'On New Horizons' is an eclectic selection of music, soundscapes & stories by creative musicians & artistes from around the world.
released October 6, 2014
Review from Bliss/Aquamarine
VARIOUS On New Horizons volume 1 tape (Zyng Tapes)
Zyng Tapes is a new tape label run by Rob Kirtley, formerly of The Rabbit's Hat. This tape, the label's first release, is a compilation of bands and artists associated with the Stone Premonitions collective, of which The Rabbit's Hat were a part. The fact that it is a tape shows a return to the roots of Stone Premonitions, as it too started out as a tape label back in the 1990s. The actual cassette is bright blue with a contrasting yellow label, limited to 100 copies, and the music contained within covers earlier Stone Prem classics along with more recent material.
Spirit of Neon, a current offshoot of 70s prog-punk band Neon, appear with Waddya Want, which was previously released under the band name The Global Broad Band. The song is a no-holds-barred attack on injustice, political corruption and greed. Combining the anger of punk and the intricacy of prog rock, the song is indeed in the 'Spirit of Neon'! Census of Hallucinations' Signature is a sophisticated blend of soul, blues and atmospheric prog rock, with lyrics observing the selfishness and apathy of celebrity-obsessed modern culture, summed up perfectly in the line "Whilst the bees die, we're glued to our screens".
The Rabbit's Hat's Riding the War is a classic piece of songwriting that transcends genre. Terri~B's Ravenous Radicals is a bizarre, theatrical piece featuring a surrealistic alliterative recitation set to similarly surreal synth music with baroque and jazz motifs. Krom Lek's Earth of Illusion is heavy spacerock with flute, kind of like a mix of Hawkwind, Jethro Tull and Ozric Tentacles, with a Bevis Frond-esque guitar solo. Stoned by Terri~B is a chilled-out mood piece combining elements of world music (sitar, tribal-style percussion) with floaty ambient soundscaping.
Thought for the Day #2 by The Reverend Rabbit has him narrating a parable over a filmic experimental soundscape, its message critiquing consumerism and organised religion whilst celebrating free-thinking spirituality. Art Beat by Rapoon & Census of Hallucinations is an ambient piece comprising hypnotic repetition and swelling waves of atmospheric sound. Tim Jones' Fishun' Chips simply comprises Tim singing "fish 'n' chips" over and over in an exaggerated vocal style; definitely not a song that demonstrates the height of Tim's talent as a songwriter, but it has a surrealistic comedy factor that made me laugh out loud on multiple occasions.
Finally there is Stella Polaris, who I don't recall having heard before, though if their track here is anything to go by, I would definitely like to hear more. Entitled Off With Their Heads, it shows a multifaceted approach, beginning as a floaty ambient piece before morphing into a wild, intense psych-rock track.
An eclectic mix of sounds and a good introduction to the music of Stone Premonitions; am keen to find out what Zyng Tapes will be releasing next! This tape will be available as of 6th October
Kim Harten - Bliss/Aquamarine
www.blissaquamarine.net