SPACE ALLIANCE

"Volume 2"

Old Europa Cafe - 2007

CD / CD + 3" mini CD

Space Alliance is a new-born creature coming from a galaxy far, far away and involving two well-known alien faces of the Roman underground: Flavio Rivabella, alias D.B.P.I.T., and Marcello Fraioli, of Ain Soph fame, but here incarnated as his alter-ego Sex Voto. "Volume 2" oddly enough comes as debut for this collaboration, with a "Volume 1" disappeared somewhere in the void, as we read in the notes. The music is an interesting journey back in time, to the Germany of the first half of the 1970s', where the famous season of the Cosmic Couriers was showing new stairways in the use of electronics. Space Alliance are walking again those alien roads thirty years later, but with a totally different approach: instead of looking at the stars with hope in the future and progress for humankind, their aspiration seems to be leaving this sick and doomed world behind, to escape as far away as possible.

Analogue electronic sounds are the basis of each of the eight songs, sometimes evoking 1950s' sci-fi movies' soundtracks, other times quoting the outer space rides of kraut rock heroes like Tangerine Dreams or Ash Ra Tempel. Common ground with Manuel Göttsching's legendary band is to be found also in Marcello Fraioli's guitar, appearing in excellent tracks like "Picnic Boys" or the epic and fantastic "Robot Dreamer Part I and II", the latter being probably the best of the whole CD. A more meditative, ecstatic vision is emerging from "Space Junk", that has nothing to do with Devo, but rather with Popol Vuh's mystic and sacral compositions. Other well accomplished moments are initial "Galactic Venom", "Spacesiren / Installimmagine", the most Tangerine Dreamesque of the lot, and the freezing and disturbing "The Sphynx".

Not all of the tracks are equally convincing, but nonetheless the whole product is fresh, very enjoyable and nicely packaged. To be highly recommended if you are still loyal to the kraut rock era and their unforgettable excursions in outer space, but also if you want to experience something different. A limited edition in flying saucer-shaped metal box with a bonus 3" CD is also available.

- Simon V.

Website: http://www.oldeuropacafe.com

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/spacealliance