Search - Spirit Caravan :: The Last Embrace

A Near Flawless Chronicle of Greatness

purerockfury | Chicago, IL | 02/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wino and all of his musical endeavors, in a short period of time and space, have planted their seeds in my brain and gains more shelf space in my psyche every day. It is safe to assume that my interest level in Spirit Caravan has blossomed into nearly a full blown obsession. Spirit Caravan rises to the top of the "stoner rock" mountain with a mighty grasp on how rock music; in general, is supposed to be played. It is catostrophic to me that Spirit Caravan never achieved the amount of success that lesser bands have been handed for much less effort.Sans the "Dreamwheel" ep, I do believe that the whole catalog is present and accounted for. Disc 1 features a handful of scattered ep and compilation tracks before careening headfirst into the amazing "Jug Fulla Sun" LP. Disc 2 contains some unreleased tracks followed by the equally praise-worthy "Elusive Truth" LP and most of these songs have gone largely ignored outside of the Caravan's core fanbase. Heavy, yet well crafted riffs round out the whole of the songs contained therein. The aspect of Spirit Caravan that makes them so unique is their total professional approach to writing music. A good amount of stoner rock bands go for the jugular with unabashed heaviness and Spirit Caravan takes their style ten steps further by incorporating melody, tone, random tempo changes and an all encompassing feeling of despair without falling into the trap that many of rock's elite dive head first into.If you missed the boat the first time, here's your chance to board the cruise ship. Meteor City gets all the goat horns in their favor for making this collection of superb heavy music available to those who either cannot find Spirit Caravan's individual releases or want to have the lion's share of SC music in one convenient package. Your metal/rock/punk/stoner library is naked without Spirit Caravan to give it some refinement."

"Let Your 3rd Eye Glow....

Hand of Doom | The Wonderful World of Colonized Minds | 02/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"....and be your guide up"
Truly amazing offering of damn near everything they did...great place to start if you're just "tuning in".
How I wish they would've included a live version of Black Sabbath's "Wicked World" that they covered along w/Eric Burdon's "Inside Looking Out"(available on The Obsessed "Incarnate") As someone else mentioned, none of the material from the "Dreamwheel" 10" is here, but it's still in print on vinyl/cd. I saw these guys a few times & they play w/absolute conviction.
Live or recorded, you're in for a cosmic riff blast of the REAL THING. If you're a long time fan, then you no doubt have your fave picks from any of the bands Wino's been in, but the SC material is just brimming w/spiritual heavy goodness which shines, shudders and brings forth message of spirit in spiritually bankrupt times.
For many people, Wino embodies those elusive elements & reasons behind why or just what it was that turned you onto that Sabbathy sound/feel all those yrs ago, ya know ~ it resonates like a tolling bell in the music & lyrics, and ya either get it or ya don't. For those who do, this stuff is of the highest strain indeed...It's good to hear alternate recordings of some of these tunes...the early version of "Courage" is stunning.
Plus you get the last 5 tunes they recorded, which they were playing on their last tour..."Dove-Tongued Aggressor" "The Last Embrace" & the frighteningly prophetic "Brainwashed"..("one more fool, divide & rule, a brainwashed populace")..plus the 2 tunes that are on the white vinyl 7" "So Mortal Be" & "Undone Mind".This is HEAVY guitar rock, heavy 3 piece doom rock at it's best.
You can bet that Wino was born w/an old, wise soul; his music IS that pure & rarist of things, HONESTY...honesty just is & doesn't have to try to BE that thing, understand? It just is.
Wino is the living incarnation of that industrial Black Sabbath grade of lurching, heavy-as-hell riff rock..something that many people never really "got" or new about or had all but forgotten.
What you have here is the pure DNA strain that takes you to a higher place as Wino & Co. blow you back-flat against the wall of the bar!As someone who grew up in the 80's playing Vitus albums, it's difficult to convey the sense of integrity inherent in this music to someone who may not be equipped to discern the difference, but for those who care, it's like trying to explain the creative difference's and intent between a John Cassavetes movie & a typical Hollywood movie..you're either drawn to it or remain foolishly indifferent.
Remember that John C. line about people in this culture being dead or emotionally dead by the time they're 21, & that he saw it as his job as an artist to help people go beyond that point? Many artists & people could & should be thanked for their contributions to humanity...LIFE..Wino is one of those.Now go check out Hidden Hand!"

The Rocker

K. World | 08/31/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 2 disk set is an absolute jam from start to finish. Monster riffs, driving bass and drums, passionate vocals, this is not your average doom and gloom. Tempos cover a broad range from slow sludge to very fast uptempo rock. Wino is without a doubt the most unheralded rock guitar hero/god...ever! I seriously doubt Hendrix could have filled 2 cds with the inspired, unrelenting leads Wino has created with Spirit Caravan. My only hope is that future generations discover him the way Clapton and Page found the blues master of yester-year. If you like loud, uncomprimising hard rock that gots soul, you must buy this."