Review: Plant Tribe - Late Noon

Sorry for the absence of late folks - reasons that I need not go into here. Anyway, normal service should be back as of now! Way back in August I had the pleasure of interviewing the guys from Plant Tribe ahead of the release of their debut LP 'Late Noon'. That LP is now amongst us, and a fine slab of wax it is too!

'Late Noon' kicks off with 'Past Life' and straight into some spacey effects that could hav come straight from a Hawkwind album, but it soon evolves into a groove-laden trip. One of the first things that hits the listener is the sheer soulfulness of Jeff Ziemba's vocals; they are impassioned and forceful, but there is no mistaking that this guy can sing! The vocals are counterpointed brilliantly by some wonderful acid guitarwork from Jon Cox. 'Worlds We Never Knew', with its organ and slight echo on the vocals, transports us back to the late sixties to when the garage punk bands were making that transition into psychedelia, but for all the nostalgia, there is something urgently contemporary. Again, the guitar is superb, soaring over a rigid rhythm section (Eric Contreras on drums and Phil Lemke on bass) that never waivers. Much kudos must also go to Patrick Diederichs for the fantastic keyboard break....channeling his inner Ray Manzarek! The afore mentioned 'Eternal Villiany' makes it on to the album, with it's boogie driven, swaggering psychedelia, and another chance for Ziemba to stretch his vocal chords to the max. 'Fishbowl' is a slow burner...sultry and blues driven, with a vague whiff of regret about it, the guitar sounds mournful and the sax (again courtesy of Patrick Diederichs) at the end adds to the melancholia. 'Gutterland' is another blues based track but this time is upbeat, with some of the Tribe's trademark groove and swagger, it also provides an opportunity for drums an sax to take some of the spotlight. 'Croakin''starts with a Procul Harem like organ intro before the rest of the band joins for another romp through their psychedelic repertoire; the guitar jamming like Garcia was still alive, the organ laying down some more Doorsian melodies and Ziemba's soulful vocals again soaring.'Mice' is the longest track on the album at just over 10 minutes and is the most out-and-out psychedelic of the tracks; some superb jamming from all involved, it takes us to the stratosphere and back and we still want more. It is the sound of a band who know their craft and not afraid to let loose, comfortable in the knowledge that they are all singing from the same sheet...fantastic stuff.

As debuts go, both for the band (long player wise) and for a new label, they don't really get much more accomplished than this...the production is of the highest quality and the musicianship of the band is fantastic....these guys are musicians, not a bunch of mates who thought it would be laugh to start a band. Every player plays their part to make 'Late Noon' an album that smacks of class and skill....and is a damn good listen to boot!

The LP can be ordered from Space Chant here