Browsing Tag

Psych

Matt Jacob has made his spacey psych-rock debut with ‘Chakra Song’.

Posted on 19 June 2021

NYC-hailing singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Matt Jacob has released his spacey psych-rock debut single, Chakra Song. Any fans of the Fall will want to take the cosmonautical trip the single invites you to embark.

Matt Jacob has performed throughout NYC alongside some seriously high-profile names, but perhaps most notably, he has performed in hospitals and taught music to girls in a Cambodian orphanage via Zoom; which goes some way in explaining why the soul on offer in the indulgently mellow single feels so sincere.

The meditatively cathartic single is an incredibly promising debut that will no doubt leave the artist on the radars of post-punk and psych-rock fans alike.

Chakra Song is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Brighton’s prodigal son 8udDha bl0od returns with his latest vintage psych-rock storm, ‘O’

Posted on 23 May 2021

Brighton-based artist 8udDha bl0od can always be counted on to cook up a psychedelic, largely reminiscent-less storm with his new material. That is exactly what you will melt into when you hit play on his recently released single, ‘O’.

The mostly instrumental garage psych rock track is infused with sunset-strip-style-sleaze. It is guaranteed to be a  hit with any fans of King Gizzard, the Oh Sees, The Mars Volta and John Dwyer. The vintage guitars may send a few hazy postcards from the 70s in the intro and the former verses, but as the track gears up for the outro, a contemporary no-wave-Esque protestive punk attitude starts to bleed through and leaves you utterly transfixed.

You can check out 8udDha bl0od’s latest single by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Meskimo extended the conversation around grief with his indie-psych track, ‘The Most Delightful Dirge’

Posted on 6 May 2021

The Meskimo comes to us from the shores of the Bering sea with his latest feat of indie psych, ‘The Most Delightful Dirge’. If you can imagine the Aurora Borealis in futuristically aural form, you’ll start to get an idea of what kind of astral journey The Meskimo will take you on with his psych-tinged art-rock.

Glassy synths, psych-rock percussion, fuzzed-up guitars and the occasional distorted orchestral swell act as your guide through the instrumental soundscape that remains compelling through The Meskimo’s accordant uninhibited exploration. Falling short of dropping DMT, there are few experiences to indulge in that will take you higher than The Most Delightful Dirge; even the title itself leaves your mind open. The mere suggestion that delight can be somehow synonymous with mourning is enough to leave you in a pleasant mind hole for a fair amount of time.

The Most Delightful Dirge is now available to stream via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Strap yourselves in for the sonically celestial ride Suris will take you on with their psych-folk album, ‘Bonehouse’.

Posted on 29 April 2021

UK-based husband and wife duo Suris released their third album, Bonehouse, on April 29th. After a six-year gap in releases, anyone previously acquainted with their arcane sound will want to adjust their expectations accordingly for the evolution in their expression. During lockdown, Suris have taken their sound to an artfully transcendent level; strap yourselves in for the smooth celestial ride.

The album starts with ‘Argus’, a spacey ambient feat of psych-folk that carries reminiscence to Bowie through the argonaut-inspired instrumentals and Kate Bush through Lindsey’s vocals which switch from evocative vibrato to chorally ethereal and back again. It perfectly sets the tone for the record that never allows you to get comfortable.

Instead, with their soulfully pretence-less writing and production style, Suris meld elements of jazz, folk, progressive rock, psych-pop and avant-garde pop in compelling arrangements that breathe with the new age freedom of a Fleetwood Mac record, yet, there is always something striking, and indulgently unsettling waiting for you in the next progression.

With the more atmospheric singles such as, ‘Wanted’, and ‘Eclipse’, the self-recorded and produced record feels so spiritual that it almost becomes metaphysical. Bonehouse is an incredible testament from Suris. If you appreciate true aural pioneers, you’ll want them on your radar.

Bonehouse is available to stream from April 29th, 2021. You can check it out for yourselves on SoundCloud.

Keep up to date with new releases from Suris via Facebook and Instagram.

Harry And The Hootenannies and ‘The Scam That Never Ends (Part 1)’

Posted on 26 April 2021
https://soundcloud.com/harry-and-the-hootenannies/the-scam-that-never-ends-part-1

Harry Braswell, Ben Wescott, and Nick Woehrle – aka Harry and the Hootenannies – are all University of South Carolina graduates who met in a bagel shop and – long story short – put together a trio that’s been variously likened to Primus, the Grateful Dead, Rush, and Led Zeppelin. There’s certainly a proggy, psychie, rocky sort of feel to ‘The Scam That Never Ends’, but there’s some serious funk groove too, courtesy of some proper five-string bass grind and jazzy, folk-inspired drums.

‘The Scam That Never Ends’ is upbeat, bouncy, wacky, zany, and disjointed in a totally good way; there’s elements of Fantomas, early Faith No More, and Mr. Bungle in there too, with elements of ska and psychedelia amidst the funk-rock chaos. It’s all damn good fun, with an impressive amount of musical virtuosity and time-signature-changing noise-making (especially for a three piece) on offer here.

You can hear ‘The Scam That Never Ends (Part 1) on SoundCloud. Follow Harry and the Hootenannies on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Nightbird Casino has released their hotly-anticipated sweetly psychotropic earworm, ‘The Town’.

Posted on 23 April 2021

If you’ve found yourself wondering if you will ever hear an alternative track that holds any authenticity ever again, find yourselves pleasantly surprised with the sweetly psychotropic earworm, ‘The Town’, by art-rock Oakland-residing duo, Nightbird Casino.

With elements of artfully composed jazz, grunge, space rock, psych-pop and classical all melting in the alchemically intoxicating pot, you will practically feel the rabbit hole opening beneath you as you listen to the descending cadence of the jazzy improv instrumentals.

The existentialist air to The Town paired with the playfully avant-garde approach to production allows the track to become the ‘everything is burning down around me, and I’m totally fine’ meme, personified. And something tells me that if Bukowski was still around, he would have Nightbird Casino on his playlists; they share the same downtrodden but subversively charismatic appeal.

On this track, you’ll hear dual harmonic vocals from the founding members, James Moore and Don Shepherd. Instrumentally, you’ll hear session musician Nicolas Ocampo (clarinets, flute, saxophone, oboe, bassoon), James on bass and ondes martenot and Don on guitars, piano, organ, and drums.

With their sophomore album, ‘Rusian Carpet‘, due for release this summer, any fans of Radiohead, Sonic Youth or Mr Bungle will want Nightbird Casino on their radar.

The Town officially released on April 23rd; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ceylon Rose has made their debut with the psych-laced RnB pop-rock track, ‘Bubbles and Reflections’

Posted on 9 April 2021

Melbourne-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ceylon Rose released their debut single ‘Bubbles and Reflections’ on March 12th and shared some of the epiphanous thoughts that led to his transition from their anxiety-riddled state into someone with confidence in their ability.

One of the many stunning aspects of this track is how it reminds the listener that darkness can be overcome. Then there is the soundscape itself which unravels as a melodically soulful mix of RnB, pop, psych-rock and hip hop. The Hendrix-style solo gives you plenty of time to let the preceding introspection sink in and appreciate the multi-faceted nature of Ceylon Rose’s talent.

Bubbles and Reflections is now available to stream via Spotify.

To keep up to date with news on the artist’s following releases, connect via Facebook.

Ebben Phlö have released their bitter-sweet psychedelic stormer ‘Loose Ends’

Posted on 27 March 2021
Loose Ends by Ebben Phlö

Cork-based duo, Ebben Phlö have released their fuzzed-up storming feat of indie psych rock, ‘Loose Ends’;  if you could imagine what it would sound like if a little more kaleidoscopic colour was thrown into the Strokes’ tonal palette, you’ll get an idea of the intensity delivered.

It isn’t every day that you experience such a visceral mentally-modifying single which oozes mainstream appeal, but Ebben Phlö’s hooks which lure you into the scuzzy synth-laden soundscape are as sharp as you’re going to hear on the airwaves today.

If artists garnered hype on their creativity alone, Ebben Phlö would be sitting pretty right next to the likes of Black Keys and Muse right now.

Loose Ends is now available to stream via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The John Michie Collective – Nothing to Die For: Existentially Relatable Indie Psych Rock

Posted on 2 March 2021

There was no forgetting multi-instrumentalist, The John Michie Collective, after hearing their 2020 release, I’ll Write Your Constellation’. After the release of their latest single, Nothing to Die For, their psychotropic experimentalism is permanently etched in our freshly altered minds.

With a touch of 70s rock in the spacey dreamy alt-indie single, you get the same feeling of ascendence as when you hit play on Lou Reed’s most psychedelically sweet tracks.

The romantic-in-spite-of-nihilism touch to the vocals and lyricism acts like an emotional sucker punch. For the aurally sensitive out there, don’t be surprised if Nothing to Die For has a bruising impact. It perfectly captures the collective sense of futility which breathes throughout our locked-down society and illustrates that your outlook can be as sweet as the tones in this enrapturing relatable release.

Nothing to Die For is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

ZPEXTRE has delivered the antidote to vapid party pop-rock anthems with ‘Hypnotized’.

Posted on 28 January 2021

If you feel like you’ve heard enough vapid party pop-rock ‘anthems’ to last a lifetime, delve into ZPEXTRE’s mindfully uplifting single ‘Hypnotized’ and embrace the kaleidoscopically colourful transcendent tones.

With Beach Boys-style harmonies, stylistic funky nods to the b 52s, the gritty edge of Fidlar and all of the experimentalism of the Legendary Pink Dots, the Californian artist succeeded in creating a high-vibe hit which doesn’t just scratch at the surface with mindlessly hedonistic lyrics.

ZPEXTRE is to alt-rock what Duncan Trussell is to podcasts. If you’ve never had your own Burning Man-style experience, Hypnotized may just leave you with fresh incentive to disconnect from artificial reality and reconnect in a way which doesn’t leave your synapses misfiring.

You can’t help but turn a smile when you experience Hypnotized unravelling. As serotonin is hard to find these days, you should probably make room for ZPEXTRE on your radar, sooner rather than later.

Hypnotized is now available to stream on Spotify.

You can also check out ZPEXTRE via SoundCloud, YouTube, Bandcamp and Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast