|
>
ASTROSONIQ - "MADE IN OSS"
BARDO POND - "ON THE ECLIPSE"
BRANT BJORK - "KEEP YOUR COOL"
FIVE HORSE JOHNSON - "THE LAST MEN ON EARTH"
HALFWAY TO GONE - "S/T"
>>MORE ROADBURN PICS: Pt.II | Pt.III
|
|
|
ASTROSONIQ
"MADE IN OSS" [ 10-INCH/CD - Spacejam Records/Suburban ]
Astrosoniq has finally released their much anticipated spacerock album, titled "Made In Oss", and it's a
flat-out masterpiece. It's not only one of the best albums that I heard in a long time, it's also a
bonafide classic in this particular genre.
"Made in Oss" reminds me of Hawkwind jamming with Funkadelic, and is the culmination of all
the great talent that the band has shown on previous albums like "Son of AP Lady" and the
much acclaimed "Soundgrenade."
Astrosoniq blend well-muscled riff rock and drone with electronic trips and funky
grooves, in away that will get you hooked for ever. One listen will transport you
to the astral plains.
Together with 35007, Astrosoniq has redefined the template for spacerock
in the years to come; instead of pairing off worn out folk with dull psychedelica they've put
the ROCK back into SPACE. Go get you some!
walter
|
|
|
|
BARDO POND
"ON THE ECLIPSE" [ CD - ATP Records ]
Swirling and stumbling, yet spiralling towards heavy psych godhead with unrelenting accuracy, Bardo Pond's "On
The Ellipse" was the stoner rock album of 2003.
A stunning surprise, "Ellipse" is the logical culmination of all the considerable effulgence
shown on "Bufo Alvarius." Over the years Bardo Pond has unveiled many moments of fuzzily
obscured brilliance. But just as many moments have been confused examples of the dangers of
drug abuse.
Each successive record seemed to erode a little more of what made them essential.
Their occasional attempts to achieve commercial success ["Set And Setting"] were often thwarted
by uninspired repetition despite the unfulfilled promise of creative excellence.
"On The Ellipse" rises from Bardo Pond's discography like Gandalf after he battled the Balrog. He
reemerged as the same person, but also renewed of spirit and with greater power than before. So it
is here. This is still clearly the same band, but with a sense of purpose and an embrace of sheer
beauty that has not been there before. It's as though they too have been cleansed by fire and are
now rededicated to their cause.
Their dense, snarling distortion is now more often held at bay by darkly narcotic melodies
which glow with sublime beauty. The use of flute as a counterpoint to distorted electric
guitar can only be described as a definitive musical statement. The layering, both
melodically and sonically, enhances both elements.
To increase the dynamic range, this layering is often juxtaposed with unadorned acoustic guitar before
giving way to deep swales of distortion, made more powerful through its restraint.
Vocals, which often seemed dazed and pointless on previous records, now resonate with a secret purpose while
still reflecting a deep weariness. They are a perfect compliment to the music, which is thoroughly modern
yet feels elemental and ancient. The production on this record is more "open" than past efforts, allowing
ghostly sounds plenty of room to swirl and fly about. A fitting backdrop for both the melodic elements
and the textural ones as well.
This is a record that rewards repeated listens by not giving up too much upon first listen. Truly a
modern psychedelic masterpiece.
drew
|
|
|
|
BRANT BJORK
"KEEP YOUR COOL" [ CD - DUNA RECORDS ]
"Keep Your Cool" is Brant Bjork's latest solo release
and offers much the same as his previous album
"Brant Bjork and the Operators".
Bjork's style appears to have settled down into a
mixture of laid-back 70s/80s grooves, jazz and
mild psychedelia which, although pretty cool,
is maybe beginning to sound a bit too simplistic
to these ears.
"Keep Your Cool" does have some great tunes on it,
but the middle section of the album just sounds a bit
uninspired. Also, this listener didn't have any real
favourite stand-out tunes on the record.
Summing up, it's a good album, but not great and
probably released at the wrong time of year. A summer
release would have suited this type of record much
better as it's a cool outside party album, but not
as good as Jalamanta for listening to on the cans...
a.
|
|
|
|
FIVE HORSE JOHNSON
"THE LAST MEN ON EARTH" [ CD - Small Stone Records ]
Never having heard FHJ before today and not even knowing much about
them, this review can be taken as almost the purest form of "impress
me".
"The Last Men on Earth" knocked me sideways. No questions asked. No
prisoners taken. From the first to last notes, this is a titanically
grooving record. Full of southern boogie swagger married perfectly to
heavy driving riffs is the best way to describe it. Lynyrd Skynyrd with Iommi on guitar
hopefully gives you a bit of mental audio.
Frightenely, there's not a bad track here. Not even something that's
less than "bloody good". 45 minutes long. Not even over-long or
over-short. Perfect length.
This record demands to be played loud as hell with air-SGs [not to mention
big air-Matamp stacks!] and a stash of beer to hand.
I can't recommend this record enough. Awesome!!!
a.
|
|
|
|
HALFWAY TO GONE
"S/T" [CD - Small Stone Records ]
What do you get with this 3rd Halfway to Gone CD? ALL THE FUCKING WAY TO GOOD MOTHERFUCKER! Small Stone are
an independent label that look like there are seriously on the way up and have been delivering
some mighty fine rock-n-friggin-roll for quite a while now, and this album could well be
the best Small Stone release thus far [and considering the other fine bands on the label
that's a whole heap o' praise indeed!]
It is generally accepted that one should open your album with a righteously rockin' tune, and
sweet mother of Ted Nugent the H.T.G boys do not slip up here... holy buggering Shite!!! "Turnpike" is ALL
ABOUT THE ROCK with riffs, attitude and bad ass southern hospitality to spare, HOTDAMN, y'all
are in fer a high ol' time with this disc!
So the scene is set, Track 1, "Turnpike" comes to an end and what do these hyped up boogie
chiefs do, they go and up the rock ante with the second tune, "Couldn't Even Find A Fight" which leaves
you giddy with excitement and pounding your fists in the air as if your arms were welded to a set of
full bore steam pistons... HELL YEAH!!! LET'S FUCKING GO!!!
If the album stopped here it would still be more rock than the common man deserves. "Couldn't Even Find A Fight"
is charged with a savage, propulsive boogie riff that will get you off your fat ass before you
can say electrodes on the nut sac!
All the way through this tune you keep pinching yourself thinkin' "I gotta be dreaming??? I gotta be
dreaming??? nothing sounds this sweet???" Not only are you awake, but also "Couldn't Even Find A Fight's"
thundering power chords will keep you lucid for the next few weeks.
You've gotta hand out some righteous praise to Lee Stuart's screaming banshee of a Gee-tar as it swings,
grooves, knocks back a six pack or three, head butts the bouncer, and then bloodied and unbowed, delivers
up some 200% proof riff moonshine that proves unequivocally that the south not only will rise again, IT HAS. But
there ain't just one hero in this rock epic, Lou Gorra on bass and Dan Gollin on sticks are so tight
a rhythm section that you could ride em like a submarine... these brothers know hardcore redneck boogie
like Tracy Lords knows head.
In a all honesty by the time you get to track four, the mighty "Slidin Down The Razor" you are physically
drained, the H.T.G boys are dragging you through some backwoods swamp at Godspeed all the while
howling at the moon like amphetamine crazed wolverines.
Then it just gets silly, a man needs a freakin' moment to breathe ferchristssake, but NO, they then
bust out with a bonafide cover of Deep Purple's mighty "Black Night" and yer grinning like a
Cheshire cat eatin' on tuna pussy, by now you are solid gone brother! SOLID GONE!!!
But along the way you also get some sweet as pie soulful rhythms... aint nothing predictable
here, NOTHING! This is the ultimate Southern fried, Boogie-metal, good
times, shit kickin' album, BAR NONE!
Halfway To Gone are heavier than a horse's cock and twice as mean, so approach this
disc with caution as it ain't no light beer, this sucker is some
high-octane-pole-axe-a-buffalo-granite-hard-rocking home brew.
To choose highlights on this CD is as pointless as a cheap pencil this is ALL-good buddy. If you
groove on Speedealer, C.O.C, Raging Slab, Skynryd, 60 Watt Shaman, Circus of Power etc, this Halfway To
Gone album is for you.
You don't need to be a fan of southern Boogie to like this as after you buy this album
y'all will be. Christ I live in North London and I suddenly got a hankerin' for grits, barbequed 'coon
meat, and a need to whittle some. [Listen to "Mr. Nasty" and weep at it's simplistic beauty, if
you remain unmoved, check your pulse because there's a good chance you're already dead]
BUY THIS ALBUM NOW IT’S GODLIKE.
jason
P.S [I've played "Couldn't Even Find A Fight" six times already and it feels like nowhere near enough]
|
[ BACK TO TOP | ROADBURN PICKS PT.II | ROADBURN PICKS PT.III | NEW RELEASES ]
|
|
|
