LIVE EXPERIENCE BAND Portrait 2LP Hendrix psych MAYHEM
$
89
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Description
You like Jimi Hendrix? Well, not as much as these inspired Germans did back in 1973, when they unleashed the MOTHER of all Hendrix tribute DOUBLE ALBUMS on the world, the Live Experience Band's "Jimi Hendrix Portrait" on the German Ken label. These guys live and BREATHE Jimi - so much that they've taken the essence of Jimi's guitar sounds and multiplied it times FIVE, so that this double album comes across as the one Jimi might have made if his record label said "Jimi, what we want from you next is just 4 sides of the most amazing guitar noises you could put down on vinyl. Don't worry about singles - we just want noises. Feedback, fuzz, solos - and stretch out, man - don't be afraid to JAM!" Side 1 of this stellar album is basically Side 1 of the Live Experience Band's "1969-1970" album, which, if you haven't heard, is an all-time guitar lovers WET DREAM! They blast through "Voodoo Chile" with double tracked fuzz guitar abandon, and even the vocals sound eerily like Jimi. "Hey Joe" gets an even rawer and far more FUZZED out treatment than even the original Jimi Hendrix Experience managed (at least on vinyl) - with a MAMMOTH fuzz guitar solo that KILLS, and the guitar and vocals mixed up way loud. In my opinion, it's better than Jimi's version - at least, I find it more enjoyable in its reckless abandon and fuzzed-out freakiness. Then there's this amazing song called "First Trial of the Star Spangled Banner", which I guess is supposed to represent the initial jam session that inspired Jimi to play the anthem the way he did. It's basically an excuse to put down 10 minutes of the most incredible, intense and over the friggin' TOP fuzz guitar solos EVER. I mean, this guy does EVERYTHING he can to his guitar - swooping and diving, roaring and screaming, while the production guy adds to the mayhem with some drastic left/right speaker panning effects and intentional over-distortion, which, when coupled with the already fuzzed out guitar, gives the illusion that your needle is literally cutting its way through a vinyl record that's bathed in one-inch thick fuzz. I felt the need to clean the thing after I played this song. The whole song comes to a shuddering close with frenetic drums and dive-bombing death barge from hell guitar sounds that somehow morph, finally, into the Star Spangled Banner, thus giving the title a reason to exist. Side 2 consists of four raw basement garage versions of Hendrix songs that don't pack the sonic wallop of Side 1, but instead come across as an almost proto-punk lo-fi Jimi tribute. Sides 3 and 4 are new compositions, all originals too - but clearly inspired by Hendrix with close-but-no-cigar titles like "Cross Electric Town". "Only One Guitar" is the ultimate in wah wah guitar jams, all echoed-out underwater liquidy Hendrix guitar like the style he used on "1984" only this time with a funky loose beat. "Old Man Curtis" is an earthquake-inducing thunderous jam that actually sounds like it was based on the riff from Cream's "I'm So Glad". It's a great jam, and the boys tone their guitar pyrotechnics down considerably on the second platter, instead opting for a more fuller, together, funk-based jam sound. There's some great deep bass here, and still more flashy guitar, only this time integrated into the sound and not just a showcase. For funk psych fans, it's one MONSTER jam! It took me a while to figure what the title "Born in Slume" meant - until I realized it was a misprint and should have read "Born in Slums" - but no matter, it's a MASSIVE funk wah wah acid jam KILLER! With heavy DEEP FUNK rhythm and soaring guitar solos like the kind Jimi laid down on his extended "Voodoo Chile". Someone needs to latch onto this one and do some serious sampling of the funk within. So there you have it - FOUR sides of killer Jimi Hendrix guitar sonic mayhem and deep funk - it doesn't get much better than this. And from the land of liederhosen and Oktoberfest, no less! Original 1973 pressing on the German KEN label. Gatefold cover's in VG++ shape with some seamwear along the bottom, and on the back some intrepid scholar decided to write the tracks in order with ballpoint pen. Vinyl plays VG+ with crackle and a few pops, not too bad considering this was clearly a budget pressing. Winning bidder pays $3.00 media mail shipping in the US, $6 air mail to Canada, $11 air mail everywhere else. Paypal, Bidpay, cash, checks and money orders accepted. Please check out my other auctions for more obscure pop, psych and garage goodies!
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