ORBIT

HEDERSLEBEN have gained some attention in the meanwhile, or how does it come that some of their tracks are featured in upcoming action movies like Diamond Cartel and The Devil's Domain? The band name originally derives from a small German village. This relation, and I would say it will affect mastermind Nicky Garratt most likely, manifests in a German speech at the end of Distant Sun for example. Hedersleben however includes the word 'life' too, which also stands for a constant coming and going. And this is significant when it comes to the line up over the course, completely renewed again, solely Nicky excluded of course.

Hence every album will sound remoulded too. Hey, what a benefit! There's a focus on female vocals here somehow, due to Alicia Previn being involved, a wonderful find equipped with so many variants. Either an otherworldly appearance while digitally retouched on Judas Star. Or concerning Rarefied Air massively reminding me at some early experiences comprising Embryo and Missus Beastly featuring Maria Archer on vocals during the mid 1970s. Furthermore, when counting her in playing the violin, Curved Air comes into mind occasionally.

Please forgive my ... eh, feasible narrow-mindedness ... just when having a very sceptical eye on this, ... somewhat strange is the album's total length, even if aiming at a vinyl issue. So much the more when they are taking the liberty to fade out most of the given nine songs! On the other hand though, the more this is proving the band's compositional prolificness, one may say. Either way, the entire song collection appears like a well sorted string of shiny tiny pearls, one after another, ending with Perigree like arriving in paradise, this accompanied by looping acoustic guitars and bird's twittering. No loss of spirit, you're welcome again!

I was a little disappointed with this latest HEDERSLEBEN album called "Orbit". Surprised too that Kaphera(keys/ vocals) and Jason(drums) have been replaced. They along with band leader Nicky(guitar/ composer) had been on the first three studio albums together, along with being in Nik Turner's band. Now I did notice that all three were on Nik's latest "Life In Space" so there's that. I'm not a huge fan of the new female singer here along with some of these songs. There are some good songs though and many excellent ideas in place here it's just that very few of them are working for me.

"Judas Star" has this spacey atmosphere with some guitar expressions until the song kicks into gear with organ and drums after a minute. I'm not into the sound before 2 minutes, annoying. I much prefer the calm that follows although the manipulated female vocals bug me too. I can't win here. Her vocals become normal after 4 minutes as she shouts the lyrics. A spacey calm ends it. "Walk Above The Clouds" has a nice heavy sound to it but it settles back quickly. A steady beat with vocals takes over a minute in. I'm not really into her vocals but I like that determined beat and the guitar starting before 2 1/2 minutes. It's angular here by the way.

"Distant Sun" has a dark atmosphere as sparse piano joins in. Male and female vocals follow as they almost drone like they are drugged. A calm before 2 1/2 minutes then it starts again with atmosphere, experimental sounds and sampled voices. "History Of Light" is a more energetic "rock" piece with female vocals. Organ and a heavy sound but I'm not into the vocals. I do like how the guitar echoes after 2 minutes. A catchy track.

"Apogie" opens with what sounds like church organ swirling as spacey sounds help out as they come and go. The drums kick in as well. A cool instrumental. "Hedersleben(Dream State)" is a top two as we get this melancholy with laid back guitar melodies and bass as reserved female vocals join in. Violin a minute in. Spacey, melancholic synths before 2 1/2 minutes. Just a great sound to this one.

"Rarefied Air" is my other favourite. Surprisingly(not) both are very melancholic. I think that's guitar and keys as drums then heavy bass lines join in. There's those melancholic synths I love before a minute. Vocal melodies replace the synths after a minute and they will continue to take turns. That sure sounds like mellotron around 4 minutes. "Be There" is an uptempo rocker with female vocals that I don't really enjoy while the closer "Perigree" is birds chirping throughout with dual acoustic guitar melodies.

As I said earlier there are some interesting ideas here but I want my old band back(haha). No this is a good album but I'll stick with the first three.