If an alien civilization ever made contact with us and then sent musician ambassadors to express their culture, the result might sound something like the Portuguese prog rock/world fusion band Blasted Mechanism. Their music, costumes, and videos present a sonic and visual iconography that is exotic and unfamiliar, and at the same time oddly mythological. It is also unmistakably "alien," as their new album, Sound in Light, makes clear.
Blasted Mechanism has two core members. Valdjiu plays guitar, kalachakra, and a self-made 8-stringed instrument called a bambuleco. Karkov, the "ceremonial leader," sings vocals in English and Portuguese, as well as his native language, Karkovian. At live shows they perform with a group of musicians who play instruments including didgeridoo, synthesizers, double-necked guitar, sitar, saxophone, and percussion. Although the sound of Blasted Mechanism tends to defy categorization, musical comparisons could be made to the tribal jam band Kan'nal, reggae world fusion group Steel Pulse, or the British prog rock band Ozric Tentacles.
Formed in Libson, Portugal in 1995, the band has toured for years, becoming known for its multi-cultural approach to music, and for the ornate, bizarre costumes that they wear on stage. Adorned with intricately patterned faux-battle armor, long stalks of hair that arc like tentacles, angular wings, and elongated insectoid helmets, the visual reference of these costumes lies somewhere between the profile of a Mayan shaman and a psychedelic warrior from Aliens Versus Predator. The evolution of this seemingly cosmic regalia has occurred over time, and can be seen in pics from older versions of the band's website and footage from previous live concerts.
The Blasted Mechanism stage show presents entertaining visual effects, worthy of note even in our spectacle saturated media culture. Many bands over the years have created detailed stage shows involving costumes and props (Animal Collective, The Sounds of Animals Fighting, Gwar, Marilyn Manson, Kiss, Sun Ra, and Bjork come to mind). What's different about Blasted Mechanism is that the purpose behind the elaborate sci-fi costumes they wear is integrated into a provocative lyrical and symbolic message surrounding the theme of Sound in Light, and the effects of music on human consciousness, as detailed in this statement from the band's MySpace page:
"The power of sound will be revealed to Man the day he fully understands the strength hidden in words, and starts using them according to [evolutionary] laws. Sound and silence united will break the barrier of human ego, and will lead to higher levels of [consciousness]. Light is the essential element of every particle. Light’s manifestation leads all creatures to their true [destiny], and man will live in it, and through it he will express himself. Unite in sound! Unite in light! Unite the tribes! are key declarations for a new rising Era, a stage of peace and union, and respect for planet earth, spaceship on which we travel, our galactic mother. Man will become more [subtle], matter will finally be understood, science and religion will fuse under the power of [metaphysics]."
The new double album, Sound in Light, released by Universal records in April, 2007, borrows instrumentation and inflections from reggae, jazz, hindi, ska, prog rock, and electronica. The veteran world fusion group, Transglobal Underground, is featured on the second track, “Total Rebellion." Other musical contributors include Gaia Beat, Rão Kyao, and Kumpania Algazarra.
Some of Sound in Light's tracks stand out as being particularly well constructed. But there is also a sense that this band is still coming into its own and has yet to reach its full musical potential. The genre-swapping musical medley does work well, but sometimes it comes off as silly, disorganized.
However, while incorporating diverse music genres with acoustic and electronic instrumentation, Blasted Mechanism manages to successfully create a fresh, innovative sound that is more than the sum of its parts. Their version of vibratory alchemy is lively, soulful, even fun. Yet there is also something oddly prophetic and poignant about this bizarre display of hyper-real (or un-real?) alienness.
Where have these people come from, and what stories do they bring with them? The lyrics of Sound in Light allude to a millenianist world in which we face an apocalypse of the psyche, a time when our human values, thoughts, emotions, and feelings are going to be tested and engaged, after which we will move on to new level of consciousness.
The Blasted Mechanism philosophy seems to be that even if the world's going to fall apart, we might as well enjoy ourselves as it happens.
Watch it for yourself here:
"The Battle of Tribes"
The end of time is near, religion collapsed from fear.
The end of space is near, step into the sound and hear.
The dying of man is near, the white light atmosphere.
We're reading you crystal clear, step up and volunteer.
Prepare for the battle of tribes!
Prepare for the battle of tribes!
So let's invite everybody… to bring your joy to the party!
Yes, step by step we're providing… the fuel to get it ignited.”