PARADISE NOW

GROUP 1850's debut was really "out there" sort of speak with some great ideas, I just didn't enjoy it that much. "Paradise Now" is this Dutch band's second album and is much more laid back and less experimental with a lot more percussion. And I love it.

"Paradise Now" is haunting to start out as we get some spoken words.The organ floats in and builds.The song kicks in after 1 1/2 minutes and our trip has begun. Great tune. "Friday I'm Free" sounds even better than the opening song. Bass, guitar, drums and tripped out vocals lead the way. "Hunger" opens with outbursts of sound coming and going then it settles with vocals.This is very FLOYD-like. Psychedelic guitar after 2 minutes. "Circle" is a short uptempo instrumental. "Lonelyness" has some interesting ideas on it. It's like being fried in the sixties.

"Martin En Peter" features percussion and flute for the most part. Very ethnic sounding. "?!" is an outstanding tune as it builds to this fairly catchy melody of drums, guitar and organ. Check out the psychedelic gutar later. "Purple Sky" has a Jimi Hendrix vibe to it. It opens with random drum patterns as the guitar cries out. The song settles into a heavy but slow groove. Spoken vocals before 2 minutes. The guitar starts to solo 3 minutes in until we get dual guitars that echo a minute later. It settles right down 5 1/2 minutes in then the drums start to solo. The guitar and bass are back after 8 minutes.This is great ! Some scorching guitar follows.

A classic Psychedelic album.