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This
South American hybrid comes with pedigree. In an
imperfect way, Tlon is the continuation of
Peruvian/Argentine psyche rockers Tarkus who back in
1972 released a now legendary limited self-titled
release. To put things in perspective, Tarkus is in
Tlon’s DNA as the latter’s line up includes Tarkus’
drummer Walo Carrillo (also of Los Holys and Telegraph
Avenue) and guitarist/vocalist Christian Van Lacke, son
of Tarkus’ bassist Guillermo Van Lacke. Rounding out the
band is bassist Marcos Coifman.
It may have
been chance or it may have been destiny, but a brief 2007
reunion of Tarkus would set the wheels of Tarkus into motion.
And the influence doesn’t stop there. Three of the songs (“Ella
Anda”, Mar de Manzanas” and “Lulu Esta Volando”) in this first
recording were penned by Tarkus vocalist Alex Nathanson back in
the 70’s (Tarkus even performed these songs live but never
record them) and have now been musicalized by Van Lacke.
To say that
Tlon’s sound is retro is an understatement. The band sort of
continues in the blues based space gazing style that Tarkus
crafted so well. In a current context, most of the tunes follow
the same revivalist path kicked off by bands like Witchcraft and
Graveyard. In other words, this impeccable recording is firstly
influenced by blues based rock, then by early hard rock and to a
lesser degree, by psychedelic rock.
Van Lacke,
as a guitarist, has mastered the art of playing to the song’s
benefits. Each note he touches serves a touching purpose. If
there is a progressive rock undercurrent (which certainly there
is) feeding this promising band it almost goes unnoticed due to
the lack of excess in Van Lacke’s playing. As a result the
brevity of their songs (none go over the four minute mark) are
more efficient. This is notable, especially in the psyche rock
scene where bands are making a habit out of aimless jamming.
And Van
Lacke’s guitar playing is as subdued as his fragile vocalizing.
He phrases his words so faintly and androgynously that they are
translucent. His musical control seems to be playing with our
psyche and it extends to his voice. Van Lacke’s vocal approach
gives Tlon this ghostly esoteric sensation that serves as
perfect contrast to certain psychedelic flares. Together, Tlon
sounds like a wicked trio given birth in an English cave back in
1973. On a curious note, during my brief conversations with Van
Lacke, he gave much credit to the influence of his father’s
band, Black Sabbath and a host of Argentine cult bands like
Pescado Rabioso, Color Humano and Aquelarre.
Special
mention should go to the production job by the band. It is
perfect. It emphasizes the organic warm and rich tones of the
blues. There is a lack of fuzz that I find surprising and wise
and that lets some acoustic/psychedelic details/nuances make
themselves present. The spooky intermittent guitars at the end
of “La Ciudad” is just one example. The heaviness of Tlon is
calming instead of disrupting. Unlike most rock bands, Tlon play
timeless heavy music that is soothing, profound, elegant and
moving.
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