TARASARUS

Irritating and fascinating! This is the second album of this Norwegian band - really hard to catch ... It is said Thomas Tofte, Erland Dahlen and Kåre Vestrheim went into the studio without any set plan and developed the musical ideas through free improvisation. With the help of some guests 'Tarasarus' holds instrumental jamming sounds like coming from another planet. The studio line-up is presenting a gloomy avantgarde styled bouquet with spacey, industrial krautrock, fusion and heavy crushing elements. Lush and playful electronics are substituting electric guitars. The sound mix has turned out in a luxuriant manner.

The opener Preglow appears like a warmup - a mixture of electronic sounds with a spacey background. KIRUNA is gliding into April 19 then - a song which reminds me of Terje Rypdal first, escalating more and more with drums, organ and bass inspiring each other. Belonging to my favourites Black Widow follows with a fusion inspired groove and wonderful Rhodes add-ons. On Raldo's Autostrada the band is supported by guest guitarist Rolf Yngve Uggen (ex Gluecifer). Dynamic pure and my highlight. This song has reached for a comfortable place in my best of song collection in the meanwhile - what a powerful heavy psychedelic presence! The 'Bitches Brew' and Soft Machine inspired The Underworld shows the three basic instruments soloing and swirling around each other lead by a special dramaturgy - wow! The vinyl only bonus track San Francisco Car Chase finally attracts my attention because made up like a Weather Report inspired fusion piece.

KIRUNA defines an unique environment with the songs. As for a conclusion my feelings are so so - I like those already mentioned tracks very much - they are more catchy I would say. But with the others I'm not able to make friends (at least yet) because they are crossing an imaginary line - too weird and free-formed noisy. Anyhow - 'Tarasarus' will appeal to fans of an avantgarde experimental approach for sure - 3.5 stars.