Reviews
Timemachine
THE LUCK OF EDEN HALL – Butterfly Revolutions Vol.2
I can’t think of any US band playing the psychedelic pop 60s with such freshness and inspiration as Gregory Curvey and his band does. Just before the year (2011) of the Butterfly expired, the band from Chicago kept its promise and released the follow-up to Butterfly Revolutions, the promising Vol.2. The recipe remains quite the same, but without becoming boring either for just a second from the 41:08 of the album. Gregory (mastermind of LOEH) has the ability/privilege to create beautiful pop-psych tunes through a procedure that he calls it ‘Popped Psychedelic Rock and Rollism’ (sic!). So, what we have here are 12 songs full of 60s influences (from the Beatles and the Byrds to Stones and Love) filtered with today’s sound. A mix of melodic, dreamy psychedelically catchy tunes that sometimes becoming a little more heavier or rock-oriented, all dressed with nice vocals, interesting effects under a great musicianship. Album starts in a real smooth way with the lyrical & dreamy “Metropolis” but continues in a more speedy way with the more 70s-less 60s heavy rocker “Complicated Mind”. “Caroline” and “North Hampton Woods” are sweet psych-ballads that bring to mind the mellower moments of their homies (and good friends too) Smashing Pumpkins. It’s because of songs like “The Ottoman Girl” that make them the ideal band to open with “SF Sorrow is Born” the Fruits de Mer Tribute Compilation “Sorrow’s Children”. One of the best moments of the album follows, the late-Beatlesque “Henrietta Lacks A Smile” with a great use of piano and strings. “Flowers” and “Whither Fare Thou Be” are the rockier tunes here with a touch of psych of course. “Revolutions” acts like a soft & slow organic interlude, while “Realization Loop” increases the volume to high levels. “We Are Not Self Control” has a dreamy relaxing melody and album closes with my personal highlight, the psychedelically flavoured “A Drop In The Ocean”. Butterfly has spoken. Follow her Oracle!
Time Lord Michalis (Greece), April 2012
Here Comes The Flood
Chicago neo-psychedelic trio The Luck of Eden Hall have pulled it off. They have finished their ambitious 2CD project Butterfly Revolutions. On the first disc early Pink Floyd and The zombies reigned supreme. They have added The Beatles, The Move and Jethro Tull as their major sources of inspiration.
Vol. 2 hits a bit harder than its predecessor. Complicated Mind, Flowers and the surf guitar of Revolution Loop can be pigeonholed as garage pop, but as whole they have retained the pastoral sound, most notably in Revolutions and the sad piano ballad Henrietta Lacks A Smile. The Luck of Eden Hall are not cool enough for the hipster crowd, but indie lovers who can handle a bit of well-executed nostalgia will cherish their perseverance.
April 2012
Shindig! Magazine
Sorrow’s Children LP
“Various artist renditions of rock operas can be fraught with disaster(“Tommy, can you hear me?”), but Fruits de Mer’s tribute to the Pretties’ beloved warhorse succeeds because, from the unforgettable opening of The Luck Of Eden Hall’s punchy ‘ SF Sorrow Is Born’, it’s clear these artists are bringing their unique persective to the material and are not just replicating the S.F. Sorrow songbook. Sky Picnic drapes a proggy cloak over the sitar-laden ‘Bracelet of Fingers’ Hi-Fiction Science’s female vocals on ‘Private Sorrow’ perfectly encapsulate a mother’s anguish over her son’s wartime adventures, and Langor and The Seventh Ring of Saturn add a proto-metal attack to ‘Balloon Burning’ and ‘Death’.
Although the folkier elements have been buried under a barrage of guitars and effects, there’s enough interestingly askew arrangements to breathe life into the old chestnut and the Pretties themselves contribute an exclusive live bonus track, ‘Loneliest Person’ from a 2010 100 Club performance”
Jeff Penczak (UK), April 2012
A Tune of a Note
Local Listen: The Luck of Eden Hall
Psychedelic rock music came in many varieties from the late ’60s onward, and it’s admittedly difficult to give a definition of what it is. Instead, it’s perhaps better to list the form’s elements: hazy atmosphere, lyrics citing out-of-this-world (or skewed of-this-world, drug induced) phenomena, heavy, swirly guitars, and guys in Austin Powers costumes doing the boogie. Well, that last bit only applies to anything ’60s British psych, like Cream, Hendrix, or early Floyd. And that era’s haziness is different than, say late ’80s/early ’90s shoegaze psych revival haziness. So – even the elements of psychedelic music have changed through its arrival and resurrections, and we’re left with the original issue of definition difficulty. Still, Chicago band The Luck of Eden Hall manage to hit all parts of the psych stew on their latest album, Butterfly Revolutions Vol. 2 (self-released, Oct. 2011). The twelfth or so record (the one before bares the same title in its first volume) to come out under the Eden Hall name shows the trio are no spring chickens. Eden Hall has gone through a few lineup changes since starting in the late ’80s, but their ability to cover a large chunk of psych rock history in this latest release points to their cohesion. Listeners can judge for themselves what sticks, but you can’t say the guys didn’t do their homework. On the first level of classic psych adaptation , Vol. 2 takes cues from best of Cream jams, (“Flowers”) and “Eleanor Rigby”-style ballads on “Henrietta Lacks a Smile”- here a less bouncy and ominous sound; more observant and reflective. The later strangely sounds better once you learn the back-story and any idea of the band trying to be cute falls away. Search and read up on a certain Henrietta Lacks; you’ll be impressed by the play on words in the title and playful-yet-sincere logic in the lyrics. While this is all fine, the real nature of the band breaks out in songs like “Caroline,” “Revolutions,” “We Are Not Self Control,” and the sprawling “A Drop in the Ocean.” They all feature bits reminiscent of early ’90s British invasion (yes…shoegaze again) band Ride, around the time of Nowhere or even heavy hitters on their follow-up Going Blank Again. “Drop” has a quick gear change of tempo spring following the second verse, and “Caroline” has a ragged guitar-heavy attitude. It’s a little tricky to figure out exactly what this band is trying to get across and how they want to be perceived with all these influences. But repeat listens will expose their talent as a group whose seemingly best-of catch all music making philosophy is sure to please many.
Konstantin Bezzubov (USA) February 2012
JP’s Music Blog
The Luck of Eden Hall Bring On The Second Coming Of “Butterflies”
Psychedelic rockers The Luck of Eden Hall have recently released their follow-up to “Butterfly Revolutions, Vol. 1,” with “Butterfly Revolutions, Vol. 2.” They capped of their “year of the butterfly” with a well-deserved follow-up that was recorded and the same time as the first volume. The Luck of Eden Hall polished up the songs for this new release, which gives the band twice as much material to expand their sound (and mind).
The new album begins with the Peter Gabriel sounding “Metropolis” before diving into their psychedelic rock sound on “Complicated Mind.” The folk gatherings of “North Hampton Woods” breaks up the edginess of “Caroline” and “The Ottoman Girl” as the band seems poised to bring the 60’s rock into today’s world. The band brings out the garage rock with “Realization Loop” and “We Are Not Self Control,” before finishing with the experimental, head-swimming sounds of “A Drop In The Ocean.”
The Luck of Eden Hall has two shows scheduled in March, supporting Jefferson Starship on their appearance at Reggies in Chicago. Check out the band’s website (theluckofedenhall.com) for more information on this rising psychedelic rock band.
J Pasinski (USA) February 2012
Terrascope
Opening with a similar eastern sounding swirl, The Luck of Eden Hall tread the same musical path on “Butterfly Revolutions vol. 2”, their latest and quite possibly finest album. Classically psychedelic right from the start, “Metropolis” is a fine beginning, sounding like a cross between Plasticland and Todd Rundgren (“a wizard, a true star” era), before “Complicated Mind” ups the energy levels a lively tune with bright production and fine playing all round.
With a beautiful melody, “North Hampton Wood” has a soft pastoral feel, like stepping into someone else’s dream, whilst “The Ottoman Girl” could be an outtake from “SF Sorrow”, which is no bad thing in my book, especially as the tune is followed by the brilliant “Henrietta Lacks a Smile”, gentle piano and weird lyrics combing to create a little gem of a song. The quality is continued on the heavy psych-pop groove of “Flowers”, ending a very strong trio of songs.
Moving on, “Revolution” will make you smile with its lyrics, “Realization Loop” will make you dance like a loon and “We Are Not Self Control” will let you drift in your armchair, the album finally ending with “A Drop In the Ocean”, another suitably trippy tune, filled with echo and power, guaranteed to make you feel good.
Simon Lewis (UK), December 2011
Broken Hearted Toy
The Luck Of Eden Hall didn’t keep its followers waiting long for the second half of its ambitious Butterfly Revolutions project. ‘Followers’ is the operative word here as the veteran Chicago band travels through imaginative landscapes and dabbles in transcendental philosophy. It’s an album where lead vocalist-guitarist Gregory Curvey asks, “How does it feel to be a drop in the ocean?” and answers his own question with, “You already know.”
The 12 tracks are set to a variety of psychedelic and prog rock arrangements. The acoustic “North Hampton Woods,” with its exquisite melody and evocative vocals, just might be the most enchanting moment on Vol. 2, although The Luck Of Eden Hall also succeeds with the hard-hitting “Realization Loop” and “Complicated Mind.” Titles like “Whither Fare Thou Be” and “Henrietta Lacks A Smile” promise a trip back to the baroque pop of the early Bee Gees, and the songs certainly deliver. The epic “A Drop In The Ocean” serves as an appropriate coda to the Butterfly Revolutions saga.
Terry Flamm (USA), January 2012
Gew-gaw Fanzine
The Luck Of Eden Hall with their latest release, give us again beautiful 2min. & 3min. psych-pop, mostly, music. Their songs having excellent guitar, thrilled vocals and great melody. For me their best and most representatives to their sound songs are: North Hampton Woods which is a sweet’ n’ mellow pop ballad and Henrietta Lacks A Smile which is a rather simple song nevertheless in 5.29min coexist a dreamy organ with trippy parts plus a music explosion! In addition ‘Revolutions’ has a simple melody with psychedelic guitar and bass, without strange instrumentations, but it is a great song that sticks in mind!!! Don’t forget to mention ‘a drop in the ocean’: another awesome psychedelic song!! The Luck of Eden Hall is a band full of talent and energy. Keep giving us those magnificent sunshine songs!!
George Markou (Greece), January 2012
Radio One
The Luck of Eden Hall drops Butterfly Revolutions Vol.2
A companion piece to last year’s acclaimed Butterfly Revolutions, Vol. 1, BRV2 once again proves that The Luck of Eden Hall is one of the most underrated psych outfits in Chicago.
TLOEH has been knocking around the windy city on and off since the late 80s. At one time, they were headlining Metro and sharing stages with Material Issue, Green and other local luminaries. In the 90s, they could count Jim Derogatis and Billy Corgan as fans. Last year’s BRV1 has received universal acclaim and radio airplay (including WLUW) all over the world.
Butterfly Revolutions Vol. 2 picks up nicely where Vol. 1 left off (quite literally with that album’s final track, “Queen Anne’s Lace”). BRV2 has all of that song’s beautiful, spaced-out moodiness.
BRV2 opens with “Metropolis,” a psychedelic ode to Fritz Lang’s silent film masterpiece of the same name. By track four, the wonderful “North Hampton Woods,” The Luck of Eden Hall is channeling the best elements of The Dandy Warhols, circa Come Down. The midpoint of the album, “Henrietta Lacks a Smile,” is absolutely stunning; a melancholy, piano-driven charmer. “Revolutions,” the shortest track on the record, recalls Love and Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd. The ultra cool “We Are Not Self Control” benefits from dream time vocals and warm, fuzzy guitar. Album closer “A Drop in the Ocean,” is epic space rock in the vein of Spiritualized.
The Luck of Eden Hall will be appearing on the Razor & Die show on WLUW tomorrow (Jan. 13) at 5PM CST. The official record release for Butterfly Revolutions, Vol. 2 will take place at Abbey Pub on Friday, Jan. 20. Tickets and more info here.
Lee (USA), January 2012
Musik Zirkus Magazine
The Luck Of Eden Hall – Butterfly Revolutions Vol. 2
Eigenvertrieb (2011)
Google Translation-Middle of this year was the first part of the “Butterfly Revolution” by The Luck Of Eden Hall came on the market and just before I reached the end of the second part of this two-part work. A dozen new songs, the band project of guitarist Greg Curvey and Mark Lofgren bassist housed on the second disc. Were you angry, you could argue that both disks have been well on a CD, because it put together the pieces of both parts to just over 78 minutes. But no matter.
Since the PromoCD this time no details were included, I’m assuming that besides the main actors and the musicians of the first CD are on board again.
In “Butterfly Revolution Vol 1″, originally from Chicago, presented the band is a mixture of psychedelic rock, beat music and 60s pop. In the second part, they include a seamless continuation of this style. One would be the songs as well can imagine on a silver disc, because they exude the same atmosphere as The Luck Of Eden Hall on Vol 1 has already caused.
It starts with sitar sounds and the crackling noise at the beginning of the opener “Metropolis”. Hereby give The Luck Of Eden Hall, the impression of a needle that is placed on a record. They lead the listener back at the beginning in the good old 60s and 70s. This has been very psychedelic at the very beginning, but later in the song with mellotron, beautiful guitar, and later supplemented by a crisp rhythm. This has something at the end of the psychedelic period of The Beatles.
It continues with the drifting pieces “Complicated Mind”, which combines both the 60s as well as more modern sounds together. Even if you drift off stylistically far into the past, so the music sounds anything but dusty. This is simply intoxicating. As on Vol 1, I know many feel the music and it always surprises with new melodies and rhythms to be. The Luck Of Eden Hall have just the right blend of both worlds combined. A good example of this is sounding “Caroline” in which the guitars pretty modern, but as the song from another time.
Move through the acoustic guitar and vocals The Luck Of Eden Hall in the play “North Hampton Woods” again very strong in the vicinity of the Beatles. And the Fab Four (especially their psychedelic phase) sparkle, not only in this piece, but are also worshiped in other plays.
With “Butterfly Revolution Vol 2″ The Luck Of Eden Hall has been successful to a good second part of Volume 1, published in the spring of 2011, which makes exactly as much fun and so relaxed, sounds like it did the first part. Who on the sound of 60′s is a modern twist, this disc gets a good offer, but for my taste – has fallen somewhat short – as the volume of first
Stephen Schelle (Germany), January 2011
Psychotropic Zone
Released just before Christmas, Butterfly Revolutions Vol. 2 continues splendidly where Vol. 1 released earlier in 2011 left us: longing for another fix of some of the best psych pop in the world right now! I’ve been a fan of this excellent band from the US since their resurrection in the mid 00’s and it seems they have a limitless amount of great tunes.
This 41-minute CD includes 12 tracks and one of these (”The Ottoman Girl”) has been previously released on the instantly sold-out EP on Regal Crabomophone (WINGLE 3). The band’s music has been influenced by several 60’s bands (The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Byrds, Love…) but there are also some similarities with ore recent music like The Smashing Pumpkins who they are also friends with. Anyway, The Luck of Eden Hall really knows how to write brilliant, melodic, catchy and beautiful pop/rock tunes! They might be at their best on the dreamy, soft ballads but these guys can also rock out with a bit heavier, fuzz-filled touch and at times they go into even highly psychedelic, hallucinatory worlds although the music mainly is quite approachable and even radio friendly in a good way. The soft, very pleasant vocals, skillful guitar work and really tight and capable rhythm section as well as the keyboards and effects they use when needed complete the compositions very close to perfection. It’s really hard for me to pick up any favorites from Vol. 2 but the last two tracks ”We’re Are Not Self Control” and ”A Drop in the Ocean” might be the most psychedelic. Also the fast “Complicated Mind” somehow stands out as does the acoustic-driven, fragile ”North Hampton Woods” that differs a bit from the usual stuff. The album is available on CD and digital download and we must hope that someone would be smart enough to release Vol. 1 & 2 as a double vinyl album soon…
DJ Astro (Finland), January 2012
Mr. Atavist
The Luck of Eden Hall open up to full wingspan on The Butterfly Revolutions, Vol. 2. Calling it a follow-up or a bookend to Vol. 1 seems a misnomer in both cases. A follow-up implies a continuation, and Vol. 2 is certainly that, but it also raises the unspoken whiff of repetition and ‘more of the same.’ The repetition here is of more top-shelf psych pop that doesn’t get bogged down in rehashed self-hoariness. The bar is still set high, high enough that your dessert tray just got fuller with the cookie jar still in reach. This time there are a few more bittersweet offerings than before for you to stick your fingers in and bite into. Bookend maybe, if you want to lump 1 & 2 together into some sort of concept outing, and there very may well may be one buried underneath LOEH’s layers of sonic icing, but that makes it more complicated than it needs to be. Right now, just grab another slice and dig in; we now have a double-layer cake to enjoy. That could very well be the concept right there, served with a touch more melancholy, but still going down as smooth as before. This time though, it may just wiggle that loose or overworked sweet tooth a bit as it goes down for a twinge to remind you why the high times seem a bit higher when you got some contrast…Vol 2. has your required allowance of contrast under the wrapper; there’s the rush of Complicated Mind or the hazy stomp of Flowers, backed up with dreamier cuts like North Hampton Wood or the piano-spined Henrietta Lacks A Smile. When you cave and grab that fifth piece of dessert, it always tastes good, but deep down you know it’s going straight to your hips… a little dash of poignancy makes it all the sweeter.
Why this revolution came in two parts we’ll have to find out later, but for now, indulge and enjoy the bounty. Rich as ever and still fat-free…that’s an elusive sweet spot that LOEH have their wings full wrapped around.
Mr. Atavist (USA), December 2011
Mr. Atavist
This is what ‘pop’ music should be: honeyed, thick, creamy and packing stones. Everyone who should know, knows pop disintegrated into empty calorie pabulum a long, long time ago and I for one need nourishment from my food. Butterfly Revolutions Vol. 1, the new outing from Chicago’s The Luck of Eden Hall proves that you can not only have your cake (with lots of frosting) and eat it too, but that you can get more than a cheap sugar rush out of it to keep going. I’m a firm believer that cream doesn’t rise to the top; shit floats. I’m happy to say that LOEH prove me wrong. Relentlessly filled to the brim with top-shelf psych-pop nuggets calling to mind a myriad of touchstones from The Beatles through to The Bevis Frond, LOEH have such a firm grasp on their ingredients that Butterfly is never half-baked, in approach or execution. Nobody really wants low-fat dessert; that never satisfies. So, LOEH keep the the fuzz on the peach with melodies that flow like syrup; it may just crystal more than it rocks if that makes sense. In my book, crystals are worth more.
Opener Chrysalide sets the bar high. Relentlessly ornate and paisley, it sets Butterfly firmly on track with the mission clear, and in their hands, fully reachable. Velvet and Corduroy follows suit, a mission statement if there ever was one; a mission of molasses that never stagnates into stale treading water retro treacle. LOEH’s buttery psych is churned with enough of the old and new to give a full-bodied taste that should appeal to traditionalists as well as those who want some more modern leanings (All Her Seasick Parties) in the mix. Mellowed out Jupiter and Pretty Little Things hit a touching sentimentality without getting maudlin; LOEH aren’t applying the frosting so thick it’s impenetrable, or so over done it’s nauseating in the richness of it all.
Butterfly Revolutions almost screams (if butterflies scream…I think they do…) for a Thesaurus…shimmering, sun-drenched, multi-colored…the title about says it all, contrasting something as elusive and fluttering as a butterfly with a word that hints at power as well at what you should do with this record; put it through some revolutions. LOEH have cooked up a lip-smacking layered sonic cake, and it’s clear there was some drinking in the kitchen again…pop the cap off your lava lamp and take a swig.
It tastes good, and it’s good for you.
Mr. Atavist (USA), December 2011
Terrascope
VARIOUS ARTISTS – KEEP OFF THE GRASS (LP)
Opening with some chiming guitar and hand drums, King Penguin sound languid and reasonably stoned on “Thoughts and Words”, the sound of a sitar giving that authentic sixties ambience, a great start. Covering one of my favourite songs, “Ten Thousand Words in a Cardboard Box” gives The Seventh Ring of Heaven extra brownie points, the fact that they get it spot on is just a complete delight, keeping the song’s lysergic intensity and adding some energy of their own. Live and also filled with energy, Stay get their teeth into “Back of Your Mind”, sounding like it was a good night, before Permanent Clear Light do wonderful things to “Cymbaline”, giving it a nice smoky haze.
Featuring some fine guitar work, Sendelica may possibly improve on, or at least remove the cheesiness of, “Journey to the Center of the Mind”, certainly the playing is tighter and the phaser is turned way up. Tackling the second Nazz song of the disc, Jay Tausig is faithful to the original as he gives “Open My Eyes” the once over, realising you can’t mess with perfection. Firmly ensconced in 1967, Extra produce a wonderful cover of “Utterly Simple” on of the Album’s highlight for me, patchouli is almost compulsory.
Enchanting the senses “Sunshine River” is covered blissfully by Zombies of the Stratosphere, whilst a spooky psychedelic atmosphere is conjured up by The Past Tense on their version of “Shattered”. To end the first LP, Hills Have Riffs retain the strangeness of The Godz on their excellent version of “Down By the River”, proving power does not mean volume, as they up the tension beautifully.
Opening with a ten minute version of “Welcome to the Citadel”, Cranium Pie’s Baking Research Station, take the compilation into Prog territory, a sprawling effort that manages to avoid too many time changes, more Porcupine Tree than Magma, the whole thing gliding by in no time at all. Next up one of my favourites on the LP, a rather fine cover of “Revolution” from Sky Picnic, female vocals giving the song a new twist that works well.
Opening with a wrench of feedback Dead Sea Apes’ version of “Land of The Sun” is a sonic masterpiece to be savoured, a powerful and brooding beast that need loads of volume to scramble your senses properly. Back to the Psych-Pop, Octopus Syng offer a bright and sparkling “Midsummer Night’s Dream” before we go to the west coast as The Daedalus Spirit Orchestra take on possibly the most famous psych track of all time, their version of “White Rabbit” slower and more brooding than the original, working well in its own right. Sticking to the original template, “Something In the Air”, sounds as stately as ever in the hands of The Luck of Eden Hall”, whilst Langor do justice to that Beatles obscurity “Rain”.
To round off the LP, Bevis Frond Makes “Creepin’ Around” his own, his guitar work as delicious as ever, before The Earthling Society end it all with “Dark Side of the Mushroom”, a suitably trippy arrangement that leaves you fulfilled and slightly deranged, what a long strange trip its been, but worth every moment.
Terrascope (UK), December 2011
Psychotropic Zone
“Phew, this double vinyl album must be the greatest compilation this year if not the whole decade… Keep off the Grass is the most comprehensive release by the splendid Fruits de Mer label that (as most of our readers already know) is specialized in putting out new cover versions of psychedelic classics and rarities from the 60’s and 70’s. Most of the Fruits de Mer releases are on 7” format but this album was preceded by two other, marvelous and sold-out vinyl albums, A Phase We’re Going Through and Roqueting Through Space. This time there are as many as 19 international bands featured, some of which we are already familiar with, some are previously unknown. There are absolutely no fillers included so Andy and Keith really have done a great job putting the album together. Stylistically, we’ve got everything from sunshine psych pop through acoustic psychedelia to harder fuzz rock, 85 minutes all in all. And this stuff really expands your mind!
The first disc has ten tracks on it. The most famous tracks are the pretty modern sounding (but in a good way!) The Byrds cover “Thoughts & Words” performed by King Penguin and the great and distinctive version of Pink Floyd’s “Cymbaline” by Finnish band Permanent Clear Light. One of my favorites in this disc is Sendelica’s highly psychedelic, groovy and tightly rocking ”Journey to the Center of the Mind” (Amboy Dukes). I can hardly wait for the band’s gig at our Psychotropic Caravan club on 2.2.2012! Another brilliant piece is for example The Past Tense’s version of The Good Feelin’s song “Shattered”. On the second disc we’ve got an almost ten-minute-long Marck Brierley cover ”Welcome to the Citadel” made by Cranium Pie’s Baking Research Station. This is laid-back but hallucinatory jazzy prog. Excellent! Fruits de Mer recently released Cranium Pie’s amazing debut album on Fruits de Mer’s side-label. Sky Picnic who have one album out on Nasoni perform Tomorrow’s ”Revolution” and Dead Sea Apes who I run into earlier this year an interesting rendition of the late Skip Spence track “Land of the Sun”. I must admit that I might have something to do with the fact that Helsinki-based Octopus Syng is featured on this album, but their version of John’s Children’s (an early band of Marc Bolan) ”Midsummer Night’s Scene” is still one of the best moments on this album! The most well-known songs on the second disc might be Jefferson Airplane’s ”White Rabbit” (performed here by The Deadalus Spirit Orchestra) and of course The Beatles song “Rain” (Langor). The Luck of Eden Hall shines again with their performance of ”Something In The Air” (Thunderclap Newman). I am greatly pleased by the fact that my old favorites The Bevis Frond, who have activated again this year with a new, killer album and some live action are now featured on a Fruits de Mer release for the first time! On the basis of the sound quality, Sky Saxon Blues Band’s “Creepin’ About” is apparently one of Nick Saloman’s old bed-room recordings but it still works out great. Absolutely one of the best tracks of the whole compilation is Chocolate Watch Band’s ”Dark Side of the Mushroom” played by the forever-amazing Earthling Society! Every self-respecting psych lover should get this album that will be out in December but pre-ordering is recommended since the about 500 copies will sell-out like hot cakes…”
Santtu Laakso (Finland), December 2011
Shindig! Magazine
“Named after a 13th century drinking glass made in spain that’s reputed to be a fairy cup with mystical powers, The Luck of Eden Hall have been casting their own psychedelic fairy dust over cassettes, CDs and vinyl since the late 80s. After three silent years, the Chicago-based trio is back with the two-part album Butterfly Revolutions and this excellent limited edition coloured vinyl EP released on new Fruits de Mer imprint Regal Crabomophone.
The disc is split down the middle with two beautiful dreamy pop-psych originals, ‘Chrysalide’ and ‘The Ottoman Girl’, gracing side one and imaginative interpretations of Love’s ‘She Comes In Colours’ and The Association’s ‘Never My Love’ on the flip. Although the covers are superb, with ‘Never My Love’ transformed into an emotive, spiralling slice of sitar-laced introspection, it’s the originals that spellbind with their fluctuating lysergic soft/loud dynamics.”
Alan Brown (UK), Nov. 2011
Mratavist.wordpress.com
Heavy Rotation
The Luck of Eden Hall :: The Butterfly Revolutions, Vol. 1
A pure blast of confectionary psych goodness, The Butterfly Revolutions, Vol 1. is another pure gem of a record. From the stellar Chrysalide (a hit in every true sense of the word…in a perfect world) on through, it’s an addicting spin that is polished to a buttery finish without losing any stones. If you can get fat on this, then truly, fat is where it’s at. If you were lucky enough to nab their recent She Comes in Colors EP, or an earlier outing, you know exactly how honeyed and harmonious it is.
I hope my teeth rot.
Mr. Atavist (USA), Nov. 2011
IE
Veteran psychedelic trio The Luck Of Eden Hall has an eternal obsession for the 1960s, and Butterfly Revolutions Vol. 1. (Vol. 2 will be released soon) could have easily come from that era. There’s plenty of variety amid the 12 mind-expanding tracks, from the energetic “Chrysalide,” with its references to “frolicking in the sky,” to the ornate “Queen Anne’s Lace.” The melodies are consistently inventive, particularly on the high-speed “She Falls Down” and tripped-out “All Her Seasick Parties.”
Terrence Flamm (USA), Nov. 2011
Strangebrew
The Luck of Eden Hall, stars of Chicago’s nineties neo-psych movement, are two decades after their inception in great form weaving a sixties psych feel with modern rock influences. Their new EP contains two sixties interpretations alongside a nice pair of their own gems that are a welcome addition to their respected canon.
It’s challenging to place two self penned nuggets alongside a couple of genre defining classics but they more than hold their own. Kicking off with what feels like a musical call to arms “Chrysalide” is a great band performance, psych pop of the highest order. It must be excellent live! “The Ottoman Girl” goes back and forth from a slow psych start and into a rocking core beautifully.
“She Comes In Colors”, Arthur Lee’s masterpiece from Da Capo, is always going to be an ambitious choice and many bands would not be up for the challenge. The Luck of Eden Hall does not does radically revise Lee’s classic but it’s successfully sparkier and punchier – ultimately like hearing from an old friend who’s sounding better than ever.
Over in the US, The Association’s “Never My Love” is one the most popular tracks in music history. I have always found it a little too smooth and favoured The Casuals more baroque cover from these shores. The Luck Of Eden Hall go for an eastern flavour, rather like George Harrison guesting on sitar to psych the track up whilst retaining the timeless melody. Magical.
Another great release from the Fruits de Mer label and a perfect match up with The Luck of Eden Hall. The band boast Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins as a fan and the Strange Brew can definitely see why.
Jason Barnard (UK), Sept. 2011
The JangleBox
Cuando oímos material de una banda algo veterana en estas lides no solemos tener la idea de que lo que vamos a oír nos vaya a gustar. Para qué engañarnos. Llamadlo prejuicios pero lo cierto es que mucho material de bandas ya curtidas no suele interesarnos. En el caso de The Luck of Eden Hall, una recomendación llegada a nuestro correo, la cosa es algo diferente. Primero porque aunque son un grupo veterano, éste es tan sólo su cuarto disco. Y segundo, porque el material es muy muy digerible. Sus convicciones son muy claras: no suenan absolutamente a nada que puedas oír en el actual panorama musica. Permanecen absolutamente al margen de cualquier etiqueta o influencia actualmente reconocible. Sus huellas musicales son fáciles de rastrear: el Pop-Psicodélico y los inicios del Rock Progresivo. En base a ello, The Luck of Eden Hall ha construido un disco más que sugerente y atractivo. Doce temas que tienen un desarrollo particular cada uno, mezclándose esos elementos aludidos: el Pop-Psicodélico (Chrysalide, Jupiter, Velvet and corduroy, This weather is better for velvet´s clothes, Silly girl), con el Rock más progresivo (Medicine queen), o sencillamente con señales del Power-Pop más enérgico (Shampoo, She falls down, All her seasick parties). The Luck of Eden Hall acaban de editar este Butterfly revolutions Vol.1 este mismo verano, pero por si te interesan, lo mejor es que prometen la publicación de un segundo volumen para este mismo final de año
Google translation:When we hear of a band something material veteran in these conflicts do not often have the idea that what we’re going to hear going to like. To deceive. Call it bias but the truth is that much material is usually tanned and bands interested. In the case of The Luck of Eden Hall, a recommendation arrived in our mail, the thing is something different. First, because although they are a veteran group, it is only their fourth album. And second, because the material is very highly digestible. His convictions are very clear: do not sound absolutely nothing you can hear in the current music scene. Remain absolutely beyond any currently recognizable label or influence. Their tracks are easy to track music: Pop, Psychedelic and Progressive Rock beginnings. Based on this, The Luck of Eden Hall has built a record more than suggestive and attractive. Twelve subjects with each particular development, mixing these elements alluded to: the Pop-Psychedelic (Chrysalide, Jupiter, Velvet and corduroy, This weather is better for velvet’s clothes, Silly girl), with the more progressive rock (queen Medicine ) or simply with signals stronger Power-Pop (Shampoo, She falls down, her seasick All parties). The Luck of Eden Hall just released this Revolutions Vol.1 Butterfly this summer, but if you are interested, it is best that promise to publish a second volume for this year end.
John Riley (Spain), Sept. 2011
Playground Misnomer
The Luck of Eden Hall is a band I’d never heard of until I was assigned their record to review. I only mention this out of shame. I try to keep up with bands like this, especially when they’re this good. Unfortunately, being a great band with great songwriting and song structure doesn’t necessarily make for a great album.
From Butterfly Revolutions Vol. 1’s opening track “Chrysalide” onwards, it’s clear that Luck of Eden Hall is a fantastic band that may one day be capable of making great records and are certainly approaching that day but aren’t quite there yet.
For instance, “Chrysalide” may be the most unbalanced track as far as mixing is concerned; the vocals are given way too much volume and override the rest of the song to the point of it being a major distraction. It’s one of the only times there’s a mixing problem on Butterfly Revolutions. The lyrics to the song are undoubtedly great but to open with a track that causes major trepidation is putting the wrong foot forward and can prove to be a major detractor to overall album enjoyment.
Ensuing tracks “This Weathers for Velvet Clothes” and “Medicine Queen” find the band regaining pace with the former being the weaker track and the latter being reminiscent of a few genuinely great bands (Wilco immediately springs to mind). Both show the bands penchant for 90’s alt-rock and “Medicine Queen” has some particularly nice and understated flourishes of psychedelia and is an easy album highlight.
“Jupiter” is where the band finally shows some originality and identity. It’s a mid-tempo slow-burner and is populated with a driving bass-drum line, clean trebly guitar, a memorable hook of “I’m never calling you again” and a laid-back chorus that manages to maintain both an energetic and laid-back feel. “Jupiter” also contains some of the best guitar solos on Butterfly Revolutions and is worth listening to for that alone. It also serves as a nice showcase for their drummer’s technical ability and is impressive in that respect as well.
“Velvet and Corduroy” and “Shampoo” both find Luck of Eden Hall upping their aggression but are essentially retreads of what the albums already offered up. “Shampoo” has some nice twists in the forms of intriguing intros and breakdowns, but as the album progresses it becomes increasingly evident that there’s a sense of sameness permeating on Butterfly Revolutions. Now, admittedly, it’s hard to be so set in a style and show an appropriate amount of versatility (especially in the case of power-pop) but to keep listeners interested, you sometimes have to operate outside of your comfort zone.
“All Her Seasick Parties” does its part in trying to break the mold with some piercing distortion and woozy guitar lines and brings to mind The Figgs more than just a little- and that’s never a bad thing. It’s another highlight only because it shows the band at the peak of their collective prowess and has some of the most interesting structural set-pieces on Butterfly Revolutions.
“Silly Girl” and “Pretty Little Things” are both slower songs and while “Silly Girl” qualifies as mostly out-and-out filler, “Pretty Little Things” is actually fairly great. It’s very minimalist (a la Low) and has some nice sound experimentation and pulls you in for its entirety- a very welcome surprise. “She Falls Down” picks up the pace once again and sounds sort of like a cross between a supercharged Sloan and Caribou but isn’t quite as interesting as either. It is, however, interesting enough to be another album highlight and is probably a song that absolutely destroys live.
Butterfly Revolutions Vol. 1 ends with “Blue Vinyl” (which is another contender for best song on the album) and “Queen Anne’s Lace” the near-mandatory string-section-assisted slow closing number. I would’ve much preferred to hear “Blue Vinyl” as the closing song and just altogether leave out “Queen Anne’s Lace.” “Blue Vinyl” shows the band playing to their strongest strengths whereas “Queen Anne’s Lace” comes off as an attempt to put a bow on everything.
I didn’t like how this record began and I didn’t like how this record ended- but I did enjoy this record quite a bit. The Luck of Eden Hall is definitely a band I’m going to keep my eye on from now on (I really would like to see these songs in a live setting). With a little time and a little more versatility this band may reach the heights of some of their influences, but listening to them try and get there is going to be fairly rewarding if Butterfly Revolutions Vol. 1 is any indication.
Here’s to hoping they can make it.
Steven Spoerl (USA), Sept. 2011
Psychotropic Zone
The Luck of Eden Hall: Butterfly Revolutions Vol. 1/7” EP
Self-released/Regal Crabomophone (X/WINKLE 3)
Chicago psych pop wonders The Luck of Eden Hall was formed in the 90’s but they found their way to my heart only after their second album Subterrene in 2007. When the Clock Starts to Wake Up that was put out a couple of years later was a true masterpiece and in my books definitely one of the most interesting albums of 2009. Since then the band has hooked up with Fruits de Mer and this is a great combination. They got a bit wider exposure when they were included on the compilation CD that came with the April issue of Classic Rock Magazine. On their latest album Butterfly Revolutions Vol. 1 the band continues their gloriously melodic, catchy and pleasantly psychedelic style that has been influenced both by The Beatles & other psychedelic 60’s pop bands and 80’s paisley underground. The soft, harmonic and lysergic vocals work even better than before and the compositions are top-notch. Although you can call this pop music, there is also some more rocking stuff in there and occasionally also plenty of fuzz. The band really has a great sense for melody and they are capable of creating just unbelievable atmospheres.
The album includes 12 relatively short tracks. My personal favorites are the pretty fast and frisky opener “Chrysalide” that also has organ, the bit mystical and psychedelic but groovy “Medicine Queen”, the slower and dreamy, amazing “Jupiter”, fast and energetic power pop blast “She Falls Down” as well as the album’s beautiful closer ballad ”Queen Anne’s Lace” that has gorgeous Mellotron sounds among other things. I must say that there are no weak links in here to be found. I find myself enjoying the album more and more after each play and this is a good indicator for a truly great album. This really is just brilliant stuff and it’s also great that Vol. 2 should be ready soon as well!
We will also be able to enjoy some fresh The Luck of Eden Hall in vinyl format since Fruits de Mer’s side-label Regal Crabomophone will soon release a four-track EP by them. This disc will include two 60’s covers as well as two originals. The excellent
version of “She Comes if Colours” by The Love works out really great and we get to hear a really psychedelic interpretation of The Association song ”Never My Love” also featuring some sitar. This makes my head bubble! Their own material includes the CD opener “Chrysalide” and a previously unreleased, slow, pretty and melancholic but occasionally more rocking ”The Ottoman Girl” that could very well be some forgotten psych gem from the 60’s. All in all, this is a really great EP and it’s recommended that you pre-order it before the 400 copies are gone.
DJ Astro (Finland), Sept. 2011
Heyday Mail Order
The Regal Crabmophone label have a new EP lined up for release shortly by US psych band Luck Of Eden Hall. It features four tracks – two cover versions and two originals. Love’s ‘She Comes In Colors’ and The Association’s ‘Never My Love’, are delivered competently enough (the latter with a hint of Eastern charm that always goes down well here at Heyday) but it’s the original songs that have registered more with these ears. ‘Chrysalide’ and ‘The Ottoman Girl’ are worth the price of the EP alone! Near
perfection actually – oh, the poor ‘repeat play’ button!
My only criticism is that they’re both too short!
Lovely ‘Revolver-esque’ vocal treatments and hooks a plenty in the music which has always been my kind of psych.
I can’t deny that I’m an admirer of Fruits de Mer/Regal Crabmophone, but honestly, I can’t think of any other label putting out releases this good and consistently too. They’ve really got a good ear and it’ll be pretty tough to be included on any future releases at this rate if you’re not above average. Luck Of Eden Hall are, and no doubt will feature again sometime. Great sleeve art too. I’ll give it ‘foive’!
Nick Leese’s Blog (UK), Sept. 2011
The Sunday Experience
The Luck of Eden Hall ‘chrysalide’ (Regal Crabomophone). Think you all know the deal now – Fruits de Mer off shoot imprint specialising in quality hallucinogenic headphonia all resplendently pressed on an ultra limited coloured wax issue. These children of the Crabomophone / Fruits family will surely need no introductions in these pages for they’ve flavoured the grooves of several Fruits de Mer releases in recent times with their fuzzily phazed fried Floyd follies with ’Chrysalide’ in particularly getting attention in its own right earlier in this here extended missive (not to mention a copy of their latest opus ’butterfly revolutions volume 1’ literally having only just found its way through our letterbox and with that primed constant critical play during this extended bank holiday weekend with an extented review to follow). Only 400 of these little darlings in circulation, a 7 inch featuring four freshly picked elder species of the psyche genre including two originals and a brace of originals. ’chrysalide’ as previously hinted elsewhere in these pages is a dandified slice of day-glo dream woven hallucinogenia that swirls, swoons and swerves to a trip wired lysergic 90’s sourced shade adorned Brit pop groove which after a dozen or so head hits still sounds to us like a stoned Jones obsessing Psychic TV munching magic mushies whilst radiating in the warmth offered by the gooey glow of the kaleidoscopic effervescence emanating from platters produced by the Dukes of the Stratosphear. Tuck in a faithfully skewed take of Love’s much adored ’she comes in colours’ here found replete in all manner of the whimsicality and fairy dust dressed velour of the original and here I’m thinking the kooky flute florets, that prevailing fluffily frazzled folk tweaked breeziness and the drop dead swooning baroque harpsichord forays – in short perfect. Perched upon an acid addled axis that separates a Barrett headed Floyd, Traffic and a ‘SF Sorrow’ era Pretty Things ’the ottoman girl’ is succulently speckled in all manner of mind morphing psych seduction, not as fried as the PT’s ’defecting grey’ but undeniable traversing a similarly schizoid template that sees it veering from the fanciful to the freakish. Best of the set though by our reckoning is their re-trimming of the Association’s lost love note ’never my love’ whose original softly murmured west coast baroque purr is here refocused and fashioned through a psychotropic viewfinder and trimmed to a shimmering majesty that one would imagine resulting had Cheval Sombre tapped into the mindset of the Walker Brothers and dimpled their epic stateliness amid an amorphous mirage of mind weaving middle eastern mantras. Utterly transfixing and alone worthy of the entrance fee.
Mark Barton (UK), Aug. 2011
Shindig! Magazine
Record Review – The Luck Of Eden Hall ‘Butterfly Revolutions Volume 1′
A mainstay of Chicago’s music scene for nigh on two decades, psych popsters The Luck Of Eden Hall show that they have lost none of their touch with this new album. If you’ve never heard them, imagine a more accessible version of Asteroid No. 4 or The Brian Jonestown Massacre in that they mix dense guitar sounds with trippy vocals and Keith Moon-like drum fills. This works to best effect on the brilliantly named ‘This Weather Is Better For Velvet Clothes’, which has a tune your postie could whistle (not entirely sure what they’d make of the incendiary guitar solo, though). Butterfly Revolutions loses its way a little in the middle (the band are obviously on nodding terms with early ’70s Floyd and some rather nasty grunge acts), but is redeemed by The Three O’Clock-esque ‘She Falls Down’ and the finale, ‘Queen Anne’s Lace’, a wonderful slice of mellow psych.
Ashley Norris (UK), Aug. 2011
Radio One Chicago
“Long-running Chicago psych group The Luck of Eden Hall returns with Butterfly Revolutions Vol. 1, a follow-up to 2009′s acclaimed When The Clock Starts To Wake Up, We Go To Sleep. The album opens with a dose of trippy power pop entitled “Chrysalide,” Gregory Curvey’s lead vocal a dead ringer for Guided by Voices main man Robert Pollard. After a strong introduction, the standout cuts are plentiful: “Medicine Queen” sounds like it was magically transported directly from 1967; “Velvet and Corduroy” is similarly enamored with the vintage stuff, but will appeal to fans of contemporary psych outfits like The Brian Jonestown Massacre; “Shampoo” manages to be both bubbly and grungy; “Silly Girl” is serious dream pop; album closer “Queen Anne’s Lace” has some beautiful bass work, shimmering acoustic guitar, prog rock percussion and an almost orchestral weight that never overburdens the delicate arrangement. ”
Lee (USA), June 15 2011
JP’s Music Blog
The Luck of Eden Hall Flies High with Butterfly Revolutions
CD Review: The Luck Of Eden Hall Flies High With “Butterfly Revolutions” From Chicago comes The Luck of Eden Hall with volume 1 of their new release “Butterfly Revolutions”. Volume 2 will be released this fall. The band combines psychedelic lyrics with a modern alternative rock sound. The album begins with “Chrysalide” that fully embodies the band’s appeal with a sound similar to Status Quo’s “Pictures of Matchstick Men”. The band’s lyrics are definitely exploratory as in “This Weather’s Better For Velvet Clothes” and “Medicine Queen”. “Jupiter” expands the band’s sound (and your mind) with a more progressive rock approach similar to early Pink Floyd. The band has fun with the up-tempo rocker “Shampoo”, then takes you on a short adventure with the trippy
sounds of “Pretty Little Things”. The Luck of Eden Hall rocks the hardest on “She Falls Down” before closing with the mellow, experimental “Queen Anne’s Lace”. The new album “Butterfly Revolutions: Volume 1″ was released on July 1. The band has a show scheduled for July 20 in Chicago. Check out the band’s myspace page (myspace.com/theluckofedenhall) for song samples and tour information.
J. Pasinski (USA), July 2011
Gew Gaw Fanzine
The Luck of Eden Hall, Butterfly Revolutions Vol.1
Luck of Eden Hall pick up the thread from where they had left it in their previous album, the excellent When the Clock Starts to Wake Up We Go to Sleep. Sun-kissed psychedelic pop inspired by the ’60s English groups of similar persuasion. Exquisitely alluring melodies on Chrysalides, Medicine Queen, Blue Vinyl, a more psychedelic vibe on Velvet, Pretty Little Things”and the dreamy Queen Anne’s Lace; the impeccable pop aesthetic of “Shampoo” is ravishing, while Silly Girl has a strong claim for being one of the very best psych/paisley songs of recent years. Astonishing vocals, superb guitar work and loud/quiet dynamics form the bass and drums round off the picture. Luck of Eden Hall is one band that may truly boast of having the right psych/pop pedigree!
George Markou (Greece), July 2011
These are wonderful! Thank you for sharing.