Review: Dantalian's Chariot was Zoot Money's brief foray into the psychedelic world, fronted by a young Andy Somers, later known as Andy Summers of The Police. This 1967 project emerged from the remnants of Zoot Money's r&b group, Zoot Money's Big Roll Band and ventured into the experimental sounds of the psychedelic era. The band's only single, 'Madman Running Through The Fields', became an underground classic, blending West Coast influences and trippy Eastern sounds with inventive use of backward tapes and a swirling organ. The album "Chariot Rising" encapsulates the spirit of British psychedelia, with tracks like 'Sun Came Bursting Through My Cloud' and 'Soma' that showcase sitar-driven melodies and hypnotic rhythms. The band's sound is an eclectic mix of fuzzed-out guitar, jazz-inflected organ, and light Eastern touches, clearly influenced by both the British underground scene and the West Coast of the US. Tracks like 'World War Three' and 'High Flying Bird' explore darker, socially-conscious themes while maintaining the colorful sonic palette that defines this album. Although Dantalian's Chariot disbanded after just one single and an unreleased album, this record offers a fascinating glimpse into the psychedelic era and demonstrates the raw creativity of its members. Chariot Rising stands as an essential artifact of late 1960s British psych-rock.
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