DHARANA

With Deuter, Popol Vuh, Peter Michael Hamel's Between belongs to these German progressive bands which have experimented « world » music before time. With this album, Between found their own expression, delivering an original approach to West meets East combination. This album is very structured, not very dark, avant garde and unclear as the majority of krautrock bands. The music is luminous, particularly enchanting with beautiful acoustic passages. Contrary to their first, this isn't really rock and more accessible. The opening track has a Terry Riley's felt with repetitive organ parts. The tune is lead by an omnipresent oboe solo and acoustic percussions. "Om namo" is an eastern « raga » influenced track with sitar in the background and peaceful flute lines. Religious vocals are added to the mix. This is closed to sacred music. "sunset" is my favorite on this album, a classical guitar piece with a delicate meditative atmosphere. "listen to the light" develops a similar ambience than the first with organ patterns in the distance and massive, always peaceful oboe sequences. Rather soft, dull and not very inspired. "Dharana" is a dancing, spiritual song with an oboe/ Percussions combination. Not bad, in the vein of Terry Riley's rainbow in curved air but less intriguing and hypnotic. The last track concludes the album with spiritual human voices accompanied by organ loops. Finally a pleasant album but the result is not as transcendent as it seems to be. Beginners should start with « Einstieg ».