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Rating: The Californians Fu Manchu are considered one of the most important stoner groups, second only to Kyuss. "In Search Of. . . ", released in 1996, is probably their most representative album and proves that indeed they draw from the same sources as the band of Homme and Garcia: like them, Fu Manchu bring back the crude riffs and the heavy, paced rhythms of Black Sabbath with thunderous and devastating sounds derived from the late-sixties garage. Their sound is a gloomy hard rock characterized by walls of fuzz distortions, solos full of wah-wah and various effects (delay and tremolo especially), robust bass, and powerful and pounding drums. Also very singular is the use of the voice by the singer (and guitarist) Scott Hill: indeed he uses neither a melodic register nor a screamed one, as he prefers a tone that comes very close to speech.
What however distinguishes them from the Palm Desert combo is the value of music: that of Fu Manchu is more sparse compositionally, offers few variations, and in the long run may seem monotonous. "In Search Of. . . " offers a lineup of twelve songs that taken individually are very valuable, but when listened to in succession can become a bit tiring in constantly presenting that triumph of ultra-distorted Sabbathian riffs, those paced and martial tempos, and that voice that somewhat paradoxically talks and almost never sings. There are few memorable episodes: the initial track, Regal Begal, which hybridizes Ozzy Osbourne's group with MC5, the malevolent Cyclone Launch and Neptune's Convoy, perhaps the best song in the catalog, a sort of Black Sabbath (the eponymous song, that is) of the end of the century: slow and menacing start, crescendo development, and overwhelming finale. Amidst so much sonic tumult, the most tranquil song is The Bargain, a sinister stoogesque blues (in the verse there is a barely perceptible acoustic guitar in the background).
Far from being a masterpiece, "In Search Of. . . " is nonetheless a good dry and powerful stoner rock album. In a fairer world, it would have received a slightly better rating (three and a half stars).
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Regal Begal (02:27)
I've got a pair rollin' from my head
Im Diggin' deep getting on as planned
I've got this number runnin' through my head
Say the word tell me where and when
I Move in Motion I can see it clear
Just get in and drive me out of here
I've got a pair rollin' from my head
Im Diggin' deep geting on as planned
I swear I got a lever hooked to the right
Hell on Wheels since the start of time
Last word heard and I've got mine
Hung on the wall swingin mechanized
Come and gone blast away the sight
Melted down, all right
Back seat driver seein' through my eyes
Up from the ground
that's right
(repeat)
02 Missing Link (03:23)
Crushing down the top of a motoring so
watch the road fold
Eighteen hell wheeler cryin' out for more
everybody knows..
Center divide everything to the right
before I go..
Hand full of nothing from inside
ready roll!
Up from the floor a moment or more
Did I win a sure bet, I wanted to get
Stand lazy remote four
What can I say thing are goin' my way.. accelerate!!
Let it run so I can get up and go-wheel pullin more
See yourself risin' on a screen that's shown.. I live for
Clear as night for the 100th time-breakin all
Up from the floor a moment or more
Did I win a sure bet, I wanted to get
Stand lazy remote four
03 Asphalt Risin' (03:13)
I've got a full board on a frame in the yard
Ive got a half grown, and I ain't going far
With a hurst shift...gettin' me into four
And a hand full-I'll be needin' more
Of a super sea
a super sea
a super sea is what I need
Straight off the line...Im better every time
Pulled a left lane...supercharged it fine
Took a fourth try...to a star at right
Pushed a button for...a ride into the sky
I've got a full board on a frame in the yard
Ive got a half grown, and I ain't going far
With a hurst shift...gettin' me into four
And a hand full-I'll be needin' more
04 Neptune's Convoy (05:08)
Knock-down loaded
Asphalt rollin'
Can you do me one better
With a magnified header
I feel nothin'-I feel it all the time
I feel nothin'-doin' just fine
Ya knew all along
Pushed out of that arm
One-hundred and fifty
Will do you no wrong
I feel nothin'-I feel it all the time
I feel nothin'-doin' just fine
For the longest time
Been ridin' so slow
Gear grindin' I didn't know
Lend me and you are ( I always thought it was "You led me to war! I can see a so far)
I can see so far
07 Strato-Streak (04:04)
Sedate it ain't acid forging the road
Im Chasin' worlds a million miles to go
Someone done ya evil-know
a so long *( I once thought it was "Im sold along")
a so long
a so long
Straight ride from the face on moon
I know what this means.. but how 'bout you?
From a passin' said they'll be there soon *yea (Scott adds "yea" in the live show)
a so long
a so long
a so long
Ten miles of fucked-up road
Solar burnin' things have turned to stone
Ready for the next time they show
08 Solid Hex (02:39)
Runnin' a motor live-shoot through in time
Hustle a fortune give-straighten the side
Chort movin all-burnin' in mind
Well past the start-I'm given' up this time
I know...right on time
I know...checkin' the line
I know...right on time
I know...
Sit there in hiber sound-spacin' a fall
Burnin' a handle thin-don't mind at all
Believe I seen it now-leavin with more
With all of them wrong-still givin' ya for
I know...right on time
I know...checkin' the line
I know...right on time
I know...
10 Seahag (03:15)
Ridin' high
Seein' far beyond this time
Speed demon rollin'.. to the tune of ninety-five
Through another mountain ...barracuda on my side
I heard this story told
'Bout a half a million time
Eight feet wide
Burnin' a path half it's size
Gone without a trace
Surveying all mankind
Full-speed ahead
I Hear it start to grind
Never heard a sound
Like it in my life
Im movin' in a freak show (Or... "Im living in a freak show")
I sink down low
Got a rail ridin'
Im King of the road!!!
12 Supershooter (03:41)
This is what you needed babe how too
This is what you need..
Keep right had so
Slo-motion roll
Seein' for yourself
Layin' low o' well
Split the road in two
Still more to do
It's goin' on and on
It's goin' on and on
This is what you needed babe how too
This is what you need..
I heard the sound
Goin' round
I Transfixed mine
a more every time
Hands ten and four
Got to get more
Easy -ridin' down
Final highway bound
This is what you needed babe how too
This is what you need..
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By puntiniCAZpuntini
This is the CD for you if you still have plenty of youth to burn.
Pure rock from other times, brought back as it should be in ours.
