Vocalist and songwriter Shiva Shankar (Phil Jones) is behind this project which carries the name of his hroup. Quintessence had its days of glory during the hippie age when they played jazzy psychedelic pop with Indian influences and sang universal religious lyrics founded on Hinduistic philosophy. After a few sligh comeback attempts in the 90's, Shankar now tries to update the Quintessence sound on his own - or at least outside of the old group. Instead he has teamed up with the Swiss musician Rudra Beauvert who, along with various session musicians, plays all the instruments on the album except for Shankar's didgeridoo.

Hippies trying to modernize their music within old premises often end up unintentionally parodic, but Shankar/Jones carry through this project with a certain dignity. A rhythm section dominated by ambience functions well as a means of updating the psychedelic tradition of Quintessence. Beauvert does his job properly, but it is Shanksr's creativity which is the driving force of this album. When he is really inspired, Cosmic Surfer is very entertaining. He is at his best on the first CD, where the arrangements are more varied and the lyrics are spiced up with theatrical monologues. Here you find "Who Am I?", a satirical techno-soundscape about a man who talks to aliens, and the moralizing, but extremely funky environmental protection song "Blue Is Beautiful". "Men's New Age" and "Hollywood Guru" directs a critical glance at how the hippie movement has developed.

Most of the album, especially CD 2, does, however, have a recurrent problem; the melodies are quite excellent, but the record is under-produced. The tracks have a lot of potential which to an insufficient degree is realized because the arrangments lack body. At times Cosmic Surfer is quite delightful, but it lacks real highlights.

© 2006 Tarkus Magazine

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