The Rock Blogger

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RIP.

It’s humbling to think of how a single experiment could completely alter our perception of human consciousness and our experience of the universe. Hofmann’s contribution to the world has changed the shape of chemistry, psychology, art, music and spirituality forever. It’s also sad to think of how many people will never fully appreciate his work.

Godspeed.

Boris. Smile. 2008. Southern Lord. 3 stars.

Tokyo’s Boris have continually proved themselves to be one of the world’s premier drone bands, expanding their sound to encompass everything from punk to psychedelic styles, notoriously creating noisy and feedback drenched epics that make your ears bleed and your synapses melt. The tradition carries on to their latest full length Smile, which has finally come to grace the shores of the Western Hemisphere.

While Smile isn’t nearly as awe-inspiring as last year’s Rock Dream, or even 2005’s more punk inspired Pink, it still packs an enormous punch, with a flair for monstrous riffs and echoing distortion. Those accustomed to Boris’ inhuman use of gritty noise and electronic effects will find much comfort here, as their sound is still massive and overpowering. Making this release standout though is the inclusion of simmering melodies that peak in from time to time, as drawn out Japanese vocals careen across in slow crescendos, just before the songs are set aflame by processed guitar fuzz.

Despite Boris’ dabbling in experimental bass loops, effects and even some catchy hooks, many of these jams meander, becoming self-indulgent acts of amp worship that drains your emotions and your attention span. I’m sure more seasoned ears will appreciate the near 20 minute “You Were Holding an Umbrella (Pt. 2)”, but I just found the whole affair to be excessive. Smile may not be breaking new ground for Boris, but it does showcase their attention to detail and willingness to push their sound in new (if not confusing) directions. A must for fans, a cautionary recommendation for newcomers.

‘Statement’

Sun Dial. Other Way Out. 1990. 4 stars.

Sun Dial were leaders in the drug-fueled psychedelic revival in the early 90’s, becoming one of Britain’s most acclaimed space-rock acts, along side stalwarts like The Stone Roses and Spacemen 3. Other Way Out remains the band’s most successful album, receiving heaps of praise within underground critical circles. Sounding like something straight out of the late 1960’s, Sun Dial take the sprawling and sunny aesthetics of The Beatles, early Pink Floyd and The Zombies and weaves them into a extensive psychoactive journey that is as captivating as it is nostalgic.

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Brethren of the Free Spirit

All Things are From Him, Through Him and in Him. 2008. 3.5 stars.

An avant-garde acoustic collaboration between guitarist James Blackshaw and lutenist Josef Van Wissem, Brethren of the Free Spirit play classically inspired melodies that gracefully build and repeat in a hypnotic and psychedelic manner. The album’s 4 tracks delve into folk and minimalist traditions, with layered compositions leading into a sustained and relaxed trances, never pushing towards powerful climaxes or crescendos.

The restrained and meditative quality of the music here is almost religious in its execution, with its meticulous attention to detail and patient movements providing a soft backdrop for intense personal reflection. I first started exploring this album when I was walking alone in the woods by my house, feeling the waves of acoustic guitar build naturally, seemingly mimicking the precise and intricate patterns found in nature. The album’s pastoral nature favors solitary experiences and requires the undivided attention of the listener in appreciating its inner dramas.

While the moods and feelings given off by this record are lucid and well conceived, the album’s short duration (under 30 minutes) and general lack of variety hurts its overall impact. Certainly there are intense and complex moments, but the entire affair becomes quite repetitive if its not taken in within the right context. As far as avant-garde recordings go, Brethren of the Free Spirit are consistently interesting and accessible, if you are willing to find the right setting to listen to it. This is strong conceptual music for the Zen set.

Some beautiful artwork from psychedelic visionary Alex Grey.

You might recognize some of his work from several Tool album covers, including 2006’s

10, 000 Days.

The Cosmic Christ is a certainly a stirring representation of Jesus, melding spirituality with universalism, illustrating a more modernist and Integral Christian outlook.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened”. Matthew 7:7-8

Japan’s psychedelic masters return to the fray with their newest LP Smile to be released on Southern Lord on April 29th. The label will also release a 7” single for “Statement” which will also feature the B-side “Floorshaker” on February 26. If their last collaboration album with Merzbow was any indication, Smile is going to be a massive, blistering record.

Stay Tuned.

Boris with Merzbow. Rock Dream 2007. 5 stars.

Easily one of the most intense live albums I’ve ever come across, this 2 disc collaboration between psychedelic/drone masters Boris and famed Japanese noise artist Merzbow is a sublime exercise in wailing guitar solos, monstrous feedback, distortion and impossibly raw energy - this rocks you to the core.

The first disc features the mammoth, 35 minute “Feedbacker”, where Boris lays down their heaviest guitar drones as Merzbow plays deliriously with delays and electronic effects, creating an incredibly dense wall of sound that progressively swallows up everything in its path. The following three tracks edge off into shorter bursts of propulsive noise and jangly guitar solos, with neither artist overpowering the other. The timing and pacing between them is impeccable.

The second disc is a more prominent showcase of Boris’ more punk inspired diversions, as the band rips through the most powerful and energetic tracks from their 2005 LP Pink. Just as that album rollicked in reckless abandon, their live counterparts are equally explosive.

For those not familiar with the work of either Boris or Merzbow, this is an excellent place to start. Rock Dream, in all its fuzzed out and psychedelic glory, has raised the watermark for all the rock genres Boris has dabbled in, from punk to drone to the avant garde.

This is a brutally psychedelic video for Godflesh’s “Slavestate”, off the EP of the same name. The bleeding colorization here reminds me of some terrifying hallucinogenic trip. This is industrial metal at its heaviest (and artiest). Set the controls for the heart of the sun…

Godflesh Slavestate EP 1991.

I’ve been pretty busy the last few days, so you’ll have to be patient if you want more in-depth articles and commentary. I’m trying to embed my Flickr account on my blog but its proving to be a little difficult. Hopefully I’ll get it figured out soon, as there are some great pics my girlfriend and I are putting into it. If anyone is familiar with embedding Flickr in Wordpress blogs, leave a comment. Thanks.
More to come.

Last Tuesday, Pitchfork released their Top 50 Albums of 2007, naming Panda Bear’s psychedelic Person Pitch as the album of the year. While I thought the album was warm, trippy and evoked fond memories of stoned summers past, I honestly thought several other bands were more likely to take the top spot, like The National (#17), LCD Soundsystem (#2) or The Arcade Fire (#27???). Here is the full list:

50 Tinariwen - Aman Iman: Water Is Life
49 Dizzee Rascal - Maths + English
48 Robert Wyatt - Comicopera
47 Yeasayer - All Hour Cymbals
46 Marissa Nadler - Songs III: Bird on the Water
45 Ricardo Villalobos - Fabric 36
44 Les Savy Fav - Let’s Stay Friends
43 Stars of the Lid - And Their Refinement of the Decline
42 Ghostface Killah - The Big Doe Rehab
41 Life Without Buildings - Live at the Annandale Hotel
40 Beirut - The Flying Club Cup / Lon Gisland EP
39 The White Stripes - Icky Thump
38 Wu-Tang Clan - 8 Diagrams
37 Grizzly Bear - Friend EP
36 Iron and Wine - The Shepherd’s Dog
35 Black Lips - Good Bad Not Evil
34 James Blackshaw - The Cloud Of Unknowing
33 King Khan & the Shrines - What Is?!
32 Sally Shapiro - Disco Romance
31 Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity
30 Caribou - Andorra
29 Bon Iver, For Emma - Forever Ago
28 Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond
27 Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
26 Various Artists - After Dark
25 The Tough Alliance - A New Chance / New Waves EP
24 Dan Deacon - Spiderman Of The Rings
23 Studio - Yearbook 1
22 Okkervil River - The Stage Names
21 Dirty Projectors - Rise Above
20 Liars - Liars
19 Feist - The Reminder
18 Kanye West - Graduation
17 The National - Boxer
16 Lil Wayne - Da Drought 3
15 Justice - †
14 Deerhunter - Cryptograms / Fluorescent Grey EP
13 Jay-Z - American Gangster
12 No Age - Weirdo Rippers
11 Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala
10 Burial - Untrue
09 The Field - From Here We Go Sublime
08 Battles - Mirrored
07 Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
06 Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
05 of Montreal Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
04 Radiohead - In Rainbows
03 M.I.A. - Kala
02 LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver
01 Panda Bear - Person Pitch