just something I googled up...
If Calm Before The Rising Storm (by the
Rising Storm) is the quintessential prep-school garage rock album,
perhaps the Ant Trap Ceremony’s 24 Hours is the quintessential college
campus psychedelic album.
The Ant Trip Ceremony recorded this album themselves and pressed it on
their own label, which is certainly an enterprising feat for any
small-time rock group. Musically, the Ant Trip Ceremony sound like the
Rising Storm might have a few acid hits and several philosophy classes
later. 24 Hours is made up of a mixture of cover tunes and interesting
originals, including the catchy “Outskirts” and the bizarre “Locomotive
Lamp.” No less interesting were the cover songs, including a slow
version of “Hey Joe” and a beautiful version of “Violets of Dawn,”
which was also done with great success by the Blues Project. Some
interest in the Ant Trip Ceremony was recently generated by the rumor
that David Crosby of the Byrds produced 24 Hours, but in fact this
David Crosby was just a friend of the band, who were based in Oberlin,
Ohio. The Collectables reissue is inhibited somewhat by its sound
quality, however reputedly this is the best that the album has ever
sounded. Likely it is the primitive recording rather than anything else
which most contributes to the sound problems. Although the Ant Trip
Ceremony album arguably lacks any real highlights, the songwriting is
quite ambitious and interesting. It’s an appealing glimpse into the
kind of music which was being made at campuses all across the country
in 1967 and ’68, produced by recently enlightened young people
emulating their musical and academic influences.
2
An
old forgotten gem from the best Psychedelic Rock period, "24 Hours" is
the only one Ant Trip Ceremony' album. Back to reality by the
Collectables catalogue, the band sounds mesmerizing, hypnotic and
complex, mixing acid guitar solos
(Steve Detray's courtesy). Sometimes, a vibrant folk flavour appears
("Violets of Dawn" and "Locomotive Lamp"), increasing its unusual Psyc
Rock from Utah. The inlay booklet indicates David Crosby (The Byrds) as
producer. And a curious cover (Michael Kanarek, a freak sleeve-designer
from the old Sixties)with the whole band smoking in a kind of opium
pipe)do the rest. Just excellent!!!