The name of the group whose CD that I hold in my hands is A Crack in Time and The Break of Dawn. With a name like that, I can only expect a truly psychedelic offering. This album better blow my mind and make my ears melt off of my head. The name of this album is Remedy, so let’s hope this medicine does the trick!
Its time to burn some incense, turn on the lava lamp and hit the switch on the black light. Let’s see exactly what we have here. The first song starts with a steady drum beat and a bluesy psychedelic guitar riff that is soaked in reverb and just the right amount of delay. Along creeps in a baseline and the first line of vocals hits, “I’ve made up my mind…” This is a dark psychedelic trip all ready, and I am starting to love it. The song just hangs in midair and floats while the vocals coast on the rhythm. The guitar slowly breaks apart to float away and Take lead of the song for a moment than retreats, only to come back later and reclaim the rhythm. This happens many times during this epic twenty minute long opening track. A bold move to put a twenty minute piece as the first track to your album, but it worked well and i’m ready to hear more. There are a few moments of silence and the second track becomes audible with what sounds like an accordion or possibly a piano horn and hints of bass guitar, finely placed in the cracks between the other instrument. We next hear some vocals, heavily delayed and totally tripped out. These vocals rise and fall, gaining momentum and then dropping again, only to have their echo carry on in the distance. After we hit the seven minute mark, some drums kick in and some slight guitar experimentation. The song jams on for another twenty minutes or so changing colors like a chameleon and getting brave with experimentation but never losing its groove. Never becoming even slightly unlistenable (which is grounds that many experimental albums tend to wander into). The second track leads straight into the third track, so initially this is still the same song, even though the rhythm has totally changed yet again. This time the rhythm holds down a more primitive beat that keeps building and building. Some juicy guitar licks accent this song while primal vocals are layered on top of each other. Over and over, this song is now spinning out of control and cymbals are smashing and toms are beating and high hats are bleeding and harmonica is screaming, until… silence. We fade out with only the ghosts of the previous jam and they are slowly fading away into memory.
Remedy is just that. Overall, a very impressive album that mixes multiple genres into some slight experimentation to create a totally new world for the listener. A total head trip. This has been a great escape but now its time to get back to reality.
Naaahhh, I think Ill listen again!
Review by Kenn Deaton
