Review: Electric Moon - Stardust Rituals

Ah..Electric Moon! What's to say.....foremost purveyors of psychedelic acid rock, capable of turning a 20 minute acid jam into something heavenly and, I have to say, three of the coolest, soundest people I have ever had the fortune to meet. 'Stardust Rituals' is the band's 5th studio offering, as well as a plethora of brain scrambling live recordings, and sees them adding a few surprises into the mix. As ever, the personnel are Sula Bassana on guitars, e-sitar and various keyboards, Marcus Schnitzler on drums and Komet Lulu on bass, effects and vocals.....yes, you read that correctly...vocals! I won't go as far as to say that 'Stardust Rituals' sees the band take a new direction but there is a certain structure to this recording rather than the freeform jams of the past. It does, however, retain that unique ability to mesmerise and entrance and, when all is said and done, may well rank as one their best....and that, dear reader, is saying an awful lot!

'The Loop' opens with very sixties sounding organ and feels all very pastoral to begin, to the point where you have to check you are playing the right album, and when the ethereal vocals from Lulu arrive they only enhance the dreamy vibes....this is not the same Electric Moon that soars above the horizon in a blaze of distortion and fuzz. However, and it's a big however, this is good! The more reflective, introspective approach really suits the band. It's not long before Sula's guitar makes itself known though and, accompanied by some astute drumming from Marcus, things begin to soar and 'normal' service is resumed. The entire ensemble combine majestically to produce a wonderful slice of psychy space rock, whilst the organ helps keep an authentic sixties feel. The following track, 'Stardust (The Picture)' has already seen the light of day in another form on a couple of live albums ('Theory Of Mind' & 'Mind Explosion' if memory serves) but has been treated to some overdubs and the addition of vocals. It opens with an almost doom-like bass before the signature fuzz of Sula's guitar kicks in along with some more hazy, dreamy vocals from Lulu. As it progresses along its 10 minute length it grows and evolves into a typical Electric Moon jamfest...hypnotic and enthralling, the guitar weaving patterns in the air. Things calm, allowing space for the vocals and spacey electronica effects but still retaining the synaesthetic guitar. It's pretty much a masterpiece! 'Astral Hitch Hike' opens with some groovy e-sitar backed with a pulsating bass line and jazzy drumming. It has a more 'traditional' psychedelic feel with its eastern motif and electric piano...it's a laid back, hypnagogic oasis of bliss. The album is closed by its magnum opus, the 22 minute '(You Will) Live Forever Now'. As with 'Astral Hitch Hike' it is a more laid-back Electric Moon; the e-sitar builds a tranquil atmosphere along with some murmured vocals and subtle bass line. Gradually it grows and morphs...crystal clear, rich guitar tones are heard giving everything a truly psychedelic tinge that is hard to deny. At times like this you realise (should you ever have doubted it) that Sula is a master musician...the guitar is understated and devoid of any fuzz and distortion and you can tell that he knows how to play! The fuzz etc does appear but complements the mood beautifully, the washes of powerful psychedelic distortion that have always typified an Electric Moon recording re-appear, but the track does not disappear in a blaze of colourful spacerock histrionics just yet...it calms down once more to become the same tranquil beauty of the beginning, all gossamer vocals and euphoric atmospherics.

Now, I know that I'm a huge fan of Electric Moon and I was always gonna like 'Stardust Rituals' but, and I don't say this lightly, it is a different class...had any other band recorded it I would still stick my neck out and call it a masterpiece. The change in approach from the band pays dividends and how! The vocals and the more relaxed tracks add beauty to an already entrancing cannon of work...there is less reliance on guitar effects pedals and the trademark 'wall of sound' and more placed on the structure and the building of the tracks and it is a joy to behold (or, rather, to hear). In an already amazing year for music this album has beguiled its way easily into my very favourites so far. As I mentioned earlier, this may well be seen as the best yet from this amazing band. 'Stardust Rituals' is out on CD on 7th April via Sulatron records to be followed in June by the vinyl version (180g, triple-marbled vinyl...yummy!). It can be purchased via the Sulatron webshop here. Special mention also to the great cover art by Mont Doom Design and Lulu Artwork.