Review by Peter Finn for MPM
Mother’s Cake is a dynamic rock band hailing from Austria, formed in 2008 in the picturesque village of Arzl im Pitztal amongst the Tyrolean Alps.
The group consisted of frontman and guitarist Yves Krismer, bassist Benedikt Trenkwalder, and drummer Jan Haußels. Hopefully, I’ve got the next bit correct.
For the recording of ‘Ultrabliss’ and afterwards the band line-up has changed, multi-instrumentalist Raphael Neikes, who plays both guitar and keys live, became the fourth member of the band, while bassist Benedikt Trenkwalder was unexpectedly prevented from participating in the recordings due to illness and was replaced by Arthur Darnhofer-Demar. Founding drummer Jan Haußels amicably left the band after completing the album sessions and 14 years together.
A successor has already been found in Alex Kerbl, who has successfully passed the trial by fire of their first joint stage appearances.
Known for their captivating blend of psychedelic rock, stoner elements, and progressive sounds, Mother’s Cake has gained a dedicated following across Europe and beyond. Their discography includes several critically acclaimed albums, from their 2012 debut ‘Creation’s Finest’, to ‘Cyberfunk!’ released during 2020, each showcasing their evolution as artists and their ability to push musical boundaries while delivering high-energy performances. Their music is influenced by different bands like The Mars Volta, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Led Zeppelin. With their infectious grooves and thought-provoking lyrics, Mother’s Cake continues to make waves in the contemporary rock scene.
Mother’s Cake released their fifth studio record ‘Ultrabliss’ via Embassy Of Music on 18th October 2024. ‘Ultrabliss’ has a 9-track list, with a running time of just under 54-minutes. Of the included tracks there are four over 7-minutes, and two of those in excess of 9-minutes.
The instrumental opening track ‘Clockwork’ is the longest on the album at an epic 9:53, the full cinematic sound provides the not-so-subtle nod to Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 classic film ‘A Clockwork Orange’, the racing beat and sizzling synthesizer has the listener nodding along. The track evolves bringing in a mix that I can best describe as Pink Floyd does electro-beat, a sci-fi track on speed, and it works perfectly.
Up next is ’Feel Alright’, it’s a genre leap to the Indie-Brit-Funk sound of Kasabian or The Artic Monkeys. It’s high-tempo and high-energy, a mosh pit inducing explosion of distorted guitars and pulsating beats. It’s going to be a favourite, and will bring on the chaos at a live show.
We ease into ’One of These Days’ which was the first single to be released. A real cocktail of sounds, a psychedelic groove mixed with clipped narrated lyrics, garnished with harmonies and served over a funk guitar riff. It’s a potent combination.
The second 9-minute monster is ’Love Me’, hard bass and soaring lyrics begin the adventure, an undercurrent of Two-Tone/Ska, think ‘Ghost Town’, the track twists and turns as it picks you up at the mid-point before letting you freefall like Alice did to Wonderland. A free-flowing jam of a track that your ears just want to absorb the sounds, and let your mind create kaleidoscopic images.
’Serotonin’ comes in next. A quick “Google” and I find out that, “Serotonin is a chemical that carries messages between nerve cells in the brain and throughout your body. Serotonin plays a key role in such body functions as mood, sleep, nausea, wound healing, and sexual desire.” A track that promises a lot, which it delivers via an Indie-Rock sound, pounding drums with dramatic lyrics, spine-tingling synth and in your face guitar breaks. ‘Serotonin’ is the perfect name for the track.
Things slow down for the moody ’Clementines’, deep spoken lyrics against a steady beat. It’s melodic and relaxing, a total contrast to the previous track, demonstrating Mother’s Cake’s talent in their ability to mix things up, which they do very effectively.
’Poor Boy’ is the second and most recent single from ‘Ultrabliss’. It’s pounding bassline is infectious, Royal Blood goes bluesy but with extra attitude. The track is shadow-boxing your ears, it really draws you in and closes with some seismic beats.
The imagination for ’On a Trip’ is off the scale, think of a Hendrix’s ‘Crosstown Traffic’ and The Black Keys ‘Lonely Boy’ for a 7-minute mash-up. Whatever external influences helped in the making of this track, really worked, it sounds superb. It’s fuzzy with a dance beat straight down the middle, another very aptly titled track.
‘Ultrabliss’ closes with a further 7-minute plus track with ’Into the Light’. It starts gently with a clever guitar chord riff; the delicate vocal has reflective ballad-like qualities. The tempo increases from the mid-point, the guitars get heavier too. The atmosphere builds and the sound gets richer taking on a more electro-synth vibe, the guitars return to take us over the finish line in a blazing ball of fire.
Mother’s Cake are a totally new band to me, they don’t conform to any genre rules, they have grabbed the best of all the sounds and styles they like and created their very own mix, and it works brilliantly. Whilst listening to ‘Ultrabliss’ you don’t know what’s coming next, it creates excitement in the anticipation, you want more, it’s what music should do. The journeys you travel through the album take you across the plant, through space and through your imagination. Get hold of a copy and enjoy the trip.
