Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Word of Life - Further Ahead (1992)


Τα «σύγχρονα» που έχω δεν είναι πολλά. Αυτό το αγόρασα τότε διότι μου άρεσε το "Can You Feel it - Flowing Free". Τότε βέβαια δεν υπήρχαν τα blogs οπότε το χέρι έμπαινε συνέχεια στη τσέπη. Τουλάχιστον τότε είχα αρχίσει να δουλεύω σε σχολείο οπότε είχαμε «άνεση» αγορών. Πάνε αυτά τώρα.

Λίγα λόγια που βρήκα σε ένα σαιτ

For a short period in the early to mid 1990's, a collective of Swedish musicians decided to relive the past and create improvisational psychedelic rock music similar to the early 70's masters such as International Harvester and Algarnas Tradgard.

Acts such as S.T. Mikael, Adam, Stefan and the Entheogens all recorded for the low budget label Xotic Mind. The primary difference between the modern day copiers and the 1970's masters is the one-dimensional nature of the recordings.

This trait can be attributed to most of the albums being solo projects with only guest musicians.

One of the better bands on the label were The Word of Life, a band lead by Mans P. Mansson, a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, sitar, synthesizers, percussion and sings. He is joined by many guests, though most important is the fine flute work provided by Anna Nystom. On the debut, Further Ahead, Mansson manages a varied improvisational psychedelic album.

Long burning jams such as "Space Fu?king" and "Can You Feel it - Flowing Free" are offset by calm flute and hand percussion ragas like "The Devil". What one notices in repeated listens is the need for an editor (a problem for many of these kind of solo ventures). Most of the jams meander on for too long and the inclusion of a couple of Earthy country-bumpkin vocal tracks with Louisiana-front-porch harmonica are in complete contrast to the hazy heady cosmic aspirations the album pretends to be.

Still, the album works on many levels, most notably the trance-like jams, which can get quite intense. The guitar tone is super fuzz loud and the percussion is particularly active. Recommended for all Krautrock, space rock and early Swedish pioneer groups. The original LP contained a paste-on cover and is now quite rare. Better to find the CD on Satori.

The sophomore effort, Dust, is quite a bit different from the predecessor. More variety and less jam oriented, this album tries to please on a number of fronts. "When I Was in Space" opens promisingly enough with oscillator-emulated synth runs and heavy percussion. But, alas, this goes on too long and becomes redundant, and one wishes for the sage advice of a wily producer.

The songs on this album have a sort of "retro lounge" naïve melody line motif which I find oddly appealing. No doubt there are plenty of sizzling guitar jams to bang your head to, just less of them than the ambitious debut. I find both of their albums to be good fun if you don't take them too seriously. And a few tracks are just devastating, especially on the debut.

Tracks:

01 - Dust My Shroom (1:26)

02 - Space Fu?king (8:26)

03 - Can You Feel It Flowing Free (8:11)

04 - The Devil (4:18)

05 - Infinity (1:36)

06 - Furthur Ahead (8:40)

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Wednesday, November 10, 2010

The Mothers of Invention - Freak Out! (1966)



Καλό μήνα…ας το πω πριν τελειώσει και αυτός και δεν έχω ανεβάσει τίποτα.

Ανέβασα αυτό το δίσκο για τρεις λόγους.

Α) Διότι την περίοδο που ζούμε στην Ελλάδα, έχουμε έλλειμμα από ένα μουσικό επιπέδου Zappa, για να βγει να τα χώσει και να γίνει κακό σπυρί στο κώλο πολλών και διαφόρων πανηλίθιων που θα φάμε ξανά στη μάπα. Αποδείχθηκε για μία ακόμα φορά ότι ο κουβάς με τα σκατά που έχουμε πέσει δεν έχει πάτο, για αυτό και θα πάμε άπατοι.

Β) Διότι Freak Out! με αυτά που βλέπω για μία ακόμα φορά

Γ) Για να πω στη μάνα μου περαστικά αφιερώνοντας της το «Motherly Love».

Tracks:

1. Hungry Freaks, Daddy

2. I Ain't Got No Heart

3. Who Are The Brain Police?

4. Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder

5. Motherly Love

6. How Could I Be Such A Fool

7. Wowie Zowie

8. You Didn't Try To Call Me

9. Any Way The Wind Blows

10. I'm Not Satisfied

11. You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here

12. Trouble Every Day

13. Help, I'm A Rock

14. It Can't Happen Here

15. The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet

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