Exposé Online banner

Exposé Online

Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
Covering music from the fringes since 1993.

Reviews

Himmelaya — Lost Horizon
(Fruits de Mer winkle 59, 2025, 2CD / 2LP)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2025-11-08

Lost Horizon Cover art

Himmelaya is a new collaboration between Astralasia’s Marc Hunt (AKA Swordfish) and some friends. It all started when Jochen Oberlack of Bellerophon Records in Düsseldorf contacted Keith Jones of Fruits de Mer with a proposal for a purely instrumental project of neo-Krautrock music. Keith contacted Swordfish and through discussions, Swordfish nudged Jochen towards the classic 70s Ash Ra Tempel era with Rosi’s trippy narrations, plus a bit more. They recruited Britt Rönnholm of Us and Them to provide the spoken vocals, which was way out of her comfort zone, but she agreed. Himmelaya is essentially the trio of Swordfish, Jochen, and Britt with friends Bill Forwell (bass and guitars), Jon Chinn (guitars and synths), Laurence Collyer (harp, tamboura, and backing vocals), Paul Chousmer (keyboards), Adam Cole (hurdy gurdy), Peter Prakownik (slide guitar), and Steve Chard (Tibetan gongs). The various narration texts and poems are from Anders Hakansson, Silvia Plath, Lars Noren, Tomas Transtromer, and Robert Froster. In addition, the bonus double CD contains extra tracks plus remixes by other artists including nick nicely, Schizo Fun Addict, and the Lost Stoned Pandas. The double LP on marbleized black and white vinyl is outstanding. Influences include Klaus Dinger, Neu!, Michael Rother, Harmonia, and of course Manuel Göttsching and Ash Ra Tempel. Think motorik rhythms meet spoken word, kosmische meets Krautrock. Britt’s vocals are exquisite and greatly enhance the music. One of the last pieces they worked on was “Shangrilaya,” recorded at Pete Prakownik’s house in Poland. Sadly he passed away the day after they recorded the Tibetan gongs. Now “Shangrilaya” has become the band’s personal “lost horizon” through various twists, turns, and mixes to Shangri-la. If you enjoy mysterious floating music, trippy kosmic kourier excursions, and Göttsching’s repeated guitar sequences, Lost Horizon is what you need. This new album is quite an achievement!

Filed under: New releases, 2025 releases

Related artist(s): nick nicely, Us and Them, Schizo Fun Addict, The Lost Stoned Pandas, Himmelaya

More info
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lipvxs49eT8

 

What's new

These are the most recent changes made to artists, releases, and articles.