Flashback

Flashback by Sky Saxon’s U.S.A. proves that, despite his reputation for sticking doggedly to one narrow type of music his whole career, Sky Saxon in fact released a wide range of music in addition to his better-known garage-punk nuggets. Still, you’ve never heard Sky Saxon like he is on this anomalous, obscure CD from 1991.

Flashback, released on a label called Ocean (ORCD 1-2), consisted mostly of Sky and his friend Dana Smith, who took care of the arrangements, and some guests (such as Mars Bonfire on one track). The songs themselves, like the mixing, are credited to Sky and Dana (except Elvis Presley’s "Love Me Tender").

Most of Flashback is covered in 1980s-era drum machines and Pointer Sisters-esque synthesizers, an incongruously professional sheen never even hinted at on any Sky project before. Having ridden the late 80s psychedelic revival as far as he could, perhaps Sky was miffed that he hadn’t truly reclaimed the limelight as much as he might have hoped. His most recent releases at the time, a pair of albums with his band Dragonslayers in 1989-90, had not made any impact whatsoever on the market. By 1991 he seemed up for anything — even, say, crisp synthesizer rhythms and humorless, professional studio gloss. Although many of its songs are tempered by a distorted lead guitar (or guitar-ish synth), Flashback is a CD only a Sky Saxon devotee-cum-apologist could love.

And love it you can. There is some really good stuff on Flashback, believe it or not. The opening track, for example, is "20th Century Wolf", a nice, fuzzy electric guitar song; Sky seems perfectly happy to join in and it’s a fine, rousing start to the CD. "East Meets West" sounds Duran Duran-esque, with its vaguely steel drum keyboard bleeps. "Lilacs And Roses" returns to the rock guitar feel of "20th Century Wolf", with the album’s signature ultra-thin, strangled guitar distortion chugging along a faster, more aggressive path.

"Tonight, Tonight" features a bright, pop synthesizer like something out of mid-80s Michael Douglas movie soundtrack, albeit with Sky druggily mumbling through it in his inimitable way. "Hey There Monkey" tones down the keyboards somewhat and allows the guitar to shine — though it never loses its impeccable studio gleam. "Flashback '66" is the de facto title song of the CD, and is a sunshine-y electropop tune that features Sky’s voice overly-echoed in an ill-fitting attempt to inject some good ol’ psychedelia into the mix. Mars Bonfire, who appeared on much of Sky’s 1980s recordings, makes a guest appearance on keyboards.

"Ring Of Lords" is a decent attempt to hit the pop charts — or it would be, if it were released in 1984; a blandly funky bass riff on the synth interacts ably with the other processed sounds in the arrangement, and Sky’s peaceloveandunderstanding lyrics are backed by a chorus of female R&B backup singers. Really. The synths become unconvincingly bell-like on "Extra Extra", merrily sparkling like something from a Kajagoogoo b-side, and the distorted main instrument has become processed enough that it is hard to tell if it’s a real guitar or a keyboard. It’s deftly played, either way. The music goes for a grander sound on "Lonesome Prairie", widening the horizon to accommodate a faux-enthusiastic starburst of an arrangement. It’s like an anachronistic visit by the backing track of “You’re Only Human” by Billy Joel.

The jolting final song on Flashback sounds nothing like the rest of the album — Sky’s version of "Love Me Tender" finds him continuing to develop the smooth Elvis croon he had been experimenting with on recent tracks such as 1989’s "Wild Roses". A very understated and economically-picked guitar provides the most rudimentary of support. (Given the tone of the rest of the album, this final track has much the same feel as the acoustic “Dark Eyes” from Bob Dylan’s keyboard-laden Empire Burlesque album from 1985.)

Flashback‘s place in Sky’s career

The thing about Flashback is that the contrast between the unexpectedly inorganic music and Sky’s affable, weary tone is so great that it forces the listener to really focus on Sky, even moreso than on his other albums. His voice is by far the most appealing and interesting thing about the album. And you’ve got to hand it to the guy — he never sounds embarrassed or confused (well, not any more than usual) on this CD. He jumped in wholeheartedly; the man was a restless experimenter. Why not give this project with Dana Smith a go?

Ultimately (or to be precise, immediately), he gave up this sleek, artificial musical approach — for one thing, it made no difference at all in the public arena during that year of Nirvana and heroin-grunge — and returned to the amateurish, gritty burnout psych that he never really abandoned. (See his next release, the 1994 album Down The Nile by Fast Planet, for more.) In a career full of odd and mysterious releases, Flashback remains one of the strangest. And most obscure — copies are virtually never seen for sale. In 2009 Global Recording Artists had plans to reissue the album but so far it hasn’t happened. If you ever see a copy of Flashback, get it, because it may be a long, long time before you see another. Just don’t expect any garage punk… and DON’T listen to this album if you are just getting into Sky Saxon!

Track listing

1. "20th Century Wolf"
2. "East Meets West"
3. "Lilacs And Roses"
4. "Tonight, Tonight"
5. "Hey There Monkey"
6. "Flashback '66"
7. "Ring Of Lords"
8. "Extra Extra"
9. "Lonesome Prairie"
10. "Love Me Tender"

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