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First
of all I’d like to demand a stand up ovation for people like the
enterprising Dutchmen of Heavy Birth Records who in these times
of recording industry debacle are ballsy enough to bet for
vinyl. And it may just prove to be a good business model; as
reported by mainstream media in 2007 sales of new vinyl records
went up 15%. This is in great contrast to the downward trend
that the industry had experienced between 2000 and 2006 when
sales of vinyl declined a combined 43%. Needless to say,
whenever I get a big flat package (usually with the word
‘fragile’ scribed with black marker) like the ones that wrap
vinyl records I burst into tears of happiness. And when it’s
actually this good, then even better. I go mad. Not only do I
get to hold the real thing, but I get to rock to it too.
El Thule
hail from Bergamo, Italy and Green Magic is their second
recording. Issued in a beautiful gatefold that holds two 160
grams green and black vinyls, this doesn’t only look the part.
It absolutely plays it; El Thule jams like they have the time
for it. Much to their credit they do not sound like they are
aping Kyuss or any of the major stoner rock bands that followed.
In fact, there is no comparison. I’d place them in the stoner
rock bin, but I’d highlight their name for sure notice. The
first record has an astonishing third and fourth song; “La Cruda”
and “Bud Orange” are one extended jam of energy; rollicking
riffs and bombastic drums. It’s all way groovier than it sounds.
But Green Magic starts off way more aggressive than that,
the opening song “Shaman” justifies all the punk encasing they
have been victims of. Midway through though; their deep notes,
that moist wah-wah, and the disarrayed screams of Mr. Action
rule out all our doubts. El Thule sounds like the bastard child
of The Hellacopters and errr…Kyuss. And how about that song
“Adam Bomb”? Astonishing how these bambinos groove slowly, then
pick that rhythm up and drag it for a good few minutes.
Green Magic
was recorded, mixed and mastered by Niklas Kallgren from
Truckfighters (who rock but do sound a hell of a lot more like
Kyuss than El Thule) who has given this recording a shitload of
fuzz and hiss. I think he has the right approach. May it just be
the vinyl? Possibly, but as I check the fade out end of “Adam
Bomb” this still sounds like El Thule are jamming in the room
next to mine.
The second
vinyl starts off with “La Muela del Diablo” (The Devil’s Molar)
and things seem to take a darker path here. It’s somewhat bleak
doom up until the pseudo psychedelic guitar solo makes an
entrance. Then more psychedelic guitars cause an overload and a
jam-like spirit takes a hold of this side. Check the bass, pure
sludge fun with a guitar solo coloring freedom on top.
Excellent. What’s surprising about El Thule is the flawless way
in which they melt the punk, and the stoner rock and the
psychedelic. So fucking well-rounded.
To top it
off, the vinyl version of Green Magic comes with a DVD
which has a very cool video for the song “Black Mamba”, which
proves all you need to make a good one is imagination and
talent. The DVD also includes footage of the band in the studio
(with subtitles) during the Green Magic sessions and live
footage for three tunes. Can we ask for more? Fuck yeah, can I
have the next El Thule record already?
Heavy
Birth Records Site
Official Site
MySpace |
