La caja de 5 discos contiendo todo el material grabado por Pete "Bassman" Bain y Sterling "Rosco" Roswell como miembros y líderes de THE DARKSIDE UK ha llegado a mi nave semanas antes de su publicación oficial. Justo como era moneda común en los volados 90's. The Darkside lo iniciaron hacia mediados de los 80's Nick Haydn y Kevin Cowen. Luego de la publicación del Perfect Prescription de Spacemen 3 y la salida de Bassman del entorno Kember/Pierce los Darkside irían tomando su forma final. "Complete Studio Masters" (2017) une a Bain y Roswell, viejos zorros, connotados chamanes de la psicodelia politóxica, pues son los que mejor han resistido el impecable paso del tiempo. Y vaya forma de contestar a las ácidas y amargas vicisitudes por las que en vida tuvo que pasar este combo de Rugby. Algún día quizá tal capítulo sea contado para todos en el libro respectivo...
Esta belleza incluye 5 cds dos de los cuales, el CD 1 y el CD 3, son las versiones remasterizadas de sus grandiosos álbumes "All That Noise" (1990) y "Melomania" (1992). Si no los conoces o si eres adolescente aún vaya oportunidad/reventón que te darás. El cuarto disco incluye el "Mayhem to Meditate EP" (1992) con el añadido de la versión del hit noventero "Waiting for the Angels" -¡hasta Radio Doble 9 de Lima, Perú la tocaba!- incluida previamente en la edición americana del primer álbum
El disco 2 rescata verdaderas gemas de la neo psicodelia: versiones alternas e instrumentales de las canciones del "All That Noise" -¿grabadas en portaestudio maybe?- y algunos live takes, lo cual compensa en parte la no inclusión de esa otra joya de colección de la banda: "Psychedelicise Suburbia" (1991). Si todo esto te pareció poco (¡lo dudamos!), el 5to y último CD del box set te regalará canciones que The Darkside grabara para diversas compilaciones, tributos y revistas de la época. Inigualables "There's a World Outside" y su feeling nihilista "solo quiero un chutazo" marca Spacemen 3, "High Time", "Frankie Teardrop", un tributo elegante y elevado dedicado a la dupla newyorkina Suicide y "Space Walk": ¡la semilla de Alpha Stone está acá! .
Muchos acólitos/melómanos/kemados de los prístinos 90's descubrimos primero a The Darkside, fueron ellos quienes nos presentaron la magia, arrebato y colores de la neopsicodelia introduciéndonos luego al mundo drone guitarrero experimental de Spacemen 3, Spectrum, Spiritualized, E.A.R., Alpha Stone, Lupine Howl, Slipstream. Para algunos de los marxianos de la escena post-rocker 90's en Lima Norte, Tokio o Rugby la piedra filosofal fueron los Darkside UK, sus redentoras líricas, las etéreas melodías vocales, la viola wha wha medicinal de Rosco y las seductores vibraciones de bajo de Bassman se marcaron en lo profundo de nuestra alma hace milenios.
La trascendencia de "Complete Studio Masters" (2017) es enorme para señalar a los nuevos cómo fue que se forjó una de las escenas más importantes de las últimas músicas: la neo psicodelia espacial fundada en Rugby. El futuro fluye en la sangre y neuronas de esta estirpe de artistas. Hoy cada vez que decoramos nuestro cerebro con este box set "de boutique" (Sterling Roswell dixit) no podemos sino confirmar nuestra esencia. Bassman, Rosco, Craig, please "don't stop the rain".
Wilder Gonzales Agreda.
The 5 CD box set containing all material recorded by Pete "Bassman" Bain and Sterling "Rosco" Roswell as members and leaders of THE DARKSIDE UK has arrived on my ship weeks before its official release. Just as it was common currency in the stoned 90's. The Darkside was started circa mid-80's by Nick Haydn and Kevin Cowen. Following the release of Spacemen 3's Perfect Prescription and Bassman's departure from Kember/Pierce environment The Darkside would take its final form. "Complete Studio Masters" (2017) joins Bain and Roswell, old foxes, distinguished shamen of polytoxic psychedelia, since are the ones who have withstood the flawless passage of time. And what way to answer the bitter and acidic vicissitudes this combo of Rugby had to pass by. Someday maybe such a chapter will be told to everyone in the respective book ...
This beauty includes 5 cds two of which, CD 1 and CD 3, are remastered versions of their great albums "All That Noise" (1990) and "Melomania" (1992). If you don't know them or if you're a teenager, what opportunity/blowout you'll give yourself. The fourth disc includes "Mayhem to Meditate EP" (1992) with the addition of the version of the hit "Waiting for the Angels" -even Radio Doble 9 from Lima, Peru! used to played it- included in the american version of the first album + an additional remix to the 2 already included in the "Mayhem" of "This Mystic Morning". Bliss trance rock for your neurons: listen to it while you're spaced out on your most beloved medication. You will see...
Disc 2 rescues true gems of neo psychedelia: alternative and instrumental versions of the songs of "All That Noise" -recorded in portastudio maybe?- and some live takes, which partially compensates for the non inclusion of that other gem of collection of the band: "Psychedelicise Suburbia" (1991). If all this seemed to you little (we doubt it!), the 5th and final CD of the box set will give you songs that The Darkside recorded for various compilations, tributes and magazines of the time. Incomparable "There's a World Outside" and its nihilistic feeling "I just want a shoot" Spacemen 3 trademark, "High Time", "Frankie Teardrop", an elegant and high tribute dedicated to the New York duo Suicide and Space Walk: Alpha Stone's seed is here!
Many acolytes/music lovers/fucked-up from the pristine 90's first discovered to The Darkside, it was them who introduced us to the magic, rapture and colors of neo-psychedelia introducing us to the experimental drone guitar world of Spacemen 3, Spectrum, Spiritualized, EAR, Alpha Stone, Lupine Howl, Slipstream. For some of the marxians in the 90's post-rocker scene in North Lima, Tokyo or Rugby the Philosopher's Stone was The Darkside UK, their redeeming lyrics, ethereal vocal melodies, Rosco's medicinal wha wha viola and the seductive bass vibrations of Bassman were marked deep in our soul thousand of years ago.
The transcendence of "Complete Studio Masters" (2017) is enormous to point out to the new ones how it was that one of the most important scenes of the ultimes musiques was forged: the neo space psychedelia founded in Rugby. The future flows in the blood and neurons of this lineage of artists. Today every time we decorate our brains with this box set "of boutique" (Sterling Roswell dixit) we can't but confirm our essence. Bassman, Rosco, Craig, please "don't stop the rain".
Wilder Gonzales Agreda.