Review: Farflung "25000 Feet Per Second"

[cjohnson]

Review from Jam Magazine (N), September 1, 1995:


FARFLUNG
"25,000 Feet Per Second"
Flipside
3 1/2 stars out of 5

One of the major flaws of the blossoming ambient scene has been the
forthright denial of any historical perspective.  Even though most of
these techno performers have a grasp of technology and perhaps a
little semblance of musical craft, there's been a patent refusal to
admit any musical similarities from previous eras.  The current
ambient scene sounds more like diluted variations of the cosmic
soundtracks once offered by Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream
than hipper fare by Brian Eno and Can.  The Orb/Aphex Twin/Future
Sound of London bunch wants to avoid any alliance with the excess
of art rock (although they duplicate its listening tedium so well).

Not Farflung.  This Los Angeles quintet gorges on forkfuls of
space-rock without wiping their chins.  They are a young band
that recalls the hard-edged galactic explorations of early Hawkwind
with a raw, aggressive energy that has ties to punk rock.

Several members of Farflung have performed with second echelon space
bands like Pressurehed and Nick (sic) Turner's Sphynx, but their new
group offers more than just revivalist space rituals.  Along with
swirling synths and echoey vocals, there is a direct intensity to
the rhythm section and distorted rhythm guitar that ushers the
"rock" back into space-rock.  Farflung's open gratitude towards
bands like Hawkwind, Gong, and Amon Duul II means they can take
their musical adventures to the next step.


Richard Proplesch

(reprinted here without permission of the author or magazine!)



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