BURNING CIRCLES IN THE SKY

A really solid debut from this four piece out of Arizona. Charming is maybe the word because I'm not convinced with some of this but I can't help but like it. The band would breakup after this 2008 release but Nik the leader would get Grant the drummer to return some five years later to record a followup but the bass player and guitarist would be gone for good. Still they did release that followup in 2013 and five albums since then. Everyone says this is the one to get and the only one with the original lineup on it. The bass player adds electronics and he did the cover art. The drummer adds djembe and tablas while Nik adds the second guitar, sitar, organ, harmonica, piano, effects and vocals. The guitarist sings on the opener. Some guests add synths, harmonies and lap steel guitar.

"The Mind's Eye" sounds like a HAWKWIND tune with multi-vocals and it's mid paced. Catchy but my least favourite although I like how it opens with crickets and this powerful atmosphere. "Plateau Skull" is another short 3 minute track but this is more powerful and heavier as vocals join in. It plods along with the guitar crying out late to end it. He's singing about "mother sky" and I don't think it's the CAN song. "Burning Circles In The Sky" has this relaxed rhythm with reserved vocals that will come and go. An abrasive guitar solo after 2 1/2 minutes.

"Warpainting" is 7 1/2 minutes long and we get guest synths here. This is brighter than what's gone on before as this is a melancholic record overall. The guitar buzzes over top when he's not singing. A calm arrives with spacey synths a 3 1/2 minutes. I like the percussion and strummed guitar that follows then back to the buzzing guitar and sound. Vocals at 5 minutes. An explosive sound kicks in around 6 minutes and the guitar is on fire then it settles back late.

"Mother Of All Living" is the 16 1/2 minute closer. Sounds pulse in atmosphere and it doesn't start to move until the drums, guitar, bass and harmonica kick in around 2 minutes. Vocals after 3 minutes. This is good. Even better after 5 minutes as the bass comes to the fore as the vocals step aside and the guitar scrapes out some expressions. A cool rhythm here as it's catchy and trippy. A change 7 minutes in as piano, crickets and atmosphere take over then chanting-like spoken words bringing the Native Americans to mind. The tempo starts to pick up around 8 1/2 minutes and drums and guitar become the focus. Organ is pulsating and the guitar sounds so good. It winds down to the end.

Mid-paced melancholy for the most part and this is pure psychedelia. They combine the nature and spirit of the desert with apocalyptic undertones and it works for me.