The Olivia Tremor Control - Dusk at Cubist Castle

Review of One of the Best Psychedelic Albums of All Time

“Music from the Unrealized Film Script: Dusk at Cubist Castle” is the full title of this 27 track album. Like the title this album is long and cryptic. Though somehow the 27 tracks and 74 minutes never seem to take as long as you would think. Rarely do I think an album of this length actually merits it’s length, in fact I usually prefer albums closer to the 35 to 40 minute range just because it’s so hard to keep any sort of focus for any longer than that. Somehow Dusk at Cubist Castle is able to keep focus almost precisely because it doesn’t seem to be trying to keep any sort of focus, somewhat like the classic Beatles White Album.

This album was recorded on only four tracks and its low fidelity quality can be off putting at first but after a few listens I think it may actually help its cause. Somehow making it seem more timeless. Unlike many of the recordings from the mid 90s it is not in any way tied to that time. The sounds here are not created with any sort of modern recording gimmicks but through actual ideas and this results in a very organic and original sound.

Dusk at Cubist Castle is the Olivia Tremor Control’s first album (first of only two) but it in no way sounds like a debut album. The songs are almost ridiculously catchy. The best melodies the Beatles never wrote, and the best harmonies The Beach Boys never sang. They combine these excellent songs with a sense for experimentalism and psychedelic sonic textures. The Green Typewriters suite in the middle of the album takes up 10 tracks and about 20 minutes but to my ears is incredibly interesting every time I hear it. It somehow dissolves into madness with insane voices talking about “so many levels” and then into a peaceful trance before knocking your brain out with one of the many excellent guitar riffs on the album.