Alice In Ultraland
The Amorphous Androgynous
out now
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The Amorphous Androgynous may not be a band that many people have heard of. This is because they are anything but mainstream. Merely the complexity and artistic merit of their name should give that away. Former Future Sound of London duo Garry Cobain and Brian Dougans formed the psychedelic electro-ambient outfit three years ago, and Alice in Ultraland is in fact their second album under this guise.
The sound of this band is something the likes of which hasn’t been heard too frequently since the 60s and 70s. That doesn’t however mean that it is archaic or limited in its musical accomplishment. The two band members have taken some quality elements of classic rock bands such as Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and Dire Straits and infused them with some reasonably appropriate ethnic and electronic touches. This creates a very worldly album, with some real atmosphere.
The opening track Emptiness of Nothingness draws obviously upon Pink Floyd’s finer works, using sound effects of crows flying over an impressive piano lead and specialised keyboard effects to combine “the beat with the beatless”, as their members claim. There is even a buxom warbling singer present to further parallels with songs that include The Great Gig in the Sky. It is an epic opener for sure, with hints of a jam session about it, strong vocals and a memorable piano riff that makes for a promising start.
This is immediately followed up by a spaced out, sitar-filled throwback to free love, The Witchfinder. Its didgeridoo, pan pipes and psychedelic George Harrison influenced strands give way to smooth but powerful African style vocals that grab the attention. When the drums finally make their appearance, it completes a very powerful progressive piece of music.
Having started with such a wealth of influences and a decent pace, the album then continues quite well through various moods, from all corners of the earth, be it saxophones leading a jazz movement, Spanish guitars, violins or chilled out electronica.
But if there is a problem with this album, it is precisely the fact that it is more a collection of movements rather than distinct tracks. Some may find this a good attempt at gelling many different styles together, but it feels a little like the energy that the album began with wears slightly thinner it moves towards its end. The album is sadly a touch too long to be an immediate winner, with fourteen tracks all pushing a weighty five or six minutes.
Tracks further down the listings such as High and Dry, replete with Jagger-style hip shaking or Billy the Onion – which will make anybody feel like they are road tripping through the desert – are definite highlights. However, by the final track, Wicker Doll, there isn’t enough left from The Amorphous Androgynous to create the tearjerker that it could and should have been.
Alice in Ultraland is musically strong and those who enjoy harking back to the good old days of psychedelic rock or feeling nostalgic over far off travels and experiences will not want it to end. For first time listeners, however, it will prove an acquired taste that may not hold their attention all the way until the final track.ARCHIVE: 0th week MT 2005
Alice in Ultraland
