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Friday Full-Length: Quest for Fire, Lights from Paradise

Posted in Bootleg Theater on April 1st, 2016 by JJ Koczan

Quest for Fire, Lights from Paradise (2010)

The six years since its release have done little to dull the luster of Lights from Paradise (review here), the second full-length from Toronto heavy psych conjurers Quest for Fire. Offered up through Tee Pee Records, its eight tracks continue to stand out for their lush tones, melodic resonance and memorable craftsmanship, and in their peaceful, patient approach, Quest for Fire distinguished themselves from the jammier tenets of post-krautrock Europsych and from the focus on heft that propelled much of what was happening in North America at the time. From the gentle opening of “The Greatest Hits by God” through the soaring guitar apex of closer “Sessions of Light,” Lights from Paradise stayed conscious of the spaces it was exploring, and assured the listener followed the band through a series of subtly infectious hooks, the shoegaze-style vocals of guitarist Chad Ross keeping the flow consistent on the more active “Strange Vacation,” the shuffling “Set out Alone” and “In the Place of a Storm,” the entire outing as molten as it was dreamy. As it still is dreamy.

I was fortunate enough to see Quest for Fire early in 2012 (review here), as they were supporting Naam and Monster Magnet, and though they were missing bassist Josh Bauman, who plays on the record, guitarist Andrew Moszynski, Ross (covering on bass), and drummer Mike Maxymuik (ex-Cursed) held true to the fluid vibe of this outing. When the album came out, I attributed some of its laid back sensibility to a Dead Meadow influence, which I stand by, but the depth of what Lights from Paradise has to offer by no means ends there. To wit, “Confusion’s Home,” which ends the first half of the record, brings down the uptick of pace from “Set out Alone” and “Strange Vacation,” but the softer roll that takes hold as Ross asks the question, “What’s another word for ‘being alive?'” and the interplay of acoustic and electric guitars, ride cymbal and underlying bass rumble is like jumping into warm water. Through side B opener “In the Place of a Storm,” the folkish “Psychic Seasons” and the build of “Hinterland Who’s Who,” Quest for Fire show breadth of style even as they affirm the core vibe, and the nine-minute “Sessions of Light,” with its “I Want You/She’s so Heavy”-worthy leads, is as glorious a finish as one could possibly ask.

Sadly, as much as Lights from Paradise seemed to mark the arrival of a band whose work could’ve become a representative staple of Canadian psychedelia, it would be Quest for Fire‘s last. The band broke up in 2013. By then, Ross had already released his Worldwide Skyline (review here) album with solo-outfit Nordic Nomadic, and the self-titled debut from Comet Control (review here), with Ross and Mosyznski (who also plays in Wrong Hole), surfaced in 2014, also on Tee Pee. That album took them to Europe alongside labelmates Harsh Toke, and the group recently teased the prospect of a follow-up with the inclusion of the space-rocking new track “Axid Rain” on Who Can You Trust? RecordsSweet Times Vol. 4 split. What their plans for the future might be, we’ll have to see when we get there.

Closing out the week and not really closing out the week at the same time, since as I type this I’m waiting for Psycho Las Vegas to announce the last of its headliners. Of course, today is April Fools, so maybe it’s coming and maybe it’s not, but either way, I’m keeping an eye out and will post accordingly.

Tomorrow I’m going — yes, I’m really going — to see Bongzilla with Black CobraKings Destroy and Lo-Pan in Somerville, MA. The Obelisk is presenting the show (info here). You should come too.

I’m overdue for a podcast, and after the Quarterly Review this week, there’s plenty of stuff I’d like to share, so I’ll see if I can’t make that happen, but in addition to the review of tomorrow’s show, which I’ll post on Monday, I’ve also got a video premiere for Will Z., followed by a full-album stream from Red Wizard on Tuesday, a full EP stream from Cities of Mars on Wednesday, maybe a track premiere on Thursday and likely a full-album stream from Henryspenncer on Friday, so it’s pretty packed. Oh, and there’s an interview with Holy Grove that needs to go up too.

Speaking of the Quarterly Review — if you got to check out any of that, thank you. Those things are a genuine challenge to put together, but the opportunity to cover a range of stuff that I might not be able to otherwise is too much to let slip by. I’ll have the next one in late June/early July. I haven’t started planning it yet, but soon.

Hope you have a great and safe weekend. Please check out the forum and the radio stream.

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