AN OLDER LAND

When these guys are good, they're very good. When they're not, well... Let's just say I'd gladly have given this album a couple of extra stars had it not been for the botched musicianship and the singing that gets a bit annoying after a while - Jeff McFarland's cultivated 'stoned' nonchalance suits LANDS END's music like a glove but it's a bit overdone, here; he is obviously not a singer and, man-oh-man, does he ever lose it when he screams or tries to sound jazzy (ouch! I can sense Ella Firtzgerald rolling in her grave).

Most of the musical themes on "An Older Land" are interesting and definitely typical LANDS END material: the mood swings, the distorted floydian guitars, the sparse, almost hollow drums and the lazy synths all contribute to create that thick, smoky mary-jane atmosphere you can almost cut with a knife. I almost hear horns in some places (although none are listed on the sleeve, no doubt a clever keyboard trick) which give the music a nice touch. None of the tunes are bad, really. I especially like the 18-minute final epic, "The Last Word". This one is quite a steemer, even if it borrows a great deal from "The Last Word" (the closing track on their album "Pacific Coast Highway"). It is, in fact, much better than the pointless 23-minute "Dross" - no real development happening here.

Just about everywhere on the album, the guitar play is way below par, technically speaking, Francisco Neto obviously having trouble keeping up with the rest of the crew. You know what he's driving at but he's awfully clumsy at it - and we're not talking pyrotechnics, here, just simple chops. And did I mention that the guitar often sounds out of tune? The keyboard play isn't exactly top notch either, and even the drummer skips a few beats. Unforgiveable. These flaws are always more or less present on all of their albums, but glaring so on "An Older Land".

This being said,"An Older Land" is still an album I like to hear because I'm always fascinated by the music of LANDS END, with flaws and all. In all fairness to readers, however, I can only advise you to look elsewhere for a good psychedelic prog album. For a total LANDS END experience, try their albums "Terrra Serranum" and especially "Natural History".

FOUR, THREE, TWO.

"Lands End" is a band that should please any space and ambient music fan. At least it did work as such for me on their first two albums. But this one will not be as good. Even if the opening and tranquil "Ashes" is very pleasant and could have announced a great album.

Actually, the first part of this album is not bad at all. Some good music as well during "Wind Across the Water" but don't expect too much of it either.

Only one excellent song : "Wake to Find Me Dead" and its incredible and hypnotic melody. It is one of my fave from the band. A highlight of course. But the best is bordering the worse. In this aspect, "Jazz Magic Potion" offers nothing magic, believe me. The worst "Lands End" song so far. No doubt while thinking of pressing next: just do it!

During "K", I have the impression that vocals are a bit forced to appear as tortured. But there no real need for this since their music is mostly atmospheric. Anyway, it is a pleasant track. Instrumental parts are very much enjoyable.

I have always like their extended and epic tracks like "Conspicuously Empty", "At Lands End" and "The Last Word" from their debut album (which is my favourite one so far). So, I was exited when came the time of "Dross". Over twenty-five minutes of music. But not great music unfortunately. Some pseudo-brass are not very welcome to my ears. This song is also too monotonous (even if "Lands End" music might appear so in a more general scope).

After this long and weak opening part (eight minutes or thereabout), the mood will turn more into a traditional "Lands End" piece of work but the guitar sounds rather strange. The song is really in the smooth territory while the vocals enter the scene. At least some depth and emotion.

"Dross" reminds me "Neptune's Last Tear" from their previous work in the way that it sounds more as a collection of songs than a true epic. There are no binding elements nor smooth links between the different parts of which most are just average. This song should have been cut down to a mere ten minutes IMHHO.

The closing number "The Last World" starts as a very good "Lands End" piece of music. The great and "oceanic" mood intro is a superb moment of this album. It is unfortunately followed by some improvisation and noisy minutes which are kind of useless.

The guitar solo even if acceptable has the same annoying sound as during "Dross". I really don't know what happened on this album as far as this problem is concerned. After a minute blank, the finale is nothing more than a noisy drum kit exercise. Can't call this a drum solo since there is some background music there. But the drums really sounds as a "bruit de casserole". Sorry, I can't translate this but it globally means that it is very poor.

As all "Lands End" offering, this album is VERY long. Almost seventy-five minutes. Waaaaaaaaaaay too long of course. Some hard work to listen to this album in one straight session.

Four, three, two. These are my ratings for the first three "Lands End" albums. I hope that the descent will stop with their next album.