REVIEWS
Two Headed Emperor – Deracination - Falling A Records
Two Headed Emperor deliver their heaviest and most dense piece of work to date. "Deracination" has traces of it's predecessor "Omnishambles", some elements from "Transference and Transgression" and echoes of their second album "The Last Time We Did This It Ended In Disaster" and yet is uniquely set apart by Peter Ashby's brilliant guitar work being much more in focus on many of the tracks than on any of their previous work.
This album feels like a commentary on the rather dystopian, self consumed world that we find ourselves in. Barry Lamb's poetic lyrics are typically stark , incisively sharp and occasionally laced with some barbed humour. Whilst his vocals are an acquired taste, in the context of this unhinged masterpiece it's hard to imagine a more skilled singer being able to deliver it in quite the way that he does.
This is by far their best work to date and as always, hard to make a proper comparison but if you can imagine early 70's heavy and progressive rock on such iconic labels as Vertigo, Harvest or Charisma colliding with post punk art rock (whatever that is), you might get close to grasping what is going on here.
- Dr. Chemistry Set
Two Headed Emperor deliver their heaviest and most dense piece of work to date. "Deracination" has traces of it's predecessor "Omnishambles", some elements from "Transference and Transgression" and echoes of their second album "The Last Time We Did This It Ended In Disaster" and yet is uniquely set apart by Peter Ashby's brilliant guitar work being much more in focus on many of the tracks than on any of their previous work.
This album feels like a commentary on the rather dystopian, self consumed world that we find ourselves in. Barry Lamb's poetic lyrics are typically stark , incisively sharp and occasionally laced with some barbed humour. Whilst his vocals are an acquired taste, in the context of this unhinged masterpiece it's hard to imagine a more skilled singer being able to deliver it in quite the way that he does.
This is by far their best work to date and as always, hard to make a proper comparison but if you can imagine early 70's heavy and progressive rock on such iconic labels as Vertigo, Harvest or Charisma colliding with post punk art rock (whatever that is), you might get close to grasping what is going on here.
- Dr. Chemistry Set
Two Headed Emperor – Deracination - Falling A Records
The definition of deracinate is to pull out by the roots; uproot, to displace from one's
native or accustomed environment. I have followed the progress of Two Headed Emperor
since the band’s inception and I eagerly await each new release. Every album is different.
Up till now, I’ve always associated the music of Two Headed Emperor with the sea but
with this new album, Deracination we are going otherworldly, if not interplanetary. There
is a real depth to this Hammond organ led, classic Prog Rock but it’s much more than
that. From the opening chords of the Hammond, I’m reminded of Vincent Crane from
Atomic Rooster. It’s that same feeling tingling up my spine when I first heard the
opening sequence to “Devil’s Answer” back in the mists of time.
The vocal performances from Barry Lamb are up front, mournful, heartfelt and unique.
The lyrics are as always interesting and intriguing. Fantastic, inventive guitar from Peter
Ashby, his guitar playing is reminiscent of Zal Clemlinson from the superb Glaswegian
band Tear Gas and early Gary Moore from his days with Irish band Skid Row. Also
Jimmy Page comes to mind, in his wilder moments. Once again, Georgia Lamb performs
excellent, atmospheric and ethereal vocals that really enhance the mood, reminding me of
the female vocalists in Hatfield & the North.
There are haunting wind instrument sounds too, adding another dimension. Sitar vibes
and strange outer space atmospheres, weird, indescribable alien monster sounds rising to
the musical surface, at times seeming like they are ready to devour the music. Constantly
lurking in the background and then coming to the fore. These strange sounds mirror the
sentiment of the words or am I just being carried along on another trip into that other land
of the Two Headed Emperor?
There are modern technological elements to the sound to and a New Wave sensibility that
further enhances the originality of the conceptual sonic landscape of Two Headed
Emperor. In a word, “Deracination” is a classic and the more you hear the album, the
more you hear in it. It’s a treat for those with the ears to hear.
Tim Jones – November 2021.
The definition of deracinate is to pull out by the roots; uproot, to displace from one's
native or accustomed environment. I have followed the progress of Two Headed Emperor
since the band’s inception and I eagerly await each new release. Every album is different.
Up till now, I’ve always associated the music of Two Headed Emperor with the sea but
with this new album, Deracination we are going otherworldly, if not interplanetary. There
is a real depth to this Hammond organ led, classic Prog Rock but it’s much more than
that. From the opening chords of the Hammond, I’m reminded of Vincent Crane from
Atomic Rooster. It’s that same feeling tingling up my spine when I first heard the
opening sequence to “Devil’s Answer” back in the mists of time.
The vocal performances from Barry Lamb are up front, mournful, heartfelt and unique.
The lyrics are as always interesting and intriguing. Fantastic, inventive guitar from Peter
Ashby, his guitar playing is reminiscent of Zal Clemlinson from the superb Glaswegian
band Tear Gas and early Gary Moore from his days with Irish band Skid Row. Also
Jimmy Page comes to mind, in his wilder moments. Once again, Georgia Lamb performs
excellent, atmospheric and ethereal vocals that really enhance the mood, reminding me of
the female vocalists in Hatfield & the North.
There are haunting wind instrument sounds too, adding another dimension. Sitar vibes
and strange outer space atmospheres, weird, indescribable alien monster sounds rising to
the musical surface, at times seeming like they are ready to devour the music. Constantly
lurking in the background and then coming to the fore. These strange sounds mirror the
sentiment of the words or am I just being carried along on another trip into that other land
of the Two Headed Emperor?
There are modern technological elements to the sound to and a New Wave sensibility that
further enhances the originality of the conceptual sonic landscape of Two Headed
Emperor. In a word, “Deracination” is a classic and the more you hear the album, the
more you hear in it. It’s a treat for those with the ears to hear.
Tim Jones – November 2021.