The Psychic Paramount - Origins and Primitives Vol's 1 and 2

It's hard to imagine what could have spawned the many-headed, fire-breathing monstrosity that is Gamelan Into The Mink Supernatural.  That album was so unexpected that I never thought to look up whether these guys had any earlier records.  The answer is apparently "no," from a perusal of their catalog at No Quarter Records, but they did release this compilation of home-recorded experiments, which cover a wide range of musical styles, but only hint at the power they would later be harnessing.  Although it sounds little like their other release, it's a great collection of music and one I can easily recommend for any fans of of, say, Fridge, Deerhunter, Eluvium, and other experimental yet accomplished artists.  However, if you are not a fan of loops or delay pedals, I suggest you turn around now and walk away.

To begin with, there is an alternative version of the furious Gamelan track "Echoh Air," which on this record is, like all the other tracks here, sans drums.  This version is a little slower and has more room for the guitar/bass interplay to show through.  "Microphone II," the longest track in the collection, is a meandering sonic landscape that, while slightly overlong, has a cool sound to it.  "E5" sounds like, if anything, like "Red Ink" or some other tweener track from Deerhunter's Cryptograms.  It's nice, showing an ear for texture.  "Dsinter Blues Recorder" is my favorite track on Origins - although it is somewhat repetitive, I love the layered and looped guitars and the sort of gestalt rhythm that form from them.  "Melancholy I" shows the band's unplugged and basic side, and similarly "Sorcerer" is a less processed version of "Dsinter Blues Recorder."  "The Perfect Request" uses the same layering of acoustic guitars, but also adds a sort of drone layer that eventually overpowers the chime of the guitars.

Basically, it's an interesting, and good, record but not particularly focused and certainly not as terrifying as Gamelan.  People looking for an atmospheric psych-out fix should definitely check this out - and if you were scared off by the other Psychic Paramount record, let this one be a gateway for you.

Here's "Dsinter Blues Recorder," by The Psychic Paramount.

Comments

[Free Psychic Reading]

Basically, it's an interesting, and good, record but not particularly focused and certainly not as terrifying as Gamelan.