Rovo and System 7 – Hinotori EP

A-Wave

When I first slipped the disc into the player I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this collaboration between Japan’s psychedelic jam band Rovo and the wonderful blissful dance tunes of System 7, but it was certainly nothing quite like this.

The opening track “Hinotori” (in its single edit) is a drum-pounding freak out. Mystical synths hangs in the background and sometimes swirl space rock style. Steve Hillage’s guitar work is monumental and caresses the track in the only way he can. But it’s those beautiful rhythmic drums that shoulder the piece and the amazing bass riff lodges nicely underneath the psychedelic mayhem. The music has an uplifting, almost transcendental feel to it and I can imagine when it’s played live it would get everyone moving. Up next is the System 7 remix of the track; this starts with a greater emphasis on the synth rhythms and keeps the beat steadier for a more dance-oriented version. Hillage’s guitar screams from a mountain top somewhere as Miquette Giraudy lays down dreamy synth pads. The track sounds subtle compared to the single edit and has an early morning trance feel to it – imagine dawn over a Goa beach and you’re part way there.

“Batis” is a track by Rovo on their own. A steady pounding bass note hums under some synth chords and steady drums, guitar and violin play psychedelic-echoed wibble until the violin takes over the melody and track begins to gain pace. The piece mixes techno/trance synth patterns with out-there space rock in a wonderful amalgamation. At times it reminds me of Ozric Tentacles and the Eighties British psychedelic revival (why hasn’t someone done a book on this era?) mixed with Eat Static/Planet Dog rhythms. It’s an amazing hybrid and one that really works and at 13 minutes you can kick your cosmic socks off and go for a nice long ride.

“Eclipse” is a System 7 remix of a track from the forthcoming Phoenix Rising album. Ambient synths layer down patterns and Hillage’s guitar sneaks in some lovely passages around the violin. Here the beat is played more on tablas and heads straight for the blissful third eye. When the main rhythm does slide in, it makes the track ooze of full moon parties and your feet have to move to it. Nearing the end the guitar wigs out into the heavens and spirals off to out-there land. The final track on the disc is another remix of “Hinotori,” this time by Evan Marc. Here the bass is heavier and central to the mix whilst the other elements of the track flutter in and out like butterflies. This has a more ambient dub feel to it and pushes the sequencing higher into the mix.

All in all a great EP and a fantastic taster for the album, out in a couple of months, and for next year’s UK gigs. Pick this up if you can.

-Gary Parsons-