Edward Ka-Spel- A Long Red Ladder to the Moon

Artist: Edward Ka-Spel
CD Title: A Long Red Ladder to the Moon
Label: Beta-Lactam Ring Records
Reviewer: Matthew Johnson
Date: 11-19-05

Not quite as esoteric as Edward Ka-Spel’s last few releases, the latest full-length album from the Legendary Pink Dots front man features eight fairly long tracks that incorporate a playful accessibility without sacrificing the psychedelic exploration that makes him such a legend in experimental music circles. Album opener “Black Widow’s Kiss” starts things off with glitches, ambience and backwards string loops, but its slow electronic rhythm stomps along with a sense of fun that’s hard to deny. “It’s Just A Job” is mischievous, with Ka-Spel taking the role of Robin complaining to Batman about his lack of job satisfaction, and “Mechanical Sam” is classic electronic pop in the vein of the early Dots, with synthesized organs and accordions thrown into the mix for extra carnival flavor. “Hey Rainman” takes things in a bit of a weirder direction, but it’s lovely, with Ka-Spel’s soothing sing-song layered over hypnotic drones, while “Gone Subterranean” starts off with seven minutes of subdued soundscapes and distant drumbeats before launching into a more rhythmic section of tongue-in-cheek keyboard spookiness. Another in a long line of brilliant releases, this has enough electronic experimentation to amuse Ka-Spel’s most ardent fans, but newcomers to his work will find this a less taxing listen than his last few ambient noise albums.

For more information on Edward Ka-Spel and the Legendary Pink Dots, visit www.legendarypinkdots.org and www.terminalkaleidoscope.com.