The Thurston Lava Tube

CD - The Thoughtful Sounds Of Bat Smuggling

Play 90 second soundbite of 'Fear The Bat Smuggler' @ 'CD quality'

Different, did someone say different? That'd be with a capital 'D' then? Well, if it's The Thurston Lava Tube then different is what you're gonna get. Described as "...psychedelic, experimental surf instrumental..." and "...sound a bit like The Ventures but with surrealism and improvisation.....". Can't argue with that!! The wonderfully madcap album title gives the game away a bit, 'The Thoughtful Sounds Of Bat Smuggling' is as zany and experimental as the name suggests. One for the musically challengeable mind without doubt.

Full of 'Telstar' type keyboards, Duane Eddie twangy guitars, Hank Marvin intonation, nightmare-ish percussive interludes and general mayhem, The Thurston Lava Tube also remind me of mid-period Mothers Of Invention. All these guys need is the vocal acrobatics of Flo And Eddie (Mark Volman & Howard Kaylan) to add a sing-along quality and they'd be the UK's answer to the mind altering Mothers. As it stands they are already pretty much of a mind fuck anyway!! To hard-headed music nuts like myself this is pure pleasure; totally fresh experimentation amidst the banal and trite. For the absolute purist, 'The Thoughtful Sounds Of Bat Smuggling' could be construed as self imposed musical meltdown. Well tough!! If you don't like it just don't go there. But, if you have an open mind and a free spirit and fancy trying something that'll test the senses then take a look at this fine release.

The Thurston Lava Tube push hard at normal musical boundaries whilst calling on well tried and tested retro sounds. They've done an amazing job and deserve to be heard, although I'm not sure how much acceptance they'll get. I'd have thought that older pot heads like myself and the student fraternity would take this to their hearts and totally get it. The inbetweenies may just completely snub such innovation as total rubbish and musical suicide. It's not! 'The Thoughtful Sounds Of Bat Smuggling' is more than just a light at the end of a tunnel, it's like a much needed infusion of musical life-blood at a time when it often feels like the creative jugular has been slashed.

Totally absorbing, fresh, cheeky, gutsy, great fun, but above all, brilliant!! Forty minutes of aural splendour, 'The Thoughtful Sounds Of Bat Smuggling' is so much up my street that I just wish that The Thurston Lava Tube would move in right next door!

A - Z Selector

Re-start Site