Chillum

The “I-Own-Every-Record-You’d-Never-Buy” CD Consumer’s Guide isn’t much into all-instrumental albums—most seem to require the use of a snooze button—but how can any self-respecting music lover—particularly those of the obscure variety—overlook a group with a list of songs that includes “Introduction by Brain Surgeons from the Royal Free Hospital,” “Brain Stain,” “Too Many Bananas” and “Yes! We Have No Pajamas?” First released in 1971 on Mushroom Records, Chillum was an offshoot of a two-record band called Second Hand (that group’s final album was titled—wait for it—Death May Be Your Santa Claus). Its self-titled debut is a UK-based relic of instrumental psychedelia, a loosely organized collection of keyboard-driven hard rock. The 22-minute “Brain Stain” best captures the band’s freeform style. The song, an experimental journey into the furthest corners of the progressive rock spectrum, straddles a fine line between subtle metal-based riffs and aimless hippie-influenced improvisation. The aforementioned “Too Many Bananas” and “Yes! We Have No Pajamas” cover similar terrain, the former even including an extended drum solo. If Chillum sounds to you like nothing more than a hazy, drug-induced jam session, I have bad news: The 2010 Sunbeam reissue includes four bonus tracks, all of which resemble the original album’s directionless meandering.

Notes: I couldn’t find any Chillum sound bites, but I did manage to locate an audio-only YouTube clip of Second Hand’s “Death May Be Your Santa Claus.” Good luck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A32Pp1uY3xc. Also, chillum: “The part of a hookah that contains the tobacco, marijuana, or other substance being smoked.” Of course.