Daniel A.I.U. Higgs - Atomic Yggdrasil Tarot

Experimental art rocker Daniel A.I.U. Higgs follows his 2005 release of Magic Alphabet with Atomic Yggdrasil Tarot, a noise odyssey of intricate guitar work and lots of fiddling about with effects peddles. Higgs is primarily an artist who plays music, rather than a musician, with a CV including published books of poetry and drawings, as well as being the sole lyricist and front man of the band Lungfish, an obscure post punk four-piece from the late eighties. Cocoon on the Cross is the most accessible track on the album, exemplifying the technical skill of Higgs on the guitar. Unfortunately in the quest for art he has sacrificed melodic sounds for experimental banjo licks and prolonged mouth harp interludes. Higgs will appeal to the more liberal fans of psychedelic Merry Prankster-style atmospheric escapism; best suited if all of the above ticks your boxes. [Franck Martin]