Gig review: Acid Mothers Temple / Zi-Kronic Waves.Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan, October 31st.
Just when you're fed up with those skinny hipped, skinny tied, skinny voiced indie bands, who go under the heading of alternative music these days, along comes a night of real spontaneity.
This Hallowe'en, Theatr Mwldan hosted the Acid Mothers Temple And The Melting Paradiso UFO. They were supported by Zi-Kronic Waves, a recently formed local collective who are so cutting edge that I worry for their safety.
Zi-Kronic Waves describe themselves as 'a multi-media extravaganza' and they are indeed a miasma of sounds, words and images which have no real correlation, but which certainly inspire some sort of reaction - hopefully in the form of an admiring smile.
An unreal combination of the suburban and the sublime, they played a 15 minute set, which was often beautifully malformed and completely contradictory - a sort of ambient drone, spiced with some stoner electronica; a type of whimsical, unconventional psychedelia. And for their debut gig it wasn't half bad at all.
But the true masters of the genre are the Acid Mothers Temple.
They played the Riv, Carmarthen, 18 months ago, an experience that was like being caught in an electric storm - generally frenzied with truly compelling rhythms; full of the lure and mystique of something just beyond your comprehension.
But tonight it all came together sensationally, led by the mind-blowing guitar wizardry of legendary cult guitar hero, Kawabata Makoto.
Still full of unhinged genius, psychedelic meanderings and eerie electronic web-weaving, the AMT created sonic space ways that were both challenging, but also intensely beguiling.
Having enjoyed cult status, the AMT continue to astonish, fire branding new directions (as their vast back catalogue of CDs shows) with their extravagantly rich mind-expanding set magical and enlightening, awesome and astounding all at the same time.
There has been talk of psychedelia coming back, but something tells me tonight's two bands never knew it was missing. The combination made for an unforgettable Hallowe'en. No tricks, just treats.
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