Review by Jason Norwood
Rating: *****
Standout track: Can't pick one out of the bunch. Seriously.
It would be too easy to write off Samsara Blues Experiment as either a 70's psychedelic knock-off or an over-indulgent jam band at first glance. "Long Distance Trip" contains 6 mostly extended pieces (the album's end track "Double Freedom" clocks in at over 22 minutes, and three run to 10 or more)--a turn off if you like radio-length songs, a bonus if you liked tracks like Yes' "Close To The Edge". Keep listening, though, and you begin to appreciate what SBE is doing. Yes, it's bluesy, yes, it's trippy, and yes, it sounds like it was recorded during a jam session in someone's basement. All of those connotations aside, SBE is just so damned good at it that they deserve to have this record out there. If it's not on vinyl, it should be--I can't think of any other way to listen to this album than late at night on the turntable with the lights low and drink of choice in hand. Mind-blowing and engaging.