Description
Cosmic Smokers / On Another Planet Vol 2 Artwork and Disc are in Mint Condition.
The Cosmic Smokers are Adrian Beasley, John Christian and Pete Ruczynski from AirSculpture plus Grant Middleton from Under The Dome and Paul Nagle (from all over the place!). In 2004 they all met up to do a combined National Space Centre concert spending two days together rehearsing. This is the second album of highlights from those sessions. All the music is unique and not released in any form before. And there is no messing around as we are straight into an insistent driving sequence which gains momentum all the time as a lovely lead soars above. The guys hurl in more sequences and lush mellotron and even though we are less than two minutes in I am already in Heaven! This isn’t all pulsations however, there are melodies as well but even these contain more than their fair share of oomph. Yet another high register sequence enters- itself being fairly melodic then by the fifth minute mark, if things weren’t at fever pitch already, we really do go into overdrive! Every element mutates superbly sometimes subsiding slightly, sometimes surging forward once again but always fantastically exciting. At the tenth minute mark we get our first true breather as we settle down to a calm bubbling sequence and tranquil leads. You can still feel pent up energy however and it isn’t long before the pulsations stretch at the leash then breaking free for another session of mayhem. We cross fade into Part Two on the back of two sequences: one rapid and tinkling morphing this way and that in crazy fashion whilst the other bass one provides structure around which it all hangs. More sequences come and go and I am soon unable to count all the individual lines so just let all the wonderful note patterns do their magic in my head. There are some really nice slower melodies as well that provide excellent contrast. We subside to swirling atmospherics in time for Part Three. Things become quite shimmering and metallic then softer, ethereal even. Little melodies make brief appearances like ghostly apparitions- all very delicately done. Part Four begins with soft flute and birdsong but after just a few seconds a high register sequence bounces forth. It casts a mesmerizing hypnotic spell until in the fifth minute another sequence joins it. The mood is still sedate as the mind is taken on another tranquil but at the same time psychedelic trip. We finish with a lovely melodic minute and a half section featuring virtual acoustic guitar and piano. They fade away again as another sequence surges forward for Part Five. It is highly syncopated and exciting, leaving all too soon. Part Six soon rectifies this however as probably the best sequence on the album makes an entrance accompanied by some lovely flutey lead lines. An excellent conclusion to a fascinating album. (DL)
