This was
Siloah
's first album from 1970, when the group played mellow hippie
rock
, supposedly influenced somewhat by American West Coast bands like
Grateful Dead
. Like the first
Amon Dueuel
,
was a commune band who let anyone play along, no matter how competent, and the disc sounds a lot like
's foray into similar strange
folk-rock
on
Para Dieswaerts Dueuel
. Acoustic guitars lock into repetitive but loose riffs over primitive bongo percussions with that same inventive improvised feel, as well as innocent charm.
Thom Argauer
's vocals, in English, have a certain naivete that only enhances the charm as he sings about acid eagles or the land where the dope shops are in Krishna's hands. There are long instrumental passages, especially on the 18-minute
"Aluminum Wind,"
as well as
"Krishna?s Golden Dope Shop"
and the lively
"Road to Laramy,"
with its galloping rhythm. Though not quite as well recorded, the bonus tracks are quite good.
"Mit Tiny,"
originally both sides of a 7" from 1970, gets into even wilder improv
with screams and pounding drum-circle style rhythms, which makes it sound closer to the earliest
material. ~ Rolf Semprebon