EUPORIE TIDE

Heavy music from Denmark arrives!

Here in Sweden, we had a (kind of) psychedelic rock band called "Träd, gräs och stenar". I like their heavyness and their ambling swing but I find the music too monotonous and amateurish. This record has the same heavyness and the same wandering rocking but also professionality and amazing details to enjoy.

Causa Sui was formed 2004 and has until now released eight records and this is the last one, yet not reviewed. A simpe but strong artwork gives the first impression. The members of Causa Sui are Jonas Munk(guitars, keyboards and electronics), Jess Kahr(bass) and Jakob Skött(drums and percussion). Unfortunately there's no singing here, I would have loved that.

I would call this an even record. The particular sound could be heard over the whole record and we hear both melodical and more atmospheric pieces. My favourite is the first one: "Homage" which is an explosion of musical power. Causa Sui contains gigantic organ sounds and pure psychedelic rock. "Boozehound" is also a marvolous track where a specific theme returns some times and "Mireille" is the album's second best, where I think you'd hear the clearest melody, still in the heavy groove. "Ju-ju Blues" is also worth mentioning such as the title track "Euporie" which is more monotonous but still a soundscape with perfection.

What I like with this record "Euporie Tide" by Causa Sui is that it feels very real. There's no modern pop rhytms or artificial crap but just amazing rock. I really miss some form of vocals but still very good music. Recommended!

CAUSA SUI are a Psychedelic band out of Denmark, yes the same country that brought us our own Guldbamsen. There's very little information that comes with this cd, not even what instruments the guys play but I like the cover art.

I was taken aback when I first heard the first song "Homage" as I wasn't expecting something so heavy. It starts out fairly subdued but that changes quickly as this heavy duty soundscape takes over reminding me of THE SMASHING PUMPKINS at their heaviest or the Dutch band 35007's "Liquid" recording. "The Juice" opens with electronics coming and going then a full sound kicks in. It does settle back but not for long as contrasts continue. The guitar is grinding it out before 3 minutes then he's ripping it up after 4 minutes as the drums pound away. I love when it settles down before 5 minutes, beautiful. "Echo Springs" has this beat with bass and guitar as background organ and electronics help out. A pleasant and enjoyable song. "Boozehound" is the only song I can't get into at all. I just don't like the rhythm or flavour of it. Sure it's catchy but i'm not a fan.

"Mireille" becomes fairly uptempo with busy drums and intricate guitar. The guitar turns powerful 2 1/2 minutes in. It settles back to that earlier sound after 4 minutes. I get a kick out of how busy the drummer is on this track even during the more laid back passages. "Fichelscher Sun" is a short piece with intricate guitar expressions as another guitar is strummed. "Ju-Ju Blues" is my favourite track on here. The guitar and especially the organ sounds are so uplifting to me. A sudden change after 1 1/2 minutes as it all turns powerful including some killer guitar before 3 minutes that lights it up until around 5 1/2 minutes when the song returns to that earlier sound. Nice. "Sota El Cel" is a short atmospheric piece that builds then settles back late. It almost sounds like mellotron here. "Euporie" is my second favourite tune. Spacey sounds echo before it quickly kicks into gear. Love the tone of the guitar here as it also seems to echo. It does settle back but then kicks back in a minute later. Another calm before 5 minutes as this song continues to shift. It turns pretty heavy before 6 minutes and the guitar starts to solo over top at 7 minutes. Another spacey calm a minute later but then it ends heavily. What a ride. "Eternal Flow" is the chilled out finale. A laid back and drifting track with percussion, guitar and keys standing out as it changes slightly along the way. An almost dead calm 8 minutes in to the end.

The album came in like a lion but went out like a lamb. 4 stars for this psychedelic offering from Denmark.

If you consider yourself a psychedelic/space rock connoisseur, you need some Causa Sui in your music collection. While 2013's Europie Tide is not the band's best album, it is the best place to start. Now, that's not to say it's not great, because it is pure psychedelic greatness. The band's sound is a mixture of like-minded genres: late 60's to early 70's psychedelic rock, Krautrock, 90's stoner rock, post-rock, to name a few. On Europie Tide, Causa Sui's sound is more condensed and fine-tuned compared to much of what came before it, which is perfect for newcomers. There is a perfect balance of heavy, stoner rock riffage and gentle, spaced-out atmospheres here, and it never feels forced or contrived. Even though it's entirely instrumental, it holds your attention and keeps you captivated. If you find yourself liking this one, I suggest moving on to all three of their "Summer Sessions," for a full-on, sonic assault of their tripped-out awesomeness. Very highly recommended, 5 stars.