The Mystifying Oracle: The Kiffed CD EP Review

Last updated 15 Apr 2008

The Mystifying Oracle "The Kiffed CD EP" [Sound-O-Mat Recordings (2006)]
By Wayne Dolman
Scintillating Spelling Bee

Finally, New Material from The Mystifying Oracle

The Mystifying Oracle's 2002 EP quintesscence was definitely one of my faves for that year and a bit of the next (since I got it late in the year) and I'd been waiting for hopefully a full album of similar material. But as it is with the members of this group, they've veered off in a completely different direction.

Another EP for now, with an album promised "by the end of the year... mayhaps", this four track CD combines authentic ethnic Middle Eastern sounds with elements of psy-trance, techno, and electronic downtempo. This comes out at a time when there seems to be a surge in this particular combo of musical elements but in the case of "Kiffed", three of the four tracks are less heavy on the "ethnic" sounds and much more on the electronic side, as opposed to other releases on Dakini and Six Degrees, which are all very ethnic-sounding, just updated with modern production and some electronic touches. So despite being just one of many recent releases in this genre, The Oracle carve out a different niche by reversing the amounts of the ingredients, so to speak.

One track is very authentic Moroccan without any electronic dance elements, just great production from many samples recorded in Morocco. Two other tracks (the title and a track exclusive to this release) are downtempo pieces while the last, a remix of the title track, starts out that way but suddenly jumps up to a 138 BPM trance piece.

All are great in their own way, and for only four tracks, covers a lot of ground. As a pal of mine said when we listened to it, "that was really good... but it left me wanting more." Personally, I can't think of a better way to put it and I'm just hoping they finish and release the full album to see what this is like in full form. But in the meanwhile, this EP has stayed in my regular playlist for two months now and I don't expect to be retiring it any time soon.

Once again, the Oracle folks help renew my belief in independent music as well as convince me there's more to music than indie rock. And that's saying a lot, coming from me. Listen and enjoy.

-- Wayne Dolman, 4/2006

Thanks For Listening.

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