Karma - Thrillseekers

THRILLSEEKING, Karma's second album, is quite the improvement over their first, PAD SOUNDS. For one, the production is much smoother. Secondly, their songwriting is much tighter and more focused. The laidback grooves are still present, from "Let's Go Thrillseeking" (with its revving engine sounds) onwards. "Del Mar" has a strong rhythmic sensibility matched with jazzy undertones, while "Got My Mojo Working" takes the basic 12-bar blues and crafts it into a driving force. Wisely, the Karma boys keep the tracks developing throughout their length, in order to reduce the stagnation that hampered PAD SOUNDS. My favorite track, "The Ballad of Evil Knievel," mixes heavier sounds in with an easygoing rhythm and spacy synths. "Five Fourths of a Whole" goes for pure lounge atmosphere, while "Danny's Break" adds some scratches by the dextrous Danny Breaks. "Bateria E Baixa" increases the rhythmic content but keeps things grounded with a nice plucked bass. "Stupid Accident" ends things on a wandering note, a slow drive through a desert. A wonderful album, through and through.

How many recording artists out there with Karma as a name? I don't much about these guys, but I do own this album, and it wasn't easy to get. I got it two years after its release, because it wasn't until then that I had a chance to zero in on them. I only have this album, due to the epic Got My Mojo Working track I had heard online.

The recording keeps the racing theme from beginning to end, touching on various types of the sport. Somehow, the rhythm doesn't let you forget that. Well produced and every track holds it own for the theme. The tone and beat keeps a pace, not really laying down, except maybe The Ballad Of Evil Knievel and some short interludes. I only wish I knew more about them. The CD doesn't give much info.