Ubermodo Enchants with Trancy, Alluring Space Rock

Ubermodo – So Very Far From Home (2024)

Ubermodo, the Norfolk-based progressive rock ensemble, has a new album titled So Very Far From Home set for release on March 15th, 2024. This eagerly awaited album encompasses six enthralling instrumental tracks, methodically crafted during the latter months of 2023.

The British band draws inspiration from early Camel as well as the progressive, psychedelic, and spacey vibes reminiscent of Steve Hillage and Ozric Tentacles.

Led by Tim Lane, the mastermind behind Ubermodo and also a multifaceted musician in the band Stealing the Fire, So Very Far From Home highlights Lane’s skill as a composer, fantastic multi-instrumentalist and producer, with his artistic vision extending even to the album’s artwork.

So Very Far From Home features Lane’s longtime friend and musical ally, Tim Dew, on drums. Together, they deliver an extraordinary set of trippy pieces with soaring guitars and memorable synth work that push the boundaries of conventional progressive rock.

Reflecting on his musical influences, Lane shares, “I grew up listening to all these great seventies prog bands like ELP, Yes, Genesis and all the others, but I also loved albums like Tubular Bells and Oxygene. These great melodic instrumental albums were a constant joy to me. The intention with this album is to do something similar.”

Distinguishing Ubermodo from his work with Stealing the Fire, Lane elaborates, “Ubermodo doesn’t go in for the multiple time signatures or the changes of pace and key within the song that we use in STF; it’s more about that space rock feel, the textural shifts, and the atmosphere.”

The album’s opening track, “Warlock of the Outer Planes,” captivates with its hypnotic repetition and seamless interplay between instruments, embodying Lane’s vision of trance-like musical exploration. Meanwhile, the title track evolves from a tranquil, ambient introduction into a climactic crescendo, inspired by Lane’s experience in the theatrical area, notably his collaboration on “Anglian Mist” with The Stuff of Dreams Theatre Company, performed against the backdrop of the enigmatic Orford Ness military station.

“The Bones of Eden” channels the mystical worlds envisioned by Clive Barker, while “Ice Dragons” finds its origins in the wonders of nature documented in a YouTube video on narwhals.

Buy So Very Far From Home.