LAMP OF THE UNIVERSE

LAMP OF THE UNIVERSE is the solo project of Craig Williamson which was founded in 1999. He is also bassist and vocalist in the psychedelic rock band Datura. The music on this second album ECHO IN LIGHT from this solo project is a combo of freak folk, a cosmic raga rock hippy feeling like a long lost artifact from the 60s only with much cleaner production and a Floydian space rock but manages to sound different enough as to never bring the Pinksters to mind too often.

At first i thought this was a band which included a female vocalist but i was surprised to find out that this is truly a solo album where every instrument, vocal performance and production technique was by Williamson alone. Not bad! This is basically long drawn out mid-tempo acoustic guitar with tribal drumming, occasional droning of sitar sounds and spacey 60s vocals. Tracks like "Love" bring fellow Oceanic trippers Dead Can Dance to mind. The album flows well from track to track and i really only find the final track "Dream Sequence" to be longer than necessary.

For being recorded on a simple 8 track this sounds pretty damn good. This album was put out by Cranium Music which went belly up shortly after but would find a new home with Clostridium Records. This scratches the right psychedelic itch. It is highly melodic and has lots of variation to it. This is a perfect mix of spacey and triply otherworldliness mixed with nice and accessible melodic developments. Sign me up for another album. LAMP OF THE UNIVERSE did not disappoint.

'Pantheist' opens the album. It's made up of a classic psychedelic sound mixed with some unconventional instruments and a warm wall of sound. On itself it's not at all a bad piece, not very interesting either but still a worthy song.

Then comes the second track, 'Creation of Light', and what do we find here? This song sounds exactly the same as the first one. The same instruments sound the same(except for the addition of the recorder and synthesizer), the singing goes on with the same monotonous voice and the wall of sound keeps up with almost no variation. It's like listening to a seven minute mediocre song twice in a row.

The third song, 'Transcendence', again comes in with a similar slow, thick vibe, although it does have more prominent drumming that carries the song a bit better. On itself it's one of the better pieces on the album, just because the melodies are lighter and catchier, but it doesn't add much to the album as a whole as it basically just continues with the same sound that is used throughout the rest of it.

'The Sign of Love' is another slowly dragging composition with some interesting spacey effects, some nice acoustic parts and dark synthesizer lines, but for the rest of it it's just another continuation of the boring theme.

Luckily, there is 'Samsara Born'. In this song Craig only uses his voice and acoustic guitar and some sound effects to create a soft, minimal atmosphere. It's a necessary break from the constant wall of sound of the first few songs and has a positive effect on the album. It is, however not very good.

'Beyond The Material World' brings back the wall of sound and makes it thicker than ever before so that it makes for an epic conclusion. It's quite a pleasant song, has more power than the others and could therefore be considered one of the highlights.

Overall, Lamp of the Universe delivers a mediocre, boring release. If you are interested in this artist, I recommend you start with the earlier albums like 'Echo in Light' or 'Heru'. This album is only recommended for you if you are already a fan or desperately need some psych rock. Two stars.

Lamp Of The Universe and Craig Williamson are consubstantialities. Craig Williamson that started the activity in 1999 takes charge of all musical instruments to introduce the name of "Lamp Of The Universe" into the album as an incarnation. The necessity might have accompanied the expression and the music character as a guess. Role of existence and Craig Williamson of "Datura" to type out directionality of Downer/Stoner Rock in New Zealand. And, it exists about some musicians who have enumerated it as a musician from whom Craig Williamson was influenced. Flavor of Raga Rock that is reminiscent of "Magic Carpet" that joins part of psychedelic and Acid music and "Oriental Sunshine". Or, the music of the same Cranium label as the work group of "Saturnia" known as a band in Portugal is united and the sent music character. It is possible to listen to these elements enough of course also in this album.

The point that should make a special mention as a single unit of this Craig Williamson might be in the point that his outlook on music is obediently expressed. Or, the point that Craig Williamson privately takes charge of all musical instruments to introduce into the recording might be splendid. Introduction of element of electronic sound without staying in simple psychedelic and Raga Rock. Or, the flavor of Acid Folk is introduced. The expression of the song that expands those width might be splendid.

A good guitar in close relation to the flavor of Acid Folk and the repetition of the rhythm will affect "Freedom To Godliness" agreeable. The music character of Craig Williamson is demonstrated enough as for the repetition of the melody in close relation to the union of psychedelic Downer and the Folk music.

As for "Resonance", Raga Rock that takes the element of complete Drone is emphasized. Sitar that repeats a melody of an enchantment song and a heavy melody expresses a good blissout. Ensemble to introduce a guitar that gives an effective sound and an electronic sound effect creates one space.

"Our Celestial Flow" might be a tune established as complete Stoner Rock. Flow of single sound of continuing organ. Or, the Chord progress of the guitar that effectively uses the Wow pedal gives the flavor of complete psychedelic and Downer. When six minutes are passed, the tune constructs the enchantment world further accompanied by the chorus though solo of the guitar continues. There might be a part where the element of Krautrock in the 60's is recollected overall as an impression, too.

"Love" is a tune from which the atmosphere of good Acid Folk is emphasized. A pastoral sound caused by the synthesizer gives a good, transparent feeling. It has the impression that the rhythm of the arpeggio with an acoustic guitar and repeated Conga also gives the relief.

"Pyramids Of Sun" is a tune that Acid Folk and Raga Rock fuse completely. The melody with minor Chord gives the flow of good lyrical. Part of base noise effectively used. Flow that continues pastoral atmosphere while effectively using sound with diversity. Composition of melody that Sitar is good. The gaga part has gone out of the tune strongly as much as possible.

"Dream Sequence" expresses a very modern sound well. Establishment of Oriental melody. Or, an effective sound is processed with the keyboard and the guitar. The blissout continues. When ten minutes are passed, the tune rushes into the chaotic world. Music where without boldly changing the composition with a purpose never continues. I can feel one space even by this tune.

The part where the idea that Craig Williamson cultivated is always expressed attended with the necessity might go out of the music character of "Lamp Of The Universe" strongly.

"Lamp of the universe" is a current psychedelic folk/raga rock one-man band. It's one of the very rare current bands which succeed to really sound 70's-like. Most of the time, it's pure psychedelic folk, and at times the guitar evokes Conny Veit's sound from Popol vuh on this first album. Like on the "Earth, spirit & sky" latter album, there's one piece which clearly emerges from the whole ("Freedom in Your Mind"). Leaded by a fabulous psychedelic guitar, this slightly heavy piece is very hendrixian in nature and makes the whole album worth. Without knowing, impossible to tell that this piece is from a current band. Impressive!

Very good current psyche-folk with acoustic guitar, sitar, tabla and (average) vocals. The « Earth, Spirit, and Sky » eponym piece is an absolute masterpiece featuring fantastic wah wah guitar, completly out of time and able to compete with the best 70's psychedelic progressive. The rest of the album is more homogeneous, leaded by flute and sitar, supported by a repetitive rhythm on acoustic guitar. An great current band !