Glitter Stars Speak: Hermetic Fever

Hermetic Fever, performed by Joshua Gerowitz (guitar, EFX) and Louis Lopez (trumpet, EFX) is a spellbinding tapestry of sound that might have the listener questioning reality. Inspired by the Hermetic tradition of philosophy, practical magic and alchemy, these musical alchemists embark on an improvised journey that transcends genres and expectations. Clocking in at 37 minutes without any filler tracks, this dynamic duo has concocted a musical potion that is equal parts mystic ritual and fever dream, promising an enigmatic listening experience.

Gerowitz's guitar weaves intricate, labyrinthine melodies and bone-crushing distortion techniques that may have you lost in a maze of sound, while Lopez's trumpet echoes with a haunting clarity that would make a banshee jealous. It is a soundscape that questions whether we are hearing music or decoding a secret message from another dimension scribbled in the tongue of ancient wizards.

On "Glitter," the guitarist's crusty and distorted initial phrasings ride above understated EFX-processed melodies with oscillating synth voicings that spawn a phantasmagorical sonic elixir, revealing hidden chambers of the soul like a mystic key unlocking the door to the inner sanctum. Here, the duo taps into cosmic frequencies, channeling otherworldly energies that would make even the most seasoned shaman raise an eyebrow.

"Speak" is the lengthiest track, complete with stark intersecting notes and a silvery chord groove that lightens the rough-hewn progressions like a beam of moonlight piercing the darkness. The result? A heady blend of improvisation and structured chaos with Gerowitz's closed hand picking and voicings that bespeak negotiations with open-minded extraterrestrials. Streaming and noisy guitar licks amid background EFX swashes provide a series of alarming atmospheric thunderbolts within a haze of overlapping cosmic sound bites, like the auroral displays of a distant alien world. Lopez's reverb-laden trumpet lines generate imagery of an angelic messenger sent from a godly force as an antidote for the crunching guitar riffs and shadowy EFX. This album may leave the listener awe-struck. Hence, mission accomplished.

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