Customer Reviews

Akathisia

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Hovercraft is a very unique band. It uses the familiar guitar/bass/drums instrumentation, but somehow makes it sound different than any other guitar/bass/drums trio out there. A good portion of this is due to Campbell 2000's guitar work, which can only be described as bizarre. While there are a lot of crazy effects, delays, and loops going on, at least half of the strangeness is in the way he plays the actual instrument. Some parts are almost like Derek Bailey, while others are directly from outer space. Sadie 7 and Karl 3-30 play the role of straightmen (technically, Sadie 7 is a woman) on bass and drums respectively. They keep the rhythm and texture going while Campbell 2000 colors with broad strokes.

I'm not sure exactly how much improvisation is involved here - I suspect quite a lot. There seem to be various sections in a deliberate order, but within these lengthy sections, the interplay seems spontaneous. Most of the tracks are fairly lengthy, which gives the musicians ample time to really stretch out and explore. Some parts feel more composed than others (such as the beginning and end of "De-Orbit Burn"), but that's the beauty - it's a freely developing structured improvisation that has form and just makes a lot of sense to listen to. You're never quite sure how this music is being made, but the musicians are in total control. Even if these are essentially long 'jams', they're in no way self-indulgent or difficult to listen to.

Hovercraft won't appeal to everyone. The intensity never lets up and they're plenty noisy. I'm tempted to draw some sort of comparison with Sonic Youth or the Boredoms, but it's only comparable insofar as they all, at times, do a variation on noise rock. It's not really a strong comparison, but what do you do when describing a band that doesn't sound like anyone else?

If you're an adventurous listener, you might enjoy this. I think it's a unique and special album. Fans of experimental rock should check this out.

Simple but true: if you like Pink Floyd'sSaucerful of Secrets, you will like Akathisia by Hovercraft.

The comparison is particularly true when you think of the instrumentals on the Pink Floyd album. Hovercraft make their entire sound out of big drums, jet fuel bass and bending guitar. So few players, so many weird quarks, quasars and meteors of sound. Provide a huge throbbing beat and wrench the space sounds from the guitar. That is it, but the effect is as big as the galaxy.

There being no keyboard anywhere near Akathisia highly increases my admiration for this band: they are inventive enough to squeeze all this strange spacedust out of the most basic rock format. Taking the simple and making it the bizarre. You may not hear a lot of rock on this album. You may not hear a lot old stuffies might call music.

But whatever the hell you call it, you gotta hear this.

imagine an instrumental sonic youth cd. this is what it would like it. buy this cd. it will blow you away.

Wow, this is a really good album. I can't believe nobody has taken the time to review it. This album will make you feel dark and sinister in a psychodelic and trippy sort of way. "quiet room-44" and "de-orbit burn" are some of the best space rock out there. the only reason I didn't give it a five was because the three middle tracks are lacking something but i am not exactly sure just what it is. give this album a ride and i promise you will never come down.

I tried to like this album, I wanted to like this album, but after listening, and then listening again, I found it to be a bit redundant. Maybe if I was 18 again and smoked my first joint, or dropped a tab, this would have been impressive. It's just that this "type" of material has been done so many times better, by so many people, from the sixties all the way to the late eighties. Please explore the many recordings of the superior "Can" or even early "Helios Creed" before spending your hard earned cash on this. Unless you feel the need to fill more dead space on your CD rack.