The Great Leap Forward
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| The Five Year Agricultural Plan |
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| 1. Neuro Psych Trail Head and these extras we've set aside for future use: |
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Follow The Shining PathThe Great Leap Forward marked the first Donovan's Brain release on the newly formed Career Records. label. The arival of a new rhythm section brought a new stabilty to the band and expanded the musical pallett. Add to that the long promised arrival of Deniz Tek to the Brain circle and the continued presence of Dave Walker, the results could only live up to the promise of the title.
In the Fall of 1998, well before the completion of Tiny Crust, Ron and Dave Walker wrote four more songs in quick sucession. Neuro Psych Trail Head was the first, and clearly marked a new direction. At this point, it was decided that Tiny Crustacean Light Show would be the "rock" album and the next one would be a dedicated psychedelic affair. The real work on The Great Leap Forward began in early 1999, when Ron Craighead offered his services as the new Donovan's Brain Drummer. Jeff Arntsen was invited to play bass on the new tracks and agreed to lend a hand. With the new rhythm section in place, the missing element was Colter, who had relocated to Boise to take a new job. He had been busy writing material for the band. Luckily, he was able to return to Bozeman just a rehearsals for the Seattle Terrastock began. Richard Treece would be joining us for this festival show, which would also allow for further recording. Two of Colter's new songs were started at this time, All Fall Down and the lovely Cloud Maker.
Recording continued through the next year. A version of Jeff's Crystal Palace was captured at a rehearsal for a show with Kinksi. Loving Indifference was an experiment in group song writing. Starting with just the title and a basic chord sequence, the band developed the song to everyone's satisfaction. Three songs Colter had demoed were also recorded. During the mixing sessios we realized we had never finished Following Orders. In the end this was one of the strongest songs on the album. Deniz Tek had suggested he might like to lend a hand on the new Brain record. Towards the end of the sessions for The Great Leap his offer was taken up. First up was the matter of the Ballad Of Where's Jim. No one else in the band wanted to sing this one, so the lyrics were handed to Deniz, who had it sussed out in just a couple of takes. All Fall Down had already been assigned to Den, so he came in with an idea for the ending. Not wanting to making it too easy, he was asked to extrapolate on that idea for the verses. The results were enlightening. This is simply one of the best Brain efforts. A bit of guitar at the end of The Known Sea was the perfect compliment to this brooding entry to the Brain catalog. Kaz and Megan's vocals round out this unsettling tune. The finale, a collaboration between Dave Walker and Ron Sanchez ends the album on a thought provoking, emotional note. It's rare that a song is compared to both Neil Young and Caravan, but this one has. Donovan's Brain always promise to work out side the expected boundries.
All Music GuideTiny Crustacean Light Show was a rock & roll album gone psychedelic. The Great Leap Forward works the other way around, but still focuses on tightly written songs. Still a large family, this time around the core of Donovan's Brain consists of Ron Sanchez (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Colter Langan (guitar, vocals), David Walker (vocals), and two newcomers: bassist Jeffrey Arntsen and drummer Ron Craighead. Guitarist Richard Treece and drummer Seth Lyon, two pillars of previous incarnations of the Brain, are heard on four cuts. Compared to the previous three CDs, this one feels like a genuine group effort. Songwriting credits are split among Sanchez, Langan, and Arntsen, but more importantly the music has the polish of careful compromise and the pooling of many points of views. The album kicks off with two mischievous winks. "Neuro Psych Trail Head" heads dangerously into the Rolling Stones' "Let's Spend the Night Together" while developing its own tune. "Crystal Palace" begins with a direct quote from the Beatles' "And I Love Her." Now that the two giants have been acknowledged, Donovan's Brain can tread its own path. "Cloud Maker" is a very nice psych rocker the likes of the Bevis Frond or Ebeling Hughes. The collective improvisation "Loving Indifference" wraps up the first half. The second half is somewhat dreamier, "The Known Sea" and "Ocean of Storms" providing moments of slow-tempo bliss -- in the latter, Walker adopts Richie Havens' low crooning voice. Less punchy and immediately likable than the previous album, this one requires more of an effort from the listener without providing more rewards, but it remains a good entry in the group's discography. - François Couture
1. Neuro Psych Trail Head - Ron - vocals, guitars, organ Dave - vocals Colter - vocals Jeff - bass Ron C. - Drums
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The recording of this album occured in three distinct phases. Four songs: The Ballad Of Where's Jim, All Over The World, My Little Town, and Human Is were all held over from the massivly productive 1998-99 Tiny Crustacean Light Show sessions. In all at least 24 songs had been recorded for, enough for two albums. 
Terrastock was an eye opener for the new boys in the band. Unaware that there was a scene like this, where Donovan's Brain could play in front of a sympathetic audiece and around like minded musicians, they were surprised when fans approached us back stage to say hello. This was only the second time this band hard performed live, but aquitted themselves on a bill that included Country Joe And The Frond. 