Formed back in 2011 in Madrid, Spain, Mechanik are a five piece outfit hell-bent on keeping the space / krautrock sound alive and well and after a couple of self-released EP's, Russian label RAIG has now issued the band's impressive debut disc entitled Velut Stella Splendida.
Comprised as a mix of previously released material ("De Tepenecz", "Inner Temple"and "Bliss & Gloss") and new compositions, Velut Stella Splendida is an eighty minute, supercharged blast into the cosmos that immediately draws the listener in from the gradual, tension building thunder of opening track "Wherever You Are Is The Entry Point" and climaxes with the almost twenty three minute "Most People Are Silent".
These guys definitely like to stretch out, with only one track clocking in under five minutes. Their sound draws from the early space rock explorations of Pink Floyd, but with an even heavier focus on the synthesizer and guitar, which drives the majority of these compositions. Throbbing bass lines are often combined with steady and repetitive drum patterns, as employed in the past by such krautrock pioneers as Can and Neu!
The drawbacks on Velut Stella Splendida are thankfully few and far between. For example, if going forward the band decides to put a little more onus on the vocals, my only suggestion would be that they add a bit more color or emotion, because when they are used here, they sound cold and almost monotone, and quite honestly don't add much to the songs. However, this doesn't deter or take too much away from the overall listening experience, as the focus is primarily on the music and just how effectively they're able to add layer upon layer to these expansive sonic canvases.
Velut Stella Splendida is certainly an auspicious debut effort that comes across as sounding both mature and expertly crafted, and yet it still leaves them plenty of room for growth.
Track Listing
1) Wherever You Are Is The Entry Point
2) In The Faith That Looks Through Death
3) Pills
4) De Tepenecz
5) Zum Traum
6) Bliss & Gloss
7) Russian Doll
8) Inner Temple
9) Most People Were Silent
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