Search - Various Artists :: Perfumed Garden 3

Outstanding Compilation of Psychedelic Music....

Psych fan | 07/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Psych/Freakbeat is my favorite genre of music. This CD captures 18 great to excellent songs. Each track has been professionally remastered. Each "Perfumed Garden" CD offers provocative, linear 60's inspired artwork, but what really counts is the musical content. For a play by play review;

1.) "Take Her Anytime" is a moderate, freakbeat organ-driven advice song to a friend.

2.) "Baby I Got News For You" follows the song title lyric w/ "I just bought brand new shoes for you"! has a clanging lead and tinny rhythm guitar with a masterful lead during the break. Humorous, with a freakbeat feel.

3.) Swirling guitar and echo-laden vocals dominate "Out of the Sun"; a prominent bass line holds the tune together.

4.) Shyster [aka Les Fleurs de Lys] deliver a haunted, sinister mid-tempo song at what will happen at midnight to the residents of a town....

5.) The lead guitar in "Get Back Home" sounds like an angry bee as the lead vocalist snarls to his ex-girlfriend "You'd better....!" Good freakbeat number.

6.) The Groundhogs deliver a wall of sound with vocals and instruments competing for the same space; an avalanche of a trudging rhythm section is reminiscent of The Move's "Brontosaurus."

7.) "Please Leave My Mind" is a 'kiss-off' plea to an ex-girlfriend(sorry for the misogyny-it was a different time!).

The guitar rings as if it is sorry; the vocals are less remorseful(the lead guitar during the break is inspired, though)

8.) "Evil Woman" is an excellent cut with high backing vocals and lead singer describes his girlfriend who is evil, but he still loves her. The contrast between the backing vocals and the downcast instruments makes this a work of art. It also ends on a positive note!

9.) "No Place For Lonely People" is a driving freakbeat piece, influenced by the Kinks/Small Faces. During the song, each instrument has a brief solo spot(drums, bass, guitar, and vocals).

10.) My favorite cut is "For Your Information" by the Cedars. A sitar, expertly played, starts out this piece of sunshine psych pop. Soaring, better-than-the-Hollies harmonies follow the steady bass beat. Even during the solo break, the sitar plays a lead riff while simultaneously keeping the rhythm. This cut has to be heard to be believed.

11.) A positive lead singer emotes that "Life is short, time can be bought" in "Lust for Life"; This song states that even though this world is pretty bad, I'm still going to be loving towards people.

12.) "It's What You Give" has a humorous take the boyfriend/girlfriend theme like the second song on this compilation. It starts out "Baby, you don't own a car and you don't own a fridge; it's no matter what you've got it's what you give." Features a viola to keep the beat.

13.) The previous reviewer stated that "The Line of Least Resistance" was worth half the price-and he's right. What starts out as a John Denver sound alike soars after the vocal starts. Exquisite playing in the lead acoustic and rapid, soft bass and piano round out this great piece. Soaring backround vocals add positive reinforcement.

14.) "Over the Hills' is a slow, moody song whose drum tempo resembles the ticking of a clock. This captures the 'where am I?' theme either after waking up from sleep or something more serious. I cannot identify the instrument that wails at the end.

15.) Indian music, complete with running water and birds complement "Which Dreamed It"; very spacy, but meditative with a tambura keeping the beat throughout.

16.) "Felix" is a story song about a good natured young man who disappeared one day (He said he was going home...."). It's melancholy, with a downcast arrangement with an organ but has great harmony in the vocals.

17.) Yet another 'see ya later' song, with Serendipity(pretty ironic) singing "[I'm] Through with You." Distorted guitars descend, then swirl into the vocals. This tune reminds me of the late 60's band The Illusion.

18.) The CD closes with Rupert's People [aka Les Fleurs de Lys again]; they recorded this version with a male lead singer, but I prefer the female lead of the band singing it-much more provocative(this is available on their compilation CD). A good closer with an inspired lead guitar during the break.



All three "Perfumed Garden" Cd's are highly recommended. This set is the best of all. If you can find them, the two "Rubble" Box Sets are also recommended."

Reign at last!!!

David Harkless | Oxnard, CA United States | 04/08/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A great series. Worth half the price alone for "Line of Least Resistance", a single from Keith Relf and Jim McCarty."