Review: Various - Paper Leaves - A Terrascope Celebration

Terrascope, that august organ for discerning music lovers, has turned 25 and it's online presence celebrates its tenth birthday also. In over 3 dozen editions, Terrascope has covered "folk, freakbeat and psychedelia, to Krautrock, prog, punk, free jazz, electronica - and nearly every genre in between" and has become one of the most respected independent music journals in the world. As testament to the respect in which it is held, a quick peek at the interviews it has conducted reads as a roll call of the great and good in music: Captain Beefheart, Spirit, Charlie Watts, XTC, Paul McCartney, Caravan, Robert Wyatt, Country Joe McDonald, Frank Zappa & The Mothers, Jefferson Airplane, The Kinks, Quicksilver Messenger Service, David Ackles, Ian Matthews, Arthur Lee & Love, Vivian Stanshall, Bardo Pond, Man, Neutral Milk Hotel, Guided by Voices, Olivia Tremor Control, Hawkwind, the Ramones, Tiny Tim, the Incredible String Band, Tom Rapp & Pearls Before Swine, Mick Farren & The Deviants. Phew!!

To celebrate the anniversaries, the Terrascope crew, headed by editor Phil McMullen, have put together 'Paper Leaves' and, as befits it's reputation, it is a thoughtfully curated compilation of some of the very best artists working today.

Black Tempest (aka the rather talented Stephen Bradbury) kicks off proceedings with a 'Terrescopula Tempestua', a beautiful track reminiscent of Tangerine Dream at their finest; lush swathes of synth, and velvety drones. It has the kosmische feel of a seventies soundtrack about it, again like the aforementioned TD but straying into more experimental territory but never losing the tranquil, meditative quality. Nick Nicely's 'Dance Away' is a slice of classic pop psych with treated vocals sitting stately above a track rooted in the UK sixties psych scene. There is plenty going on in this track; bursts of horns, flashes of electronic trickery and even some hauntological flourishes. As the track nears the end there is some wonderful, understated psych guitar . It is no wonder that the cover blurb refers to Nicely as the “greatest pop star that never was”....a truly psychedelic treat. Dead Sea Apes have provided 'Universal Translator'.... a play on 'Universal Interrogator' from 'Spectral Domain', and is slow building exercise in texture and soundscape. As regular readers will no doubt know, DSA are one of my very fave bands and this track shows exactly why I love ‘em...a slow build dripping with atmosphere, the guitar, with its spaghetti western twang, conjuring visions of the Mojave, arid and sun-baked. When DSA are at the top of their game, they are the masters at creating and moulding soundscapes and this IS them at the top of their game...classic DSA and reason enough to buy this album. White Hills' 'Thermal Head' closes side one and is another track rooted in kosmische...a steady programmed beat underpinning some warbling synths and coruscating psych guitar. It doesn’t have the sturm und drang of some of their psych/space rock material but this is a very effective foray into electronic based krautrock...great stuff indeed.

Side two is opened by Ben Chasny, from Six Organs of Admittance & Comets on Fire. ‘Dead And Rising’ is an acoustic cover of the Wayne Roger’s track that frankly left me speechless.....Chasny’s guitar is peerless and the track is just awesome and not what I was expecting, but I guess that’s the sign of a true visionary artist...the ability to disarm the listener and not constrained by preconceptions or boundaries. The Left Outsides' 'Young Girl Cut Down In Her Prime' is a traditional song beautifully arranged by the band. Alison Cotton’s crystal sharp voice resonates over a simple drone and strings, resulting in a bucolic slice of pastoral folk. It is a luscious treat and I, for one, am going to have to investigate these guys further. Bevis Frond (Nick Saloman) has been involved with Terrascope since the beginning as publisher of the near mythical Ptolomaic Terrascope magazine and has played every Terrastock Festival. ‘Back In The Churchyard’ is classic Frond, those unmistakeable vocals and superlative guitarwork are instantly recognisable and, let's face it, the guy has never put a foot wrong! Album closer 'Pumori' is Bardo Pond doing what Bardo Pond do best...a long track filled with psych guitar over crashing drums and the impassioned vocals of Isobel Sollenberger. It is a gargantuan psych monster full of fat, slow riffs that bring to an end this eclectic cornucopia of top sounds.

'Paper Leaves' is a triumph....a lesson in how to put together a compilation with thought and love. The variety is outstanding and yet all fall neatly under the umbrella of 'psychedelia', whether it be the kosmische electronica of Black Tempest, the folk stylings of The Left Outsides or the out-and-out psych of Bardo Pond. Having given the record several spins, the variety is like the horn of plenty; on every listen there is something new to pick out and enjoy. Kudos to the Terrascope guys for producing a compilation that is gonna be hard to beat this year, and also to the bands for providing the unreleased material that makes this an essential purchase. 'Paper Leaves' can be purchased via the Terrascope Online site here.

As there is currently no specific media available for the album, here's some Dead Sea Apes (any excuse!)