Customer Reviews

Conference of the Birds

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

 

 

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...

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.

The first track is incredibly mellow, by far the most mellow thing I've ever heard from Cisneros and Hakius. These guys have always put forth an aggressive vibe, but this is very, very laid back. Al's clean, undistorted bass and crooning, chanted vocals accompanied by Chris lightly tapping on his drums. Very groovy, very psychedelic. Not unlike Pink Floyd. I'm hoping it'll grow on me, but I've already listened to it four or five times and I'm just not digging it. It makes me want to shake them by the shoulders and say "Hey guys, wake up. Time to rock." I enjoy lots of mellow and relaxing music, but I come to these guys when I want crushing heaviness. For some reason, I have a feeling that a lot of people will like this track and that I'll be in the minority on this.

The second track sounds like it could have come from Variations on a Theme, though I think it actually has superior production (courtesy of Billy Anderson as usual.) Unlike the previous album, this has dynamics which don't come off like it's missing a guitar track. Both of these tracks sound like bass and drums and vocals painting a complete picture.

Edit: I've been listening to track 2 alone, without listening to track 1 first... and it really helps. Track 2 rules, it's a real improvment over the material on the first album. Is a CD worth buying if it has only one good song? Well, if the CD only contains two songs in the first place and they're each over 15 minutes long, sure, why not?

The first song of this release, "At Giza" is almost a bit jazzy, with the group chanting and droning menacingly to a mellow beat. The release only has two songs - the other is "Flight of the Eagle" - but they are both long - 33:23. The drone is menacing, heavy, mellow. It starts, it proceeds, then it just goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and om and on and on and on and om and on and on and on, and on and on and om and on and on and on and om and on and on and on, and om and on and on and on and on and on, and om and on and on and on and on, and on and on and on and om and on, and on and on and on and on and on and om and on and on and on, and on and on and on and on, and om and on and on and on...

When I heard that Om were to be releasing a new album in April 2006, I was just as excited when I heard about their first album. Now that the album has come out, I am both pleased and a bit dissapointed with the release.

The music itself is by no means bad. The album begins with the track "At Giza." This is a new approach for Om. A cymbal roll begins this mystical track, and a clean bass procedes for the next 13 minutes. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Here are Al Cisneros and Chris Haikus, rhythym section of one of the heaviest bands of all time, Sleep...and they're doing something so mellow. I loved it. Of course, by the time it reached the 13 minute mark, the song comes crashing in with the fuzz bass Om is so known for, and that's all good in my book.

The next track (and sadly, last) is a piece called "Flight of the Eagle." Not much can be said about this one if you've heard Variations on a Theme. It pretty much continues in that vein, albeit with better production and a crushing performance.

So, what's the complaint? THE ALBUM'S A FREAKING E.P.! Seriously, what makes 33 minutes of music an album? Had both songs been about 20 minutes longer, then I would've been fine. They could've easily put one or two more songs on here, and it would've gotten a perfect five. Oh well. For fans of (you guessed it) Sleep, this is a perfect buy.