You possibly watched ‘Altered States’ (1980), the cult movie directed Ken Russell and based on John C. Lilly’s sensory deprivation research conducted in isolation tanks under the influence of psychoactive drugs like mescaline, ketamine and LSD.
The main character of the movie is Edward Jessup (William Hurt) a university professor that, while studying schizophrenia, begins experimenting with sensory deprivation using a flotation tank and later also travels to Mexico to participate in an Ayahuasca ceremony. Edward Jessup so gets in what we could define like illusional states and his mind experiments causes him to experience episodes of physical biological and temporary partial devolution.
Shaun ‘Nunutzi’ Mulrooney is actually known because of his work as percussionist and organist with Dead Skeletons. He choose to rename himself TAU, which actually means ‘father sun’ to the Wixarikas, native Mexicans living in the Sierra Madre Occidental. In fact he experienced with this tribe and he tried with his music and this EP (released on Fuzz Club Records) in capturing what actually it is the ancient culture of the people who live in the desert wilderness of the Mesoamerican region.
Influenced by this shamanic culture, Wirikuta (the indigenous name for ‘land’) it is a psychedelic hallucinogenic experience and much more than a sort of diary of the experiences Shaun had in this remote landscape, also a real trip into our minds. Cutting a long story short, he does with this record what Aldous Huxley did publishing ‘The Doors of Perception’ and detailing his experiences when taking mescaline.
A miscellaneous combination of drone obsessive music and kraut-rock with evocative psychedelia and folkloristic sounds from the Mesoamerica that keep us in touch with what are the customs and traditions of the Huichol people, TAU is what we could possibly define an open project. Recorded with the contribute of several musicians members from Moon Duo, Kadavar, The Soft Moon, The Pussywarmers and Tindersticks, you will probably open your mind and keep your soul saved getting in touch with what Shaun defines like ‘medicine music’.
