++ALBUM++ review by Ric Rawlins
Ric takes a listen to this welcome re-release by Richard James, a founding member of Gorky's Zygotic Mynci. He discovers a record that's "like a Beach Boys album that’s been slowed down to the speed of Chill Out." Recommended to get you in the mood for the Summer (however far away that might seem at the moment).
‘Acid folk’ is in vogue again thanks, in large part, to the various compilations of Andy Votel on Twisted Nerve Records. One collection in particular, ‘Folk Is Not A Four Letter Word’ has had such an impact that its sequel has now been commissioned for a release later this year. But while ‘lost’ artists such as Karen Dalton are subsequently getting a second look in, it’s not so easy to find a modern classic of the acid folk genre, which is why this surfy Richard James LP makes for a magical re-release.
"Anyone who’s ever lain on a hot beach, nodding off with a cool breeze on their face will instantly recognise and enjoy the environment this record exists in."
According to a Second Century myth, ‘The Seven Sleepers Den’ was a cave in which a group of seven young pagans hid from their Christian persecutors. They were caught and walled in, effectively being entombed in the cave. Yet somehow 200 years later they were unearthed again, alive and apparently waking from a very long sleep. Although Richard James doesn’t explicitly explore this myth, the notion of a totally relaxed, lucid sleep is certainly one that his album evokes.
Anyone who’s ever lain on a hot beach, nodding off with a cool breeze on their face will instantly recognise and enjoy the environment this record exists in. The vast majority of the songs here are washy and sea bleached, like a Beach Boys album that’s been slowed down to the speed of Chill Out.
This is, however, far from being an ambient project. Firstly because the abstract nature of the production has more in touch with John Cale’s theories on random sound than, say the warm jets of Brian Eno. But mainly because the album has a mad punk song. It’s called ‘Wanna See You Die’ and it goes a bit like this; “Wanna see you die / Wanna see you burn / Wanna see you burn in the desert sun / AAARGGGHHH!” Play it loud and watch the hippies flee.
‘The Seven Sleepers Den’ deserves to soundtrack the sand between your toes. It deserves to reignite some meaning into that old whore of an advertising slogan ‘The Summer Of Love’. But above all, in songs like ‘My Heart’s On Fire’, ‘I Wait For Your Love’ and ‘Empty And Cold’ – it deserves some god damn respect. So buy ten copies, preview his myspace, don’t panic but do whatever you have to do; just make sure that when the Summer hits the fan, this baby is ready to roll.
PREVIEW TRACKS FROM THE SEVEN SLEEPERS DEN AT
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/RICHARDJAMESBAND
++ Ric Rawlins ++
Artrocker rating: 4
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