Luna Spice - Reflexion

Reflexion is the debut album from Luna Spice, a deep progressive offering from Sub Machine Records out of France. I’ve not found any of the artist’s previously released material remarkable, so I was quite ecstatic to discover how good their debut album is. Here’s what I thought of it…

Tixaan engages the listener from the very beginning with a relaxed yet poignant progressive offering. Finely processed percussion remains detailed yet not overbearing, and subtle changes in rhythm keep the beat sublime. The atmosphere is developed on many levels from the background hums to mid-range pulsations and higher ethereal sweeps. There is a soothing groove here, wrapped in layers of silky synth-work, and an occasional insertion of robotic vox. A nice opener for this album, and a clear sign of things to come.

Wind Stream picks up the pace with some snappy percussion and a bottom-heavy tribal groove. The atmosphere is deep and developed, full of subtle sweeps and returns. Some psychedelic effects have entered the fray, bubbling and snarling their way into the mix. Additional character comes from some heavily processed vocal samples, melted into key sequences, alongside a growling noise that emerges from the bass levels. All elements are held in balance, resulting in a high-quality progressive exposition.

Cobalt Cocoon increases the pressure with a more involved groove, still laced with intricate tribal textures. The mood and atmosphere is excellent once again, full of rich detail. The effects in the first drive rise and swirl with delicate luxury, an apt preview of the the second chapter, following the lengthly intermission. The break half-way through introduces some new elements; the first audible sample of the album is heard: “hey guys, I’m close to the mantle-core interface – where are you?” Over the next two minutes the song slowly develops again, through atmosphere and reverberating tribal drums, through a thick return full of seething textures. Precise melodies lurk in the many diverse layers that sweep through the song here, each in their own place, audible without difficulty. In the outro another sample fittingly appears: “wrapped in a cobalt cocoon, 700 miles under the surface of the Earth.” The extensive layering used throughout this particular track elevates it to excellence.

Deep Diving opens with a dark breath and some cinematic chords, creating an enchanting and mystical mood. Long, drawn-out sweeps proliferate as the dark breath continues curling majestically through the groove. Snappy percussion appears with a bass line and soon the beat kicks. Tribal toms push the beat on as existing elements develop and new ones make their appearance. Each shimmering sound has its place, each tension building moment raising the energy a step beyond. Near the halfway mark some lush tones emerge, possessing something of a Scandinavian quality to them. These casual chord strikes signify a shift in direction toward a more spacious open-air feeling, despite the dark breath still upon us. Into the sixth minute the beat is slowly stripped back, leaving a wide open soundscape punctuated by the snap of tribal percussion and the wistful rise and fade of enchanting atmospheric sweeps. Just as the ethereal medley sublimely fades, into the deep abyss, the whole beat structure returns for a final run. I really enjoy this particular song, a clear highlight from the album!

C-Serpent builds a groove on more mechanical elements – punchier kick, grinding percussion, throbbing bass. The atmosphere found here is slightly darker in character, relying on sweeps and some vaguely industrial elements to set the mood. There are plenty of effects on a few key percussive rushes, and thick reverberations all over the place. The style is what I think of as tech noir, similar in mood (if not style) to some songs from Tetraktys and Midi Miliz. I don’t rate this one highly but nor is it a bad song – it will certainly appeal to those who have a greater degree of interest in the minimal style than I do.

Reflexion opens with a lengthly intro featuring a few hints of melody and a smattering of big tribal toms and delicate percussion. Once the fire is lit the bass flows outward and the song picks up a hypnotic quality. The atmosphere becomes rich with detail as with all the songs on this album; huge synthetic sweeps that flow into one another and build consecutively. Just after the half-way mark the big tribal toms smash their way in, backed by subtle chord strikes, sinking the melodic elements of the sequence into the percussive strata. Soon those synthetic elements are back with a few more atmospheric hooks thrown into the mix, and the song churns forward. A smooth effort which should evoke a good response.

Time Pipe is another big highlight from this album. An enormous amount of low-end bassy groove drives the song while the percussion clatters and shakes on multiple levels. Layers evolve rapidly in this one, with mid-range synth stabs, detailed psychedelic effects, and atmosphere developing in no time. A short melancholy vocal appears, soon to grow and evolve into a motivating force for the flow and mood of the song. Rich and detailed melodies emerge as all elements work in synchronicity with the coruscating choir sound, and half-way through the song reaches a cyclic breakdown. Beats are filtered and suppressed, spiral out into the void, and then return in full force to let that thick bassy groove take charge. The mood condenses into one of heightened expectation as slick breaks sublimely drive the song forward. The quality of the arrangement never falters, as the last minutes are just as good as the rest, giving each element one last chance to shine. This is a fantastic song; another highlight!

Dreaming or Awake is the obligatory chill-out finale… luckily this one is composed with the same level of quality you find across this album. Lush atmosphere, deep bassy beats, light melodies and surging harmonies all combine to make a very sweet song. It’s an excellent piece of music – perfect to finish this album.

Overall, this is one premium piece of progressive-psychedelic trance. Luna Spice has successfully forged a great debut album here, rich in detail and sound quality, eminently listenable from start to finish. Deep Diving and Time Pipe are my clear favourites from this album, but all songs found on here are good. This is a progressive album I highly recommend!

Purchase Options

Saikosounds // Physical mail order shop based in Hong Kong.
Wirikuta // Physical mail order shop based in Austria.

Share This

Transmit a Comment

Name (required)

Email (required; never published or spammed)

Web Link/URL (optional)

Check this box to subscribe to the Ektoplazm newsletter for infrequent updates, special promotions, and more.

Check this box to receive an email whenever additional comments are made.