More summertime blues prescriptions including Ian Blurton’s Future Now, Ironflame, Color Green, Maple Mars, Besvärjelsen, Oceans Of Slumber, My Sleeping Karma, GYASI, Limousine Beach, Melts, CB3 and more.
I knew it would be an adjustment moving to the hotter climate of central Texas, but no one would have predicted the hottest June and July in recorded history. I spent more time indoors than the winter and truly developed some summertime blues. Along with the record shop therapy I discussed in Adventures in Vinyl, at least a dozen new releases worth buying helped alleviate seasonal affective disorder symptoms. Full reviews of four of them (…And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, Motorpsycho, The Sadies, Oneida) are linked from the list below. Now the best of the rest.
Ian Blurton’s Future Now – Second Skin (Seeing Red)
Ian Blurton has had a long history producing bands (Tricky Woo, Cursed, Cauldron, Blood Ceremony), and playing in a variety of indie projects based in Toronto, including the hard rockin’ C’mon in 2004-10. Judging from his smokin’ solo debut Signals Through the Flames (2019), he still has a bag full of great riffs. His vocals sound remarkably like Trevor William Church of Haunt with a bit of Chris Black from High Spirits/Dawnbringer. Of course it’s likely the other way around, since Blurton has been kicking around since the 80s. Morphing into Ian Blurton’s Future Now, Second Skin expands on his roots of garage psych, proto-metal, Southern rock with NWOBHM and mellotron-driven prog with more complicated song structures. He somehow got his hands on the Rolling Stones Mobile studio and an enviable collection of vintage gear, some that belonged to Randy Bachman and Neil Young, and it sounds fantastic. The twin guitar leads and no-nonsense melodic vocals have kept me interested for many repeat listens this summer. While I need to dig for some older C’mon albums, this sounds like the best thing he’s done so far.
Ironflame – Where Madness Dwells (High Roller)
There are four prolific, talented individuals who are responsible for a startling percentage of the best heavy metal of the past decade — Chris Black, Trevor William Church, Nate Garrett and Andrew D’Cagna. It would take a paragraph just to mention all the bands they’ve been involved with, but the star of the hour is D’Cagna, who told me night in 2016 about a new little side project he recorded pretty much by himself of traditional heavy metal. What was meant to be a one-off is now on album number four, which shows Ironflame getting better and better, and has earned them the credentials to be considered top tier alongside Khemmis, TOWER, Spirit Adrift, Haunt, Sumerlands, Eternal Champion and High Spirits. With an assist on solos by Quinn Lucas (Icarus Witch, who D’Cagna also sings with) and Jesse Scott, his musicianship is impeccable, and his vocal performance is especially impressive. If Bruce Dickinson does retire from Iron Maiden, D’Cagna could handle the job no problem. Better catch him in small clubs while you still can, just in case.
Color Green – Color Green (Aquarium Drunkard)
One might think we’re lousy with variations of Cosmic Americana lately, and that may be true, but quality like this is not dime a dozen. The chooglin’ J.J. Cale element is always welcome, but it’s the intricate guitars with classic Dead/Allman influences as filtered through warped indie psych Meat Puppets and White Denim lens that hold my interest. The Los Angeles duo of Noah Kihil and Corey Madden as heard on their 2020 EP have quickly expanded to a full band and have progressed nicely. The restless, creative spirit is strong with this band, and I predict interesting developments.
Maple Mars – Someone’s Got to Listen (Big Stir)
It’s becoming a monthly occurrence that I discover a great band whose entire catalog I completely missed during the 00s. First it was Ian Blurton’s C’mon, and now Maple Mars, a Los Angeles power/psych pop band, who were dormant for a dozen years before coming out with their fifth and best album. Riding the crest of the critical wave of praise for his solo album Better Days (2020), Rick Hromadka got a little more ambitious with Maple Mars, introducing some more intricately arranged prog pop elements to their power pop and psych pop template. It’s an inviting added dimension that makes for sustainable repeat listens. balancing earworms with enough twists to keep you guessing.
Besvärjelsen – Atlas (Magnetic Eye)
Dalarna is an area of central Sweden that features vast forests steeped in folklore full of magic and mysticism. Hailing from these theistic forests is Besvärjelsen (conjuring). Given that background and Lea Amling Alazam’s soaring vocals, one might expect to hear occult psych noir along the lines of Jess and the Ancient Ones and Mansion. However this band is much heavier, more toward Avatarium with the crushing power of Windhand, plus some sludge elements. They formed in 2014 and have released three EPs and debut album Vallmo (2019). Their second full-length is both more complex and accessible, a step forward in forging their own signature sound. It’s a great place to start, for those who likely impressed enough to want to work backwards through their recordings.
Oceans Of Slumber – Starlight and Ash (Century Media)
I’ve been on board with Houston’s Oceans of Slumber since their second album, Winter (2016). However while I appreciated their skill and power as a progressive doom metal band, that subgenre of doom metal never got as many frequent spins in the Psychedelic Doomcave as other things. Cammie Gilbert, who has been their lead vocalist since that second album, is clearly a massive talent, and I’ve been interested to hear what other things she could do. Apparently the band agreed, and on their fifth album, they leave metal behind, at least for the time being, to showcase a set of thoroughly contemporary sounding vocal showcases — torch songs for grownup goths. Other bands have pivoted with similar extremes, such as Anathema and Opeth, and mostly held onto their fanbase. This album should hopefully greatly expand their reach to admirers of the likes of unique vocalists like Chelsea Wolfe, Zola Jesus, Jenny Hval, Marissa Nadler and Emma Ruth Rundle. This is some powerful art, often enhanced by intense cinematic videos. See for yourself.
My Sleeping Karma – Atma (Napalm)
Germany’s My Sleeping Karma began as Colour Haze acolytes, with their first three albums from 2006-10 on the band’s Elektrohasch label. But from the start, the band has gone in their own direction toward instrumental space rock with some post-rock influences. The result is a nearly flawless body of work that rewards immersive deep listening for those open to the expressive potential of instrumental psychedelic rock. Album art and titles suggest a strong spiritual element of Hinduism is involved in their worldview, and the music can certainly work for meditation sessions, as long as one isn’t too distracted by awesome drumming. My favorite probably remains Soma (2012), but you can’t go wrong with any of their six albums.
GYASI – Pronounced Jah-See (Alive Naturalsound)
The self-described lipstick wearing, guitar shredding peacock from the woods seems destined for stardom. From Nashville via West Virginia, Gyasi Heus is calling Pronounced Jah-See his debut, even though Androgyne (2019) is on Bandcamp, and is clearly the debut. It’s a bit of a re-do, with half of the debut’s ten songs included on the 13 track second album. Fair enough, plenty of artists probably would like a do-over after the pandemic, and GYASI clearly has the goods — the looks, wardrobe, chops and tunes. There’s some very clear inspirations from T. Rex, Bowie, Sweet, Gary Glitter, but nothing that the likes of Ty Segall and Jack White hadn’t liberally borrowed already. There’s a high ratio of hooky pleasures here, and reports have been very positive about his live shows. Looks like the start of a beautiful career.
Limousine Beach – Limousine Beach (Tee Pee)
Less pretty and more gritty than GYASI is Pittsburgh sizzle rock band Limousine Beach. Dave Wheeler is a veteran of Thin Lizzy acolytes Carousel, who melted my brain at Roadburn ’16, then broke my heart by disbanding. He had a couple decent albums with Outsideinside, and has yet another new band that combines twin guitar harmony hard rock with glam. They were cheekily charging $1,000 just for a digital download, so four months after the April release, I finally gave up and ordered the vinyl (which then released the digital files to me) so I’ve finally gotten some quality time. The songwriting quality is definitely a step up from previous band Outsideinside, and should satisfy Carousel fans who like a little sizzle in their rock.
Melts – Maelstrom (Mother Sky)
New band from Dublin, Ireland mixes psychedelic post-punk (The Chameleons, Teardrop Explodes, Psychedelic Furs) with kosmische/space rock. What’s not to love?
CB3 – Exploration (Majestic Mountain)
Sweden’s Charlotta’s Burnin’ Trio (CB3) released three albums since 2015 of instrumental psych and space rock. On their fourth, Charlotta Anderson has taken the mic and contributed some majestically reverbed dream pop/shoegaze style vocals. It’s not completely out of the blue, as she’s sung on other synthpop projects, but as someone who believes good vocals can improve most instrumental tracks, I wonder what took her so long. But it’s a nice bonus on top of the virtuoso guitar solos from Anderson. She studied jazz, and the woman can shred, which keeps three of the ten-plus minute long tracks captivating.
Foot – You Are Weightless (Paul Holden)
The amount of stoner rock that comes out every month is impossible to keep track of. Thanks to the Doom Charts crew, I can at least keep up on a portion of the constant flow of molten stone. Melbourne’s Foot grabbed my attention because their desert fuzztones are exceptionally smooth, and the vocal harmonies stand out in a genre that generally rely on gruff, subpar vocalists. This is their third album, and it’s not fluke — they already has their sound down on Buffalo (2018) and The Balance of Nature Shifted (2020).
Minami Deutsch – Fortune Goodies (Guruguru Brain)
A project single-mindedly dedicated to all things repetitive, German kosmische, and motorik rhythms might seem superfluous. But it’s oh so addictive, given that while there is a pretty vast catalog of 70s German prog, psychedelia and space rock, only a handful of albums really hit the rhythmic sweet spot that Japan’s Minami Deutsch hammer on their three albums. And like Stereolab, each album gets more interesting and complex. Kyotaro Miula’s dedication and obsession finds him relocated to Berlin to absorb the culture and perhaps stir up the ghosts of the Zodiak Free Arts Lab, and putting more time and resources into the third album, aiming for an encyclopedia of kosmische kulture. The official release of the vinyl and download isn’t until October 15, but it’s been streaming since July 15.
Ghost Woman – Ghost Woman (Full Time Hobby)
While touring with Michael Rault, Evan John Uschenko was inspired by the bands they were opening for, particularly Jacco Gardner and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. He went home to Arizona full of ideas that resulted in a catchy, addictive debut album of garage psych that bears some influence from contemporaries, and plenty more from West Coast sixties psych and Nuggets. The tempos languish in more of a hazy stroll than the rumble and roll of more driving psych rockers. There’s plenty of room for Uschenko to develop a more signature sound, but this is a promising start.
Lost Cat – Lost Cat (Lolipop)
L.A.’s Lost Cat gives the off the cuff feeling that a group of friends came up with the concept of a girl gang of retro garage psych/punkers are let loose in a Tarrantino film. The videos support that idea, and they work brilliantly. But those who might assume this would be a sloppy batch of garage rockers that flail about amateurishly would be dead wrong. There’s some great songwriting going on here — aside from the witty lyrics, there’s subtle, controlled musicianship on the moody noir vibes of “You Know You Can’t Resist,” and “He’s Gone” is the kind of catchy but gritty song that the Go-Go’s probably wish they were allowed to record. “Mental” is the kind of girl group rave-up one might expect, but then takes a dark turn into an alley halfway through the song where The Cramps slink up behind them, shakes ’em down, emptying their pockets while whispering dirty things in their ears. This isn’t on Bandcamp and I don’t know where the hell you can find it. But years down the road you’ll be a lucky dog to find this Lost Cat in the used record bin.
London Odense Ensemble – Jaiyede Sessions Volume I (El Paraiso)
If there’s a record label that I’m tempted to just set up a subscription with and have every release sent to me, it’s the Denmark based El Paraiso, run by Jakob Skøtt and Jonas Munk of Causa Sui. In just over a decade, they have released 67 albums (this latest is EPR067), with Skøtt handling all the cover art, making for a consistent aesthetic, and mastered by Munk, ensuring the sound of every release is top notch, along the lines of legendary jazz label Impulse! Records, with more modern influences from Elektrohasch, Causa Sui’s first home, and Norwegian label Rune Grammofon, with adventurous artists like the jazz fusion/prog/psych project Elephant9, Supersilent, Fire! Orchestra and Motorpsycho. Aside from their main band, both collaborate with many different musicians in a freewheeling approach to psychedelic, jazz, fusion and progressive electronic music. On this latest project, both collaborate with saxophonist/multi-woodwind instrumentalist Tamar Osborn (Collocutor, Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra), keyboardist Al MacSween (Kefaya), and guitarist Martin Rude (Sun River). It’s a distinct flavor from the earlier Chicago Odense Ensemble, but just as adventurous, tackling Alice Coltrane spiritual/global jazz, electric voodoo funk Miles, and kosmische musik. It’s satisfyingly trippy, with cosmic sounding burbling analog synths on top of the jazzy instrumentation, a perfect balance for fans of both the more avant garde jazz of earlier release from the Rude Skøtt Osborn Trio, The Virtue of Temperance (2022) and the Berlin School style electronica of Videodrones, After the Fall (2022). This label featured one of my favorite new bands, Monarch, and as I impatiently await their third album, I’m pretty much excited to hear anything the label comes out with at this point.
Haunt – Windows of Your Heart (Shadow Kingdom)
As with Trevor William Church’s previous project Beastmaker, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work he churns out with Haunt. In barely over four years, he’s released seven albums, eight including an acoustic set, and two EPs. For a while now, he’s incorporated melodic AOR into his heavy metal template, resulting in a high energy rock template similar to High Spirits (who’s leader Chris Black is similarly prolific across several different bands) and Ian Blurton. In that context, it’s been growing on me, making for good summer driving tunes.
Rubber Oh – Strange Craft (Rocket)
Rubber Oh is a studio project by Pigsx7 guitarist and producer Sam Grant, where he set some unique guidelines with two basses, only single notes on guitars and no cymbal washes. The result is more entertaining and listenable to my ears than his main band — a clean sounding take on art rock, psych pop and space rock, unencumbered by the excessive noise and try-hard male egos that sometimes weigh down Pigsx7. I still dig that band, but they can get to be a bit much. Often, a creatively invigorating side project from a key member can influence their main band in positive ways. I look forward to it.
Birth – Born (Bad Omen)
San Diego’s Silver Sunshine and Astra only put out three albums between them before closing up shop, but a decade later, two of the members are back in Birth. They tackle similar early 70s sounds of prog, psych prog and space rock, though not quite up to the caliber of Astra’s The Black Chord (2012). Still, they sound fantastic on “Descending Us” and “Long Way Down,” and with a little bit of time back on the road and more time for songwriting, they should soon exceed expectations.
The Fernweh – Torschlusspanik! (Winterlude)
The Fernweh’s self-titled 2018 debut perked my ears up due to the Fairport Convention influence, putting them roughly in the creative space of a less heavy and proggy Wolf People. Torschlusspanik! (German for the fear of running out of time and opportunities) takes some interesting turns, but is a bit more scattered, tackling mod, psych and power pop. Their talent ensures everything they tackle is interesting, even if the Pink Floyd and U2 quotes on “The Wounds of Love” are a bit too obvious, and I’d rather they have gone in a more psychedelic direction than sounding like Welsh indie pop band Super Furry Animals, as much as I liked them back then. That mostly comes down to preference, and those less allergic to indie-isms than I could find this album delightful and rewarding.
- …And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead – XI: Bleed Here Now (Dine Alone) | Jul 15 | USA | Bandcamp
- Ian Blurton’s Future Now – Second Skin (Pajama Party/Seeing Red) | Jul 15 | Canada | Bandcamp
- Motorpsycho – Ancient Astronauts (Rune Grammofon) | Aug 19 | Norway | Buy
- Maple Mars – Someone’s Got to Listen (Big Stir) | Jul 22 | USA | Bandcamp
- The Sadies – Colder Streams (Yep Roc) | Jul 22 | Canada | Bandcamp
- Phantom Spell – Immortal’s Requiem (Wizard Tower) | Aug 19 | Spain | Bandcamp
- Sergeant Thunderhoof – This Sceptered Veil (Pale Wizard) | Jun 03 | UK | Bandcamp
- Breathless – See Those Colours Fly (Tenor Vossa) | Jul 29 | UK | Buy
- Ironflame – Where Madness Dwells (High Roller) | Jul 01 | USA | Bandcamp
- Mirror Queen – Inviolate (Tee Pee) | Jun 24 | USA | Bandcamp
- Seedy Jeezus – The Hollow Earth (Lay Bare) | Jun 29 | Australia | Bandcamp
- The Lounge Society – Tired of Liberty (Speedy Wunderground) | Aug 26 | UK | Buy
- The Blinders – Electric Kool-Aid: Parts 1 & 2 (Crocodile Men) | Jun 17 | UK
- Oneida – Success (Joyful Noise) | Aug 19 | USA | Bandcamp
- Color Green – Color Green (Aquarium Drunkard) | Jul 22 | USA | Bandcamp
- Besvärjelsen – Atlas (Magnetic Eye) | May 27 | Sweden | Bandcamp
- Oceans Of Slumber – Starlight and Ash (Century Media) | Jul 22 | USA | Buy
- My Sleeping Karma – Atma (Napalm) | Jul 29 | Austria | Bandcamp
- GYASI – Pronounced Jah-See (Alive Naturalsound) | May 27 | USA | Bandcamp
- Early Moods – Early Moods (RidingEasy) | Aug 05 | USA | Bandcamp
- The Lickerish Quartet – Fables From Fearless Heights (Sony) | Jun 29 | USA
- Melts – Maelstrom (Mother Sky) | Jun 17 | UK | Bandcamp
- CB3 – Exploration (Majestic Mountain) | Aug 26 | Sweden | Bandcamp
- Astronoid – Radiant Bloom (3DOT) | Jun 03 | USA | Bandcamp
- Wailin Storms – The Silver Snake Unfolds (Gilead) | Jul 22 | USA | Bandcamp
- The Dear Hunter – Antimai (Cave & Canary) | Jul 01 | USA | Bandcamp
- Foot – You Are Weightless (Paul Holden) | Jun 13 | Australia | Bandcamp
- Minami Deutsch – Fortune Goodies (Guruguru Brain) | Jul 15 | Japan | Bandcamp
- GHOSTWOMAN® – Ghost Woman (Full Time Hobby) | Jul 01 | USA | Bandcamp
- Lost Cat – Lost Cat (Lolipop) | May 27 | USA | Buy
- Wax Machine – Hermit’s Grove (Batov) | Jul 01 | UK | Bandcamp
- Louse – Dressed in Skin EP (Feel It) | Jun 17 | USA
- Psychlona – Palo Verde (Psyco Waxx) | Aug 19 | UK | Bandcamp
- London Odense Ensemble – Jaiyede Sessions Volume 1 (El Paraiso) | Jun 24 | UK/Denmark | Bandcamp
- Just Mustard – Heart Under (Partisan) | May 27 | Ireland | Bandcamp
- Petrol Girls – Baby (Hassle) | Jun 24 | Austria | Bandcamp
- Haunt – Windows of Your Heart (Shadow Kingdom) | Jul 01 | USA | Bandcamp
- Lord Vigo – We Shall Overcome (HR) | Jul 01 | Germany | Bandcamp
- Rubber Oh – Strange Craft (Rocket) | Jun 03 | UK | Bandcamp
- Acid Rooster – Ad Astra (Sunhair) | Jun 10 | Germany | Bandcamp
- The Interrupters – In the Wild (Hellcat) | Aug 05 | USA | Bandcamp
- Birth – Born (Bad Omen) | Jul 15 | USA | Bandcamp
- The Sheepdogs – Outta Sight (Warner) | Jun 03 | Canada | Bandcamp
- Tchotchke – Tchotchke (Tchotchke) | Jul 15 | USA | Bandcamp
- The Fernweh – Torschlusspanik! (Winterlude) | Jul 01 | UK | Bandcamp
- Sacred Skin – The Decline of Pleasure (Synthicide) | May 27 | USA | Bandcamp
- Ural Thomas & the Pain – Dancing Dimensions (Bella Union) | May 31 | USA | Bandcamp
- Marcus King – Young Blood (Republic) | Aug 26 | USA | Buy
- Party Dozen – The Real Work (Temporary Residence) | Jul 08 | Australia | Bandcamp
- JER – Bothered / Unbothered (Bad Time) | May 27 | USA | Bandcamp
Coming Up
A couple weeks ago Colour Haze announced a new album Sacred will be available in all formats by October, and allegedly digital sooner, though there’s still be no word. They’re on yet another creative roll right now, having just come out with the strong We Are (2020). This will be their fourteenth.
- King Buffalo – Regenerator (Stickman) Sep 02 | Bandcamp
- Nathan Hall & The Sinister Locals – Golden Fleece (Hip Rep) Sep 09 | Bandcamp
- Preoccupations – Arrangements (Preoccupations) Sep 09 | Bandcamp
- The Black Angels – Wilderness of Mirrors (Partisan) Sep 16 | Bandcamp
- Custard Flux – Phosphorus (Custard Flux) Sep 15 | Bandcamp
- Sumerlands – Dreamkiller (Relapse) Sep 16 | Bandcamp
- Freedom Hawk – Take All You Can (Ripple) Sep 23 | Bandcamp
- Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol – DOOM-WOP (RBBP) Sep 23 | Bandcamp
- Crystal Jacqueline – Two Moons (Mega Dodo) Sep 30 | Bandcamp
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Cool It Down (Secretly Canadian) Sep 30
- Colour Haze – Sacred (Elektrohasch) Oct 07 | Buy
- Dungen – En Är För Mycket och Tusen Aldrig Nog (Mexican Summer) Oct 07 | Bandcamp
- Faith In Jane – Axe to Oak (Grimoire) Oct 07 | Bandcamp
- Orango – Mohican (Stickman) Oct 07
- Goat – Oh Death (Rocket) Oct 21 | Bandcamp
- The Janitors – Noisolation Sessions Vol. 2 (Cardinal Fuzz) Nov 03 | Bandcamp
- Big Joanie – Back Home (Kill Rock Stars) Nov 04 | Bandcamp
- Vitskär Süden – The Faceless King (Ripple) Nov 04
- Candlemass – Sweet Evil Sun (Napalm) Nov 18 | Buy
