Cosmic Hoffmann thinks with his hands. We can hear this on Electric Trick (69'19), an album of nine spacey works that each journey out of a distinctly unique region of the artist's mind. Using his guitar and effects Hoffmann cranks out prog-rock inspired melodies as equally well as he plays in the more dulcet and tranquil range of his instrument.
Klaus Hoffmann-Hoock stays quite busy under his various recording names but it has been, unbelievably, five years since his last Cosmic Hoffmann release, Shiva Connection. Thankfully, the void has been ably filled by Electric Trick, another great blend of future and past, of cosmic spacescapes and psychedelic rhythmic pieces.
From trippy "Indian Bliss" to rocking "Timeshift" to dreamy "Sehr Mystisch", the sounds shift with ease from 1978 to 2003 and back again, a quarter century seamlessly held together by the music.
As on past Cosmic Hoffmann excursions, the crew includes Stephen Parsick and a guest appearance on "Space Pioneers" by Ron Boots.
This track starts with space transmissions and voiceovers, then launches headlong into orbit in typical Cosmic style, wonderful stuff. "Floating in Time" sounds like you might expect, sweet vintage synths playing over the top of sonic drifts.
Even spacier is the soothing sound of "Nebelwald", a pure floater much in the style of "Wanderers of Time" from the debut Cosmic disc Beyond The Galaxy.
Speaking of that album, "Further Beyond The Galaxy" comes next, starting slow then really cooking as it jams along, propelled by chugging synths and rhythms.
The beauteous "Carina Cygnus" brings us to a mellow close. The Cosmic Hoffmann sound is first-class retro, familiar and yet like no other.
2005. Phil Derby
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