TIME TO GET UP

This is a special offer coming from the charming space rock corner. The band had a return to active duty following a hiatus that lasted nearly 5 years. Peter Fuhry and his mates recorded this stuff around 2003/2004, however not officially released until May this year. Due to TRAIL Records the songs are now reworked with improved sound quality - a delightful experience for sure. One could only complain why it took so many years ... but never mind - 'Time to get up' here.

The songs are basically trippy floating jams where Fuhry's sweet vocals are a significant aspect, when even adding some pop appeal to the sound here and there in my opinion. Stenzo's quirky and spacey synthesizer additions are striking in the same way at least - possibly the album's greatest attraction as a matter of fact. Backing the cosmic flow all the way through bass and drums (Anthony Koutsos and David Jayne) appear relaxed and restrained.

It's quite hard to determine a typical highlight here. For some time I thought of Trying to find you which is notably hypnotic and provided with slight drones, also keeping a bunch of twittering synths and Fuhry's varied guitar work all over. Very melodic too on the contrary, yes - something to sing along really. Starbong holds a lively guitar, flute and synth interaction. The title track should also be named, at first rather unconspicious it all evolves to something haunting and dramatical step by step.

Expressing a happy mood Hawaiian Lady swings in a special manner. And the vocals nearly reach for falsetto heights. Another extraordinary track with time for a wonderful spacey excursion inbetween. One or two original, more electronically coloured songs are ignored for this collector's edition surprisingly, but it doesn't matter. BEYOND-O-MATIC provide an absolutely friendly peaceful atmosphere on this album. 'Time to get up' is a great collection of mellow space rock music suitable for some laid-back moments.

The US outfit BEYOND-O-MATIC was a San Francisco-based musical project with Peter Fuhry (vocals, guitar) and Stenzo (keyboards) as the main driving forces, with various friends and acquaintances coming and going in the handful of years the band was active. Initially disbanded in 1999, they briefly reformed to produce one last effort in 2002. After the recording sessions and studio work was finished in 2003 this creation never saw an official release, but eventually was made available as a free download from the band's website in 2004. Five years later the specialist label Trail Records decided to remaster and issue this effort, and in the late spring of 2010 "Time to Get Up" was finally given its official CD release.

Splendidly remastered by George Dugan, "Time to Get Up" is a high quality testimony to the talents of this gang of psychedelic warriors from San Francisco. And one well worth checking out by space cadets with a taste for material of a refined nature, with an emphasis on the gentler aspects found in this part of the psychedelic progressive universe.

BEYOND-O-MATIC are from San Francisco, California and are led by singer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Peter Fuhry. We get a couple of drummers and long time collaborator Kurt Stenzel on synths, samples and more. A couple of bass players plus a singer adding harmonies on one track. While this was released in 2010 it was recorded back in 2002-2003. They also released three records in the 90's before this one and there's one after this album from 2013 that I hope to review soon. I would describe this recording as trippy, spacey and melancholic with some exceptionally good vocals. I mean the man can sing. I don't usually hear this quality of singing in Psychedelic music. I feel this is right between 4.5 stars and 5 stars with the only hiccup being "The Liquid Midnight" a vocal only track but at just over a minute I'm good with the five stars. Plus it's a nod to fellow Californians THE BEACH BOYS. So take that track out and we get six tracks over 57 minutes so they do like to stretch it out. Peter plays Cross5 Bariguitar and guitar, effects, flute, bass, accordion and "the long stiff finger of doom"as it says.

The first three tracks just kill with "Plague Of Bliss" getting us started as the guitar and synths create atmosphere as those high pitched vocals join in. So much melancholy. I really like his wordless melodies then he sings again as this pattern continues. The song does build including the vocals becoming more passionate before it all settles back. "Hawaiian Lady" is over 14 minutes long and my favourite. The song reminds me of some of those seventies jazz albums from the States where the female singer or singers sing in this style. He'll sing "Hawaiian Lady" twice with the second one in a lower register. Not always but mostly. Active drums in this one and some brief accordion before a minute along with some jazzy guitar moves. Bass is next and then we start to hear that main melody for the first time. Man the music is so intricate as the vocals arrive before 2 minutes. The instrumental work is just so impressive. It settles after 4 minutes as the music drifts with flute as the vocals step aside. Nice soaring guitar here too. Time to jam. It's haunting before 9 minutes. It eventually builds and vocals return but it's different here with the vocal delivery.

I really like "Starbong" especially that spacey and melodic chorus. Lots of flute and this is trippy with synths, guitar and drums. Vocals before 1 1/2 minute sound double tracked and are melancholic. Just another great track. "Trying To Find You" builds beautifully and vocals join in before a minute. How good is this! Synths swirl. A powerful sound after 2 minutes. Vocals echo as it settles around 3 1/2 minutes. Spacey is the word. Guitar starts to solo slowly around 5 minutes over the heavy spacey sound. What a song! The title track is really good but not great while the closer ends it all perfectly with an "Obscured By Clouds" vibe with that folky psychedelic sound.

Just an absolute pleasure listening to this psychedelic beauty from California.