Germany’s Samsara Blues Experiment first burst into the acid-rock consciousness with their 2010 debut, ‘Long Distance Trip’. Seven years on (and a decade since their formation), has the trio’s penchant for bluesy licks, spacey reverb and change through repetition stood the test of time?
Fourth studio album ‘One With The Universe’ shows us a band who are still keenly in touch with their roots, whilst unafraid to try something new. That something comes with the band experimenting with synths, organs and soundscaping, expanding their standard repertoire of guitar, drums and bass. ‘Vipassana’ kicks in with stormy sounds and rushing winds before chiming harmonics lead us into a bluesy drum break and twinned snaking bass groove. Things skip along nicely, each instrumental layer definitely doing their own thing but still focused, working as one. The pace picks up, taking on a slightly harder edge, drums cascading in crashing rolls, things narrowing into a simplified rock section. Things swell out, fuzzy synths adding a jam-session vibe, before romping home with dense layers and big, open chords.
‘Sad Guru Returns’ crawls wistfully around spoken word samples before knuckling down into a chugging riff, locking in with warbling guitar layers, dropping down the rabbit hole into a racing drive that’s powered by an absolutely unstoppable bass run. ‘Glorious Daze’ lives up to its title with breathy droning, cut through by shimmering cymbals and dusty desert rock guitar licks. Distant sitar motes work up into a blaring Hammond organ, the band’s soulful ’60s prog worship reaching fever pitch with a righteously smooth roll.
The title track is probably the album’s zenith. Moody bass rambles along as cymbals quake, distant guitars cry out then bite hard. It’s a more laid back affair, but also somehow more serious, organic progressions, a rapid shuffle swallowed by a fuzzed out bass vamp and spiraling grooves. It’s all very ‘smoky blues club’, ending with wobbly synths that perhaps seem a touch out of place. ‘Eastern Sun & Western Moon’ wrap things up with big, ’80s style synths before tom heavy drums usher in a bass-led procession, whittling away to gentle, lilting guitar musings before uniting for a final, triumphant, head-nodding riff.
Samsara Blues Experiment urge you to “Think about all the groovy times you’ve had” on ‘One With The Universe’. Groovy times indeed – the band are thoroughly adept musicians, who make clever use of individual lines as well as unification of purpose. Although not as initially striking or hard-edged as their debut, there’s definitely a sense of growth here that makes us certain the trio will ramble on for some time to come.
JAY HAMPSHIRE