Harvestman is the project of Steve von Till, the long-standing member of Neurosis. The pretext behind these “instrumental psychedelic reveries” is an otherworldliness born of names like Flying Saucer Attack, Fairport Convention, Tangerine Dream, Bert Jansch, Steeleye Span and Hawkwind.
The sound waves at the beginning do indeed recall Hawkwind in psychedelic mode. A hypnotic drum beat strikes up. In comes the bass guitar. The electronic keyboard plays a quiet woozy tune. “Psilosynth” is mesmerising. There’s a faint whiff of exotic eastern lands. As this drifts away into the wind, the tranquil guitar-driven tones of “Give Your Heart to the Hawk” strike up. An echoing spoken voice reflects philosophically and enhances the dreamy air. And so it goes on for five minutes.
“Coma” then is an electro-cosmic drone, pulsing for four minutes. It seems strange that “Psyilosynth” is repeated but this is what happens with a so-called Harvest Dub. It seems as if Kraftwerk have adapted the theme music for the Clangers. A trip-hop beat cuts in as electronic notes and a cosmic sound swirl combine. With its range of bassy and electronic sounds, I really liked this and was captured by its smooth groove. The short “How to Purify Mercury” has the aura of pulses in an electric storm. “Nocturnal Field Song” gives the impression that the flies are out, followed by the crickets. There’s a mysterious industrial hammering as background to the monotone chirping, which plays out as a sinister drone. The deep drone of Gaelic pipes passes through “Mare and Foal”. Again I think of early Kraftwerk when I hear this experimental electronic mood music.
Patience is required, as is the ability to imagine and dream. “Triptych Part One” drifts across in front of us. This ambient work is a bit slow burn, but succeeds in transmitting a mesmerising atmosphere.
(7/10 Andrew Doherty)
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