Review: Various - Cardinal Fuzz Present Sonic Attack at Liverpool Psych Fest - Stay Holy

The Cardinal Fuzz label, for those few who remain unaware, has established itself at the forefront of the modern psych/space/kraut scene. It's releases, both original and represses, show impeccable taste and is obviously run with a genuine love of the music. Past releases include those by such luminaries as The Heads (the label named after a song by The Heads), The Cosmic Dead, Mugstar, Anthroprophh, The Cult Of Dom Keller....in fact, think of a lauded psych band in recent years, then Cardinal Fuzz has probably released some vinyl. Past releases have become highly collectable, commanding high prices on Discogs, ebay etc. For those lucky enough to be attending this years Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia will have the opportunity to have their minds blown by Cardinal Fuzz, who have been given the honour of hosting its own showcase on 25th & 26th September. Titled Cardinal Fuzz Present Sonic Attack, it brings together The Heads, The Cult Of Dom Keller, Lumerians, Kandodo3 and Dead Sea Apes. To mark this event Cardinal Fuzz are releasing 'Stay Holy', a compilation featuring five bands who have all played a part in the history of the label....and serves as a storming document of the modern scene.

White Manna's 'Slow Dust', originally a bonus track on the digital and CD version of this year's huge 'Pan' album, kicks off proceedings and shows with perfect clarity why that album caused such a buzz. 'Slow Dust' is the freaked out Californians at their irresistable best, all amplification and reverberation. Built on a motorik beat, the track is built on repetition but still allows the guitars to roam and explore over the mixed down vocals. 'Pan' may not have been as loud or as raw as previous outings, but it saw the band grow into a true psych/space rock leviathan, and 'Slow Dust' typifies this perfectly. As album openers go, it doesn't really get better than this. Black Bombain are next up with 'Alexandria', originally released on a split single with Notorious Hi-Fi Killers. This sees the Portuguese fuzz monsters in full acid jam / stoner mode. The heaviness of the riffs and the depth of the reverb are crushing and roll out of the speakers like a deluge of biblical proportions. For all it's heaviness though, there is a deftness of touch, especially with regard to the lead guitar; it cranks out psychedelic riffs but with art rather than graft, and acts as a counterpoint to the rhythm section which is laying down some sludgey heaviness, almost bordering on doom.

Side two opens with 'Coronal' from the Dead Sea Apes. Whereas Side one was about fuzz and volume, 'Coronal' brings some iridescent beauty to proceedings with its shimmering guitars weaving a sonic tapestry of colours and textures. I've never made a secret of how much I like DSA, and 'Coronal' is an ideal compilation choice as it perfectly captures their strengths; their ability to create aural landscapes and paint pictures in the air. A track that takes the structure of post-rock but overlays it with a rich spacey atmosphere and the unstoppable rhythm of krautrock. From the sublime to the...well....sublime: 'Bloody Mary Jane' from Carlton Melton ft Dr Space is the studio version of the track that appeared on their joint 'Live At Roadburn' LP. It sees the Carlton Melton boys in full psychedelic flow, the guitars meandering gracefully across the speakers while Dr Space adds his trademark washes of spacey synth and both combining to a kraut/space rock climax. Kandodo3 close the album with a live version of 'Laud The Hyena' (recorded at ATP). Like the original, the live version has the space for Simon Price's (he of The Heads!) guitar to create atmospheric soundscapes, an aural snapshot of vast African plains, until the feedback kicks in and it all gets gloriously noisy!

As a compilation 'Stay Holy' ticks all the boxes; there is variety, no question that there is quality, the curation shows the utmost in care and attention, and, as with all Cardinal Fuzz releases, it is a complete 'product' (it is released with a gold screen printed cover and black/gold vinyl). More importantly it showcases brilliantly the vitality and vibrancy of the label. 'Stay Holy' is available for pre-order at Cardinal Fuzz and will also be available at the Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia. For those going, you're in for a real treat! A limited number can now be got via the Dayz of Purple shop here.