I’m finding very little information on the band, The Aggregation, at a quick glance of a google search. The band seems to be a psychedelic rock/acid rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, from the late 1960s. I’m finding little reviews of this album on different blogs from some time ago, but that’s about it. I suppose it’s my turn to write about the album, though, so I’m going to go ahead and jump on into the music.
“The Lady At the Gate” starts really mellow with some nearly bluesy jazz-like sounds from the piano and the flutes. This is really sweet. The vocals sort of narrate your way into an adventure. The guitar starts out really faintly in the background, gently weaving different bluesy psychedelic lines into the track. The drums have a really steady feel to them, and the flutes and vocals really draw things a bit further out. Oh wow, this is pretty sweet. I’m really digging this sort of bluesy psychedelic rock mixed with jazz. There’s a guitar part that has some really punchy mids, reminiscent of someone like Grant Green. There’s also a really sweet sax line that takes the song further out in a jazz sense. On the opposite side of the soundscape, you have the more psychedelic bluesy guitar line with the electric organ sort of propping it from behind. This song is pretty sweet. Oh wow, both sides of the tune sort of sync up at the end for a bluesy, jazz-inflected psychedelic groove. I’m already very interested and looking forward to the rest of the album.
“White Light” starts out with the sound of innocence from either some keyboards or flutes or both, which gradually guides you through a musical river of sorts. There’s some background vocals don’t necessarily contain lyrics, but almost have a chant-like quality that adjusts the flow of the musical river that is this song. Definitely a very interesting tune, and the high note at the end is awesome.
“In the Garden” starts out in an almost desperado type style with the bluesy, spaced out guitar chords, but the flutes sort of keep the song at a playful level. The song very softly drops into place as the arpeggios from the guitar come on. I really dig the soft touch of the bass guitar in this one. There’s a really nice tranquil feeling in this song. Oh wow, the organs are barely audible, but they add such a nice gentle flavor. The guitar playing, along with the rest of the song, has such a nice, audibly pleasant quality to it.
“Reflections” comes on with jazz-inflected psychedelia sound as instruments like the saxophone/clarinet, electric guitar, bass guitar, and drums all come together with some pleasantly milky vocal lines. The background vocals have such a nice rich quality to them too. Oh wow, the bluesy piano that comes on is super tasty, especially in combination with the bluesy, gritty guitar lines that come on every once in a while. Oh wow, now there’s a guitar played through an envelope filter of some sort and gets a really groovy feel to the mix. Super interesting tune.
“Looking for the Tour Guide” takes an almost soft psych approach to this one with the pleasant piano and the jangly acoustic guitar in combination with the airy drums on this one. I really dig the bass line in this one; it really feels like it’s just jamming alongside that bluesy piano part. Oh wow, the jam that this song contains is super groovy, and one I was definitely bopping my head along with. Really sweet tune.
“Flying Free” sounds possibly the most overtly psychedelic tune in the album so far, with the strange tremelo effects to the guitar the continually walks down the neck. Oh wow, this one really gets grooving with the psychedelic organs and the woodwind instruments. The bass line is walking down the neck now and really gives the song a great, sturdy platform to stand on. I really dig the vocals in this one – there’s almost an added depth as the vocalist sustain the low notes in a pseudo-bluesy manner. Oh wow, the bright piano at the end is super tasty and gives the song a great feeling of resolution.
“The City of Toys and Games” has a really nice swing to it, and definitely feels like more of Las Vegas jazz club tune, but still features some psychedelic undertones in the little accentuations and lyrics. Regardless of genre, this song is simply extremely pleasant to listen to. Oh wow, now there’s a super interesting psychedelia to the whole tune, brought forth by what I think is a kazoo, unexpectedly enough. I’m really digging this tune. The ending of the tune is super interesting too.
“Change” has a super delicious, unmistakeable 1960s Los Angeles psychedelic rock sound to it, and I’m absolutely digging it. Oh wow, the song almost sound like it’s floating upwards in a bubble, until the saxophone/clarinet comes on with a super groovy solo part. This one is pretty sweet with the congas and other jazz-like elements. This tune is one groovy psychedelic jam. The drums are super tasty in this one, and really accentuate some great beats. Oh wow, now the electric guitar is coming on and playing a solo that really melts into the musical aether of this song. I’m not even sure what instrument I’m hearing at the end of the tune, but it was sweet. Definitely a groovy tune.
“The Lone Windy Tunnel” starts out subtly with some chirping/whirring of something from outer space in the distance nearing, with some really great tension built up with the guitars and other instruments to make this song sound monstrously huge in the soundscape. Oh wow, sounds of a train or something, or a siren of some sort, work through the soundscape. This one is super interesting, and incredibly psychedelic. Through this chaos with outer-space origins, there are a few really nice melodic lines played by different instruments that sort of give structure to the song, until things gradually bring you to a space where something of a more traditional song structure can be heard. I was on the edge of my seat for much of this one, listening closer and closer. I’m really digging the evolution of the electric guitar throughout the track. The bass guitar almost creates a pulse for this song, which the drums use to their advantage and really get the song rolling along. Oh wow, the electric guitar at the end takes on an acid rock quality with the distortion, while a really nice psychedelic symphony is taking form on the right side of the soundscape. Oh wow, the entire song seems to come together at the end for a really sweet crescendo, which fades out to some strange effect that ties it all up.
“Life’s Light” has a really interesting feeling, because it certainly feels like the band is placing its finishing touches on the journey that is this album. I’m pretty astounded that I’m already listening to the last track on the album; time has really flown by. The band feels like it’s still subtly and slowly building on itself, leaving just a bit of tension unresolved as the song and album continue on this musical journey. I really dig the jazz elements in this one. This somewhat slow, yet epic conclusory song to the album reminds me a lot of other Los Angeles based psychedelic rock bands from the 1960s. Oh wow, the groove that the song falls into at the end has a super upbeat groove to it, and definitely feels like the band is finally letting loose some of that tension. Oh wow, the piano and organ on the opposite sides of the soundscape and taking turns adding to the jam are super tasty and bring about a great feeling of resolution in the music. Definitely a groovy and tasty way to end the album.
Wow, this album had a lot of unexpected elements in it that I really was digging. There was definitely a tangible infusion of jazz into this album of psychedelia, which is definitely pretty unique in my experience with the time frame this album is from for psychedelia. I’ll be revisiting some of these songs over the next few days, and am going to look into getting this one on vinyl. If you’re into 1960s psychedelia, or enjoy an interesting jazz/rock fusion mix, you might want to consider listening to this one; it’s definitely an interesting experience. If you do decide to give this album a listen, I do sincerely hope that you enjoyed the experience at least as much as I did.
-A