The Spacious Mind - Gentle Path Highway. 2007. The Spacious Mind are never one to sit on their laurels, and perhaps they felt they achieved all they could with “Rotvalta”, one of the finest modern space rock albums ever. So with “Gentle Path Highway”, one can hear TSM introduce two new styles into the mix: Post rock and stoner rock. The opening track ‘Rider of the Woodlands’ has a distinct post rock feel, never in a hurry, rarely changing but constantly moving forward. There’s even a bit of that noise factor that they once experimented with on “Organic Mind Solution”. The title track is more in line with recent TSM material and then they launch into the massive 16 minute “Honja”. On a blindfold test, I could’ve been persuaded this was a new recording by those Dutch weednauts 35007, or even Electric Wizard, if they lived in some remote Swedish forest. It’s all a bit too slow, and non-meditational, for my tastes I’m afraid. Final 14 minute ‘Civilization Blues’ is The Spacious Mind at their best, nailing that furry freak vibe of early Pink Floyd and the Cosmic Joker set.

Dream Machine – Trilogia. 2005. Dream Machine are an offshoot from Ozric Tentacles, with Jumpin’ Jon (flute, here known as Champignon) and Seaweed on keyboards being the most recognizable names of the alumni (Joie Hinton, who isn’t on the album, is now a member). It’s been years since we could actually hear John’s flute on an Ozric album, so that’s an immediately welcome plus for Dream Machine. The style of the music is more bluesy acid jam Cosmic Jokers / Galactic Supermarket than intense Hillage-era Gong, so “Trilogia” has more of a laid back quality than Ozric would typically display. No Ed Wynne guitar heroics to rely on, so the music tends to float about rather than the constant tension/release one would expect from OT. Though there’s a little dub for those that might have withdrawals. For me, Dream Machine are the best Ozric side project yet to come along, bar none. Even for folks that tired of the Ozric sound years ago, may want to take a stab at this. Keep them coming guys. Instant A-list band.

Colorstar - Via Le Musica. 2001. Colorstar are a Hungarian band who play in a somewhat similar style to fellow countrymen Korai Orom. They are more electronic/beat oriented and less psychedelic, and that’s what creates quite a separation for the two bands IMO. Still, Colorstar’s music passes the time easily, and since it’s a full band effort, that mitigates the boredom factor that can sit in with non-dance listeners of electronica.