Browsing Tag

Psychedelic Rock

Transcendent Discord: Ficus Unveils Psychedelic Alchemy in ‘Resonation Room’

Posted on 27 November 2024

Warp your rhythmic pulses with Ficus’ double A-side release, Resonation Room. After dialling the mystic beguile up to 11 with angular Eastern guitars, the title single unravels as a progressive hybrid of psychedelia and sludgy stoner rock that electrifies the senses with intense reverberations of distortion which swallow the heavy riffs.

Setting themselves apart from your average raconteurs of kaleidoscopic rancour the Michigan-hailing powerhouse wraps an aura of transcendence around the discordance, building an arcane monument of aural alchemy that any psych rock fans will want to kneel at the altar of. With harmonies which carry as much mysticism as the grooves and pockets of ambience in their instrumental arrangement, the Ficus effect is visceral on every conceivable level.

After touring with the likes of Levitation Room, Chirp, Desmond Jones, Triptides, Consider the Source and North by North, Ficus have become renowned for their live performances which light the way to tonal nirvana. Equally as entrancing on record, it is only a matter of time before Ficus is internationally recognised as a premier psych rock ensemble.

Resonation Room is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Visit a sonic Shangri La with the hypnotic hues in Copper Monks’ psych rock meditation, New Dawn

Posted on 25 October 2023

The Philadelphia psych-rock raconteurs Copper Monks gave their sophomore album, Potter’s Field, the college radio rock treatment while playing with a tonal palette which couldn’t be more kaleidoscopically transcendent.

Regardless of the swathes of psych-orientated outfits that have joined the fray since the 60s, with the standout single, New Dawn, Copper Monks delivered divinely distinctive catharsis, which doesn’t break the mould; it infuses the mould with spiritually scintillating soul. Each hypnotically hued guitar note feeding into the whirling dervish production efficaciously lifts you higher; when the slide guitars appear, you may as well be in Shangri La.

Honestly, if Copper Monks started a cult, I wouldn’t hesitate to join it; the peace that radiates through every expertly crafted progression is a sonic lesson in sanctity.

New Dawn was officially released on October 16; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

MOVIE MOVIE shine on in their glamorously cinematic single, Bright Lights

Posted on 11 September 2022
NOW PLAYING by MOVIE MOVIE

Psychedelic Furs fans will want to clamour around the latest glamorously cinematic rock n roll meets power pop single, Bright Lights, from NYC’s new-found finest, MOVIE MOVIE.

With the psychedelically upbeat melodies that come with a swoon-some bite and Beach Boys backing harmonies, objectivity quickly falls to the wayside while Bright Lights is tonally shimmering into your synapses. While the lyrics set up the narrative of a lonesome wannabe starlet, the synths transport you away from this intrepid era and plant you into one where James Dean and Hepburn reigned supreme.

Bright Lights was officially released on July 22nd. Check it out for yourselves on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Times Flies: Maejis Mind delightfully dazes our mind alive with groovy debut ‘Dizzy’

Posted on 25 September 2021

With his second single out on the 15th October called ‘What’s Worth It‘, Maejis Mind catches out attention with his terrific debut effort which puts you in the perfect reflective state to treasure each special moment on ‘Dizzy‘.

Maejis Mind is a James Beasley-created indie psychedelic rock/dream-pop artist and UCLA graduate born in Philadelphia, who is now based in thriving Los Angeles, California.

Inspired by true legends Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd, he seems to intrinsically capture the past and the new, all in one pulsating package which has you feeling like you have just heard something rather special.

”The lyrics focus on time, and how quickly moments pass.” ~ Maejis Mind

Featuring an assortment of stunning riffs and dreamy vocals that has your smile beaming cat-like from ear to ear, as the warm energy seems to gust through your wholesome soul to lather a goodness all over. This is one of the most catchy songs of the year and there is so much to like – as he takes us on a journey to seeking that true self-enlightenment – in realizing what is actually important in life.

”Maejis Mind’s psychedelic sound is a blend of driving guitars, modulated synths and echoing vocals.” ~ Maejis Mind

‘Dizzy‘ from the highly enjoyable Los Angeles, California-based indie psychedelic rock/dream-pop Maejis Mind, is a distant vocals gem that has you curious ears perked up and your heart glowing from the delightful buzz created. This is all about making sure that you enjoy each moment of each day, as time really does go too fast if you waste it.

Stream this new single on Spotify and check out the IG music page for more news.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

As Fast As You Can: BeOmega are quite superb on the groovy modern classic ‘Return of The Birdman’

Posted on 11 July 2021
Kalki - Return of The Birdman by BeOmega

Taken off their latest eleven-track album named ‘Kalki – Return of The Birdman‘, BeOmega return with probably their best song yet on ‘Return of The Birdman‘.

BeOmega is a UK-based crop-circle-festival-playing three-piece psychedelic rock band who somehow morph the conscious world from their vivid imagination, into an exhilarating rock n roll experience like you have never heard before. They make that earthy sound that is rather rare, and feels like an outer body occurrence.

”BeOmega convey a dimension of freedom from this matrix which everybody can tune into if they really want to. We deliver songs of Phreedom, liberation, awakening, reality of birth and death and metaphysical Phun.” – BeOmega

They have a stylish ambiance that has you fully immersed into their lathering style that is such a fantastic listen. The busty riffs are massively exciting and proper enjoyable, with smoothly tipped vocals that feel like sweet honey has been poured all over his voice.

‘Return of The Birdman‘ from the fascinating three-piece psychedelic rock wizards BeOmega, is a tremendous track you will want to play again and again. They take you into their world and lusciously lift you away from whatever things you are worrying about. A true underrated gem awaits you from a truly progressive band full of life and love.

Stream their new track on Bandcamp and check out the Facebook music page for more.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

The Tazers’ ‘Dream Machine’ – trippy, fuzzed up retro rock from South Africa

Posted on 21 December 2020

If Kasabian, the Strokes, Jet, or The Vines had come from South Africa and taken a little more acid, they’d probably have sounded pretty much like The Tazers on ‘Dream Machine’; a fuzzed-up, retro garage-rock psychedelia with a ton of drum fills, vocal harmonies, and mosh pit-fuel.

There’s some trippy, reverb-and-phaser-soaked slowed breakdown sections, some proper heavy riffing, a ton of paradiddles and flams, a little dash of the Arctic Monkeys’ ‘Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured’, and maybe some smatterings of proper 70’s Hawkwind or Deep Purple in the mix too. Nonchalant vocals, that repeating distorted guitar riff, and a wash of hi-hat tambourine across the track, giving ‘Dream Machine’ a sleazy, groovy old-school rock feel from the South African three-piece – make no mistake, this is proper rock’n’roll.

Check out ‘Dream Machine’ – and the accompanying video – via the Tazers’ Facebook page.

Review by Alex Holmes

Atlanta band Rujen are quite brilliant on reflective single ‘Tarot’

Posted on 28 September 2020

Rujen is a Indie-Psych Rock band from Atlanta and they return with a brilliant new single called ‘Tarot‘.

‘Tarot‘ from Rujen is an indie-neo-psychedelic rock mixture that makes even the best chef blush, They love to create vibrant, densely layered atmospheres of tones, textures, and introspective vocals that swell, echo, and distort with fierce synergy. This self-proclaimed statement is totally true. Not a band to give themselves too much of a big head, they instead make incredible music with heart.

This is all about not knowing what the future holds and life being a big game. There is thunder and lightning everywhere and you need to be on your toes. It’s your time now and this is about doing what is best to make this music dream happen.

I love the soundtrack here. The production is fantastic and I like the softly delivered vocals that keeps you cool and calm. The song is of such standard that this could be in a movie.

‘Tarot‘ from Rujen is a standout single full of road-trip wanderings that is encapsulated perfectly by this fine Atlanta band.

Click here for the Spotify page.

Head through to the Facebook page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Julian Fulco Perron lays the sludgy despondent psychedelia on thick with “Swamp Stomp”

Posted on 13 September 2020

If your playlists are lacking in swampy bluesy despondent psychedelia, and let’s face it, they probably are, hit play on the gorgeously sludgy latest single Swamp Stomp by Julian Fulco Perron.

There’s a Mike Patton-level of experimentalism on offer, and Julian Fulco Perron’s vocals may just be as versatile. From sinister snarls which could rival Marilyn Manson’s to endearing playfulness which gives the track a Frank Zappa feel, it’s all on offer. Even more impressively, Julian Fulco Perron was boundless with their creativity and eccentricity and still orchestrated a stylistic feat of Alt-Rock that even the snobbiest of musos couldn’t turn their noses up at.

It’s practically a polyphonic wet dream mid-way through as the eccentric synth lines ensure that Swamp Stomp is a track you’ll never forget.

You can check out the official video to Swamp Stomp by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sam Cooper & The Sleepwalkers – So Small and So Loud

Posted on 13 September 2018
Apophenian by Sam Cooper & The Sleepwalkers

There aren’t many band names who can rival the ingenuity of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, but Sam Cooper & The Sleepwalkers may have cracked it. The Washington DC-based Alt Psych Rock artists also packed in exactly the same amount of melancholy into their soundscapes as the iconic artist. The conversationally accessible style of the lyrics and the vocals will leave you hooked on each softly projected verse. The fact that the band chose to close So Small and So Loud on a My Bloody Valentine-inspired wall of cataclysmically heavy guitars was notably genius. That’s one way of rounding off an unforgettably sensuous track which comes alive under fuzzy reverb and a cathartically tentative progression.

You can check out So Small and So Loud from the latest album ‘Apophenian’ by Sam Cooper & The Sleepwalkers by heading over to Bandcamp now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

KOYO – What is Mine: An Aural Offering of Ambiently Fluid Resonance

Posted on 21 July 2018

KOYO’s latest single What is Mine may start tentatively, yet the progressive nature of the track means that you’re treated to a whole smorgasbord of aural delights.  The extended duration of the track ensures that there’s plenty of time to seamlessly weave through soundscapes which are founded upon melodic elements of Shoegaze, Folk, Psychedelia and Alt Rock. The male and female vocals share a perfect amount of synergy as they verse the simple, yet poignant lyrics to What is Mine; which is just one of the standout singles from KOYO’s 2017 self-titled album.

What is Mine is one of those rare gems that you’ll stumble across from time to time which will remind you what prodigal music sounds like. It really is no wonder that the album received such critical acclaim back in 2017. Since then KOYO have released the sublimely Post Punk hit ‘Jettisoned’; I can only hope that they’ve got an album in the making for 2018.

You can check out KOYO’s latest single What is Mine along with the rest of the 2017 album on SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast