Arizona Leviathan

These days you know a band is obscure when they do not have A: a Wikipedia entry and B: no Youtubery. Say hello to the Black Sun Ensemble.

Back in the late eighties, I played the BSE's first two releases on the Reckless Records label to death, they were that good. The self-titled album pictured on the left [RECK 6] (a compilation of their private press lp and several cassette-only releases), and Lambent Flame [RECK 11] were bright spots in an otherwise drab period of music.

Fronted by guitarist Jesus Acedo, the BSE performed exotic psychedelic instrumental rock ragas: think a Tibetan Can via Hawkwind's "Hassan I Sabha". Yeah, basically everything I enjoy in music but isn't recorded nearly often enough.

There were a further two albums released: 1991's Tragic Magic [A Go Go Records AGO 1994-1] which featured one side of live tracks recorded in '89 and a side of acoustic tracks featuring just Acedo on 'acoustic peacock feathers' and Robert Brett on tablas and percussion. It's a good album and a nice compliment to the two Reckless lps. 1990's Elemental Forces [Reckless RECK22] I thought something of a disappointment. Not a bad album, but a somewhat ordinary one with the vocals brought forward and the exoticism pushed to the background.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that after an hiatus, the band is back and very prolific. Follow the link for a review of their latest and an interview.