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Alien Dream ~ Samsara review from
Andy Garibaldi at Compact Disc Services - UK.
ALIEN DREAM: Samsara (Stock # 197370)
With his 5th release, Alien Dream's Michael
Blackman has risen above the influences that stem from his clear
liking for things like Hawkwind, Ozric Tentacles, Melting Euphoria and 'Acid/Space-Rock'
in general, to provide
us with his best sounding, best played and composed instrumental album to
date. Featuring more colourful
psychedelic packaging, 'Samsara' has 13 tracks, and it's clear that, right
from the first track: 'In The Beginning,
that this is one musician who has achieved the high level of confidence in
playing and composing required to
create a slow-ish paced anthem that mixes all manner of electric guitars with
slowly driving rhythms, soaring
space-synths that swoop all around the mix and plenty of melodies from synths
and guitars. The soloing on
the guitar is sensational and just soars out into orbit and back - A seven
minute slice of pure magic to provide
us with a taster and wanting to hear more of what you will find to be some
of his finest Space-Rock music to date.
The 2nd track: 'Majick In Maya, is what you'd call a "slow-burner" - It just
cruises along, but doesn't half
smoulder along the way, with some absolutely gorgeous, melodic, high-flying,
emotional guitar work over
slowly rhythmic drums and bass. A sea of Hawkwind-esque space synth swoops
and even more high-flying
guitar leads and textures are added on top, and it's all so effortlessly flowing,
cohesive and full-sounding that
you'll think you've died and gone to heaven - Just superb!!! 'Alien Dreamscape'
enters with string synths and
solid bass before this chiming lead guitar just soars in and elevates the
track to great heights with a gorgeous
melodic lead. Synths are added to fill out the sound and space synths swoop
and soar all around, then the
track suddenly changes direction, becoming this strong, forceful driving mass
of space-rock nirvana, before
clearing the air and returning to the main flowing melody and soaring lead
lines. It is so superbly done, as to
have your jaw-dropped in amazement as you wallow in one of the most beautiful
tracks you've ever heard
on an Alien Dream album - A mix of power and passion, grace and guitar-magick
that's just unbelievably
good. 'The Gathering' takes no prisoners, and while it's not particularly
fast or explosive, it has a searing,
red-hot inferno of guitars and synths that will warm you to the bone and fire
you up to give the music your
full attention. Even this piece moves into new territories as it goes, with
swirling synths all over the exotic
almost sitar-like guitar backdrops and an equally swirling mass of fuzz guitars
that are all around the mix.
From here on, a further 9 tracks all move in these musical areas: a mix of
driving, forceful and strong tracks,
or slower, but no less dynamic, inventive or cohesive pieces, all with a huge
sound, crystal clear production,
massive sonic depth and choc full of emotion and great playing. So, overall,
this is synthesizers, guitars, bass
and drums all ! used to create an instrumental acid/space-rock album full
of melody, tension, dynamics, strength
and passion. Easily his best yet - and the rest have been sizzlers - Superb!!!