OTHER MUSIC

This is the first (and so far only) release with new drummer Murph of Dinosaur Jr fame. Recorded live as a trio in CT, this is a blistering 45 minute instrumental assault. With Murph behind the drums, the band is able to go places they never have been able to go before. Somewhat like a krautrock version of Mahavishnu Orchestra on acid, Architectural Metaphor have never sounded so powerful before. Heavier than Ozric Tentacles, they lean here towards the Hawkwind side of space rock. Opening song, Overture establishes the mood with strong mellotron pulses. On the run is a furious take on the Pink Floyd synthesizer instrumental which is remarkably individual and faithful at the same time. Nuclear Sun is a slightly overlong instrumental featuring some excellent guitar from Kozlowski and a disturbing synth underpinning from Eggleston. Aftermath of a Pale Horse is a slower Floyd-like song, almost elegiac in style. The Sabbath Maker is a retake of the Maker from the rare Black Widow box Out of this World. Murph drives this song like a man possessed, and this is one of the dizziest roller coaster rides in rock, never mind space rock. Hassan i Sabbah, the Hawkwind song follows, and continues in the same vein, amping up the manic energy and actually improves on the Hawkwind version, if possible. These two songs really show the intuitive power the band can bring to songs in the right moment. The album finishes with set staple Kairos, a long (10 min) exploration that starts like a Tangerine Dream song circa 1972 and finishes with one of the most satisfying guitar melt downs in space rock. Welcome to the Future, the short Hawkwind speech rounds out the set, finishing a delirious example of seamless but quite varied space rock that is both authentically retro and uniquely modern simultaneously. Fantastic stuff! Four stars.