published: 21 /
2 /
2002
Label:
Ochre
Format: CD X2
Double CD on Ochre label from long serving post rock duo, Land of Nod, which collects together 28 non album tracks, half of which are previously unreleased.
Review
The Ochre label has been releasing records now for seven years. I joined the Ochre trip very early on, but still it had been going for two years before I bought my first release, a CD by Glide (Bunnymen guitarist Will Sergeant's slow ambient post rock trip).
'Archive' collects together 28 non album tracks on two CDs. Some of these were originally found on various 7" and 12" singles and one off tracks for compilations, but 14 of them, in other words a whole CD's worth, of which 9 are live tracks, 2 are remixes and 2 are out takes, are previously unreleased.
The Land of Nod are a spin off band band from Reverb, but, prior to this, they were the Lucid Dream, who released back in '91 the only non Bunnymen release on the Bunnymen's label Euphoric. Five years before that still they were called Elegant Chaos.
The Land of Nod are a two piece, featuring Ant Walker on guitar and Dave Battersby on bass. They use a drum machine for assistance, but for most of the tracks on this they sound like they have a real drummer. In recent times, Walker has released two solo albums under the monikors of Pulsar and Lake Scene, both again on Ohre.
So, after all this, what do Land of Nod sound like ?. Well to me, they are very mood inspired and dreamy, their trancing guitar lines like the guitar lines that the Bunnymen perhaps wish that they might have come up with, but have never been able to. It is repetitive and sharp, but very chilled out. This is tripping music, as well as music to ease you into the land of nod. It music for the brain, and music also for mature rock fans.
Along with this double CD, Land of Nod have another two albums., 'Translucent' and "Mont Ventoux', very much worth checking out. These albums have never been homeless from my CD player for long, and nor will 'Archives' be. Easily the best post rock sound around.
Track Listing:-
1
Floaing Around In The Bubblebuzz
2
Seeing Into The Great Void
3
Revoid (Bass Cadets Remix)
4
Interceptor #1
5
Interceptor #2
6
Spiral
7
Exponential
8
Chronical Blueprint #1
9
Masaki
10
Escape Velocity
11
Chronicle Blueprint #3
12
COBE
13
Ice Station Nod
14
Bubblebuzz
15
The Land of Nod
16
Quadrant Zero
17
Objective Reality
18
Noose of Ice
19
Drop
20
Chronicle Blueprint #2
21
Lake Merrit
22
Ice Station Nod
23
Reality Channel
24
Chronicle Blueprint
25
Orientation Point
26
Noose of Ice
27
Mount Vertoux
28
The Land of Nod