Pan Del Indio: Live Session 2015 Review

{Watch a video of the recording here}

In recent years it seems South America has developed a propensity to produce fantastic psychedelic folk (wilderness psychedelia) acts. This includes artists such as Ø+yn, Montibus Communitas, and Pan Del Indio. The latter of these bands recently released a fantastic live performance showcasing this wild experimentalism, broadcasting on the Sale Productions YouTube channel.  

As far as my understanding goes, Pan Del Indio is the running project of Federico Fossati, an Argentinian instrument maker whom specialises in areophones such as flutes. Pan Del Indio have released three albums, all of which are slightly different, and are of a more meditational tone than the performance exhibited here.   

Whilst not fast-paced, the performance is certainly not serene either. An interesting confluence of flavours arises - the traditionally Indian instruments of the dirluba and shruti box being used to construct a distinctly South American mood. For me, the dirubla is the focal point - rich and sombre, not often associated with psychedelic music, amongst the basal drone of the didgeridoo and shruti box. This is what makes the recording so interesting, the mixture of several not often heard instruments coming together to create some genuinely stimulating folk psychedelia. 

The leads me into the real importance of this post - to somewhat introduce a new regular written feature of the blog. In the coming months, I plan to start examining different and unusual instruments from around the world, looking at their psychedelic usage and their background. In doing this I hope to further one of the blog's main aims to help people reassess what they do and do not consider to be psychedelic, encouraging people to both listen to, and perform with, more interesting sonic textures. Look out for the first post soon!

Review written by Daniel Sharman

Soledad Brothers: Steal Your Soul and Dare Your Spirit to Move Review

Tired of always seeing Gary Moore, and Joe Bonamassa, taking the spotlight for blues rock? Well, come this way then, and step back to 2002 for a garage blues offering from the Detroit trio, The Soledad Brothers - Written By Daniel Sharman.

Released in: 2002

Genre: Electric Blues/Garage Blues

Record Label: Estrus Records

Medium: Blue vinyl, black vinyl, CD, digital download

Recorded at: 3rd Man studios, Ghetto Recorders, and The Covington Lodge

Recorded only a couple of years after the turn of the century, looking back on this particular record, it feels much older than that. This is thanks in part to its authentic, lo-fi recording style, which helps accentuate the genuine, bare emotion of the album. 

Unlike on their début LP, for their second musical outing the Soledad Brothers employ a third member to their originally two-piece line up, Oliver Henry. Henry provides some much needed texture, which at times felt lacking on the Soledad Brothers début, bringing in greasy saxophone, church organ and backing rhythm guitar on many of Steal Your Soul's tracks. This new set of accompaniments helps add flavour to the album, and make for an all the more dynamic, compelling listen. 

However, do not be mistaken, Johnny Walker still remains as the enigmatic preacher of the group, exercising gritty guitar riffage, and reverberated slide action, from his various hollow-body guitars, whilst also delivery Burnside-esque vocals, and raw harmonica action. Similarly, Ben Swank remains to deliver the same, heavy-handed action on the percussion section of the LP, as before. His beefy, heavy beats, helping give structure to the recordings, and firmly anchoring Henry's saxophone lines in place.

All these elements come together to evoke the same sense of magic that so many British, and American, blues rock acts managed to conjure in the past. The Soledad Brothers make no effort to hide these influences, and quite clearly wear them on their sleeve. For example, 'Prodigal Stone Blues' remorselessly borrows both Mick Jagger's vocal style, and Keith Richards' guitar technique and tone, to seemingly pick up from where the Rolling Stones left them in 'Exile on Main Street'. 

Additionally, tracks such as Break 'Em on Down, and Michigan Line, portray the same overdriven prowess of so many hill country blues records, from artists such as R.L Burnside. Even though the two songs aren't direct covers of such artists, they are still credited by the band due to the fact the influence clearly shows. 

Now, reading all of what has just been said, it may seem like I do not favour this LP much, however the answer altogether the opposite of that. In fact, this is a blues record that succeeds in so many ways. Yes, it is derivative, but that is not the point of a good blues record. A good blues record seeks to borrow from the styles of it's contemporaries, and craft a new recording by adding its own signature twist. 

Furthermore, Steal Your Soul, and Dare Your Spirit to Move is obviously a delicately crafted record, even if the songs don't always aim to convey that. The recording is sharp, the sound rehearsed, and the mixture of songs successful due to their varied pace (having slower tracks like 'Nation's Bell', and 'Miracle Birth', implemented throughout, so as to contrast with high-tempo tracks like 'Prince Among Thieves').

Critic's Summary: Altogether, Steal Your Soul is a very wholesome listen, and leaves the listener's appetite for raw, blues rock thoroughly quenched. Not too full on, not too laid back, the LP is a shining moment in the career's of the Soledad Brothers, giving listeners a full range of tastes from their rootsy palette. 

Written By Daniel Sharman.

Montibus Communtias and Ø+yn: Offerings For The Destroyer Review

Review of Offerings For The Destroyer, "the long-awaited collaboration between Peruvian psychedelic collective Montibus Communitas, and Argentina's premier improvisers Ø+yn" - Written by Daniel Sharman. 

{Read our interview with Anthony of Montibus Communitas here}

Released in: October 2013

Genre: Roots Psychedelia

Record Label: Sky Lantern Records

Medium: Digital download, Cassette

Recorded at: Live at Círculo Bar 

The first thing to note before anything is said about this record is that it is not your archetypal album in any stretch of the imagination. It is, more simply put, a somewhat insane, and abstract piece. To go into it with ears that expect conventionality is altogether misguided, and to a greater extent, prohibitive to a desired listening experience. 

Offerings for the Destroyer is most unlike some psychedelic LP's you may hear this year, and this particular aspect works most certainly to it's favour. The record consists of only a single song, or what should better be referred to as free-form jam, clocking in at 35:42. For some, this duration may seem slightly short, when compared to some other psychedelic offerings, but Offerings for the Destroyer, or to give the recording its actual name, Prepare the Bhang at Dawn, actual feels quite epic, and endless, in its length. Time melts away, and you are graced with a wholesome psychedelic atmosphere to surround yourself with, one which is notable for its ability to clear the mind of current issues, and ideas, and replace them instead with emotion, and feeling.

Recorded live, in the early hours of the morning, Offerings for the Destroyer adopts a totally fluid approach to instrumentation. The recording features no real editing, and certainly no overdubs or added effects like reverb, and this once again adds to the experience. If anything, it provides a real breath of fresh air in a psychedelic community that normally focus too heavily on effects, and sonic manipulation. Furthermore, the instrumentation being played is very intuitive, and the raw skill of both of the bands playing is clearly shown for all to see, never is the sound too abrasive, or the instruments being played to conflicting. 

However, it is worth noting that this is not a record that you can be quickly listened to off the cuff , or even digested in a single sitting. Offerings for the Destroyer offers a rich and immersive experience which will require multiple relistens before it can be fully appreciated, and is best enjoyed in a relaxed environment in which it can be heard in its entirety. 

Critic's Summary: If you are finding yourself pining for a more raw, and true, psychedelic experience day after day, Offerings for the Destroyer could very well be the perfect record for you. It's minimal editing, total lack of formality, and fluid instrumentation makes for a sonic delight that is not easily topped by its contemporaries. If in one of these hot, summer nights, you find yourself with a free half hour, do not hesitate to lay back, peel open a banana, and chow down on this seriously psychedelic, rootsy recording. 

The Myrrors: Solar Collector Review

In the past couple of days Arizona-based psych-desert rock band, The Myrrors, have put up the tracks from their latest release, Solar Collector, up on their bandcamp page. Originally only available to those who bought the limited-edition cassette, the band has now kindly enough put up digital versions of the songs so all fans of the band have a chance to hear the new Myrrors' exploits.

Recorded in Tuscon directly to tape, this latest release captures a more natural, and live element, of The Myrrors performing ability. But, don't be mistaken, this latest EP of sorts, retains all the original charm and brilliance of the band's prior releases. Still ever present are the lazy bass grooves, mellow drum beats and searing guitar lead, this is the unmistakable sound of the The Myrrors. 

When we interviewed the band's guitarist, Nik Rayne in August last year, he claimed the Solar Collector tape would not only better reflect the band's true live sound, but would also act as an 'unpolished Kodachrome of that new stage in our evolution as a band', bridging the gap between the band's second, long-awaited album.

Described as 'three raw jams' which show the band 'stripped back to its essentials', the Solar Collector tape is a welcome surprise for all fans, whom have been waiting patiently for a new full-length from the band. Each track is perfectly mellow and strung-out, not rushing to reach any conclusions and instead, deliberately taking the longest route possible. 

Ascensión- 7:52

When selected, the album plays the second track on the EP first, Ascension, whether this be for artistic reasons or just an glitch in the system is unclear. What is clear though is that this is yet another golden piece from the Myrrors. Opening with an organ track which screams the influences of Terry Riley (a performer whom the band recently featured on their Facebook page), and with fluid cymbal crashes reminiscent of The Doors, John Densmore, from a track such as 'The End', the track is cut in two by the first few notes from Rayne's guitar, which is later followed by a backing of shimmering, Farsifa-esque organ chords. Shut your eyes and you can feel yourself slowly cruising down Route 66, dusty landscapes recreated in sound on either side, and the sun blinding yet, beautiful, gently laying down over your entire body.

Whirling Mountain Blues- 14:35

Opening with a fuzz-ridden, bassline it may be easy to mistake this track for an early Wooden Shjips song, such as 'We Ask You To Ride'. However, once again Rayne's Grestch bursts onto the sonic scene, this time the temperance of his playing noticeably more aggressive, ripping apart the bassist's created soundscape, with the accompaniment of the acid-rock beat in the background. 

Solar Collector- 7:00

The album closes with its own namesake's track, this cut more progressive than the previous tracks on the EP, similar to fellow neo-psychedelists, Naam. Slow and plotting, this track builds up in tempo and attack as it progresses. Slow and evocative in the beginning, this is a track which causes the listener to slow down and listen with the track, not allowing you to get too far ahead of it. 

As previously mentioned, the free-release of this new Myrrors' EP is truly a gift from the band, and will satisfy my own appetite whilst we wait for the release of the band's second full-length. Whoever you are, taking a half-hour out of your day to sit down and listen to this new cut will not disappoint, it being a perfect EP to relax to and surely not one to regret hearing after a long day. 

Critics Comment:  A perfect record to space out to, Solar Collector shows what the Myrrors can accomplish even when they aren't attempting to amaze. If the evolution of the band's sound demonstrated in this album is anything for fans and critics alike to go by, the anticipation for the second Myrrors LP release should be even greater...

Buy a copy of the limited-edition, Solar Collector cassette here: http://themyrrors.bandcamp.com/music