available on
Camera Obscura Records
SBR 033
songs- Jewel of the Seven Stars, Loki's Monstrous Brood, I am I was, Arabic Satori, Angel of Light, The Lycian, Tralaine, Mascara Moon, Sun Beam Angel, Remedios Rising, Starlight
Tucson's Black Sun Ensemble returns with a follow-up for 2002's Hymn of the Master release. Starlight effectively bridges the gap between the semi-acoustic, eastern influenced work of the 1980s and early 1990s with the metal machine onslaught of 2000's Sky Pilot and 2002's Hymn of the Master. Again, with Sun Zoom Spark backing the ensemble, BSE seems to actually go further out than they have gone before. Starlight features striking vocal performances by Tucson's Infinite Beauties front-man Joseph Graves and Sun Zoom Spark's Eric Johnson in addition to blistering guitar leads and spacious chordal work by BSE founder and guitarist Jesus Acedo. Starlight creates an unforgetable audio experience.
Black Sun Ensemble at blacksunensemble.com
slowburnrecords@aol.com
Black Sun Ensemble's Starlight
from Camera Obscura Records
Black Sun Ensemble's Mascara Moon from Starlight
BLACK SUN ENSEMBLE Starlight CD (Camera Obscura)
Black Sun Ensemble, led by guitarist Jesus Acedo, have been around since
the mid 80s, and this is their (I think) 7th album. Whilst I've heard of
the band for years, this is the first album of theirs I've got, but if this
is typical of the band, it looks like I've got a lot of catching up to do.
This album is quite simply excellent.
Black Sun Ensemble 2001
Other bands have mixed those styles together before, but it's not often you
hear Middle Eastern style melodies played on the banjo! It's an original
idea that works well. Loki's Monstrous Brood combines jazz and heavy prog
rock, and jumps all over the place with its unconventional time changes.
Despite the strong jazz influence on show here, the band never sacrifice
melody in favour of improvisation. The same can be said for elsewhere on
the album where a jazz influence is evident. I Am I Was introduces vocals
and is excellent psych-pop with Spanish and Middle Eastern hints.
Arabic Satori combines psychedelia, surf, traditional Spanish-style music,
jazz, and recited, part ranted, vocals. Angel of Light is brilliant
jazz-tinged psych-rock. The Lycian is bizarre heavy prog. Tralaine is a
superb traditional folk-styled guitar piece. Mascara Moon is pretty heavy
psych-rock with jazz undertones. Sun Beam Angel is laid-back harmony pop
meets psych-rock. Remedios Rising is an atmospheric and jazzy psych
instrumental. Starlight is a kind of laid-back rap with surreal lyrics,
over the top of a psychedelic instrumental with Spanish and Middle Eastern
elements.
This is a really great album with lots of inventive ideas - I hope to hear
more from this creative band.