Naxatras
Naxatras IV

It's back, I'm back in it. Not yet at worrying levels, but it's already enough to put me in difficulty. High blood pressure, stress, anxiety attacks, and palpitations. I couldn't even go to the mountains this morning after a sleepless night. A night that I spent mostly in the living room, with the computer on and headphones on; trying to find a solid anchor in Music, a powerful and essential medicine.

So suddenly, out of nowhere, the image of a new album cover that has been out for a few days appears on the screen. I read the name of the band which initially means nothing to me...my excellent musical memory fails me today; then suddenly I remember the band's origin: Greece. And things start to improve, the dark clouds in my mind clear, and I recall having heard them before, known them here on Debaser thanks to someone's listen a few months ago.

I remembered them as very Stoner-Psychedelic in their previous works.

And even in this fourth long-play work, the references are always the same, but with a substantial and important difference: the expansion of the band from a trio to a quartet, with the stable addition of a keyboardist. The horizons expand, they evolve; a greater creative force, greater clarity in musical choices, with very evident references to the Prog-Rock of the seventies. Much less Stoner, but more incisive. Esoteric, delicate, ready to offer tense moments, to rise instrumentally as in the track that most captivated and enchanted me during the only listen to the album that I wanted to do for the moment...I didn't need anything else to jot down these freewheeling thoughts.

The song in question is "Journey To Narahmon": a decisive guitar rhythm takes hold in the first seconds of the journey, creating anticipation because something is about to happen soon. Like London's Distance Calling that shuffle the deck paying homage to Steven Wilson, the more impactful Porcupine Tree...and why not even Pink Floyd. A languid voice bursts in, giving sacredness to a sound that ignites thanks to a piercing guitar solo. Six strings and keyboards proceed in harmony, while the rhythmic carpet of bass and drums ensures a compactness that blows my mind...but what immense joy in this case for my fragile mind!

The remaining tracks, on average of considerable length, expand the kaleidoscopic sound of a highly successful work. There are acoustic guitars, Mediterranean rhythms, rampant, overflowing fluidity that captures and gives you chills so indispensable now. At this point, it suffices to suggest listening to "The Answer" which is clear proof of it.

Really good, the guys from Thessaloniki.

Ad Maiora.