The first CD is a great headphone listening experience starting with the spoken narrative/ celestial synth (Dicon Peake) of ‘The World’s Transfiguration’. Tim Jones’ distinctive form of guitar rock makes its entrance on ‘Don’t Do It’. ‘Chariots of Gods’ is a nice contrast with amplified acoustic guitar and the vocal harmonising of Tim and Terri B working well. The pace increases again on an amusing little musical ditty entitled ‘Milk’ concluding with a quotation from The Hollies. This one has already made its way to my MP3 player although I’m not saying a thing to Jim, our local milkman!
There’s a sensitive and atmospheric backing track to a salutary tale of the difficulties faced by travelling people on ’15 Years Time’. ‘Holiday Dreams’ features some lovely guitar arpeggios (and noisy seagulls!) and some more vocal harmonising before ending in jocular fashion with a quick chorus of ‘I do like to be beside the seaside’. There’s also a documentation of the gestation of song about a broken lighter that ends up as song about a ‘Painted Stone’ and this turns out to be one of C of H’s more charming compositions with Terri B once again providing harmony vocals to Tim’s guitar arpeggios.
CD 2 should perhaps be regarded as a bonus with two live songs recorded on a ghetto blaster - ‘Lie Again’ and ‘Orion’ both enthusiastically received! There’s also a ‘pop’ version of Atomic Rooster’s ‘The Devil’s Answer’.
Census of Hallucinations’ music is always about something - it might appear rather haphazard and anarchic at times but there are serious and challenging messages there that demand to be taken seriously (although the band don’t take themselves too seriously!)- making for an enjoyable and eclectic roller coaster of a musical ride. Not the perfect introduction to the band perhaps but there is enough good new material to make the investment worthwhile.
(Reviewed by Phil Jackson)