Astral Magic – Vortex Of Eternal Light (Astral Magic, 2023)
Vortex Of Eternal Light is a fantastic album of psychedelic progressive rock by the prolific Finnish band Astral Magic. The masterfully crafted album delivers deeply mesmerizing sounds made with tripped out electric guitar melodies, transfixing loops, rich synth atmospheres, entrancing spoken word, nuanced beats and more.
I see some similarities with the music of Steve Hillage, Pink Floyd, Tangerine Dream, Krautrock and the dreamier part of Hawkwind. Certainly, great stuff for lovers of space rock and progressive psychedelia.
Astral Magic is a solo project started in 2020 by former Dark Sun bass and Moog player Santtu Laakso. However, the albums feature guest collaborators. Dark Sun (and the Rising Telepaths) was a Finnish psychedelic space rock band formed in 1991.
Musicians: Santtu Laakso on vocals, synthesizers, bass, guitar, programming, samples. Guests: Jonathan Segel on guitars, violin; and Shane Beck on spoken word.
Cover design by Andy Wainwright.