Vibracathedral Orchestra – “Joka Baya” – [Vhf]

KFJC completes the trilogy in reverse order by adding this the
alpha release in omega fashion. The first side starts with
some sort of Sub-Saharan percussion camel prayer. Phase
changes follow, including what feels like the ghost of the
Entheogenens ol’ KFJC classic, “Io Pan.” By the end of this
side, the musical meditation has morphed into some sort of
burning metal. On the flip side, the alap was always my
favorite part of a raga, like eating desert first, with a
heavy drone buzz and flares of improvisation. For the VCO,
this includes a psychedelic trip to the barbershop of
pre-teens past. Buzzing razors strafe your ears, sweeping
through and getting warped with other sonic blitzes as
the track progresses. Maybe my ears have changed, but the
long-running Vibracathedral Orchestra seems more laser
focused with this, less a wandering jam and a more intense
emotional release. Hippy evolution.

-Thurston Hunger