Oren Ambarchi - Sagittarian Domain (CD)

Not got too familiar with this laddie yet. He’s a pretty eclectic and prolific one yet I’ve only heard a couple of bits, but both Mike and I pricked up our ears when ‘Sagittarian Domain’ kicked off and even the ever-distracted Phil rushed in for an eager sniff when it had got properly going! It’s got a real old German feel has this stunning multi-tracked epic session, kind of like a mellower Faust or restrained Einsturzende Neubauten; all airy hypnotic grooves, punchy jabs of Moog bass, the cyclic pulse of steady motorik percussion and restrained guitar picking leading into occasional mind-blasting astral realms and wiry drones of feedback, assisted brilliantly by the trio of auxiliary players brandishing their violin, cello and viola!

Don’t be too flummoxed if you hear what you think is a didgeridoo, Mike has reassured me this is due to the upside-down sound waves (this album was recorded in various spots around Melbourne). If psychotic Japanese lovelies Nisennenmondai took on Neu! and nailed that wonderful sound to the dawning of a new era, I think Oren and his three cohorts have somewhat succeeded in updating the spacerock tribalism of the old beloved Krautheads here.