Krom Lek - Rariteality (Download)
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1) Collective Conscious (live 1992)
2) Insight
3) De Dot De Dat (live 1988)
4) Taking Warmth
5) White Wolf (live 1989)
6) September Skies
7) Letting It Run (jam session 1986)
8) It Only Takes
9) Long Meg (full circle)
10) Ged Make A Pipe (jam session 1986)
11) No Longer (live 1994)
12) Over Flow
13) Funky Sax Thang (live 1993)
14) Face Snorta (live 1993)
15) Brown Ale Frenzy (live 1992)
Krom Lek - Rariteality
The latest from festie psych groovers Krom Lek is a collection of live and unreleased studio tracks, some dating back as far as 1986. Live cuts like "Collective Conscious" give good insight into the bands performances and include some dialog, which I like when listening to live shows. Ditto for "Brown Ale Frenzy" which is the longest track of the set and an outstanding performance of blazing space rock, though the sound quality is near bootleg. In fact, the sound isn't so hot on many of the live tracks, but it's sufficient to get a solid feel for what Krom Lek can deliver in concert. "De Dot De Dat" from 1988 recalls the most rockin and spaced out moments from Hillage era Gong. "White Wolf", from 1989, is very different from any other Krom Lek I've heard, being a short punky instrumental. "Funky Sax Thang" is another tune that's a bit different, having some Hendrix influences, and despite "Sax" being in the title this is very much a guitar song. "Face Snorta" is a ripping live instrumental that features some of the most intensely rocking guitar I've heard from Krom Lek.
Among the studio tracks is "Insight", which is trademark Krom Lek and really communicates their blend of Gong and Ozric Tentacles. "Taking Warmth" includes the cosmic Reggae and Dub influences that are so prominent among the British festie bands. "Over Flow" is similar and is an excellent psychedelic-ska rocker. There are also a couple of alternative takes on known songs like "September Skies" and "Long Meg", with the latter being beautifully spaced out and an excellent song. We also get a couple of jam session tracks which feature Krom Lek doing what they do so well, though the jams are waaaaaaaaaaaay too brief.
In summary, I would direct all newcomers to the Krom Lek experience to start with one of the first four studio albums, but seasoned fans should most definitely check this out, particularly for the live tracks and examples of the band in earlier times.
- Jerry Kranitz
The latest from festie psych groovers Krom Lek is a collection of live and unreleased studio tracks, some dating back as far as 1986. Live cuts like "Collective Conscious" give good insight into the bands performances and include some dialog, which I like when listening to live shows. Ditto for "Brown Ale Frenzy" which is the longest track of the set and an outstanding performance of blazing space rock, though the sound quality is near bootleg. In fact, the sound isn't so hot on many of the live tracks, but it's sufficient to get a solid feel for what Krom Lek can deliver in concert. "De Dot De Dat" from 1988 recalls the most rockin and spaced out moments from Hillage era Gong. "White Wolf", from 1989, is very different from any other Krom Lek I've heard, being a short punky instrumental. "Funky Sax Thang" is another tune that's a bit different, having some Hendrix influences, and despite "Sax" being in the title this is very much a guitar song. "Face Snorta" is a ripping live instrumental that features some of the most intensely rocking guitar I've heard from Krom Lek.
Among the studio tracks is "Insight", which is trademark Krom Lek and really communicates their blend of Gong and Ozric Tentacles. "Taking Warmth" includes the cosmic Reggae and Dub influences that are so prominent among the British festie bands. "Over Flow" is similar and is an excellent psychedelic-ska rocker. There are also a couple of alternative takes on known songs like "September Skies" and "Long Meg", with the latter being beautifully spaced out and an excellent song. We also get a couple of jam session tracks which feature Krom Lek doing what they do so well, though the jams are waaaaaaaaaaaay too brief.
In summary, I would direct all newcomers to the Krom Lek experience to start with one of the first four studio albums, but seasoned fans should most definitely check this out, particularly for the live tracks and examples of the band in earlier times.
- Jerry Kranitz