Daevid Allen's University Of Errors
Money Doesn't Make It

The original pothead pixie is back with yet another dose for the ones he
loves most.

Daevid Allen just may be the grandfather of space rock, prog rock, and the
least parochial exemplar, art rock. While all three manifestations are
British phenomenon that peaked decades ago, Allen's hippie/trippy
philosophy and swirling glissando reverberations have endured fairly
handsomely over the years. As a founding member of both Gong and Soft
Machine, Allen has already displayed the uncanny knack for being in the
right place at the right time. With his latest project, the University Of
Errors, Allen surrounds himself with young San Francisco musicians who also
appear to be gifted students of the prog/art/space aesthetic from those
psychedelic days of yore. Although he is not a particularly distinctive
singer, Daevid's presence is one of a learned elder who inspires his
faithful disciples to reach for greater and greater musical heights via
complete, ritualistic surrender. Using plenty of space guitar and a rhythm
section that digs out a massive, methodical groove, Allen indulges himself
with whimsical observations that might be considered New Age poesy if he
weren't so damn irreverent. Listening to Daevid Allen is like doing drugs
with your high school English teacher, it's all a little strange at first
but eventually you get used to it.

[Innerspace PO Box 411241 San Francisco CA 94141]

(Rating: Four)

Mitch Myers