VAMPYROS ROUSSOS

The COSMIC TRIP MACHINE is back again. Last year Will Z. and Majnun threw their debut 'Lord Space Devil' (LSD) across the genre stage on which they are constantly exploring the folk/raga/psych fields with much trickiness. Variety is the spice of life - both fellows are proving this motto once more on 'Vampyros Roussos' - that's for sure. The album is concipated as a rock opera - a soundtrack of an imaginary movie with other words. As for the inspirations a systematic backfall again into those years where the prog music was born - but obviously provided with other preferences now.

What makes it different ... first and foremost because they have drummer T-Bone contributing here, who does a great job too by the way. This means it's more rocking on the whole. While the opener Vampyres links to the predecessor album for the moment with a typical dreamy psychedelia start, it all surprisingly turns into a jazzy behaviour after some time. This song is really symptomatic for the whole production filled with well thought out twists and turns. Which immediately points to the next grooving Psychedelic Twist provided with playful drumming, multi-layered guitars and mysterious female narration.

And so the following songs take you away on a rollercoaster trip through the 60/70's, bouncing from one event to the other. Poppy charming beats like on Revelation Evil are competing with lots of heavy psych guitar solos and fusionesque bass lines. Oh dear - really damn rocking this time what I never expected - way more powerful because of the drum kit presence of course. It Feels Good even appears in a funky James Brown outfit. Heavy riffing and sawing guitars are corresponding with swirling synths on the space rock tunes White Lodge and Cerbere which temporarily seems to get out of control in between.

When it looks like that Deep Purple is on the wrong track here for a while - never mind - by way of variation you're shortly forwarded to India on a hallucinatory trip with sitar accompaniment. And being completely restless Will and Majnun later on switch to a horseback ride crossing the prairie with a mouth organ at their lips ... I hope you're slowly but surely obtaining a hazy notion how it works? Okay - I really try my very best ... anyhow ... you have to check this on your own to get the ideal impression. It's something you won't find every day - believe me!

For the second time they put forward 18 song snippets exactly - probably this number is something magical for them. The album sleeve offers ten clues which are supposed to help for assimilating the album - especially concerning the concept, the lyrics. Nice idea ... however ... generally I don't care much for lyrics (except they are in German). But I don't want to keep it secret - the (weird) story deals with young fellow Jimmy who fails to rob a bank, escapes from the police and eventually gets caught by a vampire ...

.... no not eventually of course - the adventure goes on. Even when you're not interested in the story behind, 'Vampyros Roussos' offers enough challenge when you only explore the music as such. COSMIC TRIP MACHINE have worked out an entertaining album once again - a rather eclectic approach with a wondrous blend of genres and styles. Listen as much as you are able to - I'm sure it will remain an enjoyable freaky event because you are always sent into a labyrinth of contrasting impressions - 4.5 stars.