WE - Lightyears Ahead
 

We – Lightyears Ahead
Review by: Kevin McHugh
Black Balloon Records
Release date: Available now

We is Norway’s OTHER hard rock merchant, proving that you don’t have to wear corpse paint or play in a garage to be worth a listen in the land of the midnight fjord. The group is on the infamous Black Balloon label, proponents of some of Norway’s best contemporary tuneage.

‘Lightyears Ahead’ is the follow-up EP to last year’s stellar ‘Dinosauric Futurobic,’ probably We’s strongest release to date. ‘Lightyears’ gives us more of what we love: an eclectic 70s-inspired mix of metal, space, psych, and pop overlaid with a theatrical sense of humor. The clean vocals are wayyyyyyyy ahead of the rest of the stoner pack, combining a bit of 80s power metal with John Garcia. The musicianship is top-notch all the way through. ‘Zuzu’ is the trippy vox n’ noise intro to ‘Kickin,’ a Stonesy burner spiced with a dash of Gillian-era Deep Purple. And with a chorus of “We’re kickin’ your teeth in” ya just have to laugh. Don’t ya? ‘Lost Crossroad Found’ is a driving tune with a sneaky FM beat, accessible but not commercial, while the companion piece, ‘Tsol Daorssorc Dnouf’ is a kind of backwards version (duh!) with a Floydian, avant feel. The masterpiece is the English-sounding ‘Freak Capital of the Universe,’ with its early Hawkwind trippiness. I think space rock is where WE really shine, and I love to hear ‘em play it! In any case, I have the feeling that not only does WE spend all their spare time at the Freak Capital, but their ancestors probably founded the place back in 1966.

WE have produced another idiosyncratic platter of stoned weirdness, and as always they’re on their own program. If you like a mix of elements that’s at once easily palatable, rich, uncompromising and most of all mind altering, then shell out the necessary of this baby. It’s the right thing to do.

:twisted:
A very fine review indeed Mr."Bill Hughes" McHugh. Even Christer at Black Balloon said it sure was a good review. Mine just came the other day so here is my take.

Oslo Norway's 4 piece band WE, return with their brand of very melodic, sometimes trippy, cosmic glaciar rock sprinkled with a little metal. Lightyears Ahead is the followup to 2002's very enjoyable Dinosauric Futurobic. Lightyears Ahead is full of melodic hooks and tunes, memorable lyrics and skilled musicianship. The vocals of Thomas D. Felberg are cleanly sung with a lot of energy behind them. Reminding me a great deal of Johnny Garcia,(Kyuss, Slo-Burn, Unida, Hermano)and to a lesser extent, a younger Robert Plant.(Led Zeppelin)Don Dons playing fuzz guitars, some slide guitar,(and I read on a forum at Stonerrock.com somebody bitching that WE didn't play slide guitars any more. I guess that proved them wrong)and some great solos. The bass of Goshie and the drums of Krisvaag providing a steady, rock solid rhythm section. Some cosmic triggers are thrown in for good effect.

Tracklisting;
ZuZu(Intro)
Kickin'
RnR(I Put my Life....)
Lost Crossroad Found
Tosl Daorssorc Dnuof
Freak Capital or the Universe

This is a cd I ENJOY A LOT. Great musicianship, songwriting, vocals, production, catchy lyrics and you name it. It has more of a live sound than Dinosauric Futurobic, and I like it.

For more info;
www.werock.org

www.blackballoonrecords.com

:twisted:

Thanks Moondog! Glad to hear that Christer liked the review. On re-reading I think it was pretty accurate. A good album, even if some WE fans over at stonerrock don't like their new direction.

Remember Jesus Jones? That is what Dinosauric Futurobic sounded like to me, though I did like a couple songs on it.

:twisted:
Yes it was and is Pretty darn accurate. It is a great album. And if some at Stonerrock.com don't like WE's direction these days, who cares?

:twisted:

Jesus Jones??? Damn La Tray, what are you tripping on? That's your opinion, but whew!

:twisted: