Album Details

• Artist: Ulaan Khol
• Album: Iii
• Label: Soft Abuse
• Year of Release: 2010
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2010-02-23

Easily the best and crunchiest of the three, "III" finally shows Ulaan Khol to be the mystic noisemaker his press has always claimed him to be. The inspiration level here is star systems beyond the other releases in the series. The eight untitled tracks here allow, and show, that Khol's alter ego Steven R. Smith's grand plan can be and is fulfilled.

Dripping with the spiritually drenched drone and doom  of OM or Ash Ra Tempel, these tracks complete the trilogy titled "Ceremony." It is only in this third release that the rite is fully engaged. Sweeping and intimate,  "III" allows multi-instrumentalist/homemade instrument maker Smith (Thuja, Hala Strana) to realize the themes apparent in the first two releases, as well as motifs explored in his other work.

Of the individual tracks, the first, third and fifth are among the most majestic psych you'll hear. The final two tracks also compete on an epic scale. Ulaan Khol taps into a heavy holy groove and never lets go until the trance is complete.

Needless to say, "III" is worth many spins. It has layers and sonic depths that need time to be wrung out. This is the type of release that is not only a success, but an achievement.

User Reviews and Comments