The Search Party – Montgomery Chapel ( 1969 USA , Psychedelic Rock, Religious ) Full lp

If you think that all Christian rock blows, then you haven’t heard the kids in Search Party. And if you think that 99.9 percent of Christian rock blows, then I guess you have. This, my little lambs, is the 0.1 percent that doesn’t. You can usually file “Christian rock“ alongside those other oxymoron, like “jumbo shrimp“, “honest politician“ or “parttime record collector.“ Maybe it’s because most Christian music is made by twin brothers who dress identically, families who travel the South in silver motor homes, or pastors who’ve had half their faces burned off yet still manage to spread the message of hope. But perhaps the message might be spread more effectively if someone with even a modicum of hipness (not to mention a few vocal lessons) would step forward and sing the praises on electric guitar. Well, back in 1968, that’s exactly what The Search Party did. On “Montgomery Chapel“, you can tell these Christian kids were ignoring their parents’ warning and listening to the latest Doors, Jefferson Airplane and Janis Ian records behind closed doors. So much so, that if you didn’t know this was a Christian rock record, you might actually dig it. But don’t let that stop you. These kids were good, and they even owned one of Satan’s fuzz pedals. The Search Party weren’t afraid to “rock out,“ as the heathens say, and filled their West Coast acid rock sound with loud, invasive blasts of heavenly fuzz on the blistering “You and I.“ Vocalist Joanie Goff had the same command and range as Dorothy Moskowitz of the United States of America, or Chris Christman from Ivory. Although , strayed into this possessed high-pitched shriek/yelp mode, like Gal Costa in the middle of a Pentecostal revival. When she’s able to holster herself, though, things get downright trippy - check out the moody, ethereal “When He Calls“ for some good smokefilled God-fearing acid rock sounds. With its jangly Roger McGuinn guitar and quivery psychedelic organ, I’d be tempted to say the band sounds “stoned“ if I didn’t know better. But as a languid leisurely stroll through the sounds of Haight- Ashbury, this is the Christian rock equivalent of a good It’s a Beautiful Day ballad, complete with bof male and female harmony vocals. Joanie loses it near the end, sadly, and things unravel a bit, but when she keeps her cool, it’s about as good a head-trip for Jesus as you’ll hear. She’s much more effective on the moody “Renee Child“, adding some unsettling but very evocative banshee cries behind the male lead singer, who also subscribes to the school of vocal melodrarr; But it all works well together, and things are kept to a bare minimum - just vocals, two acoustic guitars and some occasional shots of xylophone – creating a very effective, ethereal and downright spooky slice of otherworldly sounding acid rock. It’s not very often you’d apply the term “trippy mindmelter“ to Christian music, but in this case, you would. And you’d be correct too, because there’s no doubt that the boys and girls in Search Party listened to their share of Doors albums when recording “So Many Things Have Got Me Down“ - at 9 minutes, riding a trancelike repetitive and very similar guitar riff, this absolutely has to be influenced by “The End“. Side 2 loses the point a bit - “All But This“, “Poem By George Hall“ and “The Decidedly Short Epic of Mr. Alvira“ all get bogged down in some fancy-schmancy Renaissance Faire medieval prog folk, far too quiet and moody for a band who owns a fuzz guitar and a female singer prone to sudden histrionics, unless you’re a big fan of the folkier aspects of Jefferson Airplane (i.e. “Comin’ Back to Me). Speak To Me 00:00 Renee Child 03:06 Melayna 05:32 When He Calls 07:37 So Many Things Have Got Me Down 12:01 You And I 21:12 All But This 24:21 Poem By George Hall 27:45 The Decidedly Short Epic Of Mr. Alvira 31:29 Bass Guitar, Vocals – Jim Carvalho Drums – Tim King (2) Lead Guitar, Vocals – Pete Apps Vocals, Guitar – Joanie Goff