Gonzo 2014
A new bout of cosmic unconsciousness from the spaceball dancefloor.
Since 1996, when American multi-instrumentalist Don Falcone resurrected his old band, this loose collective of kindred minds has been having a romance with the Old World purveyors of psychedelia. Usually with a HAWKWIND member on board of such an interstellar ship, Falcone’s most productive collaboration is one with Bridget Wishart, the voice of "Space Bandits", and “Make Believe It Real” forms the third instalment of their journey into the pounding heart of the Universe. Its beat ranges from disco groove to serious rocking so stardust pieces come in various forms and sizes here.
The most touching one is the delicately hypnotic “Journey Past The Stars” where Wishart’s voice is sprinkled with the legendary Twink’s tambourine, yet there’s a gentle strain in opener “Make Believe (It Acoustic)” as well that reimagines the title track – issued before on a HAWKLORDS compilation, with Simon House’s violin, to take a pride of place on this package’s second disc alongside other relevant material, remixes and all – featuring another veteran, GONG’s Daevid Allen. His bass and ex-THE ENID Nick May’s guitars propel the heavy “SpaceRocknRoll” towards blissful insanity, while “Be Careful What You Wish” offers a rave ride, but when it comes to the edge-of-time riffage, “Demonkind” and “Revenant,” in which Harvey Bainbridge’s synths flesh out Martin Plumley’s axe, sharpen the focus. In its turn, the tribal twist of “Eternal Energy” sees Jay Tausig weaving his six-string voodoo into an organ-oiled dark matter, whereas closing epic “Reflections” finds the band, with jazzy piano and fiddle in tow and Jean van den Elsen’s vocals complementing Bridget’s, chart a gentle acid folk course through time.
There’s much to enjoy on the way there, albeit not without a certain nebulosity, but that’s the route all spirits take.
***4/5