Vibravoid/Sula Bassana -split LP
Wie auch auf der hier besprochenen LP von VOID FORUM handelt es sich bei den Aufnahmen um Archivmaterial, aus den Jahren 1993 - 96. Der hier zelebrierte Klangteppich baut sich jedoch viel stärker aus überwiegend elektronischen Elementen zusammen und zeigt eine vollkommen andere Ebene von VIBRAVOID. Meditativer Ambient Chill out, versetzt mit psychedelischen Reiseerlebnissen aus den inneren Windungen des Masterminds. Der Doktor bedient sich im Alleingang eines ganzen Arsenals an Equipment, Vox Super Continental II, Fox Jaguar, Fender Telecaster, Gibson SG, Bontempi Top Electronic SF 150, Tebetean Ghanta, Sitar, Waterbucket, Windchimes, Flute, Boss Delay Machine DM1, Lemon Baby Phase, Roland TR 808, Television und diverser Percussions. Das ganze besteht aus sieben Stücken, die zu einem Gesamtstück zusammengefügt wurden. Sowohl der erste Part "Void Vibrato" und der letzte "Phasenvoid" von 96 sind dabei die neuesten Aufnahmen und tatsächlich auch meine Favoriten. Das mag daran liegen, dass sie dem sonstigen Sound der VIBRAVOID am ähnlichsten sind, eventuell aber auch an der Tatsache, dass der meditativere Bereich der Platte stimmungsabhängig ist und die meine gerade nicht punktgenau zu treffen vermag. Die andere Seite des Split Albums wird von SULA BASSANA bestritten, a.k.a. Dave Schmidt, ehemaliger Bassist von LIQUID VISIONS und Mitverantwortlicher von WELTRAUMSTAUNEN und ZONE SIX, ebenfalls im Alleingang. Auch hier Archivaufnahmen, diesmal aus den Jahren 1998 bis 2003. Ein wahres Meisterwerk bildet direkt der Opener "The End of the World", mit Gastgesang der australischen Sängerin Jodi Barry. Der Song ist nicht nur für die sonst eher sehr psychedelischen Arbeiten ungewöhnlich, er ist tatsächlich in keine Kategorie von Musik einzuordnen, sondern einfach nur genial zu benennen. Die gepiepsten Zwischenparts, die im Refrain "Gimme Chocalate" fordern, bringen zudem eine ungewohnt humoristische Note in den Song. Ganz klar, das absolute Highlight des Gesamtalbums, und eine (10) au§er Konkurrenz. "Blow that Trip" hingegen spielt ebenso wie die Sachen von VIBRAVOID sehr mit meditativen Elementen, was mich derzeit nicht wirklich für sich gewinnen kann. Die Aufnahme von "Nineteenninetynine" entstand laut Aussage auf der Platte nach einer Phase grö§erer Probleme, was dem Song aber durchaus zugute kommt. Der €rger wird sich einfach von der Seele gerockt und sogar geknüppelt, dass es eine ungewohnte Freude ist. "Low Future" hingegen wieder ruhiger, psychedelischer mit angenehmen Chill out Charakter. Alles in allem eine wichtige Platte, aber für Einsteiger der beiden Musiker empfehle ich eher deren andere Platten. (7/8)
Claus Wittwer im Ox-Fanzine Nr.53

Vibravoid/Sula Bassana -split LP
Vibravoid"s retrospective collection of demos, outtakes, and radio sessions from 1993-1996. Strange sounds, sitars, water effects, and more stereo than you can stand. Sula Bassana is the solo project of Dave Schmidt, the bass player in Liquid Visions, Zone Six and the now defunct, Growing Seeds. He plays all the instruments on Sula Bassana"s fantastic psychdelic adventure.
from www.stonerrock.com

Sula Bassana - "Retronique" / Vibravoid - "Phasenvoid" split LP (Nasoni Records AS001)
This is a split LP, with both bands providing a retrospective as material is compiled from many different years. With a record like this you never know where to start. Ok... I will start with Vibravoid. This is totally different from the two main releases many people might be familiar with. The opening and the last track are from the groups first radio sessions in 1996 for Radio Netzkraut and are basically electronic drone tracks. "Mind Decision" is very much like Tangerine Dream"s mid-70s style stuff with a repeated electronic pulse in which some vocals, synthesizer and guitar are layered on top. Very spacey this track. This segues into "Bellflight" which has numerous chiming bells upon which the soundscape is built. These two tracks were recorded in Spring/Summer of 1994. Excerpt from "A Journey To The Sun" is a sequence from a nearly 30 minute track which was the first multitrack recordings that Christian did back in 1993. Sula Bassana starts with an excellent archive track featuring Jodi Barry, who was the female vocalist on the Zone Six studio CD. This was recorded in 1998. A great song with a cool tune and samples, strange percussion, voices and guitar. "Blow That Trip" is next and was recorded while some of the guys from Liquid Visions and Mr. Vibravoid were hanging out in Dave"s kitchen in Berlin in 2002. Strange samples with floating drones and effects. "Nineteenninetynine" was recorded in 1999 and this is probably the heaviest Sula Bassana song with a great dissonant, dark guitar riff which reminds me of Hawkwind or something. I canÕt quite place it. The LP ends with "Low Future", recorded in 2002 just after the US aggression against Iraq. This is a great floating space rock track that is very Pink Floyd inspired, mainly by the Richard Wright style keyboard playing. I think it is a great LP but more experimental than either of the bands previous releases. Check it out, if you can!
By Scott Heller for Aural Innovations #24 (July 2003)

VIBRAVOID/ SULA BASSANA Phasenvoid/ Retronique split LP Nasoni Records (NASONI AS-001)
I was waiting anxiously for this album, since it is a split vinyl by a couple of the best modern day psychedelia bands from Germany! Vibravoid released their first album on Nasoni in 2001, and it is true space/kraut/psych brain-candy. That was followed by a promising "Adjustment" single, and at the turn of the year they released the absolutely amazing "Void Vibration". Any self-respecting psych-head just have to get all these! Sula Bassana is a solo project of ex-Liquid Visions bass player Dave Schmidt, and his Dreamer vinyl, also released by Nasoni, was one of last year"s best albums, so it must be found from the record shelf, as well. This split album is composed of old recordings by Christian of Vibravoid fame and Dave, so we"re not talking about any brand new stuff here. The Vibravoid side was recorded as early as 1993-1996, and includes experiments that lead to the formation of Vibravoid. The very psychedelic elemental tone of the band is already there, but in more basic and ambient, electronic form. There are plenty of weird sound effects, lots of synth, guitar, sitar, vocal samples and many strange gizmos in use. Occasionally this reminds me of Tangerine Dream, but this stuff is much more twisted. There is also a drum machine on the last track, and it"s closer to the whole band albums. Very nice and weird stuff! The Sula Bassana side is started with a lengthy track "The End of The World" featuring vocals by an Australian Jodi Barry, who also sang on the Zone Six album. Her voice is very beautiful to hear in this really groovy track mostly about smoking dope, including a very funny "gimme schocolate" chorus. In the middle we"ll dive into a wilder, Hawkwind-like middle part, and then back to the basic thing. "Blow That Trip" is a good, very ambient piece with strange noises. "Nineteenninetynine" is a fast instrumental with heavy riff. The last track "Low Future" was written just after the beginning of the Iraq war, and is a very laidback and spacey number that grows a bit along the way and has some small, echoed vocals. Excellent stuff, although doesn"t quit mach with the Dreamer album that is also going to be released on CD soon. There is a CD-R with old electronic recordings by Sula Bassana available as well, and you can get it by contacting Dave. In conclusion: a fine and very spaced-out vinyl (180 g, 400 copies in black vinyl, 100 in red) that completes in a nice way the work of these.
By Astro at Psychotropic Zone

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