Todd Dillingham is a cross between the classic Canterbury Scene of the '70s and the D.I.Y. psychedelic pop scene of the '90s. He came into the music scene late in his thirties, demonstrating extreme natural talents as a very prolific artist, having produced numerous albums consisting of concise, catchy pop tunes with twisted psychedelic explorations. Todd's latest release "Whitebeards Trip", is a fabulous 19 track album, that takes on a great stylistic diversity that gives off the anything goes vibe, while revisiting sounds from the past, as well as exploring with new and extended progressive sound improvisations. Many of Todd's songs on this album have an imaginative and visual surrealistic pattern that is non conforming and incongruous opposed to harmonious, with deliberate elements of surprise and expressions with philosophical movements first and fore most beyond formal logic. The songs are quirky and demonstrates a slippage of ideas in the aspect that the lyrics are cheerfully melancholy, yet mysterically abstract and challenging with oblique and irrelevant twists spread throughout with distinctive trippy soundscapes in an absurd and whimsical manner producing a fallacy, that keeps the listener utterly amazed and guessing as to the concept.
Among some of the earlier styles of songs consisting of the more rhythmic psychedelic-pop melodies included on this album are "The Chosen Few" and "Crimson Spires", while "Carousel Rider" produces an earlier form of psychedelic-folk style rock, enhanced with newer atmospheric soundscapes, that gives off the feel of actually being on a real carousel ride in a quirky tune, that is catchy and lyrically pleasant and uplifitng. "Toys" is unique with vocal distortions that can be characterized as the great OZ in a cult surrounding. "420 Rainbows" is an interesting piece that delivers the illusion of being on acid while tripping through the fun house of magic mirrors at the carnival, with background sounds of horses nickering, with surreal soundscapes inner woven with harpsichord interludes and early 19th century A cappella European Baroque style background vocals, with Todd's lead vocals coming to the fore, producing a dreamy melodic psych-pop tune that makes the song charming, while at the same time creepy! "Tibet" is another fascinating song, that has a harder-darker edge to it, delivering a combination of surrealistic sounds of cultural movement that will remind you of something from Tales of the Crypt, while taking you on an exilerating journey through the eerie swamp lands beneath the thunderous skies and sounds of frogs and other night creatures lerking about and whispering in the shadows, with a sudden rising of a fieceful and pulsating sound of a tribal ceremony closing in, while utilizing a variety of progressive improvisations that will blow your mind in a real heart pounding adrenalin rushing experience.
"Whitebeards Trip" is a wonderful album, highly recommended for those who are looking for something totally unique and trippy, with a wide range of songs varying from charming classic psychedelic, pop, folk, to the more extreme progressive sound improvisations and beyond!
** All songs, instruments and vocals are by Todd Dillingham except: 1. Adrian Shaw (bass) (Hawkwind and Bevis Frond), 2.Yukio Yung (harmony vocals), 4. Roger Klug (keyboards, guitar), 5. Ringo Red (lap steel), 9. Ringo Red (lap steel), 11. Mick Dillingham (lyrics), and Harpsichord interludes by Laurie Biagini.
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