Warlocks - Songs From the Pale Eclipse
by Anthony Strutt
published: 26 / 11 / 2016
Label:
Cleopatra
Format: CD
intro
Enjoyable yet unsatisfactory latest album from Los Angeles-based psychedelic band, the Warlocks
The Warlocks have been around since 1998 and have released some wonderful records in their time. And long may they continue. 'Songs From The Pale Eclipse' opens with 'Only You', which is slow, hypnotic and trance-like, with a vocal that is laid back while also being quite dark. It reminds me of the Cure during their 'Faith' period. 'Lonesome Bulldog' has a lonesome twang to it, while Bobby Hecksher's vocal is almost shy in its delivery. 'Easy to Forget' again has a slow delivery, with a sad sounding guitar, until the drums in bring more life and drive recalling Spacemen 3. 'Dance Alone' is almost like experimental Kinks/Beatles and has some odd effects, making this a different sort of Warlocks song. 'We Took All the Acid' is much more reminiscent of the band, featuring doomy, laidback, but hypnotic wave after wave of psychedelia. 'Love is a Disease' has a toned-down vocal and mostly unplayed but there is still enough there to carry it along smoothly. 'Drinking song' has a big swaggering sound like the Red House Painters, but faster, Its guitars are jagged and distance but is still something of a heart warmer. Special Today, is well paced and rocks well, without getting heavy. There is no hint of psychedelia but it gets more progressive as it moves along. 'I Warned You' has a sweet harmonica intro, while it's pace will make Dylan smile. For me, it is one of the better tracks collected on here. In ends with 'The Arp Made Me Cry', crawls along in a creepy 50's sci-fi way. Songs From The Pale Eclipse' is a decent slice of Warlocks but I have heard them doing much better.
Track Listing:-
1 Only You2 Lonesome Bulldog
3 Easy to Forget
4 Dance Alone
5 We Took All the Acid
6 Love Is a Disease
7 Drinking Song
8 Special Today
9 I Warned You
10 The Arp Made Me Cry
Band Links:-
http://www.thewarlocks.com/news.phphttps://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Warlocks/243071439036274
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Warlocks
https://www.songkick.com/artists/32445-warlocks
live reviews |
Islington Bar Academy, London, 29/8/2008 |
Anthony Strutt watches Los Angeles-based band the Warlocks play a passionate set of psychedelic rock at the Islington Bar Academy in London |
photography |
Warlocks (2014) |
Bill Gray takes photographs of Los Angeles-based psychedelic rockers the Warlocks at Broadcast in Glasgow |
soundcloud
reviews |
Skull Worship (2013) |
Fantastic first album in three years from Los Angeles-based psychedelic band, the Warlocks |
Phoenix Album (2003) |
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