Psi Corps's Blog
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"Tekeli-li" album review by Andrew Garibaldi
PSI CORPS – "Tekeli-li" (2009)
The side-project of Space Mirrors' multi-talented musician Alisa Coral and it's an instrumental album featuring herself on al things electronic and percussive plus Alien Dream guitarist Michael Blackman. In the tried and trusted traditions of Miss Coral's instrumental ventures into space, expect the unexpected!! The album starts with “Party At Barnard's”, a track that features a foreground cascading melody line that varies subtly and repeats itself so well, the melody sticks in your head like a musical box while underneath you have the sounds of deep slow riffing allied to shuffling percussive undercurrents that sound distinctly unnerving yet not so upfront as to distract from the main themes. This then leads into “On Board The Ariel” where the sound of Blackman's riffing guitar punches holes in the air as the sound of cascading, pealing, bell-like percussion adds to the textures while the addition of synths adds an almost discordant feel to the electro-percussive backdrop. Then the backdrop gives way to more traditional drumming as the guitar layers increase and the sound of a searing hot lead guitar moves slowly to the front. The result is a sound and solid slab of space-rock with the synths swooping all around for added effect. The pace is slower than normal space-rock, and you're getting something more like early Ash Ra Tempel than Hawkwind, which is really rather excellent, and as the track progresses you find yourself ever more immersed in its layers, the drumming especially excellent, but really superb playing all round and some incredible depths and textures, all remaining firmly melodic throughout the 10 minute, seriously addictive piece. The 7 minute “On Board The Grampus” pretty well starts where the last one left, only this time slower, still multi-textured as the guitar echoes and chimes, percussives rattle and clatter and the synths provide that “out there” feel. Again, there's a sense of initial darkness to it as the synths swoop, the guitars shimmer and the whole piece slowly comes to life. It's like cosmic music for a really scary rollercoaster ride in slow motion. The feel remains hinting at rhythm rather than stating it as the instruments shiver and shudder, the intensity rising but never exploding. Next up is the 9 minute “Tsalal” with chattering electronics and percussion, a soaring electric guitar that rings out, flies and then starts to drive as the train ride of percussives gathers speed, and this combination of shimmering electronics, buzz-saw guitar riffing, red hot guitar leads and the insistent drive of the drumming, result in yet another track where melody prevails yet there is so much going on in the music, it's almost hard to take it all in, so that rather than concentrating on any element on first hearing, you let it all crash into you like some gloriously intense tidal wave. Then it all turns a corner as the rhythms gather steam and the lead guitar just takes off, then subsides into a more spacey textural deep bass river as the slow driving percussives provide the impetus. Gradually it climbs once more and the guitar sings, the electronics surround and the drumming is as addictive as ever – almost like vintage Agitation Free – just superb stuff!! At nearly 9 minutes, “Further South” starts with an altogether warmer sea of electronics as the guitar kind of evolves into an echoed loop of ringing melody above the rich synth undercurrents, almost like Steve Hillage in parts. But the mood is still firmly on the side of early seventies Krautrock as the cosmic music turns into a sea of cyclical synth melodies, echoed, ringing electric guitars and tumbling percussive undertow, all totally hypnotic and transfixing you throughout, the shimmering, rising, falling, clattering and multi-textured arrangements sounding amazing, making what is essentially cosmic music into something altogether busier yet just as engaging, kind of like a bizarrely twisted Cosmic Jokers. The album ends with the 13 minute title track, starting with the heated space guitar of Blackman set against twinkling synth backdrops from Coral before a new guitar lead rings out, a driving guitar riff is added, the drums are heard in the distance, the piece starts to drive and things begin to layer and build, the whole thing now sounding mighty and promising much. More heated lead guitar is added as the drums drive forward and the sound is more akin to jamming band Djam Karet in parts. Just as you're expecting it all to break out, so it decelerates slightly, losing none of its red hot guitar-led magic, only then to build once more, the combination of melodic guitar against the train-like crunch of the percussives, a thing to savour. As a cross between great jamming electric rock bands and red hot seventies Krautrock-styled outfits, it's an absolute joy to hear, as the piece twists and turns through a myriad worlds, maintaining its grip on the theme and yet constantly engaging your attention throughout. Overall, it's stunning – who'd have thought anyone could practically re-invent instrumental Krautrock and get away with it – yet Alisa has done just that.
© Andy G.
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Where to buy Psi Corps CDs
Special Offers:http://www.spacemirrors.com/sale.htmDouble offer - order both Psi Corps albums just for $18!PayPal payment option available!
Double space - order both Space Mirrors "Memories..." & "Majestic-12" albums just for $21!
More details on CDs and payment options here:Available CDs (postage rate will be applied additionally depending on your location):
Psi Corps "All Roads Lead to Amber" $11
Space Mirrors "Majestic-12: A Hidden Presence" $12
Space Mirrors "Memories of the Future" $12
Space Mirrors "The Darker Side of Art" $12 (very ltd stock!)
Psi Corps "Tekeli-li" $10
Alisa Coral's "Neutron Star" $7
Find the items you wish to order. Place your order by sending us e-mail to spacemirrors@yahoo.com specifying:
title(s)/quantity, method of payment, and shipping address.
This may take us a day or so to reply since we are a small independant operation. In reply we will send you the PayPal (e-mail) details. Once we receive the money we will ship your order within 2-5 days (we ship to any location by international registered International Air Mail).
Also new CD is available to buy here:
http://www.raig.ru
http://www.doommantia.com/p/dma-records-store.html
http://www.phonosphera.com/distro.html
http://www.clear-spot.nl/catalog/search2.php?zoek=1&label=R.A.I.G.
http://www.kozmik-artifactz.com/shop/product_info.php?currency=EUR&info=p5258_PSI-CORPS---All-Roads-Lead-To-Amber--Parts-I---II--CD.html&XTCsid=70a25519d38947591d997d4cbb5b2116
http://www.recordheaven.net/index.cfm?x=browseNews&sc=&ob=dt&so=DESC&pp=20&sl=true&ID=&iID=100840
http://www.crucialblastshop.net/index.php
Psi Corps "Tekeli-li" and new album "All Roads Lead to Amber" are also available to order from the famous British mailorder CD Services but at different prices, check with them about it.
Just write to�phil@cdservices.force9.co.uk with a header "Psi Corps" and list the items you want to order.
These shop works directly with the band.
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"ARLTA" and "Shadow Creatures" reviews (new!)
"All Roads Lead to Amber" & "Shadow Creatures" reviews:
DPRP:
http://www.dprp.net/reviews/201052.php
Monochrom:
http://www.monochrom.at/cracked/reviews/Rev%20psicorps2.htm
Metallibrary (Russian):
http://www.metallibrary.ru/articles/reviews/albums/a/psi_corps.10_all_roads_lead_to_amber_parts_i_and_ii.html
http://www.metallibrary.ru/articles/reviews/albums/s/psi_corps.10_shadow_creatures.html
Doommantia:
http://www.doommantia.com/2010/09/psi-corps-all-roads-lead-to-amber.html
Sea of Tranquility:
ARLTA
http://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=9723
Shadow Creatures
http://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=9711
Psychotropic Zone:
http://www.unimeri.com/PsychotropicZone/reviews.en.php?subaction=showfull&id=1287569896&archive=&start_from=&ucat=3&
Aural Innovations:
http://www.aural-innovations.com/issues/issue41/psicorps.html -
Statement reg. "Shadow Creatures" EP (free download - released!)
"Shadow Creatures" EP:
1. Through the Shadow Realms
2. Temporal Fugue - The Fight
3. Thing That Cries In The Night
4. Skagganauk Abyss
This stand-alone EP was recorded as a soundtrack to Roger Zelazny's book "Creatures of Light and Darkness". The book itself was a very interesting avantegarde experimental ecercize but regarded a classic Zelazny now. So I recommend everyone to read it.
This EP features Alisa Coral on all instruments experimenting mainly with bass guitar and synths. It sees Psi Corps exploring more space doom ambient soundscapes. So the music is very different to what you can hear on the "All Roads Lead to Amber".
It will be released this week on RAIG's Accessory Takes as a free download.
Artwork by Kevin Sommers.
If you like this EP and would like in the future to have it in a CD quality please write back to me. If there are enough requests we would make a ltd CD release then.
Official press notes: RAIG's Accessory Takes presents (AT037) Psi Corps "Shadow Creatures", an official EP is based on the “Creatures of Light and Darkness” book by Roger Zelazny. The recording sessions began in winter 2010 but were postponed in favor of finalizing the “All Roads Lead to Amber” full-length album, another Alisa Coral’s book-based-soundtrack on R.Zelazny. The work was resumed in late spring and resulted in four down-tuned and gloomy atmospheric soundscapes which might be defined as doom-ambient. Performed, recorded, mixed and mastered by Alisa Coral (bass guitar, synths, theremin, percussion) at her KZI Studio.
Released on August 25 for free download: http://www.raig.ru/AT037_PsiCorps_ShadowCreatures_2010.zip