Hell Preachers Inc - Supreme Psychedelic Underground (1968) (2004)

Originally released in 1968, “Supreme
Psychedelic Underground” by Hell Preachers Inc. is so freaky and off the wall
that it leads the listener to wonder what dimension these performers were
operating in. Slathered in a spellbinding sauce of swirling keyboards,
snake-charming Middle Eastern motifs and gothic vocals, “Shalom” kicks in as a
platinum-plated raga rock piece, the pummeling bite of “Curante” is tempered by
a giddy bubblegum chorus of la la la la la la, and “We Like The White Man,” with its hypnotic
tribal drumming and repetitious chant of “We Like The White Man” could easily
pass as an early rap song. Dancing organ passages, accompanied by blasts of
monster guitar dynamics wire “Time Race” and “Turn Turn” thumps and pumps to an
acid-damaged Bo Diddley beat. Rumor has it that Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord and
Ian Paice of Deep Purple donated their talents to “Supreme Psychedelic
Underground,” which is not surprising, considering the influence of the hotshot
British band looms large. Traces of Iron Butterfly, Pink Floyd and Steppenwolf
can also be detected, but employed in a far weirder and wackier context if you
can imagine that.