Big Scenic Nowhere - Lavender Blues

Big Scenic Nowhere - Lavender Blues
Heavy Psych Sounds – 2020
Psych, Desert, Stoner, Free
Rated: ****

Sporting an 18th place entry on the October Doom Charts and a little blurb by yours trule, the new Big Scenic Nowhere. Out on Heavy Psych Sounds the new Lavender Blues EP by Big Scenic Nowhere is once again parading a majestic line-up. We’re ofcourse treated to the wonderful sounds of Gary Arce, Bob Balch, Bill Stinson and Tony Reed. But this time there are more legends in the equation. How about a Danial Mongrain? Or a Per Wiberg? And last but not least, the godfather himself Chris Goss. Indeed, Lavender Blues is sporting all the goods and selling us a progressive rock adventure that incorporates all that, once in a distant past, came together in the desert. With more than enough space, stoner and psych it is Big Scenic Nowhere at it’s best: incredibly wide vistas and total freedom. It produces that righteously coveted prize of rock… Free rock for the open mind!  

(Written by JK)

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Big Scenic Nowhere – Vision Beyond Horizon

Big Scenic Nowhere – Vision Beyond Horizon

Heavy Psych Sounds – 2020

Rock, Stoner, Desert, Punk

Rated: ****

It just entered the Top 10 of the January Doom Charts of 2020 and we were honored to write those few dubious lines about Vision Beyond Horizon, the new Big Scenic Nowhere record. We know the project and we know what kind of music we can get ready for. The only think to know is what kind of guests are involved and how good on the scale of great, to awesome, to legendary, to universe shattering it will be… “Oh yes! A new record by the Gary Arce (Yawning Man) and Bob Balch (Fu Manchu) duo and their ever revolving array of helping hands. Mario Lalli,. Nick Oliveri, Per Wiberg, Tony Reed, Bill Stinson, Alain Johannes and a few heroes more. Perhaps a little less drawn out, jammy or wide in comparison to their earlier release but still very desert and very stoner. Which is logical when you think of all that great stuff Arce and Balch have been a part of. Indeed, killer riffs and desert psychedelics a plenty! Oh, and yes, one weird fast punk track?!”  Only a few quick lines indeed, enough to entice and not give away too much. Perhaps a fitting description for that Vision Beyond Horizon…

(Written by JK)

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Big Scenic Nowhere – Dying on the Mountain

Big Scenic Nowhere – Dying on the Mountain

Blues Funeral Recordings – 2019

Stoner, Psych, Prog

Rated: ****

Just when you thought the days of the Supergroup were over, along comes one with a veritable Honor Roll of legend and influence - indeed, the musicians at work here not only shaped the Stoner movement and all that followed, they also inspired a generation to think outside the confines of the Metal genre and re-discover that 70's spirit of experimentation. Dying On The Mountain follows a similar vein of exploration that Elder tapped into... An excursion without any preconceived thought to the members' past outings. Weighing in at just over the 20 minute mark,  the title track flows with the easy energy of a band who are both familiar and comfortable with each other's styles: That instantly - recognizable Nick Oliveri bassline rumbling and tumbling through mescaline-like distortions of Bob Balch & Gary Arce's guitars, puncturing the drifting backdrops of Per Wiberg and Tony Reed's keyboard wizardry. Dying On The Mountain's three parts move from slo-burn Psychedelia, through lush choral sections into an ultimate Heavy assault at the finale. Second track, "Towards The Sun" heralds back to the members' Glories of Old - Heavy, trippy, slightly dark in places, it thunders along with a relentless doomed rhythm that captures the soul. Big Scenic Nowhere have done what few 'Supergroups' have done before - created a work that is intelligent, exciting and as full of the same Stoner spirit from its practitioners as they had at the beginning. It's good to have you back folks... It's been a long, strange trip...

(Written by Reek of STOOM)

(Also featuring Mario Lalli, Bill Stinson, Jim Monroe, Thomas Jäger, Lisa Alley and Ian Graham. During those sessions Alain Johannes also joined in and on January 31st a new album shall be released through Heavy Psych Sounds entitled: Vision Beyond Horizon. Go hear the first single 'The Glim'.)

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