b r a n d o n

Do you like the Ozric Tentacles? Korai Öröm? Both? Definitely check out Hidria Spacefolk, then: in the best tradition of the aforementioned two bands, this is ethnically-tinged psych/space-rock that manages to stay energetic and entertaining through the length of the album. As a matter of fact, I find Symbiosis more engaging than any work I've heard from either the Ozrics or Korai Öröm; and while I'm not the world's biggest fan of space-rock, that's still pretty high praise even from me. With this kind of music, I usually find that things get too repetitive and monochromatic after a while. But on Symbiosis, what appeals to me so much is the varied instrumentation and melodies that keep things interesting. There's a lot of Middle-Eastern influence, and even the occasional hint of a more Far Eastern melody, and often it comes from the actual instruments in addition to the writing: sitar, didgeridoo, and some really great marimba and vibraphone accents all serve to enrich the music and keep it fresh. The compositions themselves are standard psych/space, though perhaps more condensed, with relatively short track lengths (a good thing, in my book). Aside from the intros, bridges, and outros, which build up or recede from the more energetic "main" sections, repetitive themes are held on guitar, bass, synth, or some or all of the above, usually with some other instrument (guitar or synth, or, if we're lucky, flute, marimba, or something of the more organic sort) soloing on top for a while. It's nothing we've never heard before, and in fact some of it sounds a whole lot like Korai Öröm, but it's so well done that it's hard not to take an immediate liking to it. It grooves, of course, but there's also a great sense of melody throughout that I think is sometimes lacking in this genre. I have a hard time reviewing this sort of music, but that should be enough review anyway: if you're the type of person to like this stuff, you know who you are... and you know you need this. review by Brandon Wu — 4-10-03 —