More madness from the Santa Cruz psychedelic axis of evil, Residual Echoes comes to us complete with a stamp of recommendation from none other than California's very own Comets on Fire who, we are to presume, picked these guys up off the sidewalk, deposited them in the studio, and locked the doors. What emerges doesn't really get going until the third track "(G)ynou(gh) part ii," but from then on, there's a treat for everybody: a little Neil Young soul-searching guitar, a little doom noise, and some spacy freak out for the heads. Throughout, it's the guitar that really matters, in all its various incarnations. "Bleu Eyes" is like a primer for the instrument, all Morricone and buzzing insect voices until the inevitable crescendo, while the finger pickings on "Greetings Ancient Ocean" and power chords of "Motametrick Canopy Entry" leave no doubt that this is music from a group that knows its rock and roll.
After being picked up and thrown away, it's nice to see the guitar solo, hell, the guitar song, make such a ridiculously triumphant return. So why the 3.5? Maybe its because, after the initial rush, I can't help the feeling that this is a live band we are talking about here, not a studio one. Armed with a terrible name and a comfortable place in the local California scene, Residual Echoes seems destined to blow people's minds on location way better than in the privacy of your home. Much more than an album proper. Phoenician Flu sounds like the workout of a band still figuring out what it is they really want from themselves. So, as it is, we get a compelling document of a band in progress, and 3.5 from a reviewer who wishes he could play guitar like that.
It's a strange sort of irony that the Avant-fringe has come full cycle from its minimalist punk beginnings back to the expansive and expanding sounds of the guitar underground. Like the best of Phoenician Flu, the most compelling music out there, from the mystery jangle of the No-Neck blues band to the drone of Acid Mothers Temple seems best suited to the element of chance, or even (dare I say it) of the Jam. Maybe it's just that new forms of intense confusion/Psychedelia seems so appropriate when faced with the ridiculous state of the world. After all, this kind of music has always emphasized the inner emotions of its players, from Hendrix on. Residual Echoes seems so happy with what they are doing. Let's just let them play a little while longer while they figure it out.
1. Death Comes For The Archbishop
2. Lorelei
3. [G]-X-Nou(gh) Part 2
4. Knowe Part 1
5. Motametrik Canopy Entry
6. Greetings Ancient Ocean
7. Bleu Eyes
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