Novadriver - Deeper High
by Andrew Carver
published: 19 / 8 / 2005
Label:
Small Stone Records
Format: CD
intro
Evocative second album from space rockers Novadriver, whose concerns otherwise remain decidely earthy
Novadriver evokes 70s era proto-metal like middle period Deep Purple and prime Captain Beyond. Able contemporaries such as the Spiritual Beggars and Terra are another touchstone. There’s wah, flanger and phaser aplenty. The colossal thud of Eric Miller’s drum reinforces James B. Anders bass stomp as the twin guitar assault of Billy Reedy and new boy Eli Ruhf belt out power chord riffs like Sons of Otis on speed. Mark Miers sings in a clear tenor, cutting through the astral fuzz with the same aplomb (and excellent effect) as Pete Stahl’s work in Goatsnake. The band’s outer space fixation is a cover for earthy concerns, with most of the lyrics stuck on the material plain. First Novadriver launches a put down of the possessive in 'You Want Yours, You Want Mine' before putting out their own demand for cash with the mugger anthem 'Roll You' and its insistent chorus of “How much money you got!?!” The title track is surprisingly enough not a dope ode; the drug he wants to overdose on is his lady friend. The drug song is the next one 'Turn to Stone', where heartbreak drives Miers to drink and drugs. The band slows things down on the reverie of 'Black Aftermath', where the lonely protagonist searches through space and time for other life. I’m going to ignore the pronounced resemblance of the opening riff of 'Machine' to a tune (by the unspeakable Lenny Kravitz) which shall remain nameless, since the remainder of the tune – and indictment of weaponizing space - is quite cool, with Reedy wringing his solo from long, wavering notes. It’s a marked contrast to the blistering wah solo he deploys in 'Bury Me Alive.' 'Stars After Stars …' is an instrumental with a disembodied voice apparently extolling the virtues of a planetarium. I’m not sure what 'Push That River' is about, other than the occasional references of “feeling so alone”, though it does feature a trippy, echo-freak break. The album concludes with a double whammy of instrumentals: 'Blackout' is the longest song on the album at six minutes, thirteen seconds. It kicks off with a lumbering Monster Magnet style riff, briefly eases off in its middle section for some eastern-tinged hippy jangle, acoustic guitar and whale noises, then comes thundering back. 'Whiteout' follows 'Blackout' with an electronic noise intro that fades away into a oft-repeated drifting riff, chittering digital delay and signal breakup and thrumming bass. It’s an evocative end to one far out album. The band’s debut may have a very slight edge on its successor, but, regardless of which album you grab, space metal fans should dig Novadriver.
Track Listing:-
1 You Want Your, You Want Mine2 Roll You
3 Deeper High
4 Turn to Stone
5 Dark Aftermath
6 Machine
7 Bury Me Alive
8 Stars After Stars...
9 Push the River
10 Blackout
11 Whiteout
Label Links:-
http://smallstone.com/https://twitter.com/ssrecordings
https://www.facebook.com/smallstonerecords
https://www.youtube.com/user/SmallStoneRecords
https://smallstone.bandcamp.com/
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
most viewed reviews
current edition
Marika Hackman - Big SighSerious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning Dew
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
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