El Muusa Center

Estonia has a vibrant psychedelic underground scene that receives far too little attention outside the Baltic borders. Centre El Muusa from Tallinn are the best argument to change that. The quartet, centered around the immensely productive multi-instrumentalist Misha Panfilov, began in 2018 as an avant-garde electronic duo of Panfilov and Wurlitzer master Volodja Brodsky. When Monika Erdman joined on bass and Aleksei Semenihhin on drums, it became a full-fledged rock band.

On their self-titled debut, Centre El Muusa present six fully instrumental pieces that wander through various musical fields. The almost ten-minute opener "Turkeyfish" starts with a minimalist psych-beat, builds up over feedback-drenched guitars, and ends in a prog-freakout. "Ain't Got Enough Mojo" brings Wooden Shjips vibes with its motorik beat and spacey krautrock guitar sound, "Burning Lawa" drags a slow, tormented riff through industrialized soundscapes, and the final "Szolnok" sets a calm, thoughtful closing note.

A debut that impresses with its stylistic openness and craftsmanship.

Centre El Muusa are
Misha Panfilov – electric guitar, lap steel guitar, production
Volodja Brodsky – wurlitzer electric piano, synthesizer, organ
Monika Erdman – electric bass
Aleksei Semenihhin – drums, percussion