Magick Museum
Nick Riff
Riff Disc

About 15 years ago, I did an interview with a local act called the 14th Floor Elevators, who told me they were getting major airplay in Sweden and the Czech Republic, although they couldn't get arrested in Cleveland and were lucky they were getting radio exposure on the local college stations. I wasn't surprised.

There has always been this quirk for bands from America breaking out in odd spots in Europe and the U.S. fans embrace many bands that would probably wind up cleaning toilets on a full time basis if they didn't get their music across the big pond to the right people's ears. That's the way the music business has been for a long time.

So are we going to be shocked that local psychedelic kingpin Nick Riff has a good following in Europe? Heck, no. For some reason, he's struck a chord with some folks in England who are into that Hawkwind-styled music and Riff has been selling tapes and discs for years over there via Delerium Records in the U.K. Now along comes Magick Museum, an eleven track anthology, that compiles the out of print and limited edition releases Riff's been putting out for awhile that will no doubt be lapped up in England and beyond.

Now when I say psychedelic music, don't go off on a Grateful Dead laid back stoner visual, because Riff was also inspired by punk a la the Sex Pistols. The title cut opens the disc with a lot of juice, damn the reverb, full speed ahead. Some of the songs have Riff playing all the instruments himself and other are full band cuts, such as "Creature Feature" with Thom Marianetti pounding a strong beat into the number and Riff become one with the keyboard. I'm sure the Ghoul would give a big thumbs up on this track, ova dey, zingy zingy.

The late George Harrison is, no doubt, smiling over the raga rock instrumental "Staring Into Space" and its vocal first cousin "Limitless Light." "Vagabond Unknown" gives off vibes of the Church or a more upbeat version of the Cocteau Twins, without the grating female vocal of the latter act.

Magick Museum might not be everyone's cup of herbal tea, but it's certainly worth an extended listen if you can dig out the old lava lamp out of the closet, find some incense to light and get in the right frame of mind.

Nick Riff opens for Kasim Sulton at hte Beachland Ballroom on Friday, January 26 at 7:30 PM in the Tavern. It's an all-ages show. Visit Nick Riff online at http://www.nickriff.com.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Peanuts hostofthenorthcoast@yahoo.com

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