Harvestman- Lashing the Rye

Steve Von Till sure is a productive man. While he's mostly known for his work with hardballs Neurosis, his list of side-projects is growing at a steady pace which will soon enough match the length of his trademark goatee. His first offering under the pseudonym of Harvestman, 'Lashing the Rye' is a 65 minute long journey through desolate, scorched and tattered landscapes. The opener Amongst the Heather sends you to a prairie at dawn with its duelling feedback guitars and you only have to close your eyes to see Clint Eastwood emerge for the showdown. And it continues like this: grinding and pulsating psychedelic instrumental creations of beauty and pain, before climaxing with the impressive Over Nine Waves. The red thread from his previous work is there and Harvestman surely deserves your attention as well as your time and patience, because it's a difficult but enjoying piece to penetrate. [Chris Nordeng]