Electric Shepherd
The
Imitation Garden
Self-Released 2012
San
Francisco's psychedelic voyagers Electric Shepherd return to takes us
on an odyssey of blues tinged rock with some doom leanings. After
an energetic and trippy ride of guitar and drum, we glide into the
first true track of the album, The Escapist. A pulsing bass
guitar and tapping cymbals drift into shimmering vocals and luxurious
guitar that dances and weaves like a desert spider. The song
builds into a cacophony of expansive, yet jazzy guitar and quickly
fades back into the sultry dream that was pulsing through our system
from the outset. Soft, luxurious curls of musical smoke are
exhaled on Part 1 of the title-track. There is such a laid back
feeling to the track except when for brief moments in the chorus where
we get some more raucous rock riffage. Fat, vibrating riffs
lurch forward and the whole Part 2 of the title-track gives a softer,
Sabbath vibe, maybe somewhat akin to Planet Caravan, but with a bit
more funk in the fabric of the song.
The drumming is insane and the fills throughout are creative and
technical. A darker, more insistent mood takes over Totem II.
Once again, intense drumming and a wailing guitar jam paint your
mind with feverish dreams. Into The Forest, Father is an ambient
sunrise of synth and cymbal caressing. Ponderous, hypnotic guitar
and humming synth impose their will upon your subconscious like a
desert as the soundscapes of Mechanical Flowers/Angels Reprise break
across your ears. There is a subtle Doors influence that sways in
and out of the track and if you pay attention close enough you can feel
it throughout the entire album. But the way these notes are long
and flowing and really airy and full of space conjures images of Pink
Floyd. This is instantly noticeable during the opening segment of
Heaven Don't Need. The washed out, warped vocals add layers of
depth to the jazzy bass and guitar and the psychedelic vibe of the
song. Again I hear comparisons to Black Sabbath's Planet Caravan.
The guitars explode for some full on doom riffage, crushing all
in their wake. The Imitation Garden is a long, lavish trek
through the vistas of your mind with these three talented musicians as
your guides. So pack your bags, and journey across the stars on a
hallucinogenic journey.