THE LUCID DREAM - 'ACTUALISATION' (BLACK VINYL)

19/10/18 - BLACK VINYL LP

QUESTION = HOW COULD A BAND FOLLOW THE HUGE SUCCESS OF THEIR PREVIOUS ALBUM ‘COMPULSION SONGS’? ANSWER = FIND FRESH INSPIRATION AND FLOW WITH IT, WITHOUT FEAR. WITHOUT DOUBT ONE OF THE ALBUMS OF THE YEAR.

THE DEPTH OF GROOVE IS SUCH IT SUPREMELY MANAGES TO TRANSCEND IMMEDIATE ‘PSYCHCASTING’ AND ‘ACID DOUBT SITTERS’ AFTER SX1000 STAND ALONE 12” FORERUNNER LEFT MANY FOLLOWERS A LITTLE RUFFLED UNDER THE ‘WHAT NO GUITAR?’ COLLAR AT THE TIME. EVEN THESE SUGGESTIONS SEEM NOW MIGHTILY IRRELEVANT AND SOMEWHAT SHALLOW IN THE FACE OF THE ENTIRETY OF THE ECLECTICISM ON OFFER; INCLUDING GUITARS!

FROM THE MAGNUM OPUS OPENER ‘ALONE IN FEAR’, IT SOON BECOMES CLEAR THAT THE DOORS ARE BEING BLOWN OFF TO A WIDER UNIVERSE…..BRINGING ELEMENTS OF ‘THE GROOVE’ INTO A FUTURE OF CHANGE AND ELEMENTAL RHYTHM SO PRIMEVAL, IT’S HEAVY POWER CASTS A GIANT SPELL. ‘ZENITH PARTS 1 AND 2’ CONTINUE WITH A CALL TO ARMS RESOLUTELY, IMPRESSIVELY ONWARD. EACH TRACK CARVING IT’S OWN HYPNOTIC PULSE TILL THE LAST STRAINS OF ‘NO SUNLIGHT DUB’ LEAVE YOU STILL NODDING APPRECIATIVELY UNTIL YOU CAN’T RESIST REACHING FOR THE TURNTABLE TO QUENCH YOUR THIRST AND REINVIGORATE THE GROOVE AGAIN.

TO DESCRIBE THE ALBUM AS ; CHICAGO INFLUENCED ACID HOUSE WINDOWS, DRENCHED IN ROSES TINTED GLASS, VANISHING INTO A MASSIVE HAZE, SCORCHED WITH PUNK AND THE BREADTH OF DUB, ALL WOVEN WITH THE HEAVIEST OF BREATHTAKING BASS LINES; ALTHOUGH THESE THOUGHTS ARE RELEVANT TO THE LISTENER; IT'S ACTUALLY LIKE TRYING TO CATCH A BUTTERFLY IN A HURRICANE.

THE KEY REALLY IS FLYING IN THE FACE OF BEING PIGEONHOLED INTO ANYTHING OTHER THAN THEMSELVES.

ACTUALISATION = FURTHER PROOF THAT THE LUCID DREAM CONTINUE TO BE SOUND PIONEERS OF THE HIGHEST ORDER FORGING A REPUTABLE ROAD THAT FEW ARE BRAVE ENOUGH OR CAPABLE OF FOLLOWING.

Album Review – James Brown @ www.futureisvinyl.co.uk

TRACK LISTING

1) Alone In Fear
2) Zenith (part 1)
3) Zenith (part 2)
4) SX1000
5) Breakdown
6) Ardency
7) No Sunlight Dub