Jex Thoth are the band formerly known as Totem (the USA one not the Polish lot) and after their fantastic debut EP and some line-up changes they decided a change of name was in order for new and refreshed material. The rather strange name is that shared by their ‘oracle and muse’ as well as singer too, whether it is her real one is no doubt open to debate. Musically labelling themselves as ‘alchemical doom’ this was an album I had been very much looking forward to and indeed pestering their label for as well. Not sure if it should have actually been sent out with the fantastic Subrosa album (also reviewed here) as both albums have fought for listening space on my stereo. Jex Thoth have been the harder album to get into and is perhaps a magickal concoction that needed a little bit more time to simmer in the pot, it got there in the end though and I can but consider myself charmed.
This is a real throwback to the 60s’ and 70s,’ a flower child with long flares and daisies in its hair. Not that it is all about joy and light, there is a danger here and a sense of unease pervades like Charlie Manson the wrecker of the generation stalking and sending his followers on a creepy crawl. “You think you know me but you wont believe your eyes” are the mystery behind the opening lyrics of ‘Nothing Left To Die’ and indeed perhaps nothing is quite as it seems here as this unlocks doorways of the mind like a musical acid trip. Low ebbing bass tones and a real psychedelic musical guitar weave unwind like this is straight out the era where Black Widow, Pentagram and Jefferson Airplane (vocally this is very ahem slick) cast their spell.
Zodiac makes his presence felt with sinister organ on ‘The Banishment’ this is utterly beguiling and when the vocals chant in beautiful and totally bewitching. You really feel like you have landed in the middle of a magical mystery trip and the stunning artwork courtesy of Reverend Bizarre’s Albert perfectly conjure up just where you think you should be. Totally at ease, prepare to be knocked off your comfortable cushion as the track ups the ante and flows into a psychic freefall, ah the acid has kicked in and it is time to rush!
There are plenty of moods here to massage you along the way ‘Obsidian Night’ has guitars coiling around like a venomous snake being enchanted out its basket. Silas Paine’s guitar work really gives this album a timeless identity all of its own. The bass rumble fuzzily working the backbone of ‘Son Of Yule’ really rumbles the speakers and shakes the floor complete with space-rock keyboard flurries from the ether moulding around them. ‘Warrior Woman’ could be the chart hit of the album, oozing patchouli as the hipsters of a bygone era Top Of The Pops shuffle their flares to kaleidoscopic colours beaming off the studio walls.
‘Equinox Suite’ is a song divided into parts and all I can really say is that this is the groups ‘The End’ it is impossible not to think of The Doors classic with the keyboards on this number, hell it takes you straight into the midst of the ‘Heart Of Darkness’ whilst blowing bong smoke in your face. ‘When The Raven Calls’ delivers the danger with the sound of a 70s’ Italian horror film booming out of this Poe etched nightmare. Complete with a carnival jig this is the album’s evil side or is it, perhaps it has been there all along but the drugs have distorted things?
Basically if you are looking for a real musical blast from the past and one that apart from the excellent production values, sounds like it is from another era, you cannot go wrong here. Purveyors of doom need to put this high up on your shopping list, hell purveyors of good music need to check this out. Just don’t be surprised if it takes you somewhere you were not quite expecting to go.
www.myspace.com/totemdoom
www.ihate.se
