CRUSHED VELVET APOCALYPSE

One of the more popular albums by this band doesn't come without it's critics. It's like they wanted to experiment and try some different things that they hadn't done before and did it all here. It was recorded in the summer of 1989 and yet has none of that eighties sound that their 80's records had. I know, I know but this is different and while not being very cohesive as an album I view it as a collection of songs that just had to come out and this was the time. What an epic title and the album cover is amazing. You just had to own this one or their followup "The Maria Dimension" if you were a true Psychedelic fan back in the day. A great five piece band here with Pistoor being designated as the full time guitarist which would last one more album before his premature passing. He also adds sitar and bass and I just like his style. Lots of electronics and quite a bit of bass clarinet, sax and flute from Van Hoorn. I've never heard Ka-Spel sing like he does on here at times, even getting extreme. This really is an album where you hear things you will never hear again from this band.

What a start with the beautiful and sad "I Love You In Your Tragic Beauty" where an isolated man with mental health issues admires from afar a woman with issues herself. Acoustic guitar and vocals mostly. The last couple of minutes are interesting where it turns mostly instrumental with bass clarinet and some flute. Some energy on "Green Gang" and those shrill vocals singing on the chorus. Each song has more to it than you would think, lots of inventive material on here. "Hellsville" is another song where Ka-Spel lets it rip vocally on the chorus. Some rhyming there. A dark and experimental soundscape on "Hellowe'en. "The Safe Way" is a favourite with those steady beats and vocals standing out. Some oboe too after 2 1/2 minutes then it turns experimental with some big atmosphere. Vocals are experimental sounding as well. Just a crazy track.

"Just A Lifetime" is one of my all time favourite tracks by this band and my number one on this album. Almost 8 minutes and it just makes me feel good you know? Drums, bass, timpani as the vocals arrive. How good is this 4 minutes in when the vocals turn more passionate and there's backing vocals too. "Death Of Jack The Ripper" is a top three. That mournful cry "Jack is dead" over and over is so cool. But then so are the lyrics. Another top three is "Princess Coldheart" with it's brighter sound and light hearted ways. Catchy stuff. Some symphonic stuff happening here. "The Collector" is really interesting the way themes are repeated and the lyrics are humerous at times. Bass clarinet too.

A must for LPD fans of course but probably not a good place to start if you want to check out this great band.