While many reviews of III, the Alps' last release on Type, mentioned the influence of Italian horror scores on the trio's themes, Le Voyage eases back a little on the drama. This time out, Jefre Cantu-Ledesma (Tarentel), Alexis Georgopoulos (ARP) and Scott Hewicker (Troll) combine Eastern worldly psychedelic and moody space rock approaches. Opener "Drop In" dabbles in a Popul Vuh-style soundtrack full of pretty acoustic guitar and languid piano. "Crossing the Sands" ups the electricity with burbling wah work and Zeppelin-esque tub-thumping. The sitar drones under "Black Mountain" and "Telepathe" also echoes a little Physical Graffiti ecstasy, tempered by Outside the Dream Syndicate, stoic bass minimalism. Moments of tape splice experimenting provide little jump cuts between the scenes. This is an album that sits nicely between Acid Mothers Temple and Grails in its combinations of outward reach and inward gaze.
(Type)The Alps
Le Voyage
BY Eric HillPublished May 25, 2010