Rhyton –
Kykeon (Thrill Jockey)
LP/CD/DL
17 November
2014
Sonic
voyaging trio release their new album.
Ladies and
gentleman, let me introduce to you your new favourite Middle Eastern, Greek,
60s infused, surf tinged rock act.
You’ve forgotten your last one?
No worries.
David
Shuford (No Neck Blues Band), Jimy SeiTang (Stygian Stride) and Rob Smith
(Pigeons) make up the trio who have previously given us improvised albums and
now present six tracks which have been arranged and formed rather nicely.
Taking
influences from the Middle East and Greece they have fused them with elements
of 60s and 70s rock and created some interesting, if not very enjoyable
compositions.
Opening with
Siren In Byblos, high pitched effects sounding like the old internet dial up
tone are mixed with theremin sounding noises before calm enters in the form of
Doors-like organ and gentle drum patterns.
It moves along with a 60s psychedelic feel speeding up then slowing down
into a dark plodding crawl.
In Greek,
‘kykeon’ has a literal translation of “to stir, to mix” and is therefore an apt
name for the album. Also a psychoactive
drink invented by the ancients, it’s a fitting title as it’s near
hallucinogenic creations twist and spiral inside your head. Topkapi is case in point – cyclic and
aspiring, in evokes memories of Ravi Shankar and Beatles ‘trips’ into the unknown.
Gneiss is
repetitive and maybe too much so until a midway break appears in the form of a
bouzouki which adds a refreshing air to the proceedings.
The opening
to Pannychis is Stone Roses-like as the gentle organ and skimming percussion
compliment a terrific guitar riff whilst treated vocals gurgle and murmur intermittently. California Black Box Vapors is probably more
improvised sounding like a jam session by three young men determined to break
their respective instruments in less than four minutes.
Album
closer, The Striped Sun brings together a mish-mash of effects, random sounding
instruments and electro-saz and sounds amazing.
8.5/10
8.5/10
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