Electric Sorcery

Thursday, July 9, 2009

What you’re listening to: Electric Sorcery

By Victor D. Infante TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Electric Sorcery Derek Campbell, vocals/guitar
Derek Campbell — of the Vermont band Electric Sorcery — will perform Wednesday as part of the Lucky Dog Music Hall’s free summer concert series — claims not to have an iPod, but listening to the band play is indication enough of the band’s wide-ranging influences. From the deep, metal bass line of “Mother Sea” to the punky thrash guitar giving way to an overt reggae groove on “3 Eye” to the funky rap on “Law & Order,” Electric Sorcery is a band that pulls ideas and sounds from all over, diving between styles with gleeful abandon.

That diversity was on display when Campbell — who sings and plays guitar, harmonica, theremin and fife for the band — shared some of his current favorite songs, and it becomes quickly apparent that for Campbell, it’s all about the musicianship.

“Talk about electric sorcery,” he says of Led Zeppelin’s performance of “Dazed & Confused” on the album “The Song Remains the Same.” “This tune is the book of shadows of rock ’n’ roll. Its many solo sections feature some of my favorite guitar licks & riffs. The bow solo has been known to induce out-of-body experiences.” Likewise, Campbell looks past Frank Zappa’s famed wackiness toward the intricacy of the arrangements. “WOW Musicianship at its finest,” he says of Zappa’s “Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing?” “Incredibly difficult parts played at breakneck speed with a comic narration.”

Other favorites evoke a visceral reaction from the musician, such as “Bootsy’s nasty swamp monster bass and Buckethead’s twisted funk-o-tron guitar crunch as it eats Tokyo” on “Aquabot,” and Erykah Badu’s spellbinding performance on “I Want You.”

“What tension and what a release!” he says. “Dynamic and gripping while pure and simple. She’s a magical being.”

And of course, at least one artist has been on most everyone’s mind these days, so it’s not surprising to see a Michael Jackson tune make the cut. “Quincy’s opening riff rips my rib cage open,” says Campbell of the song, “Human Nature,” “and Michael’s vocal tears out my heart.”

1. “Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing?,” by Frank Zappa 2. “I Want You,” by Erykah Badu 3. “Dazed & Confused” (live) by Led Zeppelin 4. “In My Darkest Hour,” by Arlo Guthrie 5. “Magdelena,” by Frank Zappa 6. “Aquabot,” by Buckethead 7. “Human Nature,” by Michael Jackson 8. “Ganapati,” by Susheela Raman 9. “Double Dippin’,” by Bootyjuice 10. “Cream,” by Prince Guilty pleasure: “I could never be embarrassed about liking any song,” says Campbell, “but I often get sideways looks from people when I sing the praises of Beyoncé. I can’t help it. She is the ultimate triple threat. Anyone who has seen the live footage of her incredible, all-female funk rock group The Beyoncé Experience can’t deny that she is a force to be reckoned with.” - Worcester, MA Telegraph & Gazette

Progression Magazine
Issue 57
Spring/Summer 2009
Pg. 91

Electric Sorcery
Electric Sorcery

Electric Sorcery doesn’t lend its musical output to any simple categorization or conveniently available descriptions. Although never venturing to far from the alt/post/hip-hop rock
its members were weaned on, this northern Vermont guitar/bass/drums trio (which adds dashes of blues harp, Theremin, fife, and wind synthesizers) finds these roots amazingly ductile, stretching into abstract stylistic hyperstrings that always work.
For example, the social protest rapper “law and order” one-ups Vanilla Ice, who is cited within. “No Angel” finds Derek Campbell’s fret work in it’s finest form. “Life goes on” comes hazardously close to capturing vintage Climax Blues Band with hooky pentatonic licks and baritone vocal. Other pieces such as the opener “Mother Sea” are near-minimalist studies of groove-minus-music, a compositional technique recurring periodically. These treacherous turns are anchored by Nathaniel Reynolds’ gruff, tasty, bass lines and Micah Carbonneau’s thoughtfully considered drums.
Electric Sorcery is, in its own inimitable fashion, all over the place, albeit in a cool and listenable way. – John Patrick


Note: This reviewer mis-heard my lyric in Law & Order to be referring to Vanilla Ice; in fact I was referring to Vanilla Rice, a nickname for Luke Laplant currently on the E.W.I. with Electric Sorcery. – Derek Campbell
- Progression Magazine

Electric Sorcery II
This is, unsurprisingly, the second release from Vermont trio Electric Sorcery, Derek Campbell (vocals/guitar/theramin/flute/harmonica), Micah Carbonneau (drums, some vocals/guitar/bass), Luke Laplant (Electronic Wind Instrument (E.W.I.)/sax/keys). Electric Sorcery take their influences from psychedelic ‘70s music but add their own twists to the sound. Funk and reggae rhythms and punk energy spice the stew producing a pretty unique blend. Campbell’s rich voice works well in this setting and the breadth of instrumentation is key to the band's sound. Laplant is a recent addition having replaced bassist Nathanael Reynolds giving the music a new quality whilst retaining the heavy low end tones.
Three Eyes is punk rock that briefly morphs into Hawkwind before emerging into loping Dub Reggae with a soulful vocal. The guitar adds a rocky edge but this is funky and groove laden stuff where you will hear off kilter percussion and blasts of saxophone amidst the screaming guitars. There is a ragged, jam-band quality to the playing which suggests that Electric Sorcery are primarily a live band and it would be fun to see how they pull off the swoops, changes and flips in the flesh where their repertoire also includes tracks by Frank Zappa, Buddy Miles, Santana, King Crimson and N.E.R.D.. There are some clips on their MySpace that show them in impressive action.
The frantic instrumental Horpus Richter chases in after the opener exuding energy with crashing guitar chords and furious drumming. I’m not sure what an E.W.I. is but it is probably responsible for the underlying electronic nuances and punctuation that give the album a strong psychedelic edge. Deeper features sinister guitar over a faintly samba rhythm, echoed vocal and spacey sounds. It doesn’t move far from its initial feel but is a very unusual piece. S.O.B. raises the energy level with lots of sax and Ska rhythms employed in a way similar to Ozric Tentacles before The Urge gets heavy and ominous with, I imagine, the E.W.I. doing its thing up front. This could have been based on the theme to an old TV cop show before heading into funk territory with a great vocal from Campbell including a thrashy Rage Against The Machine rap section that fits the tone well. Bass is all over this one which is odd as the only track listing a bass is Little Warrior so this may be keyboard. The extended improv section has a distinctly ‘70s feel.
Konsequench again heads into Ozric territory with trippy guitar over a funky “bass”. There’s a harder edged jazzy feel to the end section which packs this track with variety. The aforementioned Little Warrior is funky with soulful, if slightly wonky, vocals from Micah this time and a lovely guitar solo in keeping with the mood. Year Of The Eel is a slippery thing, groovy with much E.W.I. and Apparition is slow burning psychedelic punk. Closer Inkriminated is a wonderful culmination of what the album is about: catchy riffs and electronica mixed with laid-back reggae and psychedelia. There’s a harmonica that sounds like an electric guitar and a very neat King Crimson influenced section where Laplant pulls off a great Belew impression.
This is a dynamic and fun(ky) listen, the band pulling in many influences to create their unique vision. Lovers of Psychedelia and Space Rock should love this but don’t be put off if you don’t like Ska or Reggae; give it a listen, this is groovy stuff.
Conclusion: 8 out of 10
JEZ ROWDEN

- Dutch Progressive Rock Page

Here are some excerpts from...
Progression Magazine
The Magazine of Progressive Music
Spring 2010
Review of Electric Sorcery II

"Much like it's first album, the sophomore effort by this Vermont three-piece instrumental band challenges categorization. The guys cite influences such as Zappa, Buddy Miles and Santana, yet have a sound uniquely thier own. Most notable is the guitar/drums/EWI configuration. That's right - the bass parts are played by Luke Laplant on an Akai Electronic Wind Instrument. That's all kinds of cool, and gives the sound both edge and remarkable flexibility..."
"Compositionally, the band stays very melodic, groove-oriented and accessible. Electric Sorcery is unafraid to get down right fusiony, then segue into a smooth reggae groove. If this sounds disjointed, it actually isn't. It's one of those things you just have to hear for yourself."
"...A very nice discovery."
-Jim Carile, Progression Magazine - Progression Magazine

This article is from the Blog/Podcast Soundcentury.com
New England Independant Music & Alternative energy
You can download the podcast from their site or on itunes.

The other night I was walking down a dark, cold street late at night and down around the bend I could hear something dark and mysterious coming from an alleyway. I had drank a few beers and I was ready to dance…I entered an unknown, loud drinking establishment.
The doors of sound have been ripped off the hinges by Electric Sorcery who routinely electrify Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Towns like Lyndonville, East Burke and East Granville are regularly woken out of their slumber by the by the wicked sound of this power trio.
If you walked into one of their local haunts and you missed the fact they are playing, you are either wearing too thick a wool hat, or you drank way too many beers. They are the kind of band you either dance really hard to, or just stare at in disbelief.
Sounds from far away depths are excavated and thrown around in cosmic swirls weighed down by heavy, dark psychedelia. This is not your momma’s music. In fact, it’s no ones music but Electric Sorcery. They fire branded it on your ass.
Electric Sorcery features: Derek Campbell on guitar, vocals, harmonica, fife and theremin. Michah Carbonneau on drums and vocals. Luke Laplant on E.W.I, and keys. Who knew that three people could create such incredible sounds?
Check them out and a whole bunch of other equally interesting projects that I can’t wait to explore further at Lyndon Underground. Visit Electric Sorcery on Myspace
Buy Electric Sorcery albums right here. They take donations, but if you are a hoser, and want killer music for free, you can download it at no cost. Just tell your hoser friends about it.
- Soundcentury.com

Electric Sorcery is a 3-man band from Vermont. They call themselves "psychedelic progressive", and I wouldn't argue with that. Their two albums are currently available for digital download (you name your price!) from the Bandcamp web site, but both are also available on CD from Vermont Music Library and Shop (the first album now, the second coming soon).
Musically, the sound is early '70's "Classic Rock", but recorded in a more modern way and with studio gimmickry enough to be a bit experimental. There's hints of Cream, Deep Purple and even the more melodic of the early Zappa / Mothers albums to be heard here, but not derivative of any of them. Electric Sorcery has made their own "Classic Rock" style on these albums, and though it will appeal to us old folks who liked the more popular (yet cool) bands from the '70's, there's enough newness and modern sensibilities here to appeal to a younger audience as well.
Those of you who need your prog albums to have high-speed note flurries, classical counterpoint, loads of synths and/or Mellotron or avant weirdness had best stay away. If you want to have a good time and hear some great old-fashioned guitar-oriented rock with lots of progressive touches, Electric Sorcery may be just your cup of tea. Nice stuff. -- Fred Trafton - Gibralter Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock

by Ross Christopher

From the album opener, Mother Sea, it becomes apparent the guys of Electric Sorcery know what it takes to write a good song. It comes across the speakers like freedom and passion mixed up in a song. Directly following is Wisher, a riff driven track that is reminiscent of The Black Keys, North Mississippi Allstars, and Lenny Kravitz.

Later tracks like A Stitch in 9 Saves Time is a well crafted jam band tune - very very true to the genre. Its tracks like these that prove these guys can play and work off of each other. It also begs for LIVE APPEARANCE, so be sure to check out their website for future tour dates. If they can execute with the energy present on this album, a good time is in order.
- Awaken Music

by Wildy Haskell

Electric Sorcery – Electric Sorcery
2009, Electric Sorcery

Electric Sorcery grows from the fertile musical stomping grounds of Northern Vermont. They are something of a local super group, collectively being veterans of Vermont acts such as Viscus, Cobalt Blue, The Myra Flynn Trio, Hoochie Lumbardo and Money Jungle. Derek Campbell (guitar, vox, harmonica, fife, theremin); Micah Carboneau (drums, vox) and Nathanael Reynolds (bass) deliver an eclectic and psychedelic rock mix on their debut album, Electric Sorcery.

Electric Sorcery opens with Mother Sea, a funky bit of early 1970's hard rock. Electric Sorcery plays on the same psychedelic plain as Jethro Tull, Deep Purple or Jimi Hendrix. Law & Order is a frenetic rocker with a quasi-rap vocal that sounds a bit like Rush on Roll The Bones. A Switch In 9 Saves Time has manic guitar work and an infectious energy. No Angel is an electric funk mind bomb, ala Hendrix, with subtle guitar work, some funky bass and an eclectic rhythm track. My favorite track on the CD, Life Goes On, is built on some dirty guitar work and a driven vocal that's part Red Hot Chili Peppers. Other highlights are Son Shadow and The Nubians.

Electric Sorcery plays on the same plane as Tull, Deep Purple and Hendrix, although perhaps not on the same stage (metaphorically). What Electric Sorcery does offer is an update of classic psychedelic sound with the heart of an original and the hip nature of an upstart. Electric Sorcery is a fun listen.

From Wildy's World Music Blog
http://wildysworld.blogspot.com/ - Wildy's World