Last week I hung out with my family in L.A. Another houseguest, Richard, was visiting from Connecticut. He always brings freaky goodies, and this visit was no exception. Among the DVD's he gifted us with was Ira Cohen's 1968 psychedelic masterpiece The Invasion of Thunderbolt Pagoda. The film was recently remastered and re-released by Arthur magazine, with two alternative soundtracks by Acid Mothers Temple and Sunburned Hand of the Man.
J. Hoberman in the Mar. 16, 2006 Village Voice: "Part 'Dr. Strange,' part 'Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome,' 'The Invasion of Thunderbolt Pagoda' is so High '60s that you emerge from its 20-minute vision perched full-lotus on a cloud of incense, chatting with a white rabbit and smoking a banana.... 'Invasion' is a languidly opiated costume ball in which an assortment of masked and painted bohos, some sporting outsize elf ears, loll about a candlelit, Mylar-lined set, blowing soap bubbles and nibbling majoon. ...In lieu of action, Cohen uses all manner of superimposition and prismatic image-splitting; his big effect, however, is the deliquescent Mylar reflection. What saves 'Invasion' from preciosity is the vague menace of Angus MacLise's improvised pan-piping, tabla-tapping, creature-yipping score. Although this masterpiece of Tibetan-Moroccan-Druidic trance music was reissued on CD several years ago, it truly blossoms in conjunction with the exotic smorgasbord served at Cohen's psychedelicatessen."
Sorry neo-hippies, you will never be as wild as your '60's counterparts.
Posted on 01/09/2007
Comments
Comment on this Post
Login using email and password below.
Latest Posts on Acid Mothers Temple
Posted on 08/29/2006
My Trusted MOGs
You are like a strange creature from another world to me. This is amazing, it's such a pleasure to know that I still have so much exploration ahead.
My Trusted MOGs
Thanks Tak! Just when I start feeling down, like there's nothing new under the sun for me to get into, I get hit with something amazing like this DVD.
My Trusted MOGs
That's the beauty with things, there's always something new. We just can't help ourselves! You're inspirational, thanks.
My Trusted MOGs
I love that album. I got it last March. That Village Voice review hits it on the head. It makes me feel nostalgic for something that I've never heard before. Totally tripped out. I wore this disc out. How nice to have such cool family.
My Trusted MOGs
I like that video a lot. Have you ever seen any of Animal Collective's live stuff? They do good ol' fashioned "freak outs". Though I agree, neo hippies really just have to eat their hearts out when it comes to the original stuff.
My Trusted MOGs
I really really want to like Animal Collective. I just haven't gotten there yet. Maybe if I see some live freakouts I will get more into them...
My Trusted MOGs
I be trippin' now. Will try to apprehend the whole deal.
I assume you've seen some of the works of Kenneth Anger, Kate. Brrr. Scary.
My Trusted MOGs
this mylar sounds much more up my alley than the time mag. cover. very cool, thanks! i always dig your post. (ha, there i go, sounding neo-hip!)
My Trusted MOGs
What krazy kids we all were! Films like this used to get serious reviews in the underground press - and by cineastes like Paul Schrader. Anyone who loves it weird and wild should check out Intrepid Trips, the site for Ken Kesey. (I hope it still exists.) They were selling videos of the Acid Tests and the Further bus trip. If you don't understand any of this, consult Tom Wolfe's Electric Koolaid Acid Test.
My Trusted MOGs
Brilliant video and the synchronicities are madly abundant. About 2 days ago on the coil list there was discussion about Maclise, regarding his poetry. At one point, Coil was set to release a book of Maclises's poetry. Sadly, this hasn't come to fruition. Coil did use Maclise's words for a piece called Coppice Meat from their Moon's Milk Bonus CD. "The Invasion..." is available as soundtrack. Here's what Amazon has to say:
Percussionist, poet, and artistic instigator Angus Maclise has an exceptional résumé but a microscopic discography. He was the Velvet Underground's first drummer (he left the band because he could not accept the restrictions that accompanied paying gigs) and a key player alongside Tony Conrad and John Cale in LaMonte Young's Theater of Eternal Music. Maclise recorded soundtracks for many underground films during the late '60s and early '70s, but made no effort to get his music pressed onto records; after his death in 1979 his work lay dormant until the release of this colorfully packaged CD. Maclise's music turns out to be much more freewheeling than that of his more famous colleagues. Most of it features complex, constantly evolving percussion spiraling around heavily echoed flutes and hypnotically droning organ. The odd track out is "Shortwave India," a bracing electronic blast that predicts the efforts of contemporary noisemongers like John Duncan and Merzbow. --Bill Meyer Product Description The first & only legitimate collection available of the solo works by this Velvet Underground co-founder, a contemporary of Tony Conrad, LaMonte Young and Terry Riley. All five tracks were recorded by MacLise between 1968-72. 1999 release.
And then there's Cohen. About 1996, I came across this "book"(more like an oversized jjournal or mag) called "Cold-Drill 1991" Hadn't picked it up since until a few weeks ago. In it is an article by Cohen "Naga Portraits by Ira Cohen" Brilliant pics and writings of the holy men of Shiva.
And then your post hits the waves. Brilliant. Thank you and manyfold blessings. Kinda nice to tap into a current.
My Trusted MOGs
sorry bout the double post. got all excited and haven't had coffee yet. damned doubleposting:(
My Trusted MOGs
Thank you for the excellent comment! I want to pick up the Angus Maclise CD now. Have you checked out www.iracohen.org? (Home of the Ira Cohen Akashic Project.) The website is full of his poems, collections and journals.
My Trusted MOGs
I'll put some V.V. up soon.
My Trusted MOGs
Checking the Cohen now. Thank you for the link. I hadn't discovered the Maclise disc availability until a few days ago, but i will definitely looking for it soon.
My Trusted MOGs
Dig it.
My Trusted MOGs
Ambassador! You're Lord Buckley piece was lovely to stumble on. I will pay close attention to you're other recomendations from here on out. Many thanks.
My Trusted MOGs
Trippy...