Paul Chain
Sign From Space

Here I am reviewing an album by the Italian doom-master Paul Chain, the founding member of the first incarnation of our native Death SS back in 1977, and subsequently (after the band disbanded in '84, later revived by Steve Sylvester) the bearer of a solo musical culture devoted to crossing various musical currents (he is truly an all-around artist: his albums range from doom, to prog, to dark and space-rock).

This Sign From Space (already from the title) is an obvious tribute to the space-rock and ultra-psychedelic sounds so dear to the seminal Hawkwind. In fact, the record is divided into four movements, without major changes of register, meant as a sort of cosmic journey, where it is not known if there is a way to return home, or if, as is more likely, one will be swallowed by a huge space vortex that is part of a dimension parallel to our own. In particular, "Sign From Space pt.4," lasting more than 20 minutes, with a pulsating rhythm section and the inclusion of cascading hallucinogenic seismic effects, as well as the use of perpetually distorted and filtered vocals, sends the unsuspecting listener to unconventional shores, bringing with it a copious ultrasensory mind-expanding experience to be counted among the highlights of the project in question.

This work is therefore to be considered as a single track, a metaphysical and highly expressive soundtrack of man's most hidden fears, including, of course, that of getting lost in the boundless space, and screaming into the infinite cosmos, alone, immersed in one's own anxieties and fears; with the terrifying sensation that something mysterious and disturbing at the same time is still lurking between nebulae and space voids. Certainly worth mentioning is the excellent work by Malleus Studio concerning the artwork and Beard Of Stars, a local independent label, always ready to contribute when it comes to releasing music for the mind, rather than for the ears, a choice, you will agree, to admire, praise, and support unconditionally.