Cloudland Canyon

***It appears there is a second "Kosmische Musik" period in full bloom around the world at the moment, not so much "Kosmische" as in "Krautrock" but instead "Cosmic". The half German, half American duo CLOUDLAND CANYON bring the full-on "Krautrock" on. You can play pick the influences if you like, but you can do that with any group. Cloudland certainly owe a debt to the German underground of the ‘70s, but they have also added flourishes of baroque pop and even a tinge of the ‘80s New Zealand scene into their sound. That they have ingested these influences and then delivered something as dynamic as this album without sounding like rote imitation is what impresses. The album is anything but one-dimensional, as they traverse a wide swath of territory. From the lock down groove of the opening track "Krautwerk," to the dense buzz of "White Woman," through the pastoral pscyh of "Heme" and on to the gentle wash of the closer "Mothlight," Cloudland Canyon have created an eclectic and rewarding listen.