Currently playing with LA
based Space Rock trio EFG, up to now guitarist Imaad Wasif has had quite an
interesting and varied career on the fringes of the US Alt Rock scene…..amongst
other projects, he was previously a member of The Folk Implosion, Alaska!, part
of the Yeah, Yeah, Yeah’s touring band and is one half of the experimental duo Acid,
who’s album Science Fiction With Acid has been described as “Prince in a CIA
mind control experiment”. He has also recorded some very cool solo albums that combines
both elements of Psychedelic Folk and Psych Rock and his second studio album
Strange Hexes, which came out as a self-release in 2008, belongs to the lost
gems of contemporary Psychedelic Rock music. Following his more introspective first
self-titled solo album (released in 2006 on Kill Rock Stars) which featured
minimal, acoustic songs reminiscent of Skip Spence’s Oar and Syd Barrett’s Opel,
Strange Hexes was a “tense, trippy collection of songs that become fiercely
emotional explorations” and “unbelievably intense with sparkling, raga-influenced
guitar and a mystic bent” which unfortunately dropped right off the radar. It
has always been a mystery why this fantastic record disappeared without trace
with only a few Psych Rock heads ever hearing it……………….however the world has
been put to right and German Psychedelic/Prog Rock label World In Sound are
giving Strange Hexes the reissue treatment with a new official European CD/LP
release.
Recorded
with bass player Bobb Bruno (now part of Best Coast with Bethany Cosentino) and
drummer Adam Garcia under the name Imaad Wasif with Two Part Beast, Strange Hexes
traces a vein from late ‘60s West Coat Acid Rock to the more heavy, post-psychedelic,
early 70s American guitar bands such as Neil Young & Crazy Horse. Taking on
board the same 60s/70s Psych Rock influences as Dead Meadow, Black Mountain,
Golden Void and Assemble Head In Sunburst Sound, this record switches between sonic
bliss and bone-breaking intensity with Wasif playing the part of both fragile
shamanic poet and wailing guitar God………….there are some seriously great tracks
here. ‘Unveiling’ is an absolute face melter of a track, incorporating Eastern
modal tunings and drones slowly unfolding into a blistering guitar workout. Of
the other great songs, ‘Halcyon’ has a cool Blues vibe and ‘Spell’ is a really
beautiful track, both tracks having echoes of Jeff Buckley’s song structures. The
standout track has to be ‘Seventh Sign, which on the albums initial release was
described as “a nearly perfectly crafted nightmare vision of Armageddon that
hearkens back to the brooding post-psychedelia of Neil Young’s On the Beach”.
Criminally ignored back in 2008, Strange Hexes is well worth getting acquainted
with.
Due for release
15/4/16 on World In Sound, Strange Hexes will be available on vinyl LP and CD
with both formats including liner notes and rare photos. Available soon from
the World In Sound online store and groovy record shops.
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