Review: Space Invaders - Dreadnought

Had this one I've had on the back-burner for a while and it's just too good not to review. For those who don't know, Space Invaders produce some premier instrumental, improvised space rock, and as well thay might, consisting, as they do, of members of such giants as Electric Orange and Cosmic Ground (Dirk Jan Müller), Knall (Baal Brain), ex-Spacenote (Mike Häfliger), Hausfrauen of Death (Paul Pott & Müller) and Weltruam (Dennis Gockel). With that amount of talent and experience you'd expect them to concoct something pretty damned special.......and they have. 'Dreadnought' sees the band record a studio album after releasing two live albums and is a rollercoaster ride of epic proportions that leaves the listener feeling stoned and yet rejuvenated.

'The Gap You Leave Behind' is a game of two halves; the first half is an exercise in foreboding atmospheres, cranking up the dread and suspense. This gives way to a smoking hot space jam with a metronomic motorik groove. At eleven minutes long, it's quite a ride! There is a smooth segue into 'Dungeons' with it's oscillating synths and haunting drones that again provide the atmosphere. When the band kick in it's with an almost funky vibe that belies the fact that this is full of fuzzy guitar and another motorik rhythm. 'Two Skulls' is keyboard driven and takes its cue from Schulze, Froese et al. Initially bluesy, the guitar mutates into a heavy, fuzzy, space rock jamming monster..it's an intense journey and probably my favourite track on the album. 'Hexensabber' is flecked with some jazzy moments and the track that most pays homage to the Masters of Space, Hawkwind. Title track 'Dreadnought' flies out of the blocks like Usain Bolt...searingly hot fuzz guitar that tramples over everything in its way...like a musical Godzilla. 'It's Raining Bones' is another hi-octane stomper, all fuzz and attitude and alien like vocoder vocals...really does put the space in space rock. 'Jolly Roger High Speed Groove' is the shortest track on the album but it really packs a punch.....the intensity is high, the guitars fuzzy and the rhythm section rock solid. The album is brought to a close by 'Out In The Madness' which, at a shade over 22 munites, is also the longest. The beginning sounds like a Morricone score set in space and ratchets up the suspense...you just know it's going to kick off but it leaves you hanging and waiting. Some more vocoder-like garbled vocals are heard before the trademark space rock jamming starts...it builds and builds in intensity until you are taken up beyond the atmosphere into the heart of the cosmos...it is acid rock of the highest standard.

'Dreadnought' is an intense ride that fries your brain, the songs seamlessly flow into each other leaving no let up in the ferocity. The album may have been recorded in a studio but it still showcases the improvisation skills of a group of consumate musicians. In a scene that is ever-expanding and becoming more and more populated with improv based space rock/psych/acid jam bands, these guys set the benchmark by which all these bands must measure themselves. A dense but accessible joyride into the stratosphere...and surely an essential addition to any head's collection.

'Dreadnought' can be purchased as a download from the band's Bandcamp page or on vinyl / CD via Nasoni records.