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Long-awaited studio follow-up to the mighty chill-out classic: ‘In Search Of The Acid Metal Grille’ and it set the Synth/Amb crossover world alight back in 2006!
Like ‘Acid Metal Grille’, ‘Giaspace’ was another consistent, cohesive and varied set of tracks, and although each is in a different setting, the music flows perfectly throughout its seventy-two minute running time.
‘Gaiaspace’ has two major improvements from its predecessor – rhythm and strength!
This time around, the feast of synthesizers and electric guitars are joined by sequencers, electronic and programmed drums, and percussion – but the effect and sound, while covering styles that range from down-tempo chilled through solid Ambient to “Retro” and space, is uniquely MOOCH.
Here’s Andy G’s original 2006 track-by-track review for ‘Giaspace’…
Opening with the eight minute: ‘Emerald’, you’ll find a spacey introduction leading to a solid rhythmic undercurrent from deep bass, lurching, rolling drums and percussives, while on top, assorted lead and background synths, wailing synth solos and searing but melodic electric guitar all combine to provide this huge-sounding expanse of train-ride proportions. As the whole track travels ever forwards, constantly changing shape and always staying busy, it remains thoroughly engaging all the way.
‘Meteorologue’ starts with string synths, choppy rhythms, swelling synth chords and rolling electronic drums, as tinkling percussion, rolling bass and a variety of almost symphonic synth leads provide what is a light and airy melodic setting to some solid, rolling rhythmic foundations. Guitar is added onto all of this and another full-sounding slice of ambient magic unfolds to glorious degree, the effect being utterly hypnotic and spellbinding as the melodies and rhythms take you on another glorious sounding journey.
As space synths spiral upwards and the synths freely flow, the rhythms drive forward in an almost lazy but strong sounding fashion, with guitar and heavenly choral textures providing the icing on the cake, to what is a truly amazing and immaculate nine minutes of electronic music.
The 3rd track: ‘Flow-Thing’ is a sixteen-minute epic that could quite easily be likened to some of the best of the Namlook/Schulze: ‘Dark Side Of The Moog’ series of albums, only here with added ’74-era TANGERINE DREAM content at one end, and added chill-out factor at the other. The sequencer work is solid, and the delicate electric guitar work flies to the skies as the layers of string synths and keyboard melodies with added percussive rhythms combine to create this huge-sounding, expansive piece of electronic bliss - The perfect fusion of “retro” and “ambient”, and a track - as the whole album - that you will enjoy for a long time to come.
Track 4 is: ‘Massive’, a five-minute piece, full of spiralling optimism, as lurching Ambient percussive and deep bass rhythms roll forward, above which assorted lead synthesizer lines soar and fly, the whole effect spiralling upwards as the mood and feel of the album so far is continued. You hear music that has beauty, strength, depth, atmosphere and cohesion, and when a distinctly Steve Hillage-esque electric guitar wanders in and proceeds to solo in searing lead and fuzzed-up manner, it provides an electrifying main focus to the track – superb stuff!
The rhythms on: ‘Indigo Shy Trip’ are to die for – it’s one of those utterly addictive, rolling percussive rhythms with deep undulating heartbeat bass, crisp and strong electronic drums and percussives that provide a Namlook-meets-KRAFTWERK train-ride effect, while oceans of flowing synths, sparkling space effects, gorgeous string synths and layers of expansive electronics all combine to jaw-dropping degree to provide this absolutely wonderful setting. The whole piece oozes strength and atmosphere and is one of the best modern Ambient tracks that you’ll hear on the planet right now. At over seventeen minutes long, it’s yet another track on the album that is heaven itself - the perfect mixture of cosmic synths, soaring synth melodies, early Krautrock keyboard sounds and totally compulsive rolling train-like rhythms. Genius!!
The eight and a half minute: ‘Galactic Oceanic Consciousness’ leaves the percussion factor behind as it immediately sets its sights along slowly moving waves of cyclical synths, from which a gorgeous sea of delicate sequencer rhythms emerge. As a brief guitar slowly soars along the top, swooping space synths fall gracefully from the skies and deep bass undercurrents run under the cascading space synths. The whole track seems to climb and build, layer upon layer, to become this glorious sounding slice of space music, but with a sea of light sequencers coming more into play as lead synths and flowing melody lines are also added, and the track slowly takes on a more solid shape. Then the melodies die away, leaving just slowly spiralling sequencers to which acoustic guitar textures are added, then when soaring distant strings and ever spiralling space synths are brought in. The gliding music is added to layer upon layer once more, and as a gorgeous electric guitar emerges the whole track just takes you to heaven once more, with sequencers pulsating at the heart of the ocean.
The album ends with the six and a half minute: ‘Noo!’ and yet again, it’s different, but still in keeping with the feel of all that has gone before. This time a spiralling deep sequencer-like rhythm is at the core, overlaid with soaring, echoed flute, rolling drums, crisp percussion, deep undulating bass and assorted synths that swoop, flow and soar all around, providing melody, atmosphere and an almost Middle Eastern feel to the piece as it takes off, but this time with an almost darker side to it. Brief heavenly choral effects are added as the lead synth solos and wails, and with rhythmic synth layers entwining themselves around the heart of the track and the brief appearance or returning flute sounds, the music climbs ever higher. This is the most Middle Eastern sounding track on the album, and a link back to early MOOCH works, but with a modern outlook.
The piece ends to the sounds of a bell-like tone and fading space synths swoops to atmospheric degree, closing a totally consistent, stunning album that is sure to please a whole host of Synth and Ambient electronic music fans for many years to come.
MOOCH: GIASPACE Track List:
01. Emerald (9:30)
02. Meteorologue (8:51)
03. Flow-Thing (15:51)
04. Massive (5:19)
05. Indigo Shy Trip (17:39)
06. Galactic Oceanic Consciousness (8:41)
07. Noo! (6:11)
TPT – 72:04