Fred Laird was the Guitarist/Vocalist in Fleetwood (Lancashire) Space-Rock/Psych-Punk outfit Earthling Society, who put out quite a number of records during their 14 year lifespan. Their debut full-length Albion was Julian Cope's album of the month in August 2005 on his Head Heritage website while the 2014 album England Have My Bones also received a rave review at The Sleeping Shaman. With such appraisal by two well-respected and established quality publications, I was never not going to write about Empty House, Fred's post Earthling Society project.
According to Laird, Empty House originated as a result of an interest in Buddhism after a second trip to China, this, as well as a fondness for 70's Japanese Avant-garde groups (Far East Family Band, Taj Mahal Travellers), would inspire the creation of debut album Mushin. Bluestone, Empty House's fifth full-length, was inspired by a visit to his son in Milford Haven, Wales last year. The album's title refers to the stones of the Preseli Hills, particularly the burial chamber Pentre Ifan, the latter featuring on the front cover. Curious to find out more? Me too...
'Cromlech' according to Wikipedia, is a megalithic construction made of large stone blocks and as with the aforementioned Julian Cope, Laird appears to take a keen interest in such constructions. The sound here consists of waves of Dark Ambient goodness that could be found on a Lustmord record, giving it a mysterious quality. Listening along, you can envisage being at Pentre Ifan, a place dated to around 3500 BC, a time that feels altogether quaint compared to our own busy post-industrial times. The perfect scene setting opener. 'Bluestone' the longest piece on the album at over 12 minutes, is initially dominated by haunting layers of drones that eventually give way to a much earthier, organic and spiritual feel with nods to the Folk-Rock explosion of the late 60's (Incredible String Band, Fairport Convention etc). The contrast in styles on this one track alone is extraordinary and demonstrative of a highly skilled and accomplished musician.
'Fires At Midnight' has a pulsating Electronic flavour ala Tangerine Dream and Popol Vuh. The track is also reminiscent of Space-Rock originators Hawkwind at their most astral and acid infused. Otherworldly is an oft overused phrase but is totally applicable here, fantastic. 'Old Ways' seems to have a middle-eastern tinge added to the otherwise olde-worldly (the track is aptly named) traditional Folk that is offered here. A hippy vibe is also apparent, and which could have been present on an early George Harrison solo album. I can't stand The Beatles, but even I contend that this is quite, quite wonderful. 'Written In The Earth' feels like a natural continuation of 'Old Ways', but you are also reminded of Led Zeppelin III, an album which saw that band moving away from thumping Hard Rock towards something more expansive and experimental. True sonic bliss. 'Initiation' with its slow steady build, reminds me of contemporaries The Utopia Strong and their fondness for the more electro wing of Krautrock, especially Cluster and their collaborations with Brian Eno. However, whereas those records could sometimes stray into New Age noodling, I don't feel like a single second of music is wasted here. Modern Space-Rock also crops up in the shape of Farflung, early Monster Magnet and Giöbia, with the obligatory spoken word Vocal in tow. A masterful Prog epic that concludes the album in style.
Bluestone is a fascinating mix of genres and what makes it so captivating is the album's ability to embrace the past while simultaneously soaring towards the future. A truly excellent release.