Individual thought patterns V.024: ITP REVEW: OM: GOD IS GOOD

Monday, January 25, 2010

ITP REVEW: OM: GOD IS GOOD

BAND: OM (SAN FRANCISCO/OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA- USA ) GENRE: STONER DOOM/DRONE LABEL: DRAG CITY RELEASE DATE: 9/29/2009
PREVIOUS RELEASES (CATALOG) :PILGRIMAGE (2007-SOUTHERN LORD), CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS (2006-HOLY MOUNTAIN), VARIATIONS OF A THEME
(2005-HOLY MOUNTAIN)
OTHER RELEASES: CONFERENCE LIVE (2009-IMPORTANT RECORDS), LIVE AT JERUSALEM (2008-SOUTHERN LORD), INERRANT RAYS OF A FALLIBLE SUN (2006-EP-SPLIT WITH SHRINE BUILDER-NEUROT RECORDINGS), OM/SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE-BEDOIUN'S VIGIL- (2006-SPLIT EP-HOLY MOUNTAIN)
BEST RELEASE(S): CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS (2006), PILGRIMAGE (2007)
TRACKLISTING : OM: GOD IS GOOD:
1) Thebes
2) Meditation is the Practice of Death
3) Cremation Ghat I
4) Cremation Ghat II

ITP RATING: *** 1/2

PRODUCTION: *** 1/2

SONGWRITING: *** 1/2

PERFORMANCE: *** 1/2

OM are a stoner/drone duo from the Bay area, California- USA (formed in 2003) invoking meditative drone, with psychedelic, shoe gazer/post rock textures. OM features (EX) SLEEP and SHRINEBUILDER member Al Cisneros (bass/vocals) and Emil Amos (drums).
OM, lost a member when (EX) SLEEP, SHRINEBUILDER member Chris Hakius (drums) left the project in 2008 to be replaced by Emil Amos (GRAILS). You may heard of the seminal stoner doom band SLEEP as the bands founder, MATT PIKE went on to form HIGH ON FIRE. OM is an organic extension of SLEEP, reuniting the bands rhythm section, invoking a stripped down meditative drone.
In the transition of OM's lineup changes, the band has returned to form to create yet another engaging sonic art of mystical, transcendent stoner/drone.
OM's "GOD IS GOOD" kicks off with the 19:08 opus "Thebes" crawling in with a tambura (sounds like a sitar) melody, and slow, menacing bass as with subtle variations, the bass and tambura meld together to form a middle eastern flavored, relaxing drone. At 3:25 into "Thebes", Al Cisneros vocals seep in emoting an Indian chanted mantra with subtle light percussion, and violin inspiring a psychedelic atmosphere. "Thebes" builds on it's psychedelic textures with drums and light keyboards. "Thebes" meditative trance takes a turn for the heavier (8:28) as distorted bass catches a groove with Cisneros's smooth vocals invoking psychedelic atmospheres. Mmmmm. "Thebes" enters other worldly territories as at 14:58 the opus slows down for a stoner doomer's wet dream of melancholy, psychedelic/groove bliss.
By now, you should NOT be sober, and in meditative trance. OM's "Meditation is the Practice of Death" seeps in with an ominous bass intro and Cisneros's
seductive vocals. At 5:23 into "Meditation is the Practice of Death", OM employ the use of a flute solo, beautiful indeed. . "Cremation Ghat I", enters in at a quicker pace, rim taping, fast bass groove, hand claps and pretentious, Tibetan chants as "Cremation Ghat I" segues into the next track "Cremation Ghat II". OM's "GOD IS GOD" closes with the instrumental "Cremation Ghat II", softly segueing with a droning, hypnotic tambura as Amos crawls in with rim tapping, keeping perfect time."Cremation Ghat II" invokes a rock groove (1:48) with lightly sprinkled mellotron and tablas jamming into a void, as this unstructured track feels incomplete.
OM's "GOD IS GOOD" trades Al Cisneros dominant, droning bass for a lighter, more hypnotic journey. However, this concept would be more effective if the songwriting and excursions were stronger and more meaningful.
Gone is Cisneros's distorted bass, for a cleaner, low in the mix, groove oriented feel as Amos brings a more jazzier flavor to OM's arsenal.
I do love the variation of instrumentation featured on OM's "GOD IS GOOD" as this band will try anything once, flutes, tambora, tablas, ect, all of which add to a wondrous journey into psychedelic, oblivion.
However, while OM's "GOD IS GOOD" isn't the classic "Pilgrimage" has grown into, OM are
certainly one of the most original stoner/drone bands out there today, invoking a psychedelic trance transcending over the gluttony of Black Sabbath clones littering the stoner/doom scene. . OM are indeed recommended for those looking for a meditative, spiritual journey and a hypnotic, cathartic ritual from the worlds baggage.

ITP RATING: *** 1/2

PRODUCTION: *** 1/2

SONGWRITING: *** 1/2

PERFORMANCE: *** 1/2

Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

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Individual thought patterns V.024

Monday, January 25, 2010

ITP REVEW: OM: GOD IS GOOD

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