“Vive les choses invisibles,” we say in salute to the new compilation from Hands In The Dark Records – a concept born of an idea as simple as the ultimate results are hypnotic.
“Vive les choses invisibles,” we say largely because we sense a search for the unseen, an aural investigation of the inner-space race that we all run, in these seven songs from four artists – Cankun,Holy Strays, Je Suis le Petit Chevalier and Voodoo Mount Sister. All are French bands – or artists, or magicians, or conjurors or whatever the appropriate term is – which brings us to the “simple” part of the aforementioned concept.
That concept? Bring a handful of experimental artists together for a compilation, along with the help of another label (Ruralfaune), and all from the same country. In this case, it’s France … so … voilà!
Download “Chief” by Holy Strays, from “Travel Expop Series #1: France”
But more than that, we say “Vive les choses invisibles” … because while we haven’t been this taken with a geography-specific collection of transcendental time-trippers in quite some time, we fear we have neither the depth or breadth of knowledge to say anything meaningful about the connection between these songs and the land from where they sprang.
Rather, we find ourselves listening to this compilation not as an international effort – but as an interstellar effort. Placed within this context, we thrill to the like-minded sounds presented on “Travel Expop Series #1,” which we hear as the perfect soundtrack for exploring what is known by the unknown, exploring the images that reveal themselves to us only in dream and darkness, and exploring the shared, invisible, overlapping cosmic-consciousness that binds us all together. Yes, even you!
We urge the skeptical to unburden themselves of hesitation and take the ride-sharing opportunity afforded by these four French freakazoids.
This is music for wondering, staring, dreaming – music for the inhale and the deep exhale.
It’s in the slightly distorted lullaby-motif that propels Cankun’s “Psych Night Ride” directly toward the center of the brain.
It’s in the moans and drones that grow like cloud cover on the decidedly strange journey toward “Amish Amish Land,” provided by Je Suis Le Petit Chevalier.
And it’s in the buried bass and uprooted emotions of “Nehtotilo,” the ten-minute bliss brigade of Voodoo Mount Sister, helmed by a legitimate high-priest of the form (and previous “Band of the Week” victim), High Wolf and his partner in crystal vision, Chicaloyoh, that brings this journey to a temporary close.
Vive les choses invisibles! Let’s seek the unseen.
“Voici mon secret. Il est tres simple : on ne voit bien qu’avec le coeur. L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
Revolt of the Apes 
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