Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. - Have You Seen The Other Side Of The Sky?

A new line-up and a new album might be considered drastic and potentially dangerous for most bands, but when it comes to the Acid Mothers, this is cause for celebration and a return to their original "full" moniker. For those of you familiar with Makoto Kawabata's work, this album brings back the more psyche-folk drones & explorations the "Melting Paraiso U.F.O." name became synonymous with, but that's not all. "I Wanna Be Your Bicycle Saddle" is just as noisy and frantic as the "SWR" or "Cosmic Inferno" incarnation of the band had every produced, and the album opener is a good blending of the styles. If anything, this album ties together the various genres the band has been known for in the past, and wraps them into one gigantic and sprawling epic that finishes on the 30 Minute plus closer. In fact, that's what makes it a good place to start for people looking for an entry point into this group; it incorporates everything they're known for without being repetitive within itself or within the band's oeuvre. Most people would cringe at the thought of listening to an album with not one, but two songs that break the 15-minute mark. But for those with patience and an ear for something wonderful and fun, this album is a perfect way to spend an evening alone or with friends. For best results, try both.