Spiral Galaxy features the Chicago-based musicians Sara Gossett and Plastic Crimewave, as well as occasional member Hands of Hydra. On their new self-titled LP, out now via Cardinal Fuzz Records (UK)/Lion Productions (USA), the trio takes you on a magick carpet ride deep into the center of the third eye. Along the way, they are joined by a host of fellow sonic psychonauts like Makoto Kawabata (Acid Mothers Temple), Jean-Hervé Péron (Faust), Ryley Walker (Crazy Bread), Alisha Sufit (Magic Carpet), Taralie Peterson (Spires That In The Sunset Rise), Will Maclean (Protovulcan), Matthew Shaw (Apollolaan Recordings), and Christian Luke Brady.
While flute, sitar, guitar, synths, and voice often form the backbone of these four tracks, Spiral Galaxy report that they used the studio as an additional instrument as they layered contributions from their motley collective of musical associates. For instance, Kawabata can be heard throat singing on the album’s opening number “Celestial Omen,” a track which also includes chanting from Sufit, sitar from Hands of Hydra, as well as mellotron and field recordings from Shaw. Blurring the lines between psychedelic music and meditation aid, this cut seems right at peace being both.
“Tragique Mechanique” follows, and it features vocals from Péron and his daughter Jeanne Marie-Varia, while Maclean joins on synth and Peterson on sax. With the soft throb of a percussive heartbeat, this gently ascending number melts through progressive layers of bliss as it rises onto higher planes of sonic consciousness before arriving at the album’s two closing numbers, “Machine D” and “Pendlewitches.” A tripped-out ambiance continues here, but with a more guitar-driven approach, as Hands of Hydra provides a dirge-like mind-melt on the former, while Walker plays backward guitar around Brady’s spiraling riffs on the latter.
If you’re looking to soundtrack your next contemplative or psychotropic adventure, Spiral Galaxy will provide the perfect backdrop to “turn on, tune in, and drop out.”
