The London Underground goes psychedelic
http://www.nouse.co.uk/2009/12/08/the-london-underground-goes-psychedelic/
December 8, 2009
London's love affair with the psychedelic has once again been
rekindled. Not since the drug-addled excesses of the late Sixties and
early Seventies has the town reverberated with the garish guitars,
whimsical lyrics, and preposterous drumming. The freak scene is back
in a big way, as a host of new bands embrace the heady Dionysian
values of their forebears. The rut of identikit landfill indie that
populated post-Libertines London has stirred a new breed of artists
into challenging mediocrity, as even the most mainstream bands get in
touch with their wild side. The Arctic Monkeys have grown their hair,
and The Horrors have been critically adored for their
krautrock-meets-psychedelia record 'Primary Colours'.
Leading this colourful new pack are Invasion, a three piece from
North London, who bravely (some would say foolishly) combine vintage
Seventies rock riffs with Motown soul, throwing in a touch of obscure
Eighties metal for good measure. Marek Steven, founding member of the
band, is as good a guide as any to the rumblings of the psychedelic
London underground. An extremely busy man, he is also, despicably, a
music journalist, while somehow finding the time to shoot 'just low
budget' music videos for cult bands such as Hackney art-nutters
Comanechi. With just a set up of guitar, drums and vocals, the amount
of psychedelic funk metal racket the band kick up is quite amazing.
As Marek admits, "the band evolved from another I was in where the
bassist left and we just carried on". No great loss, as he more than
makes up for it with a huge, classic guitar sound, combined with
riffs that dangerously will you to both dance and fight. Contrasting
with the metal power of the guitarist is space-robed diva frontwoman
Chan Brown (ex-Do Me Bad Things). Chan is a frontwoman in the classic
soul sense, like Aretha Franklin if she'd lived on Venus for a couple
of decades. Marek agrees that "Motown is just incredible" and it's
this open-mindedness and willingness to experiment that separates the
band from the hordes of 'generic' metalheads. While definitely retro
in its themes (wizards, space, other metal clichés), new record 'The
Master Alchemist' combines breakneck speeds (songs rarely go over the
two minute mark) with megalithic riffs and gloriously powerful
vocals. Recorded on analogue, released by This Is Music Ltd and
produced by Simian Mobile Disco's Jas Shaw, it's like MC5 and Black
Sabbath jamming with Etta James. In a good way. Perhaps that's why
the NME has been so vocal about declaring them the future of metal,
or perhaps it's because drummer Zel plays with her cymbals aflame.
Marek admits he was "surprised, in a good way", by the press' hype of
his band, pleased that "they've finally started covering heavier
bands". Invasion may be the most successful of this new crop of
bands, but a fertile scene is growing, which Marek has helped
cultivate through his Skill Wizard clubnight. Nights vary from "very
popular" thrash nights (playing classic Metallica and Megadeth) to
more cult-orientated psych and doom nights (playing everything from
the Yardbirds to Electric Wizard), with the cream of the psychedelic
crop being invited to play.
There are plenty of other notable acts on the London circuit that are
helping raise psychedelic awareness. Marek recommends Chrome Hoof, a
twelve piece inter-dimensional George Clinton style jazz funk metal
orchestra adored by Klaxons. They recently nearly made it to Leeds
but failed due to running out of money, thanks to spending it all on
a giant Ram stage prop which fired lasers from its eyes.
Bo Ningen are touring with Invasion next year and are possibly the
coolest looking band of all time bellbottom clad, Japanese psych
warriors with hair as long as Rapunzel and a distinct lack of health
and safety onstage. Marek also brings up progressive hammond organ
bothers Diagonal, who hail from sunny Brighton. Their potty live
performances are balanced with consummate musicianship.
All these bands combine their retro influences with a truly modern
mindset, experimenting with sounds in the same way as their Seventies
heroes, and bringing a more acid-drenched shade of colour to the
town's bounteous music scene.
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