Dead Man in Space (2009)
Dead Man in Space is Oresund Space Collective's 6th proper album. It is also their very first LP vinyl release. It's a significant trend, as the medium demands an editor to distill the very best parts. And while Oresund Space Collective certainly does do that anyway, this forces them to think a bit harder on what goes in and what stays out. OSC is a band that is a natural fit for vinyl, and it's not surprising to see they have continued this trend since.
On the music front, Dead Man in Space is one of OSC's more coherent and focused releases - no surprise given the context provided above. Improvisational space rock jamming is still the name of the game, though here there's a bit of a jazzy bent in the rhythms and sounds. And I felt there were more poignant psychedelic guitar bursts than normal, giving the album just the bite it needs to be successful. If looking to start somewhere with OSC, Dead Man in Space is a good one to consider.
There's a CD version of the album (with different artwork), and it's about 20 minutes longer (of course it is), so much of what I said above probably doesn't apply to that version.
Ownership: 2009 Kommun 2 (LP)
3/14/11; 10/7/17 (review)
Oresund Space Collective (2006)
Oresund Space Collective are yet another Scandinavian space rock crew, who revel in the art of the groove and the jam, and eschew any kind of arty pretension. Large ensembles are the way to go when performing this kind of exploratory music, and OSC deliver all kinds of personnel and instrumentation (including multiple guitars and an array of vintage and modern keyboards). A true international bunch, in that their very name is the bridge between Denmark and Sweden - and led by the American scientist Dr. Space (Scott Heller). A fine beginning for the band, who were to improve greatly from here - not to mention become far more prolific.
Former ownership: 2006 Transubstans (CD). Copy #322
1/31/07; 9/12/11 (review); 12/10/17
The Black Tomato (2007)
The Black Tomato is Oresund Space Collective's third album and my personal favorite of the ones I've heard by the band. This title sounds more like a vintage Kosmische release rather than the more modern Ozric Tentacles school of space rock. Long tracks (two of the three clock over 30 minutes each in fact) that shimmer with that early 70's German vibe, but also keeps the motor running throughout, so there's no room for boredom to sit in. And high energy guitar-driven Krautrock always wins here around the UMR household.
Looking for a place to start with the vast OSC catalog? Start with this one.
Ownership: 2007 Transubstans (CD)
2008; 9/8/11 (review)
Other albums I own and still need to review: Inside Your Head (2008); Good Planets are Hard to Find (2009); Slip Into the Vortex (2010); Entering Into the Space Country (2011); Phaze Your Fears (2012)
Other albums I used to own and didn't review: It's All About Delay (2006)
9/8/11 (new entry)
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