Review: Øresund Space Collective ‘Alotta Hella Down In Estrela’
This year marks a momentous milestone for the legendary space rock band Øresund Space Collective, as they triumphantly celebrate their 20th anniversary of pushing the boundaries of psychedelic music during their magical live performances.
Frontman and cosmic conductor Scott ‘Dr. Space’ Heller couldn’t be more thrilled to commemorate two decades of mind-bending jams, interstellar sonic journeys, and unforgettable live performances that have captivated audiences across the globe.
From their early beginnings in Copenhagen to gracing the stages of prestigious festivals like Roadburn and Freak Valley, Øresund Space Collective has carved out a unique niche in the space rock scene, blending elements of krautrock, psychedelia and improvisation into an intoxicating aural elixir. With an ever-evolving lineup of talented musicians from Denmark and beyond, the band has released a staggering number of live and studio albums, each one a testament to their unparalleled creativity and musical prowess.
As they embark on this landmark year, Dr. Space and his cosmic crew have grand plans to celebrate in style, with special anniversary shows, limited edition releases, and perhaps even a few surprises up their sleeves like a DVD of a live studio jam. For fans of mind-expanding music and cosmic exploration, 2025 promises to be an unforgettable year as the collective continues to push the envelope and solidify their legacy as one of the most innovative and exciting bands in the space rock universe.
Fireworks are on display for the release of Alotta Hella Down In Estrela, a double album containing four tracks, which includes a mammoth fifty minutes of spectacular interstellar space journey, plus bonus tracks capturing their extraordinary 2022 reunion sessions in sun-drenched Portugal, elevates the celebrations surrounding the band’s return to dizzying new heights.
Recorded in the Estrela district between September 5th and 11th of that year, as Dr. Space informed me, the album is a kaleidoscopic journey through joyful, mind-bending sonic landscapes, brought to life by a stellar cast of guest musicians. Propulsive rhythms from Ozric Tentacles drummer Tim Wallender form the backbone, while Camper Van Beethoven‘s multi-instrumentalist wizard Jonathan Segel weaves in layers of melodic texture and colour. Tangle Edge bassist Hasse Horrigmoe locks in with Wallender to generate a deep, pulsating groove, as Luis Simoes from Lisbon psychedelic space-folk cosmonauts Saturnia sprinkles in his own special brand of acid-tinged magic and this just mentions but a few.
The end result is a swirling, lysergic stew of sounds that transports the listener to a higher plane – a testament to the enduring power of Dr. Space’s singular musical vision, and the electrifying chemistry that erupts when these veteran voyagers of inner and outer space convene to channel the cosmic muse. While the album’s title cheekily hints at the hedonistic delights to be found in Lisbon’s winding streets and pulsing nightlife, the true trip unfolds between the speakers, as Heller and his illustrious comrades-in-arms take you on a wild, exhilarating ride through uncharted realms of psychedelic bliss.
Before guiding you into the mesmerising and otherworldly soundscapes conjured on this album, it is essential to begin to talk about its spellbinding album cover, a visual symphony that perfectly encapsulates the ethereal essence of the band’s music, which is yet another masterpiece birthed from the boundless imagination of Davide Graham, the band’s visionary designer.
Øresund Space Collective have crafted an album positively drenched in cosmic magic that invites the listener to float away on its blissful celestial currents…
With an uncanny ability to peer into the very soul of each composition, Graham weaves together photographic elements that dance and swirl in harmonious unison, creating a tapestry of light, shadow, and emotion that beckons the viewer to step inside and explore the sonic landscape contained within. His covers are not mere packaging, but portals to the astral plane, gateways through which the listener is transported to realms unseen, where music and imagery intertwine in a cosmic ballet of the senses.
So, opening with the twenty-two-minute title track, the album immediately submerges you in its dreamy and entrancing musical world, as the shimmering, nimble guitar work intertwines with Wallender‘s hypnotically understated drumming and the cosmic synth manipulations of Dr. Space himself. This blissful composition gradually swells and intensifies, ultimately cresting in an exhilarating space-rock crescendo that feels tribal and ritualistic.
The sprawling, nearly fifty-minute epic Slow To Fast First Rays is a kaleidoscopic tour de force, an ambitious and spellbinding jam that ventures into funky, psychedelic realms. The piece unfolds as a vivid, phantasmagoric journey, sparking imaginings of whimsically gyrating extraterrestrial beings cavorting in prismatic alien landscapes. Despite its expansive runtime, the track remains utterly engrossing throughout, inducing a serene, meditative state of listening that soothes the mind and spirit.
Elsewhere, Weberian Bass stands out with its bluesy, alluringly slinky bass grooves, while the monolithic Tangled Foot Badger delves into even headier, more experimental territory. Here, amidst washes of ambient krautrock and cosmic drones, snaking wah-wah guitars slither over a throbbing bassline and pulsating drums, yielding a heady concoction that evokes a lysergic voyage across the astral plane.
Closing out the album is the relatively concise Ambient Echoes, an infectious samba-tinged number perfect for a late-night astral dance party under the stars. Clocking in at a mere eleven minutes, the track serves as a playful and levitating denouement to the record’s interstellar auditory trip.
With this transcendent collection of stargazing soundscapes, Øresund Space Collective have crafted an album positively drenched in cosmic magic that invites the listener to float away on its blissful celestial currents. A delightful journey on a translucent carriage of lights, sounds and visions.
Label: Space Rock Productions
Band Links: Official | Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Domenico ‘Mimmo’ Caccamo
