Elf Freedom | Solstice 2024
Elf Freedom informs us that “all songs are channeled from the Elf Dimension”. So what happens when you spiral into this dimensional rabbit hole?
Intro track ‘Treasure Underground’ is like an invitation to plug into the benevolent Borg; if you psychically answer this invitation, where will this mystery trip take you? Vocals weave together the new century essence of Nico with a hypnotic rhythm section and extenda-vibe guitar, surging the echoes of the dreaming amps. Space synth keeps percolating through the mix, encouraging the listener to look up, up, up through the ever-expanding Milky Way. Back on Planet Earth, witness Jimi Hendrix and early era Pink Floyd jamming in a deep forest clearing under a blood red lunar eclipse.
‘Invisible Communication’, the next Elf Freedom track, is driving on the night breeze. Then your trip goes weird in the urban jungle, whispering light multilayered confusion that eventually all makes backward sense.
Breathy female vox incantations down the back of ‘Our Souls The Same’ pairs with ponderous epic ending guitar solo slice & dice riffs, with lashings of a Neil Young etheric space-time continuum, as the golden road goes on to infinity inside your mind.
Title (and concluding) track ‘Solstice’ yields a sparkly bunny outro, hopefully leading to the next album by this grooving ensemble. And an almost Eno-esque gentle beckoning entices you to press replay.
Elf Freedom | Visions Of Utopia
Elf Freedom kicks off their return with ‘The Messenger’, a cheery, rollicking pub sing-along from another dimension. Production is a little way back, but that’s probably what they’re aiming for. Kind of like if Mary Hopkin went off to outer space to carouse with the dudes from XTC.
In ‘The Field Of Possibility’, continued swirly production brings additional sparkle to the yard. No discernible hooks or chorus though, so this is more of a pleasant background track for later in the party when the blue lotus tincture is kickin’ in.
‘In The Crazy Bumble City’, the next track, features a pretty female vox, which draws the listener into a decorative rhythmic trance. Ascending higher than the previous tracks, the narrative content and audibly comprehensive vocals here makes this the standout track on the album. Flute bits on the outro are a nice touch.
‘The Soul Rings’ is a companion piece to its previous sister track. Female vox in an angelic mode are perhaps deserving of a more prominent place in the mix. However, the almost orchestral buildup delivers a satisfying inter-dimensional wall of sound here.
With ‘The Stars Are Still There’, an ever-expanding anthemic crescendo hits new heights. The thoughtful slowdown at the end of the song leads to a relaxed moodscape. This track could be a magnificent audio ending for an emotional film.
The uplifting flute returns on ‘Clarion Call’, with a more ponderous atmosphere leading to a turning-point in the album as a whole. It’s a softer direction in this musical journey.
Deeper male vox in ‘Many Voices, Many Truths’ takes the album to a more earthly, less celestial direction, driven by drumming, which is almost rock & roll at times.
The slowdown of ‘Call On Love’ subtly hints that this album is heading to a musical conclusion — but not quite yet. There is an interwoven ambient recap unfolding here.
‘Let Them Grow, Let Them Sing’ unfolds lush textures decorated again by those angelic female vocals. We take a deep breath here before rolling into the concluding track.
‘The Messenger’s Immortal Outro’ indeed revisits the start of the album, book-ending the audio journey Elf Freedom took us on at the start. It’s a groove situation; not really a song on its own, but a textured invitation to re-listen to the journey thus far.
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