THE SOUNDTRACK TO THE REVOLUTION
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If you were to sit down and listen to this ‘blind’ as it were, not knowing anything about it, you would be forgiven for thinking it was released in the late 1960s or early ‘70s. It does not just sound like it is from that period, it sounds like it genuinely is from that period. This is psychedelic prog rock from the old skool. ‘Drowned World’ opens proceedings, sounding like the soundtrack to an old horror movie, with lots of spooky keyboards, then gets heavy and trippy, creating a vibe that would probably freak you out you if you listened to it on acid. ‘Tenement Song’ is a bit more laid back with some chilled acoustic guitar work slightly reminiscent of the early Magic Mushroom Band, a theme that continues with ‘Sundropped’. Track number five, which is either called ‘Untitled’ or just does not have a title (make your own mind up), is a bit like listening to a Japanese Hawkwind; spacey with hints of the east and appears to start to play backwards towards the end; the Acid Mothers Temple would be proud. Barrett era Floyd comes to mind with ‘Modest Flower’, with the vocals coming a little more to the fore for a beautiful acid folk vibe, but as with most of the tracks here, it keeps you on your toes by ending in a different manner from how it starts, in this case more spaced out.
If you are into all things psychedelic and want to a break from all the techno wizardry or heavy stoner drone that seems to go hand in hand with contemporary bands, going back to the roots of the genre (although this album is by no means backwards); or if you are a fan of 60s/70s psychedelia and think you have heard everything, this album is for you. It is spaced out, organic and mixes mellow vibes and more rocky moments without any visible joints. And it all comes wrapped in a digipack that harks back to the days when album covers were works of art worthy of hanging on the wall. Go on, give your head a treat.
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Dopethrone (Rise Above Records) 2004
Imagine falling through a loophole in the space-time continuum and landing in a graveyard in 1971 to find Kurt Cobain carrying out a frontal lobotomy on you. You try to escape but when you get back to the present you find yourself in a Norwegian church, which is being burnt down by a death metal band. This is what this album is like.
OK, perhaps a bit too obscure…. How about Queens Of The Stone Age trying to recreate Black Sabbath’s ‘Masters of Reality’. Dopethrone is quite an appropriate title, cos this is the king of all stoner rock albums, as you might have guessed from the picture of Satan toking on a bong on the cover. One tip, don’t bother listening to it with the volume down low, it will sound like static; whack the volume up to eleven and be overwhelmed by the power of this beast.
Leap (infrasound) 2004
4th album from this ‘Celtic dance fused acoustronica’ outfit that have been getting beardy types at folk festivals to get up, get down and get funky since 1994. Didgeridoo, hammer dulcimer, flute and who knows what else are mixed in with a bit of live sampling to get instrumental Celtic jazz funk that is perfect for sun kissed Sunday afternoons in a field eating strawberries or the we small hours in a sweaty nightclub. Once experienced, just like an elephant, you will never forget them. Sadly this was the last offering by this particular line up, but don’t panic too much cos there is a new version of the band with a harp instead of a dige and they are equally capable of sending vibrations to the nation.
Bullets / Midnight Song (Dragonffli Records) 2007
Considering they have only been together a few months this three piece outfit from Gwent have gelled quite well and produce a sound that belies thier youth. The first track on this double A sided single, ‘Bullets’, opens up with a chunky rough house riff that reminds us a little bit of the very early Buzzcocks, then the passionate vocals cut in, matching the enthusiasm of the of the music and pushing the track on with some urgency. Before we get to the end the three chord riffs are jostling with some tasty guitar licks that want to join in the fun. The second track, Midnight Song, slows things down considerably and the ever faithful acoustic guitar is pulled out for an almost ballad like affair to demonstrate that these boys are no one-dimensional outfit. This is the first release on the new Pontypool based Dragonffli imprint. The band or the label might not have started shaving yet, but we noticed the name Jeff Rose (Dub War/Skindred) on the credits and clearly he has brought his experience to bear to ensure a solid and clean sound throughout. A promising start for both the band and the label.... (not quite sure if you can have a double A sided CD though!)
