DARK SHADOWS
Cold Sun
•Psychedelic/Space Rock
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Studio Album, released in 2008 Songs / Tracks Listing 1. South Texas (5:17) - Bill Miller / autoharp, voices CD World In Sound (Germany) WIS-1038 (2008) Thanks to DamoXt7942 for the additionEdit this entry |
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COLD SUN Dark Shadows ratings distribution
(28 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(25%)
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(36%)
Good, but non-essential (29%)
Collectors/fans only (7%)
Poor. Only for completionists (4%)
COLD SUN Dark Shadows reviews
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Collaborators/Experts Reviews
FORUM & SITE ADMIN GROUP Avant/Cross/Neo/Post Teams

Yes I cannot be permissive with leaving such a great psychedelic progressive rock band (and simultaneously a follower of 13th Floor Elevators) still obscure underground. The frontman Bill MILLER, the autoharpist, got to be a backup-band member of Roky Erickson - he was a real admirer of Elevators and at the same time a real developer of Elevators' sound and style I appreciate. Not simply with a dry guitar solo, warped voices and wetly lyrical drums & percussion like Elevators, Bill and all members of COLD SUN tried to incorporate some progressive structure into their Elevators-based style - Neues! Their new trial should have catered for the psychedelic rock scene in those days...but, sad to say...their dream was broken out by the bankruptcy of the label Sonobeats.
Please let me say that COLD SUN should owe much of their psychedelically progressive essence to ALL the members' play, not only Bill's eccentric autoharp sounds. Hugh's wetly lyrical (and low-fi) drumming and Mike's heavily trailing bass are somewhat comfortable, in spite of their slightly unstable rhythm. Tom's fuzzy and unworldly guitar solo can remind us a brightly colourful flower garden. And strongly impressed with Bill's warped and cheesy (sorry!) voices! Don't be deceived with poppy-flavoured opening of each song, especially the third track Here In The Year. :-) The story (song) continually alters itself like a chameleon okay?
Again said, it's a pity they could not release this terrific album in the early 70s. They could have been one of the psychedelic progressive rock pioneers I consider.
PROG REVIEWER

There's some dispute with the release date of "Dark Shadows" as Discogs has it at 1993 and many point to a magazine interview where it says Rockadelic Records discovered this album in 1991 and released it the following year. I feel 1989 is right along with RYM because on the Rockadelic web-site it has their releases by catalogue number in order and it had to be 1989 unless they were in the habit of giving catalogue numbers then not releasing the album for a few years. I'm going with 1989. I have the 2008 re-issue which sounds a lot better apparently. Interesting that the 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS were known for that electric jug while COLD SUN was known for that electric autoharp. This is a dark and moody album including the lyrics that are so well done. By the way COLD SUN originally had the 13tH FLOOR ELEVATORS drummer but he left before the recording of this record.
"South Texas" is a great opener and I really dig the lyrics, especially talking about the gecko and paranoia. The fuzzed out guitar and autoharp are outstanding and check it out before 2 minutes as it's like the sun has come out making the darkness flee briefly. So cool. Harmonica after 3 1/2 minutes then more fuzzed out guitar late. A nice start. "Twisted Flower" is another excellent track and it opens with percussion and bass as it builds. Kind of a DOORS feel with the guitar then the vocals arrive before a minute. I really liked this right from the first listen. The guitar and autoharp sound incredible here.
"Here In The Year" is probably my favourite song on here. Again the lyrics are so well done. Drums, bass and autoharp to start as vocals join in. It's surprising how much he sounds like Bob Dylan on this song at times. How good does this sound just before 2 minutes as it changes slightly. So good! Suddenly we get chaos before 3 minutes as they rip it up. Back to the vocals before 3 1/2 minutes as the guitar solos over top. Insanity again after 5 1/2 minutes as we get another freak-out. It settles back again along with droning autoharp sounds, a beat and more.
"For Ever" is an uptempo track with desperate sounding vocals and we get backing vocals too. I like the guitar too then we get a change 1 1/2 minutes in sounding like Zappa's debut to me, especially again late. In between we get an explosion of sound 3 minutes in. "See What You Cause" is a catchy vocal led track with drums and bass supporting. Too straight forward for my tastes although I like it especially the fuzzed out guitar late.
"Fall" opens with drums as harmonica, guitar, bass and autoharp join in. Great lyrics again. It settles after 2 minutes then it kicks in with vocals. Fuzzed out guitar after 3 1/2 minutes and an urgent sound with vocals. Pulsating keys late in this dramatic instrumental conclusion. "Ra-Ma" ends it and it's the longest at 11 1/2 minutes. Beats and cymbals as it builds. It calms right down a minute in with vocals and more. It picks right back up with vocals. Another calm after 3 minutes as the tempo continues to change. It settles with harmonica and vocals before 5 minutes. Some grinding fuzzed out guitar follows. An interesting sound late without vocals to end it.
I agree with Damo that this would be considered a classic and a pioneer album had it been released back in 1969 or 1970 when it was recorded. A very solid 4 stars and the album cover is really well done.
Latest members reviews
Although it has some minor flaws, this is one of the most interesting albums I've ever come
across. The far-from-professional production and recording quality doesn't take away much
from the album's magic, actually it adds very much to the atmosphere, you can feel how
underground they are just
... (read more)
Report this review (#832506) | Posted by Josef_K | Thursday, October 4, 2012 | Review Permanlink
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