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NICK RIFF - PHOTON SHIFT CD AVAILABLE NOW !
Nick Riff creates all sounds human and otherwise on this new solo CD. Recorded at Oblivion Studio in Cleveland Ohio, it is the 3rd release in the Riffdisc series that will continue until 2012. With a playing time of 56:09 there are 7 songs of modern psychedelic rock with elements of spacerock and cosmic soundtrack jams. There's plenty of wild lead guitar and psycho synthesizers on this one, driven by pounding hard rock beats. The " so called " science fiction themes of the songs reflect the inner stirrings of change many feel is on the cusp of manifestation. But don't worry, if all this concept stuff doesn't pack your pipe, the production and mastering abilities of Mark Klein ( Cobra Verde, Breaker ) brings the sonic punch to Photon Shift that could shred all but the most capable sound systems. Play loud at your next black light party.
SPACEROCK REVIEWS UK
"It’s easy just to hear Nick’s music as one sprawling head trip, loaded with cosmic gusto, spaced-out and psychedelic and completely thrilling in its verve and atmospherics. But then, there’s also a highly intelligent counterpoint to the freakzone sounds...Absolutely great stuff, get this CD and quick!" (complete review)
AURAL INNOVATIONS - USA
"There are some superb cosmic jams here, with Riff laying down rocking rhythms, lysergic guitar work and spaced out synths, but his focus always remains on song writing, and each song on the album is its own unique piece. Whether he's singing about the ever encroaching embrace of technology, alien abductions, the writings of the scribes of ancient Egypt, or telling us what the mushroom said, the music remains wildly imaginative, exciting and, oh yes, quite freaked out." (complete review)
PSYCHOTROPIC ZONE - Finland
"Nick Riff, our favorite psych wizard from Ohio has returned with a new album! This time Nick played all the instruments by himself as well as did the vocals, of course. The music still is his great combination of psychedelic rock, space rock, garage, The Beatles and punk but there are also elements of prog and folk. The wild guitar solos that are like Nick’s trademark are of course also included as well as spacey synthesizers and also electric sitar. The excellent lyrics deal with the destruction of our world, cosmic love and mind-expansion in general. A totally amazing album by Mr. Riff once again, I must say!" (complete review)
PSYCHEDELIC CENTRAL USA
"This album is a very well balanced arrangement of songs that intertwines all of the early roots of the 1960's and 1970's psychedelic-rock, pop, blues and progressive-space rock, that is highly enjoyable and easy to listen to at loud volumes without being blasted away by noise!!!! PHOTON SHIFT is an excellent album! Strongly applaud!!" (complete review)
FUN HOUSE - Italy
"There are records that pass over the current fashions and trends of the musical supermarket's commercial foolish ambitions, and respond with the power of the heart. 56 minutes of pure, timeless, highly imaginative psychedelic rock..." (complete review)
TERRASCOPE ONLINE UK
"Playing every instrument himself has given Nick total control, something he uses to great effect, the whole album flowing beautifully, each song the perfect one, sequenced to be played as a whole, the slow psychedelic drift of the title track, placed at the centre of the album to dazzle and beguile the listener. Here, Nick pulls out all the stops, creating a mini masterpiece, a timeless piece of psychedelia that deserves to be heard free from distraction. Beautifully played and without a duff track, this album gets better each time..." (complete review)
KICK OUT THE JAMS - Spain
"Once again self-released the latest album making songs around guitar riffs and the liquid eternal. Psychedelia in its purest form is what you can find in "Photon Shift". With no hesitation, ethereal landscapes become volatile, then return to fall into a spiral of sounds." (complete review)
ROCK & ROLL REPORT USA
"Riff has been creating music that incorporates a very psychedelic feel to it. With that feeling and the space and time elements and subjects that Riff writes about, his music fills a very unique niche in music." (complete review)
BACKGROUND MAGAZINE - Netherlands
"Without doubt Hawkwind is the role model for our space friend, because Photon Shift sounds alternatively like this famous of all space rock bands." (complete review)
PSYCHEDELIC DATABASE - Germany
"Nick the astronuat - still at warp 10 through the galaxy. Nick Riff is getting better and better. Where shall this lead? A great record."
Songs From Another Dimension was included free with the first 300 orders of Photon Shift but the limit was reached June 1, 2010. The disc is now only available at the Freak Element duos live shows. Here is a free Mp3 for download in case you missed the bonus offer.
When Nick Riffs Freak Element band is in suspended animation, Nick Riff - Vocals, Acoustic guitar and Peter Platten - Synthesizer, Vocals perform as the Freak Element duo. This disc includes 4 new studio tracks and a live track from a radio broadcast from WRUW in Cleveland Ohio. The music here is representative of the dream like ethereal spacefolk - psych pop that has developed a life of its own. So light the candles and incense with your favorite buds and let the sounds be your guide. Playing time: 30:51 There's a reason it's called Songs From Another Dimension...
Presented here as kindred spirits : Moody Blues, Donovan, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Pearls Before Swine, Rubber Soul era Beatles, Kula Shaker ,,,
PSYCHOTROPIC ZONE, Finland
"The World's Alive might just be Nick Riff's best album to date. The CD does include many really excellent tracks and the sound quality is top-notch. The playing is very fluent and Nick's solos are manna for the ears. The lyrics are guaranteed mind-expanding stuff and communication with the extra-terrestrial intelligences. The whole album is pretty hallucinatory stuff. The World's Alive is absolutely one of the best albums I've heard this year so I can warmly recommend it to all those into psychedelic rock."
AURAL INNOVATIONS, USA
""The Hidden Path" kicks off the set, an intense rocking intro piece with chants, looped liquid guitar, and all around psychedelic swirl that builds momentum. This leads into "Calling You", a heavy spaced out psych rocker with wailing trip guitar licks and blasts of alien electronics. It's got a relentlessly pounding stoner-garage beat and I really dig the mixture of crashing guitar chords and tasty solo bits. "Into It" is an outstanding psych rocker and damn good song and features more luscious freak guitar and synth bits. "The World's Alive" is another excellent rocker with a pop-psych edge and a great 60s feel, both musically and lyrically. Great drumming really adds oomph and direction to this effects fest. Highly recommended!"
MARKOS GARAGE GIG, USA
"Nick Riff has drifted into the realm of Hawkwind and other space ritualists, but with a PUNCH. This is truly original music, no copy of any particular band style. It is genuine and fresh for the ages overwhelmed by wimpy power pop, and fake metal bands."
ROCK & ROLL REPORT, USA
"The World's Alive is a release that features a musical mixture that you don't find everywhere: part of the music is psychedelic in nature, and part of the music has a very spaced out feel to it. Although that might seem like a very unusual combination, with the meaning behind the lyrics to Riff's songs, the combination works in a way that seems very natural. If you're up for something that's a little "out of this world," take a chance with this 2008 release."
PSYCHEDELIC CENTRAL, USA
"Although the sound is what one would call psychedelic, it also encompasses space rock too, which is in essence of a similar nature, along with some interesting eastern or middle eastern overtones here and there. If you are intrigued by the thought of the psyche genre, The World's Alive is thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended."
CLEVELAND.COM, USA
"Billed as an album appealing directly to "the organically stoned lovers of rock and roll." Nick Riffs Freak Element's latest CD effort "The World's Alive delivers what it promises."
TIMEMAZINE, Greece
"This is the latest adventure of psychedelic mastermind Nick Riff. The music ranges from psychedelic rock to spacey psych-pop to ancient tribal soundscapes. With references to summoning UFOs to the exact meaning of the title song, The World's Alive remains in essence a set of modern psychedelic rock. This is cosmic powered psych-rock magically blended for your traveling pleasure."
MAGICK MUSEUM
GOLDMINE MAGAZINE, USA
"Riffs'
music is characterized by loads of fuzz guitar, metaphysical
and otherwise transcendental lyrics, droning harmonics, reverb-saturated
vocals, bits of raga-rock and plenty of other psychedelic effects
and gestures."
HARTBEAT,
Germany
"Nicks
swirling psychedelic pop music could well claim a genre of
it's own, and with all the different textures and it's multi-colored
facets it's a must for any connoisseur of wonderful and outstanding
music."
CLEVELAND
SCENE, USA
"The
disc was designed to introduce Riff to a new audience, and
it probably will.... Riff is at his best when mixing pure -
pop glee with drugy atmospherics. Those moments make Magick
Museum a mind altering, mindless good time."
ABUS
DANGEREUX, France
"Nick
Riff produces pre-Raphaelite rock, the music equivalent of
Gustane Moreau. His influences are remarkably varied: The
sixties Spector sound, acid, garage, pop and punk."."
SUPERNATURAL
FAIRY TALES, Italy
"...It's
a convincing synthesis of the garage/psych languages from the
eighties to present day."
KICK
OUT THE JAMS, Spain
"Themes
have been made with good purpose; to fly your spirit and mind
with wonderful magic moments."
GROHINGA
WELL, Belgium
"...a
school example of psychy pop fairy tales. Albums like
this are important because they make one realize a child has
unlimited fantasy, one of the most valuable qualities in life
to possess."
ROCK'N'REEL,
UK
"...equal
parts 60's punk, garage and psychedelia. Thundering and
swirling soundscapes abound in the realm of Riff." |
NEW CD!
