Purson-The Circle and the Blue Door

Metal Blade Records / Rise Above Records
2013

Well, what have we here now? Something the black cat dragged in perhaps? How am I even to describe this? Let's see, you've got a band that has a name that, per Wikipedia, means "The Great King Of Hell" and they're fronted by the mysterious Rosalie Cunningham who, in addition to singing like her soul in engulfed in the fire of darkness, plays lead guitar solos that sound like they are right out of the psychedelic 60s and 70s!  With bits of organ, mellotron, and wurlitzer (all from Samuel Shove) added into the mix and an eye fixated on the satanic rock of groups like Coven and Black Widow this LP is both odd and interesting. The promo says that Purson's new album "finds the missing link between Pentangle and Pentagram, by way of David Bowie's dream reality and The Beatles' feel for the perfect melody". That's an interesting way to put it. The group, which is filled out by guitarist George Hudson, bassist/backing vocalist Barnaby Maddick and drummer Jack Hobbs, searches the past for inspiration and, even if this one is oddly way out there, it's still got a lot going for it. In addition to the various artists listed above you've got elements of The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Iron Butterfly, Fleetwood Mac and The Rolling Stones. All of it wraps together nicely creating a sound that is equal parts psychedelic-tinged 70's rock and proto-doom with Rosalie Cunningham sounding like a free-spirit lost in dreamland. You'll want to pull out the incense for this one folks!