Celestial Bums: Celestial Bums (EP) 2012 + Ascend 2016 + Visions Of Horla (Single) 2020

 

Celestial Bums are a dreamy psych rock band hailing from the Catalan capital, Barcelona. The

band who’s members are fluid, with three having recorded the album, but the live offering never consisting of less than five, released their self-titled, self-released debut EP back in 2012. This was followed with a 10” split with now label mates Helicon, on Psyilocybin Sounds in 2013. Having been featured on A Psych Tribute to the Rolling Stones with their take on ‘Child of the Moon’ in 2015, the debut LP has been some time in the coming and hotly anticipated.
                             

Ascend out in digital format on 13 June, and limited edition vinyl in early September, has been released on Belgian label EXAG’ Records and dissects a wide spectrum of psychedelic

soundscapes which range from the hazy, melting rock to fuzz driven dronic mantras. The album was recorded in Cacophony Studios Austin, Texas and produced by Kyle Hunt of The Black Angels. The Celestial Bums strike at the heart with a sound of modern and liquid psichedelia. A vibrant sound free  to roam within its dissonances, mindful of grammar rules canonized by the very first Velvet Underground, perverse and uncompromising, of the first steps, influenced by La Monte Young, the Dream Sindycate and  lysergic experiments. 
                          

Repetitive notes, sometimes aquatic, circles that seem to chase each other endlessly, heavenly voices, trance guaranteed, healing music that takes the listener away, other dimensions achieved

without the need for psychotropic substances, journey to the center of the self suggested by the gentle wall and heavy sound, hypnotic textures of modern psichedelia that evoke the excitement of the Beat Generation, a container in which coexist Blake, Huxley and attachment, almost pagan, to Mother Earth.
                                  

LINE - UP

Japhy Ryder
Marc Bromway 
Augusto J. Marchetti
Imanol Kylsberg 
Lisa Kylsberg

                             

01.  CELESTIAL BUMS - CELESTIAL BUMS 2012

                         

Rock could hardly be just music. It is a range of creative disciplines and outlets. It's music, of course,

but it's also interpreting, role playing. And thus, theater and poetry too. Rock is the perfect medium to intertwine the two true sources of art: The dionisian and the apollinean. What is inebriating, and what is dream-like. When rock is played and interpreted, when musicians don't play or si...ng, but recite, rock is more than music, it is the ultimate form of art. 
                   

Rock is our legacy as Europeans, our outlet to give a scape valve to the most primary of our creative

urges. Rock twists you with pain and passions. A relatively new ritual, but that reflects the basic elements of the greek tragedy. And it is art that is the ultimate objective of our existence, here and now. The noblest way to express what's on our souls. Sacred ritual and self-realization.
                        

Celestial Bums – Celestial Bums
Label: Patetico Recordings – 6666666
Format: CD, Album
Country: Spain
Released: Sep 13, 2012
Genre: Rock
Style: Space Rock, Shoegaze, Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

                    

01. Before I'm Gone    9:22
02. I'm Alive    10:25
03. Captain Trembly    8:29
04. The Starry Night    11:09

NOTES

                         

Recorded in Barcelona, Spain - October '11 to January '12
All songs written by Japhy Ryder / Celestial Bums
Produced by Celestial Bums 

Flac Size: 257 MB

02.  CELESTIAL BUMS - ASCEND 2016

                          

Opening track ‘Mind, I Don’t Need You Now’ proclaims dreamy melodic guitar riffs before the vocals

enter and soothe further. This track is so relaxed, it is easy to miss the beauty of what is contained within as it lulls and flows through the aural passage. ‘Let’s Break the Days’ has a darker side than its predecessor and very quickly ranks up the tempo. The steady drum beat from percussionist Augusto Marchetti maintains the pace whilst the guitar croons with a repetitive ditty that instantly stains the mind. The organ is brought forward as the track proceeds and would happily sit at home in any Doors song; an attribute I’m sure they will appreciate.
                                  

‘Levitation’, a word now synonymous with those of a psychedelic persuasion, more than lives up to its hefty title with its soundscapes of calm interlaced with a guitar solo so profound its effect is captivating.

This is a track to immerse yourself in, go with the flow and just enjoy in all its spine tingling glory. ‘Full Moon Nightmare’ was the first track I heard when word was set forth that an album was imminent and is probably still my favourite offering. The track exudes sensuality with all elements working in perfect harmony, particularly the vocal nuances of Japhy Ryder, which are particularly strong, to create a track that bodies can happily sway to.
                         

‘Sister of the Road’ runs at a breathe-taking pace and offers up something different from the previous

collection of songs. ‘Gandharva’s Offering’, named for the heavenly beings from Hindu and Buddhist mythology, is a piece of true psychedelia with repetition the driving force to a very pleasing tune. Over seven minutes, it is the longest track on the album but with its consistent mantra and pleasing elements, it finishes all too soon. ‘A Spanish Trip’ is different once again with an added tambourine jangle and a pleasing vocal waver to mark the song out.
            

‘Magic Colours’ sends the receiver back to dreamland before ‘Killer of the Road’ ups the tempo with

repetition once more striking all the right notes in all the right places. Bonus track for the digital version, ‘Like the Planets’ starts dreamy but offers a kick a minute and a half in and aided by the purring bass line, courtesy of Marc Bromway on this occasion, continues to roll blissfully until the album comes gracefully to a close.
                 

 

It ‘a compact album, almost monolithic, with minimal movements of sound change, atmospheres that change slowly driving us in a pleasant interstellar sonic ride. The underlying mood is of relaxed

meditation and, although often the sounds are strengthened, the feeling that one gets is that of a pleasant fluctuation supported by a kind of amniotic fluid. The Celestial Bums run through a few centimeters of the handles of their guitars and insist with picks to reach the result that probably they had set at the beginning of the work, to transport us to a safe place, expanded and dreamy. Doing this, they does not stimulate the exotic trip, not evasive, leading to its center, deep identity, which is the horizon that makes it possible to self-discovery.
                 

It feels very much like Celestial Bums had a point to prove with this album, and I’d say they do exactly

that. We may have had to wait some time for its appearance, but it was most definitely worth the wait.
               

Celestial Bums – Ascend
Label: EXAG' Records – XAG005
Format: CD, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Clear
Country: Spain
Released: Jun 13, 2016
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

                   

01. Mind, I Don't Need You Now    4:09
02. Let's Break The Days     4:38
03. Levitation    5:15
04. Full Moon Nightmare     6:08
05. Sister Of The Road     5:44        
06. Gandharva's Offering    7:24
07. A Spanish Trip    5:32
08. Magic Colors     3:48        
09. Killer Of The Road     4:33        
10. Like The Planets    6:17

LINE - UP

               

Japhy Ryder: Vocals, electric guitars, 12 string guitar, keyboards, sitar
Marc Bromway: Electric guitars, bass, 12 string guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Augusto J. Marchetti: Drums, percussions 

Flac Size: 348 MB

03.  CELESTIAL BUMS - VISONS OF HORLA (SINGLE 2020)

           

01. Visions Of The Horla    05:28
02. Afraid Of The Dark    05:10 
03. First Morning Away (Bonus track From Sleep Inside A Horse)   4:07

                     

NOTES

                 

First single from the upcoming album (Sleep Inside A Horse), out October 9th via We Were Never Being Boring (US/ITA).
Songs written by Japhy Ryder and arranged by Celestial Bums
Produced by Celestial Bums
1 mixed by Marcel Molina and 2 mixed by Japhy Ryder 
1 mastered by Erik Wofford and 2 mastered by Japhy Ryder 

Flac Size: 88.5 MB

Majic Ship: Majic Ship 1969 + The Complete Authorized Recordings 1966 - 1970

Arising out of adolescent garage band the Primitives, which played primitive covers of British Invasion tunes, the New Primitives came together in New York City in 1966, originally composed of a group of high school friends: Ray Rifice (guitar), Tommy Nikosy (guitar), Rob Buckman (drums),

and Mike Garrigan (vocals). Soon, the band increased to a group of five with the addition of bassist/organist Gus Riozzi. They kept a busy performance schedule throughout the next few years when their high school commitments allowed it. In 1968, Rifice left the band to attend college, but at about the same time, former '50s crooner turned manager Johnny Mann saw the band live and promised to get them a recording contract. Philip Polimeni replaced Rifice on lead guitar, and the New Primitives became Majic Ship. 
                 

THE NEW PRIMITIVES

Mann introduced the band to the Tokens, who produced their first single, "Night Time Music." It became a local hit, even gaining the band some national airplay, as did a second single, "Hummin."

After much touring and a couple more singles, Majic Ship found their way to a studio to record their self-titled debut album in the summer of 1969. They melded hard rock, pop, and psychedelia in a way similar to fellow New Yorkers Vanilla Fudge. The band continued on for the next couple of years with plans to record a second album, but those plans were nixed when the band's shared house in Staten Island burned to the ground in 1971, taking with it virtually all their recording equipment and instruments. Without any insurance, the bandmembers called it quits. 
                

Because the disc was pressed on a small imprint, distribution was limited, which of course amounted to restricted exposure. Had a wider audience been able to hear “Majic Ship,” the band definitely would not

have sunk into obscurity as they did. Some years ago, Gear Fab Records resurrected the album in digital format on a couple of occasions, with one of the packages containing bonus tracks. It's probably a mistake to regard Majic Ship as a lost classic from the era when psychedelia was giving way to hard rock, but it's a solid and enjoyable record from a band who had genuine talent and some fine songs; it's not hard to imagine these guys could have become major stars if their luck had been a bit better back in the day 
                 

1999 saw the Mike Garrigan and Tommy Nikosey reunite, resulting in an album titled “Songwaves

Project” that also included Cher, ex- Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor, Dave Amato from REO Speedwagon, and drummer Ron Wikso, who has played with everyone from Foreigner to David Lee Roth to Cher to Randy Meisner to Denny Laine. Although the disc is poppier than “Majic Ship,” it’s still strongly recommended and adds a nice touch to the band’s legacy. 
                        

MAJIC SHIP - MAJIC SHIP 1969

 

Majic Ship – Majic Ship
Label: Gear Fab Records – GF-215
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered 2005
Country: US
Released: 1969
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock

                      

TRACKS

                    

01. Sioux City Blues    3:01
02. Wednesday Morning Dew    3:07
03. Life's Lonely Road    2:51
04. We Gotta Live On    3:18
05. Where Are We Going    2:35
06. Free    4:20
07. Down By The River - What It's Worth    10:54
08. Nightmare    2:40
09. Too Much    3:38
10. Cosmo's Theme    3:45

LINE - UP

                    

Backing Vocals, Bass, Organ – Cosmo (Gus) Riozzi
Drums – Rob Buckman
Lead Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Phil Polimeni
Lead Vocals – Mike Garrigan 
Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Tommy Nikosey

Flac Size: 423 MB

MAJIC SHIP - THE COMPLETE AUTHORIZED RECORDINGS 1966 - 1970

                       

Majic Ship – The Complete Authorized Recordings 1966 - 1970
Label: Gear Fab Records – GF-107
Format: CD, Compilation, Remastered
Country: US
Released: 1997
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock, Pop Rock

                     

TRACKS

               

01. High Time Music   2:16
Written-By – Vetere, Santarpia
02. Mustang Sally (Demo- 1966)   3:24
Written-By – B. Rice
03. On The Edge (Demo- 1966)   3:25
Written-By – Majic Ship
04. Hummin'   2:37
Written-By – Hayes / Porter
05. It's Over   2:19
Written-By – Garrigan, Nikosey
06. Green Plant   2:27
Written-By – Margo-Margo-Medress-Siegel
07. To Love Somebody   2:50
Written-By – Gibb, Gibb
08. On The Edge   2:52
Written-By – Majic Ship
09. And When It's Over   2:12
Written-By – B. Sommer
10. Sioux City Blues   3:02
Written-By – Garrigan, Polimeni
11. Wednesday Morning Dew   3:07
Written-By – Garrigan, Nikosey
12. Life's Lonely Road   2:53
Written-By – Garrigan, Nikosey
13. We Gotta Live On   3:18
Written-By – Riozzi
14. Where Are We Going   2:36
Written-By – Nikosey
15. Free   4:20
Written-By – Garrigan, Polimeni
16. Down By The River / For What It's Worth    (10:54)
16a. Down By The River
Written-By – Young
16b. For What It's Worth
Written-By – Stills
17. Nightmare   2:40
Written-By – Polimeni, Nikosey
18. Too Much   3:28
Written-By – Garrigan, Polimeni, Buckman
19. Cosmo's Theme   3:49
Written-By – Riozzi
20. Blow Me Away   3:36
Written-By – Garrigan, Nikosey
21. Interview By Roger Maglio-1997    6:07

LINE - UP

                  

Bass – Gus (Cosmo) Riozzi (tracks: 1, 4 to 20)
Drums – Rob Buckman
Guitar, Vocals – Tommy Nikosey
Lead Guitar – Philip Polimeni (tracks: 1, 4 to 20)
Lead Vocals – Mike Garrigan 
Organ – Gus (Cosmo) Riozzi (tracks: 2, 3, 10 to 20)
Vocals – Gus (Cosmo) Riozzi

ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS

Bass – John Kharouf (tracks: 2, 3)
Lead Guitar – Ray Rifice (tracks: 2, 3)
Organ – Jeff Bilotta (tracks: 1, 4 to 9)

NOTES

                

Front cover:
Subtitle is "The story of a New York band in the sixties !"

Back cover:
The Original 1966-1970 recordings, including the hit singles and unreleased songs.
Also included, a new 1997 song, live interviews and photographs !

Tracks 1 & 6 originally released as single A and B-side in 1968.
Tracks 2 & 3 are demos recorded in 1966.
Tracks 4 & 5 originally released as single A and B-side in 1969.
Track 7 originally released as single A-side in 1970.
Tracks 8 & 9 originally released as single A and B-side in 1969.
Tracks 10 to 19 originally released as LP " Majic Ship " in 1970.
Track 20 is a new song recorded in 1997.
Track 21 is not listed on the sleeve

Flac Size: 769 MB