15.07.2010 - thelightshines - Drone Poetry
A whole range of psychedelia from indie drone, acid folk, Indian ragas and traditional 60s psychedelic rock. thelightshines are a one-man act by the multi-talented Sam Ferman. Drone Poetry is mainly a combination of layers of swirling drones, loops and chanting along with traditional song structures. It is meditative and invigorating.
The opening track Garaga is an energetic and dynamic drone-filled psychedelic, laden with sitar and full of eastern promise. It evokes a deep sense of mysticism overlaid with dreamlike vocals and chanting. At times deeply spiritual yet invigorating (but with underlying galloping rhythms to steer it away from being New Age). The vocals are reminiscent of Rocking Horse People, with a nod to Spacemen 3 and musically similar to Ananda Shankar.
The Flowers Round Her Feet is a beautiful folk ballad in the vein of Bon Iver, Kaleidoscope (UK), Incredible String Band, early Floyd and the Kitchen Cynics including the crackle of old vinyl, perfect.
Sunshine in My Head - sitar laden and tabla, dreamlike vocals, tripped out, on a magical carpet ride through time similar to Elephant Stone or High Dials. A full psychedelic trip saturated with LSD in the summer sun.
Hanging Around is a more shoegaze drone and dreampop track reminiscent of Spacemen 3 or Spiritualized.
Drip With Honey is a darker indie drone track easily comparable to Jesus and Mary Chain or Raveonettes with a touch of country-noir Americana underneath.
The Bleary Eyed Blues is a floatation tank trip into deepest Alabama through dreamscape. Slide guitar enshrouded with ethereal washes and featherlight strings.
Meditations on Death is the endpiece, an excursion into Buddhist transcendental enlightenment with linear drones and shamanic repetitions to bring your soul up to the surface and beyond.
Overall it is a fantastic and exquisite assortment of beautiful psychedelic nuggets that are guaranteed to enrich and spiritualise even the coldest or hardest soul.
