QUESTRAL PLACES

ASTRO CAN CARAVAN is such an awkward name for a band but then I suppose having over 20 musicians on any given recording is also different. These guys are from Finland and Big Band music has always been difficult for me, mainly because of the blasting multiple horns more than anything else. I'm also a little confused with the lineup for their debut here as Discogs and RYM shows 12 musicians being involved on this one not over 20 as shown on this site. So yes there's twelve, although their "Planet Caravan" from 2010 has over 20.

Regardless this is a tough one for me as RYM tags it with Free Jazz, Balkan Folk Music and Klezmer, those are the minor influences after the Jazz Rock, Jazz Fusion and Experimental Big Band tags. Main composers are the keyboardist and the tenor sax player. There are six horn blowers and honestly I can't get through this record before I'm tired of them. A 48 minute album released in 2003 one of my favourite years for my music ironically.

The three "Astral Movement" tracks which are improvs are a nice change and they are spread throughout the 8 tracks, plus the closer is the other one I quite enjoyed called "Nile" and by far the longest tune at just under 11minutes. This is mellow and it's really not that great but a relief from being hammered by horns. I like that this record is experimental at times but this is nothing like the amazing Big Band from japan called TOSHIYUKI MIYAMA & THE NEW HERD and their 1972 release called "Yamataifu". 3 stars is all I got.