Stranger in Mystery

Prog psych from Canada. An interesting branch of the Hawkwind family tree is Melodic Energy Commission, which included among it membership Hawk electronics maestro Del Dettmar. The band's lineup consisted of Xaliman on vocals, guitar, piano, electro-keys, gongs, percussion, and shepherds pipes, Randy Raine-Reusch on dulcimer, khaen, gongs, and flutes, Del on EMS synth and Delatronics, George McDonald on guitar, theramin, and wall of oscillation, Mark Franklin on bass, and Paul Franklin percussion, tablas, glockenspiel, and synth organ, plus numerous guests. The Stranger In Mystery tracks are interesting as they feature tribal, acoustic, flower power, hippie psychedelia combined with loads of spacerock electronics. The music is raw, but heavily exploratory, often changing radically within a single track. For example, the nine minute title track features acid guitar and synths jamming in their own individual directions in a kind of heavy Hawkwind, floating Tangerine Dream style. The feel is very playful, though it gets a bit meandering at times. Xaliman's slightly efx'd vocals are a bit eerie and fit the music well. Too much is going on for a track by track discussion. But suffice it to say they go from psychedelic chamber orchestra, to dissonant strumming acoustic guitars, and more freaky electronics than you can shake a Hawk at.

A summer in a beach neighbourhood of Vancouver resulted in this second adventure into the explorative otherworlds of electronic and ancient acoustic musico-sonic territory.

Much of their recorded catalog remains uninterpreted and a significant enigma on other worlds but those recordings that were left to enquisitive minds were eventually found and heralded as new treasures.

As the present day appeared, Melodic Energy Commisiions music still resonated ears around the worlds.

Xaliman: guitar, vocals, piano, organ, SH 1000 Synthesizer, Gongs, vibes, kalimba, stone drum, Egyptian Shepherd's Pipe
Mark Franklin: bass
Randy Raine-Reusch: dulcimer, khene, gong, flute
George McDonald: hydro-electric guitar, theramin, aura, wall of oscillation
Paul Franklin: percussion, tabla, electric axe

Recorded at Columbo Bean Sound Loom, Desolation Sound, Hum & Noyes Studio & Tay-Tum-Sun Music Circle.
Mixed by Robin Spurgin, Xaliman at PSI Chord Studio, Kitsilano, British Columbia