The Plastic Cloud

*200 copies limited edition* "What remains so remarkable about the band's album is that... the performances retain an energy, but also a naivety, that somehow evokes both the Jefferson Airplane and the Velvet Underground — often within the same song." —Shindig! Magazine

In 1968, the Plastic Cloud released one of the greatest underground psychedelic albums ever made: a swirl of gossamer vocals and Tolkien references swathed in the some of the most relentless fuzz guitar you will ever hear. It is a record with few equals, full of foreboding melodies and lovely hippie harmonies, as well as some of the trippiest fuzz guitar ever recorded. There is no need to single out a specific track, as they are each excellent in their own way. Take for example the album centerpiece, the ten-and-a-half-minute ‘You Don't Care,’ an insane piece of social commentary that features terrific back-of-the-mix Morgen-esque fuzz as an elusive focal point to its extended pounding-drum laden instrumental breaks — a twisting trail of lysergic guitar winding its way to a final freak out. Essential psychedelia!

The Plastic Cloud formed in 1967. They soon began to experiment with the West Coast psychedelic influences which they integrated into their fuzztoned musical repertoire. Their only album was highlighted by unusual sound effects reminiscent of bands like The United States of America. And yet, despite beautiful production and some bold, ambitious use of psychedelic effects, the Plastic Cloud album remained obscure. “The results, with a sympathetic producer in charge, were mighty impressive — their one album is worth hearing a lot more than once, and you get the feeling that if these guys had been working out of, say, L.A. or the Bay Area and been signed to a label with some real marketing power, they'd be a lot more than a footnote today with exactly the music they did leave behind.” — Bruce Eder

“This disc truly does deliver the goods if you’re into hardcore, late-night psych sounds. 'You Don’t Care' features nasty eastern style fuzztone and powerful drum work that never bores despite its 10.5 minute length. Other tracks like 'Epistle To Paradise' and the superb 'Bridge Under The Sky' show a dreamy, softer folk-rock side which is equally appealing… Another gem, the 'Dainty General Rides Again' sounds like a lost British psych pop nugget and features a nice brief fuzz guitar break… the guitar tones coil, uncoil, and burrow deep into your head like all great psych guitar solos should. Once again, if you enjoy great, ripping fuzz guitar and sinister vocals (check out 'Shadows Of Your Mind') this album is definitely for you." — therisingstorm.net