Spellcaster

With an imposing array of guitar gear, including at least one full stack and a variety of pedals, many obviously modified, Warren Bedell, former frontman of the well-regarded Zombie Zombie, looks like he might be the lead player in a Sleep tribute band. As Spellcaster (due at Rhinoceropolis on Sunday,...

By Tom Murphy

February 5, 2009

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With an imposing array of guitar gear, including at least one full stack and a variety of pedals, many obviously modified, Warren Bedell, former frontman of the well-regarded Zombie Zombie, looks like he might be the lead player in a Sleep tribute band. As Spellcaster (due at Rhinoceropolis on Sunday, February 8), he resides over the crossroads between experimental guitar music, harsh noise and bent-circuit manipulation, bringing those worlds together in one colossal collage/barrage of sound. It may not be the kind of magic more conventionally minded music fans much enjoy, but anyone who appreciates anything that challenges what constitutes art in sound will be impressed with Bedell’s intensely textured, unconventionally atmospheric exercises in transgressive sonic brutality. Spellcaster is challenging but ultimately rewarding for anyone that can brave the initial assault to the eardrums.
Sun., Feb. 8, 2009

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Tom Murphy is a writer, visual artist and musician from Aurora, Colorado. He was a prolific music writer for Westword and a documenter of the Denver music scene.

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