THE WEIRDING

4.5 stars. There's quite a buzz about this band right now. This is a young band from California who have gone retro with a late sixties, early seventies sound, and I mean that literally as the production sounds like it came from that era as well. It's like finding a long lost Psychedelic gem. Interesting that 2 of the guys play mellotron and we get lots of it. Lots of great guitar and spacey soundscapes as well. PINK FLOYD is the band I thought of at times, usually to do with the vocals more than anything though. Man this is a long one though at almost 79 minutes.This would have been a double album if it were released back in the early seventies. So an ambitious endeavour to be sure. And for me it works very well. I'm quite impressed.

"The Rising Of The Black Sun" opens with sounds that echo and screech. It's spacey. It kicks in after 2 1/2 minutes. Nice. Love the guitars. Mellotron 5 1/2 minutes in to end it. How cool does this sound ! The mellotron continues as it blends into "The Weirding", then flute, light drums then reserved vocals come in. It's more aggressive 1 1/2 minutes in with guitars and mellotron. Contrasts continue. Great sound 7 minutes in as the guitar offers up some psychedelic melodies. A mellotron storm 11 1/2 minutes in with some raw guitar to follow. Nice. Fantastic song ! "Silent Sleep" opens with some killer guitar as drums and mellotron join the fun. It settles with flute 2 minutes in.Vocals after 3 minutes. It's fuller sounding with mellotron 4 1/2 minutes in. Synths 6 1/2 minutes in. Another excellent track. "The River Under" builds with cymbals, bass, mellotron and other sounds. Vocals 2 minutes in with synths arriving a minute later. Lots of mellotron flows as this song trips along.

"Ouroboros" is the longest track at almost 17 1/2 minutes. Synths to open as mellotron, drums and guitar join in. Love the guitar as the mellotron comes in waves. It turns more psychedelic after 3 1/2 minutes. Incredible. The guitar is amazing as he lights it up. It calms down 11 minutes in. Check out the guitar after 13 minutes. Mellotron crashes the party as the guitar continues. "Broken Glass" is a mellow tune with reserved vocals. Mellotron joins in. This is the shortest tune at under 4 minutes. "The Dawning Of Ophiuchus" opens with lots of spacey sounds that dominate. It settles after 2 minutes then the guitar and drums come in. I like it. Mellotron joins in as well to create a great sound. "Beyond To Slight The Maze" opens with drums and mellotron, then these FLOYD- like vocals come in with flute when it settles. Vocals are more passionate 1 1/2 minutes in. Organ comes in when it settles 5 1/2 minutes in. Check out the mellotron a minute later. Solo acoustic guitar to end it. What a song !

This is like a trip back in time, and it's a trip i'll be taking quite often.