Orange Clocks is a band from Northamptonshire, UK, that plays Space Rock with Psychedelia and Prog. Their new album, titled “Bubblewrap Crater and the Peacock Rocket,” was released on September 27, 2024 and contains 9 tracks ranging from 2 to over 13 minutes long. The opener “Volcano” slowly immerses us in the Psychedelic sounds with lysergic atmospheres that characterise the intro. in a musical crescendo, the track evolves into a solid and elaborate Prog/Space Rock steeped in Psychedelia, with fine solo guitar inserts. The sounds are enveloping, enriched by skilfully modulated effects, with the flute adding stylistic solutions. The rhythm section is solid, with a deep, load-bearing bassline. Returning to the sounds of the opening, the piece concludes, leaving room for the following, “Flowers And Fruit.” It is the first track sung, by a dynamic vocalist, developing a sound closer to Progressive/Psych sounds. Precious intertwining of guitar arpeggios and flute characterise the melodies, while a solid and elaborate rhythm section, with a killer bassline, deep and hypnotic develops interesting tempo changes. The band skilfully brings classic atmospheres into a modern and personal context. Interesting solo guitar interventions, followed by a pastoral flute to conclude. Dreamy atmospheres permeate the intro to “Monuments,” with warm, expressive vocals interpreting the lyrics. The intensity increases as the minutes go by, developing into an intense and energetic song with prolonged solo interventions by flute first and then guitar, certainly a concentration of power, engaging and well constructed. “Beta” is an Experimental passage in the first part, enriched by the band’s expertly modulated effects. In the second part the band explores space rock sounds, rhythmic and enveloping, continuing in an eclectic style in the following “Maggotbone.” Urgent rhythms with continuous tempo changes and forays into Prog, characterise this elaborate track with its Space atmosphere of the past. The retro touch is evident but the band skilfully brings it into a modern and very personal context. Distinctly Prog the intro “Nebula,” is reminiscent of the somnorities of the Canterbury Scene and in particular bands like Gong, both in structure and in vocal and melodic lines. An excellent track that enhances the band’s compositional and performing technique, offering in the middle part a Symphonic opening that characterizes the instrumental section, uniting the past and present of the genre. After this refined instrumental section with a retro flavor, the band returns to more Heavy sounds in a musical crescendo that takes us to the finale. We have come to the epic track “Formulator,” which exceeds 13 minutes in length and once again showing the band’s olttime ideas. The track immediately starts off strong, engaging and elaborate exploring all the facets that characterize the band’s unique style. Here the Pçrogressive component is more spcced, only to return, however, to incoprporate, nlle accelerations especially, Space Rock sounds. A carrier track for the tracklist, and it will certainly be interesting to hear it live, given the energy the band conveys at its events. The album ends with the eclectic “Space Witch (The Revisitation),” a track that offers elaborate sounds with an Experimental feel. The feeling of floating in space is well accomplished in the second part, and then the vocal returns and accompanies us until the finel. An excellent listen, confirming the good things heard in the band’s previous releases. A pleasant journey through Progressive, Psychedelic and Space Rock, equally distributed within the sound and the record. Long stgrumental textures alternate with intense vocals, solid rhythm sections enriched by tempo changes and intertwining guitar and horns embellish the soudn. A recommended listen for lovers of Space Rock sounds with a good presence of Progressive and Psychedelic Rock cues.
Tracklist
01. Volcano (4:47)
02. Flowers And Fruit (4:15)
03. Monuments (4:44)
04. Beta (3:42)
05. Maggotbone (3:34)
06. Bergerac (2:37)
07. Nebula (4:50)
08. Formulator (13:13)
09. Space Witch (The Revisitation) (7:15)
Lineup
Tom Hunt / Vocals, Synthesisers
Burn / Drums, Percussion
Dan Merrills / Guitar
Derek Cotter / Bass
Stuart Patterson / Guitar
Naomi Blackie / Flute, Vocals
