'Transparency' is 60's psychedelic hero Sky Saxon`s second album to be released this year and follows on from his album with his original backing band the Seeds' 'Red Planet'. It starts with 'You Gotta Ride' which has a slurry vocal by Sky. The backing is meanwhile like a spaced out version of the Troggs`s 'Wild Thing'. As the track progresses Sky's vocal becomes more Jim Morrison like, who was a personal friend of Sky`s. 'Little Red Book' follows, and was famously covered by Love, another LA band of the same generation and city as the Seeds. It again has a Morrison style vocal, and sounds a billion miles away from Love's version. 'Star Setter' is something like a Bo Diddley number in its groove, but played in a 60's garage rock style. 'Seven Mystic Horsemen'is more commercial in sound and sounds like a 60's classic. It is very easy on the ears and has a cool groove, not that you will ever hear Sky on the radio, this side of LA or this side of the 60`s. 'Alakazam' is very groovy has a psychedelic haze. Sky's vocal floats on top like another instrumental. 'Hammer' is a narrative tale, pleasantly played and easy on the ears, while 'Day Time' has a 'Riders on the Storm' vibe with a big vocal, that blends in with the Doors groove of its tune. 'Lighter' sounds like a combination of the Who`s 'Can`t Explain' and the Rolling Stones 'Get Off My Cloud'.'Sheba' is psyched out rock, something like an experimental Echo and the Bunnymen, while 'Walk Along' is elegant and very laid back. Sky's vocal here is somewhat like Leonard Cohen's. The last track is 'Space Ship' which is the longest song on the album. It is very prog rock orientated, again has a 'Riders on the Storm' vibe and is also political and very fresh.
Track Listing:-
1 You Gotta Ride2 Little Red Book
3 Star Setter
4 Seven Mystic Horsemen
5 Alkazam
6 Hammer
7 Day Time Girl
8 Lighter
9 Sheba
10 Walk Along
11 Space Ship
interviews |
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Interview (2009) |
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| Sky Saxon was the singer with garage rock/psychedelic group the Seeds. He talks to Anthony Strutt about the influential 60s band, and his new album 'Back to the Garden', which released under the Seeds moniker, finds him reunited with Darryl Hooper, the group's original keyboardist |
profiles |
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1937-2009 (2009) |
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| Sky Saxon, the front man with 60's grunge punks the Seeds, died in June. Anthony Strutt reflects and looks backs on his life |
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