| CD REVIEW Zaphire Oktalogue |
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Band : Zaphire Oktalogue A still quite young band from Germany is offering its debut here. The band’s name is Zaphire Oktalogue, comes from Darmstadt and was formed in 2007. The first official release is a 5-track album via Nasoni Records, listens to the same name and is featured in a nice DigiPack, designed by Kuryk, good start so far, I would say. The album blends folk, kraut, pure psychedelia of sixties and the heavy bluesy rock music that was soon to follow. “Data burst over bradford” stands out as a superbly written song with fancy harmonica and trancy guitar sections. The guitar playing is loose, occasionally scattershot, but always enveloping and fun. “Carrion fly” is propelled by a throbbing bass line and is a more mellow bluesy sort of tune with a freaked-out out of place reggae/bossanova groove. Axe-man burns the floor on “Intensified” with some seriously severe fuzz-induced Hendrix-iness while the drummer beats the skins like a crazed jungle tribesman. The vocals are in english and are above average for a German band. The jazzy blues of “Meditterenean homesick blues” has a moody atmosphere that makes you feel as if you are sitting in a dark, smoky bar. The last track on this CD, named “Tracked for the sunrise” is probably the most haunting song of this good album. This wickedly-mellow, chilling song has a strong voodoo John Mayall-ish flavour. The grooving as fuck 10+ minute tracks grow on repeated listens and each is a highlight on the album in its own right. For what amounts to a debut, this is quite a strong and interesting album, despite its over-indulgence. 85/100 Cosmicmasseur. |