CHAKRA VIMANA – FEED MY SOUL (Bandcamp/ Tonzonen Records/ Cargo distribution) DL/ CD (2025)

Chakra Vimana is Santtu Laakso from Astral Magic on synthesizers, vocals, and bass, Mark Cook on fretted and fretless Warr guitar, fretless bass, guitar, keyboards, sitar, electronics, and percussion, with Shane Beck providing the narrative and guest Steven Leak on soundscapes.

Quote: “Chakra Vimana creates a sound that delves deeply into different forms of space and prog rock with heavy influences of Porcupine Tree, Nik Turner, King Crimson, Bill Laswell, and Tangerine Dream.”

‘I Anoint Thee’ starts with Shane Beck’s poetry to a chimerical soundscape with an oriental vibe suggested by the synth and hand drums. ‘Oblivious’ is nearly 11 minutes long and has a similar feel, with accentuation on guitar and lush synth lines and driving drums, becoming more reflective 3 minutes in with swirling, swooshing synths before reverting to exotic orientalism; a heavy guitar riff around 7 minutes to offbeat drums, a wah-wah synth/guitar providing a counterpoint, Beck’s thought provoking transformative spoken word leading a fascinating piece to its “coming home”. ‘Time to Sigh’ also has variations in the music and an intermittent narrative to a luxuriant backdrop of sound and a reappearance of hand drums. ‘Striving to Connect’ has much to savour in its near 10 minutes length in a more contemplative and insouciant piece, with prominent bass work, with Santtu singing the mantra and a female French voice appearing. ‘Do You Listen to the Wind?’ finds the fretless bass high in the mix again, close to King Crimson in style until the intriguing narrative appears, and reverting to the main theme in the denouement. The title track is another interesting reflection, and closer ‘Waving at the Stars’ is more demonstrative and riff based getting into a solid groove polished off by a synth break.