DANCING IN LIMBO

I haven't really followed Quantum Fantay. I do have Agapanthusterra which is their debut, which I felt was a rather good space rock album even if it didn't sounded like they added anything new to the table I hadn't heard from such bands as Ozric Tentacles. Ten years later, several more albums and now comes Dancing in Limbo. I don't know if this was done on purpose or not, but this album has just four cuts all around the 11:13 minute mark. I love their play on "Limbo", the songs are "Nimbo", "Rimbo" (reminds me how a Japanese person who have troubles with the English "L" might say "Limbo"), "Cacimbo", and of course "Limbo". The band had a lineup change, and for a guest, they get none other than Ozrics Ed Wynne. There's no denying that's his guitar playing on "Rimbo"! This coming on the heels of Technicians of the Sacred, which I felt is the best thing the Ozrics done since John was still in the band (not to say all the albums from Spirals in Hyperspace to Paper Monkeys are bad, far from it). The music is that wonderful brand of space rock that groups like Ozrics, Tidal Flood, Hidria Spacefolk, Korai Orom, and Mantric Muse have done so well. Lots of nice guitar and synth work, as well as flute playing that brings to mind John Egan. There's really no picking a highlight, although hearing both of these CDs I have so far, I don't believe Quantum Fantay is bringing anything new to the space rock table, but on the other hand, as long as they do it well, I have nothing to gripe. It's like saying Starcastle in the late '70s gave us nothing new to the prog table, pretty much copying what Yes had done, but again, since they did it well, I had nothing to complain about. I love how Dancing in Limbo only consisted of four 11 minute piece keeping the album just a little over 40 minutes so this never got to overstay its welcome. I'm loving this trend of bands keeping it around 40 minutes, like a 1970s LPs, as too many 70 minute plus CDs of material (much of it not warranting that length) can try on your patience (it gives you plenty of reminders that double albums in the 1970s were the exception, so when they did appear, they had to be good, like The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Tommy, The Wall, you name it, else people wouldn't have bought them). Dancing in Limbo is a nice album to have for those who love Ozric style space rock, and to have Ed on board certainly helps.