The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Aufheben (Double vinyl LP, CD)

Here's our Anton and his latest batch of buddies back for another go and there's a cock on the first track, right at the end if you listen carefully, otherwise opener 'Panic in Babylon' is an odd slice of Arabian sounding pop which neither inspires nor particularly upsets though little impression is made.

Second track (ok here goes ) 'Viholliseni Maalla' is a lovely, lovely slab of Stereolab bliss -absolutely brilliant. 'Gaz Hilarant' sounds more typically sounding languid slab of 60's psyche with wierd groany wordless vocals -  sloppy sounding but lazily effective. 'Illuminomi' previously reviewed here is another standout with repetitive flute riff. I'm less sure of 'I Want to Hold Your Other Hand' (ha!) which a BJM by numbers romp lacking in energy despite a decent stab at a melody. The flute makes a re-appearance on 'Face Down on the Moon' alongside Antons (now presumably fixed) sitar  - a pleasant enough instrumental but its odd stuff some of this.

I still think that Newcombe is rock and roll's last great maverick and that there's a purity in what he does that is lacking from pretty much every other contemporary. This can lead to some shards of brilliant music being produced -the aforementioned Viholliseni Maalla'  and the lovely hazy Stones gone psyche 'Clouds are Lies'  are gems but at other times it can get a little self indulgent and lazy. What is also lacking is a lack of energy to some of the tracks which allows the album to plod in places but when it all comes together as on the eastern sounding 'Seven Kinds of Wonderful' the effect is intoxicating.  

As always Newcombe's latest musical obsessions are all wrapped up in the music and there's not too much resting on laurels going on. A slovenly, shambolic album but at times quite brilliant.