06 December 2024

SULA BASSANA / SKYJOGGERS – Split LP (2024, LP Sulatron Records)

RELEASE INFO:

Label: Sulatron Records

Format: LP, Album, Limited Edition, 180gram, Randomly Colored Vinyl (plus Download Code), 500 copies

Release Date: 8 Nov 2024

This is a split LP album by Sula Bassana (of course you know who he is) and a relatively new band from Finland, Skyjoggers, released on Sulatron Records label. Let’s have a look at the informative press release of the label:

“Sulatron Records is proud to present you the second split LP on Sulatron, this time by Label founder Sula Bassana with his live band and new Finnish band on the label: Skyjoggers!

Skyjoggers: The split album with Sula Bassana manages to capture perfectly the high energy and sense of danger that is the essence of Skyjoggers. Skyjoggers set sail for outer space with two riff driven songs that also show the progressive side of the band “Step One: Breathe/Step Two: Levitate” and” Lightrunner” from their latest release “37 Steps ’til Sunlight” before calming down for the cosmic and floaty jam “…For Outer Space” that’s been a stable at live performances since their debut album “Journeymen” (2018). Coincidentally recorded from their 100th show as a band – in the vibrant city of Hamburg, releasing the split with our new friends in Sula Bassana is the perfect way to celebrate life and good psychedelic music!

Alexi Belle: Guitar, Juan Rico: Bass, Gabo Sabor: Drums. Mixed by Johannes Latva. Mastered by Janne Hakanen.

Sula Bassana: The almost 25 years old solo-project by Dave Schmidt (aka Sula Bassana) has a steady live band since 2023 and now you hear 2 tracks from the live set on this split LP. “We Will Make It” from the latest album “Nostalgia” and the brand new theme (and words, of guitar player and singer Adrian) “Come With Me”, improvised by the whole band. This split is a great memory of a already legendary night at the Dazed & Spaced Festival in Hamburg! Skyjoggers blew us away and became friends. Thanks to Sarah and Sebastien (Dazed & Spaced) for making it all happening!

Kristina Schmitz: Bass, Adrian Grod: Guitars, vocals, Franz Fesel: Drums, Dave Schmidt/Sula: Guitars, organ, synth, Mellotron, vocals. Mixed by Sula. Mastered by Eroc.”

The Skyjoggers side contains 3 tracks, the opener “Step One: Breathe, Step Two: Levitate” is a fast & furious track, full of screaming guitars, powerful drumming, some heavy fuzz, and loads of adrenaline, just imagine a Hawkwind-ized Heavy Roller Coaster and I’m pretty sure you’ll get the picture. Maximum volume and full speed on “Lightrunner”, with endless headbanging down at the arena, this is an explosive cocktail of shimmering screamy guitars presented with a punky attitude, a real High Energy track… The decibels are lowered down on “…For Outer Space”, a trippy guitar sound tries to fill the place, the scenery is dark, the motive is slow while progressively the atmosphere becomes really HEAVY but only for a while, then the track dives through this trippy electric guitar to Space, then heaviness comes again, and that ping-pong sound continues till the end of the track… The Sula Bassana side kicks off with “We Will Make It”, a HEAVY SPACE atmos is created by the very first second and the whole thing here acts like a long Space-Rock improvisational jam, becoming super Spacey and kind of Krauty (a bit) ending in loads of heavy fuzzy guitars… The last one which is my favorite in this Split album is called “Come With Me”, it starts in a trippy spacey way, a totally early 70s Hawkwind-inspired track that gives you the feel of being in the middle of a Hawkwind Live concert, being bombed by heavy energy and trippy vibes! So, all you aficionados of that Heavy Space Modern sound, you will not be disappointed… TimeLord Michalis