Census Of Hallucinations - "Nine Lives"
Judging by the sleevenotes, there appear to be about nine people in this band now - and it shows - for this is one of THE most powerful albums that's ever appeared on the label. The depth of sound is staggering as they throw in the kitchen sink with an arsenal of psychedelia - that's to say electronics, synths, guitars, bass, drums, vocals, more guitars, fuzzed guitars, phasing, organ, echoed vocals - the works. There's a real drive and feel of passion to the compositions, the sign of a band knowing that they've got something really special flying out of the CD by the truckload, full of deserved assuredness and confidence. Opening with a positively manic psychedelic brew that feaures a brief instrumental intro diving headlong into a mixed medley of 'Green Manalishi' and 'Oh Well', you hear the start of what is to come with this roaring backdrop of horizon-stretching instrumentation as Tim delivers the vocal in his Allen-like tones and the whole thing just swirls and surges. The three minute 'Mock Honesty' just spirals into hyperspace with some searing lead guitar, dual vocals from Tim & Terri B that work a treat, as the depth of sound rises up and engulfs you in waves of gloriously powerful sound, the psych equivalent of a Devin Townsend track. The three minute 'Brain Drain' is like a cross between Hawkwind & Nash The Slash, with an almost Alan Davey-esque vocal, and just stunning. Another three minute track, 'Charlatan Express' is more brooding, if that word can be used for something so powerfully played and produced, as the deep bass, clattering electro-percussive beats, swirling synth effects, chiming, booming guitars and space effects all back the out of control dual female-male vocal that positively flies above the heady cauldron of sound. At six minutes, 'Integration II' is a largely instrumental (the only voices are decelerated and phased for effect) affair with spiraling keyboards and synths, more deep heavy slow moving rivers of bass, distant percussive beats and clatters, and this huge canvas of sound from electronics and synths that covers the musical horizon to incredible effect. The three minute 'Into the light' is reminiscent of early Andalucia as this expansive sound and echoed vocals back an acoustic guitar strumming away, that disemboweling bass bottom end, and layer upon layer of echoed and wordless vocal, to create an almost 'Hurry On Sundown'- like feel to the track, only way more psychedelic. The seven minute 'Magna Mater' starts with rolling tabla-like drums and soaring, echoed Steve Hillage-style lead guitar, plus synths and deep deep bass, and if you shut your eyes you could easily imagine this track having come off something like 'Fish Rising' or 'L' - it really is THAT good. If all this wasn't enough so far, you get a further ten tracks, between two and ten minutes long, that are every bit as good, instrumentally and vocally, as what's already happened, all combining to make this the band's best album to date and no mistake - not a bad moment on the whole album!!!
Reviewed By Andy Garibaldi, Dead Earnest Records/CD Services