One of Britain’s best up and coming record labels, Sonic Cathedral pays a lot of homage to the past through music that draws from shoegaze and punk as its primary influences. This is a tribute to the music of Roky Erikson and the 13th Floor Elevators, using the label’s artists to put together a fine compilation of light and shade, topped up with brilliantly psychedelic artwork. Especially notable are the brilliant version of ‘Fire Engine’ from Lower Heaven, a hushed vocal and choice beat working to euphoric effect, while the acoustic and reserved Le Volume Courbe version of ‘I Love The Living You’ gives way to a massive blanket of sound in Black Acid’s version of ‘Unforced Peace’. An original covers album that manages to look both forwards and backwards at the same time, and that importantly captures Erikson’s pioneering attitude. Not many were as rock ‘n’ roll as he was!
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Ben Hogwood
