Cargo Records

Electric Heavyland

Electric Heavyland is one of the most over top releases to come out of the Temple so far, and is perhaps Kawabata Makoto’s heaviest groove-oriented material since the classic Mainliner debut, Mellow Out. The recording is made of three tracks that at times will have listeners reminiscing over the likes of early Mudhoney and Monster Magnet’s Spine of God era sound. It’s the one of the catchiest records from the incredibly prolific psych unit in recent times and can be best compared to the heavier tracks on Absolutely Freak Out Zap Your Mind or the bordering-on-metal sound the band often seems to take on in live situations.

Atomic Rotary Grinding God opens up the recording with Cotton Casino’s droning vocals and spacey electronics which slowly build momentum and eventually give way to an explosion of High Rise-paced mayhem that will have even the most jaded rockers bobbing their heads. While the rock and psych influences are the most obvious, closer attention reveals beautiful kraut rock inspired patterns.

Comparisons to Mainliner hold especially true during Electric Heavyland’s second track, Loved and Confused. This track wastes no time building up – it is heavy grooving rock from start finish, 17 minutes of pure psychedelic bliss. The record closes with Phantom of Galactic Magnum, which closes the record the same way it opened: slow-building electronic drone with treated vocals. Speed guru Kawabata Makoto leads the way with his trademark solo drone guitar sound which again is taken over by phases of electronic washes eventually dissolving into another hard rock assault at the five minute mark.

Track Listing

1. Atomic Rotary Grinding God/Quicksilver Machine Head
2. Loved And Confused
3. Phantom Of Galactic