ELECTRONICA
The Utopia Strong
BY STEPHEN WORTHY
★★★★
Doperider
ROCKET RECORDINGS. DL/LP
Psychedelic ambient drone/rock combo that’s very much on cue.
Inspired by a ghostly comic book motorcyclist and made by past and former members of Gong, Cardiacs and Coil plus one of Britain’s best-known sportsmen, Doperider is consistently rewarding. The third outing from The Utopia Strong – long-time sonic traveller Kavus Torabi, woodwind specialist Mike York and six-time World Snooker Champion Steve Davis – unfolds into what the latter calls a “beautiful hellhole”. Pulling you into a world of modular synths, ethereal pipes and psychic distortion, Torabi and Davis share synthesizer duties, with York providing mood-altering intercessions. The latter is exemplified by Prophecy, where juddering, discordant guitars and angry synth skirls are assuaged by an Armenian duduk. The elegant Moths Of The British Isles channels Close Encounters-era John Williams before Harpies, all shuffling discomfort and paranoia. An intriguing record from a uniquely interesting trio.