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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Sci-fi Hi-fi (4zero) 2009
They are called Earthling Society; obviously this is not a Northern Soul album. These lads are as much into their sci-fi as there hi-fi, name checking Philip K Dick and William Blake as influences gives it away a bit. They are keen to reclaim psychedelic intoxicants back from the rave generation, this album harks back to the early 80s Stonehenge space rock scene. One suspects they might have fallen into a loophole in the space-time continuum as they watched the sun come up on the solstice, whilst listening to Hawkwind in the background. Since then they have been lost on the outer reaches of the cosmos, using radar made out of mushrooms to navigate their way back to earth. Clearly this shit aint trendy at the moment, but perhaps that is no bad thing; space rock has been quite happily mutating and evolving out of sight of the X-Factor generation, resulting in bands like this making the music they want to because this is what they like; looking to the stars rather than stardom. Hence we have a pure labour of love as opposed to following any particular trend. Self-indulgent? Maybe, but if they keep knocking out this sort of stuff we look forward to their next sonic postcard from the other side of the galaxy.
The Ebon Channel EP
“I walked slowly, picking my way though the undergrowth, lifting my collar to protect me from the rain. This shortcut home was spooky at the best of times but tonight there was a chill in the air that unsettled me. As a flash of lightening illuminated the route, I spotted shadows moving in the trees; shadows that looked like they did not want to be seen. The rain continued to fall and I knew if I did not find shelter soon I would catch my death. I saw a light in the church and decided to seek refuge. I pushed open the door and could hear a strange sound coming from the crypt. All my instincts told me I should leave but I could not help myself from being drawn towards the intoxicating noise. As I pushed the door a jar I felt a hand on my back. Before I could look around I had been pushed into the candle lit room. I looked up. ‘Hey man, check this’ said the man I now recognised to be the local gravedigger. ‘It’s the new Ebon Channel EP. It’s so wicked we just been and dug up Nosferatu so he can have a listen’. And there he was, toking on a spliff and just nodding in appreciation.”
OK, it’s late and I have been writing reviews for hours now. This is truly gothic rock (and no, we don’t mean ‘goth’). This is could be the soundtrack to some classic silent horror movie, one involving black and white silent vampires rather than flesh eating zombies in glorious technicolour. It is definitely rock, but not really rooted in punk or metal, it is just.. well .. spooky! Mr Crowley would be proud.
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!)
