Artifacts & Uranium
Artifacts & Uranium released its first self-titled album in 2021 in very limited edition cassette and is now reissued on pink vinyl with a full remaster from Echodelick Records (USA) and from Mike Vest in the (EU) links below. This new issue is on pink vinyl limited edition of 200 on 140 gram vinyl.
Artifacts and Uranium is a collaboration between psychedelic rockers Mike Vest and Fred Laird. Mike Vest has played in many bands including 11Paranoias, Blown Out, Drunks, Mienakunaru, Melting hand and BONG. Fred Laird has played in Earthling Society, Sonic Shamen, Taras Bulba, Empty House. These two have made appearances on many more albums than what is listed above and are heavily involved in the underground experimental, psychedelic and lo-fi, kosmische and krautrock scenes. Their projects have produced music that is heavy dark, avant-garde with intense guitar solos but they also have explored ambient music with deep space chill sounds and meditative intention like in Laird’s albums under the name Empty House.
These two never disappoint and Artifacts & Uranium is no exception.
“Artifacts & Uranium began life in spring of 2021 when Fred Laird and Mike Vest telegraphed over static covid airwaves about the possibility of working together. Vest dug deep into his sonic vault of drone for foundations that would help support the rhythms and exotic instrumentation Laird would add like a Japanese Shoji constructed on the remains of a medieval dungeon. Not using any particular inspiration but going with gut feeling of whatever feels right, layer after layer was created over a 2 week period resulting in a 3 track album of krautathonic heaviness”
The album features a variety of instruments including gongs, synth, guitars, bass, distortion, fuzz, echo samples, piano, organs and a variety of percussion elements. The sound is heavy droning with hints of ambient doom soundscapes that lay waste to barren landscapes and dark brooding industrial sound waves. The electric guitar’s signal is coated in effects giving it a tone taht blends with the other electronics but it stands out during guitar solos which have heavy lasting echo.
This album is for music listeners who reach for the experimental and far-out. The album has retro flare fuzzy tones whirling effects. The music is positioned in the avant-other catagory where abstract creative expression shines forth through sonic driven flow state.
The music defies simple description, genre and instead embraces music as an art form. Gliding synths, looping fuzz tones, soft digital percussion with glitching modulations undulating and making sound in the back ground. The melodies are mixed forward and the mosaic of samples and layers of noise set back. The album is a layer cake with a strong electronic kosmische sensibility. The various instruments combine for a disorienting effect that can transport the listener to inner worlds.
The critic may say the music is without context, the tones can become out of control, the songs lack a solid structure. I personally feel these are the reasons this music is appealing. The band is intentional about pushing boundaries and challenging the listener to think outside the lines. There are no radio singles on this album, no attempt at becoming a pop band. Vest and Laird are musicians chipping away at expectation by creating an extraterrestrial and indulgent album.
https://echodelickrecords.bandcamp.com/album/artifacts-uranium
The Psych Rock
The Psych Rock is my outlet for music reviews. Check out POWmagazine.org for more music coverage from yours truly. I have a Youtube channel with live concert coverage including King GIzzard, Paul McCartney and more. Of course I am also on IG, Twitter and Facebook. Thank you so much for stopping by and be sure to check out the older posts on the website as there are many great albums in the mist of the past that can be new to you and lets face it I go back in time to recall all the awesome underground music. Thank you again to the thousands of you who come back again and again.
Thank you so much and yes we do all need psychedelic rock acid folk music in 2021 we need more hippies in our world. Peace n love brother.
Very informative!!! Thanks my friend, can’t wait wait until the next one!!! Much love from dmtworld.net!!!