The band from Bremen, Germany Mos Eisley Spaceport offers a blend of Krautrock, Progressive and Space Rock with fresh and modern personal traits. The new album “Further” was released on November 23, 2023 and contains 9 tracks with a renewed line-up. The opener “Ashes to Ashes” is the longest track, exceeding 10 minutes in length. An intro with dilated and atmospheric sounds slowly immerses us into the album. The track evolves, incorporating elements of Heavy Rock, Psychedelia and finding the right meeting point between retro and modern sounds. A granitic and engaging track, which alternates between dynamite vocal parts and instrumental parts with a fine organ solo insert in the second part. Granitic guitar and organ riffs open “Drop Out,” a Heavy Prog track with a solid, elaborate rhythm section. The vocals are dynamic and engaging and fit well into the musical context of the track. The style of the track is reminiscent of Uriah Heep in the central theme, and then evolves with a personal touch in the second half, offering another fine instrumental section with the organ solo in evidence. They return to the energetic opening theme and with the last vocal verse the track closes. A cinematic intro opens “Space Shift,” another long track over nine minutes long. A solid and tight rhythm section, a granitic Heavy Prog sound in the melodies and solo inserts over which a pleasant and incisive vocal is inserted make the track another example of good retro Rock brought to the present day. The track is enriched with tempo changes and instrumental sections of fine workmanship, enhancing their compositional and performing technique. The band skilfully brings the atmosphere of the early 70s into a fresh, modern context with their personal touch. “Raised by a Lioness” starts off strong right away, mixing heavy prog sounds with a touch of modern stoner. Rhythmic and percussive drumming and a bass line that gives body to the track make up the solid rhythm section. The vocal parts with the choral refrains are dynamic and engaging. In the long instrumental sections, the band enhances all instruments and explores the different facets of their sound, interweaving the different genres that make up their style. Valuable guitar solos take centre stage in the middle section, and then in the final part the singing returns, bringing the track to a crescendo. A granitic sound and riffs and melodies that immediately grab the listener characterise “Cocaine Blues.” The vocals are once again incisive and engaging, while the instrumental sections are a real asset to the sound. Guitar and organ solo interludes take us back to the golden age of rock. With the last vocal verse, the track closes by picking up the initial theme. A heavy weave of organ and guitar opens “Laika,” featuring a solid rhythm section and a punchy, energetic vocal. Tempo changes enrich the sound, which evolves by incorporating elements of Krautrock and Space Rock with an electronic touch given by a skilful use of effects and modulations. A pleasant 7:51 ride that shows another facet of the band’s sound. Returning to heavy prog sounds, “Scattle Cat” incorporates elements of heavy psych, with a solid and tight rhythm section. Between tempo changes and accelerations, the track also offers a fine instrumental section with keyboards in evidence, enhanced by modulations and effects. An extended organ solo accompanies us to the finale where the vocal returns for the last verse and closes. “Laika II” is the second part of the previous one, a track that takes up the theme, proposing it with dilated sounds and more psychedelic atmospheres. 3 minutes where the band experiments and layers sounds, enveloping the listener and accompanying him to the final track. “I’m a Robot Dancer” concludes the tracklist with a softer but still engaging sound. Positive melodies and a choral vocal develop this track with a more linear structure, leaving us wanting to listen to the album again in the future. A band that confirms the good things heard on previous record releases. This album explores heavy prog sounds with forays into space rock and Kraut, bringing the atmospheres of the 70s into a modern and distinctly personal context. A recommended listen, with intense and refined instrumental sections and incisive and engaging vocal parts, an excellent record release, among the best of 2023.
Tracklist
01. Ashes to Ashes (10:02)
02. Drop Out (05:31)
03. Space Shift (09:29)
04. Raised by a Lioness (08:42)
05. Cocaine Blues (05:36)
06. Laika (07:51)
07. Scattle Cat (04:21)
08. Laika II (03:02)
09. I’m a Robot Dancer (03:24)
Lineup
Sebastian Reimann / Vocals, Bass VI, Guitar, Synthesizer
Björn Groos / Organ, Piano, Synthesizer, Vocals
Guido Hanslik / Drums, Percussion, Vocals