There’s a certain alchemy that occurs when two like-minded forces in the psych-prog underground reunite — especially after a ten-year slumber. Paradoxical Hallucinations, the aptly titled new collaboration between Paradox One and Census of Hallucinations, is not just a merging of old allies; it’s a rekindling of a musical and spiritual kinship that transcends time and space. Led by Phil Jackson (Paradox One) and Tim Jones (Census of Hallucinations), this album is both a reflection and a rebirth — swirling with cosmic introspection, political undercurrents, and ambient meditations.
The record hums with intent from the opening moments. Tracks like “Waves Across the Ocean” balance serene pulses with an edgy starkness — a quietly seething protest against the dehumanisation of migrants. It’s music as empathy and resistance, wrapped in a dreamy haze. Meanwhile, the "Four Steps" pieces act as sonic bridges, minimalist and meditative in construction, echoing the ambient textures of Jackson’s This Fragile Peace (2015), yet brought vividly to life through Tim Jones’ detailed remix and production work. There's an intentional spaciousness here, allowing the listener to breathe inside the sound — a welcome change from the over-compressed chaos of much modern psych.
“Aliens in a Railway Station,” inspired by The War of the Worlds, weaves sci-fi unease into the album’s dream tapestry, hinting at a larger narrative arc Jackson has in mind. It’s evocative of early Pink Floyd meets the homespun experimentalism of cassette culture’s heyday — where lo-fi charm and high-concept thinking go hand in hand.
25 years after Jackson’s debut Reality Quake, and a decade since their last collaborative stirrings, Paradoxical Hallucinations feels like both a long-lost transmission and a bold step forward. It’s music made by veterans of the psychedelic underground who understand that sometimes the quietest revolutions begin with the softest steps — and a bassline that won’t let go. Let’s hope this is just the beginning of a new phase.
- Dr Chemistry Set
The record hums with intent from the opening moments. Tracks like “Waves Across the Ocean” balance serene pulses with an edgy starkness — a quietly seething protest against the dehumanisation of migrants. It’s music as empathy and resistance, wrapped in a dreamy haze. Meanwhile, the "Four Steps" pieces act as sonic bridges, minimalist and meditative in construction, echoing the ambient textures of Jackson’s This Fragile Peace (2015), yet brought vividly to life through Tim Jones’ detailed remix and production work. There's an intentional spaciousness here, allowing the listener to breathe inside the sound — a welcome change from the over-compressed chaos of much modern psych.
“Aliens in a Railway Station,” inspired by The War of the Worlds, weaves sci-fi unease into the album’s dream tapestry, hinting at a larger narrative arc Jackson has in mind. It’s evocative of early Pink Floyd meets the homespun experimentalism of cassette culture’s heyday — where lo-fi charm and high-concept thinking go hand in hand.
25 years after Jackson’s debut Reality Quake, and a decade since their last collaborative stirrings, Paradoxical Hallucinations feels like both a long-lost transmission and a bold step forward. It’s music made by veterans of the psychedelic underground who understand that sometimes the quietest revolutions begin with the softest steps — and a bassline that won’t let go. Let’s hope this is just the beginning of a new phase.
- Dr Chemistry Set
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