Review: Seven That Spells - The Death And Resurrection Of Krautrock: OMEGA

Well, no let-up in the stream of new, quality records by old favourites this year....following on from Psychic Lemon, Stupid Cosmonaut, TBWNIAS and Dead Sea Apes comes a new one from Seven That Spells. The band, formed in 2003 in Croatia by Niko Potočnjak, is one that has had many members and contributors over the intervening years (some 60 people have contributed to recordings and live performances) and pretty much every album has been a nailed-on winner! The band's last album, 'Superautobahn', featured a guest showing from the Japanese wizard Kawabata Makoto and for this outing they have collaborated with Blake Fleming, drummer extraordinaire (he of The Mars Volta). Of all their albums, my particular faves have been the 'Death and Resurrection of Krautrock' series - 'Io' and 'Aum' and so I was particularly excited when the third part of the planned trilogy was announced last year. It is now complete and to be released on Sulatron Records on 23rd Feb and holy cow, is it an absolute fucking belter?

Opening with the sort of dirty guitar riff that brings a lump to the trousers 'In III' blossoms into a righteous slice of power krautrock, the cavernous guitar backed superbly by some jackhammer drums. The chant-like vocals add a touch of the mysterious but it is the repetitive power that catches the ear, and refuses to give it back. 'Omega' is a lengthy track, clocking in at over 18 minutes but nary a second is wasted. Flowing smoothly between more repetition based passages and some sublime psychedelia the track has an organic vibe to it, like a living, breathing entity - It really is an entire album in one track. With the presence of Fleming on the stool it cannot be a coincidence that there are distinct flashes of the intellectual prog rock that The Mars Volta did so well. 'Chronos' is a sub 4 minute track, opening with a dense, rumbling wall of guitar drone accompanied by some shimmering cymbals..the mix of light and dark, the heavy and the delicate, working well to create a track that seems to demand your attention and then whisk you away in a reverie. 'Future Lords' is simply genius! More superb stick work from Fleming, initially primal and tribal, provides a backdrop for a guitar based eastern motif...but only for a short span before it morphs into another surging and powerful foray into atavistic krautrock based jamming. The vaguely shamanic vocals make a re-appearance and lends proceedings a mystical vibe. It is a real melting pot of a track and certainly sees the band at the top of their game. The album is closed by 'Out III' a mid-length track that is laden with life-crushing drone, pseudo-religious chants and more pummelling drums.....and yet it is so, so much more...there is a neat little segment where the drums appear to adopt an almost jazzy structure, under pinned by a drone that never ends. It is fitting that the last word goes to the vocals, seeing the album out with the same mysterious air that heralded its beginning.

For those that have followed 7TS's 'Krautrock' trilogy thus far will take immense satisfaction from this album...a culmination of the two previous albums but also showing signs of evolution and growth. Indeed, it sits atop the entire 7TS canon of work as a crowning achievement. For those who are maybe new to the band, boy..are you in for a treat! There is no doubt that the addition of Fleming to the ranks, albeit temporarily, as given this album an extra dose of heaviness, both musically and philosophically, and there are fleeting moments where you could be listening to 'De-loused In The Comatorium' but those moments are short-lived - the sudden hit of ace psychedelic guitar brings you back to the here and now and back to the world of Seven That Spells. I've been a firm fan of the band for a while now and this album only affirms my admiration and love of their music. 'The Death And Resurrection Of Krautrock: OMEGA' will be released on 9th Feb by Sulatron Records on CD and limited vinyl LP (500 on black 180g vinyl).