Goat - Live Ballroom Ritual

by Adrian Huggins

published: 19 / 11 / 2013

Label: Rocket Recordings
Format: CD

Improvisational space rock on fabulous live album recorded in London from much revered Swedish psychedelic band,Goat

Review

“Ritual” is a word that Swedish band Goat like to apply to their performances. Goat are based in Gothenburg in Sweden, although they started out life in the remote area of Korpilombolo, and they have a wonderful air of mystery about them. Revered across the globe for their take on world music/psychedelic rock, ‘Live Ballroom Ritual’ is a live recording which proves exactly why they have earned this reputation. It was recorded at Camden’s Electric Ballroom, and was a gig promoted by the infinitely cool, hip and completely on the ball folks at ATP (All Tomorrows Parties). Apart from the odd bout of clapping and cheering, it is not that obvious that this album is a live recording. Note perfect throughout and with sound levels all equal, what is captured superbly is the free-flowing nature of a band that have played together for decades. This really shines through all the way through the album, but particularly on songs such as ‘Golden Dawn’, ‘Disco Fever’, ‘Run to Your Mama’ and ‘Let It Bleed’. Goat have a total 60’s psychedelic feel with multiple female vocals, pulsating and hypnotic rhythms and their spaced out guitars, ‘Goathead’ and ‘Goatman’ handily show this off to perfection. ‘Live Ballroom Ritual’ is trippy from start to finish, and you can really hear the improvisational edge that they have. As far as experience, this album is less like a live recording, and more like being taken on some sort of voodoo journey with a mystical shaman-beast guiding you along the way. Listening to Goat makes the real world seem utterly pointless and mundane, and you can very happily take solace within their sound.

Track Listing:-

1 Diarabi (Live)
2 Golden Dawn (Live)
3 Disco Fever (Live)
4 Stonegoat (Live)
5 Let It Bleed (Live)
6 Dreambuilding (Live)
7 Run to Your Mama (Live)
8 Goathead (Live)
9 Goatman (Live)
10 Goatlord (Live)
11 Det som aldrig förändras – Kristalle
12 The Sun the Moon (Live)