Hall of Mirrors

Hall of Mirrors

(Emperor Jones)

Liquid or paper dose? Regardless of your choice, you'll be trippin' five minutes into Emperor Jones' space-psych compilation, Hall of Mirrors. Compiled by ex-Subarachnoid Space guitarist Mason Jones, this 2-CD set's a right mind warp. Opening with Seattle instrumental fourpiece Kinski on highlight "Teen Center," less fuzzed-out than the majority of the set, Hall of Mirrors is heavily laced with Japanese and American outfits while hitting Scandinavia as well. The mostly live tracks are littered with effects and feedback, but the heavier ones take the prize: "These Clouds Are Solid" by Farflung, disc one closer "Small Hours" by DMBQ, and "Grey Baby" by Emperor Jones head Craig Stewart's local thrashers Rubble. Austin's ST 37 sets the tie-dyed bar high, stretching into another dimension with distortion, not unlike former River City residents Primordial Undermind. As the second disc comes to a stop with Yeti's lengthy stoner jam "Raja Gaj," the true psych fans will have shaken out. Not for those who crave structure, Hall of Mirrors is a head-spinning introduction to a netherworld few ever come back from.