OK, so everybody knows there were seven dwarves - right? Not so because here come Census of Hallucinations with an eighth one continuing their cycle of eclectic, energising, at times emotionally charged, at times highly entertaining music. Alas I'm beginning to sound like the formidable compere of the Victorian music hall TV show 'The Good Old Days'. I digress of course and, anyway, if anyone identifies with this that mean's (s)he is nearly as old as I! Apocalyptic visions proliferate - in 'Capstone Dwellers' we get a glimpse of how power corrupts, becomes the 'root of all evil' and precipitates Armageddon. Nuclear winter is chillingly depicted in 'Sunlight Through Autumn Leaves', one of the most substantive tracks on the album. The War against Iraq is obviously on the writers' minds in 'War is Not the Way' and 'Weapons of Mass Deception'. We are treated to some Crimsoidal guitar and Yes like harmonies on 'Eternal Internal Development' while some bluesy soulful singing at the end of the aforementioned 'Capstone Dwellers' segues into the heavy bluesy rock of 'Into Gear', a song that peters out all too quickly like 'Weapons' where promising guitar arpeggios are not fully developed. I did say the music was eclectic, didn't I? A slower version of old favourite 'Mazed and Mystified' follows. Soon we're into 'Chicken Shit Pie' which I absolutely loved. Have any parents out there actually tasted a Mac chicken nugget? Other serious matters like child exploitation of a different kind on 'Puppet Masters' are accompanied by sardonic nursery rhymes - 'Here we go loop de loo'- there is also the first drum solo I can recollect on a C of H record. There are the usual references to aliens, mysteries and conspiracies in narrations by the Rev Rabbit but also some departures from the expected in Dave Pipkin, the V drummer's co-composing most of the songs. To complete the line-up Tim and Terri are joined by Dave McLean on 5-string bass, Paddi on guitars, drums, bass, programming and backing vocals and Cousin Silas' programming on one track 'Begin Again', a song he co-wrote with a narrative on the follies of war and the political complexion that irretrievably takes us down that desperate path. The album closes with a Paddi/ Tim/ Terri~B number 'Shine' which has an Ian Dury and the Blockheads groove about it. There is also a hilarious hidden bit at the end where Terri is less than impressed with the guitar noodling swirling around her head. Virtuosity is not what she calls it - the language is more akin to the irreverently titled 'God Ate the Queen Mother'. Census of Hallucinations irreverent? Never! 'The Eighth Dwarf' will intrigue and perplex you in equal measure. A wide range of social and political commentary is set to music and there is a lot to take in with references to Christmas carols and the Thunderbirds theme to look out for. Esoteric perhaps, but one trip well worth taking, 'Eighth Dwarf' concludes another successful chapter in the 4 year (and still going strong!) chapter of Census of Hallucinations.
by Phil Jackson