This is an album that I’m pretty stoked to listen to, because I’m finding essentially zero information about the album online. Apple Music lists the album as prog rock/art rock, though some blogs dedicated to prog rock and psychedelic rock suggest the album borders on hard rock and hard psych in addition to prog rock. The album was released under the Paula Records label, which was a Louisiana-based label typically known for r&b and country rock. The album has a mixed-bag of reviews on rateyourmusic.com, as well as comparisons to bands like Vanilla Fudge, Iron Butterfly, and even Black Sabbath. I’m pretty stoked to give this album a listen, so I’m going to jump on into the music.
“Mother Nature” starts out with a really groovy mix of swirling organs, a smooth bass line, and some guitar chords that drip with a tone that remind me a lot of psychedelic prog rock bands like Pussy or Family. I’m really digging the overall sound so far. Oh wow, there’s a bit of a guitar solo for a moment that has a classic rock guitar sort of feel that reminds me of Faces or Fludd. Wow, great track, and I’m stoked to hear more.
Oh wow, “Sea Green Symphony” begins with some gently moving acoustic guitar and a droning note from an electric guitar that sort of combine for a raga rock sound that almost reminds me of an acoustic TOOL. I’m pretty hooked into this album already. I’m really digging this track so far. The melody and instrumentation almost reminds me of the Grateful Dead’s version of the classic folk tune, “Morning Dew”. I’m also reminded of Relatively Clean Rivers, another group that I first listened to recently that has a sort of psychedelic folk and southern rock feel. Wow, great track.
“Your Friend and Mine” starts out with some distant crunchy distortion from what might be a bass guitar, and seems to bring a certain darkness to the overall album that feels somewhat reminiscent of Black Sabbath. Oh wow, the swirling psychedelic organs come in for a moment and brighten things up a bit before the tune returns to the dark, crunchy riff. Oh wow, the drums move about the entire soundscape in a really groovy way, sounding as if the kit traveling around you. Holy smokes, the organs come back in and give the tune a melodious and far out feel for a moment. Oh wow, the drum break at the end of the song is super groovy. Wow, another great track.
“Dreams” starts out with a sort of swirling distortion from the electric guitar that sets a groovy psychedelic tone reminiscent of 1968. Oh wow, I’m really digging this track so far. The bass line grooves around really nicely while connecting the dynamic drum beat with the swirling distortion of the electric guitar. I’m sort of reminded a bit of Front Page Review, which was a psychedelic rock band from the 1960s that didn’t see their album released for decades. Wow, great track.
Oh wow, “Cross Country Woman” starts out with a really groovy mixture of distortion from the electric guitar and swirls from the organs that gives the track a sound reminiscent of 1967-1969. Oh wow, I really dig the accentuations in the percussion of the track. Holy smokes, the jams in this track are super groovy with the electric guitar taking lead while the drums and bass rumble about the background and the organs swirl around on the opposite side of the soundscape from the guitars. Oh wow, the end of the track sounds like they sped up the tapes to 1.5x speed. Super groovy track.
Oh wow, “Ride the World” starts out with a really mellow swing in the drums accompanied by a smooth bass line and some wet organs that swirl and drip into the soundscape really nicely. Oh wow, the track picks up into a psychedelic rock groove that I’m really digging. Oh wow, there’s a quick lick from a guitar that seems to serve as a solo that gets me even further on the edge of my seat. Wow, great tune.
“Things Are Gonna Be Alright” starts out with some bright swirling organs that seem to slowly be building up to a groove. Holy smokes, the bass guitar rolls in alongside some piano in a super sweet way. Holy smokes, some distorted guitar with a bit of crunch comes into the soundscape for a moment for a quick accentuation, and likewise a clean guitar comes in for another quick lick that accentuates the rest of the instrumentation really nicely. There’s almost a dark undertone to the track that I really dig as well. Great track.
Oh wow, “Ragged Old Man” starts out with some sweet solo piano that has somehow hooked me further into this listening experience. Oh wow, the rest of the instrumentation has joined in for a song that feels reminiscent of rock and roll tunes with a bit of a prog rock influence from the early 1970s. Oh wow, the rest of the instrumentation falls away for a moment except the organs, which seem to steer the tune into more of an exploratory jam, and are soon joined by the rest of the instrumentation as the track becomes a psychedelic rock ballad of sorts. I really dig the whimsical lick from the organs at the end. Great track.
Oh wow, “Brothers” starts out with a combination of distorted electric guitar and acoustic guitar that combine to create a sound that reminds me of the early 1990s with touch of the early 1970s in the vocals and rhythm section. Oh wow, the guitar solo is super groovy in this track. Great tune.
“Hasufel” starts out with a combination of chaotic acoustic guitar and super crunchy distortion from an electric guitar for a brief moment before getting into a psychedelic prog rock groove. Oh wow, the bass line is mean in a really great way, and seems to take the lead while the other guitars seem to roll along, the organs add some quick accentuations, and the drums keep a steady beat. Oh wow, the tune seems to be building up to a really groovy crescendo to tie together the listening experience that is this album. Wow, great track and a great way to finish this album.
Holy smokes, this album is super groovy. I could definitely understand the comparisons to Vanilla Fudge and a bit of Black Sabbath after hearing the album. Overall, the album seems more along the lines of psychedelic prog rock and psychedelic rock, filled with swirling organs and groovy guitar work throughout, and a very natural flow from one song to the next. If you’re into psychedelic rock or especially if you’re into psychedelic prog rock, you might want to consider giving this album a listen. If you do decide to give this album a listen, I sincerely hope that you enjoy the listening experience at least as much as I did.
-A