Vostok 1

Vostok 1 is 72 minutes, four tracks, each between 16 and 20 minutes long, the second album by the Southern German trio Elara Sunstreak Band. The title is a homage to Yuri Gagarin's first space flight in 1961, whose 60th anniversary coincides with the release, and the concept is just as direct: five musicians, long jams, maximum space.

Nexus opens with a brief raga flair, then plunges into groovy, bluesy guitar riffs with strong solos. Perhaps the vocals will remind some listeners of Igor from Stoned Jesus. On A Drink With Jim is an explicit tribute to Jim Morrison, complete with organ sounds and extended The End quotes. Vostok 1 itself patiently grows out of a Pink Floyd-esque intro, the Mellotron fitting in exactly where it's needed. It's a 19-minute monument that leaves a lasting impression. Orange October, the most melancholic and introspective piece, closes the album with positive, almost hopeful energy.

Surprisingly mature for a young band and an album that many critics see as a future classic of European psych-rock.

Also available as a 2-LP on 180-gram yellow vinyl in a gatefold cover made in Germany and limited to 500 copies!

Elara Sunstreak Band are
Daniel Wieland – bass, vocals
Martin Wieland – drums, percussion
Felix Schmidt – guitars, effects;
Christian Wick – Hammond organ, mellotron
Felix Seyboth – guest vocals (Vostok 1)