Label: Ochre Format: CD
The first album from this psychedelic collective proves to be a cosmic affair of considerable depth and originality. Taking their cues from the space rock of Brainticket and Amon Düül II and the lo-fi acid folk of The Incredible String Band, this group kick out some truly noxious grooves with time for multiplex neo-pagan storytelling trips and obscure Electroacoustic klang worthy of a lost Can EFS number. But all this is mere trainspotting. What The Serpents have put together is unique. While most contemporary psychedelia has opted for the safety of Trance or the wilful obscurity of post-rock we get the feeling that someone is completely off their tits on psilocybin here.
On the downside, occasionally the female womb voice gets a tad too earth-motherish for this reviewer but who gives a shit when it’s all rockin’ on so many levels. The band haven’t entirely ejected the dangers of lead guitar but fortunately there’s no Steve Hillage clone. It’s more a mutated slide descended from the Good Captain’s Magic Band. On the folksy side, there is a half a nod of the rainbow coloured cap to the night-clad Current 93, and the musique concrète mix and merge found-sound links between coherent songs keeps the audience right out there for the whole ride.
Sadly, this album will probably be largely overlooked, which is a shame because it has much to recommend it. But hey! I’ve got my copy, which is nice.
-Iotar-
