Primordial Undermind - Thin Shells of Revolution
(Emperor Jones)
Ex-Crystallized Movements guitarist Eric Arn has assembled a new roster of players for his fifth go round as Primordial Undermind, following a successful trio of albums on Australian indie, Camera Obscura. Once again working overdub free, Primordial's improvised jams hold together surprisingly well for a debut release from the new incarnation. Opener "F.L.I. (Flaming Lizard Inauguration)" sounds like something they drink down in the band's hometown of Austin, Texas to put people out of their misery. I wouldn't recommend listening to this on the way home from a night of partying or downing a few bucketsful of "flaming lizards," as its frequent use of wailing sirens will, as David Crosby so eloquently put it, "increase your paranoia."
Arn continues his excellent choice of covers with a sleepy, psych/ blues version of The Dillards' "There Is A Time," which, at nearly three times the length of the original is highlighted by one of several tasty solos, and a scorching version of the "Theme From Serpent," an avant garde silent film from the 70s. The first half of this eight-minute epic sounds like someone left an electric shaver on the recording console, but then the dual drumming of Jared Barron and Matt Martinez and the alto sax skronk of Otis Cleveland kicks in and jumpstarts a freewheelin' Cream-meets-Hawkwind strange (sonic) brew that gently fades out in one of those Bevis Frond-styled, homebrewed, sidelong guitar tuning exercises, a la "Miskatonik Variations" or "The Shrine" (not surprising as the Frond's Nick Saloman played bass on Primordial's debut release, "Swimming the Ultramaroon" on an old Baby Huey EP ("If I Could Hear You I Would Hit You") back in 1991).
"WWOD?" ("What Would Otis Do"?) re-lights the bongloads of righteous boo for a mellow, rainy-day-stay-at-home-and-party mix of vintage Traffic, highlighted by O's gently wafting flutework (Chris Wood is smiling, I'm sure) keeping brain tags reading "Feed your head" afloat in the room full of purple haze. The surprisingly melodic "Stagger The Heart" illustrates the band has not completely jettisoned their accessible side. Let's face it, psychedelic jams are all about filling in the spaces BETWEEN the melodies, so to build an improv AROUND this pretty tune is a bonus that the pop/psych listeners will enjoy.
Finally, the epic "Ten Toes, One Soul" is wrapped around the most gorgeously melodic guitar solo this side of the Frond's "Stain on the Sun" (that's intended as the utmost of compliments).
I sped past the closing avant-jazz skronkfest, "Kinky Sex (Makes the World Go Round)," which is a bit aimless for my taste, but is a pleasant headcleaner after its bonechilling predecessor. Ultimately, fans of heavy psych improvers such as SubArachnoid Space, Bardo Pond and Salamander will be particularly impressed with this release. Completists know what to do and newbies are encouraged to check out what they've been missing all these years with one of the best releases from this ever-expanding and always improving psychedelic rock ensemble.
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