Hidden Sun presents a a cosmic array of reggae, funk, and rock from Amsterdam-based band 12 Tribes of Mars. The five-piece collective of trained jazz musicians blends hypnotic, dubbed-out beats with spontaneously fervent improvisation. From the brassy allure of “Push On” to the hypnotic “The Lake Oasis,” the record crafts an authentic, replay-inducing listening experience fit for blasting away in a spaceship, away from the world’s troubles.

“Push On” kicks off the album with a warming, approachable allure. Hazily inviting brass layers infuse seamlessly within a playful guitar progression, hearkening to the band’s reggae and ska influences as it pulsates with colorful charisma amidst dynamic rhythms. The drums, spanning from hi-hat clamoring to steady pitter-pattering, help flow into an enveloping midpoint, where the brass tones assume a more experimental free-flowing. The band’s ability to produce both accessibly melodic and more avant-garde intrigue is on display here and throughout the album, a tendency that reminds lovably of ska legends Madness.

Another standout track, “The Lake Oasis” also excels in utilizing the reggae-friendly guitar tones as a steady backbone. Here, the brass work assumes a nocturnal mystique, relative to the brightness apparent elsewhere. Moody, slithering saxophone and delectably lethargic bass combine for a replay-inducing, hypnotic pull, while the track’s second half unveils a more triumphant, vibrant pull. “Past Times” is a gem as well, grooving with late-night bass engrossment and reverbed guitar shimmering, into a Flying Lotus-esque aesthetic. Album finale “Heat” also stirs, consuming in various segments — from the mellow jazz guitar and bird-chirping combination, to the bursting jazz-led personality elsewhere. Hidden Sun is a fantastic full-length from 12 Tribes of Mars.

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We discovered this release via MusoSoup.

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