Gemini 4 - Gemini 4 [Gusstaff Records]

Put on the circuit via the Polish label Gusstaff Records on January 25th, 2k19 is the new self-titled album by Gemini 4 which is the conjunctional project run by Hugo Race and Michelangelo Russo. Both prolific musicians in their own right and joined by keyboard player Julitha Ryan as well as Andrew 'Idge' Hehir on percussion and engineering duties the members of Gemini 4 provide an eleven track journey with their newest longplay piece which comes in an excellent space age / space art digipak cover which speaks of psychedelic greatness and a retrofuturist attitude even before one has listened to any of the projects music. Opening with "Unicorn" the group paves the way for things to come with a sweet, slightly kitschy take on (Neo)Cosmic-influenced sound whereas the follow up "Aspartame" employs a soft, padded Armchair Techno / Ambient House attitude, "Blueboy" brings forth spaced out ProtoElectro and melancholic guitar works reminiscent of Cybotron's "Industrial Lies" vibewise before "Ephemera" gets deep into Ambient / ChillOut territories over the course of 8 minutes. Furthermore "Mercury Rising" provides a lesson in contemporary Synth / (Neo)Cosmic for fans of Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze and the likes of, the "Dream Machine" follows on a slightly darker, brooding path, providing banging 4/4 drums for advanced late night dancefloors whereas the "Twins" are grooving along to floating Synth pads and space guitars and "Minus 3" caters more cosmic melancholia with quite a bit of a retrofuturistic touch as well as interesting backward motifs for those who know. Following up is "Pop Nostromo", a perfect example of Space Electro meets ChillOut, "Afterbirthing" brings on a slightly ceremonial Synth feel and the final cut named "Rosebud" seems to be meandering between wobbly IDM and ancient Australian dreamtime tonalities and rhythm signatures usually brought to Western ears via didgeridoo recordings rather than via electronic instruments. If you love space, this one's for you.

Album artwork on Instagram!