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Goldhanger Creek

by Two Headed Emperor

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Douglas Streatfield
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dee seejay
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Barry Lamb
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keith_goldhanger
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mikk56
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  • Full Digital Discography

    14
    releases

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    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Clean Your House, Wireless Of The North, Hit Parade EP, We're Not On The Moon Yet, Selling Christmas EP, Deracination, Omnishambles, Transference And Transgression, and 6 more. , and , .

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1.
Sojourner 03:24
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2.
Return To Tollesbury 06:29
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3.
Blackwater Blues 02:11
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4.
Deep Blue Sea 04:37
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5.
By These Wounds 08:34
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6.
Goldhanger Creek 03:33
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7.
River Rolling 04:43
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8.
Misty Morn And Quiet Waters 02:54
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9.
Seaweed Stomp 02:25
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10.
Merely Dust 09:03
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about

Goldhanger Creek sounds like the illegitimate offspring of an illicit encounter between Led Zeppelin and Big Star. It's awkward, quirky, unstable, dangerous and yet you know that somewhere inside is the DNA of a genius lurking around.

Two Headed Emperor first appeared rather quietly in the Summer of 2017 with a post modern 侘寂 influenced combustion of 70's new wave and authentic progressive art rock. However, their debut album was far from retro. It was a poetic, gritty, haptic, sensual and visceral cocktail of heady music that was drawn from a diverse pool of influences. You could certainly hear traces of King Crimson, Van Der Graaf Generator and British progressive fingerprints blended with experimental art rock and the post punk vibe of the early 80's.

Their arrival was rather like a prophet from an obscure town gathering a small band of fiercely loyal followers whilst announcing a message that would change everything and redraw the boundaries of their worldview, imagination and landscape. The Two Headed Emperor invasion has been quiet and subtle but full of surprises, twists and unexpected turns.

Their single "The Breath of Disunity" had a completely hypnotic and trance vibe. One of their followers faithfully synced it to the Steve Cutts cult video "Are you lost in the world like me" which did much to add to the poignancy of the tracks message and mutually brought a fresh perspective on the video. As a bootleg it is hidden from view but if you look hard enough can be found in the dark recesses of the internet.Had they been given permission to use it, I am quite certain it would have gone viral.

Ths single far from announcing a new direction made way for a Christmas E.P. which was somewhat influenced by Christmas records of years gone by. Perhaps notably the Jethro Tull "Solstice Bells" e.p.

The second album "The Last Time We Did This, It Ended in Disaster" released in the Summer of 2018 was much more experimental, featured less mellotron and more organ with elements of jazz, cosmic funk and quite notably a Krautrock type atmosphere. A more demanding listen than it's predecessor but not without it's rewards.

The albums have been punctuated by a couple of Radio sessions featuring tracks that have not been released in any format to date and now all of a sudden the Two Headed Emperor mission is about to take a new turn with their third album "Goldhanger Creek".

Barry had subtly hinted in an interview and recent bulletins to the fanbase that the new album would be more pastoral. I have to say that it is something of a masterpiece but it's not going to sit comfortably if you are expecting more dirty sax and cross fertilization between the New Wave and the experimental end of the Canterbury scene or Van Der Graaf Generator influenced Krautrock. There is no sax on this album at all. The Mellotron, organ and electronics make nothing more than a cameo appearance.

This is perhaps the Two Headed Emperor's "Led Zeppelin III". It's opener "Sojourner" is immediate and has the feel of an iconic rock track but the album ebbs and flows with heartfelt pastoral tunes, haunting moments and rock gems with crescendos of intensity. There's an authentic tip of the hat to the blues as well as plenty of moments that have been drawn from English folk tradition but to leave it there is a vast understatement.

At the end of side one "By These Wounds" is a bit of a spiritual awakening with it's majestic almost Middle Eastern feel and then Side two builds from the Beefheart style country blues of the title track, softens again into an emotive, haunting and stirring lament entitled "River Rolling" as the album builds towards it's slow electric blues finale complete with a fervid vocal performance and a guitar solo worthy of any legendary guitarist. The album has some depth to it both lyrically and musically. Although it does have a pastoral and very personal feel to it, "Goldhanger Creek" is not for the faint hearted. It is musically adventurous and leaves the listener wanting to play it again.

Review by Dr. Chemistry Set

credits

released March 20, 2020

Barry Lamb
Peter Ashby

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Two Headed Emperor England, UK

Peter Ashby and Barry Lamb first recorded together in 1976 as teenagers. They became part of a vibrant and immediate cassette culture movement releasing their own diy tapes initially under the name of Frenzid Melon. Their unique brand of edgy, punk influenced art rock has proved popular with cassette culture collectors all around the globe. Several collaborations, projects and decades later ... ... more

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