So there’s an element of the High Magic as practised in Phallus Dei as well as the psych shock-horror of The Psychedelic Sounds present on Two Way Mirror.
So there’s an element of the High Magic as practised in Phallus Dei as well as the psych shock-horror of The Psychedelic Sounds present on Two Way Mirror.
http://www.crystalantlers.com http://www.konkurrent.nl
This is a really good LP, better than the last one of theirs we reviewed that’s for sure.
There seems to be more nous, less reliance on the singer’s brazen vocal delivery and an appreciation of all those different textures, tempos and timbres that make the listener want to cut some rug. Tracks like Jules’ Story, and By The Sawkill are scream-alongs of sorts but all have an element of pixie dust about them, through all the clumping and sudden, brutal changes of tempo. Now and again the temperature drops and songs are which go into a sort of slightly dreamy psychedelic work out, like Summer Solstice, Fortune Telling or an abstract reflection like Sun Bleached or Way Out. These tracks are still (on the whole) driven by pyrotechnics in the rhythm section and of course the lad isn’t going to suddenly adopt Lee Marvin’s singing style but there’s enough room in the tracks for the listener to take stock and appreciate the melodies.
So there’s an element of the High Magic as practised in Phallus Dei as well as the psych shock-horror of The Psychedelic Sounds present on Two Way Mirror. This of course is a very good thing and seen to best effect in the sparkling acid rock of Always Afraid and the mock phantasmagoria of Knee Deep. And best is saved till last with the marvellously sassy and confident Dog Days, which has something of John Cale’s Helen of Troy about it at the beginning.
An enjoyable listen, that’s for sure.