Uber Dramm- Uber Dramm
(Nub Country Records)
From Aural Innovations #38 (Jan 2008)
Uber Dramm are an Anglo-Flemish experimental psychedelic band that explore
quite a variety of territory on this four track disc.
Things kick off with a smokin’ psychedelic blues romp called Apathetic
Bluesman, which is hardly apathetic. Full of invigorating energy, the multiple
guitars, both electric and acoustic, weave in and around each other with raunchy
blues licks while great psychedelic cheese organ swirls in the background. Midway
through, the track took me by surprise when it slowed down for a spacey and
beautiful acoustic break with melodic swirls of Pink Floydian style electric
guitar, before stomping back into raunch mode again for the finale. Great 10-minute
track, but it gives no hint at all as to what lies ahead! Unexpected Plans returns
to acoustic mode, with the addition of glockenspiel like meanderings, spacey
drones, and some psychedelic electric guitar noodling in the background. It
builds to a quiet intensity of gentle feedback that finally takes over as the
piece fades away. Ekeren Wind is reminiscent of some of the more acoustically
inclined pieces of Quarkspace, with strumming acoustic guitars, rushing space
winds and gorgeous piano. But the album again takes an unexpected turn with
the closing piece, the epic 20-minute long Séance in a Shed. Apparently
recorded live during an actual séance in a backyard shed, you can hear
the ghostly voices of the participants floating eerily throughout the mix as
howling space winds whoosh through layers of gothic space organ, spooky percussion,
broken down harpsichords and many other strange and wild effects. This one would
make the perfect soundtrack to your next haunted house excursion!
Needless to say, you need to like a lot of variety in your listening experience
to fully appreciate Uber Dramm’s album, but it is definitely a rewarding
listen if you do.
Check out the band web site at: http://www.myspace.com/thepocketgods
Reviewed by Jeff Fitzgerald