The Firebirds “Light My Fire” / The 31
Flavors “Hair” (Gear Fab Records, 2013)

Both these albums, which have been stitched
onto one disc, were originally released in 1968 and 1969 respectively. Acid
rock was the rage then, and that’s exactly what the Firebirds and the 31
Flavors were all about. But these were not real bands, per se, as they were
anonymous studio musicians hired by low-budget labels to cash in on the craze
of the day. Exploitation records were quite commonplace back then, and many of
them were surprisingly as good if not better than what the genuine bands
peddled.

The title track of the Firebirds album is an
instrumental version of the hit song by the Doors, and although the arrangement
is similar the sound differs a bit, as it pitches a curious blend of jazz and
lightweight psychedelic inclinations in a manner that can almost be
characterized as hippy elevator music. Sparked by chugging licks, a
deep-throated bass solo and some thrashing drum fills, “Free Bass”
and the squealing sonic squalor of “Warm Up” are other instrumentals
heard on the disc, where “Gypsy Fire” and “No Tomorrows”
clearly aim to ape the blues fried figures of Jimi Hendrix. Grungy, dirty and
overamplified to the max, “Light My Fire” steps in as an accurate
representation of the heavy rock of the era.

So bad that it’s great, the 31 Flavors album
features a screwy mix of shapes and styles that give the impression the players
were hanging by the seats of their pants while the tape rolled. A tuneless
cover of the Fifth Dimension’s “Aquarius” is practically akin to
being subjected to fingernails scratching on a blackboard, and then there’s an
equally dumbfounding treatment of “Hair” that makes the recording by
the Cowsills seem positively radical by comparison. On a brighter note,
“Real Far Out” pulsates and pounds to a blast of cool jamming, and
“One-Two-Three-Four” projects a ratty garage rock feel before getting
buried underneath a mass of ear-bleeding noise. An instrumental, “Free
Drums” is rather captivating, as it winds its way through a mind-numbing
maze of intriguing improvisational stunts, and the aptly dubbed
“Distortions Of Darkness” reveals a triple influence of Black
Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix and Blue Cheer.

Riffing big time on sloppy power chords,
phoney soul vocals, clunky drum beats and masturbatory musical escapades by the
yard, “Light My Fire” and “Hair” are guaranteed to satisfy
the senses of those who dig bone-crushing hard rock. Crank the volume and annoy
the neighbors!

Review made by Beverly Paterson/2013

© Copyright
http://psychedelicbaby.blogspot.com/2013