Forget the suits and their suits-y worries. The Jimi Hendrix Experience wasn't built on churning out by-the-numbers sequels. Sure, their 1967 debut, "Are You Experienced?" was a lightning rod, a brash explosion that rewrote the rulebook on rock guitar. But for Hendrix, "Axis: Bold as Love" wasn't a victory lap, it was a cosmic exploration in a 12-inch groove.
This French pressing on Barclay Panache cuts straight to the chase. No need for fancy English liner notes; here, Jean-Noel Coghe lays it down in the language of love, liberty, and existential angst – perfect fuel for Hendrix's lysergic jams.
This wasn't some corporate-mandated cash-in recorded in a sterile studio. "Axis" pulsates with the energy of London's vibrant late-60s scene. Imagine Hendrix, fresh off blowing minds at Monterey Pop, holed up in Olympic Studios, conjuring sonic landscapes between May and June, then returning in October to add the finishing touches. The atmosphere practically seeps from the grooves.
But make no mistake, this ain't all raw energy and feedback. Hendrix, the ever-restless innovator, delves deeper here. Tracks like "Spanish Castle Magic" shimmer with Eastern influences, while "Little Wing" takes us on a gossamer ballad unlike anything he'd done before. "One Rainy Wish" throws a curveball with its soulful introspection, a testament to Hendrix's ever-evolving vocabulary.
there's still plenty of room for the Hendrix we know and love. "Up From the Skies" explodes with his signature wah-wah fury, and "If Six Was Nine" bends reality with its mind-melting riffage. It's a heady brew, a potent mix of genres – psychedelic rock, blues, even a dash of sci-fi – all swirling in Hendrix's unparalleled sonic cauldron.
