Oli Heffernan, aka Ivan The Tolerable, isn’t one to chill and take some down time. He’s a musician on a mission, and that mission is to dive into the deep end of the pool and see how far down he can go. Dig deep and explore. His music is a crossroads of heady jams, psychedelic excursions, and jazz-heavy spirit. It’s as if it’s 1972 and Heffernan is as hopelessly in love with Ash Ra Tempel as he is Miles Davis, Bobby Beausoleil’s Lucifer Rising, and acid-soaked raggas. Rock and roll framework layered in exploratory sound excursions.
On his new album Infinite Peace, Heffernan takes Ivan The Tolerable on a heady journey as Ivan The Tolerable Trio, along with Ben Hopkinson(Saxophone/Mellotron/Electric Piano/Shruti/Upright Piano) and Neil Turpin(Drums/Percussion.) Infinite Peace covers similar territory Ivan The Tolerable has dabbled in before, including drone, psych rock, and jazz exploration. But there’s also soul-inflected saxophone, dreamy electric piano, and touches of Krautrock throughout. Infinite Peace relishes the journey.
“Hymnal” is the portal we enter through on Infinite Peace. Droning guitars, horns, and electronics bring us into the void, and it’s a glorious entrance. It’s the sound of a psychedelic orchestra warming up before the big show. “A Psychic Defence” really gets things going with a driving rhythm and a Shruti laying down a perfect drone to carry the vibes on. This is over seven minutes of zoning bliss. Rock and roll meets the third eye and it’s glorious.
“Ra I” and “Ra II” for me are the heart of this record. Long form exploration in both droning meditation and almost Bossa Nova swing with a touch of melancholy. They bring together both the droning contemplation of Ravi Shankar and the swinging drive of Antonio Carlos Jobim, as well as the great guitarist Gabor Szabo.
Elsewhere “In Limbo” lays out a groovy trip with synths and tasteful horn courtesy of Ben Hopkinson. “Lurcher” gets funky, bringing to mind the Headhunters with just a pinch more swing added for good measure. Title track “Infinite Peace” locks into some Mwandishi-era Herbie Hancock to stunning effect, while album closer “Mother Shipton’ sets controls for the heart of the sun with a dark and heady finish.
I think I say this every time, but Infinite Peace may just be Ivan The Tolerable’s best yet. Expansive with touches of all the best of the exploratory world of 70s fusion, experimental, and mind-expanding sound worlds. Dive in.
‘Infinite Peace’ will be available on double vinyl and digital on 3/4/24 via Stolen Body Records.
Discover more from Complex Distractions
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
