CAUSA SUI

Coming from Odense, Denmark, CAUSA SUI was formed in 2004 and has consisted of Jess Kahr (bass), Jakob Skøtt (drums, percussion), Jonas Munk (guitar, keyboards, electronics, vocals) and Rasmus Rasmussen (keyboards, electronics) ever since. The only other member the band has had was vocalist Kasper Markus who appeared on the band's first two albums before leaving the band to become an instrumental psychedelic rock band from then on. Known for their abstract instrumental sounds that mined the early psych years of Krautrock, British psych and other artists like Miles Davis' experimental period, CAUSA SUI started out as a guitar-oriented heavy psych band with vocals.

Probably most famous for their "Summer Sessions" series which began after Markus departed, this debut and the following "Free Ride" showcase the band with a very interesting mix of heavy psych, stoner rock and psychedelia all stitched together in the form of lengthy jams and extended musical motifs. This eponymous debut came out in 2005 and showcases the band in its earliest years when it implanted heavy guitar riffs accompanied by groovy ethnic sounds, psychedelic electronica and hypnotic cyclical riffing sessions. This album is a true throwback to the spaced out acid rock scene of the late 1960s bringing Hendrix inspired riffs with a Black Sabbath sort of heaviness. Even vocalist Kasper Markus sounds a bit like an early Ozzy Osbourne at times.

Nobody would ever guess that CAUSA SUI comes from Denmark with this early debut. In fact it sounds more like something from the Palm Springs area of California. Think Kyuss and related projects like Queens of the Stone Age, Desert Sessions, Across The River and many others and that's the vibe that's achieved on CAUSA SUI's heavy psych debut. However there have been many a stoner rock band from around the world. Think New Jersey's Monster Magnet, Germany's Colour Haze. Well, CAUSA SUI pretty much fits into the main gist that most of these bands share in common, namely extended jamming sessions that are gussied up with various guitar tones, reverb and distortion. Electronic accompaniments that offer psychedelic escapism and a receptive groove that even those tripping their brains out can follow.

Although the procession of these jams are lengthy and repetitive, the melodies remind me of various other influences. The opening "Ventura Freeway" sounds like some lost artifact from early Black Sabbath that happened to be heavy psych band rather than an early heavy metal band. At other moments such as "Tornado Eye" The Cult comes to mind with melodies reminding me of their album "Sonic Temple" but accompanied by a harmonica. The grooves are based in blues rock not too far from what Jimi Hendrix was cranking out back in the day but the electronics and other instrumentation which even includes a harp offer some unexpected surprises. The music on this debut is fairly energetic but soft lulling moments occur as well especially as intros.

At an hour's length of playing time, CAUSA SUI's debut is not a quick listen. This is one where you just sit and surrender to and let the music flow organically bit by bit. There's nothing really jarring on here like complex compositions or over the top progginess. It's fairly simple in nature and becomes more complex with the overlap of various musical counterpoints. Overall not a bad heavy psych beginning for these Danes who would go on to craft much more intricately designed instrumental psychedelic rock. I rather like these early albums as they offer a lot more variety than the average stoner rock jamming experience but yet don't get bogged down in too much complexity. This is just a sit and let it soak in type of album. Expect lots of acid fuzz guitars, wild feedback and echoey clean tones. Very cool.

3.5 but i'll flip a coin as to whether to round up or down. OK, up.