ODYSSEUM GALACTI

Odysseum Galacti is made up of six songs (first six tracks) recorded in the studio in 1988 and two live songs (tracks 7 and 8) recorded live in Massachusetts. Architectural Metaphor is influenced by early Pink Floyd, Hawkwind, and maybe a little Gong. The eighth track, Brainticket, shows some Ozric Tentacles influences. Nice bands to be influenced by, but influences aren't always what they're cracked up to be.

The recordings on Odysseum Galacti have a strong demo feel to them. Poor recordings are always a problem for me. They distract too much from the music. But here, the music, too, is sorely lacking any direction. Architectural Metaphor could really use a rhythm section and sorely needs a bass player. Barely heard percussion just doesn't cut it and the noodling on the synthesizers just leads nowhere. The vocals are very poor and are not very clear at all. The live recordings are better than the studio recordings. Unfortunately, it isn't enough to save this disc.

I forced myself to listen to this whole disc, fortunately without totally losing my mind. I had this persistent urge to skip to the next track on every single song. A very mediocre work I can only recommend to fans/collectors of this band or those interested in a complete psychedelic/space rock discography. Two stars. Apparently, Creature of the Velvet Void is much better.

Odysseum Galacti, Architectural Metaphor's debut release is really a snapshot of a band in transition. The main part of this Cd was recorded by their original lineup, fronted by founding members Paul Eggleston and Bill Buitenhuys. The first 6 songs are from 1988, and feature most of the original quintet. Anu and We've Come for Your Children are the highlights, the first a trippy marimba driven miasma vaguely influenced by Pink Floyd. The second is a more driven guitar oriented piece where Buitenhuys exhibits some muscular guitar playing. Cascading Foliage is vaguely Tangerine Dream-ish. Waterwheel, the opener is fairly slick for this lineup, but perhaps a bit too long. A cover of Hawkwind's Sonic Attack is frightening and unsettling.

The second part is the more familiar lineup of 1994-2000, featuring the first recordings of the trio of Eggleston, Greg Kozlowski and Deb Young. In Between Dunes has a nice pulse to it, and some interesting vocals. The second newer piece, Brainticket, is the treasure. Wailing guitar from Kozlowski dance over a pounding sequence. Both newer tracks were recorded live. As it says on the back: 'this is a headphone album'. Space never sounded this deep. Recommended for fans of both 'out there' krautrock and severely acid damaged euro bands.

An interesting debut album. The early version of the band claimed influences by John Cage, Karlheinz Stockhausen and AMM. The experimental side is heavily on display as some songs wash in and out, barely hanging to a thread of structure. We've Come For Your Children and Waterwheel are the most 'normal' pieces here, drum machine driven with powerful guitar. Anu is a nice building piece, like a melodic Saucerful of Secrets filtered through Gong and several hits of acid. A cover of Hawkwind's Sonic Attack gives another point of reference. The final two tracks have the band down to a three piece and more in the Amon Duul side of space rock. Chaotic, but to a purpose, I'd recommend this for fans of really out there freak out bands of the late 60's and early 70's.