For those familiar with Crown Lands progressive rock output, Ritual I&II will come as a bit of a shock. This is a very different side of the band, created out of the pandemic and reflecting the deep introspection of many artists in those trying times. The albums were largely influenced by tribal music and themes and created using large amounts of meditation & yoga – after imbibing quantities of Psilocybin (Mushrooms).
There is a hypnotic element to the music, pentatonic flutes and log drums creating a very airy and spacious image, and the music is both sad and joyous in turn. Kevin Comeau & Cody Bowles are the core of Crown Lands and their musicianship is extraordinary. On these albums they feature whole rafts of natural instruments – shakers, log drums, flutes, Gankogui, seed pod shakers, harmonium, Djembe, kettle drums marimba et al – together with state of the art modern electric guitars, Oberheim synthesisers, Moog Taurus and the like. And the meld of all is utterly natural, smooth and seamless.
There is almost nothing individual to pick out from the albums – they really need to be listened to as two complete pieces – and I recommend that trying to listen critically will be of very little benefit, far better to close eyes and let the music seep into every nook and cranny of your soul, become one with the music an, basically, enjoy the trip.
This may have been created out of Meditation and shrooms, but it has been curated to make for one of the best listening events of the year.
