Spectre Folk - Ancient Storm
by Carl Bookstein
published: 13 / 9 / 2012
Label:
Vampire Blues
Format: CD
intro
Dream-like psychedelic folk on debut album from Spectre Folk, the new side project of Magik Markers front man Pete Nolan and Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley
Spectre Folk is an evocative name for a band that creates music that is at once transporting and dream like. Michigan bred multi instrumentalist and helmsman Pete Nolan (of Magik Markers) joins with Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley, bassist Aaron Mullan (of Tall Firs) and Peter Meehan on guitar.‘The Ancient Storm’ is Spectre Folk’s first full-band LP. The album includes layered psychedelic noise guitars, sonic experiments and occasional electrified vibraphone. ‘Inchin’ Worm’ starts out with a mellow acoustic guitar strum into easy, hypnotic and magical folk tinged psych rock. “My brain’s washed out with the storm” is the lyric. With an earthy vocal, a lovely sea of sound is heard as the innovative instrumentals melt like a sunset. Rich guitars and drums are in the forefront. ‘Mantraphonics’, an instrumental, is a bit more out there in psychedelic space. Ambient music with a spotlight on the vibraphone alongside a xylophone, the song possesses a free jazz quality, inviting mind travel. ‘Please Come Home’ is rooted in 1960s influenced psychedelia. The tune cleanses the listener with waves of resonating sound- humming guitar and a haunting vocal - “The air here is warm… it never gives way…” ‘Gypsy Grammar’, also an instrumental, is something beautiful with vibrant guitar. Steve Shelley (who has kept very busy since his band’s recent break) lays down a fine entrancing drum beat. Next we hear extended fuzz rock and spacey mood music, experimental yet effective. The song ‘Knife’ is nearly 15 minutes of psych rock jamming, but still somehow beautiful with jazzy drumming and swirling guitar drone. The closer ‘Trees with 12 Bones’ begins with a mantra of spoken word lyrics and evolves into electronic noise. The track is definitely less soothing than the rest, but intriguing nevertheless. For the psych rock aficionado or the curious, ‘The Ancient Storm’ is an album that fascinates.
Track Listing:-
1 Inchin' Worm2 Mantraphonics
3 Please Come Home
4 Gyspy Grammar
5 Knife
6 Trees with 12 Bones
7 Display Case
8 Fourth Dimension Refs (Alternate Mix)
9 I Don't Know
10 Lazy Killer Bees
11 I Don't Know (Demo)
Band Links:-
http://www.bandsintown.com/SpectreFolkLabel Links:-
http://vampireblues.net/https://www.facebook.com/vampireblues
https://twitter.com/vampire_blues
soundcloud
most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeySimon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
Flaming Stars - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Inutili - A Love Supreme
Kula Shaker - Natural Magick
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart