In a recent review I spoke of how some albums are instant and some are slow burners, but what I perhaps failed to mention are those albums that are so different, so out there that you find yourself continously returning to and challenging yourself to discover something more. Reappraising your first, second and third opinion, before coming to the realization that you’ve become completely and utterly infatuated with the release and you won’t be happy until you’ve unveiled every layer, every time change, every single lyric.
Spirits Of The Dead have created one such album in The Great God Plan, a varied and experimental affair that mixes up a combination of acid fried folk, psychedelic rock and waves of fuzz to create a unique, compelling and often unsettling sound that leaps boundaries and defies classification.
Spirits Of The Dead are a Norwegian based four-piece who first began creating waves with the release of their debut self titled album last year. The release received numerous accolades across the mainstream rock music press, with Classic Rock Magazine even going as far as to list it in their end of year top fifty. With the praise ringing in their ears the band were able to tour Europe and play the UK for the first time, taking in an acclaimed date at London’s Garage.
The Great God Plan follows the debut and should she the band’s fan base swell to all new levels, with it’s jaw dropping experimentation, clever instrumentation and infectious melodies.
The album opens with Mighty Mountain, a five minute plus folky psych freakout that opens with a combintion of delicate guitar and dream like vocals, before the calm is broken by a wave of fuzz and a handful of unnerving vocal samples that dissipate leaving those gorgeous folk tones, only for the band to step on the power around the three and half minute mark to conclude the track in a delicious 60’s inspired psych rock style that manages to break the intoxicating dream like spell, yet equally enthrall ad invigorate at the same time. The sudden mood change and contrast of styles is simply incredible from airy heavenly folk to grooving rock monster in a heartbeat and all on the first of six wildly different and genre straddling opus.
Leaves Of Last Years Fall follows and transpires to be another gorgeous flight of psychedelic fancy complete with wonderfully intricate chiming guitars, a dexterous solo and an infectious softly crooned melodic vocal that seduces the listener into a fantasy world. Pure As The Lotus opens with a massive Sabbath like riff before developing into a huge throbbing mix of fuzz drenched guitars, driving bass, frantic drums and mantra like vocals, the title track is more of a strange bewitching folk number complete with hushed instrumentation, whispering vocals, a subtle marching beat and the occasional guitar solo.
In complete contrast to mesmeric Mighty Mountain or the title track, Casting The Runes is something all together more unsettling, perhaaps even sinister as Spirits Of The Dead live up to their monicker invoking the tortured voices of the deceased over a combination of metallic jazz riffs, clattering percussion and god only knows what else, creating a direct counterpoint to the previous calming folk and yet still managing to completely encapture the mood of the album.
Spirits Of The Dead complete the intoxicating cycle with the seven plus minute (and possible album highlight) Goldberry, a glorious combination of their aforementioned folk and psychedelic influences whilst hinting at a 70’s progressive rock (King Crimson) with the dazzling mix of rock guitar and jazzy (almost Doors like) keyboard.
With The Great God Plan, Spirits Of The Dead have managed to create an album that’s completely unique, every single track takes you on a journey of discovery into a previously uncharted world, it’s eclectic, it’s different and it’s oh so very daring in a musical world of sound-a-like bands. If you want something to challenge, to seduce, to mesmerise I suggest you get hold of The Great God Plan, you won’t be disappointed.
Rhythm & Booze Rating 10
www.thespiritofthedead.com