We have a really nice surprise from Berlin. A psychedelic surprise! The album "Psychodelic Teatime" does go into rock, or even art-rock with strong elements of psychedelics and space rock. These styles don't dominate, however, to the extent they do on the albums of groups like HAWKIND, CARAVAN or GONG. It is more like the style of music you'd hear on PINK FLOYD's earlier albums, for example up to "Atom Heart Mother". This cult album is probably the best stylistic indicator of the type of music you can hear on this record.
It includes a 23 minute track entitled "A Mysterious Cup Of Tea" made up of five parts which are smoothly linked together. This is followed by four shorter tracks. One of these shorter tracks - "Psychodelic Underground (The Short Trip)" - is just three and a half minutes long. It returns, however, in the album finale in a much longer version (over 10 minutes long) which is suitably entitled: "Psychodelic Underground (The Long Trip)". Between them there is also an acoustic track called "Landscapes On The Sky", which is based on the sounds of a 12-strong guitar and Anthony Phillips and Steve Hackett themselves would have been proud of, as well as an instrumental version entitled "Last Exit To Pluto". It's mysterious, dark and dense with the cascade of sounds, heavy from the psychedelic atmosphere permeating all around. And it's the multi-layer track we've already mentioned that links all the elements of MARGIN's sound: psychedelics, space rock, acoustic art rock and atmospheric progressive rock.
MARGIN is actually a one-person project. That person is Lutz Meinert, who composed, arranged, recorded and mixed all the material (57 minutes) which makes up "Psychodelic Teatime". His only help came from Arne Spekat, who plays acoustic guitar and the singer Carol Meinert (his wife? sister?) who helped Lutz occasionally with the vocals. On the album you can clearly hear the musical spirit of the late 60s and early 70s. Meinert has managed to perfectly recreate the atmosphere of the flower power era. In his music you can clearly hear his fascination with the sound of PINK FLOYD, there are mellotrons, Hammonds, interesting vocal harmonies, great melodies and a captivating atmosphere. And all of this was created by just one person! Respect, Lutz!
ELOY, GONG, OZRIC TENTACLES, GENESIS, JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, PHIDEAUX, and of course PINK FLOYD… these are the artists I think about whenever I hear "Psychedelic Teatime". Oh those old sounds fully of great references to modernity! ... Was it really 1970? Or 2014? People will always drink tea. But only a few will feel its psychedelic flavour. Listen and try for yourself. It's worth it!
