Conference of the Birds

Om

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 25, 2006)
• Original Release Date: February 24, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Holy Mountain
• ASIN: B000EQ5QI6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #130,816 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent., April 29, 2006

By	HeavyGuitarSunn - See all my reviews

Don't be fooled into thinking that this is -- or should be -- a cliche-ridden "doom" album. Om deliver psychedelic music on the first track, which recalls pre-"Dark Side" Pink Floyd. And then they turn everything way back up on the second track, which recalls both "Dopesmoker" and "Variations on a Theme." This is neither "stoner" nor "doom," nor do I think it's entirely original, but that doesn't mean that it isn't quite good. Another stellar, almost-masterpiece from Om -- a band whose sound will continue to develop and mature. Doom is over. Om have arrived.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "And Lighten Pon Day...", May 2, 2006

By	Sunshine Greeny - See all my reviews

Conference of The Birds makes for an apropos soundtrack of apogee and reverence. A clarion call sounding for rebirth ...seductive, liberating, a prayer framed within apocalyptic atmosphere. A brooding lullaby for the sun underscored with allusions to solar-object omens and seraphim arrivals. Respective to our time, the birds are - as is Om's sound - metaphors for the soul seeking transcendental freedom and ethereal resonance.

In terms of head music, drummer Chris Hakius and bassist/vocalist Al Cisneros, the bong-ripping rhythm section of long defunct stoner/doom cultists, Sleep, deliver up a majestic sophomore offering of epochal rhythms and meditative mantras. The opener, "At Giza," is a metaphysical groover carried along by hypnotic bass vibes, sparse drum beats, and Al's splendidly stoned-proselyte, chant-like hymn of intoning esoteric references to ancient religiosity and iconography.

Upon completion of the final stanza, Al's sweet Green bass distortion tidal-waves, accompanied by Chris' laying into the ride cymbal's shoulder, creating a swell of "heavy" matched only by its simplistic brilliance. "At Giza" is a moving, deeply felt spiritual odyssey which recalls "Echoes/Pompeii" era Pink Floyd.

"Flight of The Eagle" is more attuned with the material of their debut, Variations On A Theme, replete with fuzzed out doom riffs and staggered drum beats that at first create a sense of nearly falling out of time before taking the scenic way round as Al intones with "To send ..Retainer soalesced a vision boards the skybarge to free-dom" chants to complete the hook. Intrepid wayfarers take heed...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I actually prefer At Giza, September 9, 2007

By	Toasted Cheese - See all my reviews

Unlike most reviewers, I actually prefer At Giza to Flight of the Eagle. It is a new direction for the band, and has some very good mini-jams inside it. I think FotE is a good track as well, but the fact that the vocals have been mixed into the background really detracts from it, IMO. At least half of what I enjoy about Om is Cisneros' droning vocal chanting, and (of course) the lyrics he chants. Moving that into the background was a mistake. Hopefully the vocals are back at the forefront in the upcoming album, Pilgrimage.