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| Track by Track Review
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CD1
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No Steps Left To Trace, Part 1
Percussive, spaeey elements get things going here. Bass jamming joins and other elements are heard as atmospherics as this grows slowly in a fusion-like style. While this build-up is gradual and deliberate, it is also very really. This has a great rubbery fusion groove to it as it continues. It gets into some really powerhouse jamming before it's over. While the fusion thing remains, this actually moves out toward more fierce prog as it gets thoroughly jamming. I can also make out some hint of Grateful Dead like space jams at times. They drop it back down to less driving weirdness further down the road. This song is almost 21-and-a-half minutes long, and they use that time to really explore a lot of sonic territory. |
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No Steps Left To Trace, Part 2
This jam feels pretty freeform and crazed at times. This gets more intense, but also contrasts that with mellower stuff. It's somehow less cohesive and "mainstream" than the opener was. That said, the opener was far from mainstream. This just feels more "out there." This has some world music in the mix at times. It really feels a lot more experimental. The track turns decidedly heavy and rocking later. While shorter than the opener, this is still over 15-and-a-half minutes long. There is a movement out into pure space with a distance countdown later in the track. That gives way to a quick blast of sound that ends it. |
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On The Other Side, Part 1
Some soundbites are heard on the spacey introduction to this number. This builds out into similar fusion meets freeform experimental jamming. This has plenty of space music in the mix. There are definitely some parts of this that make me think of The Grateful Dead's space jams. |
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Wormhole
At less than two-minutes of music, this is the shortest thing here. It has a lot of percussion and trippy effects. It's one of the most freeform pieces. Given the competition, that says a lot. |
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On The Other Side, Part 2
Experimental in nature, this starts sparse. The bass sound stands out. It all grows very gradually. This gets very jazzy at times. |
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Spontaneous Combustion
This thing has some pretty awesome jamming. The bass work on this alone is show-stealing quality. I think this might be my favorite piece of the set. It's powerhouse experimental fusion, and it really works so well. It also gets really frantic and crazed later. |
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CD2 PAKT Live
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The Ghost Mills
Coming in spacey, with some spoken soundbites, this works out to some rubbery, echoey jamming that is so unique and cool. This eventually gets crazed and driving. It's a real screamer. |
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NYC III
The second longest (18:06) track on this second disc, this gets going with an understated movement that has a real percussive vibe to it. It gets more rocking further down the road. Parts of this make me think of Frank Zappa to some degree. It's quite a cool exploration with some hints of funk at times. This works through quite a few twists and turns. I think some of the bass work lands among the highlights here. This thing gets incredibly intense and driving later. |
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NYC IV
Mellower, ambient elements and concepts are a big part of the first section of this track. This grows in much the same way the listener has come to expect from the rest of the music here. It's classy stuff that manages to feel somewhat unique, while also fitting in. It's quite a ride. |
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NYC V
The bass work as this kicks in after more ambient stuff is on fire. I love the guitar that comes over the top of that so much, too. At just over seven-and-a-half minutes long, this is the shortest track on this second disc. It's also one of my favorites. It' gets into some seriously dramatic and freaky space rock meets fusion territory later. |
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Solar Myth
At more than 22-and-a-half minutes long this is the epic of the second disc. It comes in tentative, freeform and more sedate and begins to climb upward gradually. As this gets more intense there is some prominent and driving bass work with killer guitar over the top of it. There is a good balance between more powered up and mellower, stripped back sections as they continue to explore.
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