Karmic Society - Journey [World in Sound - 2008]Journey is this German four piece debut album that offers up an invigorating, tuneful and atmospheric mix of 70’s influence instrumental rock with jazzy, blues, funk and filmatic touches. Sure this kind of thing is hardly original or mould breaking but Karmic society seem to play their wares gracefully, well and consistently with each track been memorable and rewarding in it's own right. The tracks are built round a buoyant, atmospheric and rocking mix of bass, guitar, drums, moog, Rhodes and Hammond organ groove. A few stand out moments come in the form of; The title track which sounds up-beat Goblin, like something they could have knocked out for a main soundtrack theme back in the day. With it’s soaring 70’s Rhodes /moog work leading out a harmonic rock backing with the a great fiery guitar and synth solo midway through. Or the unfolding downbeat shadowy Pink Floyd meets the blues via percussive raise and falls of After the flu which slowly but surely risers in power and conviction with some great eastern tinged guitar soloing along the wa, as well as some quite smoky jazzy Hammond tones. Or Bees don’t like honey with its rocking ‘n’ funky guitar riff vs Hammond weave and grow, that goes nice bass ‘n’ organ jammed out mid-way with some scorching guitar soloing going on and an almost spacey type tone too. If you enjoy any kind of instrumental 70’s rock or up-beat soundtrack work you get a really kick out of this. Really an great energentic, memorable, unashamedly retro and wholly consistent debut album. Roger Batty
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