The Wellwater Conspiracy: Brotherhood of Electric By Ryan Parks

Delving deeper into a world of deception, Brotherhood of Electric strives to raise light upon the powers that be. "Do not trust anyone. Trust me." the manifesto reads. Clearly, with Brotherhood the forces of good have joined together to create a work of unimaginable splendor. Stepping into the open, conspiracist Ted Dameron, is revealed as no one other than Matt Cameron, ready to fight against all odds with The Wellwater Conspiracy's second full length album. Joining Matt once again is fellow brother John McBain, master in the sacred art of fuzz. Released on Time Bomb Records, (coincidence...we don't think so...these guys are out to change the system, one way or another) Brotherhood of the Electric has been proven under strict laboratory conditions to titillate neurons within the human brain. These neurons, often static within the mass population, have been known to raise understanding and elevate the subject to higher planes of knowledge when found in an excited state. What is the rationalization behind this strange occurrence?

The answer lies within the music. Brotherhood of Electric begins with the eerie euphony of 'Destination 24', an obvious indicator that the darkness still lives and that the conspiracy must fight on where it's Declaration of Conformity ended. Fifty one seconds in, the mood abruptly changes. The conspiracy has jumped into action! "Starts as nothing...ends as something!" 'Compellor', the album's second track sends a message straight to 'the leaders of the obvious,' with Cameron exploring the power of his voice and spoken word.

The Conspiracy grows as Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age provides his vocal talent on the third voyage of sound entitled 'Teen Lambchop' as he cries out "I wanna live!" Clearly he has found a safe haven, a place where he can break out of the ordinary, with the Wellwater Conspiracy. Later Josh portrays his confusion singing on 'Red Light Green Light' declaring, "I'm so green, you're already red...don't look surprised." Lastly, he contributes vocal efforts to the Conspiracy with the track 'Ladder to the Moon.'

The Conspiracy confronts many of the mysteries facing our people with the songs 'Born with a Tail' and 'Van Vanishing'. Director Cameron ponders his mission objective singing "got me searching, the path you led me down now vanishing..." 'Born with a Tail' features Matt reflecting "the blind old twist of fate keeps passing me by...through it all you keep standing...left abandoned in the night...held on to what you had then...when you led me inside...I was born with a tail on." Only the man behind the words can find the remedy to this puzzle.

Others to appear on this incredible work include April Cameron behind the beautiful viola, Justine Foy mastering the cello and Rebecca Keith on violin. Glenn Slater contributed greatly to the Conspiracy with brilliant keyboard, synthesizer, and piano performances on several tracks. Their combined performance greatly enhanced the synergetic voyage created through the stereo operational directives.

While Cameron lays down the beat with his phenomenal Vic Firth 5B's, McBain counters with a barrage of fuzz and empyrean guitar riffs that reach from the ground to the sky's above. Inspiring the cosmic variations were a multitude of factors. First, the uncanny work of songwriter Brian Eno proves to be a major influence, with his opus of life experienced throughout much of Brotherhood of Electric. McBain, at work conjuring the mojo of Nikola Tesla, Townsend Brown, and George Van Tassel, restrains his enterprise much to himself, as his crusade is often of the utmost secrecy.

Brotherhood, although noticeably produced more than it's predecessor, Declaration of Conformity, retains the bands raw quality while furthering the voyage deep within the temple of imagination.

Western Society-take heed-the Brotherhood hold control of your destiny. Do not fear it. You are in the capable hands of McBain and Cameron. Your sonic quest has just begun...end transmission