Review: Lamagaia - Lamagaius

2015 was such an awesome year for 'our' music, so much so that I was worried that 2016 would be a bit of a disappointment. Well, I can allay those fears. It's only February and we've already seen some ace records released and, from the bits and bobs filtered down the grapevine, there are some humdingers to come. I've already heard some albums that are in the running for record of the year (keep your eyes peeled for some of them....reviews imminent!). What I've found heartening is that some of these releases are by new bands, or at least lesser known bands...the Psychic Lemon album I reviewed recently as an example. On that note, this new record from Swedish band Lamagaia is definitely, in my eyes, gonna be one of the releases of the year. The band hail from Gothenburg and this is an entirely self-financed and self-produced record. In the email I received from the band they claim to be a "heavily kosmische/kraut influenced" outfit.....and they are not wrong! Lamagaia (The name comes from a mispronounciation of the bird Lammergeier) are Carl - Bass, Micael - Drums, Tobias - Guitar/Effects/Synthesizers and Tore - Guitar/Organ/Synthesizers and they originally came together in 2010/11, all tired of the "usual format" of music with fixed song structures. Earlier releases include the 7" single "Space Normal Speed/Seabass" on Höga Nord Rekords and a very limited cassette version of Lamagaius.

As reviews go this one was fairly easy as the record is made up one long track, the titular 'Lamagaius', and is a mighty 28 minutes long. What strikes the listener from the outset is that this is authentic krautrock....these guys must be glued to their turntables spinning Neu!, Can, Amon Duul etc. The motorik rhythm is metronomic - never wavering or faltering, the guitar, enriched with reverb, rings clear and loud. At about the 8 minute mark some whistling can be heard before the echo laden vocals kick in. The vocals, melody and structure-wise, reminded me of The Doors 'Roadhouse Blues'. As the track progresses there are slight shifts in momentum and instrumentation....but unless you are listening for them they are imperceptible....the flow and the depth of the kosmische experience is so entrancing. Flashes of feedback, washes of cosmic synths and stabs of almost surf-like guitar are all added to the mix...but it's that rhythm....never missing a beat and keeping the whole track together. If this was released as a lost Neu! track, people would be falling over themselves to get to it....it's that good. I've listened to this several times since receiving it (as a download...already ordered the vinyl!) and every time there is a slight nuance that I may have missed, another passage of wah-wah guitar that I overlooked....it really is an engrossing half an hour's listen.

My challenge to bands out there is to make a better kraut/kosmische record than this during 2016.....I don't think it can be done. I cannot say enough good things about this record. It arrived as a bolt from the blue but will stay with me for years to come. A genuine 'krautrock' release by a group of guys who clearly love the genre and have payed homage in a thoughtful and respectful way. I know I wax panegyrical about many releases on these pages...and I genuinely mean every word....I can't help it, I just love good music, but this is way up there with Heroin In Tahiti, Dead Sea Apes, TBWNIAS, The Heads......maybe not in style but certainly in my admiration, appreciation and goddamn love of a great album!

As mentioned, this is a self-release and the 12" vinyl (limited to 300 copies) can be purchased by emailing the band direct on info@lamagaia.se and can also be bought via the Motljud webstore. I would also add that on the band's website you can access more songs and jams, and these are well worth a listen.