A MEDITATION MASS

This record holds a true gem of aural art, and all possible associations of too stoned hippies fooling around should be spared for other records. The uniqueness of this album being a sole release by this group brings only more value to it, as it's just like a sole deep realization of life needing no sequels. There is only one long piece, divided and named as four different parts.

The forty minutes long voyage starts with old vintage electronics painting abstract forms, where a beautiful guitar mantra slowly arises and weaves a beautiful melodic frame, where the improvised flute and moog solos start to dance. The peaceful beginning turns to a more intense trance, which leads to some jazzy passages. In the third part the progression leads to the powerful climax, which is calmed by deep, slow bass drones. After this the music returns to the beginnings mantra theme, making "A Meditation Mass" a cycle story, like the ancient Gilgamesh epic. I believe this resolution also describes a successful voyage to the deeper parts of a persons mind, which doesn't initiate a psychosis, but one is safely returned to the basic mental state of the beginning.

There's a one detail in the CD version which could have been edited by the releaser: The "Part 2" probably ended the vinyl's A-side, as the faded beginning of "Part 3" is heard for a small moment in the end of track two, and it begins again at the track three. This brings an authentic vision of how the music runs on the LP, but on CD one could hear the whole work from first to last note without interrupts, if this transition would have been edited properly. At least I decided to do for myself this kind of copy where the music doesn't have pauses. Similar remains of vinyl recording solution can be heard for example on HAWKWIND's "Space Ritual", where the music fades out and in between the changes of the sides of the original vinyl. These edits are logical on LP albums, but illogical on compact discs. Also here the four track divisions are futile, as in my opinion this record has to be listened all the way from its beginning to the end. It truly is a soothing and inspiriting spiritual work of art.