There?s gotta be something strange going on in Buenos Aires. First Reynols, now this.

The fake white fur and pyshcedulic imagery on the cover are an easy tip-off about what to expect here: a delirious 52-minute trip (and I do mean ?trip?) into the mysterious unknown with Argentinian psych troupe Vlubä. Knowing next to nothing about these characters doesn?t hinder the trip at all, and in fact may even enhance things a good bit. Sonically, the four-piece whip up quite a murky soup, and before you realize it, you may be swimming in its psychedelic excesses without a complaint in the world. Although definite touches of space rock, acid exploration, kraut rhythms, and noisy experimentation are thrown into the recipe, the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts. Wordless vocals and heavy doses of delay are consistently used throughout the entire disc, and lend a consistency to the overall vibe. Sound effects in the classic space rock mode are an essential ingredient, and provide a dislocating sense of unease. More often than not, these sounds threaten to overtake the more traditional elements. It?s twenty-five minutes in before any truly 'rock' guitar moves are introduced, and when they are, their gloriously effects-laden shredding has the effect of pushing the trip to a new level. It?s during the title track that maximum velocity is achieved and we realize there?s no turning back. The parenthetical title ?(Space and Time Machine)? suggests more than a passing awareness of the Hawkwind aesthetic, albeit filtered through a bizarrely Argentian lens. On the final track, ?Wurmple On/Off, AKA Dopecore?, our fearless leaders find perhaps the most rewarding groove of the record, with a steady rhythmic propulsion bubbling beneath the layers of analog synth and effects. In lesser hands, these things would seem schlocky and cheap. Here we know they mean business, and the effects are just an essential part of the package. If the Vlub? goal is to carry unsuspecting listeners away into strange new worlds of trippy psychedelia, their mission is easily accomplished. Yet anyone hoping for a smooth ride should be warned ? this isn?t a happy, smiley trip? the Vlubä brand of psych-rock is challenging, stimulating, and dark throughout. It?s also more than a little addictive. 8/10 -- Eric Hardiman (13 May, 2008)