A useful argument in favor of escapism is that when the world is a mess, you can temporarily create a better one – not to forget reality, but to catch your breath and perhaps find new ideas. Japanese trio Kuunatic know a thing or two about conjuring up such fantasy worlds. In their case: Kuurandia, of whose sun the album Wheels of Ömon tells. Tribal psychedelia characterizes the sound, a steady beat seems like the echo of a ritual, while the triple unison vocals tell of prophecies and mythical images. Synthesizer pads allow the pieces to float without being kitschy – your ears participate in a magical ceremony without feeling out of place.
Traditional Japanese instruments appear again and again, but the foundation remains a reduced rock instrumentarium. The album was inspired by a working vacation in the Swiss Alps – the panorama left its mark. And so Wheels of Ömon becomes a journey into another sphere: a sound ritual between mountains and moons, myths and rhythms. Maybe this doesn’t make the world a better place – but at least the world of music.
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Wheels Of Ömon
