Various Artists - A Psychedelic Psauna
Cat No: DELEC CD/LP 005
Release Date: 25th November 1991
[Track Listing] [Band Info] [Credits] [Reviews]
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Track Listing
A: Going Out
A Word From Our Sponsor
Sundial - Mind Train Excursion (Sundial)
Magic Mushroom Band - Don't Be Afraid (Magic Mushroom Band)
Nick Riff - Lost & Wild (Nick Riff)
The Petals - Poisoned Air (C. Wolf)
C: Staying For A Bit
The Porcupine Tree - Linton Samuel Dawson (S. Wilson)
Dimentia 13 - Do The Jerk Off (Bradley S. Warner)
Poisoned Electrick Head - Snobs (Poisoned Electrick Head)
The Bevis Frond - Cold Rain & Snow (Trad Arr. Bevis Frond)
I: Going Furthur
Alice's Orb - Don't Know If I Should (Ross/Woollford)
John Fallon - Summers End In San Francisco (J. Fallon)
The Gothics - The Quest (The Gothics)
Tyrnaround - Hello Or Goodbye (G. Gray)
D: Leaving Completely
The Colored Plank - Black Ferris Wheel (Trad Arr. A. Stoat)
Mandragora - Conspiracy (Mandragora)
Ozric Tentacles - 'Erp Riff '83 (Ozric Tentacles)
The Trodds - The Stalk (A. Heller)
Treatment - Nightmare (Treatment)
LP Only Tracks (Also included on the CD version of Fun With Mushrooms)
The Cosmic Kangaroos - Ritual People (Cosmic Kangaroos)
Reefus Moons - Mr & Mrs Creature (R. Saxty)
The Marshmallow Overcoat - 13 Ghosts (Panico / Gassen)
Dr. Brown - Freakbeat (Ellis / Shah/ Cook / Anderton)
The Jasmine Love Bomb - That River (K. Thompson / E. Kaspers)
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Band Info
Sundial - Mind Train Excursion.
Gary Ramon's Sundial suddenly appeared in 1990 and almost immediately became recognised as one of the best UK psych - prog bands of that year. Their LP "Other Way Out", originally a limited edition on the Tangerine label, was re-issued to great acclaim on UFO. Featuring a classic guitar and keyboard swirl of sound and colour "Other Way Out" also yielded the wonderful phased 45 "Exploding In Your Mind". A new single on UFO has just been released entitled "Overspill" and the band are starting to play live. Sundial's contribution to the Psauna is a studio jam recorded shortly after the LP came out.
Magic Mushroom Band - Don't Be Afraid.
One of the UKs longest running psychedelic groups. The Bracknell based Magic Mushroom Band have since 1983, put out five LP's, been through various line-up changes and entertained many people all over the South of England. Like Ozric Tentacles they have had little support from the Music Press but despite this have built up a large and loyal following in the UK and Europe. Their current LP "Spaced Out" on Fungus / Mystic Stones Records showcases their distinctive Psychedelic Sound taking in space rock, pop, dance and ambient styles. The track featured on the Psauna is a pre-album mix of a number that later appeared on the "Process of Illumination" LP. For more info, see the in-depth interview in Freakbeat issue 7.
Nick Riff - Lost & Wild.
From Zanesville, Ohio, USA. Nick Riff transmits his psychedelic message through the medium of the Psychedelic Psauna. After being in various bands in the '80s, Nick decided to settle down in the peaceful surroundings of Zanesville and work at his Oblivion Studio. The first sounds to be generated made their way onto a wonderful tape entitled "From The Heart Of Oblivion". (Which is now available as a cassette from Delerium.) "Lost & Wild" is taken from this cassette but has been re-mixed for inclusion here. Look out for Nick's killer debut album "Freak Element" out on Delerium.
The Petals - Poisoned Air.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, the home of Plasticland and of The Petals, a wonderful Psychedelic pop combo who have put out three singles and have an album released early in 1992. Mixing elements of folk rock with guitar psych "Poisoned Air" is the surreal story of a girl who commits suicide by gassing herself to death. Given a wide and spacey production by John Frankovic of Plasticland. It's an epic piece of thought provoking psych, that has a much darker undercurrent than a cursory listen might reveal...
The Porcupine Tree - Linton Samuel Dawson.
Lord Percy Blmpton is sitting at the breakfast table one morning reading his mail when quite abruptly he takes a revolver from his pocket and blows his head off. His brains make a delightful pattern on the newly decorated West wing verandah. Roger the butler, much distressed by this turn of events, handcuffs himself to the breakfast table and gibbers hysterically.
Percy attempts to indulge his corpse in a discussion about milk bottle top sculpture and the work of John Travolta. A heated argument ensues...
Lady Blampton is naturally bemused by these events. Her attention is drawn to a card on top of her husbands mail:
LINTON SAMUEL DAWSON
Daily excursions to inner space (Body Optional)
Performed by:
Porcupine Tree - Guitar, Bass, Voice
Sir Tarquin Underspoon - Organ
Expanding Flan - Drums
JC Camillioni - Psychedelic Landscapes
Composed by Porcupine Tree with lyrics by Alan Duffy
Dimentia 13 - Do The Jerk Off.
From Ohio, USA, yet more psychedelic inertia, this time from one Bradley S. Warner, who is the captain of a painted ship known as Dimentia 13. All of the D13's six albums to date have been varied and wonderous creations, from the tripped out 1985 debut "Dimentia 13" through to the more recent & rockier "Flat Earth Society". In the track here "Do The Jerk Off" Brad makes some Acidic observations with regard to a certain American psychedelic rock bands audience (or at least a certain section of them). For more information see Freakbeat No. 6.
Poisoned Electrick Head - Snobs.
Poisoned Electrick Head inhabit a wild surreal and derranged landscape somewhere around Merseyside in the UK. Live favourites at many an underground happening they combine a highly complex and original sound with nutty be-costumed onstage antics - coming across like Mad Max film extras on Acid. With a superb single to their credit on their own Dead Fly label an LP is in the works and should be out soon.
The Bevis Frond - Cold Rain & Snow.
A true hero of the independant record scene, The Bevis Frond needs few introductions. Based at his home in Walthamstowe UK, Bevis (Aka Nick Saloman) has been putting out his own & other like-minded artists records on his own Woronzow label. Bevis has developed a style that is unique to himself combining guitar rock, psych, folk, punk and progressive influences with a very distinctive vocal sound to create a musical vision that will stand the test of time. Bevis has also collaborated with the erstwhile Reckless Records, who've re-released his albums on CD & done much to spread the word across to the 'States. His latest LP "New River Head" is his 7th and is available on Woronzow. You can read about him in Freakbeat No. 4 and No. 7.
Alice's Orb - Don't Know If I Should.
This UK duo of Jeffrey Ross and Alan Woollford recently generated a great deal of interest with their excellent self-titled cassette release. Lophophora Williamsii was so impressed with the bands sound that he gave them a place in the Psauna and we're proud to present the first vinyl release by Alice's Orb. Recently they became a trio with the addition of Martyn Ford on drums and together they hope to play live soon.
John Fallon - Summers End In San Francisco.
The Steppes will be remembered as one of the best psychedelic rock bands of the 1980s and their masterpiece "Drop Of The Creature" (Voxx) revered as a classic of it's genre. The songwriting duo of John & Dave Fallon penned some truly amazing music for the Steppes five LPs and it's a crime that the band are no longer together. John Fallon is working on a solo career and no doubt we will be hearing from him soon. "Summers End In San Francisco" was recorded in the summer of 1990, in San Francisco naturally. You can get the low-down on The Steppes in issues 4 & 6 of Freakbeat.
The Gothics - The Quest.
Milwaukees Plasticland successfully revived American Psychedelia, but added to it a heavy dose of German space rock and UK pop psych. If you've never heard Plasticland then I suggest that you track down one of their three studio albums immediately. The Gothics are an offshoot from the Plasticland concept and combine a Detroit guitar sound with John Frankovic's fascination for all things gothic. The result is eerie and original. "The Quest" is one of the Gothics more relaxed pieces. The band have also put out a great 45 on the Susstones label in America. In depth interviews with John Frankovic can be found in Freakbeat issues 4 & 6.
Tyrnaround - Hello Or Goodbye.
Melbourne, Australia is the home for Tyrnaround, a band who have managed to grab hold of the heart of UK psychedelia circa 67 and insert it into a new body. The bands debut release - the 12" "Color Your Mind" EP - was a psychedelic monster, whilst their debut LP "Succeeds When Daylight Fails" (Polyester Records) has its mindset firmly in the dayglo now. The track here, however, is from their rare 1988 single "Want Of A Rhyme" / "Hello Or Goodbye" and will appeal to 60s psych nuts and 90s freaks alike. Tune into Tyrnaround with the interview in issue 7 of Freakbeat.
The Colored Plank - Black Ferris Wheel.
Roll up! Roll up! Roll Up! Walk The Colored Plank. The Colored Plank. The Black Plank. The Colored Ferris Wheel. Take a blind leap from the top of a many hued timber, into a sea of sound. Trip-toe through an underwater world. We are Whirled. We are Children. Dalek anenomes in formation. Heading the onslaught. Of something barely noticeable. The Colored Plank. The Colored Plank. The Black Ferris Wheel. The Black Ferris Wheel. A Clock in a crocodiles stomach? Nothing.
Mandragora - Conspiracy.
From Brighton in the UK, Mandragora are one of the finest current psychedelic rock bands around at the moment. Born in the shadow of Stonehenge Free Festival, they have been developing their unique mixture of space, progressive, ethnic, dance and psychedelic sounds since 1983. The bands first privately released 1989 album "Over The Moon" is a classic of it's kind, whilst their 2nd "Head First" (on Resonance) features New Age keyboard wizard Phil Thornton in a blazing and surreal portrait of sound. Here "Conspiracy" makes Acidic comment on institutionalised and cult religions.
Ozric Tentacles - Erp Riff '83.
Purveyors of Psychedelic space rock & ethnic head sounds the "Ozrics" have been playing at free festivals and underground events since 1982 when they were born from a jam at Stonehenge free festival. Since then their following has grown and grown almost completely by word of mouth. With a single called "Sploosh" in the indie charts and their 3rd LP "Strangeitude" (Dovetail Records) just released, Ozrics have won their hard-earned success by their own efforts alone. We are proud to present this track "Erp Riff '83" recorded in 1983, before the Ozrics had put out any cassettes or vinyl, making it their earliest available recording. For the full Bizz, see the lengthy article in Freakbeat No. 7.
The Trodds - The Stalk.
The Trodds were an American Psychedelic band that "lived" between 1980 and 1983. Featuring Aram Heller - who went on to work with the classic garage psych bands The Hopelessly Obscure, The World Of Distortion, The Dark Cellars, The Kenne Highland Clan, and Plan 9 - The Trodds made one 7" 45 and a 7" EP on Stanton Park Records, both of which are magical pieces of '80s psych with a very original sound. The Trodds also recorded at least an LPs worth of material from which "The Stalk" is taken. At present Aram Heller is running his very successful Stanton Park Records label. For the full blurb on the Trodds & other bands featuring Aram, see Freakbeat 5.
Treatment - Nightmare.
To close the Psychedelic Psauna, we chose one of our favourite mental merchants Treatment who are the longest running band involved in this compilation and possibly the only real psychedelic band to emerge from the UK's punk rock scene. Formed out of the ashes of Psycho Hamster in 1981, Treatment were involved in the early '80s UK Psychedelic revival (sic), played regularly at Alice In Wonderland in London and generally fried brains in and around the Capital. The insane on stage antics and bewildering mixture of musical styles has made them somewhat of a legend amongst the "head set". Once again the band that wouldn't die are alive and gigging and their 2nd LP should be out soon on Delerium. The Treatment story so far is captured in detail in Freakbeat 7.
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Credits
Greetings Freeks
Lophophora Williamsii's the name and mynd-blowing's the aim! To those who've never met me before a BIG HIGH! and to those who know me from the pages of FREAKBEAT magazine welcome once more to yet another introduction and to this Psychedelic Psauna which is guaranteed to steam your brain, improve your neuro-circulatin and cleanse your nervous system.
Putting the psychedelics back into psychedelia, that's what a growing number of musicians are doing today and, even tho' the two dimensional, cardboard, back slapping, brain numbingly pretentious music press and (sic) Music Industry don't like to admit it, such musicians are popular, I hope that there's something of interest within the swirling interior of the creation, for each and everyone.
It's taken a long time to connect all of the plumbing, but finally, those FREAKBEAT people have done it and now the steam powered echo-chamber awaits your fragile, eggshell mind. There are many ways to enjoy this musical experience but all of them lead to Nirvana. This is an audio-reality interface which allows you to access other realms of reality without actually going there! Add chopped onion and garlic to taste. If you get stuck, take the blue pill. This is your captain speaking... we don't need the groovy driver. There is the known and the unknown and in-between is the Psychedelic Psauna. Go ride the music baby (I'm riding)...
Lophophora Williamsii '91
All tracks Copyright Control except:
Nick Riff - Lost & Wild. (Cosmic Eye BMI)
The Petals - Poisoned Air. (Refraction Music BMI)
Dimentia 13 - Do The Jerk Off. (Dimentia 13 Music BMI)
The Gothics - The Quest. (Refraction Music BMI)
Portrait of Lophophora Williamsii by Pete Loveday of Big Bang comics - check out Pete's newest book "Russell - The Saga Of A Peaceful Man", published by John Brown publishing.
Front Cover & outer booklet artwork by Dan "The Man" Abbott -(AND HOW!)
Back Cover & Label Art - Dale Simpson
Orchestration & Glue - Mr. Coffee Nerves & The Orange Sunshine Pill Press.
Delerium logos - Andrew Lynsell
Booklet notes - Richard Allen & the bands
Compilation concept - Lophophora Williamsii
Digitally mastered by Swordfish at Southill Park Recording Studio.
Hats Off To: All the bands, Bevis (for use of his reel to real machine), Everyone involved with Freakbeat, Everyone on the bus, Fruit Salad Lights, Encyclopaedia Psychedelica & The Evolution, Legalise Cannabis Campaign, Club Dog, Psychedelic Explorers past present and future, Ptolemaic Terrascope and the Save the Planet brigade.
Dedicated to:- Albert Hofmann & the instant Zen, Gaia, The Realised Other, Peace Love & Freedom, Merry Pranksters of the NOW!, Freaks & you who've yet to have your third eye awakened WELCOME.
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Press Reviews
Select, January 1992.
Goldmine, May 1992.
Bucketful of Brains, 1992.
NME, 26 Oct 1991.
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Select
Government propaganda has misled the public into believing that acid rock died a natural death in the mid-70's. In fact, as every pot-head pixie knows, the musical phenomenon known to humanoids as "Psychedelia" is really a shape-changer from inner space and as such can never die.
This strange creature is now manifesting itself in the form of "Psychedelic Psauna", double compilation LP, featuring all the leading lights from the purative psychedelic revival of recent years, although not always to their advantage.
While offerings from Bevis Frond (Cold Rain & Snow) and The Magic Mushroom Band (Don't Be Afraid) are well up to scratch, the best that can be said about an early demo from Ozric Tentacles (Erp Riff '83) is that is shows what a difference eight years and a decent studio can make. The stand-out track comes from the relatively unknown Porcupine Tree whose Linton Samuel Dawson is as weird a piece of helium-fuelled madness as anyone could desire. Tune in. Turn On. Get your bloody hair cut. (Andrew Collins)
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Goldmine
The ever-burgeoning psychedelic revival scene is very healthy and active in the UK as manifested in this quite substantial anthology put together by Freakbeat magazine. Of course, the Bevis Frond is the most well known of he neo-psychedelic artists, but groups such as Ozric Tentacles, the Magic Mushroom Band and Sundial are becoming increasingly familiar, each with its own growing, and often rabid, following. The music on this sampler is remarkably diverse, including acid space jams, fuzz guitar bonanzas, Beatlesque pop re-treads, garage thrash, early folk-rock, uncategorizable weirdness and much more.
Both Ozric Tentacles (one of the hottest bands to emerge from the entire scene) and Sundial turn in inter-stellar psych/progressive jams which recall Pink Floyd and Hawkwind. Sundial's "Mind Train Excursion" tends to be a little more towards psychedelia, while the Ozrics are a bit more progressive, rather like their American counterparts, Djam Karet.
Another song which focuses on instrumental prowess and clever musical structures is "Snobs" by Poisoned Electrick Head, which is characterised by sudden tempo, metric and rhythmic shifts, often coupled with sound effects and even juxtaposed and wildly different musical styles. Rather different is Alice's Orb, whose song alternates between a folky, acoustic guitar ballad and an electric guitar rocker that is reminiscent of Spirit.
The compilers have deemed it appropriate to include a number of American artists and groups, including The Petals, the Gothics, and stalwarts Dimentia 13, among others. The Petals "The Poisoned Air" is a minorish ballad that invokes the Jefferson Airplane and even a bit of X! There is also one group from Australia, Tyrnaround, whose "Hello or Goodbye" is a very creative homage to the style of White Album or Abbey Road era Beatles.
All in all, this is a very inviting set, with great music and terrific artwork, reminiscent of those Fillmore Auditorium posters, which will satisfy both psych and prog-heads. A double LP version with extra cuts is available in addition to the CD. (Dean Suzuki)
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Bucketful of Brains
From the people that bring you Freakbeat magazine, a double-album with the stated aim of putting the psychedelics back into psychedelia. And why not? The format is simple: one track a piece, dazzle or die! 23 currently active artists step up to take the challenge, some of 'em familiar to most Freakbeat, Bucketful or Terrascope readers and some of 'em not so much so. Most tracks are unavailable elsewhere: everything is very well annotated on the enclosed insert - the packaging is excellent overall. Most are by UK and US bands, but Australia's Tyrnaround and Germany's Cosmic Kangeroos sneak in here too.
To pick a few random faves: Sundial's "Mind Train Jam" is a real blitzkrieg and far wilder than anything on their new album; The Petals' John Frankovic produced folk-rock gem "Poisoned Air"; the almost always dependable Bevis Frond with a driving reworking of "Cold Rain & Snow"; "Summer's End in SanFrancisco" John Fallon's first solo output since The Steppes split is encouraging too.
Yes, there are some excellent cuts here but a fair amount of dross as well. Personally, I can easily live without the vast majority of "Festival" bands and their close relations (Ozric Turkey's & the hugely over-rated Mandragora for instance) and most of side "I" is particularly dull. Even the usually good Reefus Moons track is lacklustre (and I loved his debut album). Maybe a single album would have been more impressive and consistent? The single CD version has 5 fewer tracks - for reasons of space. (Jon Storey)
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NME
In the tradition of Lenny Kaye's "Nuggets" compilation of garage/psychedelic bands of the 60's comes this gaudy package of mind-warping music from the editorial team who brought you Freakbeat magazine. P.S. showcases just what is going on underground in the 90's, where such well known species as Sundial and Bevis Frond writhe against an entire sub strata of unknown weirdos, many of which will manage to ooze their way into your helpless subconscious by the time they've finished.
Despite the Ronald McDonald on acid cover, not everything on this double album is riding on the same cloud. Dance, hard-rock and acid groove weave and spurt every which way with not a dull moment to be heard. If you really are curious about what happened to psychedelic music and where it's heading, then this labour of love has all the answers. (Edwin Pouncey)
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Delerium Records. info@delerium.co.uk
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