Long Distance Trip
Long Distance Trip gives Samsara Blues Experiment plenty of room to explore. The Berlin band's six songs stretch beyond an hour, using long guitar passages, steady bass and touches of organ and sitar to build a heavy psychedelic sound. The record is strongest when those extended arrangements find a clear groove to support their wandering leads.
Singata Mystic Queen introduces that approach with a long instrumental build. The guitars and other instruments establish a relaxed atmosphere before Christian Peters' voice arrives. His restrained singing leaves the instruments in charge.
Army of Ignorance offers a more concentrated riff and a heavier groove. Its shorter arrangement gives the sequence a useful change in scale. For the Lost Souls then stretches out again, moving from a loose psychedelic opening towards a firmer, more powerful rhythm. The bass and drums provide the direction that allows the guitars to keep exploring.
Wheel of Life is a particularly welcome break. Its cleaner, gently picked guitar gives the album some breathing room between the longer pieces. The contrast also helps show that the band's interest in atmosphere does not depend entirely on distortion or volume.
The closing Double Freedom takes that interest to its longest extreme. At nearly twenty-three minutes, it occupies a large part of the record. There is enough movement to make it more than a single extended riff, but the overall length still feels generous. A shorter version could preserve the mood while giving the finish more focus.
The recording has a few rough edges as well. The drums can sound distant, and the guitar tone does not always have the depth that would give the heavier passages extra impact. Those qualities fit the loose character of the music, but they also keep some details from landing as strongly as they could.
Long Distance Trip is an enjoyable record with clear limits. Its instrumental chemistry and changes of pace reward patience, while the longest stretches and uneven sound stop it from becoming essential throughout. For listeners who enjoy heavy, slowly developing psychedelic rock, there is still plenty here to get absorbed in.
