The Mystic Moods – Cosmic Sea
Listen/Download – The Mystic Moods – Cosmic Sea MP3
Greetings all.
The tune I bring you today has been a huge fave since I first heard it pumping from the speakers of the Asbury Park 45 Sessions, courtesy of my man DJ Prime Mundo.
‘Cosmic Sea’ by the Mystic Moods (Orchestra) is one of those records that simply has to be heard on a big sound system, or at least on some high quality headphones.
It is a breakbeat classic ans sought after by funk 45 heads, but it has a really unusual history.
The Mystic Moods Orchestra was founded in the mid-60s by Brad Miller, one of the founders of the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (which record collector types will recognize as the source of the sought after MFSL/Original Master records), who got his start recording and releasing audiophile sound effects records (like stereo recordings of trains, etc). The “group” released over 20 albums between 1966 and 1990 (mostly for Philips and Warner Brothers), composed of a mixture of symphonic mood music, pop and easy listening, meant for the high end HI-FI sets in the bachelor pad listening rooms of the world. Over the course of more than two decades Miller, assisted by a group of arrangers and studio musicians, created a successful series of ‘musical environments’ meant to be used as the soundtrack of a variety of relaxing pastimes, up to and including lovemaking.
Their albums are not terribly hard to find, and for the most part, not anything that most Funky16Corners fans would be interested in.
However, a couple of times in the 70s, Miller and Co decided to get funky, and the finest of their efforts in that direction was ‘Cosmic Sea’.
‘Cosmic Sea’ was included on the 1973 LP by the Mystic Moods (they dropped the Orchestra the previous year), and was also released as a 45 (see above).
The record is – as you would expect from a dedicated audiophile – great sounding, with lots of phasing, and panning of synthesizers and drums for full use of stereo (especially on headphones). It is also quite funky, with some hard-hitting drums, clavinet solos, and just enough sweeping strings to capture the Barry White/boudoir market.
‘Cosmic Sea’ seems to have gotten some airplay on Pop stations (mostly on the west coast) and it’s presence on a major label has guaranteed that despite demand, it still isn’t terribly expensive.
It is a very groovy disc, indeed, and I hope you dig it.
See you all on Wednesday.
Keep the faith
Larry
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Themocracy
You’ve done it again! Very cool groove, perfect for kicking back with a cold one on a sunny day!