Master Musicians Of Bukkake ‘Far West’ CD/LP 2013
Those mysterious psychedelic krautrock tricksters, the Master Musicians Of Bukkake, finally finish their journey through the mystic east, as documented on their Totem trilogy of LP’s, only to head back upon themselves via the furthest reaches of the far west in search of new sounds to plunder and make their own.
Lessons learned from Totem trilogy, the Theme For Man With The Green Gloves On and time spent touring and honing their sound into a fully cohesive one that manages to at once reflect and deflect their influences very much come together on Far West to provide a sound that encompasses the exotic eastern trance-states, psychedelic rock and Giallo-and-Spaghetti-Western-soundtrack inspired, epic, filmic side of previous MmoB releases, whilst also adding touches of folk, the gentler strains of Canterbury-style prog, ala Soft Machine et al, musique concrete and undulating noise into the mix, taking things even further out than previously.
Letting the freak flag fly from the off, ‘White Mountain Return’ opens with a coruscating lightning strike of flailing white noise that settles and melts into a pounding, pulsing drumbeat and carefully strummed acoustic guitar, dripping with urgency and paranoia. Eastern-sounding breathy synth motifs begin to surface, gradually becoming more strident and forcefully dramatic. Staccato guitars and effected whipcrack vocals join the fray, adding density until the whole structure begins to warp and collapse in on itself, electronics flailing around like whipping tendrils. As an opener, it makes one hell of a bold statement of intent.
The maelstrom that ends ‘White Mountain Return’ fades away as the throbbing thrum of the old west-inspired ‘γη-νομος / GNOMI’ starts up, mixing spaghetti-western soundtrack sounds with subtly pulsating psychedelia and Giorgio Moroder-esque electro segues. Slyly insinuating layered vocals and buried whoops and yells add further texture, as does the heavily effected wheezing psych guitar that takes us out and into next track, ‘Arche’, a languorous, drawn-out number driven by heavily regimented percussive beats, waspish synths, snaking, clanging guitars and a steadily building sense of foreboding.
That hanging sense of foreboding continues with ‘Cave Of Light: The Prima Materia’, communicated chiefly by the coldly pulsing Carpenter-esque rhythmic backbone that carries the track. Woven around that steely throb are angelic choirs, lurking brass sections, darkly fuzzed guitars and a neo-gothic lead vocal line. Definite traces of Morricone can be detected herein, in perfect tandem with that Carpenter pulse.
‘You Are A Dream Like Your Dreamer: A Dark Peace’ is a darkly swelling fugue of organs and atmospheric touches that could almost herald the appearance of the 2001 A Space Odyssey monolith, and final track ‘Circular Ruins’ emerges from the darkness with a sense of hope, reminding me of early Peter Gabriel solo work crossed with the quieter side of indie-choir The Polyphonic Spree – all hopeful, uplifting massed vocal and chiming acoustic guitar, before being joined by Fripp-esque sustained electric guitar, synthesized strings and a melange of fractured psychedelia, ticking clocks and twinkling synths.
A supremely positive, joyous, note to end on.
By this point is should be patently obvious to all who hear that this elusive group have more than earned the self-bestowed ‘Master Musicians’ title, but what is still an unknown quantity is where they go from here…..the world, and beyond, is indeed their oyster.
Label: Important Records
Website: Official | Facebook
Scribed by: Paul Robertson
