That this CD came to be in my possession is little short of a miracle. First, I'm not entirely sure where they got my address from, and there's no press release, letter or artwork accompanying the disc, which was mailed from The Old Ranch, California, directly to me without including my country of residence. Consequently, the postal services decided to redirect it, resulting in a sticker being added and the item stamped with the legend 'Missent to Iran.' Well, where else?
Eventually it arrived through my letter-box, though, and its mysterious, divergent route between sender and recipient seems curiously apt for this intriguing and enigmatic release. As surprised as I was to receive it, I was also a little wary. After all, their moniker is as suggestive of a cult as it is a band. Still, what harm can a CD do? Unless, of course, it contains subliminal messages with the capacity to brainwash the listener into joining a suicide sect.
The debut album 'Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs' that I'd heard a couple of years back hadn't impressed me all that much, but this is an altogether darker affair than the breezy 60s pop of that release.
Ranging from the mid-tempo to the outright slow, 'Life and Death' is a far-out journey of (pseudo-)mysticism that's pure 60s psychedelic retroactivity. Lyrically, it might not be the most profound of albums - 'I feel like feelin' good,' runs the hookline of 'Feelin' Good' from beneath a heavy coating of reverb.
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'Time is Going By' is a meandering, echo-drenched drone, with some fuzzed-out guitars in the mix. It reminds me a little of The Black Angels on a heavy dose on tranqs: less scuzzy, more lethargic and without the balls and the drama of their trademark wall-of-sound.
'The Truth Shall Set You Free' draws the set to a close with a hint of melancholy, floral wreaths and incense, man.
As an album it doesn't leap out and grab you. It doesn't snare you with a succession of sharp hooks or catchy choruses. It certainly doesn't make you want to leap around like a maniac. But if played while in the right frame of mind, and with a few beers - or whatever your chemical of choice may be - it's not a bad record.
http://thestevensonranchdavidians.com/
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