THE CROMLECH CHRONICLES

Welsh band SENDELICA has been a highly productive entity ever since they appeared on the scene a decade ago or thereabouts. They appear to have risen in stature and popularity in recent years, and a direct consequence of that is that the band have also hit one of their most productive phases in terms of album releases. "The Cromlich Chronicles" was released as a digital and CD production through the band's own label FRG Records in the late spring of 2016, with various vinyl versions released at the same time by UK label Fruits de Mer Records. The latter was, I understand, more or less sold out prior to the official release of this production.

A key reason for a band expanding their scope, reach and popularity will often be that they simply create music that appeals to a broader audience, and that appears to be very much the case for Sendelica these days. I have followed the band for a good few years by now, by way of being sent promo copies of their albums, and personally I think that they are at a creative peak these days in quality even more than quantity. They have found their shape, form and sound, and are comfortably exploring all facets of their repertoire in a compelling and frequently hypnotizing manner.

On this album we're presented to quite a few different sides of the band. The opening, epic length piece, The Cromlech Suite, a more than 20 minutes long journey that opens up as a gliding, elegant affair with careful keyboard textures and dampened ongoing sax soloing, initially accompanied by elegant plucked guitar details and then slowly increasing in pace and intensity, reaching a Hawkwind style bass driven, riff underscored peak, then returning to a second run through more or less the same pathways but now along a different melodic scope. Steady drums and a firm bass the core foundation and driving features throughout.

The B-side of the album has been assembled in a suite on my promo, clocking in at 20 minutes, but it really is three different songs tied together. An initial venture into vintage era heavy psychedelic rock with slight traces of both Hawkwind and, unless I'm much mistaken, trace elements of Black Sabbath here and there too, with a beefy organ also making a solid appearance on this one. The second part is a calmer, mellow affair, kind of like a 70's era psychedelic rock band teaming up with ELO in terms of certain atmospheric elements. And then we're taken on a dark, 10 minute ride at the very end, with twisted guitars and keyboards, booming bass, heavy set drums, some sax details here and there as well unless I'm much mistaken, but a journey first and foremost dominated by the otherworldly sounds from Cyndee Lee Rule's electric violin. The combination of those exotic sounds and the much darker, ongoing backdrop resulting in a magnificent piece of music with one of the more hypnotic ongoing basic themes I have come across in some time.

Those with a passion for instrumental psychedelic rock with distinct space rock orientations can do a lot worse for themselves than seeking out this album. Those with a strong fascination for these type of bands mainly adhering to a vintage-oriented general sound that at times can remind of early Hawkwind will most likely be something of a key audience, alongside those who find the music of this nature to be of general interest.