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Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. - Crystal Rainbow Pyramid Under The Stars For those not in the know, Acid Mothers Temple are a ridiculously prolific Japanese noise-rock band, heavily influenced by psychedelia and progressive rock from the sixties and seventies, though not necessarily sounding anything like that music. Self-described as a 'soul collective' that includes many musicians united by a common interest and communal values, there is a core group with various other members appearing sproradically on different releases. I think one of their albums actually featured a staggering fourteen players but on this one they're cut down to six. Constant members Tsuyama Atsuchi and Higashi Hiroshi are joined by three others, including new female vocalist Kitagawa Hao and as always, they're led by the enigmatic guitar god Kawabata Makoto. Released last summer, this album marks something of a change for the band. With many previous efforts, there is an omnipresent drone, a kind of dirtiness to the sound that bleeds all over the speakers, occaisionally causing the more frenetic parts to hiss with static. This release absolutely sparkles, Crystal Rainbow Pyramid remains beautifully clear throughout. For this reason, I'd say it's a great starting place for new comers and definately an essential pick from their bewildering catalogue. Still, it's not what you'd call accessable. Clocking in at just over seventy minutes, it's comprised of a mere three tracks. The first of these is P**sy Head Man From Outer Space with a chaotic and unbelievably fast guitar solo as it's centrepiece. This is adorned by breakneck drumming, squealing synths and Hao's skatting vocals. This piece is anarchy on record and it's visceral almost to the point of being unlistenable. Exciting and mercifully short, it certainly grabs your attention. Next up is the twenty minute title track. It opens with shimmering synths that are joined by a bouncy reverberated bass line and pounding drums and soon afterwards, Kawabata's playful guitar. There's a minute or two of off-the-wall distorted vocals from Hao, then all four elements just surge forward together to a manic finale. It's pure space rock and endlessly listenable. Electric Psylocibin Flashback is forty minutes long and the most impressive track on the album. It's a multi sectioned tour de force beginning with an unstoppable riff that doesn't let up for six minutes, building in intensity whilst thunderous drones seep into the mix. Just as it starts to get repetitive, everythin calms down a bit and you're treated to a fantastic saxophone solo that eventually fades away, leaving tranquil synths and a beautiful acoustic guitar part in it's wake. Hao puts in a stunning, ethereal performance here. Pretty soon the electric guitars are back, winding around a spiky melody before the opening riff is revisited, except this time the band are in self destruct mode, performing with ferocious intensity. Hao sings again, slowly lulling the mayhem into a lush sitar led lullaby, taking the album to a meditative end. Crystal Rainbow Pyramid Under The Stars is a really spectacular disc and well worth the plunge for listeners with a sense of adventure.
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