The psychedelic space travelers from Ship Of Fools are inviting all space cadets to embark on their diesel spaceship. Song titles like “L=SD2” and “Guidance Is Internal” are clear about the direction they will be travelling. Let’s Get This Mother Outta Here is a compilation from their only two albums “Close Your Eyes” and “Out There Somewhere”. Ship Of Fools originates from the same festival- scene as Hawkwind and Ozric Tentangle, but differ from their fellow travelers by their Celtic influences. Flutes and accordion give a new and interesting turn to the genre. It’s interesting but never deeply moving. Instrumental music always has the risk of becoming elevator-music. Only a great musical vision with strong compositions or outstanding instrumentalists with great powers of expression could prevent that. Ship Of Fools lacks both. The musicians are okay and the album isn’t boring but then again it’s never exiting nor trilling.

There are no real psychedelic experimental freak-outs, no surprises. There is no warm moody atmosphere, no strong emotional appeal. It has Celtic riffs but not a Celtic atmosphere. The synthesizer sounds are very common and guitars too restrained, for a big part that’s due to the superficial production. I could imagine this band giving great live concerts; they could have made a more interesting album if they would have made more creative use of the recording equipment. This is a remix; maybe the original recordings are better. The video track that’s not on my promo-CD might make it worth buying, maybe the Celtic link will do for some. If you want to buy everything that has to do with space rock then this one is definitely on your list, if you want to check out this interesting genre, then there are lots better examples (like Hawkwind, Ozric Tentangle or the Dutch band Loose) to promote it.