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Main » 2008 » May » 12
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Monday, 12 May 2008
A Richmond, VA quartet (for this record, at least), one of the "curiocities" of SST label. I mean that this is a pure psychedelic record, released from a label known for its punk/hardcore/hard rock bands like the Minutemen, Black Flag, Meat Puppets, SWA etc.
'Black Pyramid' is an ode to the late 60s/early 70s psychedelia and American Beauty-era Grateful Dead. Those of you familiar with the oldies, may think of Mountain Bus or Bent Wind, while listening to this record. With titles like "Freedom Flight" and "Spacin' Out" you know what to expect. There's a strong folk feeling in this essentialy acid record: the use of unusual instruments like kalimba, shakuhachi, xylophone, panpipes, as well as the banjo on "Pan's Lament", beautifuly played by Bruce Blizzard emphasizes this.
The above refers mainly to the a-side with relatively short tracks, with rather tight structures and rock song format. The b-side is dominated by the 15-minute Soweto/Half the Time, where the band becomes a quin... Read more » |
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Sunday, 11 May 2008
An album many loved but so few heard? Or is it the other way around? I dunno, but everyone I ever played this for loved it. And I'm posting it by special request here, transferring it from my old site, so I guess the love-in continues. From AMG, about the band: A San Francisco supergroup of underground musicians, the Cat Heads formed in 1985. Singer and guitarist Mark Zanandrea was from the Leaches and Love Circus, guitarist Sam Babbit from the Ophelias, drummer Melanie Clarin played with just about everyone in town, and bassist Alan Korn hailed from X-Tal. The band traded vocal and songwriting chores to create a chaotic mix of folk-rock, indie-rock, joke-rock and country. Its 1987 debut, Hubba, was produced by the Rain Parade's Matt Piucci, and its follow-up, 1988's Submarine, was produced by Camper Van Beethoven's David Lowery. With so much insider support, it's a small wonder that the Cat Heads didn't survive the late-eighties post-R.E.M. groundswell of alternative bands, but instead disbanded after touring behind their sec... Read more » |
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