieval "world" climate, sometimes reaching the atmosphere to a beatic trance. The compositions process with modal scales, ragas, minimal modulations with reminiscence of some American contemporary classical composers (Terry Riley...). All tracks are composed according to the same model, making the emphasis on sustained motifs (for oboe or violin). Intriguing result and I would like to say very closed to Between's musical universe with its long, dancing oboe parts and incantatory "jazzy" felt. Their style is clearly orientated into modern "neo-shamanic" trance and "acid" acoustic folk-ish obscurities. The leading themes of this first album will be sublimated in the following effort. An innovative, strangely gorgeous acoustic psych release, worth to discover and a must for curious!