Post by Kevin on Jul 14, 2003 8:18:45 GMT -5
We – Lightyears Ahead
Review by: Kevin McHugh
Black Balloon Records
Release date: Available now
We is Norway’s OTHER hard rock merchant, proving that you don’t have to wear corpse paint or play in a garage to be worth a listen in the land of the midnight fjord. The group is on the infamous Black Balloon label, proponents of some of Norway’s best contemporary tuneage.
‘Lightyears Ahead’ is the follow-up EP to last year’s stellar ‘Dinosauric Futurobic,’ probably We’s strongest release to date. ‘Lightyears’ gives us more of what we love: an eclectic 70s-inspired mix of metal, space, psych, and pop overlaid with a theatrical sense of humor. The clean vocals are wayyyyyyyy ahead of the rest of the stoner pack, combining a bit of 80s power metal with John Garcia. The musicianship is top-notch all the way through. ‘Zuzu’ is the trippy vox n’ noise intro to ‘Kickin,’ a Stonesy burner spiced with a dash of Gillian-era Deep Purple. And with a chorus of “We’re kickin’ your teeth in” ya just have to laugh. Don’t ya? ‘Lost Crossroad Found’ is a driving tune with a sneaky FM beat, accessible but not commercial, while the companion piece, ‘Tsol Daorssorc Dnouf’ is a kind of backwards version (duh!) with a Floydian, avant feel. The masterpiece is the English-sounding ‘Freak Capital of the Universe,’ with its early Hawkwind trippiness. I think space rock is where WE really shine, and I love to hear ‘em play it! In any case, I have the feeling that not only does WE spend all their spare time at the Freak Capital, but their ancestors probably founded the place back in 1966.
WE have produced another idiosyncratic platter of stoned weirdness, and as always they’re on their own program. If you like a mix of elements that’s at once easily palatable, rich, uncompromising and most of all mind altering, then shell out the necessary of this baby. It’s the right thing to do.
Review by: Kevin McHugh
Black Balloon Records
Release date: Available now
We is Norway’s OTHER hard rock merchant, proving that you don’t have to wear corpse paint or play in a garage to be worth a listen in the land of the midnight fjord. The group is on the infamous Black Balloon label, proponents of some of Norway’s best contemporary tuneage.
‘Lightyears Ahead’ is the follow-up EP to last year’s stellar ‘Dinosauric Futurobic,’ probably We’s strongest release to date. ‘Lightyears’ gives us more of what we love: an eclectic 70s-inspired mix of metal, space, psych, and pop overlaid with a theatrical sense of humor. The clean vocals are wayyyyyyyy ahead of the rest of the stoner pack, combining a bit of 80s power metal with John Garcia. The musicianship is top-notch all the way through. ‘Zuzu’ is the trippy vox n’ noise intro to ‘Kickin,’ a Stonesy burner spiced with a dash of Gillian-era Deep Purple. And with a chorus of “We’re kickin’ your teeth in” ya just have to laugh. Don’t ya? ‘Lost Crossroad Found’ is a driving tune with a sneaky FM beat, accessible but not commercial, while the companion piece, ‘Tsol Daorssorc Dnouf’ is a kind of backwards version (duh!) with a Floydian, avant feel. The masterpiece is the English-sounding ‘Freak Capital of the Universe,’ with its early Hawkwind trippiness. I think space rock is where WE really shine, and I love to hear ‘em play it! In any case, I have the feeling that not only does WE spend all their spare time at the Freak Capital, but their ancestors probably founded the place back in 1966.
WE have produced another idiosyncratic platter of stoned weirdness, and as always they’re on their own program. If you like a mix of elements that’s at once easily palatable, rich, uncompromising and most of all mind altering, then shell out the necessary of this baby. It’s the right thing to do.