White Manna - Pan

Bang! White Manna do what they do best - Cosmic Space Rock that takes no prisoners. There is nothing complicated here - the music is heavy, occasionally hard, uncomplicated and tasty. Guitarist David Johnson proclaims that the album title references the Greek God of nature Pan and the influences of the trees,beaches and open spaces of the North Californian landscape on his music. The title track 'Pan' is a ferocious opener with screaming feedback. If you were expecting folky wistful nature songs, then this album is not for you. 'Dunes 1' follows and keeps up the blistering pace, with a relentless fuzzed up Hawkwind mantra that feels like you are standing in the face of an oncoming storm in the middle of the desert. 'Dunes 2' slows the pace, driven by a monstrous repetitive riff, that renders the vocals almost lost in the swirling mists of psychedelic haze while the guitar unleashes a mazy solo that echoes the cover art. Seven minutes later you are transported back to terra-firma wondering just what happened. It is a good job too because the following cut 'Evil' is just that. A Stooges guitar riff rips open the previous fuzzy haze of 'Dunes 2' with a balls out five minute rocker that is a frenzy of pure rock and roll. 'Evil' is going to be a single, but I guess we will not be hearing this on the Radio One playlist! The intense 'Beta Travellers' thrusts us back in Hawkwind wah-wah territory along with the final cut, the eleven minute long 'Eshra'. The sound of waves crashing on to a shoreline introduces 'Eshra' before we embark on yet another pounding epic full of fuzz reverb and feedback. There is the occasional nod to early Floyd space jams, but by now I am beginning to feel the power of 'Pan’ washing over me as I submit to the primal power. Those waves bookend the track and gently close the record. Was it all a dream I ask myself ? My overall impression? 'Pan' is a high energy, elemental and hypnotic outing. A relentless fusion of surf guitars and garage rock with dirty edges not for the faint of heart. Mysticism, mantras and mayhem. It’s devotion, Jim, but not as we know it.