CERIMÒNIES

Psychedelic rock with history longer than half-a -century is hardly a genre where new trends appear very often. Similarly with modern days jazz fusion, avant-rock and other less conservative scenes, advanced artists often experiment with eclectic mixes of what already have been found. Than main attraction is how well (or how unusually) different elements fit together.

Virtually unknown trio (with guests) "Lubianka" is a Spanish band with name, understandable to Russians (or those familiar with modern Russian history) only. They don't open new horizons but mix lot of well known tricks in an attractive manner and do it with some virtuosity.

Their second album's music is an eclectic mix of analog "Hawkwind"-like synth effervescence, early 70s naive spacey soundscapes, late 80s stoner psychedelic guitar shredding, Indian ragga and tribal rhythms. Surprisingly enough, all this brew doesn't sound chaotic or too eclectic, in a strange way different influences organically communicate with each other and the final sound is quite well organized and fortunately free of dated longish noodling so usual for many last century's psychedelic bands.

Add free jazz -like sax soling on some compositions, tasteful vocalizes and lot of rhythmic and stylistic changes during the album's music flow. "Lubianka" wouldn't make a revolution in a genre, but they sound professional, their music sounds modern, and most important - they aren't boring.

Since the evaluation is a part of a game - 3 1/2 rounded to 4.