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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Wallace Vanborn – From A To Yellow

Wallace Vanborn – From A To Yellow

We love Wallace Vanborn. We loved them before they went to Rancho De La Luna to record  The Orb We Absorb with the help from Chris Goss. And we loved them even more after that! And we are on the very of falling in love with their manager as well. Just take a look at the new video for the first single From A To Yellow taken from the upcoming fourth album A Scalp For The Tribe. Yes. It’s him. The legendary Iven Deduytschaver… Hugs and kisses!

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The Cult – Hidden City

The Cult – Hidden City

Cooking Vinyl/V2 – 2016

Rock

Rated: **

For obvious reasons I was definitely smitten with their former album Choice Of Weapon and had the pleasure of talking with Mr. Astbury about that record, his time in the desert and the collaboration with the honorable Mr. Goss. Listening to the new, tenth album Hidden City, we have to conclude Mr. Goss was of even more importance then we had assumed. His autograph was definitely all over certain, say the best, songs. Cause even if Hidden City starts off pretty promising, it soon becomes a bit stale and overused. And to be honest, some tracks can almost be classified as simple. Most of the tracks are just not there, they refuse to nestle anywhere in your mind, body or heart. The biggest problem perhaps is the build-up of the songs. Almost all of them opt to go for the dramatic arc, and growing towards a refrain that just does not deliver. We can surely dig opener Dark Energy and follow-up No Love Lost, and there are moments of sparkle here and there. But overall it is not the awakening Mr. Astbury said the album would be. In fact, it more often seems to lull one to sleep. It has lost all those raw edges we loved on Choice Of Weapon and has therefor turned into some background rock album. Which is definitely strange to conclude about an album comprised out of twelve songs, high in tempo and that seem to want to celebrate all the magnificence that the guitar can deliver. I would advise Mr. Astbury to move back to the desert, do another shamanistic ritual with Mr. Goss and give us the album we all know that still resides within the majestic masters of The Cult…

(Written by JK)

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Mojave Lords – Unfuckwithable

Mojave Lords – Unfuckwithable

Last Hurrah Records – 2014

Rock, Stoner, Desert,

Rated: ****

So where did I put that snake leather jacket? I need to buy some smokes. Only one pack left. It’s steamy hot outside. The air feels thick with desire. Wild things are on the move. And there’s something brooding in my heart. And it’s only this rock ’n roll that is keeping me breathing. That’s how it starts, this Sweet Little Down and Out on the first album Unfuckwithable from the Mojave Lords. The who? No, the Mojave Lords! Comprised out of Dave Catching and Bingo Richey. You know, the man, the cook and the overlord of Rancho De La Luna. And Bingo; he’s a troubadour, a hobo and his neighbor. And on one of those black nights in the desert they got together to put this awesome music to tape. With a little help from Brian O’Connor, Chris Goss, Joey Castillo, Danny Frankel, Sven Altmetz and Barrett Martin. Straight out of the desert we ofcourse hear some tingling Queens Of The Stone Age atmosphere and some dune boogie we’ve come to love from the Eagles of Death Metal. But they distinctly move off into something darker and menacing. Like one of those fabled sex addicted luscious beauties carrying rum in one hand and tequila in the other; and you’re invited to have a gulp of everything she’s offering... Yes, the Mojave Lords are inviting, damn sexy, riddled with temptation and they make you wanna dance like something wild at heart…

(Written by JK)

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