Here comes a double CD-R compilation by English psychedelic prog/space band Census of Hallucinations. This album that was released last year was compiled from a large amount of material by the band leader Tim Jones together with Aural Innovation’s Jerry Kranitz. This compilation only includes instrumental tracks and the music flows very pleasantly from the beginning till the end. Great work guys!
The first disc has 14 tracks clocking together at 72 minutes and 42 seconds. The music varies from laid-back and floating to experimental, electronic and ambient soundscapes, hypnotic and druggy grooves and even a bit tighter, rocking stuff. Tim’s excellent solo guitar work luckily gets lots of room but also keyboards and synthesizers as well as the groovy rhythms are important. I think the best pieces are the spacey and wonderfully flowing ”My God, It’s Full of Stars” that also has some sax (and has always been one of my COH favourites) and the disc’s longest (11:33) piece ”The Big Pink Jam Sandwich / The Record Is Scratched”. The second disc A Parliament of Modules gets moving with the extremely hallucinatory ambient piece ”Opening the Trapdoor to Outer Space” and the track sure is aptly named… This disc also has bit jazzy and groovier things. For example “Think” sort of brings to mind Gong. This disc has 16 tracks and only two or three of them are a bit lengthier. For example ”Window of Opportunity” has some nice, spacey and sunny jazz vibes and saxophone. There is also some more cosmic and experimental stuff in there. One of the greatest tracks is the psychedelic ”Flying Humanoids”. Only the last number ”Freedom Fighter” starts to rock out with a more energetic touch, otherwise the going is pretty relaxed. This is a great compilation that gives you a good perception of the instrumental, more experimental side of Census of Hallucinations!
(Reviewed by DJ Astro - The Psychotropic Zone)
http://www.unimeri.com/PsychotropicZone/