Review: Skyjoggers / Sula Bassana – Split
In the 1970s, releasing a live album was considered an essential part of a band’s discography, a crucial milestone that captured the raw energy and spontaneity of their live performances. It was a way for fans to experience the magic of a concert even if they couldn’t be there in person. However, times have changed, and the importance placed on live albums has diminished.
Bands today are more focused on churning out studio albums and pouring their creativity into crafting polished, meticulously produced records. While this approach allows for greater sonic experimentation and refinement, it often comes at the expense of the electrifying spontaneity and unbridled expression that can only be captured on stage in front of a live audience.
Some argue that this shift indicates a lack of confidence or substance, with bands relying on studio trickery to mask their inability to deliver compelling live performances. There are, of course, exceptions – bands that release live albums more frequently than studio records, perhaps as a way to compensate for a dearth of new material or ideas. Others view the occasional live release as a way to maintain a connection with their fans and remind them of the power of their live shows. Ultimately, while the live album may no longer be the institution it once was, it remains an important tool for bands to showcase their prowess and forge a deeper bond with their audience.
However, although not all live albums give you that feeling of fullness, some can completely capture you with just a couple of tracks. The Sula Bassana and Skyjoggers Split live album is an electrifying testament to the raw, unbridled power of live psychedelic space rock. Recorded at the intimate Bar 227 in Hamburg during the Dazed & Spaced Festival in April 2024, this album perfectly captures the feral intensity and improvisational brilliance of these two bands operating at the peak of their powers.
Skyjoggers, the audacious power trio from Tampere, Finland, kick things off on side A with three blistering, unrelenting tracks that showcase their seamless evolution from ‘70s-style hard rock in the vein of Ten Years After and Cactus to the wild, uncharted frontiers of experimental psychedelia. Step One: Breathe / Step Two: Levitate explodes out of the gate with dizzying, breakneck riffs, pummelling drums, and manic bass runs that call to mind the frenzied virtuosity of Focus’ Hocus Pocus.
an absolutely face-melting set that cements Skyjoggers reputation as one of the most vital and exciting live acts in the underground heavy music scene today…
This adrenalized sonic assault continues unabated on Lightrunner, a swirling maelstrom of wah-drenched guitar histrionics and unhinged, almost nonsensical vocal declamations that suck the listener into its hellish vortex, like some kind of psychotropic whirlpool. The fact that both of these superhuman performances are taken from the band’s 2023 EP 37 Steps ’til Sunlight only confirms Skyjoggers as a force to be reckoned with in the world of heavy psych-rock.
The trio closes out their portion of the split with For Outer Space, a smouldering, slow-burning excursion into the realms of acid blues that first appeared on their 2018 debut Journeymen. Clocking in at a comparatively restrained nine minutes, the track builds from a sparse, atmospheric intro into a towering inferno of feedback-laced guitar heroics, with plenty of room for the rhythm section to stretch out and showcase their chops. It’s a stunning conclusion to an absolutely face-melting set that cements Skyjoggers reputation as one of the most vital and exciting live acts in the underground heavy music scene today.
The B side sees Dave Schmidt, the musical mastermind behind the moniker Sula Bassana, a musician who has forged a legacy as a trailblazing force in the realms of experimental psychedelia, space rock, and krautrock. With an insatiable passion for sonic exploration, this multi-instrumentalist virtuoso has seamlessly woven together an eclectic tapestry of genres throughout his illustrious career, leaving an indelible mark on the German underground music scene.
Sula Bassana’s uncanny ability to channel the divine, casting a warm, enchanting glow that illuminates the eternal light within us all…
As the founder of Sulatron Records, Schmidt has cultivated a platform for boundless artistic expression, not only through his solo endeavours but also through his groundbreaking collaborations with seminal space rock outfits like his own Electric Moon, Zone Six, and his most recent ventures, Minerall and Moonseeds. Minerall, a cosmic trio featuring members of Speck and Kombynat Robotron, and Moonseeds, a celestial alliance with Electric Moon bassist Komet Lulu and Seedy Jeezus frontman Lex Waterreus, exemplify Schmidt‘s unquenchable thirst for pushing the boundaries of musical possibility. With each project, he fearlessly delves into uncharted sonic territories, crafting mesmerizing soundscapes that transport listeners to otherworldly dimensions.
The live incarnation of Sula Bassana is a testament to Schmidt‘s unparalleled prowess as a performer, as evidenced by the spellbinding renditions of tracks from his 2022 solo opus Nostalgia. The live version of We Will Make It is a tour de force of experimental artistry, evoking the avant-garde spirit of Sonic Youth’s Daydream Nation era while propelling the composition to dizzying new heights.
Schmidt‘s sonic sorcery is further elevated by the spectral vocals of singer/guitarist Adrian Grod, conjuring an atmosphere of spine-tingling transcendence that permeates the very essence of the performance. The improvisational masterpiece Come With Me serves as an invitation to embark upon a hallucinogenic odyssey, guided by the spiritual space charisma of Grod‘s solemn, preachy intonations and Schmidt‘s mesmerising keyboard work, reminiscent of Vanilla Fudge’s Mark Stein. This sweeping, hypnotic composition is a testament to Sula Bassana‘s uncanny ability to channel the divine, casting a warm, enchanting glow that illuminates the eternal light within us all.
Label: Sulatron Records
Skyjoggers: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Sula Bassana: Official | Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Domenico ‘Mimmo’ Caccamo
