The Cosmic Gospel - 2023 - Cosmic Songs For Reptiles In Love [mini-review]

(31:34; Bloody Sound)

Italian band The Cosmic Gospel are out with the album "Cosmic Songs For Reptiles In Love", and this is a production that might be of interest also for fans of progressive rock. For me this is one of those albums that strikes me as increasingly difficult to describe in an accurate manner, which I guess is a good thing. From the onset many of the songs does give me a late 60s vibe, with psychedelic pop and rock as the main association as far as style and orientation is concerned. Later on we also get compositions with a bit more of a 90s indie rock feel to them, as well as a few that use elements from both of these sources. With a few songs possibly adding a touch of the electronic landscapes an artist like Vangelis conjured back in the day to the arrangements too. But no matter the core style or the additional elements applied, all of the songs also comes with a liberal array of cosmic, psychedelic and whimsical effects that adds a different dimension to the landscapes explored. Sometimes strictly psychedelic, sometimes cosmic, frequently otherworldly in sound and scope. More often than not with elements from the full trio and arguably a bit beyond that scope too. All the while the songs themselves are accessible and compelling in their own right too, with many of the songs at least on a core level coming across as creations that should have a fairly wide appeal. An album to seek out by those with a taste and affection for a retro-flavored but also unconventional album of psychedelic rock that might or might not also have progressive tendencies.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, December 2023

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/thecosmicgospel
https://www.bloodysound.it/