MY BROTHER THE WIND
Described as an "instrumental cosmic rock quartet", Sweden's My Brother The Wind are all about atmospherically-charged experimental soundscapes. Experimental? Oh yes, for this latest album, their third to date, is all about pure improvisation. I say pure, as this was recorded live in the studio and, apparently, retains its purity with not one post-production overdub. Further, the whole thing was recorded in just one day. Way to go for saving on expensive studio time! And, I have to say, way to go in general as this is quite a remarkable work of authentically captured musical experimentation. It even manages to capture a late-60s/early-70s feel through the fact this was all recorded in analogue, on 2" tape.
I'm guessing the band entered the studio with, at the very least, rough ideas of sonic themes and motifs to improv around. Whether or not this was the case, and it must be to an extent as there's no mindless jam vibe about the album, 'Once There Was a Time When Time and Space Were One' is still a fine example of naturally progressive, and fully organic sounding, rock psychedelia. But is it engaging in any way? Well, that'll depend largely on your mood, as does every varying emotionally motivated listening proclivity, although I'd say this sways more towards music that'll feed, rather than create, your mood. This certainly isn't an album to pop on for a quick fix of music; it's way better digested when aurally consumed as a whole, and only when you have some quality time to sit back and allow yourself to perhaps unwind and relax to its laidback psychedelic grooves.
With all that said, 'Once There Was a Time When Time and Space Were One' is a little over-relaxed at times and, during the listening experience, I found myself drifting off into all kinds of cognitive tangents, while My Brother The Wind continued to meander away in what I can only describe as a psychedelic take on muzak. Maybe that's corroborated my point about having to be in the right mood initially to appreciate this album. Or maybe, more simply, it does lack a degree of substance. The latter is partly true when certain tracks don't particularly develop into anything other than one or two core motifs. However, overall, I remain in admiration for what My Brother The Wind have attempted here, and the resultant reification of sonic purity.
I'm guessing the band entered the studio with, at the very least, rough ideas of sonic themes and motifs to improv around. Whether or not this was the case, and it must be to an extent as there's no mindless jam vibe about the album, 'Once There Was a Time When Time and Space Were One' is still a fine example of naturally progressive, and fully organic sounding, rock psychedelia. But is it engaging in any way? Well, that'll depend largely on your mood, as does every varying emotionally motivated listening proclivity, although I'd say this sways more towards music that'll feed, rather than create, your mood. This certainly isn't an album to pop on for a quick fix of music; it's way better digested when aurally consumed as a whole, and only when you have some quality time to sit back and allow yourself to perhaps unwind and relax to its laidback psychedelic grooves.
With all that said, 'Once There Was a Time When Time and Space Were One' is a little over-relaxed at times and, during the listening experience, I found myself drifting off into all kinds of cognitive tangents, while My Brother The Wind continued to meander away in what I can only describe as a psychedelic take on muzak. Maybe that's corroborated my point about having to be in the right mood initially to appreciate this album. Or maybe, more simply, it does lack a degree of substance. The latter is partly true when certain tracks don't particularly develop into anything other than one or two core motifs. However, overall, I remain in admiration for what My Brother The Wind have attempted here, and the resultant reification of sonic purity.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Free Electric Sound
Album
ONCE THERE WAS A TIME WHEN TIME AND SPACE WERE ONE
Review by Mark Holmes
RUNNING TIME:
44:43
RELEASE DATE:
14th Oct 2014
TRACK LISTING
1) Prologue
2) Song Of Innocence part 1
3) Song Of innocence part 2
4) Into The Cosmic Halo
5) Misty Mountainside
6 Garden Of Delights
7) Thomas Mera Gartz
8) Once There Was A Time When Time And Space Were One
9) Epilogue
2) Song Of Innocence part 1
3) Song Of innocence part 2
4) Into The Cosmic Halo
5) Misty Mountainside
6 Garden Of Delights
7) Thomas Mera Gartz
8) Once There Was A Time When Time And Space Were One
9) Epilogue
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Sweden
"...this is quite a remarkable work of authentically captured musical experimentation."
