Church of Hed

Hiding under the moniker Church of Hed is Quarkspace drummer Paul Williams. Created to indulge the latter's electronic side, this project focuses on tighter songs and a synth-heavy sound. Lack of electric guitar aside, the music follows a path very similar to the group's own brand of trippy space rock. Williams, billed as "the nefarious HED," plays multi-layered synthesizers, loops, drums and even vocals on a couple of numbers. The Archbishop of Budweiser (who this reviewer suspects to be none other than Quarkspace's Stan Lyon) supplied basslines for half of the tracks. Other group members may have popped their heads into the studio, but they hide under similarly puzzling pseudonyms. Despite the fact that the album is presented as an electronica affair, it covers more ground. The key factor to enjoy it resides in your appreciation of synth-based space music. Think Ozric Tentacles, but also Tangerine Dream, The Orb, even a touch of Stereolab. Stand-out tracks include the opener "The Lone Freak," the hypnotic "Cathedral Ice Revival" and the utterly strange "Alpha Century Leisuretime." The latter kicks off with a delicate electric piano motif, then turns to swirling synths backing a spoken intervention by Thom the World Poet — played backwards! The odd track is "Rock & Roll Song" where Williams shows how much he knows his Peter Hammill as he emulates his writing and arrangements. In short, this eponymous release makes a convincing debut. - Francois Couture, All Music Guide



Buy the Church of Hed CD here! (Only $5 including postage, with Quarkspace's 4.5 star-rated CD Drop for free!)