On the cover of Psychedelic World Music Discovery you can read the following: “You are holding in your hands a compilation of new recordings by young and relatively unknown musicians hailing from different parts of the world. These artists combine their cultural roots with the more contemporary tradition of psychedelica to create a sound for the infinite journey of self (re)discovery. This release is a dedication to music as a universal language that brings people together and helps them share their psychedelic experiences and spiritual transformations.” The music of the German band Cosmic Vibration has an Indian twist due to the use of a sitar and mantra-like vocals. The British band Triptych reminds me of Porcupine Tree around the time of Up The Downstair (1993) and Voyage 34 (2000), using electronic rhythms and samples. The American outfit The Misteriosos sounds like a sixties Westcoast band with enchanting female vocals. Mouches A L'Orange from Belarus contribute with a live track that may be best described as 'spaced out jazz-rock with guitar and a freaky Hammond organ.' The Armenian group Deti Picasso play prog rock with a psychedelic edge and with female vocals. The Russians from Grey Mouse bring seventies psychedelic blues rock with sitar and guitar, while the Italians of Plootoh represent a slow song with a bluesy guitar sound in the vein of David Gilmour. Zhaoze from China (!) mix traditional Chinese music with the sound of Godspeed You Black Emperor. However, my twelve points go to the Belgian band The Narcotic Daffodils. This is how Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and Ravi Shankar might have sounded if they had played together back in 1970. Psychedelic World Music Discovery is an excellent compilation. The quality of the songs is from good to excellent and the overall sound of the album is remarkably coherent. It illustrates that psychedelic music is no longer restricted to the western world alone! There has been good music created in unexpected parts of the world. You might wonder why a compilation like this has been released, because most music can be heard on the internet. Well, that's true, but there's so much music on the internet that much of it remains unheard. The bands on this compilation deserve some extra attention. **** Erik Gibbels (edited by Peter Willemsen) Where to buy? |
