"The CD opens with "Star Rise", a brief but totally spaced introductory bass/synth piece that indicates we're on the launching pad countdown. With "Sword Of Conneaut" we now have lift off and are steadily speeding towards the skies on this easy-paced tune with a space metallic vibe. Greg Kozlowski and Steve Taylor's dual guitar attack takes us into a blissful space jam realm that prepares us for the impending entry into orbit. "STS-107" and "Astral Progeny" are both standout tracks that feature Jay Swanson's trademark keyboard sound, particularly the Rhodes piano on "Astral Progeny", which gives the music a Quarkspace flavor while Greg's ripping slide guitar trips the stars fantastic.
Among the songs with a Pink Floyd vibe is "Solar Winds". Kozlowski is a master of guitar efx and uses them to create some of the most bubbling, wailing and droning psychedelic sounds ever heard. "Atom Smasher" opens with an electro alien gloom of noodling synths, but soon launches into a balls out space rocker with fiery passionate Dave Gilmour styled guitar leads and the space synths swirling around the periphery. "Duul" and "Desert Of Existence" are similar, with the guitar notes on the former reaching cosmically screaming levels of volume and intensity. And "Looking Skyward" is another excellent Floydish jam with a spacey symphonic vibe.
More in the Hawkwind domain is "The Traveller", an interesting blend of Hawkwind and early 70's jam rock, not unlike a space rock version of Derek and the Dominoes. "AMBQSM" is like a spaced out Allman Brother's jam, though an energetic rocking Hawkwind sound ultimately takes over. And "Beyond Time" is a killer Hawk styled jam that closes the set without coming back to Earth. Nope... Secret Saucer have decided they're enjoying the voyage... and we're all staying out there in space jam heaven together".
Reviewed by Jerry Kranitz of Aural Innovations webzine
I, while biased, think its a fine CD, a cross between Quarkspace's
Spacefolds series and Neil Young's Crazy Horse. Interested Distros
should contact Andy G at Dead Earnest for wholesale inquiries; we will
be selling them within a month or so at Eternity's Jest.
More a comment than a review but always welcome - this courtesy of American musician, Paul Williams
"Ever been curious as to what would happen if a collection of the leading space rock musicians got together one weekend in a studio and just started jamming? Well you can find out on the CD Element 115 recorded in July 2001 by a collection of eight individuals going under the collective name of Secret Saucer. The musicians in question are Steve Taylor and Steve Hayes from Star Nation, Paul Williams and Jay Swanson from Quarkspace, Greg Kozlowski from Architectural Metaphor, Thomas Marianetti, Bill Spear and Dan Schnell from Sun Machine and Dave Hess from Blaah. The various musicians are also members of other groups such as Sun Machine, Nick Riff, Church Of Head, National Steam and Nebula Trip. A bewildering collection of bands that I suspect, like me, the majority of readers will be totally unaware of. However, the relative obscurity of these bands doesn't mean that the musicians are a collection of inexperienced amateurs. Far from him as the collective credits include performances and jam sessions with such luminaries as Hawkwind, Daevid Allen, Ozric Tentacles and Mr Quimby's Beard.
The performers on the individual tracks vary, with several of the musicians swapping instruments between tracks. This fluid approach to the instrumentation has transferred to the music which is itself fluid and means that, despite the 70 minute running time, never descends into monotony or overt replication. Yes, the music contains the inevitable cosmic and spacey synths, free-flowing guitars and even, on Desert Of Existence, glissando guitar that will have fans of the classic Steve Hillage / Gong albums sit up and smile, but there is more to this album than a lot of space rock instrumental collections. Into the mix is also blended elements of psychedelia, progressive rock and Krautrock. What is more, despite being jammed, none of the pieces degenerates into rambling chaos, the whole album having a cohesiveness that displays the inherent ability of the musicians.
Of course, similarities with the greats of the genre shine through, but this is always more of a homage than simply replicating what has gone before. And it not as if they are trying to hide the influences, as shown by Duul which takes as it template the instrumental meanderings of Amon Duul II but expands on the original design considerably. Elsewhere, the sounds of early Pink Floyd provide inspiration on Solar Winds (Echoes Part 2 anyone?!), and passages within Looking Skyward. Inevitably, there are nods in the general direction of Hawkwind, particularly on The Traveller (Tim Blake era), while the slight reggae vibe on Atom Smasher, amongst other aspects, provides links to Ozric Tentacles. Heck one can even trace elements of bands such as Hatfield And The North on the Fender Rhodes dominated STS-107. The Rhodes electric piano is also put to good use on Astral Progeny where it is effectively pitched against some fine slide guitar work by Kozlowski. Although synthesisers are employed liberally throughout the recordings, ferocious lead guitars are also prevalent on such pieces as Sword Of Conneaut, Atom Smasher, The Traveller and Beyond Time, the latter track making effective use of the twin guitars of Kozlowski (rhythm) and Taylor (lead) to end the CD on an effective and exciting high that inspires the listener to play it all again.
The Secret Saucer project, whatever its original aims were, has successfully managed to produce a very full album of interesting, thoughtful and stimulating music. The listener can get lost amongst the hypnotic grooves and wallow in the enjoyment that the ensemble of talented musicians obviously felt when unleashed and left to perform as their collective muse dictated. A fine album of enjoyable music free from any commercial pretensions and recommended to all your armchair astronauts out there.
Conclusion: 8 out of 10
Reviewed by MARK HUGHES for DPRP website, the leading home for info and reviews on progressive rock and beyond.
"Apres les soucoupes volantes, voici les soucoupes secretes! Et directement en provenance du label Dead Earnest, sanctuaire anglais du space-rock et de ses derives.Ceci dit, ceux qui s'attendent a un enieme clone d'Hawkwind ou d'Ozric Tentacles seront decus car Secret Saucer ne donne pas dans le progressif repetif ou dans le delire instrumental colore ou rthnique.Non, les principlaes influences du groupe paraissent etre le Pink Floyd inventif de la fin des '60's, debut '70's ete le Krautrock allemand de la meme periode, un melange a la limite entre progressif et psychedelique.
La formation du groupe est a geometrie variablre, allant de 3 a 9 membres en fonction des titres de l'album.
On retrouve pas mal de vieux briscards issus de la scene British du space rock comme Dave Bless de Blaah, Paul Williams et Jay Swanson de Quarkspace, et le guitariste de l'Architectural Metaphor, Greg Kozlowski. Il y a aussi des musiciens de Sun Machine, de Star Nation (le bassiste Bill Spear, le multi instrumentaliste Steve Taylor.le clavieriste Steve Hayes, le guitariste Dan Schnell et le batteur Thom Marianetti).Bref, y'a du monde! Et il n'est donc pas etonnant de retrouver 4 joueurs de synthes sur "Atom Smasher", 4 guitaristes sur "The Traveller" (avec en plus, 2 clavieristes).
Immediatement on se dit qu'avec autant de personnel le disque va etre touffu, bruyant, indegiste. Eh bien, pas du tout! "Element 115"(un carburant pour soucoupe volante) debute par "Star Rise", une petite introduction d'une minute et demi, animee de claviers cosmiques, angoissants et d'une base claire et discrete. "Sword of Conneaut" est le parfait reflet de la suite du disque, un space rock 100% instrumental, peu nerveux, pas rapide mais ample et majestueux, centre sur les prouesses guitaristiques de Greg Kozlowski qui semble etre le seul vrai soliste de l'ensemble. Les melodies sont simples, accessibles, en constante evolution par i'adjonction mesuree d'un instrument, d'un solo, d'un seul son parfois, dans la trame musicale d'origine. Le resultat est assex planant, agreable en tous cas et on peut penser en effet a des passages cools de Can, aux ambiences colorees des premiers Popol Vuh. Il y a meme un hommage non deguise a Amon Duul II sure le morceau "Duul" mais il ne s'agi9t en aucun cas de pompage, juste un clin d'oril...
Bien sur, a cause du son de guitare, toujours sature, bourre de delay et d'effets, on pense frequemment a Ozric Tentacles (mais sans le cote festif) ou a Hawkwind periode "Astounding Sounds" et meme au premiers albums de Birth Control. Ceci dit, curieusement, on ressent de maniere omnipresente l'influence de Pink Floyd dans la musique de Secret Saucer, alors que ni les claviers, ni les guitares n'y font reference... Il s'agit, je pense, de rhythme, de pulsation, comme sur les titres live d'"Ummagumma" ou certains passages i'instrumentaux de "Meddle" ou "Atom Heart Mother" ou l'airt de rien, Nick Mason influe enormement sur le groove (si l'on peut dire!) des morceaux. Eh bien, Thom Marianetti possede le meme jeu que le moustachu (Quoi? Il l'a rasee? Damned!) d'ou l'analogie persistante.
"Beyond Time" est le dernier morceau, le seul ou l'influence des Faucons de l'Espace se fait vraiment sentir, probablement a cause du jeu de guitare de Steve Taylor et du clavier omnipresent de Dave Hess.
Un disque plutot reussi mais qui me semble un peu monotone, sans eclat ni folle, manquant d'un chant envoutant, comme sait si bien le faire Dave Brock. D'un autre cote, Secret Saucer produit un space rock tranquille, finement ouvrage, qui n'offusquera pas les amateurs de progressif. En somme, "Element 115" se revele une bonne introduction a ce genre si particulier, ce qui n'est deja pas si mal.
Reviewed by DOMINIQUE REVIRON for French print magazine "KOID 9", issue 56 - (and the bands are American not British, Dominique!!) www.koid9.fanzine.free.fr
Do you like "Interstallar Overdrive" by The Pink Floyd? Of course you do. Would you like to hang in that space for, oh, 70 minutes and 26 seconds? Depending on your disposition, just possibly. Secret Saucer -- who appear to be some sort of group of vets of the international space-rock conspiracy -- do just that on Element 115. Ambience abets frequently squealy guitar solos ("Atom Smasher," "Astral Progeny") in a manner that recalls British electro-blokes the Ozric Tentacles. In a way, the music on Element 115 is utterly formulaic: it starts and ends in deep space, and a lot of effect pedals are stomped upon along the way. There's some flanging. If the universe is your bag, Secret Saucer has a mighty big potato sack for you. Oblique Strategies sez: "Look closely at the most embarrassing details and amplify them."
As reviewed on the JAMBANDS website - must admit, that's the sort of review that works in reverse - I can imagine many people reading that thinking "hell, that sounds like a great album"!! Thanks guys...you done us proud!!
Als temporäres Projekt trafen sich bereits im Juni 2001 neun Musiker aus den unterschiedlichsten Bands der derzeitigen amerikanischen Space Rock Szene (u.a. Mitglieder von Quarkspace, Architectural Metaphor, Sun Machine), die z.B. auch bereits mit ihren Vorbildern Nik Turner, Daevid Allen, Ozric Tentacles bzw. Hawkwind zusammen gespielt hatten bzw. mit ihnen auf Tour waren, und jammten einfach ein Wochenende lang ganz spontan und locker miteinander. Das Endresultat waren knapp 12 Stunden Musik, die diese "All Star Band" als reine Improvisationsmusik im stilistischen Spannungsumfeld von Space / Jam und Krautrock aufnahm und die sehr tief in den 70ern verwurzelt ist. Auf "Element 155" wurden knapp 70 Minuten dieser ausgiebigen Wochenendsession gepackt, die die stärksten und intensivsten Momente auf einer CD vereint.
Die 12 Titel auf "Element 155" klingen trotz völliger inhaltlicher Freiheit erstaunlich konzentriert und keineswegs nur nach orientierungsloser Zielsuche. Dies liegt sicherlich daran, dass die einzelnen Musiker nicht immer komplett gleichzeitig spielten, sondern unterschiedliche Besetzungen - mal als Trio, Quartett bis hin zum 8-köpfigen Zusammenspiel - die verschiedenen Möglichkeiten und Klangspektren ausprobierten.
Einerseits eignet sich Space Rock sicherlich sehr gut für Improvisationen, da man sich aufbauend auf einen einmal gefundenen eindringlichen Grundrhythmus, prächtig solistisch austoben kann. Andererseits benötigt es aber auch das dementsprechende gemeinsame Verständnis untereinander, damit die solistischen Exkursionen nicht in völliger Leere verpuffen.
Vor allem die Gitarren wurden mit sehr viel Hall versehen und die einzelnen Töne schwimmen und fließen mehr, als dass energetisch die Saiten zum Heulen und Jaulen gebracht werden. Ein Großteil der Musik ist geprägt von blubbernden, lang schwebenden, psychedelischen Akkorden und Tonfolgen, die die Weite des Raumes klanglich greifbar machen. Dennoch weist jeder "Song" seinen ganz eigenen Charakter auf, auch wenn die klanglichen Reisen allesamt himmelwärts gerichtet sind. Eine prima Scheibe zum Davonfliegen!
KRISTIAN SELM for online webzine Progressive Newsletter Hope it sez something good!!
Dit is een verschrikkelijke CD… voor
spacerockhaters (zoals onze geachte
hoofdredacteur). Echter, spaceheads zoals
ik gaan volledig uit hun bol bij de instrumentale
voortploegende en voortsuizende
mix van krautrock en spacerock
door een allstar band uit de scene: leden
van Star Nation, Quarkspace,
Architectural Metaphor en nog wat
andere loslopende figuren jammen er 70
minuten lang op los dat ’t een lieve lust is.
De smokes gaan van mond tot mond
totdat iedereen in de gewenste sferen
verkeert. Alle nummers worden op hoog
niveau gespeeld (geintje) en of je deze CD
nu op de headphone of knalhard over de
boxen speelt, het maakt allemaal niets uit.
This is far out man, beam me up Scotty
and space on!
ANDRE DE WAAL for Dutch magazine Io Pages Issue 64
Hi Greg,
Thanks for the CD, great music. I'm featuring a track tomorrow on my show on ARFM (www.arfm.co.uk) between 3-6pm (UK
time). Will certainly be playing more from the album on my show. Great stuff - congratulations on a wonderful album.
PAUL BAKER e mailing the band from ARFM Soundscapes radio.
From the first synthesized bars, you just know you're in for a treat, especialy when a great guitar riff kicks in as, in the blinking of an eye, you're into "Sword of Conneaut". Most of the 12 tracks are pretty substantial affairs though, amounting to about a double album's worth of music.
Looking through the musicians, you quickly realise that Secret Saucer is a space-rock conglomerate with membership changing from track to tracks. On first listening, I was going to compare their music with Quarkspace and I was gratified to see that, indeed, Jay Swanson and Paul Williams from that very band, are present.
There is a psychedelic flavour to "Solar Winds" thanks to the retro organ sound (a synth, actually) and the vibrato guitar.
A lot of the music is improvised and all the better for it, the slightly out of tune guitar on "STS-107" does not detract from a track on which Jay Swanson's piano and synth work is, as always, welcome. Greg Kozlowski's guitar work really comes into its own on the powerful "Atom Smasher", a cut that features no less than 4 synth plyers! "The Traveller" has a glissando Steve Hillage feel. "Duul" is a slow burner with the mystery of an early Floyd, while "AMBQSM" adopts a more frantic approach, lots of swirling synths and manic drumming.
If further comparisons are needed, then a less spaced out Amon Duul II and a less heavy Hawkwind spring to mind and I'm sure Secret Saucer will appeal to fans of all the aforementioend bands. "Element 115" is as prize an example of distiled 100% instrumenral space-rock as you're likely to hear. Get a few beers in, put the headphones on and you're there!
PHIL JACKSON for ACID DRAGON magazine Issue 41 (acidrag@club-internet.fr)/wwwacidrago.club.fr/ad2.htm
Looking at the website this is the result of taking "members from the premiere US space rock bands and musicians who have toured with Hawkwind and Nik Turner, to a beautiful, remote location, locking them in a recording studio, and telling them to jam." Originally there were over twelve hours of music but that has now been cut down to just 12 songs. Some songs have two synth players, some have two guitarists, and it isn't uncommon for guys to switch instruments either, but the result is very good indeed. Yes this is improvised instrumental space rock, but the sound and quality of the instruments is very good indeed and these guys are bouncing ideas off each other. In some ways it reminds me of Quarkspace, and I wasn't surprised to see two members of that band involved in this project. This is music that shows just how good space rock can be when guys are improvising off each other, and with a superb production and editing by Paul Williams and Steve Hayes this is well worth further investigation if you enjoy the genre. www.geocities.com/secretsaucergroup or visit the label site at www.deadearnest.btinternet.co.uk
Review courtesy KEV ROWLAND for FEDBACK, UK - Issue 87. Contact feedbackfanzine@hotmail.com
This has to be one of the most engrossing and engaging space-rock albums that I've heard in recent years. So much so, it's become quite a powerplay in the UT shop. I've also been trying to review it for almost a month now, but I tend to just sit there whilst customers are browsing, grooving to instead of writing. This means that nearly every other time I play it someone wants to buy it!
Secret Saucer are a type of supergroup really, with member of Quarkspace joined by others from Star Nation, Sun Machine, etc. Quarkspace are one of those American psych bands that have increasingly left their post-punk, indie-rock roots behind, and gone from strength to strength in recent years. Star Nation and Sun Machine, I don't know, but I've been told they are also blossoming bands that have been around for a while. And, with all these musicians eschewing their roots and moving onto pastures new, they can now put their talent to good use, with some of the most out there isntrumentals you'll hear anywhere.
I wouldn't be surprised if the name Secret Saucer is actually derived Pink Floyd's "A Saucerful Of Secrets" as there's so much underlying Pink Floyd influence in the music. Anyway, whereas Pink Floyd defined space-rock influencing the whole Kosmische Krautrock scene (and others like Gong and Hawkwind, who took it along further), Secret Saucer have gone further and fused all such music into something that is their own. It's pretty much the territory Porcupine Tree were heading towrds circs "The Sky Moves Sideways", but without the trendy beats or songs.As the album develos and moves on, it becomes obvious that these guys have also been studying the likes of Djam Karet, Escapade, Melting Euphoria and such like. And then I can hear bits of other Krautrock influences: Wallenstein and the Cosmic Jokers (notably the Jugen Dollase type cosmic piano), Gila (another Pink Floyd side-step, true), it's all there that just so amazingly intoxicating that.....
I keep going on to write superlative descriptions and then delete them, because no matter how many thing this reminds me of, it is unique in itself. Fans of almost endless guitar solos will really delight at this. Lovers of space trips bolstered by scintillating walls and cascades of electronics should prepare themselves for an awesome trip.
It's a deceptive album too, at 71 minutes, with 12 tracks that are all "just right" with nothing outstaying its welcome. There are no cop-outs here.
ALAN FREEMAN for AUDION MAGAZINE (UK) Issue 52
Secret Saucer is not a band, but a marvelous spacerock collective assembled for a weekend long session of improvisational jamming. Distilled from the sessions is a single 68 minute pass-the-bong instrumental CD, with the less effective material swept in the dustbin. Most of the tunes derive inspiration from the early Floyd "deep space drift" school of spacerock.
In fact a good portion of this could easily have come out of the jam sessions for any post- Syd/pre-DSOTM Floyd offering. Constructs are kept simple, motifs are repeated, tempos are slow and groovy. Guitars have lots of delay on them, keyboards bubble psychedelically like its '69 becoming '70, and nothing has to go anyway in particular...accept relentless move into the heart of the sun. It's the kind of album that buddies sat around listening to with the lights low way back when, occasionally bursting out with a "yeah!" when the guitarist explodes into a slow-burning solo.
A "chill" album if you will, but not one that comes out of today's downtempo genre. Probably not something I'll come back to very often, but definitely worth keeping in mind when it's 2am and time to slow the heartrate way down as the partygoers head home but it's not yet time for bed.
Who would like this? Bongheads, definitely. Who would not like it? Speedfreaks.
STEVEN DAVIES-MORRIS on December 24th, 2006 from the bowels of the internet - and, no, I have no idea who he is either!!
More to follow.................