The Black Tomato Reviews

ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE - The Black Tomato CD

After the sumptuous but restrained debut instrumental, the seemingly unending expanse that was the previous album, there now comes an instrumental albumn from this merry band of Scandinavian space-rockers, that gets it absolutely spot on. The first track, a 5-part, segued, 38 minute epic called "RumBle" is, quite simply, to die for. The band of 3 guitarists, 2 bassists, 1 drummer and 3 synth/keys players - a listing alone to make the mouth water - have come up with a track that embdoes everything that works as regards the meeting of space-rock and classic Krautrock in a jamming environment. It's a track that not only transfixes you for the whole of its 38 minute running time, but, a bit like Grobschnitt's "Solar Music" (although here instrumental), a track that you will want to play time and time again without ever tiring of it. There's so much happening in here as the various band members do their stuff, and the playing is just magical. It's tight, it flows, it's solid, punchy and amazingly melodic, but at its heart it's got seventies written all over it, and that's where it works. There's nothing boring, nothing cliched, nothing harsh and nothing dissonant - the music has purpose, direction, depth, the appearance of structure and a forceful heart that is simply inspirational. The way nthe guitars fly, the synths swoosh and soar, the basses underpin it all wiht this mighty undercurrent as the drummer really keeps it all driving while at the same time laying down rhythms that make you want to focus as much on what he's playing, as the rest of the band. The sheer interaction of the musicians is a wonder to behold, and if you had to give an award to one of the best instrumental compositions in this genre in the last 15 years, this would have to be in the top 3 - in short, absolutely sensational and worth the price of the CD on its own.

But there's more.............. much more. The title track itself is three parts linked to form a 32 minute piece of music, and, almost unbelievably, the band continues to lay down the same sort of feel that you've just witnessed, the spiraling in and out of the mix of heady guitars, space synths, Hillage-like guitar leads, solid bass runs, driving, lurching and powerful drumnming, not to mention the sheer vastness of the solid jamming when the whole band lets loose, all combining to create a performance that is truly out of this world. You not only have to listen to it, but, as before, you'll want to listen to it, in the same way that you always go back to your favourite albums of all time, simply because they are that great, that timeless and that enjoyable. As instrumental space-rock/Krautrock-styled music goes, this positively glows from ever pore, its tension, its dynamics, its power and its passion, a faultless sea of extraordinarily telepathic and absolutely stunning playing. The album ends with a 6 minute piece called "Viking Cleaner" which takes you out with a glorious sounding slice of driving space-rock where synths fly, guitars play melodies, the rhythm section engines head for the heart of the sun, rhythm guitars abound and this driving sea of choppy, fuzzed and scorching guitars combine with phased effects and synths to produce one storm-force space-rock heaven that lifts you up as much as it rocks you out.

All told, an absolutely faultless album of isntrumental space--rock/Krautrock styled music that, if anything could be labelled genuinely with the word "genius", this is most definitely the one.

Andy Garibaldi (Dead Earnest) 02-08

www.deadearnest.btinternet.co.uk
www.myspace.com/deadearnestdundee
www.myspace.com/mermaidrockpromotions

ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE - The Black Tomato CD

In Acid Dragon #42 and #43 I was raving about the OSC's rarefied blend of space rock and encouraging fans of the genre to check out Aural Innovations website for access to sessions and free downloads. It may be "free form improvistation" but it's also very structured and I like the way the 5 parts of "Rumble", a 38 minute space rock feast, sequed effortlessly. Indeed that is the pattern throughout the whole album with the 3 part title track clocking in at 32 minutes. It's hard to make instrumental rock music this good but OSC succeed in making the 77 minute listening time pass very quickly. The band is bubbling with ideas and not short of memorable riffs. Apparently, they are a collective of Danish, Swedish and American musicians with over 35 hrs of music on the web site for free download. Free download aside, you really need to support Transubstans Records and the Record Heaven distributors and buy this CD! It has elements of "Kraut Rock", progressive rock, swirling psychedelia as well as someof the most phenomenal spacr rock jamming you're ever likely to hear. Comparisons to Ozric Tentacles, Hawkwind, Hillage, and even early Pink Floyd are inevitable but OSC are all of these things yet none of them. The year has not quite ended as I write this review but "The Black Tomato" is certainly up there with the best space rock I've heard this year or any other year. (Phil Jackson)

http://acidrago.club.fr

Øresund Space Collective: The Black Tomato
Transubstans Records (Transubstans032)

As a musician, I just love improvising too, because with pure, open-minded improvisation you can get to places that you could never reach with logically and beforehand structured and planned music. Of course it can happen sometimes that the improvisation just doesn’t get going at all, which can be frustrating. Improvising in the studio has a positive side compared to improvisation in a live situation: you can let the audience only hear the stuff that really has something mystical going on!

The Danish-Swedish Øresund Space Collective plays totally improvised, psychedelic space rock. I really like the band’s ideology to offer most of their rehearsal and live jams for their fans free though internet. This is their third studio album and has three tracks on it. The first couple (”RumBle” and ”The Black Tomato”) are very long and divided into several parts to make the listening easier. The band’s line-up varies a bit, but they usually have two guitar players, three keyboard/synthesiser players, a bass player and a drummer on board. This album features two different bassists and three guitar players. After a few years of jamming together there has been a lot of progress and the group plays very well together. They can now also play without restraints and with full power in the studio, as well. Black Tomato includes perhaps the group’s heaviest stuff, and the guitar players are really flying high with their solos at their best. There are also some really cosmic, floating parts. The rhythm section is tighter than ever before. Some of the groovy rhythms and synthesiser things bring to mind Ozric Tentacles, and there are also contact points for example to many old German acid/jam bands like Ash Ra Temple and Cosmic Jokers. Some of the parts also bring to mind old Gong. Most of all, the band mainly sounds like no-one else except themselves. The listener might just need to take something to get in the right mood and close his or her eyes, and the music will take him or her to most wondrous places.

There are no overdubs used on the album so all the music you hear was recorded live. As an effect, they have for example used some narration is Russian to some of the tracks of “RumBle” which is a great and hallucinatory extra feature. It’s totally impossible to name my favourites since the album works excellently as a whole. The mixing and mastering job is also very well done, and so Black Tomato is absolutely one of the best albums this year and highly recommended!! I would also like to see them live at Roadburn, please...

www.oresundspacecollective.com
03.09.07 by Dj Astro

Øresund Space Collective - "The Black Tomato"
(Transubstans 2007, trans032)

From Aural Innovations #37 (September 2007)

Wow, these guys are really on a roll. Hot on the heels of their outstanding 2-CD "It's All About Delay" album, Øresund Space Collective (OSC) are back with a brand new set of space jams. The Black Tomato consists of three tracks, totalling nearly 80 minutes of all instrumental improvisational space rocking bliss.

The CD kicks off with the nearly 40 minute "RumBle", which begins with a stoned jamming cosmic hard rocking space groove. There's some ripping trip guitar, freaked out alien electronics, and the whole atmosphere is like a deep space stoner acid jam. This is some of the heaviest music I've heard from OSC yet. And as you can imagine on a 40 minute improv jam, the music twists and turns through a multitude of moods and themes, though of course the key to real appreciation is to just sit back and surrender yourself to wherever the band wants to take you. It's a guided tour with the focus on the voyage and destination is the least of your concerns. OSC have a fluid cast of participants but everyone has more or less played with each other enough that it's no surprise that they continue to crank out ass kicking space jams that you can groove to endlessly! Some of it brings to mind a cross between Ozric Tentacles and Alien Planetscapes.

Next up is the 32 minute "The Black Tomato", another space rocking excursion. It's got some killer melodic development that really hooked me, while retaining the driving jam quality throughout. The organ and heavy keyboards give the music a 70s hard prog-psych edge that I really liked, and combined with the electronics, guitars and pounding rhythm section makes for an absolutely awesome space rock journey. Lots of cool Gong/Hillage elements and I even detected some moments of Frippertronic styled guitar, but mostly this is searing acidic mucho cosmic heavy jamming space rock. OSC have cultivated a real knack for taking off and exploring while keeping these loooooong jams comprehensible and consistently seductive throughout. Finally, rounding out the set is the relatively short (6 minutes) "Viking Cleaner", a quirky, playful, but totally spaced out rhythmic groove tune that makes for an appropriate finale to this outstanding set. These guys gotta start making the rounds of the festival circuit.

For more information you can visit the Øresund Space Collective web site at: http://www.oresundspacecollective.com.
There are STILL many hours of jams you can download from their site!

Reviewed by Jerry Kranitz

http://www.aural-innovations.com/issues/issue37/osc03.html

Oresund Space Collective
The Black Tomato (CD)
Transubstan Trans032

Oresund Space Collective is a grouping of Danish, Swedish and American musicians that formed in 2004 and The Black Tomato is its third studio album following on from their eponymous debut disc and the double CD It's All About Delay. Longtime observers of the space rock scene will know their synthesiser player Scott Heller (formerly of Gas Giant) who, when not jamming for the OSC works at editing the Aural Innovations website for Jerry Kranitz. The band are dedicated free-form space rockers, releasing volumes of studio improvisations on their website as well as maintaining a web archive of live recordings downloadable in MP3 format for their followers. "My philosophy is that once we have played the music, it belongs to the fans" Heller has said.

OSC came together at Heller's instigation when he approached members of Copenhagen-based Mantric Muse and Sweden's Bland Blanden (from Malmo) and created this collective to operate as a regular jam-band, alternating between bases in Denmark and Sweden and following the music wherever it led them. There's an Ozrics overtone in there, a bit of Krautrock and an acknowledged taste of 90s and more recent space rock stirred in as well with Heller nodding in interviews towards Hidria Spacefolk and the much-missed Doug Walker's Alien Planetscapes.

Recorded over two days in November 2006 'as live' at Black Tomato studios and divided up into three distinct movements, The Black Tomato veers from industrial-edged space rock (that heavy space freighter sound that characterised the Vert:X release previously reviewed on this blog) mixed with more intricate sounds. Yes, there's parts that blast their engines into infinity but there's also music for the spheres and it's a changing, evolving and texturally dense soundtrack that characterises the work of the musicians here. Hypnotic in a Can or Amon Duul way at one point, spacey and tripped-out in a more Hawkwind tone at another. It's extremely high quality musicianship being employed here, OSC are indeed a class act and with the complexity of sound achieved it's hard to remember that here are eight musicians in a studio following their muse and improvising on basic structures rather than a well-rehearsed and overdubbed ensemble. There's a strong vibe, a real groove that draws you into the recordings so that whilst it's a CD in three acts (and the first two acts are broken down into smaller chunks to enable to listener to track through the album as required) it really works best if you switch-out your mind from it being a nine track sequence and embrace and absorb it as one compelling head-trip.

Appropriately named after the Oresund bridge that connects Malmo in Sweden with Copenhagen in Denmark, OSC is a real meeting of minds and talent and The Black Tomato as impressively accomplished space rock as you're likely to find in this part of the Galaxy.

http://spacerockreviews.blogspot.com/

Oresund Space Collective – The Black Tomato (2007):

Terceiro disco para este projecto multinacional (Dinamarca, Suécia e USA). São mais 77:11 de improvisação Space Rock / Prog / Psychedelic / Krautrock. Nesta nova proposta são apresentados apenas 3 temas mas estão divididos em 9 faixas. Para quem já conhece o projecto, já sabe o que esperar. Para quem não conhece, pode-se alinhar uma série de nomes de referência como Hawkwind, Gong, Ozric Tentacles, Tangerine Dream, The Spacious Mind ou Hidria Spacefolk, entre outros. É mais do mesmo, mas é mais do melhor que se faz hoje em dia no género. Recomendo! Salienta-se ainda a disponibilização do projecto de todas as suas “jam sessions” no seu “website” oficial, podendo os fãs fazer o “download” gratuito de cerca de 35 horas de material. Além disso, todas as suas actuações ao vivo estão também disponíveis no “website” Live Archive (http://www.archive.org/). 80%

http://fenixwebzine.blogspot.com/2007/09/transubstans-records.html

Öresund Space Collective- The Black Tomato (Transubstans Records 2007)

track 1-5 RumBle 38:35
track 6-8 The Black Tomato 32:05
track 9 Viking Cleaner 6:28

Har skrivit tidigare om denna spännande grupp med rötter från USA, Danmark och Sverige. Detta är deras andra ”riktiga” platta. ( Det finns även ett helt gäng plattor som gruppen säljer på sin hemsida). Musiken utgörs, liksom tidigare, av långa improviserade jam. Om man tänker sig The Spacious Mind med sina mycket subtila och stämningsfulla ljudlandskap på ena sidan och på den andra First Band From Outer Space med sin manglande och tunga spacerock. Nånstans däremellan glider Öresund Space Collective.

Om man ogillar denna musik, kanske upplever den som monoton och seg, så kan det bero på att man faktiskt lyssnar på fel sätt. Glöm att leta efter catchiga refränger eller zappa omkring för att hitta nåt speciellt. Det är lika meningslöst som att avnjuta en god whisky genom att häva i sig ur flaskan. Nej, här måste man ta sig tid. Gärna under en längre bilfärd eller med hörlurar. Först då upptäcker man nyanserna och hur musiken sakta, nästan omärkligt, ändrar karaktär. Låtarna blir som långa hypnotiska resor. Ibland rockar det till också så här finns hela spektrat. Återigen kan jag varmt rekommendera Ö.S.C. Det här är själva essensen av spacerock!

Skulle gärna ha detta som soundtrack till min nästa konstutställning!
Betyg 7,5 / 10
Dennis Jacobsson

http://www.artrock.se/artrock2007/recension_150.htm

ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE - The Black Tomato
/ paru le 07-10-2007 /
Le collectif de space rock Øresund Space Collective nous revient après le double "It's all about Delay" sorti en 2006. Ce nouvel opus est leur troisième. Malgré près d'une heure vingt de musique, il ne leur a fallu que deux jours de studio pour mettre tout cela en boîte.

Les musiciens de ce projet privilégient avant tout la spontanéité. Il n'y a donc ici aucun trucage ni correction post enregistrements. Tout a été saisi en direct. C'est d'ailleurs avant tout le but de Øresund Space Collective que de fournir une musique spatiale, psychédélique et spontanée. Tout cela ressemble plus à une longue improvisation (ce qui est leur but) menée à bien par d'excellents musiciens au taux de créativité élevé car comment ne pas se lasser d'une telle musique avec seulement trois titres sur les 77 minutes dont deux font bien plus de 30 minutes. Et pourtant c'est le cas, jamais on ne se lasse.

Tout au long de l'album on ressent leurs influences venant de groupes tels Hawkwind, Tangerine Dream et Pink Floyd. Nous sommes baignés dans une musique jouant sur les ambiances souvent aérienne et planante mais aussi très psyché. La rythmique de la basse (deux bassistes!) a souvent du Waters dans les veines. Les synthés (ils sont trois!) fleuretent avec le sidéral. Les guitares (ils sont aussi trois!) étendent leurs cordes et jouent avec réverbe et écho. Neuf musiciens partant donc à l'aventure pour nous offrir un voyage intersidéral baigné d'un super groove.

Enfin, pour ceux qui aiment ça, sachez que le groupe a mis en ligne plus de 35 heures de leurs expérimentations que vous pouvez écouter gratuitement en vous rendant sur le site Live Archive.

Encore une fois, Øresund Space Collective nous invite dans un voyage intergalactique aux ambiances hypnotiques. Cela n'a rien d'indispensable mais c'est vachement bien fait et ça fait du bien par où ça passe pour autant que vous aimiez le Space Rock.

3½ out of 4

Jean-Pierre Lhoir
http://www.musicinbelgium.net/pl/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=2275

Øresund Space Collective: The Black Tomato

Transubstans Records (Transubstans032)

Minä rakastan itsekin muusikkona improvisaatiota, koska puhtaan ennakkoluulottoman improvisaation avulla voi päästä paikkoihin, minne ei ikinä voi mennä etukäteen loogisesti järjestellyn ja suunnitellun musiikin avulla. Tietenkään improvisaatio ei aina lähde edes liikkeelle, mikä voi olla turhauttavaa. Studiossa improvisoinnissa on kuitenkin se hyvä puoli livetilanteeseen verrattuna, että yleisön korviin asti ei tarvitse päästää kuin sellaista materiaalia, missä todella tapahtuu jotain mystistä!

Tanskalais-ruotsalainen Øresund Space Collective soittaa täysin improvisoitua, psykedeelistä avaruusrockia. Pidän paljon bändin periaatteesta tarjota internetin välityksellä faneille ilmaiseksi suurin osa heidän treeni- ja livejameistaan. Tämä on heidän kolmas studiolevynsä, jolla on kolme kappaletta. Pari ensimmäistä (”RumBle” ja ”The Black Tomato”) ovat hyvin pitkiä, ja ne onkin jaettu osiin kuuntelun helpottamiseksi. Bändin kokoonpano vaihtelee jonkin verran, mutta yleensä kehissä on kaksi kitaristia, kolme kosketin/syntetisaattorinsoittajaa, basisti ja rumpali. Tällä levyllä on kaksi eri basistia ja kolme kitaristia. Muutaman vuoden jammailun jälkeen ryhmän yhteissoitto on kehittynyt huomattavasti sitten debyytin. Studiossakin ryhmä pystyy nyt päästelemään täysillä ja ilman estoja. Black Tomato sisältää bändin ehkä raskaimmat jutut, ja kitaristit pääsevät parhaimmillaan korkealle taivaalle sooloissaan. Levyltä löytyy myös todella kosmisia, leijuvia kohtia. Rytmiryhmä on tiukempi kuin koskaan. Jotkut groovit rytmit ja syntetisaattorijutut tuovat mieleen Ozric Tentaclesin, ja yhtymäkohtia löytyy myös esim. moniin vanhoihin saksalaisiin happo/jamibändeihin kuten Ash Ra Temple ja Cosmic Jokers. Jotkut kohdat tuovat myös mieleen vanhan Gongin. Pääosin yhtye kuulostaa kuitenkin lähinnä vain omalta itseltään. Kuuntelijan tarvitsee vain kenties ottaa jotain pientä fiilikseen sopivaa ja sulkea silmänsä, niin musiikki vie hänet mitä ihmeellisimpiin maailmoihin.

Levyllä ei ole käytetty päällekkäisnauhoituksia, vaan kaikki kuulemasi musiikki on nauhoitettu livenä. Tehokeinona on kuitenkin esim. joihinkin ”RumBlen” raitoihin lisätty venäjän kielistä narraatiota, mikä on hyvä ja hallusinatorinen lisä. Suosikkeja on täysin mahdotonta nimetä, sillä levy toimii kokonaisuutena aivan loistavasti. Miksaus ja masterointi on myös toteutettu oikein hyvin, ja Black Tomato onkin ehdottomasti yksi tämän vuoden parhaista levyistä ja voin suositella sitä lämmöllä! Tämä bändi myös soittamaan Roadburniin, kiitos...

4½ out of 5
Santtu Laakso

http://www.palasokeri.com/index.php?module=prodreviews&func=showcontent&id=533

Beware... this guy Urban Wally apparently does not like us or appreciate or understand what we are doing:::

ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE: "The Black Tomato" 1
Transubstance 2007
Review by Urban "Wally" Wallstrom,
10 October 2007

Groovy, dude!!! Seriously, this is far-out, dude. Free form improvisation, dude. Look, dude, you need to chill out, you know, smell the flowers. Hey, so what if we can't remember which key to play in... dude... it really doesn't matter, you know. This is free form, dude!!! We can play whatever we want - when we want - and noone could tell the difference anyhow. Excellent!!! High-five all around and pass the bong.

Yes sir indeed, it's the return of Oresund Space Collective and they're just as good (or bad) as previous album. I tried to get our resident "hippie" to review this, but it's clearly too far-out even for the acid rocker of the past. "The Black Tomato" is a journey consisting of three parts, "Rumble" (38:35 minutes), "The Black Tomato" (32:05), and the shorter section, "Viking Cleaner" (6:28). Well, I can now honestly say that I've been to hell and back again. I have experienced stuff I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. Believe me, I can appreciate jamming and getting into a serious groove. Thus why it's actually fun to play free form jazz as a drummer, but pure hell for any poor bastard in the audience. Ditto with the music of The Collective, only ten times worse and on ACID!!!

You could say they're completely clueless and clearly not musically educated enough to understand music. Flower-power, acid, space-rock 'ala 1968, that merely a couple of major potheads and old hippies will appreciate. The bottomline: people who write senseless garbage should not write music... well... no... that's a bit harsh, I guess. Keep on the good work.
Oresund

Øresund Space Collective "The Black Tomato" (Transubstans Records, VÖ: 01.09.2007)

Nachdem sie unbestimmte und für den menschlichen Verstand nicht nachvollziehbare Menge an Zeit brauchten, von ihrem Heimatplaneten zur Erde zu gelangen, was gewiss nicht geradeaus und schnurstracks erfolgte, sind sie, immerhin, nun schon einige Jahre auf dem irdischen Planeten angekommen, behördlich angemeldet und steuerzahlend berufstätig. Als Musiker. Sie haben auf ihren früheren Alben die lange Reise in ihren ausgedehnten SpaceRock-Werken behandelt, gehen jetzt retrospektiv und wissenschaftlich diese Reise erneut durch, und nutzen zusätzlich irdisches Wissenschaftsmaterial, das dem SpaceRock nahe kommt, episch gestreute Einflüsse aus JazzFusion und die ganze Härte des Rock. Auf die grandiose Weite der Songs übertragen bedeutet dies, dass der weltraummusikalische Verschleppungsfaktor aus Jazz und Hardrock weitere Bestandteile ihres Weltraum-Sounds macht, dem aber einen irdischen Charakter gibt. Sind schon lernfähig und clever, die Aliens.
Teil 1 ihres Wissenschafts-Opus ist mit "RumBle"" betitelt. 5 Kapitel dehnen sich über 38.35 Minuten aus. Wohl reflektieren sie über ihre Ankunft auf Erden, das "Ankommen" in der schwedischen Heimat und der wachsende Kontakt zu den Eingeborenen. Das Øresund Space Collective investierte viel Energie und Konzentration, den irdischen Sound in ihre Sinne aufzunehmen und die Vielfalt der Struktur für eigene Kreativität zu nutzen.
Das ist ihnen äußerst gut gelungen. Sicherlich, ihre DNA ist ihre DNA, also klingen die Songs weiterhin wie gehabt, Weltraumsoundtypisch und episch wie nix sonst auf der Welt. Das wird wohl auch auf folgenden Alben so bleiben. Doch ihre Ankunft ist zu hören. Da gackern elektronische Hühner, tuckern Traktoren durch die Songs und zeigt sich die melancholisch-düstere Note des ureigen schwedischen Liedgutes, der Folklore.
"The Black Tomato" als Kapitel 2 vereint weitere 3 Tracks, die es zusammen auf 32.05 Minuten bringen. Vermutlich spielen sie darauf an, wie sie begannen, irdische Lebensmittel für die eigene Lebenserhaltung zu testen und dabei Kreationen erschufen, die ihrer Biologie gerecht werden. Ein wichtiges Kapitel, dessen Entspanntheit und Laszivität darauf hindeutet, dass ihre und unsere Biologie verwandt sind. Wahrscheinlich ist es gar möglich, dass Alien und Mensch, durch Kopulation, wissenschaftlich natürlich, unter Vermengung der Erbsubstanzen, gemeinsame Nachkommen erzeugen, mit einem höheren Bewusstsein, oder der Fähigkeit, zu fliegen, in allen Sprachen zu sprechen, Erdöl in 100 Kilometer Entfernung zu riechen oder die Gedanken des Gegenüber zu lesen. Das alles und viel mehr ist in dem hypothetischen letzten Teil "Viking Cleaner" (6.28 Minuten) zu lesen, dessen bedeutungsschwangerer Titel schon die Beeinflussung der außerirdischen Erbsubstanz auf das menschliche Leben verrät. Jedoch sind die Aliens nicht als Feinde auf unseren Planeten gekommen.
Sie lachen sich selbst über Science Fiction Filme kaputt, vor allem über die ernsten. Kennen sie doch den Weltraum und die Angst aller Wesen, wieder einmal Besuch von "Außerhalb" zu bekommen und lieber in Ruhe ihre Brötchen mit Ei verzehren zu wollen.
Sie schenken uns nicht nur ihre wissenschaftliche Forschung, sie haben die Formeln und komplexen Anschauungen anhand ihrer Stoppuhr, und da sind wir wieder, wo wir anfingen, in SpaceRock umgewandelt (wie sie das nach Belieben auch in anderes tun können, etwa in Otto-Motoren oder Küchenausstattungen), sich das kleine, feine Label Transubstans geschnappt und denen ihren Happen hingeschmissen, auf dass Schweden, ihre neue Heimat, berühmt und begehrt werde. Und die Wirkung, das spüren wir alle, hat längst begonnen. Dazu mehr mit der nächsten Platte.

VM
http://www.ragazzi-music.de/oresundspacecollective07_1.html

Øresund Space Collective, "The Black Tomato"
Øresund Space Collective - easy listening for syrehoveder

Her er et band der tager deres navn seriøst. Faktisk er Øresund-betegnelsen lidt snæver for det ni mand store kollektiv, for udover danske og svenske medlemmer er der også amerikanere imellem. Og rummet begrænser sig ikke kun til mågernes territorium over det gråblå farvand. Nej, vi taler her om det kosmiske rum. Øresund Space Collective spiller nemlig spacerock, som man gjorde det i halvfjerdserne med masser af udsyret, simrende guitar og spacy synthtoner, der gerne panorerer fra side til side i en evigt fremaddrivende, magelig rus.

Og det er lige det med det magelige, der er pladens helt store svaghed, for ja, det er et forbandet velspillende og sammenspillet band, men hvad vil de andet end at koge? Der er masser af varieret gentagelse, men man venter på det frådende rockbrøl, som aldrig kommer. Langt hen ad vejen lyder albummet mere som easy listening for syrehoveder.

Da der i starten af albummet bliver fadet op for et nummer, der allerede er i gang, får man fornemmelsen af et kontinuum. Albummet kunne passende have sluttet med at fade ned, hvilket ville give fornemmelsen af at have fået et udsnit af et evigt nummer, men den illusion bliver ødelagt af opdelingen i numre. Og derfor virker det som om, bandet ikke helt har nogen ide, om hvor de er på vej hen.

Af Kim Elgaard Andersen 3 out of 6

http://www.soundvenue.com/review.asp?id=4790

Øresund Space Collective, "The Black Tomato"

This danish-swedish band certainly knows how to keep the spirit of the 60s alive. This is totally improvished music, live in the studio and released without any overdubs. And what we get is two long jams, at about 30 min.s each and a shorter number "Viking Cleaner" to finish things off.

Not a lot of chord changes, in fact the first piece is in E and the second in D, but lots of swirling, acid-dripping guitarsolos and keyboards with space sounds, on a solid bass/drums background.

Highly entertaining for an old hippie, and wonderful anyone still makes these kinds of musical excursions.

Should appeal to fans of Ozric Tentacles, Gong, Hawkwind. Deadheads could certainly also find it attractive.

By Bodhi Heeren (Copenhagen)

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Tomato-Oresund-Space-Collective/dp/B000VO8O3A

ÖRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE - The black tomato
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“We recommend you exit your normal existence, relax with a good beer or a smoke, place the headphones firmly in place and relax… enter into the Black Tomato”

Jag har nog aldrig varit så sugen på en god kall öl som jag är just nu, med hörlurar på och halvvägs in i den Svarta Tomaten. Ljudlandskapet är helt fantastiskt. Men jag vet inte om jag vågar mig på det här med ”aural stimulation” (av den enkla anledningen att det är alldeles för likt ”anal stimulation”. Nej, det var ett skämt) som Öresundsrockarna menar på är det enda sättet att nå det högre planet och för att helt och fullständigt kunna njuta av denna skapelse.

Sedan starten 2004 har detta rymdkollektiv, med medlemmar från Sverige, Danmark och USA, hunnit med att släppa två fullängdsalster, varav den senaste var en mastig dubbelplatta. På deras hemsida finns inte mindre än 35 timmar(!) av psykedeliskt jam att ladda ner för den intresserade, snacka om att vara högproduktiva.

Men själva musiken då? Ja, vad ska man säga om den här typen av suggestiv, progressiv rock som verkar fortgå i all evinnerlig evighet? Inte mycket som jag inte redan har sagt. Att lyssna på Öresund Space Collective är som att ge sig ut på en riktig LSD-tripp utan att ens vara i närheten av själva preparatet. Med hörlurar på och stängda ögon är det en riktig upplevelse för stigbygel och hammare inne i örat.
Det är förstås inget man river av i en handvändning, vill du följa med på den här rymdfärjan är det bäst att du har rikligt med tid till dit förfogande, varje låt är uppe och nosar runt tiominutssträcket. Fast för riktiga syrarockare tror jag definitivt att det kan vara värt det.

3 out of 5

http://www.joyzine.se/

Oresund Space Collective - The Black Tomato

Oresund Space Collective is a group of Danish, Swedish and American musicians that try to jam together whenever they can. What they create when they're together is what they describe as free form improvised space rock music. All right, I dig! Get your smokes and beers, it's time for some hallucinating music!

There's no way of actually describing what happens on The Black Tomato. Free form improvised space music says it all actually, but that is a bit vague of course. Take guitars, synths, organs, drums and bass, throw them all together in an improvised way and there you go. The only thing I can relate to when I listen to this stuff is an LSD induced jam by Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane combined, done with modern technology. Right on!

The cool thing about this collective is that every jam they do is recorded and placed on their website, as well as their live performances. So their website already holds over 35 hours of space music, free for download! So if you're interested, go download your ass of so you have enough music for about a day and a half.

I can't say much more about it, you just have to experience it. Especially people into drugs and spacey stuff should not let this collective pass them by. Enjoy!

80/100
Reviewed by DemonDust

http://www.metalrage.com/reviews/1759

ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE 'THE BLACK TOMATO' (TRANSUBSTANS RECORDS/RECORD HEAVEN)

The ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE (OSC) is a 1970s inspired trip back to the times of Space Rock and Krautrock, which meant endless psychedelic instrumental parts with lots of synthezisers, kinda like PINK FLOYD meets JEFFERSON STARSHIP meets CAN and OZRIC TENTACLES. It sounds quite like you’re having a weird kind of drug trip through time, really just giving you that late 60s/early 70s kinda Psychedelic Rock sound. The trip on their 3rd CD is divided into 2 very long tracks and a shorter one, with a total playing time of almost 80 minutes. Fans of 70s type of long instrumental Psychedelic Hardrock should check out this band at: www.oresundspacecollective.com

(Points: 8.1 out of 10)

Strutter Magazine

Band: Oresund Space Collective

CD Title: “The Black Tomato”
Band Website: www.oresundspacecollective.com

Label: Transubstans Records

Label Website: www.recordheaven.net

Release Date: 2007

Space-rock fans, heads-up here’s a must-ad to your music library. The band is called Oresund Space Collective and the music they create is everything space-rock is supposed to be. This collective of eight individuals, some Danish, some Swedish and some American take the genre and work it. The Black Tomato is their third official release, although the band has as much as 35 hours of music available to be listened to or downloaded on their website.

Instruments used here aren’t just synthesizers although there are plenty of those. The Oresund Space Collective also employs traditional drums, guitars, bass and even a Hammond organ. A number of the members also work with a wide range of effects. Their musical style is one of improvisation. Getting together in the studio, turning on the equipment and playing, letting the music take you where it wants to. What that means is that there are only three tracks on this disc. The first “RumBle” is 38:35, the second is “The Black Tomato” is 32:05 and to close out the disc is the short 6:28 closer “Viking Cleaner.” Now each of these compositions is divided into shorter segments some seven or some eleven minutes, but it’s all joined together and you never really know when one slides into the next.

The music created by Oresund Space Collective is heady stuff. Forget about floating, dreamy style space music, the music of The Black Tomato has a trance-like, psychedelic-influenced heavy groove. The drumming is quite interesting to start, because rather just sitting quietly in the background, it’s constantly changing working with the bass to set a driving rhythm that propels the music along in quite a forceful fashion. The guitars, and there are three of them take turns playing lead lines that alternate from searing to soaring to intricate picking. That combined with the various synths, and there are three of them go about their business creating the atmospheric landscapes on which this music seems to float. For the most part this is pretty intense stuff, although there are moments of softer pastoral music that tend to bridge the more hyper moods allowing a little tension and then release. But man can these guys play in a groove. Part 3 of the title track “The Black Tomato” sets up a rocking riff between guitars and Hammond organ that just gets you movin’.

I have to say this is music that takes a few listens to really get into. The first time I put it on, I found it too intense, too much going on, too many notes, but then each time I came back to it, I found myself listening a little deeper and hearing what was being played beneath the surface. If this was to be your first introduction to the space-rock genre (and it would be a solid introduction) you might find it more than a little challenging. But if you are already a fan of the music created by bands such as Ozric Tentacles, Hawkwind or the rockier material from Tangerine Dream then you’re gonna love Oresund Space Collective. I’d highly recommend this to fans of the genre. The music of The Black Tomato is classic space rock and is totally out-there!
http://jerrylucky.com/reviews%20k-o_004.htm

Øresund Space Collective - Black Tomato
Record Heaven

file under Stoner

Evil Dr. Smith: WHOOSSSHHH! Welcome to this outter spacefreaking intergalaxytrip from far beyond the worlds of Ozric and Hawkwind!
Is it supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?
Or is it superfunkycalifragisexy?
Might it be supergroovalisticprosifunkstication? None of the above, because it's superpsychospacetrippingfreakalicious by the Øresund Space Collective! All black holes, worm holes and supernova's on a Milky Way dinner-tray: these nine spacelords from Denmark, Sweden (and America) are completely far out! Spiritualized once tried it, but the Ø.S.C. achieve it: ""Ladies and gentlemen, we are floating in space!" Yes, this is one small jam for a band, one giant CD for mankind.

The album starts with a fade in, takes almost eighty minutes, contains nine tracks but only three song titles and ends with a buzzing keyboard fade out that would fit the soundtrack of Battlestar Galactica. In other words: if they had recorded an audio DVD that contains six hours of music, we would have had six hours of music. The band, founded in April 2004, is also the first one that admits this: they make improvised space rock music. They just go on and on and on and on… until infinity. Musically it's very much in the vein of Ozric Tentacles, although it's a little heavier and more guitar-orientated (on this album that is). They're also very familiar with the space department of the German 70s Krautrock like Ash Ra Temple and Popol Vuh. Don't expect ingenious song structures of highly technical musicianship, because these instrumental space jams only want to take you to hallucinating atmospheres. You also won't find any groundbreaking material on it. But once again, these aren't the ambitions of the band. They want to give you a musical journey through the galaxy and they're pretty damn good in achieving just that. So if you're into the floating sound waves of bands like 35007, The Spacious Mind, Gong, Acid Mother's Temple, Fooz, Ship Of Fools, Spacemen 3 and especially the aforementioned bands, then here you have a superpsychospacetrippingfreakalicious band for a mind-blowing boost.

Evil Dr. Smith diagnoses: 77/100
http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showreview.php?id=10536&lang=en#

ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE: The Black Tomato

"The Black Tomato", die dritte CD von ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE ist nicht unbedingt das, was gemeinhin als Album bezeichnet wird, vielmehr handelt es sich um eine einzige, riesengroße, trippige Jam-Orgie. Wer mit dem Begriff Space Rock was anfangen kann, weiß in etwa, was ich meine, allerdings rede ich hier nicht von Easy-Listening Mucke wie sie MONSTER MAGNET fabrizieren. Selbst deren frühe Alben sind bei weitem nicht so trippig, spacig und psychedelisch wie das, was das ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE -eine Kollaboration schwedischer, dänischer und amerikanischer Musiker- hier auf die Menschheit loslässet. Wer sich die Endlosorgien der ersten HAWKWIND-Alben in Dauerrotation reinpfeift, der wird hier am ehesten richtig liegen, denn "The Black Tomato" ist nichts anderes als ein musikalischer Drogentrip, verwurzelt in den späten Sechzigern und frühen Siebzigern, aber trotzdem nicht unbedingt altbacken klingend. Abgesehen von stetig wechselnden und durchaus zeitgemäßen Grooves gibt´s immer wieder kleine Loops zu hören und die hieven das ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE dann quasi hin und wieder in die Neuzeit. Obwohl es bei einem Projekt, welches von der Improvisation lebt, selbstverständlich keine richtigen Strukturen zu hören gibt, wirken die Stücke nicht chaotisch und das Zusammenspiel der Musiker kann man durchaus als harmonisch bezeichnen, trotzdem natürlich nicht für jedermann geeignet. Hatte ich übrigens schon erwähnt, dass komplett alles instrumental gehalten ist? Versteht sich von selbst!
Wer die schlappen 38 Minuten des in mehrere Teile gegliederten Openers "RumBle" dann erst einmal hinter sich hat, der erwartet selbstverständlich auch nicht, dass der nur unwesentlich kürzere Titeltrack zur Hitsingle mutiert und der unglaublich kurze, nur knapp sieben Minuten währende, quirlige Rausschmeißer "Viking Cleaner" passt ebenfalls perfekt ins Gesamtbild. Letzten Endes hat "The Black Tomato" absolut seine Reize und man könnte den Stil vielleicht ziemlich plump als OZRIC TENTACLES auf Acid bezeichnen, hat was!
Wer dem ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE dann irgendwann total verfällt, und zu den Leuten zähle ich mich (noch) nicht, der wird sicherlich auch seine Freude an den gut 35 Stunden Gratismaterial haben, die man auf der unten verlinkten Bandpage downloaden kann. Schnappt euch das nächste Raumschiff und kappt die Leinen!

Veröffentlichungstermin: 01.09.2007
http://www.vampster.com/artikel/show/?id=25173

ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE: The Black Tomato

Wer schon einmal über die Öresund-Brücke (die Dänemark und Schweden über das Meer verbindet) gefahren ist, weiß, dass das ein ganz besonderes Gefühl ist. Man ist irgendwie überwältigt, aufgeregt und klar denkend zugleich. Ein tolles Gefühl, das ich jedem nur mal empfehlen kann. Inwieweit ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE, wegen ihrer Namensgebung, von solcherlei Eindrücken beeinflusst waren bei der Erstellung ihrer CD „The Black Tomato“, weiß natürlich kein Mensch. Die ganz überwiegend instrumental dahinschwebende Mucke (okay, es gibt hin und wieder Sprechgesänge) mit elektronischer Prägung schwirrt zwar einigermaßen betörend durch den Raum, aber man ist nie überwältigt, aufgeregt und zeitgleich klar denkend. Wer die frühe musikalische Schulbank mit Alex Harvey, Pink Floyd und Alan Parsons Project gedrückt hat, dem wird „The Black Tomato“ nicht mehr zu viel abverlangen können. ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE mögen für alle sphärischen, verschrobenen Menschen, die alles Sphärische und Verschrobene lieben, möglicherweise noch einigermaßen interessant sein. Andernfalls hält man sich lieber an die vor Jahrzehnten geschaffenen und für gut befundenen Originale. 10 Minuten über die Öresund-Brücke zu fahren ist jedenfalls vielfach betörender als sich über 77 Minuten ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE anzutun.
6 von 13 Augen
Bernd Joachim
http://www.bright-eyes.de/baseportal/CDs/kritikendetail&Id==9786

Oresund Space Collective - The Black Tomato
Transubstans Records - 2007

Voor mij ligt de promo van het meest recente werkje van Oresund Space Collective. En zoals de titel van de cd waarschijnlijk al doet vermoeden staat er een grote zwarte tomaat voorop de hoes. Oresund Space Collective is een groepje muzikanten uit verschillende landen dat is opgericht om geïmproviseerde 'space' rock te maken. De stijl van de muziek zou per 'jam' verschillen. Daar kan ik echter niet over oordelen gezien dit schijfje het enige is dat ik ken van dit collectief. De heren nemen echter iedere jamsessie op en zetten deze op het Internet waar een ieder het gratis kan beluisteren. Ze hebben inmiddels meer dan dertig uur muziek om te downloaden op het net staan.

Of dat improviseren van de muziek ook opgaat voor de albums van Oresund Space Collective betwijfel ik ten zeerste. De muziek komt zeer weloverwogen en doordacht op mij over. De basis van de nummers van Oresund Space Collective zijn niet al te complexe langgerekte lijnen. Over deze basislijnen heen liggen echter allerlei andere lijntjes en melodielijnen. Sommige daarvan zijn simplistisch en aanstekelijk, andere progressief en wat complexer. Ook stikt het op The Black Tomato van 'psychedelische'elementen, geluidjes en 'bliepjes'. Sommige elementen en lijnen zijn voorspelbaar, andere weer interessant. Er is veel tegelijk om naar te luisteren, maar chaotisch is het geheel zeker niet. Wel duurt het denk ik behoorlijk wat luisterbeurten voordat je alles wat de heren in 'de zwarte tomaat' gepropt hebben er uit hebt gehaald. Continu liggen er meerdere lijnen muziek over elkaar heen die elkaar op geen enkele manier in de weg zitten maar juist perfect samenklinken.
Vocalen zijn er op deze cd maar op een nummer te vinden maar dat is niet erg. Misschien dat de muziek van Oresund Space Collective met vocalen wel te druk zou zijn. Nu is het gewoon rustige, super relaxte muziek. Met name de baslijnen zorgen ervoor dat de muziek erg gemoedelijk is. De drumpartijen zijn er rustig en pruttelen over de gehele cd rustig voort zonder gekke fratsen uit te halen. De gitaren en elektronica zorgen voor de experimentele en progressieve elementen in de muziek. Deze willen dan ook af en toe een beetje naar de voorgrond treden maar dit alles gebeurt zeer relaxt en de rest van de muziek/instrumenten wordt er niet door verstoord.

De muziek die Oresund Space Collective op The Black Tomato neerzet is misschien 'wazig' maar zeker goed gestructureerd. Muzikaal doet deze band mij, en voor fans en kenners van de nu te noemen band is dit wellicht blasfemie, denken aan Pink Floyd en dan nog het meest aan nummers als Echoes. Oresund Space Collective weet mij echter veel meer te boeien en overtuigen dan Floyd (ik ben dan ook geen fan).

Het geheel dat Oresund Space Collective met deze schijf neerzet komt op mij over als een mentale ruimtereis door een muzikaal universum waar zwarte tomaten doelloos rondzweven en andere onwaarschijnlijke 'dingen' ook de revue passeren. Wellicht de melkweg waar onze held Ziltoid uit afkomstig is.
Mensen die van rustige en relaxte experimentele muziek houden moeten dit collectief echt eens beluisteren. De heren weten overduidelijk hoe ze muziek moeten maken en hun composities mogen gehoord worden.

Score: 89/100
http://www.zwaremetalen.com/recensie/9549/OresundSpace-Collective-The-Black-Tomato.html

Oresund Space Collective - The Black Tomato

Chronique rédigée par Tonyb parue le 14.11.2007 14:33:51

Quelques mois après la sortie de leur premier opus, les membres du collectif nordique d'improvisation évoluant dans le space rock nous convie à partager la suite de leurs nombreuses sessions sous la forme d'un deuxième album officiel, bénéficiant à ce titre d'une finition et d'une production post-impros, au contraire des nombreuses heures de musique disponibles en téléchargement gratuit sur leur site.

Composé principalement de 2 longues suites, The Black Tomato reprend le flambeau là où le premier CD de "It's All About Delay" l'avait laissé. A de rares exceptions, exit les côtés trop planants de la deuxième partie de l'album précédent, et c'est de manière furieuse que la première partie de "Rumble" ouvre les hostilités, avec une guitare saturée et un batteur qui cogne sur ses fûts comme un malade. Le propos se calme ensuite, laissant la part belle à un côté plus expérimental, qui trouvera son aboutissement dans la complètement planante cinquième partie de cette première longue suite. Presque 40 minutes de passées, et l'overdose de style commence déjà à pointer le bout de son nez, caractère renforcé par une tonalité identique tout au long de ce première titre (il suffit de se concentrer un peu sur la ligne de basse pour s'en rendre compte).

"The Black Tomato" va ensuite dérouler ses 32 minutes dont on se demande pourquoi elles ont été divisées en trois parties, plutôt identiques tant sur le fond que dans la forme. Des rythmiques un peu plus syncopées, des enluminures de guitare et des sons de synthés spatiaux, le tout pour une uniformité globale de nature à décourager les plus patients. Bref, faute de variation, l'exercice d'écoute devient tout bonnement une épreuve, et la dernière plage, réalisée à nouveau dans la même tonalité que la suite précédente, ne fait hélas qu'enfoncer le clou, parvenant à mettre l'auditeur à bout de nerfs avant la fin de l'album.

Cette musique est à réserver à un public de spécialistes, voire même d'afficionados, et ne doit finalement être prise que ce pour quoi elle a été créée : de l'improvisation, permettant à ses membres de se faire plaisir lors des sessions de création. Pour l'auditeur destinataire de ce CD, c'est une autre histoire.
Ma note paraîtra sévère eu égard à la qualité technique des musiciens. Mais la musique, c'est également une affaire d'émotions, et en l'occurrence, c'est ici complètement raté. Quant à moi, je n'ose vous donner rendez-vous dans quelques mois pour la prochaine chronique d'O.S.C. … je passerai mon tour.

http://www.progressivewaves.com/frmChronique.aspx?PRO_ID=2452

ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE – The Black Tomato

Label: Transubstans Records
Release: 01.09.2007
Von: Joking
Punkte: 8/10
Time: 77:08
Stil: Ambient Space Rock
URL: Oresund Space Collective

Da sind wir nun: in der ausladenden Welt des Space Rocks. Wo 9 schon mal gleich 3 ist, ganz so, wie es Pippi Langstrumpf gefallen würde. Taka-Tuka-Land ist überall und das ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE liefert den Soundtrack für die Überfahrt.
Eigentlich besteht The Black Tomato aus 3 Stücken, den beiden epischen Jams Rumble und The Black Tomato, jedes mehr als eine halbe Stunde lang, so wie dem 6-Minüter Viking Cleaner. Die Longtracks wurden allerdings unterteilt (leider), so dass man einzelne Passagen anwählen kann, was (zumindest auf meiner Promo CD) beim ersten Stück Rumble zu sekundenlangen Breaks führt, die den Song fies zerstückeln. Es wäre songfreundlicher gewesen, die ohne Overdubs eingespielten, langen Stücke als vollständige Einheit stehen zu lassen. Abgesehen von dieser kleinen Unannehmlichkeit, herrscht auf beiden Tracks eine weitgehend entspannte Stimmung, hier wird keine Rakete gezündet, es herrscht der Geist Jules Vernes, der sich schon mal 80 Tage Zeit nimmt, die Erde zu umrunden. So sind auch nicht Hawkwind oder die quirligen Ozric Tentacles in der Nähe, sondern eher Gong, in der von Steve Hillage geprägten Phase, sowie eine deftige Prise Krautrock der ausschweifenden Art. Bis auf wenige, gesprochene Passagen, ist das Album rein instrumental. Chillig, aber keineswegs langweilig, bewegen sich die Stücke magmagleich pulsierend und entwickeln einen eigenen, schleichenden Sog. Meist übernimmt die Gitarre die Melodieführung, aber auch Synthesizer und Percussion sind wahrnehmbare Größen in diesem Kollektiv weit ausholender Spannungsbögen. Da passieren Veränderungen im Hintergrund, während vorne gleiche Figuren aufgegriffen, wiederholt, leicht verändert und erneut repetiert werden. Keine Musik für ungeduldige Menschen, sondern eher für solche, die vor Lava-Lampen sitzen und darauf warten, dass es überschwappt. Das passiert zwar nie, aber so lange die Möglichkeit besteht, bleibt es spannend.
The Black Tomato ist ein Album für die Waldorfschule des Herzens, hier kann man Mandalas malen oder Origami-Kraniche basteln, von selbstversunkenen Tanzeinlagen, ausgedehntem Sex und der Einnahme verbotener Substanzen ganz zu schweigen. Und wenn das Tempo ab fiktivem Track 7 ansteigt, denken wir auch mal: „Oh yeah“. Es ist zwar kein Rock’n Roll, aber ich mag es.
http://www.nocturnalhall.de/reviews/O/osc_tomato.htm

Oresund Space Collective - "The Black Tomato"
Transsubstans, BOR

11 november, 2007
Hur kul är det att få en bränd CDR-kopia? Exakt! Något som knappast motiverar till en grundlig genomgång.Den som har hört Ozric Tentacles har härmed en klar bild vad Oresund Space Collective handlar om. Långa låtar, transcendentalt flummig spaceambient/techno utan vare sig början eller slut. Enbart svävande.Tyvärr känns ovanstående kollektiv mestadels sökt, inte äkta. Kommer ihåg en gång i Roskilde för många år sedan då Ozric skulle spela, jag och min sambo stod där och väntade länge, länge.
Till slut kom beskedet– inställt.Ungefär så känns detta. Har du ingen möjlighet att höra originalet får det väl duga med en billig kopia.
http://www.agonyzone.com/skivrecensioner.asp?oid=458472

ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE - The Black Tomato
Transubstans
Distribuzione italiana: SoundForge
Genere: Space Rock
Support: CD - 2007
Ecco il terzo capitolo ufficiale della saga spaziale degli OSC, un gruppo di cui abbiamo già ampiamente parlato nelle rece precedenti. Quindi possimo tuffarci subito nella loro incredibile musica.

Questo nuovo album attacca con un brano dal titolo “Rumble” di oltre trentotto minuti diviso in cinque tracce e che sembra essere uscito direttamente dal repertorio degli Hawkwind, riffs ossessivi si ripetono su un tappeto di tastiere oniriche e cosmiche. La seconda traccia presenta anche un recitato in lingua slava, sembra russo, ed è ancora più spaziale e jammato del precedente, un lungo trip altamente psichedelico. La terza parte è dominata da un giro di basso che aggiunge un bel groove alle divagazioni precedenti e pian piano si trasforma in un bell’hard rock con tanto di wah-wah. La quarta è un lungo crescendo con ritmi jazzati. La quinta traccia è invece un po’ anonima e passa via senza lasciare traccia. La title track supera anch’essa la mezz’ora ed è divisa in tre parti, la prima è ancora space rock della miglior specie, anche se sembra più una variazione sul tema, in fondo sappiamo già cosa aspettarci dai nostri. Si prosegue anche per gli altri due episodi, gli OSC suonano davvero molto bene e la loro musica è affascinante, ma sembra avere un po’ esaurito le idee. Ci pensa la terza parte a rimettere le cose a posto con una sterzata di energia e quello che sembrava essere un album stanco ecco che prende vita. L’impressione è confermata anche con la vitale “Viking Cleaner” che con soli sei minuti e mezzo chiude l’album sempre all’insegna dello space rock più classico.

Gli OSC sono un gruppo “fuori” dagli schemi e continuano a stupirci con la loro formula, tanto semplice, quanto coraggiosa, musica in totale libertà, interamente improvvisata. Ci vuole del coraggio a fare un disco così oggi e anche un pizzico di follia, ma spero che ci sia qualcuno capace di apprezzare questa musica onesta e fatta col cuore. GB

Altre recensioni: Oresund Space Collective; It's All About Delay

Interviste: 2007

http://rock-impressions.com/oresund3.htm

Öresund Space Collective (The Black Tomato)

Release : 2007-09-01
Description : Space and Progressive Rock
Öresund Space Collective specializes in spaced out improvised rock, and “The Black Tomato” is their third studio CD. The album contains long guitar based jams and if you are into bands like Ozric Tentacles or Hawkwind this album is right up your sleeve.
Listen to “The Black Tomato” with your headphones on, close your eyes and just drift into space....
Out now on Transubstans Records.
- By BigRedMachine
http://www.rockprog.com/Rock/news.htm

Oresund Space Collective - The Black Tomato

Künstler: Oresund Space Collecitive
Label: Record Heaven
Stil: Kraut- und Spacerock
VÖ: 1. September 2007

Das Oresund Space Collective besteht aus Leuten von Gas Giant, Mantric Muse, Black Bladen und wechselnden Gastmusikern. Und sie jammen. Und nehmen die Jams auf. Nicht mehr und nicht weniger. Das aber in atemberaubender Qualität. Drei Songs oder Themen aufgeteilt in 9 Tracks. Eigentlich überflüssig, denn Pausen dazwischen gibt's kaum. Braucht aber auch niemand.

Musik wie vor 30 Jahren. Fiepsende und pluckernde Soundcollagen, ausufernde Gitarrensoli über endlos wabernden Riffs. Kiffermusik at its best. Musik um die Seele wandern zu lassen. In glühendheiße Wüsten, betörend schroffe Gebirge, endlose blaue Seen. Was man halt so für Routen im Kopf hat.

Man fühlt sich manchmal als wäre man allein in einer riesigen Kirche und würde den Harfenmelodeien der Engel lauschen. Ein spaciger Trip durch die nordische Nacht. Klar ist die aber mitnichten!

Wertung: 7/10
http://www.tinnitus-mag.de/show_review.php?id=2440

Oresund Space Collective - The Black Tomato

By Gary Hill

Overall Review

Hawkwind fanatic that I am, I pretty much love all space rock. That means that I’ve enjoyed everything Øresund Space Collective have done. The thing is, this disc might well be their most consistent. I can say that it’s almost certainly my favorite by the band. Check out the Transubstans/Record Heaven site for information on ordering this.

Track by Track Review

Rumble Part I: This rises up with a killer jam that has “old school Hawkwind” written all over it. A hard pounding riff drives it while space keys wander across the top creating the waves of sound. A smoking guitar solo emerges later. It evolves and modulates gradually, as so much great space rock does. We get a more spacey guitar solo further down the road. It shifts towards a more full space jam later as echoey melody lines emerge over the top and more funky guitar patterns also take center stage. They drop it down towards just these two elements for a time. Then it falls back even further towards the sedate. Changing almost to blues later, this still has a lot of vintage Hawkwind in there.

Rumble Part II: A driving bass and chirping textures segue in from the previous piece. Guitar lays down echoey lines over the top of the bass line and then a spoken vocal line (not in English) comes in over this backdrop as the instruments intensify. This vocal section is delivered with passion, something that is not often present in Hawkwind-like recitations, which tend (intentionally) to feel cold and detached. Eventually an echoey sort of jam full of delay takes over as the voice goes away. This gradually modulates out towards a jam that is closer in texture to the previous one (but with a less hard edge nature). A guitar chirps and squeals over the top in a cool way. This moves onward in ever so gradual ways through a series of intriguing alterations and adaptations. It wanders towards an almost jazzy approach (but still retains its space textures) later. It then drops back to essentially just keys with a bit of a Dark Side…era Pink Floyd feel to it. Noisier elements rise up amidst more sound effect type stuff to segue into the next track.

Rumble Part III: Rising up with noisy, echoey sort of textures, this takes on a texture that almost feels like space rock does the Ventures at times. Then the echoey start and stop strikes enter over the top of a cool groove to take this in new, very cool directions. It wanders into more traditional space rock territory as it carries on. As it intensifies we get some killer guitar textures. Then it shifts the focus to an emphasis on the killer bass line. As this turns more towards hard rocking, psychedelic jams we get another spoken recitation over the top, this one in English. They turn it funky as they carry on. The main riff that drives this has a classic rock sound, rather in the vein of Led Zeppelin. The cool, noise guitar soloing over the top as they carry on is pretty awesome, as are the space wanderings that run alongside. This turns into some of the most metallic music of the whole disc.

Rumble Part IV: As this transitions out of the last number it takes on a bass driven space rock sound, a lot more mellow. It modulates ever so gradually and slowly through, at times feeling a bit jazzy. At around the one minute mark it begins a rising motion, but instead wanders more fully off into space. Still, the bass keeps driving in an energized fashion and the more spacey elements go away. Chirping, swirling lines of sound are laid over the top of this motif. They move off towards more funky, echoey space music. The bass moves to the lead zone again, accompanied at times only by more spacey, swirling keyboards. Funky space guitar comes up as this carries on. The chirpy funk guitar rises further up and at times this feels a little like vintage Nektar. It makes its way towards a bit more chaotic, open form space as they continue. Reverberated feedback is manipulated to rise and fall in fine fashion. The bass drops away and just the space sounds continue to pull into the final portion of the suite.

Rumble Part V: The shortest portion of this multipart epic, space sounds start this and bass rises. More space keys are laid over the top and bass falls away from the mix. This turns towards more pure ambient space as they continue. This has an almost new age texture to a lot of it. You might hear echoes of Pink Floyd as it transitions through some chordings later. After that section just the space remains to finally end this massive beast.

The Black Tomato Part I: The opening salvo of this three part suite, this one comes in with a rather funky style that turns into a plodding sort of chugga riff after a time. Space keys wander in and out over the top of this backdrop as they move forward. It turns out to something close to early Hawkwind as they move it forward. In fact, the driving riff reminds me a bit of “Time We Left (This World Today).” They move through a number of intriguing patterns and reworkings without really moving far from the core. It drops toward ambience to give way to the next portion.

The Black Tomato Part II: This rises ever so gradually, but as the driving bass line comes in I’m again reminded of Hawkwind’s Doremi… album. This one is another classic space rock jam. This shifts out with some almost Eastern overtones at times. Like the previous piece it doesn’t reinvent itself so much as modify the basis that began it. We get some whacka guitar on this one and some killer retro guitar textures, too. I hear bits of Hall of the Mountain Grill era Hawkwind here, too. It definitely takes on funky elements from time to time. At about the six minute mark it drops away to an urgent sort of droning. Noisy keyboard effects are laced over the top of this. It threatens to rise up into a more full process here and there but it’s a while before it does. When that happens its less intense than the earlier motif, but has a lot of atmosphere. We get soundclips of someone speaking thrown over the top of the dramatic space jamming. Noisy guitar soloing comes in over this motif at times. Eventually it works out to a more hard rocking jam based on these crunchy sounds. We still have plenty of space sounds in the midst. It works its way to a jam that reminds me a bit of Iron Butterfly or even The Doors after a time. This eventually gives way to a series of changes that pull the track into the next one.

The Black Tomato Part III: A chiming, echoey guitar sound brings this one in from the last movement of the suite. This holds it, with minor variations, for about the first minute. Then it rises up a bit with slow whammy guitar. They turn it toward echoey, psychedelic space from there. And this holds it until around the three minute mark when they power out into more hard edged jamming. We’re definitely back into Hawk-like territory at this point. We are treated to some extremely tasty, space rock guitar soloing later on. They continue to rework this general theme, bringing it way up in intensity. It even feels a bit metallic at times. Different elements take control here and there bringing a varied texture to a fairly static musical progression. In many ways that’s a mainstay of space rock, taking a simple repetitive pattern and making it live by varying the delivery method. These guys show that they have the skill to do that in spades here. This is astrong conclusion to their second (and final) suite of the disc.

Viking Cleaner: The only independent track on the disc, a frantic, nervous sort of musical pattern serves as the backdrop for the instrumental journeying that ensues. Space keys come and go over this and a rather old time rock and roll type guitar melody plucks its way across the top. It modulates to more traditional Hawk material, but also threatens to disappear into chaos. Neither really takes control for a while. When there is a change it’s to the frantic hard edged Hawkwind type sounds. This really feels like it could have come off of In Search of Space (the louder more pounding parts of that disc). It gets extremely intense at times. They eventually crescendo, though and take it to more ambient (and rather pretty) keyboard driven territory. This evolves downward to space and final the sounds of the band having a conversation in the studio (at least I think that’s what it is) to end.

http://www.musicstreetjournal.com/oresundtomato.htm

Øresund Space Collective - The Black Tomato

Fameus en beroemd in het genre van psychedelische progressieve rock met een vleugje spacerock en dance zijn natuurlijk de Ozric Tentacles. Minder bekend maar minstens net zo zweverig en spacy, doch een stuk minder ritmisch, is het internationale gezelschap Øresund Space Collective (ØSC). Bekijk alleen maar eens de bezetting van deze uit Zweden, Denen en Amerikanen bestaande groep en trek je eigen conclusie. Kan het nog zweveriger met zoveel toetsenisten en gitaristen?

“The Black Tomato” bestaat eigenlijk slechts uit drie stukken, te weten het dik 38 minuten durende Rumble, het zes minuten minder lange The Black Tomato en het voor ØSC-begrippen zeer beknopte Viking Cleaner. Het voert gewoonweg te ver om deze drie (of negen) nummers apart te beschrijven, simpel omdat ze met geen pen te beschrijven zijn. Laat staan met MS Word. Maar laat ik de uitdaging toch aangaan en een poging wagen.

De eerste bijna eindeloze trip is Rumble (ik laat de deeltjes maar weg, want die hebben alleen maar een functie om even snel door het nummer te skippen. Het hadden met gemak ook zeven of tien delen kunnen zijn). Het redelijk heftige en dubbele gitaarspel waarmee het nummer begint verdwijnt geleidelijk naar de achtergrond. Haast ongemerkt volgt een overgang naar een rustiger deel met wat Russisch gebrabbel en erg spacy klanken / geluidseffecten met veel ‘bliep’ en ‘bloep’, alsmede de nodige sequencers. Daaroverheen horen we gitaarspel waarbij de noten lekker lang worden aangehouden en zijn voorzien van veel echo en galm (voorwaar een goed nummer om je equalizer instelling ‘concertzaal’ te testen). Zo kabbelt dit nummer de verdere speelduur voort. Zo heel af en toe kent de muziek wat ritme, wellicht ter voorkoming van een vroege slaapaanval.

Trip twee, het uit ‘slechts’ drie delen bestaande The Black Tomato, is eigenlijk van hetzelfde laken een pak. Al moet wel gezegd worden dat dit nummer wat meer ritmisch gitaarspel heeft, met name deel III wordt daardoor wat kruidiger en beter genietbaar. Voor diegenen die nog niet in een complete trance zijn geraakt is het korte Viking Cleaner een pleister op de geestverruimende wonde.

De groep heeft er een goede gewoonte van gemaakt om hun jamsessies op mp3-format beschikbaar te stellen op hun website. Heb je niet genoeg aan de bijna 80 minuten van “The Black Tomato”, dan weet je waar je moet zijn. Er staat daar inmiddels zo’n twintig uur gefröbel op je te wachten.

Kortom, er is geen reden tot paniek. Het uit de legaliteit halen (lees: verbieden) van paddo’s hoeft voor de liefhebbers van deze geestverruimende lekkernij geen onoverkomelijke gevolgen te hebben. Schakel gewoon over op zwarte tomaten. Ze zijn verkrijgbaar in elke goed gesorteerde cd-winkel, onder de letter Ø.
Hans Ravensbergen
http://www.progwereld.org/cd-recensies/oresundspacecollective2.htm

Øresund Space Collective- The black tomato

(Transubstans Records)

I'm the kind of guy who appreciates strong structure and composition, so when faced with something like Øresund Space Collective's sprawling 70-minute epic improv session recording they call an album, I must admit that I was a bit daunted. It's hard enough to hold my attention for a 3-minute pop song, much less a 30-minute prog workout, yet somehow I've soldiered through this work numerous times now, emerging on the other side fully unscathed. It's a testament to how good they are at what they do, as it would only take a few small missteps to lose me along the way. Really, all you need to know about these guys is right there in the name: they are from the Øresund region, they play space rock and they are a collective featuring a large, revolving cast of musicians. If you dig the interplay of talented artists playing off one another and getting lost in the atmosphere (or sent off into the stratosphere, for that matter), then ØSC are for you. If precision chops or tight, concise arrangements are more you thing, keep moving. And those of us, like myself, who dabble in a bit of post-rock and are open-minded enough to approach something a little outside their comfort zone, might find themselves pleasantly surprised.
- Avi Roig
http://www.itsatrap.com/reviews.php?r=315

ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE: “The black tomato” (2007) (Transubstans Records)

1. Rumble Part 1 2. Rumble Part 2 3. Rumble Part 3 4. Rumble Part 4 5. Rumble Part 5 6. The Black Tomato Part 1 7. The Black Tomato Part 2 8. The Black Tomato Part 3 9. Viking Cleaner

Un nuevo trabajo de estos excepcionales músicos suecos, daneses y americanos que se esconden tras el nombre de Oresund Space Collective. Como ya es costumbre, cada álbum de este nonaeto propone un viaje sonoro a través de intrincadas melodías y sonidos experimentales, donde cada uno de los miembros tiene su espacio para lucirse mientras el resto mantiene el riff principal de la canción. “The black tomato” es totalmente instrumental, se divide en tres movimientos, cada uno de ellos bien distinto entre si y a la vez enlazados por el rock sicodélico que es la columna vertebral de este disco. Aun con todo esta muestra de talento, técnica y virtuosismo, el trabajo en ningún momento se torna monótono, sino que las extensas e hipnóticas zapadas van dosificando cada una de las diferentes improvisaciones instrumentales para que nunca caigamos en el aburrimiento. Tengo la suerte de haber escuchado los tres trabajos oficiales de OSC, y sin duda alguna éste “The black tomato” es su mejor lanzamiento hasta la fecha. Sitio web: www.oresundspacecollective.com

http://www.rockarolla.com.ar/Febrero2008.htm

Also available from the same label, are the space rock explorations of Oresund Space Collective, whose latest album 'black Tomato' is an outstanding collection of Hawkwind style riffs coated in synths, driven along by a free flowing rhythm section, and awash with effects, textures, and smiling faces. Recorded live, the three long pieces and wonderfully arranged, the music ebbing and drifting sideways, before driving into deep-space, a glorious example of improvised bliss.

http://www.terrascope.co.uk/Reviews/Rumbles_November07.htm

ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE: The Black Tomato

Veröffentlichungstermin: 01.09.2007

http://www.vampster.com/artikel/show/?id=25173

Oresund Space Collective - The Black Tomato
Transubstans Records - 2007

http://www.zwaremetalen.com/recensie/9549/OresundSpace-Collective-The-Black-Tomato.html

Oresund Space Collective - _The Black Tomato_
(Record Heaven / Transubstans Records, 2007)

by: Quentin Kalis (7.5 out of 10)
Be warned: this is pretentious territory. There are only three songs but these are spread over nine tracks, resulting in songs lasting for 36:35, 32:05 and 6:28 minutes respectively. Oresund Space Collective are a group of Danish, Swedish and American members, and this is their third studio offering, featuring nine members on guitars, bass, synthesizers, Hammond organ and drums, performing "free form improvised space rock music". And completely instrumental. Cute.
Those readers who have I not managed to chase away should be alerted to the fact that this is far, far removed from what I normally listen to, even accounting for my eclectic tastes, and I have no frame of reference. Comparisons have been made with Hawkwind, Ozric Tentacles and Gong, if that helps. Probably not. It's clear that they are talented musicians and that their jams are far removed from teens banging out three chords in the garage, although the "spacey" key effects do get a tad annoying at times. I have no complaints about the skills of the assorted axe-wielders or the drummer though, and they do provide an interesting listen, even if they tend to go on for more than just a bit too long.

As a final thought, this does manage to pique my interest and will be worth at least an occasional listen. Those in doubt can check out their website, which contains over 35 hours of their jam sessions for free download.

http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/Articles.aspx?id=2-5134

Oresund Space Collective - _The Black Tomato_
(Record Heaven / Transubstans Records, 2007)

Wer schon einmal über die Öresund-Brücke (die Dänemark und Schweden über das Meer verbindet) gefahren ist, weiß, dass das ein ganz besonderes Gefühl ist. Man ist irgendwie überwältigt, aufgeregt und klar denkend zugleich. Ein tolles Gefühl, das ich jedem nur mal empfehlen kann. Inwieweit ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE, wegen ihrer Namensgebung, von solcherlei Eindrücken beeinflusst waren bei der Erstellung ihrer CD „The Black Tomato“, weiß natürlich kein Mensch. Die ganz überwiegend instrumental dahinschwebende Mucke (okay, es gibt hin und wieder Sprechgesänge) mit elektronischer Prägung schwirrt zwar einigermaßen betörend durch den Raum, aber man ist nie überwältigt, aufgeregt und zeitgleich klar denkend. Wer die frühe musikalische Schulbank mit Alex Harvey, Pink Floyd und Alan Parsons Project gedrückt hat, dem wird „The Black Tomato“ nicht mehr zu viel abverlangen können. ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE mögen für alle sphärischen, verschrobenen Menschen, die alles Sphärische und Verschrobene lieben, möglicherweise noch einigermaßen interessant sein. Andernfalls hält man sich lieber an die vor Jahrzehnten geschaffenen und für gut befundenen Originale. 10 Minuten über die Öresund-Brücke zu fahren ist jedenfalls vielfach betörender als sich über 77 Minuten ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE anzutun.
6 von 13 Augen
Bernd Joachim

http://www.bright-eyes.de/baseportal/CDs/kritikendetail&Id==9786

Oresund Space Collective - The Black Tomato (7/10) - V/A - 2007

Genre: Instrumental / Progressive Rock
Label: Record Heaven
Playing time: 77:07
Band homepage: Oresund Space Collective

Tracklist:

Rumble I
Rumble II
Rumble III
Rumble IV
Rumble V
The Black Tomato I
The Black Tomato II
The Black Tomato III
Viking Cleaner

ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE is an international project, an eight-man (plus whatever guests are in the studio at the time) undertaking that unites Danes, Swedes, and Americans in the pursuit of improvised, spacey Prog Rock jam sessions. I’m sure that with those last six words you have already decided if this album is up your alley or not. Maybe I should throw in “instrumental.”

I’m not sure the story behind the release of “The Black Tomato,” since the band usually seems to release their material on their website. There’s over thirty hours of downloadable MP3s. As for what the album is, it’s composed of three songs, with the massive “Rumble” (approximately 39 minutes long) and “The Black Tomato” (approximately 32 minutes) divided into smaller subtracks, and “Viking Cleaner” wrapping things up at the end. The sound is most focused during the opening minutes of “Rumble I” and “Viking Cleaner”, the former when the band is drawing the listener in before collapsing into sidereal noodling, and the latter as a more structured, cohesive closer. The latter also seems to have even more of the early 70s in its sound than the rest of the album

The potential problem with the album—and perhaps the reason its so hard to write about at length—is that after a certain point in the first part of “Rumble,” the songs become an interchangeable series of spacey, drifting rhythm and explorative, at times psychedelic guitar and keyboard solos. It’s drifting, aimless, inducing a sense of sonic vertigo where up is right and down is backwards. The great emptiness of the universe is laid naked to the listener and the celestial majesty of its wonders acknowledged, but put into their proper perspective. Any second is bound to sound like any other second. It honestly must be amazing music to listen to while stoned. As it is, I won’t listen to “The Black Tomato” too often, but I acknowledge ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE’s mastery of the starways.

(Online November 27, 2007)

http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=13427

Oresund Space Collective - The Black Tomato
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chronique rédigée par Tonyb parue le 14.11.2007 14:33:51

http://www.progressivewaves.com/frmChronique.aspx?PRO_ID=2452

Band: Oresund Space Collective

CD Title: “The Black Tomato”
Band Website: www.oresundspacecollective.com

Label: Transubstans Records

Label Website: www.recordheaven.net

Release Date: 2007

http://www.jerrylucky.com/reviews%20k-o_004.htm

Øresund Space Collective
The black tomato
(Transubstans Records)

I'm the kind of guy who appreciates strong structure and composition, so when faced with something like Øresund Space Collective's sprawling 70-minute epic improv session recording they call an album, I must admit that I was a bit daunted. It's hard enough to hold my attention for a 3-minute pop song, much less a 30-minute prog workout, yet somehow I've soldiered through this work numerous times now, emerging on the other side fully unscathed. It's a testament to how good they are at what they do, as it would only take a few small missteps to lose me along the way.

Really, all you need to know about these guys is right there in the name: they are from the Øresund region, they play space rock and they are a collective featuring a large, revolving cast of musicians. If you dig the interplay of talented artists playing off one another and getting lost in the atmosphere (or sent off into the stratosphere, for that matter), then ØSC are for you. If precision chops or tight, concise arrangements are more you thing, keep moving. And those of us, like myself, who dabble in a bit of post-rock and are open-minded enough to approach something a little outside their comfort zone, might find themselves pleasantly surprised.
- Avi Roig

http://www.itsatrap.com/reviews.php?r=315

Artist/ Band: Oresund Space Collective
Title: The Black Tomato
Label: Transubstans Records
Year of Release: 2007

Oresund Space Collective returns with a new album in 2007, their third, called The Black Tomato. Following their previous releases, self titled debut and the double album, It’s All About Delay, they continue their own brand of modern instrumental space rock. This time it’s two epics RumBle (almost 40 minutes) and The Black Tomato (over 30 minutes). The down side to these epics, to me at least is they‘re broken up into sections. Finishing up with Viking Cleaner is shorter but still contains the stuff OSC is known for. It’s a perfect ending to this space epic.
Just like the previous two releases, I think the album as a whole is the highlight and should be experienced on headphones to truly hear all the sounds. It also a musical journey that contains new experiences each time you listen. This is for fans of Hawkwind, Ozric Tentacles and similar bands.

Reviewed by Ron Fuchs on January 24th, 2008

http://www.geocities.com/prognaut/reviews/osc3.html

ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE: “The black tomato” (2007) (Transubstans Records)

1. Rumble Part 1 2. Rumble Part 2 3. Rumble Part 3 4. Rumble Part 4 5. Rumble Part 5 6. The Black Tomato Part 1 7. The Black Tomato Part 2 8. The Black Tomato Part 3 9. Viking Cleaner

http://www.rockarolla.com.ar/Febrero2008.htm

ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE: “The black tomato” (2007) (Transubstans Records)

Øresund Sound Collective is terug en wel met een geweldig album! ØSC’s laatste uitgave, The Black Tomato, bestaat uit een negental tracks die samen drie delen vormen. Ook voor dit album zijn alle tracks resultaten van improvisaties, al verdenk ik de heren van de band er wel van dat men onderlinge afspraken heeft gemaakt over hoe de te spelen partijen er uit moeten komen te zien. Maar, dat maakt de muziek er niet minder om! Nee, ØSC zal je zeker niet vervelen!

Om de luisteraar enigzins tegemoet te komen, zijn de drie delen (de eerste twee delen met name) in kleinere stukken, negen tracks in totaal, opgedeeld. Meer dan een half uur voor één track is misschien wel een beetje extreem om in één keer te beluisteren. Hoewel…Eigenlijk ben je gewoon verplicht om het album van begin tot eind te beluisteren. Op deze wijze wordt je in zijn geheel opgenomen in de spacerockmuziek van de band en zo zal je de spacetrip naar The Black Tomato het beste ervaren. Wat is een Black Tomato eigenlijk? Misschien een verre planeet waar je alleen kunt komen op de muziek van Øresund Sound Collective? Wie het weet, mag het zeggen!

Gezien de lengte is het lastig om alle tracks op albums van Øresund Sound Collective in detail te bespreken, dus daarom beperk ik mij tot het eerste deel, RumBle. RumBle begint lekker stevig met borrelende en grommende synthpartijen die met stevig gitaar aangevuld worden en gaat na verloop van tijd over in een meer rustige vorm waarbij er vrolijk op los wordt geëxperimenteerd. Het laatste deel van RumBle lijkt wel een soort van openbaring door de toepassing van fantastische synthpads. Voeg hier heerlijke lange delay- en waheffecten van de gitaristen aan toe en het lijkt wel alsof je in een paradijs bent beland. Wellicht is dat The Black Tomato wel!

Het vakmanschap van de bandleden is overduidelijk: er is op dit album geen vorm van overdubs of overgeproduceerde stukken muziek te herkennen. The Black Tomato is simpelweg een fraai staaltje werk dat de heren hebben afgeleverd!!

http://www.ratatoskonline.net/article/oresund-sound-collective-the-black-tomato