{"id":15247,"date":"2021-04-23T05:00:46","date_gmt":"2021-04-23T05:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=15247"},"modified":"2021-04-18T11:23:26","modified_gmt":"2021-04-18T11:23:26","slug":"jess-and-the-ancient-ones-vertigo-svart-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=15247","title":{"rendered":"Jess and the Ancient Ones \u2013 \u2018Vertigo\u2019 (Svart Records)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>If you like your rock in a mysterious ceremonial circle with a load of other rocks then \u2018Vertigo\u2019, the new album from Savonian occultists, Jess and the Ancient Ones, is for you.<\/p>\n

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The follow-up to previous album, \u2018The Horse & Other Weird Tales\u2019, \u2018Vertigo\u2019 may be seemingly simpler-titled but it is certainly not a simple rock record. This eight-track curio from the Finnish psych rock outfit is one of those rare albums that comprises solely of deep cuts, yet is strangely essential and vibrant.<\/p>\n

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The band\u2019s previous brand of twin-guitar-led metal has mutated into organ-drenched heavy psych oddity rock that feels almost as old and certainly as ominous as the hooded figure that listeners will surely see in the corners of their eyes when listening to this audio excursion into ghostlore.<\/p>\n

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Wrapped in suitably jolly artwork \u2013 a crude, vintage photograph of a tornado laying waste to some mortals – \u2018Vertigo\u2019 features haunting, brooding tracks that could be the soundtrack to episodes of Hammer House of Horror, hauntings, or night terrors \u2013 possibly all three… and possibly within the same song.<\/p>\n

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Pop culture permeates the grooves at various intervals here: \u2018Talking Board\u2019 points its planchette in the direction of The Exorcist via the infamous \u201cCaptain Howdy\u201d dialogue; \u2018Summer Tripping Man\u2019 steals a \u2018Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb\u2019 sample to great effect; while \u2018Love Zombi\u2019 could accompany an action montage in an episode of Space: 1999.<\/p>\n

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This is folk horror rock, not to be mistaken with folk rock; in fact, situated towards the end of the album is a pair of tracks \u2013 \u2018Born To Kill\u2019 and \u2018What\u2019s On Your Mind\u2019 – that threaten to rock out in a more familiar fashion. They only threaten it, mind; normal for this band is still as off-kilter as the most curious thing you\u2019ll see, and be troubled by, all year.<\/p>\n

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Recreating a soulful garage psychedelia from the late Sixties was the aim of Jess and the Ancient Ones on this album and, yes, the band members\u2019 aim is true… even if they have paired those desired sounds with occult rock sonics of a certain vintage that are sure to give those of us from the haunted generation scare flashbacks and cold sweats.<\/p>\n

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The recreation of a bygone era\u2019s sound and folklore exhibited here is quite remarkable, it has to be noted; inspiration found on woodcut, the ritual and ceremony faithfully recreated. This is the lysergic doom album that you were looking for. In the corner of your room. At 2am. It\u2019ll be there again tonight. Watching. As you sleep. Fucking hell. Facebook<\/a>\u00a0\/<\/span> Bandcamp<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Buy ‘Vertigo’ Here<\/a><\/p>\n

Author: Gaz Tidey<\/p>\n

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