ULTIMATE SPINACH

1. "Ego Trip" (3:14) Ian Bruce-Douglas' hip hippie philosophy expressed openly in this rather simple four-chord organ-based Doors/San Francisco psychedelia song. (8.875/10)

2. "Sacrifice of the Moon [In Four Parts]" (3:46) a four-part instrumental suite opens using hypnotic bass and organ arpeggi rolling over and over, creating quite an alluring sound and feel. The second part, then, moves into Baroque folk territory with lead recorder played over gentle electric guitar arpeggiated chords. The third part is more old-time folk lullaby-like with lower register of the wooden flute used within the guitar and bass lines. The final part is more West Coast psych-pop with its organ solo over hypnotic bass, drums, and rhythm guitar chord strumming. (8.875/10)

3. "Plastic Raincoating/Hung Up Minds" (2:56) spinet-sounding piano gives this Ian Bruce-Douglas tune a Old West saloon feel--as do the saloon-like background voices and noises. Interesting if more for the relaxed, almost cocky confidence expressed in Ian's vocal performance. (8.6667/10)

4. "(Ballad of) The Hip Death Goddess" (8:14) infectious three-chord psychedelic song over which Barbara Hudson provides some eerie and almost-incongruous frail/fragile "little girl" soprano vocals. Lots of effects used on the multiple guitars. The incessant six-note bass line is quite hypnotic--which gives the extended psychedelic guitar solos and drums their opportunity to dig deep into the listener's psyche. Some of the song's editing is flawed but otherwise this is a very memorable song. (13.75/15)

5. "Your Head Is Reeling" (3:40) more Doors-like experimentation with the expression of Ian Bruce-Douglas' countercultural observations, opinions, and ideas. (8.875/10)

6. "Dove In Hawk's Clothing" (3:54) an almost-standard blues rock vehicle for more of Ian's anti-war venting. The instrumentation is so perfect a representation of the era's musical palettes and ideas. (8.66667/10)

7. "Baroque #1" (4:48) more instrumental West Coast psychedelic blues rock with Doors-like organ play at the bass as Ian Bruce-Douglas works his way through a variety of temporary instruments including harpsichord, effected vocalese, vibraphone, harmonica, and electric guitar. (8.875/10)

8. "Funny Freak Parade" (2:35) more psychedelic sounds and engineering of a pretty standard folk-blues -rock pop song with a very theatric vocal and background. Ian Bruce-Douglas has quite a sense of humor. (8.66667/10)

9. "Pamela" (3:09) opens as if a theatre song to a B-level "horror" film or off-Broadway stage musical farce (pre-Rocky Horror Picture Show). Interesting and amusing but also bewildering. (8.75/10)

Total time: 35:17

Though the music here is rather simple, the ideas being expressed, psychedelic sounds, and vocal performances make this a quite interesting and respectable album. Barbara Hudson is given a lot of attention for her Ultimate Spinach vocal performances when in fact her contributions are quite minimal other than to the one long song, "(Ballad of) the Hip-Death Goddess." The music and ideas expressed here are, in fact, almost entirely the emanations of one individual's creativity.

B/four stars; a very interesting and engaging view and reckoning of a country's counter-cultural, human potential, hippie, and psychedelic perspectives.

Share this ULTIMATE SPINACH review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to BrufordFreak
• Report this review (#2579012)
• Buy ULTIMATE SPINACH music online with PA partners
• Show all ULTIMATE SPINACH MP3/Stream
• Go to ULTIMATE SPINACH page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Ultimate Spinach page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for ULTIMATE SPINACH related discussions