DREAMER

Chilled Out Psychedelia for Dreamers ...

SULA BASSANA's 'Dreamer' is a freaky but also accessible psychedelic trip. Six songs are offered and the complete album is played and produced by Dave Schmidt himself. Only one title is a cover - Pink Floyd's Baby Blue Shuffle in D Major which never was a part of any official release what I know. Apparently this is done by Dave Schmidt to show his great respect for the band and additionally points to one important aspect of the album - the songs are referring to the 60s/70s psych times more or less. On the other hand SULA BASSANA is successful to combine this with trippy ambient chillout elements and finally to create something very unique in its entirety.

The title song Dreamer has an impulsive driving rhythm and is provided with vintage keyboards - organ and mellotron pregnant. But for the last two minutes you're suddenly sent on a hallucinogenic acid trip. Dealer McDope is groovy funky with spacey guitars and fades into My blue guitar which comes with a typical Pink Floyd midtempo theme. You really can lie back to enjoy a long and wonderful emotional guitar solo. Ambient spaced out soundscapes are dominating Nervenlähmung whereas the hypnotic Ananda is meandering with an asian touch for several minutes only once exploding in the middle with a furious crazy interlude. Baby Blue Shuffle in D Major finally is presented relaxed in trippy chillout clothes with spacy bubbling sounds.

Good effort I can say. Also for Krautrock fans this album might be a good find. 3.5 stars

SULA BASSANA is the one man project of Germany's David Schmidt. He definitely channels that Krautrock vibe very well. I couldn't help but think of what Roger Waters once said, that ideas were more important than virtuosity. When it comes to Psychedelic and Krautrock music especially that statement holds a lot of weight. This is David's debut album called "Dreamer" and it's fantasic !

"Dreamer" opens sounding very retro, very 60's actually with the organ,synths and drums leading the way. Vocals join in but it's the guitar before 2 minutes that's the highlight of this track. "Dealer McDope" is such a great title. Guitar to open as drums and a full sound arrive quickly. Spacey winds too before it settles around a minute. Organ and vocals after 1 1/2 minutes. It's very spacey late then it eventually blends into "My Blue Guitar". A trippy beat follows as the guitar soars. Love this track.

"Nervenlahmung" opens with sounds that hum and float. We start to get a rhythm after a minute. It stops after 3 minutes as it turns spacey. "Ananda" is spacey as a beat comes in. Some piano comes and goes as these strange sounds make noise over top. Sitar before 5 minutes. It kicks in unexpectantly before 9 minutes then settles again around 11 minutes. "Baby Blue Shuffle In D Major" is apparently an unreleased PINK FLOYD track. At least i've never heard of it. It has an unusual intro then it settles in with a trippy beat. Some mellotron too. Great sound. The guitar becomes prominant before 3 minutes and the sound gets spacier.

A solid 4 stars.