I have eagerly followed the highly limited and often hard to score Nackt Insecten releases; spread across numerous cassettes and vinyl. Rumours of a larger outfit were confirmed with the formation of the Nackt Insecten Trio, including members from Lanterns and Eye Shaking Kingdom. 2010 brings the first full LP, courtesy of young label Krayon Records. Moon Unit are the NI Trio, and they combine the droning space ragas of Nackt Insecten with psyched percussion and keys. Both sides of the LP ooze single movements of oscillating psychedelic bliss.

Side A opens with a twisting drone, that is soon met by a series of aviary electronics and muted drums. Drilling drones vibrate via guitar with ionised winds that ebb and flow with high twinkles and synthesised loveliness. Blossoming shapes erupt in half time, like lava lamps of thick sonic goo. The harshness to the drone plumes adds an angular feel, which moves the music to a level above your average Prog acid haze. The percussion picks up pace after 4 minutes, tapping out an infection rhythm as one looses oneself to the twisting blasts of noise overhead. There is the thumping continuum of Parson Sound and the searing strings of Vibracathedral Orchestra; combined to glorious effect. NI hinted towards this structure in his “Quantum Odyssey II” record. At the halfway point everything gathers to a dramatic crescendo blasting like a thousand solar flares in cosmic effervescence. The piece unwinds slowly through the final third, as if absorbing the velocity of the central flight. The keys trip a sequence of clear melodies that spellbind in trance-like shapes.

Side B hovers in reverb, navigating a path pitched in mutual exploration, via cautious fingers. In the distance drums find a tapered path into existence, recalling the motions of Bardo Pond offshoot, Alasehir. The harsh droning guitar cuts like muddied glass, in shards of noise. The movement is highly fractured, puzzling the brain in juxtaposition to its partner piece. You fail to plod along in psych bliss until far into the session. Eventually it all makes sense and the juddering, blasting and improvised sections dance in awkward unity. There is a healthy slab of discord and thundering noise through the middle section that pushes all, into the red, with piercing tones. The sound has similarities to the recent Acid Mothers Temple offerings on Important Records. There is a fire-branded madness that is both caustic and dreamlike. Two very different motions and a great slab of psych magic. 8/10 -- Peter Taylor (19 May, 2010)