Review Summary: Rock mortua est, vivat rock!
The late ‘60s and early ‘70s were an exciting time for rock music. Multiple bands were branching out, creating either heavier music, or venturing in psychedelic territory, fusing various styles. A vast amount of strong records were produced during that period, as hard rock was still coalescing. The veteran Norwegian act, Motorpsycho agree with this theory, often displaying their fondness for the respective era. It can be heard throughout various track of theirs, however, this is the first time they presented us this sound in a straightforward manner across an entire LP. Their shortest effort yet,
The Gaia II Space Corps consists of 36 minutes of heavy rock ripped straight out of the aforementioned period of time. The guitars are at the forefront, plus, the trio brought longtime collaborator Reine Fiske for extra muscle. Opener, “Fanny Again, Or” kicks straight into gear with crunchy riffs and playful bass lines, over which Bent sings his heart out. “The Great Stash Robbery” follows with smooth, mid-tempo grooves and melodic sing-alongs.
The party continues as the boogie rhythm of “TSMcR” bounces in, whereas the slick, driving beats of the title track grace us soon after. Guitar solos, along with bits of organ and Mellotron chords enrich the atmosphere, whereas the drums’ punch boast the authentic sound used back then. Meanwhile, “The Oracle” shares a dreamy vibe, gradually growing from a ballad into a more upbeat second half. Snah’s gentle voice works like a charm over the sweet guitar progressions. Then, the band decided to close with a cover of The Frost’s “Black as Night”. An excellent choice, since it sums up the whole project very well, even Bent’s natural tone being similar to Dick Wagner’s voice. Overall,
The Gaia II Space Corps is the most focused Motorpsycho album yet, crafting a truly cohesive listen from start to finish. It is essentially a love letter to the heavy rock era that influenced them and unsurprisingly, they nailed it.
