Paradise 9 :: State of the Nation EP

The State of the Nation, according to Paradise 9, lies someplace where psych and space rock find gritty common ground with punkish piss and vinegar. And knock back a few. The nation is just fine…believe it or not…It’s not surprising that Paradise 9 have crossed paths and pollen with the likes of Nik Turner, Mick Farren, The Damned, and the late Judge Trev (Inner City Unit). Others with a keen handle on the words have described them as ‘Hawkwind meets Joe Strummer’ as well as tossing in the Buzzcocks. Paradise 9 hum, chug and jitter, packing the ball bearings with a greasy grit that keeps one eye, and ear, on the hooks and the other on the vapor trails. State of the Nation may not take itself too seriously, but it’s no tossed off one-liner joke either. The title cut and chaser Is This The Time take a cursory listen’s mixed bag of tricks and turn them into something much more witty and mischievously infectious. They’re sharp, vital and in some ways a sonic red herring to the leg-stretching proggy Oceans Rise and slightly anthemic Distant Dreams, longer workouts that flex muscles under the hood without shifting too many gears to get overly serious. It’s that eclectic, nimble fence straddling minus the crippling fickleness that makes State of the Nation not only flat-out fun, but also a compelling spin. The downside? It’s just an EP…with an album’s worth of energy.

Paradise 9 are currently working on a full-length slated for later this year. State of the Nation is available directly from their SoundAwesome outpost.

State of the Nation :: Paradise 9 :: State of the Nation EP (2011, Paradise 9)