REVIEW: Primal Scream, Vanishing Point (Reprise)

- Tim Kennedy

Vanishing Point is a return to the dance/trance direction formerly travelled by the band on their early '90s Screamadelica album which was judged a milestone in this decade's musical history by many critics. Since then they have done one oddball heavy rock/funk fusion album Give Out But Don't Give Up, and acquired the services of one Mani, ex of the Stone Roses, on bass.

The name of the album and the theme of many of the tracks and samples is from an old 70's psych road movie. Having not seen the movie I can only guess at its content; the majority of the work here being mutant hiphop psychedelia and often instrumental dub reggae. The results are eminently listenable, especially with the flashes of early seventies cop-show style melodies.

The voice of Bobby Gillespie is by no means the strongest of musical vessels, but he manages to make it count where required. Having said that his lyrics range from the banal to the bizarre.

Strangely track 8 "Medication" is one of a pair of rock songs. It takes its beat from NF Porter's "Keep On Keeping On" (a Northern Soul classic of the 70's) and leans on the Stones circa "Let It Bleed". "Motorhead" has more of a mutant 70's new wave sound - it doesn't sound anything like the original.

"Trainspotting" appeared on the soundtrack of the film of the same name, and is a laid back hiphop instrumental. The final track "Long Life" is similarly paced, sounding like an early Floyd psychedelic soundscape.

This is probably one of the best albums of the year, and is far more original and challenging than, say, Beck's Odelay. It is probably better than its illustrious predecessor Screamadelica. One to recommend.