Hypnos 69 - The Eclectic Measure. 2006 Belgium

There are very few bands with a stoner rock past that can really let go of that sound. They usually sneak it in here and there - a slab of fuzz, a studio-phased yell, or some throbbing bass and pounding 4/4 drums. But not Hypnos 69. When they ditched it to go all-in for an early 70s retro prog sound, the band never looked back. I haven't heard (to date) the predecessor The Intrigue of Perception, but it's apparent the band's metamorphosis happened there, as their debut most certainly is stoner rock.

Hypnos 69's sound draws heavily from the vaults of 1971 Europe, especially the UK. And while you'll often read that King Crimson is the primary influence (I think the addition of woodwinds adds to this idea), the only track where it's painfully obvious is 'Ominous (But Fooled Before)' - a composition that borrows some ideas from KC's first two landmark albums. Perhaps surprisingly, it is also my favorite song on the album, despite the similarities. Overall though, if the Vertigo Swirl roster of bands from 1971 to 1973 hold your interest, it would be hard to imagine The Eclectic Measure not (pardon me) measuring up. Maybe not quite the same stunning emulation as later upstarts such as Diagonal and Astra, but that's the ballpark we're talking about here.

Ownership: CD: 2006 Elektrohasch (Germany). Jewel box with lyric booklet. Acquired in 2010.

2010; 6/26/18 (new entry)