PEYOTEMIND John Sinclair & Monster Island NOTES by Cary Loren The project of this CD came about while researching the collection of John and Leni Sinclair at the Bentley Historical Library in Ann Arbor. While collecting material for a spoken word history of the White Panther Party, I noticed a small 5x7 college notebook buried in a box. It was dated 1963 and contained a detailed essay on the effects of peyote written by John Sinclair. Following this essay was a series of lucid poems written while under the influence of peyote. There was a wonderful freshness and innocence to the material, which was conceived at the front lines of psychedelic culture. [01] Realizations Of Peyotemind (16:48) [02] Peytoemind (16:20) [03] Ganges Dawn (1:11) [04] Eternal Now (19:45) [05] Monk In Orbit (13:26) PERSONNEL [01][02] John Sinclair - voice Matt Smith - piano Cary Loren - moog, samples Aran Ruth - guitar Eugene Strobe - vibes Efe/Kevin/Warn - percussion Jeff Grand – guitar Music recorded in Detroit 2000 John Sinclair vocal recorded by Paul van den Hout in Rotterdam 2000 [03] Matt Smith - piano Cary Loren - percussion, vibes, samples Warn Defever - percussion, moog Davin Brainard - percussion Efe - percussion Aran Ruth - bass [04] Matt Smith - piano,br Cary Loren - percussion, vibes, samples Warn Defever - percussion, moog Davin Brainard - percussion Efe - percussion Aran Ruth - bass Otto Kontrol – rehab Recorded in Detroit 2000 [05] John Sinclair - vocals Matt Smith - electric piano, sitar Cary Loren - mini-moog, samples Warn Defever - percussion Erika Hoffman - harmonium Aran Ruth - bass Kevin Callaway - percussion Len Bukowski - bass clarinet Recorded at the Detroit Contemporary Gallery, June 5th, 2001 Review by Bryan Thomas AllMusic Guide Back in 1963, John Sinclair -- poet, musician, political activist, rock promoter, band manager, blues and jazz historian, radio host, and writer -- wrote an essay, in a small 5x7 student notebook, while under the influence of peyote. In addition to the essay, Sinclair (who later spent time in prison on a marijuana charge) had also written a series of poems. This notebook was found, years later, buried within a box of Sinclair's writings, by Cary Loren of Destroy All Monsters while Loren was researching the collection of John and Leni Sinclair at the Bentley Historical Library in Ann Arbor, MI. In the fall of 2000, Loren assembled the various members of Monster Island and other musician friends, including Matthew Smith (Outrageous Cherry) on piano; Aran Ruth (Outrageous Cherry) on bass; Eugene Strobe (the Witches) on vibes; Efe, Kevin, and Warn Defever (His Name Is Alive) on percussion; and "special guest" Jeff Grand on guitar. In one take, this ensemble recorded 33 minutes of improvisational music to accompany Sinclair reading his own essay as a spoken-word free-form vocal track. The long take was split into two 16-plus minute sections titled "Realizations of Peyotemind" and "Peyotemind." Two additional Monster Island improvisations -- "Ganges Dawn" and the 11-minute "Eternal Now," both recorded earlier, in the summer of 2000, with a slightly different lineup (adding Davin Brainard on percussion and Otto Kontrol on something called a "rebab") -- were added, though neither piece is too significant. Both were recorded as an homage to pianist Alice Coltrane. To round out the CD, Loren and company also include a live performance of "Monk in Orbit," taped June 5th, 2001, at the Detroit Contemporary gallery, featuring Erika Hoffmann (Destroy All Monsters) on harmonium, and Len Bukowksi on bass clarinet. Peyotemind is an interesting, if not essential, countercultural artifact, at best.