“A world of frantic motion, never knowing if you’re coming or going”, unable to show our emotions ruled over by politicians who “if at first you don’t succeed, lie, and lie again”. Now it’s over two decades later, the political statements on ‘Lie Again’ and ‘The Selfishness of the Thatcher Years’ are more relevant today than ever as working class people have become marginalised and the rich have got richer; we live in renewed hope that the future holds better things, but there is an awful lot to fix.
It’s not all doom and gloom on “The 3rd Eye” though; we can escape into another world on ‘Big Brown Pyramid’, a catchy psychedelic dance tune which brought back pleasant memories of the music of JAPAN for some reason or maybe “it’s just my imagination running away with me.” The laid back ‘Life is Never Easy’ reminds us it shouldn’t be about the money and how much money you earn, the message delivered with a nice exchange between saxophone and guitar. The pastoral charm of ‘Buttercup Biscuits’ offers some light from a troubled world and the band gest a bit funky on ‘Think’. The fairy tale penultimate song ‘Stragon Cluin the Dragon’ always makes me think of THE BONZO DOGS. The piece de resistance is a 13-minute anti-war song/ play, with a touch of Vaudeville at the start, the mood changing with an air raid siren. This is the most ‘proggy’ track about “50,000 hells on Earth” – it’s called “55,00 Airmen”. Just think about what is going on in the world today!
Planet Earth needs more groups like Census of Hallucinations: not afraid to speak their minds- if only more would do so we wouldn’t be in the total mess we are in. Their music is also as relevant as ever in a country that has lost its moral compass.
These are my current thoughts; the following my previous ones when I first reviewed the album: Welcome once again to Census of Hallucination’s mind-bending journey through space and psychedelia. Building on the strengths of their previous albums, this release seamlessly blended memorable tunes with trippy sonic excursions, creating an experience that's both immersive and diverse. From the ethereal opener ‘The Pied Piper of Hell’ to the funky cosmic dance vibes of ‘Big Brown Pyramid’ and the introspective self-explanatory musings of ‘The Selfishness of The Thatcher Years’, each track offers something unique while maintaining Census of Hallucinations' signature sound. The album strikes a nice balance between structured song writing and experimental studio embellishments. Other standout moments include the hypnotic groove of ‘Think’, the symphonic keys and wah-wah guitar of ‘Pillow Full of Dreams’, and the epic related journey of "55,000 Airmen," which tackles weighty themes with artistic finesse.
Throughout the album, Census of Hallucinations deliver social and political commentary with a blend of humour and sincerity, adding depth to their psychedelic soundscapes. Listeners familiar with early Gong or those seeking a fresh take on psychedelic rock will find much to love here.
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