January Birthdays 
Trabants – Mantra b/w Surfers on Acid 7” (Hypnotic Bridge Records)
This 7” is the Trabants’ seventh release and is a fuzzy, trippy, excursion into the depths. The band is the brainchild of one, Eric Penna who wrote, recorded, and mixed these tunes and has, yet again, new participants in his ensemble. The 60s vibe is abundantly present as those who appreciate that era will quickly ascertain. I hear elements of doom metal from the 90s as that is how I experienced the influence of the slow, mesmerizing sounds of the 60s. At times, I thought this record could have been the soundtrack for the 1978 cartoon version of “Lord of the Rings.”
On the A-side, “Mantra” is a 2:46 enchanting journey into another world. The tune sets about with a groovy, rhythmic intro that leads into a pulsating, mid-tempo, soul-crushing phenomenon. The fuzzy guitar sounds create a unique atmosphere, and the rhythm section provides a smooth, steady pulse. The faint sound of a glockenspiel can be heard in the background. Towards the end, the intensity dials up while the buzzing of a backward guitar flies in and out, and a touch of improv for good measure. The EP is backed with, “Surfers on Acid,” a near-three-minute pontification that has me asking, “What if?” “What if a guitar with heavy distortion rode a surfboard?” This track leans more heavily towards the psychedelic but the indelible imprint of surf is present. It’s an engaging tune where the rhythm section is livelier than the flipside. Eric is a master of his craft and offers some funky guitar work interlaced with captivating melodies. Fans of vintage gear will appreciate the use of a Tycobrahe Octavia fuzz pedal and the blonde Showman complements of a legendary Portland quintet.
This black vinyl, 45 RPM EP has a full-color, side entry jacket for its lodging. The art was created by Jess Rotter with additional design work from the increasingly popular, Joris De Haan. The record is a limited edition of 500 copies. Pick up your copy today at: https://trabants.bandcamp.com/
As reviewed in Colorado Instrumental Fanzine Issue 3
—Matthew
Purchasae Colorado Instrumental Fanzine Issue 3
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