by Mott the Dog
5
Stars *****
Lands End’s sixth album release is a double CD
affair, also being the one hundred and forty second release on the
Cyclops label. Cyclops is a very apt name for this record label as it is
completely one eyed about the sort of music it releases. If it is not
progressive rock it will not be on the Cyclops label. As all us girls
and boys in Thailand like a bit of progress, this makes Cyclops just
about the perfect record label for us.
Cyclops was started by Malcolm Parker in 1990 as an
off shoot of his mail order company GFT. Over the years Malcolm has
nurtured along the careers of many fine bands, including ‘Grey Lady
Down’, ‘Grace’, and ‘Nice Beaver’ amongst others. Some with
great success who have gone on to bigger and perhaps not always greater
things such as ‘Mostly Autumn’, some have burned brightly, before
imploding like ‘Abbifinoosty’, whilst others did not quite come up
to expectations, ‘Credo’ being an example here. But nothing will
stop Malcolm from keeping on trying, as if you cut his particular stick
of rock it would have progressive stamped all the way through it.
If you look up progressive in the dictionary you will
read something along the lines of: Adjective: advancing; continuing;
developing; growing; not standing still; not looking back; radical;
forward looking; open minded; approaching new and different things; to
reach out. So when you buy something under the progressive rock banner
do not expect pop music.
‘Lands End’ fit the category of progressive rock
perfectly; the music can be best described as mind expanding. The band
came together under the ‘Lands End’ banner in 1992 when Fred Hunter
joined Mark Lavalle in his band and forged an immediate song writing
partnership. By 1993 mercurial guitarist Francisco ‘Kiko’ Neto and
vocalist Jeff McFarland had been brought in to the band, and the way was
clear for what should have been a startling successful career in rock
music.
Their debut album was released on their own
independent label in 1994 ‘Pacific Coast Highway’ - a remarkable
journey into the land of progressive music. Consisting of six songs, one
of which is just over two minutes long, whereas the title track weighs
in at over fifteen minutes, it also includes the Lands End classic
‘The Last Word’.
The longer the band stayed together the further their
song writing abilities grew with all four members of the band now taking
their share of the responsibilities. The American rock scene being in
the doldrums somewhat at this time, it was necessary for the American
Lands End to get themselves over the pond to sign up with British label
Cyclops, a perfect match up. More albums were to follow: ‘Terra
Serranum’ (1995), ‘An Older Land’ (1996) a collection of live and
re-recorded older material, ‘Natural Selection’ (1997) another
highlight. Then a live album ‘Drainage’ (1997). As ‘Lands End’
have only played about twenty five live shows in their entire career
this was something of a treasure for their die hard fans.
1998 was not a good year for ‘Lands End’,
although the albums were selling well, with all the band members having
young families, it was still necessary for all the band members to ply
their trade in other fields apart from music to keep roof over head and
bread on the table. This meant in some cases relocation, so
geographically ‘Lands End’ ceased to exist, although all of the
parts remained friends, all four putting parts onto Fred Hunter’s next
musical project ‘Transience’ releasing ‘Sliding’ (1999) and
‘Primordial’ (2003). Both were good albums, but again without much
live representation, they were not exactly setting the charts alight.
Now miraculously seven years after all the four
members of ‘Lands End’ were in one room together we get a new
‘Lands End’ album. With Fred Hunter coordinating everything from his
home base whilst the others literally phone their parts in. Do not be
put off by this as they still sound like a very tight unit, and you
would never know when listening to this album that it had taken five
years to come to fruition, and had been recorded in such diverse places
as Yeovil UK, Las Vegas Nevada USA, and Rio de Janeiro Brazil.
Originally supposed to be a single CD, Malcolm Parker
managed to persuade Fred Hunter to add a bonus CD onto the original
‘The Lower Depths’. The second CD is called ‘Plundering The
Depths’.
It is without doubt the best ‘Lands End’ album so
far. There are a few changes that have occurred over the years, but this
has been made an advantage. When certain musicians were not available to
do their parts friends were brought in to fill the gaps, and this has
only added to the depth and texture of the music.
After a little dabbling with ‘An Accident’ which
opens the album up, we get the first epic ‘Digital Signatures’, a
Hunter/Lavallee song, which has all the trademarks of ‘Lands End’.
The other two musicians on the song are Bruce Soord from ‘Vulgar
Unicorn’ and ‘Pineapple Thief’ on lead guitar, and the amazing
voice of Cathy Alexander from folk/rock band ‘The Morrigan’ on lead
vocals. Cathy Alexander sings on ‘Digital Signatures’ which clocks
in at over fourteen minutes long and on ‘The Lower Depths’ major
epic ‘A New World Order’ which comes in at over twenty four minutes,
so you get nearly forty minutes of Cathy Alexander’s dulcet velvet
tones for your buck. That alone is worth the money for this CD.
As Cathy Alexander’s voices drifts off after the
opener, next up is more familiar territory with Jeff McFarland taking
over vocal duties, whilst Mark Lavalee puts the sticks to the drums. A
drummer always has a better time the more pomp and circumstance there is
to the music, and let me tell you that Mark Lavalee is really enjoying
making these recordings. You can hear his smile coming out of the
grooves.
Meanwhile, Fred Hunter plays all the other
instruments on this song. ‘Why Should I?’ is the first contribution
from Francisco Neto on the album, although he still does not make a
musical entrance as he does not play a note. Instead he co-wrote the
song with Jeff McFarland, who does not appear on the song either, as it
is sung in plaintive terms by Bruce Soord. Certainly no clash of egos
between these progressive rockers, what ever sounds best do.
‘Hope Springs’ eternal is a great ‘Lands End’
song sung by Jeff McFarland. Still, no guitar work from Francisco Neto
though. To make up for this the epic ‘A New World Order’ features
the guitar work of Steve Anderson. Steve Anderson is the axe slinger in
‘Sphere3’ and was also in ‘Grey Lady Down’. To hear more of
Steve Anderson’s wall flattening guitar work have a listen to the
‘Grey Lady Down’ live album ‘The Time Of Our Lives’ (1998).
To close the first CD is a nice little Jeff McFarland
song, a fitting close.
The second CD, ‘Plundering the Depths’, starts
off with one of two songs brought out and dusted off from the Lands End
scrap book: ‘Eyes Of Venus’ (1995) and ‘This Addiction’ (1996).
In between is a good ‘Lands End’ rocker ‘Indoctrinated’, again
featuring Steve Anderson on guitars.
There is also a little bit of nonsense called ‘The
Philosophy Of Containers 2’ which takes longer to read than it does to
listen too, clocking in at just 23 seconds. Quite the reverse of the
last number, ‘Acquiesce To The Martinets Precept’, which thunders in
at fifty three minutes. Every facet of ‘Lands End’ and progressive
rock are shown off during this time. If people say music cannot be
fascinating, have a listen to this, there are so many colours, shades,
emotions and depths to this music that it bears repetitive listening.
It also ably demonstrates why the rest of the band
were quite happy to wait for Francisco Neto to send his guitar parts. At
times here his guitar playing is simply jaw dropping. A fitting climax
to a marvellous album.
I hope this will not be the last ‘Lands End’
album, or for that matter I hope we hear more from all those
participating on this album. Malcolm Parker should be given a hearty
slap on the back for his wonderful Cyclops label. If you would like to
know more about Cyclops and its mail order service GFT, please look up
their very extensive website at www.gft-cyclops.co.uk. Their delivery
service is the fastest in the west.
Lands End
Fred Hunter: Guitars, Bass guitars, Keyboards, Taurus pedals
Francisco Neto: Guitars
Mark Lavalle: Drums, Percussion
Jeff McFarlane: Vocals, Guitars
Special guests
Cathy Alexander: Vocals
Bruce Soord Vocals, Guitars
Steve Anderson: Guitars
CD One: The Lower Depths
An Accident, Digital Signatures, Behind The Iron Gates, Why
Should I?, Hope Springs Eternal, A New World Order, Believe In What
CD Two: Plundering The Depths
Eyes Of Venus, Indoctrinated, The Philosophy Of Containers 2,
This Addiction, Acquiesce To The Martinets Precept
Whether
we live in Bangkok, or in the provinces, Bangkok has a decided influence
on all our lives. For many of us, the embassies are situated there, and
trips to the capital become necessary. There is also more happening as far
as the Arts is concerned, there are more restaurants to choose from, and
some of us even send our children to international schools in the
nation’s capital. For these, and many other reasons, when my local
Bookazine suggested I review the Bangkok Guide (Australian-New Zealand
Women’s Group, ISBN 974-93095-4-5, typeset, printed and bound in
Thailand by the Creative Group in Bangkok) it did not seem an unreasonable
request.
Mott’s CD review: Lands End - The Lower Depths