Various Artists "White Lace And Strange" 1968-72 US, Heavy Psych.Vol 1
I had made an unwritten policy that I wasn't going to review any of my various artists compilations on this blog until I had got through a large portion of my single artist releases, which meant for quite some time, but when this came up last night I couldn't resist, knowing I would get to listen to it throughout the day as I was wiring a rather large new house for work. This excellent balls out hard rocking heavy psych compilation was assembled by an obviously groovy guy from The Bevis Frond named Nick Saloman, along with some other great comps along the same lines that he also compiled. If you love late 60s, early 70s Hendrix/Cream inspired heavy fuzz blooze based rock with great melodies and incendiary guitar, then this comp comes very highly recommended. Considering how obscure much of this is, the quality is outstanding and the sound is also top notch and as I get more familiar with each track it is becoming obvious that many of these tracks will become classics for me.I mined this comp for a track or two on my most excellent and popular "Psyched Out" sampler recently and it now appears that I should have mined it more substantially..
By the end of the sixties psychedelia was pretty much a spent force. Bands were looking for something simpler and more earthy. Crosby, Stills & Nash had gone all acoustic and harmonious, The Band had achieved a return to classic Americana, and James Taylor was showing the world you could be laid back and hip at the same time. However, not everyone wanted to ditch their fuzzboxes.Inspired by such outfits as Cream, Blue Cheer, Hendrix and the nascent Led Zeppelin, these American bands were moving out of psych into something less cosmic and far heavier. This mix of blooze rock and heavy riffing is loud and nasty but it pre-dates metal. It's pretty tripped out, but it's not really psychedelia. It's the sound of guitar, bass and drums (and the occasional Hammond organ) just as it was meant to be, cranked up and in your face. No frills, just power chords and stomping riffs. Stamp on that Big Muff and solo till your brain drops out.