Xacara: The Jungle Book of the Baroque

Most people know the Beat Happenings' song "Inidian Summer" from the cover by Luna ... a wonderful lush wash of music, overlaid by the superb hypnotic haunting vocals, giving the song a near perfect droning feel. Point of fact, Spectrum recorded it that same summer.I saw Spectrum [with Sonic Boom, formally of Spacemen 3] perform this number at the Zipper Factory, where they opened for Dean & Britta. Even though it was five in the morning by the time I got home, I ripped into my old vinyl and pulled out this gem for a quick spin, hoping to recapture some of what I had just heard. I finally crawled into bed nearly two hours later; it seems that one album lead to another, and another, and then there were the CD's ... I got carried away. But you know, this is the kind of music that is designed to carry you away. "Indian Summer" as covered by Spectrum stands one hundred and eighty degrees from what The Beat Happenings laid down, and a lush addition to what Luna did, yet in the same breath I want to say that the two versions are exactly the same ... perhaps it's more that the versions stand as bookends to each other. The presentation by Spectrum has a thousand more edges, and draws you in with sensational guitar riffs, rather then relying on the sensuous vocals. Spectrum is a stunning band, full of layering, washes, feedback, and guitar adventures ... there are few bands walking the planet with as much neo-psychedelic talent as these guys have.Yes, you can find the songs from this 45 RPM on other albums and on other discs, but there's just something about sliding a piece of plastic out of it's sleeve, slowly lowering that tone arm, biting your lip at the first pop as the stylus catches the groove ... and feeling the rich warm sounds filter up and washes over you, creating an atmosphere I could live in for the rest of my life.*** Limited Numbered Edition of 1000 copies on black vinyl.Review by Jenell Kesler

There are two bands named Spectrum out there, so it's good to keep them distinct. This one here is the English band Spectrum, headed by Peter Kember, who was a founding member of Spacemen 3. When Spacemen 3 dissolved Kember went on to become Spectrum and Jason Pierce moved on to Spiritualized. I enjoy both of those later projects.Peter Kember is credited on this album by his pen name, Sonic Boom. Indian Summer is not a full length CD. Instead, released in 1993, it is a four-song CD that has Indian Summer, Baby Don't You Worry, It's Alright, and True Love Will Find You In The End.Indian Summer was written in 1998 by the band Beat Happening and is considered "Twee Rock" - sort of happy Scottish pop. It's an intriguing mix for Spectrum, with the droney, bagpipey sort of music and summertime lyrics. Baby Don't You Worry was based on California Lullaby by classic pop-rock duo Jan & Dean and continues that soft, gentle, reassuring theme.The third song, titled It's alright, is actually based on the song "I'm Alright" by Bo Diddley. I find it intriguing that Diddley was saying that he, personally, was doing fine, but Kember turns it around to say that the world as a whole is alright. The song has the same chord progression but of course its softer, more droney feeling.True Love Will Find You In The End is even more interesting. This comes from a *cassette release* in 1984 by artist Daniel Johnston who is perhaps more famous for his challenges with mental illness than his musical releases. He caused the plane his father was flying in to crash due to one bout. His music has been covered by many famous artists over the years.In general the four songs are a pleasant interlude, generally cheerful, softly droney, with a positive message. They're sort of a "pick-me-up" set for when you're feeling a bit low. They reassure you that things will work out, and that whatever the current issues are, they will pass. I enjoy them, although it's also fair to say they don't have the same deep power to me that some of Kember and Pierce's other works have.