Few bands can claim a legacy of constant transformation like Øresund Space Collective. Emerging from Scandinavia in 2004, this improvising space rock collective has long blurred the boundaries of genre and expectation. Their 34th studio album is not merely a continuation but an audacious leap into new musical realms—a journey that transports listeners from the terrestrial woods of funk into the vast, infinite expanse of space.
The album opens with a staggering 50-minute epic that serves as its own universe, a sonic journey entitled Slow To Fast First Rays. This track unfolds like a cinematic voyage, beginning with a majestic, delicately woven melody that hints at possibilities yet unrealised. Midway through, the musical narrative surges into an uptempo jam—a bold metamorphosis that fuses funky grooves with a touch of dissonance. This dynamic shift invites the listener to surrender to the unexpected, plunging them into an ever-shifting landscape where rhythm and melody coalesce into pure, improvisational magic.
Midway into the expedition, the album introduces Weberian Bass—a hypnotic journey underscored by bewitching guitar lines and rich, layered synth textures. In this piece, the band demonstrates their knack for creating immersive soundscapes that seem to pull you into a gravitational pull of cosmic wonder. The track’s steady, entrancing pulse is both grounding and expansive, bridging the gap between introspection and the uncharted realms of sonic space.
Daring to further stretch their creative boundaries, ØSC then ventures into experimental territory with Tangled Foot Badger. Here, the structure dissolves into a realm of playful, almost surreal sonic experimentation. The track meanders through twists and turns, each unexpected element acting as a portal to a magical world where the familiar fades away and the listener is encouraged to lose themselves in the sheer unpredictability of sound—a fleeting encounter with another dimension that lingers long after the ride is over.
Rounding out the double album is Echoes Ambientic, a meditative descent from the previous turbulent adventures. This ambient synth-driven piece acts like a thoughtful denouement to the journey—a reflective space where the high-energy explorations recede into a tranquil echo. Its mellow textures offer a moment of calm and introspection, inviting the listener to bask in the afterglow of the musical odyssey and savor the contemplative silence that follows innovation.
With this 34th album, Øresund Space Collective showcases not only their technical prowess but also their unyielding commitment to artistic exploration. Their music transcends mere sound; it’s an invitation to embark on an interstellar adventure where every note, every shift in tempo, is a portal to new experiences. In a musical landscape often content with the mundane, the collective’s fearless improvisation serves as a reminder that the true essence of music lies in its boundless ability to transform and transcend.
This journey through varying sonic dimensions—where funk meets space, where the hypnotic melds with the experimental—ensures that both longtime devotees and curious newcomers have something to marvel at. It is a celebration of creative freedom and an open invitation to wander unapologetically into the unknown, where every faint echo or exploding chord becomes a part of a larger, mesmerizing narrative.
As you let the album’s expansive soundscapes wash over you, consider how each track mirrors the unpredictable beauty of life itself. Each a portal to a freshly charted universe, ØSC’s latest release is not only a reaffirmation of their musical ingenuity but also a compelling call to explore the infinite cosmos of our own imagination.
Curious about what uncharted sonic paths ØSC might take next? Their fearless approach to revolutionising space rock is a story that resonates with anyone who believes that music, much like life, is a journey with endless possibilities.
LP:
Side A / Side B
1) Alotta Hella Down In Estrela Pt 1 (21:47)
2) Alotta Hella Down In Estrela Pt 2 (22:09)
Side C / Side D
3) Alotta Hella Down In Estrela Pt 3 (5:00)
4) Weberian Bass (18:08)
5) Slow To Fast First Rays (22:34)
CD1: CD2:
1. Alotta Hella Down In Estrela (49:32)
2. Slow To Fast First Rays (22:35)
3. Weberian Bass (18:23)
4. Tangled Foot Badger (27:00)
5. Echoes Ambientic (11:40)
Musicians Vinyl:
Tim - drums (Hella, Weberian) / Pär - synths (Hella, Weberian) / Luis - guitar (Hella, Weberian & Slow) / Martin - guitar
(Weberian) / Jonathan - guitar (Hella, Slow) / Hasse - guitar (Hella), bass (Weberian), congas & shekere (Slow) / Jiri - bass
(Hella, Slow) / Dr Space - synths (Hella, Weberian, Slow) / Mogens - synths (Hella, Slow).
Musicians CD:
Tim - drums (1, 3, 5) / Pär - synths (1, 3, 5) / Luis - guitars (1, 2, 3, 5) / Martin - guitar (3) / Jonathan - guitar (1, 2, 4), bass (5) /
Hasse - bass (3, 4), guitar (1, 5), congas & shekere (2) / Jiri - bass (1, 2) / Dr Space - synths (1-5) / Mogens - synths (1, 2, 4, 5).
Recorded live in Estúdio Paraíso Nas Nuvens, Central Portugal on Sept 5-6th, 2022.
Mixed by Jonathan Segel in Stockholm, Oct-Nov 2022. Echoes Ambientic mixed by Dr Space.
The LP & CD can be ordered here: