The Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound's Ekranoplan is an album as difficult to describe as their name is hard to understand. With roots clearly in the psychedelic rock scene and influences such as Pink Floyd, The Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound is a band that might have better fit in the music scene in the 1960s. Nonetheless, the album displays the band's versatility within the genre and offers some intriguing tracks.   Full text...

With this debut, Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound make a solid argument for why a band need not worry incessantly about "originality" - who knows what that means these days, anyway. The band's influences couldn't be more obvious. But with a solid batch of songs that reward high-volume summer listening, that doesn't really matter.  Full text...

Following their self-released 2005 debut, which was limited to 500 copies, the group here gives all the familiar old Blue Cheer/Floyd/Elevators touchstones another thunderous and sympathetic throttle. Under Green's watchful care, the Assemble Head reach an appropriate balance between the spontaneous intensity of a live gig and a well-curated studio session, performing their passionate, formalist rock maneuvers with an accompanying waft of patchouli and beer-soaked denim.  Full text...

With an album that doesn’t try to hide its influences or reach beyond them, this is a group that doesn’t seem overly concerned with what the reaction to their music will be. These boys play straightforward rock and roll for the fun of it. This isn’t music to be analyzed or scrutinized or listened to too closely. It just is what is—and sometimes that’s good enough.  Full text...

Ekranoplan is overall scorching with a Doors meets Nebula in the desert vibe, putting to melody how the rays of sun totally fry your brain while you ingest narcotics all day long. The medieval doom sizzles with "Occult Roots." And what would any album from a psychedelic band from the west coast be like without a sitar? Here it makes its appearance on the droning raga "The Chocolate Maiden's Misty Summer Morning." Just that title alone as well as the band name will make any burnout proclaim "DooooodÅÅ.."   Full text...