Customer Reviews

Rapture in the Chamb

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I've found Randy California's output, both solo and in command of Spirit, to be varied widely from sheer brilliance to baffling wierdness. His guitar chops are always what makes one come back for more. This album's not a hit parade, it's is a really uneven effort that suffers from overproduced late 80's studio tricks. The printed side of the album, A single sheet, folded 4 times makes the cover/booklet. The cover folds out to a mini-poster. Ed Cassidy looks a lot like Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fester, as he appears to be a demonic priest. I actually would like this as a full sized poster.

I got my start with post breakup Spirit material with the great "Live From The Time Coast" 2 disc set and two tunes are on here. "Love Tonight" suffers from echo, lots of echo. In fact a good portion of Randy's vocals on this album are over processed like he's trying to not be in the room. ("Thinking Of" is another one, sounding like it was recorded in a hallway.) "Rapture In The Chambers" is the biggest treat on this disc. With distorted drum machine, 80's keyboard, and minimal presentation with great guitar parts shine through. If you take the song and play it live, it's a really great tune.

Keeping in mind when this album was recorded, I.R.S. Records had the "new wave" flavor and it may have been Randy's intent to do something that would slot into their stable. His good solo album "Restless" (for Vertigo records) had a harder edge flavor going for the mid 80's "hair metal" sound that seemed like Randy in another body.

Some of the other decent Randy pieces on here are "The Prisoner", the John Locke co written "Contact", and the spaced out 80's sound of "Human Sexuality".

The one track that sort of soured my review is "Shera Princess Of Power" For anyone that has "Son Of Spirit" (follow up to "Spirit Of 76"), you got "Magic Fairy Princess". On "Future Games" you get "Freakout Frog" These "odd" Randy tunes jived with me on repeated listens. "Shera" on the other hand is the entire band paying tribute to a mid 80's cartoon. Decent guitar chops are it's only saving grace. Otherwise, time filler theater.

Short as can be, this would be an essential to any serious Randy California/Spirit fan that wants to "collect them all", but as far as frequent playback, this disc goes to the back of the line.