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Reviews

Volcano the Bear — Classic Erasmus Fusion
(Beta-lactam Ring mt092a, 2006, 2CD)

by Jon Davis, Published 2007-03-01

Classic Erasmus Fusion Cover art

If you thought the weird bits of Ummagumma weren’t weird enough, have I got a band for you. We’re mostly out in Residents territory, only with a psychedelic edge, and you can have a little Nurse with Wound as well. Not much dancing in this house. It seems to consist of improvisation, sound manipulation (probably before, during, and after the fact), and a wide array of instruments lying around just in case someone feels an urge. Horns, strings, percussion, noisemakers, and pieces fallen off alien spacecraft (for all I can tell) make appearances. There are even a few vocal tracks, sometimes with singing, sometimes chanting, sometimes screaming – at least I think that’s what I heard. You can never be too sure with an album like this. The second disc of this set approaches more band-oriented sounds, and contains most of the recognizable songs. There are also similarities with the more experimental German bands of the 70s: Faust-heads take note. The band has also conveniently provided a rest stop along the way, twelve minutes of sparse acoustic (I think) droning in case you need a potty break. You an also get it in a 2LP version, which is said to feature different mixes all round. Now where did that Pict go? I know he was around here somewhere.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 34, 2006 releases

Related artist(s): Volcano the Bear

 

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